The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is basking in a raft of new convention wins in 2023, where professionals in the fields of information and technology (I&T), medical, financial services and education planning have opted to hold their events in Hong Kong.
One of this year’s major wins is the EDGE Global AI & Web3 Investment Summit 2023 from the I&T sector. The inaugural event will be hosted in September 2023 in Hong Kong, and is expected to bring in 10,000 visitors. This major win followed the city’s recent hosting of a number of Web3 events, including FOMO Asia Genesis Conference and WOW Summit 2023, which marked its entry into Asia Pacific.
Another major win – the Insurtech Insights Asia 2023 Conference, which will take place in December 2023 with an expected attendance of 3,000 – highlights the city’s strong fundamentals, international business connections, as well as government support in the insurance, insurtech and I&T sectors.
This year, the city is already recording a packed calendar of conventions, in which the medical sector has taken the lion’s share, including the 44th Asia Pacific Dental Congress 2023 in June, and the 16th Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Session, in conjunction with CardioRhythm, in September 2023.
Kenneth Wong, HKTB’s general manager, MICE & cruise, said in a press release: “The growing demand is providing a welcome stimulus for Hong Kong’s economy. Thanks to Hong Kong’s leading status across various industries and tremendous opportunities brought by the Greater Bay Area (GBA), we are delighted that Hong Kong further strengthens its status as the World’s Meeting Place and remains a top choice among convention organisers.”
Back in 2020, the HKTB introduced the Hong Kong Convention Ambassador (HKCA) programme, and since then, industry leaders have brought around 40 events to Hong Kong. This year, the HKTB appointed 140 industry leaders from Hong Kong and Mainland China, which marks the HKCA programme expansion to Mainland China for the very first time.
Wong added: “The formulation of the ambassador programme gives Hong Kong an edge in securing world-class conventions. We are very grateful for the support from local leaders, as well as our mainland counterparts. With close collaboration, we can showcase Hong Kong’s unique role as a super-connector and a MICE hub of the GBA to capture boundless opportunities for business events.”
