The Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (“HKECIA”, “Association”), first incorporated in May 1990, is celebrating its 35th anniversary. The Association currently has over one hundred company members, including all the leading organisations, making it a truly representative voice for the exhibition and convention industry. Our commitment over the years has been to act as a unified voice that represents and promotes the industry, increasing awareness of its contribution to the economy and wider society. The HKECIA also strives to promote sustainability and safety, as well as support members with professional development, business networking, information exchange, and promoting careers in our industry to emerging talents.

In 2025, Hong Kong’s exhibition and convention industry demonstrated significant momentum amidst volatile global economic conditions. The city hosted 152 large-scale exhibitions (exceeding 2,000 sq. metres), surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time. The total number of visitors from “Trade” and “Trade and Consumer” exhibitions reached 1.62 million, representing a robust 87% recovery rate compared to the 1.86 million recorded in 2019.

Of these large-scale events, 95 were “Trade” or “Trade and Consumer” exhibitions (an 18.8% increase over 2024), and 57 were “Consumer” exhibitions. The total space rented rose by 11.5%, exceeding 924,000 sq. metres.

This upward trajectory underscores the strong market demand for Hong Kong as a premier MICE destination. Crucial to this rebound has been the government’s Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions (ISRE 2.0), which has been instrumental in helping organisers launch new themed fairs and scale existing events.

Despite the increase in event volume, a concerning trend has emerged regarding exhibitor numbers. Data from the “Trade” and “Trade and Consumer” segments reveals an 8% decline in exhibiting companies, with figures dropping from nearly 52,000 to approximately 47,000. This contraction is evident across all geographic sectors: international markets recorded the most significant drop of 18.8%, followed by drops of 7.8%, 5.5% and 5.6% recorded from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and regional markets respectively.

This downturn is attributed to a mix of internal and external factors. Externally, a volatile global economy and ongoing tariff uncertainties continue to dampen international merchandise trade. Internally, the tightening of eligibility criteria for the BUD Fund and the SME Export Marketing Fund (EMF) in March 2025 has constrained SME participation in exhibitions, specifically regarding booth size limitations and reduced funding coverage.

While total visitor numbers to “Trade” and “Trade and Consumer” exhibitions grew by 10.9% to 1.62 million, the demographic mix is shifting. A 17.5% decline in international visitors was offset by double-digit growth in local and regional visitors.

The Chinese Mainland remains the standout performer. Following a sharp 21% jump between 2023 and 2024, it recorded a modest increase of 1.4% in 2025. Notably, it is the only market to have surpassed 2019 levels, showing a 10% increase compared to the pre-pandemic baseline.

The growth of regional visitors reaffirms Hong Kong’s position as the Trade Fair Capital of Asia. The sustained growth of Chinese Mainland visitors also gives Hong Kong an edge over regional competitors and solidifies Hong Kong’s strategic role as the Greater Bay Area’s (GBA) MICE hub, supported by unparalleled world-class connectivity. This will certainly boost Hong Kong’s appeal for global trade shows and events. However, to maintain our status as the leading international bridge between East and West, we must continue enhancing the city’s overall attractiveness to international exhibitors and visitors alike.

While the exhibition industry has shown remarkable resilience, looking ahead we face significant headwinds and volatility. The global economic outlook, policy uncertainty and the conclusion of government support measures such as ISRE 2.0, pose a substantial financial burden on organisers, making it harder to attract new themed exhibitions or sustain new recurrent ones.

The exhibition industry is a critical pillar of Hong Kong’s economy; it is a catalyst for trade and cross-sector development. Additionally, it drives sustainable tourism by attracting high-spending visitors, bolstering overall tourism receipts.

To maintain Hong Kong’s long-established status as the Trade Fair Capital of Asia and global trade hub, we strongly urge the Government to collaborate with the Association to develop new, sustainable support schemes to navigate economic volatility and secure the industry’s future.

AFECA Sub-Committee

The Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) is a leading association to promote the growth and development of the exhibition and convention industry in Asia. The HKECIA is a key association and board member of the AFECA. HKECIA Executive Vice Chairman and AFECA Sub-Committee Chair Ms Wendy Lai is the Treasurer of the AFECA Board.

