From left: (back row) Dan Ye,VP of Informa Markets; Marilyn Tham, HKTB GM of Mega Events, MICE & Cruise; Joanne Chu, acting commissioner for Tourism; Peter Lam, HKTB chairman; Stephen Carter, group CEO Informa Group; Enid Low, CSO of AsiaWorld-Expo; Suzanne Wang. CFP of Informa Markets Asia; Michael Duck, EVP Commercial Development of Informa Markets Asia; (front row) Anthony Lau, HKTB executive director; Margaret Ma Connolly, president & CEO of Informa Markets Asia.
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with Informa Markets to jointly develop and host a new luxury-focused MICE platform in Hong Kong from 2026 to 2028.
Under the agreement, the two parties will position Hong Kong as the host destination for The Festival of Connoisseurs (TFOC), a new exhibition-led event platform spanning sectors such as supercars, yachts, jewellery and watches, private aviation, luxury travel, fine dining, wellness and art.
The partnership aims to establish TFOC as an annual flagship event while progressively expanding its scale and international reach over the three-year term.
Unlike conventional trade exhibitions centred around a single venue, TFOC will adopt a “city-as-your-showroom” model, extending activations across multiple locations and landmarks throughout Hong Kong. The format is designed to combine trade exhibition elements with consumer-facing luxury experiences in a B2B2C approach targeting both professional buyers and high-spending travellers.
As part of the collaboration, HKTB will also participate in five established international luxury exhibitions organised by Informa Markets to promote Hong Kong’s MICE and tourism offerings to global audiences.
These include the Monaco Yacht Show, Palm Beach International Boat Show, Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Jewellery Arabia and Top Marques Monaco.
The partnership will also see Top Marques Monaco staged in Asia for the first time through an extension into Hong Kong.
The memorandum was signed in Hong Kong by HKTB executive director Anthony Lau and Informa Markets Asia president and CEO Margaret Ma Connolly.