Chris Wieners

We are excited to announce the appointment of two new marketing interns at HOGO! Participating in digital internships as a result of COVID19, these candidates have joined the team for several months to focus on building their skillsets around marketing, public relations and digital media. Welcome to the team Mila and Mikaela!

A short introduction by Mila…

Hello everyone! I’m Milani Notshe, the new intern at HOGO Digital and thought I should just introduce myself. I’m 21 years old and currently living in Cape Town, South Africa and identify as “she/her”. I’ve lived in in South Africa my whole life but I grew up in Johannesburg and moved to Cape Town for university. I’m currently in the final semester of my degree. I’m studying a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Cape Town. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate degree, I have a keen interest in aesthetics, marketing and brand management. I would love to explore the intersection between social responsibility and marketing. 

Although I can be quite talkative and social, I consider myself to be a homebody. My favourite activities include curating music and images, reading and watching films and debates.

That’s all from me for now. I’m so excited to be joining this team and to be learning from you all for the next few months.

A short introduction by Mikaela…

Hello! My name is Mikaela Fisher, and I am a 4th year college student studying Marketing and Music, Media, & Enterprise at The Ohio State University. I have gained experience as former Events Head and now Vice President of a student organization with event planning, social media marketing, and advertising. I am eager to expand my knowledge at HOGO as well as develop connections overseas. 

Friday, 14 August 2020 (Tokyo, Japan) The Japan integrated resort (IR) consortium led by PIXEL COMPANYZ INC. announced on August 13^th that Groupe Partouche SA, the world-class French casino operator with over 40 gaming properties, has entered into a formal agreement to participate in the consortium. 

Pixel Companyz and Groupe Partouche will work together with their consortium partners to plan, develop and operate a premier integrated resort in Japan. The consortium aims to develop an IR unique to Japan that will highlight the tourism assets, food culture, brands and the hospitable culture that the country has to offer.

As a result of this agreement, Pixel Companyz, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, becomes only the second Japanese IR consortium leader to have partnered with a proven international gaming operator.

The inclusion of Groupe Partouche contributes another extraordinary aspect to Pixel’s Japan IR consortium, which aims to incorporate aspects of Japanese, Asian and European culture into a unique and symbolic IR facility. Groupe Partouche brings nearly 50 years of extensive casino business experience in the competitive European gaming market and is also known to progressively introduce new technology and data analysis methods to their operations.

The announcement also follows the notice of a capital and business alliance agreement between Pixel Companyz and TTL Resorts. TTL has wide-ranging experience in data analysis and investment aspects of the gaming industry.

Pixel Companyz CEO Hiroaki Yoshida puts emphasis on the importance of a Japanese entity being actively involved in a Japan IR consortium. As stated on the company homepage, “Pixel Companyz aims to connect Japan to the world and showcase the best of the country by forming this consortium and deeply rooting ourselves into the Japanese IR industry.”

Pixel Companyz was established in 1986 and currently holds a central role in their Japan IR consortium. The company’s three key business segments relating to integrated resorts are entertainment, development and system innovation. The company is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is engaged in a variety of businesses such as gaming, e-sports, fintech, solar power facilities and resort development.

Groupe Partouche was established in 1973 and is a market leader of Europe in casino operations. They operate 42 casinos in addition to their luxury hotel and restaurant businesses. The company is listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.

The interest in the development of iGaming initiatives continues to grow across Asia and the globe as COVID19 continues to affect the revenue generated by land-based casinos. While there is good news on the horizon for many land-based jurisdictions with the re-opening of casino operations, the combination of fear among travelers and the sure-to-be stringent measures to protect public health and safety will surely continue to hurt the operations at large.

Meanwhile, the iGaming front has flourished in the past several month, on back of steady growth over several years. As of 2018, the global iGaming market was valued at $48.5 billion USD – with continued exponential growth expected.

While gaming jurisdictions in countries, states, provinces and prefectures around the world work to ensure public health and safety, it will become important to look at new opportunities to connect with customers via digital (i.e. iGaming) initiatives.

