September Edition 2026 JTB Americas All Group Newsletter
Table of Contents Employee Spotlight Best Business Transformer Award: Ashlee Caroscio Grow Together: Growing Plants, Growing Connections BEOF Dallas 2026 Dodgers Shuttle Reaches New Audiences JTB Canada Brighter Earth 2026: Small Actions, Big Impact ASOBIEXPO HAWAII 2027 Returns to Honolulu 10 years of Quickly Travel - Rio de Janeiro Office Super Girl Surf Festival Rainbow Ekiden Department of the Month: Nippon Rent-A-Car Quickly Travel Visits Fazenda Fortaleza, in Taubaté This Month’s Employee Favorites Dayforce Unlocked
Employee Spotlight Taisei Shibata Company: JTB USA Department: DMC Leisure USA FIT Pkg Favorite Place I’ve been to: Italy Favorite Food: Ramen Place I’d like to go to: All Countries! I am looking forward to improving my professional skills and connecting with people.
Company: Quickly Travel Department: Front Desk (Receptionist) Favorite Place I’ve been to: Pernambuco Favorite Food: Churrasco (Brazilian barbecue) Place I’d like to go to: Fernando de Noronha I am very happy and motivated by this opportunity! My expectations for the start are the best possible, and I can’t wait to join the team and start contributing.
Geisy Emmanueli Da Silva
Employee Spotlight Gabriel Souza Company: Quickly Travel Department: Corporate Department - Rio de Janeiro Favorite Place I’ve been to: Mallorca, Spain Favorite Food: Açai Place I’d like to go to: Thailand I’m looking forward to learning from new experiences, building strong relationships with the team and contributing to the company’s success while growing professionally. Company: Quickly Travel Department: Operations Favorite Place I’ve been to: Bay of Kings Favorite Food: Spaghetti Bolognese Place I’d like to go to: Japan I am looking forward to learning new things, developing myself, and growing in my career.
Maria Gabriela Stella Gomes
Employee Spotlight Masami Danbara Company: Travel Plaza Transportation Department: Honolulu Office Favorite Place I’ve been to: Japan Favorite Food: Anything chocolate-flavored Place I’d like to go to: Europe I’m looking forward to working with so many new people.
JTB GBU RECOGNITION
Best BusinessTransformer Award: Ashlee Caroscio Receiving the Best Business Transformation Award was a very special moment, but I see this recognition as a reflection of the entire MC&A Mainland team; this transformation was truly a collective effort. The transformation required collaboration across many areas of the business, with everyone contributing their expertise, time, and commitment to creating a more client-focused organization.
The transformation focused on moving MC&A Mainland from a destination-based structure to a more flexible, client-focused operating model. This allowed us to better align our teams around our clients and create greater visibility across the business.
The results were significant; the new operating model improved profitability, revenue growth, client retention, and business visibility while creating a scalable foundation for sustainable growth. While the results are important, I believe the greatest achievement was creating a new way of working; it established a new way of working, built on collaboration, perseverance, and a shared commitment to change.
This award recognizes much more than a business strategy or a set of results, it recognizes the people and collaboration behind the transformation. I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that gives its people the space to challenge the way we work, pursue new ideas, and create meaningful change. It is equally meaningful to be part of a company that recognizes and celebrates these accomplishments. This award belongs to all of us, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to represent such an incredible team in Tokyo.
JTB International (Canada)
Grow Together: Growing Plants, Growing Connections In May 2026, JTB International (Canada) Ltd. launched Grow Together, a five month team well-being initiative designed to bring more greenery, creativity, and connection into the workplace. Each department selected one indoor plant and shared responsibility for caring for it, creating a simple routine that encourages teamwork and interaction.
At the midpoint assessment, the plants are thriving, and so was the creativity. Teams brought their own personality to the initiative with fun plant names, themed pots, display cards, and shared team care calendars.
More than just a plant care activity, Grow Together gives colleagues a simple reason to connect, collaborate, and share responsibility during the workday. The initiative will continue through October, when teams will take part in the final review celebrating plant health, participation, creativity, and presentation.
