AsiaWorld-Expo Continues to Add Tremendous Value to Hong Kong's Exhibition Industry and Economy

USA - English

• USA - English

HONG KONG, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Asia's leading exhibition and convention venue, AsiaWorld-Expo, has once again proven its valuable and vital role in making Hong Kong a world-renowned exhibition, convention and tourism capital. The recent Economic Impact Study Report 2008 commissioned by the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) and conducted by KPMG Transaction Advisory Services Limited reveals that AsiaWorld-Expo plays a pivotal role in Hong Kong's exhibition industry. In 2008, international trade fairs at AsiaWorld-Expo accounted for close to 30% of the entire Hong Kong trade exhibition market. In economic terms, the venue contributed an estimated HK$9 billion to the local economy in 2008 alone, an increase of over 10% when compared to 2007. This economic success likewise translated into significant job opportunities, with an estimated 18,000 full- time-equivalent jobs provided by AsiaWorld-Expo in 2008, an increase of close to 3% compared to the previous year.

"The report's findings are powerful confirmation that AsiaWorld-Expo plays a valuable role in the success of Hong Kong's exhibition industry," remarked Allen Ha, Chief Executive Officer, AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited. "By creating a world-class venue that meets the needs of today's most discerning exhibitions and events, AsiaWorld-Expo is not only an international icon of excellence, but also a dynamic engine for employment and economic growth."

In the space of just four years, AsiaWorld-Expo has proudly hosted an extraordinary variety of high-profile global MICE events that simply could not come to Hong Kong before. These have included the hugely popular China Sourcing Fairs, which now feature over 14,000 exhibitors and more than 144,000 trade visitors each year. The Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress is the world's largest dedicated commercial aerospace and aviation showcase; following its successful staging in Hong Kong in 2007 and 2009, this biennial event is confirmed to return in 2011. Likewise, the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair, co-hosted at AsiaWorld-Expo under an innovative "One Fair, Two Venues" concept, is now the world's largest jewellery fair.

In the convention market, too, AsiaWorld-Expo has made a name for itself with quality services that befit the world-class status of its dedicated conference and function hall - AsiaWorld-Summit. Recent conferences have included the internationally-acclaimed Conference on Information and Knowledge Management 2009; The Sino-International Freight Forwarders Conference in 2008 and 2009; LINC Asia-Pacific in 2009 and 2010; Sunrider Asia Convention 2009; Hong Kong Fire Conference 2009, and the First World Conference of Endoscopy Physicians (19th General Assembly Session of Chinese Endoscopy Physicians) / First World Endoscopy Technology Expo among many others. In fact, the diverse range of facilities at AsiaWorld-Expo makes it an unrivalled destination for every occasion, from banqueting events and corporate functions to concerts and entertainment events.

"This year marks the 5th anniversary of AsiaWorld-Expo," added Mr. Ha. "We are humbled by our extraordinary success over the last four years, and remain committed to continue contributing to the development of Hong Kong's MICE industry. Indeed, AsiaWorld-Expo is still a young venue and has significant capacity for growth in the years ahead."

Looking to the future, AsiaWorld-Expo is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the rapid economic growth of China's Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Following completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and other cross- boundary infrastructural facilities, AsiaWorld-Expo and the entire Hong Kong International Airport district will be seamlessly integrated with the PRD economy, providing a dramatically enlarged catchment area for MICE events. In fact, as regional and global economies continue to accelerate, this prime region will emerge as a focal point for the world's business and trading communities - with AsiaWorld-Expo at its heart.

For further details about AsiaWorld-Expo and upcoming events, please visit the website at http://www.asiaworld-expo.com .

About AsiaWorld-Expo

AsiaWorld-Expo is a public-private partnership between the Hong Kong SAR Government (majority shareholder) and a private sector consortium formed by Dragages Hong Kong Limited and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited, with the Airport Authority Hong Kong contributing the land.

AsiaWorld-Expo is offering over 70,000 square metres of rental space. With 10 state-of-the-art ground-level and column-free exhibition and events halls including the 13,500-seat AsiaWorld-Arena, the biggest purpose-built indoor seated entertainment arena in Hong Kong as well as the AsiaWorld-Summit, Hong Kong's newest and largest indoor conference and banquet venue that seats 700 to 5,000 persons, AsiaWorld-Expo is Asia's only column-free, ground-level exhibition and events venue - fully integrated with the World's Best Airport, Hong Kong International Airport (World Airport Survey by Skytrax). The complex is located at the centre of an extensive and efficient air, land, and marine transport network which connects Hong Kong to China's Pearl River Delta and the world's business capitals. It is ideally suited to hosting world- class exhibitions, conventions, concerts, sports, and entertainment events.

    For media enquiries, please contact:

     AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited
     Kenneth Chan / Fiona Lau
     Tel:     +852-3606-8888
     Fax:     +852-3606-8889
     Email:   [email protected] / [email protected]
     Website: http://www.asiaworld-expo.com

SOURCE AsiaWorld-Expo