Over the past year, the AFECA has implemented many programmes and initiatives to support the resumption of the Asian exhibition and convention industry. AFECA, in partnership with the Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association (IECA) and the Indonesia Congress and Convention Association (INCCA), successfully convened the AFECA Convention 2025. Over 300 MICE industry leaders from 15 countries and regions attended the AFECA AGM 2025 at Jakarta in Indonesia, from 5–7 November 2025, to celebrate 20th anniversary of AFECA. Ms Wendy Lai participated in the AGM, Asia 20 Business Events Forum and the AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge 2025.

Thanks to our sponsors who contributed to the HKECIA Education Fund. Our student team from School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, was nominated to participate in the 10th edition of the AFECA Youth MICE Challenge and present their exhibition project. The team performed impressively. The Association will continue to nurture the next generation of MICE leaders through creativity, collaboration and competition.

The AFECA Youth MICE Challenge 2026 will be open for registration in June, and the competition will be held in Xiamen, China on 21 November 2026. HKECIA will continue to support and sponsor students to join the Challenge. Our HKECIA Education Fund is open for sponsorship. The future of our MICE talent relies on your support. By supporting the Fund, you will help students realise their potential and motivate and nurture them to pursue their careers in the MICE industry.

China Sub-Committee

The Association commits to a proactive role in collaborating and forging new ties with organisations in China. We believe it is crucial to showcase Hong Kong’s distinctive value proposition as the ‘World’s Meeting Place’.

The China Sub-Committee remains committed to closely monitoring the developments in Chinese Mainland’s events and venue landscape, with a particular focus on the Greater Bay Area.

• The Association has joined the GBA Exhibition Industry Alliance invited by the Guangdong CCPIT, aiming for industry alignment across the region. The Asia’s exhibition industry is entering a new chapter defined by collaboration and shared ambition.
• The Sub-Committee received delegations from the Qingdao Sub-council and Hunan, China representatives, and exchanged views on the developments of the exhibition industry across cities and collaboration opportunities.
• The Sub-Committee led a delegation tour of ExCo members to participate in a memorable visit to Dongguan, China in June. During the visit, the Delegation met with leaders and had meaningful dialogue with the Bureau of Commerce of Dongguan City and various municipalities.
• The Association led a delegation tour to the 30th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair Tour.
• The Chairman attended the Macau Fair & Trade Association’s 25th anniversary gala dinner on 3 February at the Macau Tower.

The Sub-Committee will continue to deepen regional collaboration and exchange with Asia’s exhibition and trade industry to provide the latest information and mutual benefits to our members, and explore the immense potential that this important economic zone holds for our industry.

Communications Sub-Committee

The Communications Sub-Committee continued to produce materials for the Chairman to respond to media enquiries and conduct interviews.

During this year, the Sub-Committee has prepared the following materials:

• Recommendations for 2026-27 Budget, which sets out the importance of continued Government support to the exhibition industry;
• Economic Impact Study project, which aims to gauge the contribution of Hong Kong’s exhibition industry to the economy in 2024; and
• HKECIA Annual Exhibition Survey 2025, which serves as an important barometer of the industry’s performance.

Some of our Executive Committee members have been interviewed by various media and organisations:

• Written interview by MIX – Asia’s Business Events Magazine and TTGassociations to reaffirm the Association’s role as Hong Kong’s collective voice for the exhibition industry and mission to drive policy dialogue;
• Written interview by TTGmice on the vital need for the Government to continue investment on the Incentive Scheme for Recurrent Exhibitions ISRE 2.0 was conducted by the Chairman in February 2026;
• Interview by HKET and MingPao regarding the industry views on the ISRE 2.0 was conducted by the Executive Vice Chairman in September 2025; and
• An interview by TVB News to promote connectivity with Greater Bay Area was conducted by the Chairman in August 2025

Education & Training Sub-Committee

To provide members and industry players with the latest industry information and trends, the Annual Conference was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in May 2025. The conference covered a range of hot industry topics, including the UFI Global Congress 2025, the secrets of engaging the audience, metaverse conference and events, tech and trends for events and expos, and the tactics to navigate the multi-generational workforce. We are delighted to report that over 140 members and guests participated in this physical conference.

