H.I.S.

H.I.S.
Name	H.I.S.
Native name	H.I.S. Co., Ltd.
Founded	1980
Founder	Yoshiaki Shiono
Headquarters	Tokyo, Chiyoda
Industry	Travel agency

H.I.S. is a Tokyo-based travel agency founded in 1980 by Yoshiaki Shiono that grew into a global tourism and hospitality conglomerate known for package tours, airline ticketing, and inbound services. The company expanded during the Bubble Era and post-bubble recession, interacting with entities such as Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, British Airways, and Air France while undertaking mergers and investments that involved firms like JTB Corporation, Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Rakuten, and SoftBank. H.I.S. has engaged in ventures spanning hotels, theme parks, and cruise operations, negotiating with partners including Carnival Corporation & plc, Mitsubishi Estate, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, AccorHotels, and TUI Group.

History

Founded in 1980 by Yoshiaki Shiono amid Japan’s postwar economic development, the company initially competed with established travel houses such as JTB Corporation, Kinki Nippon Tourist, Nippon Travel Agency, and Hankyu Travel International. During the 1980s and 1990s H.I.S. leveraged low-cost package strategies comparable to carriers like Southwest Airlines and distributors like Priceline to expand retail outlets across Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, later opening offices in New York City, London, Paris, Sydney, and Shanghai. The firm weathered events including the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2001 Afghanistan conflict, the 2008 global financial crisis, and disruptions from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, adapting operations similar to peers such as Expedia and Booking.com. In the 2010s H.I.S. diversified into hospitality and leisure, investing in properties linked to groups like Mitsui Fudosan, Nomura Real Estate, Marriott International, and engaging with government tourism initiatives promoted by the Japan Tourism Agency.

Business Operations

H.I.S.’s core operations include retail travel sales, corporate travel management, inbound tourism for markets such as China, South Korea, Taiwan, United States, and Australia, and outbound tour packages to destinations like Hawaii, Bali, Thailand, Europe, and South America. The company interacts with aviation partners including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and with hospitality brands such as Hilton Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and AccorHotels. H.I.S. also provides cruise bookings in coordination with lines like Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises, and offers corporate services comparable to BCD Travel and American Express Global Business Travel. Its distribution networks operate alongside online platforms like Expedia Group, Rakuten Travel, and TripAdvisor.

Products and Services

The product portfolio covers packaged tours, flight-only bookings, hotel reservations, rail passes such as those for JR, inbound escorted tours, visa assistance, travel insurance, and MICE services for events with venues like Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe. H.I.S. has developed branded hotel projects in partnership with groups like Hyatt, Accor, and Mitsubishi Estate and has promoted attractions involving companies such as Universal Parks & Resorts and The Walt Disney Company. Services extend to niche offerings including adventure travel to regions like Antarctica and Galápagos Islands, luxury itineraries using operators like Abercrombie & Kent, and low-cost leisure options modeled on budget carriers such as Ryanair.

Corporate Structure and Ownership

Originally privately held by founder Yoshiaki Shiono, the corporate structure evolved through subsidiaries, joint ventures, and listed entities interacting with financial institutions including Mizuho Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Nomura Holdings. Strategic alliances and equity stakes have connected H.I.S. with companies such as Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Itochu Corporation, SoftBank Group, and investment firms like Japan Industrial Partners. The boardroom has featured executives with experience at multinational firms and has had to coordinate compliance with regulators including the Japan Financial Services Agency and local municipal authorities in jurisdictions like New York State and Hong Kong.

International Expansion

H.I.S. expanded overseas through branch offices, acquisitions, and partnerships in regions including North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Greater China, Oceania, and the Middle East. Notable international moves mirrored strategies of peers such as TUI Group and Thomas Cook Group by targeting inbound tourism to Japan from markets like China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia, United Kingdom, Brazil, and United States. The company negotiated bilateral relationships with national tourism boards including JNTO, VisitBritain, Tourism Australia, Thailand Tourism Authority, and provincial agencies in Hokkaido and Okinawa.

Controversies and Legal Issues

H.I.S. has faced disputes over consumer refunds, contractual disagreements with carriers such as Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, and regulatory scrutiny related to commission structures and licensing in markets including Singapore, United Kingdom, and Australia. Litigation and administrative inquiries paralleled cases seen by competitors like JTB Corporation and international agencies such as Expedia and Booking Holdings. The company has navigated crisis responses to incidents including natural disasters, flight cancellations during pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and compliance investigations involving local authorities in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Seoul.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sponsorships

H.I.S. engages in CSR initiatives tied to cultural promotion, disaster relief, and tourism sustainability, partnering with organizations like Japan Platform, UN World Tourism Organization, UNICEF, WWF, and regional conservation groups in places such as Okinawa and Aso. Sponsorships have included sporting events and cultural festivals associated with entities like Japan Football Association, All Nippon Airways, NHK, and municipal tourism campaigns in Sapporo and Kyoto. The company’s philanthropic and marketing collaborations reflect models used by multinational hospitality firms including Marriott International, Hilton, and AccorHotels.

Category:Travel and holiday companies of Japan