HKTB says that the success of the familiarisation trip was a great reinforcement that Hong Kong remains the ‘World’s Meeting Place’ that is well connected with India
In three years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong has significantly enhanced its tourism infrastructure, especially that catering to MICE. And in order to showcase these key additions to the Indian market, Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong (MEHK), a Hong Kong Tourism Board division, recently hosted 15 leading MICE planners from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
According to a press statement by Hong Kong Tourism Board, the 15 delegates from India included a mix of partners, who have previously visited Hong Kong but haven’t experienced the city’s latest infrastructure, new tourism developments, as well as those who experienced Hong Kong for the very first time.
The statement adds that during the four days of Hong Kong familiarisation tour, India MICE planners visited the world-class theme parks and newest attractions such as M+ museum of visual culture, Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon Cultural District, the brand-new 6th Generation Peak Tram, all season Water World Ocean Park and experience the live magical night-time show “Momentous” at Hong Kong Disneyland Resorts.
The group also inspected the new hotel options, latest MICE and Cruise facilities, enjoyed nighttime horse racing at Happy Valley Racecourse and stunning views of the city skyline onboard Orient Pearl’s Happy Hour Cruise along with immersive wellness & team building activity while practicing Tai Chi.
HKTB says that some of these experiences prominently feature in the ‘Hong Kong Rewards! Programme’ that offers exciting yet complimentary in-town hospitality experiences for MICE group delegates and a good tool for MICE planners to leverage.
Puneet Kumar
“Since Hong Kong has fully opened and welcoming visitors from around the world including India, we have undertaken multiple initiatives to re-activate and re-engage our key trade partners in India. We are truly honoured to partner Cathay Pacific Airways to co-host key MICE planners from India on our “Seeing is believing” destination showcase and for their robust participation in business networking session at “Connect Hong Kong” that was attended by over 30 Hong Kong trade partners from leading hotels, attractions, cruise line, destination management companies who are very keen to grow India MICE arrivals into Hong Kong,” says Puneet Kumar, Director, South Asia & Middle East of HKTB.
“India is one of the most promising emerging source markets for Hong Kong MICE and India also happens to be one of the top 5 priority source markets for MEHK with our special focus to cultivate and grow incentive group travel from India to Hong Kong. We are very encouraged to see that India MICE arrivals into Hong Kong are on steady recovery during Jan-Jun 2023. We have also seen vast improvement in demand for Incentive group travel from India to Hong Kong for 2H 2023,” Kumar adds.
The statement adds that the Indian MICE planners were left impressed by the visit and the experiences during the visit. “Hong Kong continues to evolve as an exciting destination, offering a mix of traditional and modern experiences. It’s great to see the city actively addressing the needs and interests of corporate MICE groups. Learning Tai Chi in the morning and joining Horse Racing in the evening are really memorable experiences. The new evening show at the Hong Kong Disneyland, Momentous was a breathtaking spectacle. It is a great addition to any MICE itinerary,’’ says Rajat Saran, Founder & Director, Traaexplore Private Limited, a delegate from Bengaluru.
During the four days of Hong Kong familiarisation tour, India MICE planners visited the world-class theme parks and newest attractions such as M+ museum of visual culture
“I was captivated by the city’s vibrant energy, rich cultural heritage, and its stunning skyline. The cityscape is particularly enchanting at night when the buildings illuminate the skyline with a mesmerising display of lights. Taking a leisurely cruise or a stroll along the waterfront promenade are a must-do experience. Many hotels and local trade partners are happy to offer services tailored specifically for Indian MICE visitors. Hong Kong offers a plethora of attractions that are sure to entice the Indian MICE market,’’ says Sarthak Khanna, Director, MICE & MORE.
“We were particularly impressed by the entertainment and cultural experiences and this trip gave us a real insight into the local culture of Hong Kong. Every meal was a true culinary delight. The professionalism and attention to detail in the city is truly outstanding, it makes any MICE group trip to Hong Kong a memorable experience,’’ says Anil Rai, COO, Club 7 Holidays.
HKTB says that the success of the familiarisation trip was a great reinforcement that Hong Kong remains the ‘World’s Meeting Place’ that is well connected with India, it offers world-class MICE infrastructure, it is a safe, smart, exciting destination that offers unique and diverse experiences for MICE events and delegates.
This trip also met the key objective of further building the growing confidence of key MICE planners in Hong Kong that it is ready and fully prepared to host their intimate business events to large incentive groups, says HKTB.