The Association has recently joined the Education Bureau’s Business-School Partnership Programme (BSPP). The Sub-committee will actively participate in sharing views with students to foster understanding of the MICE industry, and get well prepared for further studies or career pursuits.

Looking ahead to the new term, the Sub-Committee will connect with academia and industry to build a ready talent pipeline for Hong Kong’s exhibition and convention sector, nurture young talent, and empower emerging talent.

The Sub-Committee hopes that our members will enjoy the conference today. Celebrating an early Global Exhibitions Day, we have prepared an extensive programme with top-level speakers to discuss the hottest topics in today’s business world, which aligns with our industry’s interests to drive impactful real-world changes. Members can connect, participate in constructive dialogue, and gain insights from thought leaders and subject-matter experts.

Membership Sub-Committee

The Membership Sub-Committee has been actively working on providing networking opportunities for members through events such as annual conferences and seminars.

As of today, the Association has 59 full members, 34 associate members, and 10 overseas members, totalling 103 members.

New members in 2025-2026 include Allied Health Society for Asia Pacific, Earth Production Ltd., Shenzhen Xiangmi Lake International Communication Center Development Co. Ltd., Convention Center Branch, The Jockey Club CPS Limited, and The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong. On the other hand, the Association also experienced a few resignations over the year. It is understandable that some companies had to cut their expenses due to the sluggish economy.

The Membership Sub-Committee will work closely with the Secretariat over the coming year to invite new members and reach out to lapsed members for the reinstatement of their membership.

Sustainability & Operations Sub-Committee

The Sustainability and Operations Sub-Committee was established in June 2022 with the objective to identify and measure initiatives that promote waste reduction and material reuse within the industry.

Facilitating the development of a sustainability circularity and market ecosystem has been a key strategic focus of the Association. We seek to cultivate collaborative relationships to promote sustainable development. We have been working closely with organisations to raise awareness of their environmental and social impact, and provide guidance on green transition of the MICE industry.

The Association has joined forces with Informa Markets Asia to promote sustainability in the exhibition industry, endorsing a new benchmark “Better Stands” for environmentally responsible practices within the industry. The Association will continue to drive members to integrate the framework into their events and exhibitions by transitioning to the use of reusable stands.

The Association supported the ReThink HK 2025 and 2026, which provides insight and inspiration for driving sustainable development across globally recognised risk and opportunity topics, from a Hong Kong context.

The Annual Conference today will cover topics such as ESG metrics for the MICE industry, and ESG guidebook outlining the approaches for contributing to greener MICE events.

At the Annual Dinner tonight, we will donate unconsumed food to Food Angel to reduce food waste. The donated food will be handled as nutritious hot meals and redistributed to the underprivileged community in Hong Kong.

The Sub-Committee will continue to drive the development of robust sustainability initiatives, accelerate the industry’s transition toward greener practices, and address the concerns facing the sector. We believe that building a sustainable market ecosystem requires collective commitment, and we urge our members to actively implement the Better Stands initiative and the HKECIA Sustainability Charter. Together, we can build a resilient future that benefits our industry and generations to come.

Venue Development Sub-Committee

The AsiaWorld-Expo Phase 2 expansion is progressing rapidly, increasing total exhibition space to 100,000 square metres. The Government is also taking forward the Wan Chai North Redevelopment project near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre as planned. This includes the redevelopment of the sites of the Wan Chai Government Offices Compound, Gloucester Road Garden and the Kong Wan Fire Station into convention and exhibition facilities, hotel and office.

The new proposals of the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (KITEC) would be changing from an en-bloc 14-storey non-domestic/commercial building to a composite mix of trade mart/exhibition and commercial, residential, social welfare facilities and school uses. The proposed exhibition/trade-related uses shall be not less than 11,285 meter square.

