Building on the meetings momentum
As we move through 2025, Hong Kong continues to build on the incredible momentum from 2024, when the territory received 1.42m overnight MICE visitors. This represented an increase of 10% year-on-year. The importance of the international market is clear: Last year, half of all visitors who came for MICE events came from overseas, and the exhibition segment accounted for over 20% of that. The appeal of Hong Kong is truly international.
Success is not new and Hong Kong has long been recognised as international trade fair capital of Asia. The drawing power is backed by strong governmental support, an excellent business set-up and infrastructure, as well as a destination appeal that allows every show to thrive and leaves visitors rewarded in many dimensions.
The destination is also full of key professional players in the business events and tourism sector and they echo the sentiment that the territory has special appeal. “In 2025, Hong Kong not only plays host to prestigious high-yield business events but also stages a wide spectrum of mega art and culture, sports and entertainment events. These events will create the synergy of enriching the overall destination experiences for exhibition visitors, driving longer lengths of stay and delivering tremendous benefits to Hong Kong’s economy,” is the opinion of Marilyn Tham, general manager, MICE & Cruise Division, at Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).
Star line-up of shows set for 2025
This year, the city will host over 90 trade shows, including all the recurrent shows of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Global Sources, Informa Markets and ComAsia, but also key events such as APLF Leather, the biennial HOFEX & ProWine Hong Kong and returning IAAPA Expo Asia in 2026. For Informa Markets, on top of the range of recurrent shows, they are also bringing their flagship MICE trade shows and geo-adapting into the APAC region, considering Hong Kong as the destination of choice for global expansion. A case in point being last year’s inaugural Super Terminal Expo.
Impressive leap forward for results and line-up
Hong Kong’s two world-leading convention centres continue to record impressive results. Managing director of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), Monica Lee-Müller, says that trade exhibitions at the HKCEC fully returned to pre-pandemic levels fully in 2024, achieving a “100% recovery”. She reports that 812 events were held at the venue throughout last year, including 33 new exhibitions and conferences, as well as approximately 100 international ones.
Lee notes that Hong Kong continues to be the preferred destination for international events in Asia, citing the accessibility of HKCEC, which is located in the business district, and backed up by high-quality services.
Organisers and their delegates are voting with their feet: In February, Consensus Hong Kong 2025 attracted 10,000 professionals from the crypto, blockchain, and Web3 sectors from across 102 countries and regions, including 7,500 non-locals, and, in July next year, HKCEC will host the first overseas edition of the fintech, gaming and robotics show, Leap, introducing a new series called Leap East as it expands into Asia.
With a number of inaugural conventions and exhibitions taking place in AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), ranging from the flagship MICE trade show Connect Marketplace Hong Kong, the aviation show of Airspace Asia, to the exhibition industry’s global gathering at the UFI Congress in November, AWE is proud to share its strategic location, which is strengthened even further by the new development of the airport area and the Greater Bay Area.
AsiaWorld-Expo CEO Irene Chan says: “Located at the heart of Mainland China’s fast-growing Greater Bay Area, AWE is the perfect showcase of the synergies and rich potential of this vibrant market.” The CEO also underlines 2025 is a landmark year due to the ongoing development of SKYCITY.
Global flagship MICE trade events converge in Hong Kong
Ahead of the UFI Global Congress in November, Michael Duck, executive VP at Informa and past UFI president, points out the Congress concludes a multi-year tour through the world’s leading exhibition markets in 2025 – after the USA in 2023 and Germany in 2024. “Hong Kong will take the global UFI community to Greater China. We will also be able to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of AsiaWorld-Expo together with our hosts,” he says.
Connect Marketplace, one of the prominent MICE trade shows originating from North America, launched its inaugural APAC version in March. Margaret Ma Connolly, president and CEO of Informa Markets in Asia, which organised the event, offers another ringing endorsement of the host destination: “With its unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures, status as a global business hub, world-class infrastructure and extensive experience in hosting large-scale international MICE events, Hong Kong is the ideal destination for Connect Marketplace’s expansion from North America to Asia.”
A literal future attraction is IAAPA Expo Asia 2026 – the largest trade show for the attractions industry in Asia Pacific, which will also converge in Hong Kong.
Unmatched incentives for exhibitions
Post Covid the Hong Kong authorities have been quick to support a sector they know is vital to the trade and knowledge economy. A thriving exhibitions scene now comes with unrivalled incentives offered by the Hong Kong Government. Stuart Bailey, chairman of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association, explains: “The Hong Kong government has injected HK$500m (US$64m) to continue the venue rental subsidy for new and recurrent large international exhibitions until the end of June 2026. Coupled with HKTB’s extensive financial subsidies and enhanced hospitality for new international exhibitions, these unmatched destination incentives position Hong Kong as a smart choice for organisers and attendees alike.”
Future-proof infrastructure for mega shows and events
Muslim-Friendly Facilities
Apart from providing a launchpad for growth for organisers, Hong Kong is also striving to enhance facilities to all types of visitors. To cater to the Muslim groups, the two flagship venues, AWE and HKCEC have recently been certified as Muslim-friendly by CrescentRating, and provide prayer spaces and halal-certified food. They are also joined by over 140 more Muslim-friendly dining outlets in the city, serving the growing Muslim population.
To address further major growth of the industry and meet international demand, Hong Kong is planning expansion of its MICE infrastructure, with both AsiaWorld-Expo and HKCEC set to undergo substantial development.
Kai Tak Sports Park
And Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong’s largest multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex, able to house up to 50,000 spectators, wowed spectators and the market with its grand opening on 1 March, since when the city has quickly fired up the mega sports and entertainment scene with Hong Kong Sevens and Coldplay’s the “Music of the Spheres” world tour.
Flying higher with a three-runway system and Skytopia
At Hong Kong International Airport, the launch of the three-runway system and the visionary Skytopia project herald in a new era of connectivity and innovation. ‘Sportainment’ complex Skytopia is set to become a world-class landmark where business activities, leisure experiences, art and culture, marina and water recreation all converge in one place.
The fully operational three-runway system will serve 120m passengers and handle 10m tonnes of cargo annually, cementing Hong Kong’s status as a “super connector”.
Exhibiting: a rewarding experience in Hong Kong
This year, the HKTB has renewed the Hong Kong Rewards! Programme and joined forces with industry partners to develop privileges tailored for exhibitions.
Exhibition visitors can enjoy an array of exclusive offers and benefits from the moment they arrive in Hong Kong. These include rail offers and cultural experiences. What better way than maximising both business potential and rewarding experiences in one short trip? Hong Kong has the best of both worlds.
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