Caravan tea party in Tokyo -- the cookies are going fast!
今日はまた東京への宣伝キャラバンでした。戸倉上山田温泉旅館組合連合会の7人と、エージェントや旅行威新聞、鉄道雑誌など、あちらこちらを回って、そしてＭｅｄｉａ関係向きでＴｅａ Ｐａｒｔｙを開きました。戸倉上山田温泉の新しい観光本を案内して、そして地元の食材の試食会を行いました。亀清旅館のお茶菓子として出す私の前日に焼いた手作りクッキーも。
この日は亀清で日帰りで95歳のおばさんを連れた地元のご家族のお客様が来はって、「タイラーさんは？」と聞いてきたようです。うちの妻は「キャラバンで東京に行っています」と答えたら、娘達が「キャラ何？」と言ったけど、95歳のおばさんは「キャラバンだよ。昔は旅館の皆がそういう宣伝を良くしましたよ」と言ったらしいです。
私の昔の先輩達の宣伝の努力のお陰で戸倉上山田温泉は高い知名度になりました。私の世代こそ、その努力をしなきゃ。
I headed into to Tokyo today for another "Caravan" marketing blitz. Myself and six other ryokan members visited the offices of several travel agents, tourism magazines, even a railroad fan newspaper office. Then we put on a tea party for a group of industry media people. We presented our town's new tourism booklet, and put on a tasting party of local foods, including Kamesei Ryokan's home made oatmeal cookies that we give to our guests as tea sweets. I had baked a batch the night before.
While I was away in Tokyo, we had some guests back at the inn for lunch -- a local family with their 95 year old grandmother. They apparently asked where I was, and my wife told them I was in Tokyo for a caravan. The daughters said, "Cara-what?" But the grandmother said, "A caravan. The ryokan owners used to always go on those to promote the town."
It's thanks to the marketing efforts of the innkeepers from generations ago that Togura Kamiyamada's name recognition is as high as it is. Now it's up to my generation to continue those efforts!
