July's Hong Kong Book Fair welcomed more than 830,000 visits in just one-week.
More than 830,000 people passed through Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre's (HKCEC) doors for the recent Hong Kong Book Fair — which Hong Kong Tourism Board says is a sign of strong exhibition resumption in Q3.
The city's largest annual fair ran from 14 to 20 July, capturing some 85% of pre-pandemic crowds.
Thanks to momentum from Q2, Q3 is looking even stronger with over 30 exhibitions scheduled — almost double the number in the previous quarter.
Events set to take place in Q3 include the 2021 Hong Kong Brands & Products Shopping Festival and the Puppy Summer Fun Expo in August, both debuting at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE).
CEO of AWE, Irene Chan.To manage the return of some of the city's largest events, AWE recently pumped in HK$600 million (US$77.4 million) for "the latest hygiene enhancement and facilities upgrade to welcome everyone with top-notch experiences," said Irene Chan, CEO of AWE.
Delegates at AWE events will for instance be the first in the local MICE industry to experience Wi-Fi 6, movable hybrid meeting booth Mobile Studio, and an advanced ozone disinfection system to give venue users greater peace of mind.
Likewise for HKCEC — which hosted 20 exhibitions in just two months (April - June) and more than a million physical delegates — planners can book the recently launched hybrid meeting facility, Harbour Studio.
Major shows in Q3 for HKCEC include the 16th MICE Travel Expo & 35th International Travel Expo, Informa’s HOFEX and Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong, and the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair.
In the eyes of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the destination is ready to host large-scaled business events.
"The gradual recovery of the local economy will lead to the return of more physical public shows, and the HKTDC is preparing to stage more exhibitions to give a further boost to the recovery," said HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, Benjamin Chau.