Major events are filling Hong Kong’s 2025 calendar, boosting the city’s business events sector and driving hotel demand
Hong Kong’s business events industry is roaring back to life, fuelled by over 140 major events already booked for 2025.
Among these, the city will host several significant “firsts” for the region. Events that have taken place include Consensus Hong Kong 2025 (February 18-20), and Sports Law Mega Event 2025 (February 20-23), while Connect Marketplace will take place from March 19-21.
Later in the year, the city will welcome major aviation shows like Routes World 2025 (September 24-26), and Airspace Asia Pacific 2025 (December 9-11), as well as large-scale meetings such as the Asia Pacific Herbalife Extravaganza (June 16-18).
To maintain this growth momentum, Hong Kong is driving a wave of significant hardware developments and upgrades.
For instance, the Kai Tak Sports Park – which opened in March 2025 – will be a key site for the 15th National Games. The newly-opened Go Park Sai Sha, a 120,903m2 complex designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, offers a mix of indoor and outdoor sports, entertainment, dining, and leisure experiences. The East Kowloon Cultural Centre is another significant addition.
Other upcoming venues include the WestK Performing Arts Centre, set to open in 2026 within the West Kowloon Cultural District; and the Skytopia development that will include Phase 2 of AsiaWorld-Expo, set to be Hong Kong’s largest indoor purpose-built performance venue with a capacity of 20,000 spectators.
This optimism extends to Hong Kong’s hotels, which are also experiencing a surge in business-related bookings and enquiries.
Following a successful year for group business, driven by the resurgence of business events, the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong is optimistic about 2025, as it is already seeing strong interest in group bookings.
The property’s commercial director, Anna Wong, plans to leverage citywide events, and the new Kai Tak Sports Park, to attract entertainment and sports-related groups, diversifying the hotel’s target industries beyond banking and finance.
“We plan to broaden our market appeal by reaching out to Indian social groups for weddings and celebrations, entertainment and family groups from South-east Asia, and government delegations from the Middle East,” she explained.
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has also taken proactive steps to attract key business events, including strategic initiatives to adapt to changing market conditions and a focus on developing opportunities in the sports and entertainment industries.
The spokesperson stated: “Over the next year, our Hong Kong business hotels (Island Shangri-La, Kowloon Shangri-La, and Kerry Hotel Hong Kong) will target key markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, China, India, and the Middle East, to attract corporate clients and business events.
“We will leverage our newly-renovated grand ballroom at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, to cater to the sophisticated needs of our clients; as well as Kowloon Shangri-La’s prestigious 5 Crescent Rating (the first in Hong Kong), to cater to the growing Muslim market segment.”
The spokesperson agreed with Wong’s assessment of the opportunities in the sports and entertainment sectors, and is planning to “capitalise on infrastructure developments such as the Kai Tak Sports Park”, and the expansion of Hong Kong International Airport.
“These enhancements will increase Hong Kong’s capacity to host large-scale events and improve international accessibility, making our hotels more attractive to global event organisers and business travellers,” the spokesperson said.
Also keen on targeting the Middle East market is Momentous Asia Travel & Events’ general manager Doris Lam.
“Initial enquiries have been primarily for small meetings, typically involving 10 to 20 attendees. We are also pursuing opportunities with international associations for larger events, targeting gatherings of several hundred participants for 2026 and beyond,” she added.
On the accommodation front, the 1,000-room Hopewell Hotel, which soft-opened in late 2024, has added over 6,500m2 of column-free function space.
“New venues like the Hopewell Hotel really help, bridging the gap of hotel ballrooms not big enough, and when the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre can’t offer any space,” shared Lam.
Lanson Place has also recently reopened its flagship 188-key Causeway Bay property following a 16-month-long refurbishment, catering primarily to corporate and bleisure travellers working in the commercial districts of Causeway Bay, Central, Admiralty, and Quarry Bay.
“The Hong Kong government has been unwavering in its efforts to promote Hong Kong as a leading MICE destination. For example, relocating the Rugby Sevens event to the larger Kai Tak Sports Park will effectively demonstrate Hong Kong’s ability to host high-profile events.
“Through collaborative initiatives between the tourism industry and the government, the city’s reputation as a prominent MICE hub is anticipated to be further solidified,” Danny Tse, area general manager of Lanson Place Causeway Bay, told TTGmice. – additional reporting by Rachel AJ Lee