The draft Kowloon Bay Outline Zoning Plan with exhibition and or convention hall was approved under section 9(1)(a) of the Town Planning Ordinance, and was notified in the Gazette on July November 2025. The Association welcomes this new proposal, which aims to address the demand for exhibition and showroom-related venues and uses.

The Sub-committee would like to congratulate the AsiaWorld-Expo for successfully concluding the 92nd UFI Global Congress, celebrating both UFI’s centenary and the 20th anniversary of AsiaWorld-Expo. Returning to Hong Kong after 25 years, the international flagship event drew 600 exhibition and convention leaders from over 50 countries and regions.

Congratulations also to Ms. Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited for winning the Outstanding Leader in Venue Management category at the AFECA Annual Awards 2025.

Technology & Innovation Committee

The Association has newly established a new Technology & Innovation Sub-committee. As digital transformation reshapes the business events landscape, the sub-committee will serve as a vital catalyst, driving the integration of cutting-edge technologies to enhance event delivery, optimize operational efficiency, and elevate the overall audience experience.

By collaborating with tech visionary practitioners, the group aims to future-proof our member businesses, ensuring they possess the digital literacy and technical capabilities required to compete on a global scale. We welcome members to join the Sub-committee WhatsApp group to keep up-to-date on the global event tech trends.

Looking ahead, the sub-committee will spearhead knowledge-sharing and host tech sharing sessions. By bridging the gap between emerging technology and traditional event organisers, the Sub-committee will foster an ecosystem of digital transformation and continuous learning. We are confident that the insights and strategic direction provided by the Sub-committee will not only empower our members to navigate the digital frontier with confidence, but will also redefine excellence for Hong Kong’s exhibition and convention sector.

Advocacy Work by HKECIA

One of the primary responsibilities assumed by the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) is to represent the interests of its members in the convention and exhibition-related sectors. This task involves providing a cohesive and unified voice when engaging with governmental, legislative, and statutory bodies, as well as media and public organisations. Over the past year, this work has demanded an unprecedented amount of our time and effort. The Executive Committee, including myself, has been heavily involved in meetings, briefings, and lobbying initiatives.

There are a number of positive developments for the industry.

• The 2026-27 Budget emphasises the significance of promoting further development of the exhibition industry and brand building as an international convention and exhibition hub. The Government will earmark $100 million for attracting large-scale international exhibitions with new elements to Hong Kong through collaborating with relevant organisations on a pilot basis. The objective is to develop Hong Kong into the first-choice platform for showcasing Mainland and international brands, while attracting high-spending business visitors to Hong Kong and driving high value-added economic activities.
• The Government will also allocate $1,660 million to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), a 34.5% increase in annual funding, for enhancing tourism appeal and attracting high-end overnight visitors. HKTB has outlined three key strategies in its latest work plan, centring around priories, namely diversifying market investment to focus on driving growth in high-valued, overnight arrivals, beefing up trade support and partnership, and differentiating Hong Kong from other destinations. HKTB will scale up flagship events and promote the hosting of a wider range of conferences, exhibitions and incentive travel groups. The HKTB also planned to drive overnight visitors by stepping up marketing efforts in source markets with potential, including Mainland cities outside Guangdong, as well as emerging markets such as ASEAN and the Middle East. MICE remain a strategic high-yield tourism segment for Hong Kong, the HKTB will continue to support the long-term development of the tourism and related sectors, including boosting MICE, promoting the GBA tourism brand, and multidestination tourism to jointly create business opportunities with the trade.
• MICE took centre stage at the Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2026, organised by the HKTB in March, I was invited as a speaker on panel to share recommendations and explore how to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages of the Hong Kong’s MICE sector to generate greater economic benefits.
• With 30 Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) in Chinese Mainland and across the globe and a strong presence through the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Invest Hong Kong, Hong Kong strives to maintain its unique role as a “super-connector” and “super value-adder” at an international level. As a high value-added supply chain services centre, Hong Kong will continue to assist Mainland enterprises in going global, supporting their establishment in markets.

The industry has also experienced challenges in the past few months.

