HONG KONG – As 2020 rings in Hong Kong continues to be a major MICE destination for business event planners around the globe. After hosting several of Asia’s premier events in the last quarter of 2019 and a robust calendar already set for this year the city’s MICE industry has fresh optimism for 2020.
High-level event organisers choose Hong Kong
Recent successful events include the Hong Kong Fintech Week at Asia World-Expo in November, which attracted over 12,000 delegates from the Greater Bay Area, Mainland China, and over 60 other countries.
“There’s no such event like Hong Kong Fintech Week anywhere in the world. Hong Kong is a great place for innovation, financial technology, start-ups and banks,” said Anthony Sar, CEO and founder of FINNOVASIA.
“There’s no such event like Hong Kong Fintech Week anywhere in the world. Hong Kong is a great place for innovation, financial technology, start-ups and banks.”
- Anthony Sar, CEO and founder of FINNOVASIA.
It is clear that planners remain in awe of the host’s capabilities. Case in point: The Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) 2019 attracted C-suite executives and hoteliers from 28 countries in October, and organisers attributed it to Hong Kong’s enduring allure as a top MICE destination.
“The reputation of Hong Kong as a city of investment drew quality delegates from the hotel investment community,” said Jeff Higley, president of The BHN Group. “Hong Kong is a centre for economy in this region and this is the place that our delegates wanted to be.”
Top choice for seamless connectivity
Lest we forget, Hong Kong’s hardware remains the best-in-class in Asia. Serviced by the Hong Kong International Airport, the High-Speed Rail, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the city enjoys unparalleled international and regional transport connectivity.
“Hong Kong is an amazing city. It has great connectivity, as there are a lot of link connections between Hong Kong and the rest of the world,” said Georgina Ferri Tordera, Chief Revenue and Innovation Officer, ARA, who was a speaker at Digital Media Asia. “It is an amazing place to visit for business, for sightseeing and for being with the family.”
In addition, its world-class infrastructure – from over 83,000 hotel rooms and spectacular MICE venues such as the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center and Asia World-Expo – means it has always been a top choice for planners.
The attendance of the EMNLP-IJCNLP conference far exceeded planner’s expectation and became the largest of its kind in the region.
“Hong Kong came out way ahead (of other proposed locations) and we are so happy because this venue has turned out to be perfect,” said Priscilla Rasmussen, business manager of Association for Computational Linguistics in the US, and organiser of the EMNLP-IJCNLP conference.
In fact, mainland Chinese delegates were keen to come thanks to the city’s connectivity, cultural familiarity and welcoming environment.
“The infrastructure are top-notch, which makes it ideal for mainland participants to come for exchange. In terms of attendance scale, this event has by far exceeded any past conferences in the region,” said Professor Zhao Dong-yan of Peking University, who attended the EMNLP-IJCNLP conference.
Hospitable, professional city where planners keep returning
The success of the events was made possible by the efforts of Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK). A division of Hong Kong Tourism Board, MEHK supports MICE planners with free advisory services, offers of cultural experiences, support schemes, and ongoing assistance from beginning to the end of their trips.
Due to Hong Kong’s enduring allure as a top MICE destination, the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) 2019 attracted C-suite executives and hoteliers from 28 countries in October.
“The regulators, the bureau, the government all really proactively support the community and the development of fintech in Hong Kong,” said FINNOVASIA’s Mr Sar.
At the airport, counters provide real-time updates on the city’s news and traffic situation, giving visitors peace of mind as they go about the city for their events.
“We are committed to Hong Kong... It is a very hospitable city with wonderful venues and partners. We are here to get the word out that Hong Kong is a dynamic and safe environment. There’s no reason not to come.”
- Tom Kemp, chairman and CEO of Northstar Travel Group
With such support, it is no wonder planners keep returning to Hong Kong. In the first quarter of 2020 alone, the city will be hosting major international events such as the 10th Asia Pacific Congenital & Structural Heart Intervention Symposium, the 3rd International Cargo Alliance Conference, as well as the International Conference on Gerontechnology, among others.
“We are committed to Hong Kong... It is a very hospitable city with wonderful venues and partners. We are here to get the word out that Hong Kong is a dynamic and safe environment. There’s no reason not to come,” said Tom Kemp, the chairman and CEO of Northstar Travel Group which organises the annual HICAP event.
This article is produced in collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board.