Hong Kong is back in the meetings business, big time

HONG KONG Tourism Board (HKTB) has announced that Hong Kong has been recently chosen as the host city for four international MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) events, including the city’s first-ever events of high strategic values, and two repeated events amidst the COVID-19 challenges.

These business events are expected to bring in about 10,000 high-yield visitors in total and deliver great economic contribution to the city and drive multi-sector development, according to HKTB chairman, YK Pang, 

“We are excited to see Hong Kong winning such strategically important MICE events against competitors around the world," Dr YK Pang said.

"It is encouraging to see major events to be held in our city for the very first time, such as the International Airline Transport Association (IATA) World Cargo Symposium, Asia Sports Technology Conference and the Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) 2023. It demonstrates international event organisers’ confidence in Hong Kong as a strategic, safe and hygienic destination for high-profile business events.

"The HKTB will continue to proactively engage international and Hong Kong organisers to bid for hosting rights of major MICE events and step up efforts in attracting repeated events with a view to maintain Hong Kong’s status as The World’s Meeting Place.”

One of the MICE strategic focuses of the HKTB is medical science. The winning of The Congress of Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (ASCI) 2022 certainly gives Hong Kong’s MICE industry a shot in the arm. 

Dr Lilian Leong, founding president and immediate past president of the Hong Kong College of Radiologists, pointed out the city’s reputation in related profession and all-round support to MICE organisers were the key winning factors of the bid.

“Hong Kong’s world-leading position in medical science, especially in radiology and cardiology, certainly sets it apart from its competitions," Dr Leong said. "Also, Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK), a division of the HKTB, provides professional one-stop services in every step since the bidding stage. We are grateful for the support we received.”

Another event organiser,  Phillip King, founder and chairman of Varcis Group Ltd, explained his decision of why Hong Kong is chosen to host the first Asia Sports Technology Conference in the Greater China region.

“As the gateway to Mainland China and its burgeoning sports market, with a superb infrastructure, strong financial and investment credentials, excellent IP protection and common law, plus an excellent Innovation and Technology Hub with a thriving start-up ecosystem, Hong Kong is the ideal destination for hosting this first-ever sports tech conference in the Greater China region, as it also plays a pivotal role in the Greater Bay Area," Mr King said. "We strongly believe we will draw one of the largest number of attendees from the APEC region for a sports tech event hosted in Asia.”

Hong Kong’s unrivalled core strengths also attract the return of past events, according to Dr Pang.

Vertical Expo Services Company Limited chief executive and organiser of Asia Funeral and Cemetery Expo and Conference 2021, Kenny Lo casted his vote of confidence in Hong Kong.

"Since the first edition came to Hong Kong back in 2009, the show has gradually developed into the largest international expo and conference of its kind in the Asia Pacific region," Mr Lo said. "We have every confidence that the city will bring our next three editions to even greater height.”

The HKTB has prepared a series of recovery campaigns for the MICE industry and is closely monitoring the development of the pandemic in various source markets. The campaigns will be launched when the time is right.

Details of the events are:

Event	Highlights	Expected size	Proposed date
Asia Sports Technology Conference 2021	First B2B sports tech conference held in Hong Kong and the Greater China region	1,100	First Quarter of 2021
International Airline Transport Association (IATA) World Cargo Symposium 2022	·         Largest international air cargo convention ·         First time in Hong Kong	1,200	Mar 2022
The Congress of Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (ASCI) 2022	Returned to Hong Kong after 11 years since Hong Kong last held the congress in 2011	700	Jun 2022
The Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) 2023	·         Asia’s largest and longest running medical convention on transplantation ·         First time in Hong Kong	1,200	Aug 2023
Asia Crypto Week in 2021	Largest cryptocurrency and blockchain technology event in Asia	>2,000	Mar 2021
Asia Funeral and Cemetery Expo & Conference 2021, 2023 & 2025	Largest of the trade in Asia	6,400	2021, 2023, 2025

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