Ambassadors from 12 sectors in Hong Kong’s hospitality and tourism came together for a night honouring and celebrating their achievements. Photo Credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board
12 sectors, 70 conventions, 70,000 visitors: That was the focus of
the revelries at the recent Hong Kong Convention Ambassador (HKCA)
Appreciation Night, held on 20 May at Rosewood Hong Kong.
Hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the event honoured
ambassadors across 12 sectors for their success in bringing 70
conventions to Hong Kong, bringing in world-class events and
conferences, and attracting 70,000 high-spending visitors to the city.
HKTB chairman Dr Pang You-Kai said: “The HKCAs have collectively
achieved resounding success by bringing in conventions of their
respective sectors, ranging from medical sciences to innovation &
technology, financial services, aviation & transportation,
professional services and more. These world-class conventions are a
strong testament to Hong Kong as a premier MICE destination and
underline the city’s position as a leading international business hub.”
“Driving Success Together, as One”
One major highlight of the Appreciation Night was a panel discussion
comprising several industry experts, including HKTB’s Pang; Angela Yau
Shing-Yam, director of the Hong Kong Harp Society; Dr Janice Tsang,
oncology specialist and clinical assistant professor at the University
of Hong Kong’s Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine; and Vivian Cheung, COO
of the Airport Authority Hong Kong.
Cheung shared how the Hong Kong International Airport managed to
secure multiple conventions and exhibitions to the city, recounting:
“Hong Kong’s role as an international aviation hub and our track record
as the world No. 1 air cargo hub, coupled with the latest development of
the Airport City, make it an ideal city for global aviation pioneers to
push forward high-level exchanges in our city.”
Major events include the recent IATA World Cargo Symposium 2024, as well as the upcoming Super Terminal Expo 2024 and Routes World 2025.
The “Driving Success Together, as One” panel discussion brought experts together to share their insights.From the medical industry, Dr Tsang shared that the field of medical
sciences took the lion’s share of industry ambassadors, with regional
and global medical congresses comprising more than half of recent event
wins.
“Thanks to the collective efforts of the medical community, Hong Kong
has a high professional standing in medicine and a passionate community
that makes Hong Kong the place to meet,” she said. “More importantly,
the professional bidding support from the HKTB – from venue solicitation
to bid proposal preparation, site inspection support and more – has
been crucial for bid success.”
As an international financial centre, the city has also recently
secured a number of insurance conventions, including the East Asian
Insurance Congress 2024 slated for 24-27 September, and GAMA LAMP Asia
2024 on 7-9 October. Together, the events are expected to bring in close
to 3,000 overseas delegates.
Selina Lau, chief executive of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers,
said: “From an insurance industry standpoint, 12 of the 20 largest
insurance companies globally maintain an operational presence in Hong
Kong. The city's robust fundamentals, favourable policies, and robust
systems provide a conducive environment for the insurance market to
flourish."
From innovation and technology to arts and culture, the HKCA
Appreciation Night celebrated a host of achievements across other
sectors in the tourism and hospitality industry, including the upcoming
technology and Web3 events SmartCon 2024 and Consensus Hong Kong 2025.
With a growing HKCA alliance, backed by strong government support and
HKTB’s redoubled strategic bidding efforts, Hong Kong will further
reinforce its value proposition for hosting successful conventions and
events, leveraging the city’s business settings and unique position as a
super-connector.