Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”) today announced that the B2B exhibitions held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (“HKCEC”) in the first five months of 2024 attracted over 640,000 international and local buyers, underscoring the effectiveness of HML’s strategic direction to draw new and returning exhibitions and conferences that could help further diversify and grow the local economy. Notable among these was the three-day Vinexpo Asia, attended by 14,203 visitors, which reinforced Hong Kong’s roles as an international exhibition hub and a key gateway connecting the Mainland and the rest of the world.
Ms Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, said, “HML is committed to offering event organisers quality service and facilities, promoting the HKCEC as an international trade platform, and supporting Hong Kong’s position as a major exhibition hub for the region. Vinexpo Asia, which returned to the city for the first time since the pandemic, is an excellent success story. The event attracted 1,032 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions. Over 14,000 buyers and importers from around the world attended, with 75% coming from the Hong Kong, Mainland China, Macau and Taiwan markets.”
Ms Lee-Müller is confident about the outlook of Hong Kong’s exhibition and convention industry. “In the second half of 2024, we are introducing four new exhibitions and conferences, including the Holiday and Travel Expo 2024 Autumn, ReThink Lifestyle 2024, the 5th International Congress of Chinese Nephrologists cum Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Annual Scientific Meeting 2024, and the Aesthetic Medicine & Surgery Conference cum Exhibition. Recurrent trade fairs will also continue to take place at the HKCEC, including Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong, Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong, the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair 2024 – Autumn Edition, and Cosmoprof Asia 2024. Together, these new and recurrent exhibitions and conferences will further reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a platform for international trade and professional exchange,” she said.
The successful conclusion of Vinexpo Asia – a mega event that was held every two years – has undoubtedly enhanced the city’s reputation as a premium trading platform for the Asian and international wine and spirits market. HML and Vinexposium, the organiser of Vinexpo Asia, also collaborated to implement practices that put sustainability at centre stage. Apart from collecting, washing and redistributing thousands of wine glasses over the event’s three days, HML recycled 16,445kg of empty bottles and 4,000 corks on behalf of the organiser.
CEO of Vinexposium Mr. Rodolphe Lameyse was profuse in his praises for the handling of the event. “We are thrilled to be back in Hong Kong for the first time since the pandemic,” he said. “The standards of professionalism, efficiency and courtesy delivered by the HML team were as high as ever. Their attention to detail was outstanding, and communication was exceptional. Whenever problems arose, they seemed to have a solution within moments. Our smooth and seamless cooperation, the fruit of a historic relationship, has certainly made all the difference to our attendees. I’m already looking forward to getting back here in 2026 with an even bigger and better version of Vinexpo Asia.”
