Business events hotels in Hong Kong report that recovery has so far been limited to shorthaul markets due to restricted longhaul air capacity and high airfares discouraging business events in the city.
Anna Wong, director of marketing at Four Seasons Hong Kong, shared that there were factors hindering full recovery and growth, such as the “strong Hong Kong dollar, slow longhaul flight recovery, and high interest rates”.
However, she believes that Hong Kong is still in a good position to host business events, playing to its strength as a global financial hub. In fact, the Four Seasons Hong Kong hosted a large-scale buyout from a global banking institution for four consecutive days.
Wong shared that the hotel stays ahead of the competition by creating a slew of experiences to enrich on- and off-site experiences, such as sunset cruises, Michelin-star dining, and cultural tours. The Four Seasons Hong Kong also recently completed its renovations to its guestrooms, lobby area, and F&B offerings.
General manager of JW Marriott Hong Kong, GP Yeow, told TTGmice that his property currently relies on shorthaul markets. However, even if events are held in the hotel, some delegates opt to “stay in Shenzhen as it is only a 40-minute ride by MTR and room rates are lower”.
Yeow too, is confident that business events will eventually pick up, and is trying to entice business events with two brand new event venues onsite. These include the PRESIDEN dining room featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, and HarborDen, a semi-outdoor space with harbour views. Located on Level 7, both venues can be combined to accommodate 80-100 persons in cocktail style.
Meanwhile, the Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, is undergoing renovations, and will soon welcome a new ballroom opening in Autumn 2024. It recently completed renovations of The Library & Atrium, and added modern technology to meet the needs of today’s business events.
A spokesperson shared that business has been relatively brisk, having hosted a number of business events organised by international organisations.