BEOF DALLAS 2026 AUGUST 20TH-22ND
We recently held our Brighter Earth and Our Futures (BEOF) event in Dallas! The event started with a mixer on Thursday, where participants were able to meet the other atendees in person for the first time!
Attendees experienced some of Dallas's local attractions, including the Fort Worth Stockyards and a Texas Rangers game.
Participants also made a positive impact in the community by volunteering at a local senior housing facility, assisting with cleanup efforts and hosting a Sunshine Social Summer Bash for residents.
On the last day of the event, attendees participated in various team-building activities that strengthened relationships and increased knowledge about various countries. Thank you to everyone who planned and participated in this wonderful event! We hope to see more of you at future events!
JTB USA - DMC/ IN HOUS E LOOK AM ER ICAN TOUR S
E L T T U H S S R E DODG S E C N E I D U A W E N S REACHE
JTB USA launched the Dodgers Shuttle in 2025 to reach independent travelers outside JTB’s traditional customer base, rather than customers purchasing JTB package tours. The bilingual service is designed to connect with a broader market and create a new entry point for travelers to discover JTB. Recently, the shuttle was featured in the Los Angeles Times and separately by an English-language Instagram influencer. Through July, non-Japanese-speaking guests represented about 10% of customers; among bookings made since August, that share has increased to 25%. We hope to build on this exposure and continue developing the shuttle as a gateway to new customers who may not previously have had any connection with JTB.
The JTB Dodgers shuttle was featured by the LA times and introduces JTB as the “official Japanese tourism partner” of the Dodgers. It also discusses our shuttle bus services to and from the Dodger Stadium compared to other transportation methods. Please access the link below if you’d like to read the article!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ THE ARTICLE: PLEASE READ HERE
JTB CANADA BRIGHTER EARTH 2026: SMALL ACTIONS, BIG IMPACT JTB International (Canada) On August 29, JTB Canada employees, family members and friends rolled up their sleeves for the JTB Brighter Earth Project at Stanley Park. From 10am to 1pm, 22 volunteers worked together to remove English ivy, an invasive plant that can spread quickly and crowd out native vegetation. In partnership with Stanley Park Ecology, participants helped support habitat restoration in Vancouver’s largest urban forest. Removing English ivy gives native plants more space to recover, supports wildlife habitat and helps strengthen the forest ecosystem. More than just a volunteer activity, the morning was a rewarding opportunity to learn, connect and make a visible difference in one of Vancouver’s most treasured green spaces.
ASOBIEXPO HAWAII 2027 Returns to Honolulu Following a successful debut in 2026, ASOBIEXPO HAWAII - Japanese Pop Culture Experience - will return to Honolulu on March 8, 2027. Co-organized by JTB Hawaii Travel, LLC and ASOBISYSTEM CO., LTD., the event will once again showcase the latest in Japanese pop culture through live entertainment, interactive experiences, food, merchandise, and more. The 2027 lineup includes returning artists Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, ATARASHII GAKKO!, and FRUITS ZIPPER, along with newcomers CANDY TUNE and CUTIE STREET. We're excited to see this unique event continue to grow and connect fans from around the world with Japanese culture and entertainment. Interested in learning more? Visit: https://asobiexpo.com/hawaii2027
READ THIS ARTICLE FOR MORE INFO
10 YEARS OF QUICKLY TRAVEL - RIO DE JANEIRO OFFICE
Our commercial team in Rio de Janeiro hosted a special event celebrating the 10th anniversary of our office in the city. More than a celebration, the event was an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with existing clients and prospect new business through meaningful connections and networking. The evening brought together clients, partners, and prospects in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere, featuring a selection of food and drinks, live music, a speech by our CEO, and a prize draw. To honor our Japanese heritage and traditions, the celebration also included a commemorative sake ceremony, bringing an authentic cultural touch to the occasion. The event reinforced our commitment to building lasting relationships and creating new business opportunities through personal connections.
