The inaugural three-day Connect Marketplace Hong Kong concluded on a high note, having facilitated over 1,500 pre-arranged one-on-one business meetings, and attracting more than 5,000 buyers to its networking events and conferences.
A key highlight of the event was the signing ceremony for the Better Stands Program by the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA). This programme, initiated by Informa Markets Asia in 2023, aims to establish a new benchmark for environmentally-responsible practices within the industry.
Margaret Ma Connolly, president and CEO of Informa Markets Asia, told TTGmice: “Following its launch in Europe in 2022, we brought this programme to Asia a year later. We are piloting this idea across all our shows, where our booths are entirely reusable.
“HKECIA is our first partner, and we intend to get all industry associations to sign up and help promote this initiative. This is just the beginning. Our goal for next year is to roll it out in many more countries.”
Connolly also highlighted that Connect Marketplace, the inaugural Asian edition that followed a successful run in the US, was achieved with a rapid three-month turnaround.
“Over 600 hosted buyers arrived with a strong commitment to participate in numerous meetings. We are confident that the show will be significantly larger in 2026,” said Connolly
She further elaborated on the show’s growth potential: “With this proven concept, we can scale it further. There’s an opportunity for deeper engagement within each segment of meetings, conventions, incentives, and exhibitions. The region needs a dedicated platform like this. For us, it’s also crucial to connect with more ecosystem partners, especially given the many changes in the post-Covid period.”
Charles Ng, associate director-general of investment promotion at Invest Hong Kong and the event’s guest-of-honour, emphasised the timely nature of Connect Marketplace. He noted its effectiveness in bringing corporate travel managers and travel product and service providers together in one place.
Sven Cheng from the sales department of the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center also spoke highly of the event: “It’s a splendid platform for us to connect with new clients and promote exchange with international stakeholders, allowing us to explore further collaboration and new opportunities.”
Meanwhile, hosted buyer Stephen Thomas, chief financial officer with Australia-headquartered Sanzar, shared that achieved his goal of discovering new ideas and suppliers at the event.
“While our primary focus is on rugby teams, we also handle a smaller volume of FIT travel and plan to expand this segment,” Thomas said.
