The aura of Old World that emanates from Hong Kong’s neighborhoods and alleyways seamlessly mixes with its shimmering skyscrapers and fast-paced energy. This dichotomy in an ever-evolving city is one of its prime draws for visitors and groups.
“We’re always innovating and finding ways to make Hong Kong the preferred destination for group travel,” says Bill Flora, U.S. director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Hong Kong continues to grow, including new hotels, venues and infrastructure. New meetings opportunities include the expansion of the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park in Sha Tin, New Territories. With the recent opening of Phase 3 of the facility, groups are able to utilize the 34,444 square feet of MICE venues for their events, including a meeting space for up to 800 people and the Grand Plaza, a scenic outdoor area. Other group options range from the more than 10,700-square-foot Grand Hall exhibition space to more than 30 intimate breakout rooms, meeting rooms and outdoor event spaces.
The development is itself one of the largest showcases of sustainable construction practice in Hong Kong. According to Flora, due to its all-around sustainable features and striving to be carbon-neutral over its lifetime, the development was awarded with the 2014 Grand Award in Green Building Design by the Hong Kong Green Building Council.
The park is convenient to the transport link from downtown and the border with mainland China, and close to two MICE hotels, Marriott’s Courtyard Hong Kong Sha Tin and the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Sha Tin.
The West Kowloon Cultural District is currently under development, including the project’s cornerstone M+ museum of visual culture, due for completion in 2018 and slated to feature 20th- and 21st-century art, design and architecture, and moving images from Hong Kong, China, Asia and other locations. Other plans for the district include the Xiqu Centre, to house Chinese Opera, and the Arts Pavilion, which will host exhibitions and events.
“We are confident that once the area is fully developed it will be a great location for MICE events,” Flora says. “This will include M+, a new world-class museum for contemporary art, design and architecture.”
In Motion
The world’s largest fleet of ferries provides the most popular and convenient way to travel between Hong Kong, Macau and other neighboring Chinese cities, but there are other transportation options in the works.
Slated for completion in late 2016 is the 31-mile-long Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, which will give Hong Kong access to its neighboring cities Macau and Zhuhai to the west, and will shorten the journey time to Macau to approximately 45 minutes.
Hong Kong is also building an express railway from Kowloon to Guangzhou on the mainland that will link to China’s high-speed railway network, due for completion late 2015.
“It is expected that these developments will help bring more attendance to MICE events and
facilitate pre- and post-event visits to China,” Flora explains.
A new MTR station, Exhibition Station, will be completed in 2020 and will offer direct access for convention and exhibition delegates to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
According to Flora, the government has also commissioned a consultancy study to assess the future demand for convention and exhibition facilities in Hong Kong, and will consider constructing a new convention center above the Exhibition Station of the Sha Tin to Central Link around 2020.
“In terms of venues, the newly developed Kai Tak Cruise Terminal offers a picturesque location with four flexible indoor venues,” Flora says. “Its remarkably lengthy apron provides a pleasant setting for outdoor events and exhibits.”
The terminal’s rooftop garden, the largest in Hong Kong, covering an area of nearly 250,000 square feet, features views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline, making it a prime location for cocktail parties or pre-event gatherings.
Ocean Park Hong Kong launched an attraction themed on South Australia Outback Adventures in March. The theme park offers evening charters as well as teambuilding events for groups, including interactive games and CSR opportunities. Hong Kong also offers unique venues like the Police Married Quarters, Hong Kong Observation Wheel and Hong Kong Maritime Museum for groups, according to Flora.
Hotel News
New hotels are also on the horizon. The Rosewood Hotel Group is developing two new hotels on the site of the demolished New World Centre on the harbor side in Tsui Sha Tsui. The 600-room, 63-story Rosewood Hong Kong and neighboring 334-room hotel are expected to open in early 2017.
Disney Explorers Lodge broke ground at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in January. The new, exploration-themed hotel will feature 750 rooms, four themed gardens, new restaurants and an outdoor pool. The Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel is also in the pipeline, which will provide up to 495 rooms with completion in early 2017. mf