QUICKLY TRAVEL COMMERCIAL
AUGUST 21–23
SUPER GIRL
Surf Festival
JTB Americas Group partnered with ASA Entertainment on the Super Girl Surf Festival, the only large-scale all-women’s sports, music, and lifestyle series in the world. Designed to empower, uplift, and inspire women, the festival brings together an incredible community of athletes, fans, sponsors, and entertainers. This year marked the 20th anniversary of Super Girl, with all three events collectively drawing nearly 250,000 attendees, featuring more than 70 sponsors, and bringing together over 8,000 female athletes competing across 14 sports.
As part of our partnership, JTB Americas Group hosted a VIP Hospitality experience at the Oceanside Pier, offering guests an incredible vantage point overlooking the surf competitions and entertainment areas. The space provided a front-row experience for both the daytime competitions and evening concerts, featuring a mix of established and emerging artists. Headliners included Iration, B.o.B, Hippie Sabotage, and K.Flay. JTB Americas Group and Imprint Events Group collaborated to create the VIP Hospitality space, with the Imprint team bringing the vision to life through their design and execution. A huge shoutout to the team who helped make this event possible — Katie, Taylor, Carly, Gabrielle, Sam and Adriane! Your hard work and creativity made the experience truly special. The Super Girl Surf Festival continues to grow, with the next festival heading to Virginia Beach, followed by another stop in Jacksonville to finish off the year.
RAINBOW EKIDEN Saturday, August 29
The 10th Anniversary Honolulu Rainbow EKIDEN 2026, originally scheduled to take place in March, was successfully held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, under beautiful weather conditions. Despite concerns about the potential impact of the postponement, the event was made possible through the tremendous understanding, cooperation, and support of all stakeholders involved. We would like to once again express our sincere appreciation for everyone's continued understanding, support, and cooperation.
As the event was held separately from the Honolulu Festival this year, the number of participants from Japan was lower than in previous years. However, the number of runners from Hawaii and the U.S. mainland reached an all-time high. After ten editions, this year’s event reaffirmed how the Honolulu Rainbow EKIDEN has become firmly rooted in Hawaii and has grown into an event embraced by the local community.
We are deeply grateful to all of our participants, sponsors, and partners for helping us overcome the postponement and successfully celebrate this important 10th Anniversary milestone together!
Department of the Month Members: Kotoe Abe, Hiroshi Kanekura, Junko Mori, Tomomi Longoria
Supporting Japanese Visitors in Hawaii Tachibana Enterprises, LLC’s Nippon Rent-A-Car Hawaii (NRC) department supports Japanese visitors with their car rental experience in Hawaii. Our team provides assistance in Japanese, helping customers understand the rental procedures, and making the process as comfortable and easy as possible. The actual rental agreement is made directly with Enterprise, while our NRC staff provides important language and customer service support throughout the process. Who are your primary customers? Our primary customers are visitors from Japan who want the convenience and freedom of exploring Hawaii by rental car. Many of our customers appreciate being able to receive assistance in Japanese, especially when understanding rental procedures and driving-related information in Hawaii.
Kotoe Abe (Supervisor) and Hiroshi Kanekura (Lead Agent)
We are looking for additional team members to help support our operations, including our Hyatt Centric location. If you or someone you know are interested in joining the NRC team, we’d be happy to hear from you!
What are some challenges/opportunities that NRC faces right now? The Japan travel market continues to face challenges following the pandemic, including the weak yen and higher travel costs. As a result, the number of Japanese visitors and rental car customers has not returned to previous levels. Our biggest challenge—and opportunity—is finding new ways to increase rental volume and make more Japanese visitors aware of the convenience of renting a car in Hawaii. We continue to review our services, locations, pricing, and promotional opportunities to help grow the business.
What do you like most about this department? One of the greatest strengths of the department is our team. Our NRC team consists of three full-time and one part-time staff members who support operations at three different locations. Each staff member is friendly, responsible, and committed to providing excellent service to our customers. Because we operate at multiple locations, teamwork, communication, and trust are extremely important. Our staff members support one another and work together to provide our customers with a positive experience. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated team representing Nippon Rent-A-Car Hawaii.