A recent article by the Bitcoin Association discusses this, and also some of the issues that have plagued the iGaming space for years. It is key that these issues are overcome and that iGaming grows in the eyes of gaming jurisdictions as a legitimate, safe and manageable means to reach gaming customers in this “new normal”.

View the article here: https://bitcoinassociation.net/enterprise/use-cases/bsv-for-igaming/igaming-on-blockchain/

March 7, 2019 (Thursday), Tokyo, Japan:   Clarion Gaming has confirmed HOGO as its marketing partner in Japan for the upcoming JgC (Japan Gaming Congress), held at the Conrad Tokyo 16 to 17 May 2019.

The annual event will focus on the future of the IR market, including content around the economic and commercial impact, public engagement and political progression.

Representation from integrated resort operators throughout the world, as well as both central and regional government representatives of Japan are expected to be in attendance, and examine the next steps for the industry.

Chris Wieners, Managing Partner of HOGO, stated: “I am pleased to confirm our formal partnership with Clarion Gaming . We have and will continue to support JgC as it aims to further promote the development of integrated resorts within Japan. We hope to be able to broaden the interest of the private sector within Japan as integrated resort development moves closer to a reality.”

Rory Credland, Event Director, stated: “We are happy to have HOGO on board to assist us with further building the JgC brand within Japan. Their knowledge and expertise in the local Japanese market ensures that our event will be relevant to the domestic marketplace and will garner coverage across the many sectors in Japan that stand to benefit from the development of the IR industry within the country.”

About HOGO

HOGO is a marketing strategy and corporate communications company that focuses on the tourism, hospitality, gaming and entertainment industries. Based in Macau, the agency has offices in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Japan. Focused on creative marketing and strategic vision, HOGO works with clients to further develop and build their brands throughout Asia Pacific.  |  Website: www.hogodigital.com

About Japan Gaming Congress
JgC (Japan Gaming Congress) is a ticketed two-day educational forum that offers practical insights and understanding into the casino legislation in Japan, while also providing an in-depth vision on what it takes to create a successful Integrated Resort. Taking place on Thursday and Friday, 2019, May 16 and 17 at the Conrad Tokyo in Japan, JgC is an intelligence gathering for gaming professionals in Japan looing to find out the best way forward for the IR industry.  |  Website: www.japangamingcongress.com

HOGO is excited to announce that client Ambiente Properties (www.ambiente.mo) has been confirmed a winner of several awards by the International Property Awards, including Best Real Estate Website.

The Ambiente team will be accepting their award at the official ceremony to be held 14 to 15 May at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park hotel. Congratulations to the team at Ambiente on their continued success!

December 5, 2018 (Wednesday), Wakayama, Japan:  HOGO has announced a partnership with Asia Gaming Brief and the Wakayama Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of launching the Wakayama Integrated Resort Business-Connect Seminar on 19 February 2019.

The event, which will be powered by the Wakayama Chamber of Commerce, will bring together IR operators, local academics, chamber leadership and chamber members. The goal of the event is to educate the local business sector on the IR industry, while also promoting the benefits to the local private sector. The event will be held at the Daiwa Roynet Wakayama and will be open to local business leaders and members of the Wakayama Chamber of Commerce.

Chris Wieners, Managing Partner of HOGO, stated: “We are very happy to announce our inaugural event of this type in support of Japan’s IR development and the Prefecture of Wakayama. We are very grateful to the Wakayama Chamber of Commerce for their support and look forward to working with them closely on the development of future initiatives in Wakayama.”

Joji Kokuryo, Founding Member and Senior Advisor to Asia Gaming Brief Nippon, stated: “AGB looks forward to working with HOGO and the Wakayama Chamber of Commerce in bringing this much needed event to Japan. It is essential that Japan’s private sector be supportive of IR initiatives and this type of event is developed with that goal in mind.”

Learn more: www.hogodigital.com/en/wakayama