News
Protests take a toll
on Hong Kong events industry
he protests that have been
hitting the streets of Hong
Kong over the past 12 weeks
have taken a toll on the
SAR’s conference and events industry.
Although some major tradefairs have
weathered the political protest storm, such
as the 30th Food Expo, 11th Hong Kong
International Tea Fair, 4th Beauty &
Wellness Expo and the 6th Home
Delights Expo, all organised by the Hong
Kong Trade Development Council
(HKTDC), and which passed off
successfully, attracting over 440,000
visitors and 2,000 exhibitors for the 2019
editions, there have been conference
cancellations.
Global investment corporation
BlackRock moved its September Asia
Media Forum forward to February 2020,
and the Global Wellness Summit (GWS)
moved its 13th conference to Singapore, to
be held on the same planned dates of 15-17
October.
Susie Ellis, Chairman and CEO of
GWS, told The Straits Times: “The
decision was made because the unrest in
Hong Kong has increased”.
Japanese video game developer Capcom
cancelled its CPT Premier Event at
Esports Festival in Hong Kong citing
“civic unrest”. A spokesman said: “We
have decided to remove Esports Festival
Hong Kong from this year’s Capcom Pro
Tour. This decision in no way reflects
upon the tournament organiser, Cyber
Games Arena, and has been done solely to
help keep our community and players out
of potential harm.”
A number of consumer expositions and
concerts have also been cancelled as
protests have disrupted transit, blocked
roads and caused flight cancellations.
Scottish pop ban Chvrches cancelled
their planned show at AsiaWorld Expo on
10 /
CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD
Above: The word on the street is spelling difficult times for
Hong Kong’s meetings industry
20 August, as the venue was forced to
suspend its operation on several days.
Flight cancellations have not helped,
with 5 August seeing 200 flights
cancelled in Hong Kong as protesters took
over the airport. Cathay Pacific has said it
has seen a double-digit drop in advance
sales for travel to Hong Kong in the
coming months because of the social
unrest.
Intercontinental Hotels Group reported
its revenue per available room in Hong
Kong was down in the second quarter
because of the political dispute.
The Hong Kong government’s
Financial Secretary Paul Chan accused
some of trying to ruin Hong Kong, “and
completely destroy the livelihood of seven
million citizens.” He also warned that the
city risks a recession if protests continue.
Several lines of the Mass Transit
Railway (MTR) also experienced periods
of suspension, and the Cross-Harbour
Tunnel has been blocked.
The Hong Kong government has
regularly issued calls to “restore social
order” amid fears that riot police and
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ISSUE 102
soldiers were massing in Shenzhen on the
China mainland.
Organisers are advised to follow the
news closely.
Ms Panadda Kongma, Head of
Competence Center Agribusiness &
Operations at VNU Exhibition Asia
Pacific Co. Ltd, told CMW: “The situation
in Hong Kong is more or less the same as
Thailand a few years ago. It will affect, in
the short term, events business as you
could not travel easily to Hong Kong since
the politic is unstable.
“However, the protest is more peaceful
and nowadays digital world also becomes
more important. In the longer term, I
believe people still continue their normal
business, especially exhibitions and
conferences in Hong Kong.”
MICE community leaders continue to
put on a brave face, with Monica
Lee-Müller, HML’s Managing Director,
telling CMW in an update on 6 August:
“Since a week ago, another large scale
annual public fair International Baby/
Children Products Expo has concluded
with no major incidents.”
Hong Kong is one of the world’s most
visited cities, but experts say the
disruption is hurting its hospitality sector
and the Hong Kong Tourism Board
admitted a “double-digit decline” in the
number of visitor arrivals in the second
half of July.
“The travel trade has reported that the
number of forward bookings in August
and September dropped significantly,” a
Board spokesperson added.
Tourism industry contributes around
5% of Hong Kong’s GDP.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Convention
and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) reports
some good news, that, under its Five Year
Advancement Project, renovation of Hall
3FG has been completed on time.