AsiaWorld-Expo welcomes a record-breaking number of trade-show visitors

Dec. 7, 2009 - PRLog -- (Hong Kong, 10 November 2009) Asia’s leading exhibition and event venue, AsiaWorld-Expo is pleased to announce it welcomed a record number of trade visitors in September and October.  These exceptional visitor numbers coincided with a series of recurrent high-profile international shows — covering such sectors as aerospace and aviation, jewellery and accessories, sports equipments and apparel, environmental protection, electronics, fashion accessories, gifts, home products and light consumer goods, among many others — all of which affirms that AsiaWorld-Expo has what it takes to attract visitors, buyers and exhibitors from around the world.

“These exceptional visitor numbers are great news for Hong Kong,” remarked Allen Ha, Chief Executive Officer, AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited.  “It has been proven that hosting MICE events in Hong Kong provides a massive boost to the local economy.  AsiaWorld-Expo is proud to play its role in contributing to Hong Kong’s economic growth, with the facilities, the expertise and the status to attract the world’s biggest names.”

The biennial Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress, organised by Reed Exhibitions, is one of the world’s most important aerospace events.  Building on the success of the previous show, which was held for the first time in Hong Kong in 2007, AsiaWorld-Expo has now firmly established itself as the Asian venue of choice for the aviation sector.  In 2009, the event featured around 400 exhibitors, including all the world’s biggest names in aerospace such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) among many others, and attracted over 12,600 visitors, an increase of some 15% compared to 2007.

The success of the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 2009 organised by UBM Asia Limited was another powerful example of Hong Kong’s international MICE leadership.  In an innovative “One Fair, Two Venues” cooperation between Hong Kong’s two leading exhibition venues – AsiaWorld-Expo and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre –  the fair soared to new heights with a 25% increase in the total exhibition space available to the world’s biggest jewellery and gem event.  To maximise the benefits of this arrangement, product sectorisation was implemented with AsiaWorld-Expo showcasing raw materials, equipment and packaging, and the HKCEC showcasing finished jewellery.  Between the two venues, a total of 39,146 visitors made 89,232 visits during the seven-day event.  This was a 5% increase in visitors compared to the previous year.

AsiaWorld-Expo’s superb position at the hub of international and regional transport networks played a key role in its hosting of several important China Sourcing Fairs in October 2009.  These events covered a wide range of topics including Electronics and Components; Security Products; Baby and Children’s Products; Fashion Accessories; Gifts and Premiums; Home Products; Underwear and Swimwear; and India Sourcing Fair: Home Products.  In particular, the Electronics and Components trade show was the largest ever with over 3,000 booths and more than 30,000 trade visitors in a 4-day event.

The China Sourcing Fairs organised by Global Sources have undergone tremendous growth in the space of 3 years.  The fairs have recorded a significant increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors, with a total of over 14,000  exhibitors and more than  144,000  trade visitors in 2008.   “AsiaWorld-Expo provides the ideal venue for our exciting growth,” remarked Ms. Sarah Benecke, Executive Director, Global Sources.  “The venue’s size, facilities and accessibility provide a unique ‘East meets West’ trading platform. This makes it a real flagship for international events that put Hong Kong on the global map.”  

At the end of October, over 200 exhibitors (63% more than last year) joined this year's Eco Expo Asia – International Trade Fair on Environmental Protection, co-organised by Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, which set a new record with over 10,000 visitors.  This represented a 67% increase on last year.  Participation was particularly strong from the Chinese mainland and overseas.  In total, more than 40 buying missions from 43 countries and regions took part in the fair, which also featured strong government support.

Likewise in October, AsiaWorld-Expo hosted Sports Source Asia – International Sourcing Fair for Sports Equipment and Sports Apparel co-organised by Hong Kong Trade Development Council and MMI Asia Pte Ltd, and the Hong Kong International Building and Decoration Materials & Hardware Fair co-organised by Hong Kong Trade Development Council and CIEC Exhibition Company (HK) Limited, both of which attracted over 200 exhibitors from around the globe.

2010 is looking very promising and AsiaWorld-Expo will continue to work closely with the Government and the industry partners to take the exhibition and events industry to another new height.  For details of upcoming events, please visit the AsiaWorld-Expo website at http://www.asiaworld-expo.com.


-- Ends --


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 / 9773 4181 (Fiona Lau)
Fax: (852) 3606 8889
Email: kc@asiaworld-expo.com / fl@asiaworld-expo.com
Website: www.asiaworld-expo.com