HKCEC Competes, Signs More Exhibitions

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 2/28/2005

As regional competition heats up, the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre has added to its roster of exhibitions. This competition was underscored recently by Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson, who said he hopes to take business away from Hong Kong by developing 1 million square feet of exhibition space in nearby Macau, and by the impending opening of AsiaWorld-Expo near the Hong Kong Intl. Airport.

HKCEC, taking up the challenge, announced two new events, VNU Exhibitions Asia's Hospitality Design Asia, June 23–24, and UKIP Media & Events' Aircraft Interiors Expo-Asia, Sept. 14–16. At the same time, it announced the return of IAAPA Asian Expo from Singapore, July 12–15.

Aircraft Interiors Expo is currently staged annually in Hamburg, Germany. Organizer UKIP is expanding the show to Hong Kong to focus on the growing airline business in China and the Asia Pacific Region.

According to HKCEC Managing Director Cliff Wallace, existing HKCEC shows are expanding as well. InterSource Hardware Asia will be held April 14–16 concurrently with InterSubcon Asia this year, focusing on subcontracting and components for the metal industry. Asian food, drink and hospitality industry-related HOFEX will be held May 10–13 in conjunction with HOSTEC-Asia Conference and Exhibition for the first time.

Wallace called the new bookings a fantastic start for 2005 for the exhibition sales team, and claimed not to be worried about Adelson or Macau. "An international convention event going to Macau that hasn't already been to Hong Kong will potentially rotate here eventually," he said, adding that the HKCEC's exhibitions have developed for Hong Kong's specific market and market strengths. "New exhibitions will develop dependent on the markets in Macau or Hong Kong."