prove with its energy and innovative vibe, allied to first-class infrastructure and service, it is a major host city for international business events. The strong pace set for fast-returning MICE business in 2024 has continued into 2025. This momentum sends a powerful signal that a strong performance is on the cards again this year.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board( HKTB) is reporting 56 large-scale international MICE events already confirmed for 2025( 16 of which represent first-time wins for the city) – a glowing testimony to the city’ s global appeal for event planners.

Organisers of the events already booked in to the 2025 diary, which encompass a strong stream from fintech, innovation and technology, medical sciences and aviation among other sectors, say they expect to attract a total of 260,000 participants, a big majority of whom( 170,000) will come from overseas.

This continued growth tangent builds on a successful 2024, when the city welcomed 1.42m overnight MICE visitors, a figure that was itself an increase of 10 % year on year. About half of the MICE visitors in 2024 came from abroad, a number that was 23 % higher than the statistic for general overnight visitors.

“ In 2025, Hong Kong continues to affirm its status as a premier destination for international conventions. From inaugural conventions for

expanding global reach through Hong Kong to returned events in greater scale, Hong Kong is undoubtedly the top choice. With the city’ s latest worldclass infrastructure and dynamic mega events and festivities in town, we are committed to leveraging our strengths to provide unparallelled experiences for delegates and organisers alike, ensuring Hong Kong is the world’ s meeting place where conventions simply achieve more.” said Marilyn Tham, HKTB general manager, MICE & Cruise.

Big plans, key centres and an ambitious convention ambassador programme The national 14th Five-year Plan has its focus on eight key international sectoral‘ centres’ – financial centre, innovation and technology centre, centre for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and foreign countries, trade centre, shipping centre, aviation hub, Asia- Pacific international legal and dispute resolution services centre, and a regional intellectual property trade centre. The plan is intended to drive MICE business, too, with Medical Sciences to add into the mix that has a strong MICE focus.

Academic and business leaders also continue to play an important role in ensuring that Hong Kong’ s strong sectoral suits, talent base and the destination’ s attractions and infrastructure for business events are widely known. The‘ Hong Kong Convention Ambassadors’ programme, first launched by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in 2020, is a strategic sector development move and now

Above: 1. Consensus Hong Kong – the SuperBowl of Blockchain, came to Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in February 2025

2. Renowned physicist Brian Cox speaking at Technology for Change Asia.

into its 3rd term, and has enlisted more than 170 leaders from business and professional bodies in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

The HKTB capitalises on the ambassadors’ extensive networks and influence in their respective fields to promote the city as an ideal host among the convention community. The results are there for all to see as Hong Kong’ s Convention Ambassadors have successfully secured a wide variety of conferences for the city in all of the sectors mentioned earlier.

Inaugural conventions turn into mega festivities Tried and trusted as a world-class MICE leader, Hong Kong is not resting on its laurels and is pushing into ever new areas and winning new important business and proving a fertile convention ground for debut events.