• On 31 March, the Government announced that the ISRE 2.0 would conclude upon exhaustion of funds by April. This abrupt end to the scheme, delivered without fair warning to those affected, was regrettable. Despite our warnings over the past months that this would cause problems for many organisers, the scheme ended as planned. We will continue to support members who are seeking some form of redress. Hong Kong’s exhibition industry needs support from the Government during this challenging and volatile time to maintain its hard-earned status as the Trade Fair Capital of Asia. Trade activities and exhibitions are undoubtedly affected by the tariff war and the geopolitical tensions. With the conclusion of the ISRE 2.0 in April 2026, their marketing budget and scale of overseas exhibitions and buyer recruitment have been affected.
• In view of budget concern, several organisers who host multiple themed exhibitions have indicated they may reduce number of exhibitions without continued Government support during this turbulent economic situation. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is facing fierce competitions from new and mega exhibitions in Chinese Mainland, Southeast Asian countries and Middle East. Hong Kong needs to be more aggressive to sustain its position as the first choice of destination for international trade fairs.

We have actively advocated for enhanced Government support to ensure the smooth continuation of exhibitions and conventions. The Association submitted the Association’s recommendations for the 2026-27 Budget to the Financial Secretary, HKSAR Government, as well as Legislative Council members. We are confident that persistent dialogue and constructive communication will continue to empower the industry to thrive. Moving forward, the Association will continue to act as a bridge between stakeholders and policymakers, ensuring the industry’s voice is effectively communicated and upheld.

I have personally also actively participated in meetings of the Hotel, Catering, and Tourism Training Board organised by the Vocational Training Council (VTC). By deepening collaboration with higher education institutions specialising in the exhibition and convention sectors, we are helping to nurture and inspire the next generation of talent, broaden awareness of the industry’s opportunities, and cultivate a strong pipeline of future professionals who will drive its continued growth and contribute to the success of Hong Kong.

Summary:

As Hong Kong’s largest exhibition and convention community, the Association will continue to serve as a vital platform for members to exchange insights on industry developments and market trends, fostering collaboration, strengthening connections, and shaping a more dynamic and forward-looking future for the industry.

The growth of international exhibitions in Hong Kong serves as a vital catalyst for developing “new quality productive forces’, fostering high-quality multi-sector growth, and driving an innovation-led transformation. In doing so, the sector aligns with and supports the goals of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. At the same time, the exhibition sector serves as a powerful catalyst for the HKSARG’s “Go Global” vision, helping to attract Mainland enterprises seeking to expand overseas and to leverage Hong Kong as their gateway to international markets. As the entry point to global markets, flagship trade shows demonstrate the city’s exceptional business efficiency, international connectivity, and professional excellence, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a leading Global Trade hub.

Hong Kong, as Asia’s World City, has always had the huge advantage of its location, world-class infrastructure, and its blend of East and West, which extends to the warm and exceptional experiences in terms of food, language, transportation, and ease of doing business. Maintaining Hong Kong as an international platform connecting buyers and sellers is crucial to the future success of our industry, so I would urge members to bear this in mind, strive to do our best to deliver a diverse event programmes and format catering for a global audience. We will collectively reinforce Hong Kong’s status as the World’s Meeting Place.

As I conclude my tenure as Chairman, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our Executive Committee, members, affiliations, and Secretariat for their steadfast support, dedication, and trust. It has been a great privilege to serve HKECIA and to work alongside a community that has consistently demonstrated unity, resilience, and professionalism in the face of change. The strength of this Association has always rested in the collective commitment of its members, and it is this shared purpose that has enabled us not only to overcome challenges, but also to continue advancing our industry with confidence and determination.

Looking ahead, I am firmly confident that HKECIA will continue to play a leading role in shaping the future of Hong Kong’s exhibition and convention industry. With a strong foundation, a clear sense of purpose, and the energy of new leadership, the Association is well-positioned to seize new opportunities, champion innovation and sustainability, and reinforce Hong Kong’s standing as a Trade Fair Capital of Asia. I will continue supporting HKECIA as Honorary Life President, and I am certain that, together, we will build an even stronger, more creative and dynamic future for our industry.

Yours sincerely,

Stuart Bailey
Chairman (2025-26)