In a landmark decision that underscores Hong Kong’s ascendancy in the global Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) landscape, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has triumphantly clinched the opportunity to host the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific 2025. This prestigious event, set to unfold in Spring 2025, symbolizes a significant milestone for Hong Kong and the entire Asia-Pacific region.

IBTM, a globally renowned brand in the MICE sector, traditionally held its world-class events in cities like Barcelona, Spain. The announcement of Hong Kong as the host city for the 2025 edition, made by Kenneth Wong, General Manager, MICE & Cruise, Regional Director, Europe of HKTB, and Vasyl Zhygalo, IBTM Portfolio Director, during a press conference at IBTM World 2023, has sent ripples of excitement across the industry.

Team Hong Kong celebrates the IBTM Asia Pacific 2025 announcement at Hong Kong Stand with a lion dance performance.

The event will draw over 1,500 travel trade and MICE professionals from diverse geographies, including Mainland China, Southeast Asia, India, Japan, South Korea, and other pivotal markets. It’s not merely a gathering; it’s a fertile ground for synergies between Hong Kong, Mainland, and international travel agents, hotels, MICE venues, attractions, airlines, and other industry stakeholders.

Dr. Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of HKTB, articulated the significance of this development, stating, “IBTM’s decision to anchor its flagship trade show in Hong Kong is a resounding endorsement of our city’s global stature and its strategic role as the nexus of the Greater Bay Area (GBA). This event will not only bring a surge of high-value visitors from the global travel and MICE sector to our shores but also amplify Hong Kong’s allure as a premier destination for more such prestigious events.”

Affirming Hong Kong’s status as an international MICE hub, Vasyl Zhygalo highlighted Hong Kong’s array of competitive advantages: diverse venues, seamless transportation, and comprehensive professional support. Its geographical positioning as a bridge between the world and Mainland China, especially the GBA cities, renders Hong Kong an ideal locale for such a significant event.

The bid to bring this flagship event to Hong Kong was a concerted effort by HKTB, alongside vital local partners such as the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Hotels Association, and others. The pitch emphasized Hong Kong’s tourism dynamism, its unique positioning in the global landscape, and its potential to foster multi-destination tourism within the GBA.

Hong Kong’s infrastructural advancements are pivotal in elevating its status in the MICE sector. The development of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the High-Speed Rail and the transformation of the Hong Kong International Airport into an Airport City are testaments to the city’s commitment to becoming a global aviation and business events hub.

The HKTB aims to leverage these strengths and new growth opportunities continually. By consistently bidding for major MICE events, Hong Kong is poised to inject new vigour into its MICE sector, propelling it to unprecedented heights.

This remarkable achievement is more than a mere event; it’s a beacon of Hong Kong’s resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving global landscape. As the city gears up for IBTM Asia Pacific 2025, the world watches, anticipating an event that promises to redefine the standards of the global MICE industry.

For further details on this groundbreaking event, please visit IBTM Asia Pacific.

Written by:  Anne Keam

=====================================