Additional information you’d like to share: As the Japan market continues to recover, we are looking for opportunities to expand our business and improve our services. We hope to welcome more Japanese visitors back to Hawaii and provide them with the friendly and reliable service that our NRC team is known for.
QUICKLY TRAVEL VISITS FAZENDA FORTALEZA, IN TAUBATÉ Quickly Travel - Inbound We were honored to be invited by Bisutti Fazenda Fortaleza for a closer look at this historic 1820 coffee estate, nestled in Taubaté, in the heart of the Vale do Paraíba, just two hours from São Paulo. Once a symbol of Brazil's colonial-era coffee culture, the property has been thoughtfully reimagined as an exclusive event venue, hosting only one celebration at a time so every group enjoys full privacy across its 800m² hall and grounds. With on-site lodging for up to 120 guests, a historic 1820 chapel, and warm, concierge-style hospitality, it left a lasting impression on our team. We're grateful for the opportunity to experience it firsthand, and excited to bring this kind of discovery into future Quickly Travel events.
e e y o l p Em
THIS MONTH’S
JTB Americas
Favorites
Cafe Lapin
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Recommendation by: Reiko Stiver (Tachibana) “Their sando are amazing, they are Japanese style. Crustless. Also, the barista makes a really good Japanese pudding!”
Do you have a place to share? 📧 Send your recommendation to: acrowell@jtbamericas.com
🗓️ Submissions accepted year-round
HY: WUse Performance Conversations to share your performance feedback
with your managers, and managers can respond to your comments. By using Conversations in Dayforce, your managers can easily refer to them during the performance review period resulting in more accurate review ratings.
: E R E H WTo start, log in to Dayforce using your “employee” role then go to Performance from your Favorites or navigation menu.
You can view and respond to all comments on the Conversations tab. You can also add comments to specific goals or competencies (minimum standards, essential job functions).
To leave a comment on a GOAL: Goals tab > select desired goal > click on the Comment icon
To leave a comment on a COMPETENCY: Competencies tab > select desired competency
In this bimonthly section, we’ll introduce tips to help you use Dayforce efficiently! Let’s learn how to use the Performance Conversations feature this month.
HOW: Look for the
Conversation text box > type in your comments > select a Category > update Display To if needed > Post
By default, your comment is visible to you, your manager, and your manager’s managers. Use the @ symbol and select desired employee if you wish to add them to the conversation. You will receive notifications in your Dayforce Message Center (and email if set up) when comments are added. To respond to a comment, look for the comment in the Conversations, Goals, or Competencies tabs, then click on Reply.
Have a tip you want to share with everyone? If so, email to mnakayama@jtb-hawaii.com.
Ongoing Series...
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...YOU!
Ever wondered how other JTB team members spend their day? We want to know how you spend your day, wherever you live, whether it’s in Europe, Asia, the Pacific region, Canada or the U.S., ANYWHERE on the globe. We will be featuring these Day in the Life segments in future newsletters to bridge connections between employees.
~ Please send us photos of your life, in a day ~ It can be any day, a work day or, your day off! Do you commute to the office or, work remotely? If you commute, do you take a train, bus, car or, walk to the office? We’d like to see you in your mode of transportation. Give us a mini tour of your office too! If it’s your day off, what is your usual day-off routine, if you have one? What is a typical meal in a day? How do you spend your time after the workday is over? Please share your “day in the life” with the rest of your JTB Family/’Ohana - submissions always welcome Please send your photos & captions to: acrowell@jtbamericas.com
We value your feedback! Your thoughts and ideas are incredibly important to us. We want to ensure our newsletter continues to provide you with valuable and engaging content. Please take a moment to share your feedback, suggestions, and ideas through our Suggestion Box. Your input helps us improve and tailor our content to better meet your needs. Click [here] to submit your thoughts.
Thank you 2026 JTB AMERICAS ALL GROUP NEWSLETTER