Hong Kong is an excellent place for the convention and exhibition market due to its advantageous geography, advanced infrastructure system, and sufficient hotel accommodations. The city’s exhibition industry experienced rapid growth after the establishment of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC) in 1988. This growth has positioned Hong Kong as Asia’s top hub for trade fairs and a premier destination for international conventions and meetings. Over the years, the HKCEC has received multiple global accolades, including being named The Best Convention and Exhibition Center at the 16th TTG Travel Reward in 2005.
However, the position of HKCEC, which has been a strong force for us to learn from, has been challenged by nearby cities like Singapore and Shanghai in recent years. To provide constructive suggestions, we need to analyze the weaknesses of HKCEC. We will evaluate HKCEC in various aspects including Convention Building, Facilities and Services, Accessibility, Accommodation, Food and Beverage, and Entertainment.
The primary concern for both convention organizers and attendees is the convention venue. Therefore, a thorough evaluation must be conducted to assess its strengths and weaknesses. The size of the HKCEC is its main drawback. Despite an expansion project that added 19,400 sqm of exhibition space, the venue currently offers 66,000 sqm of purpose-built exhibition space, 20,000 sqm of multi-functional venues, and 5,500 sqm of event support space. However, it is still considered insufficient compared to the growing competition from neighboring cities.
The head of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) believes that a third expansion is necessary in order to maintain competitiveness. He noted that many major events have moved to larger venues in other cities. In 1994, HKCEC was the second largest venue in Asia, but it has now dropped out of the top 20 in China alone. However, from the perspective of attendees, HKCEC is viewed positively in terms of facilities and service. According to Breiter and Milman (2005), attendees consider overall cleanliness, well-maintained facilities, and helpfulness of guest service personnel as the most important aspects of a convention center.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) is known for its cleanliness and well-maintained, modern facilities. In addition to this, the staff are helpful and readily assist with providing directions to restrooms. Furthermore, the venue offers an ample number of public restrooms, telephone access points, and Internet facilities. From an organizer’s perspective, HKCEC is still regarded as a favorable venue as it provides a wide range of services including food and beverage options, security services, and wireless Internet connectivity.
The exhibition hall at the HKCEC allows full truck access and has a ceiling height of 17 meters, which is ideal for hanging large posters and directional signage. Furthermore, it is equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, which exhibition organizers consider a priority when selecting sites (Wu and Weber, 2006). In terms of accessibility, the HKCEC is conveniently located in the heart of Hong Kong on Victoria Harbor in Wan Chai. This central location makes it easily accessible due to Hong Kong’s highly developed public transportation system.
The participant can easily reach the venue, HKCEC, by taking the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) which is connected to almost all urban districts in Hong Kong. The walking distance from the MTR station to HKCEC is only 8 minutes, ensuring minimal travel time for attendees. Moreover, the transportation cost to the venue is affordable, with a MTR ride from Tsim Sha Tsui, a popular tourist spot, to Wan Chai costing only $8.6 and taking 8 minutes. In terms of accessibility, the venue provides clear direction signage throughout the premises. The lobby features a wide display showcasing the events and their respective locations, while direction signage is also available across the entire venue.
Furthermore, in terms of accessibility, the HKCEC offers a full range of amenities for people with disabilities. For instance, there are spacious guest lifts that can accommodate wheelchairs and all entrances are ramped. Many convention literatures, such as Wu & Weber (2006) and Breiter & Milman (2005), emphasize the importance of accessibility in a convention venue, and the HKCEC excels in this aspect. Additionally, the HKCEC is connected to two world-class hotels, the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel (805 rooms) and the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong (549 rooms), which are conveniently located within walking distance from the venue.
The transportation of HKCEC is convenient, allowing attendees to choose hotels from the same or other districts. The availability of accommodation is crucial to the organizers as it affects their decision to select a convention center (Breiter & Milman, 2005). HKCEC offers suitable and nearby accommodation for attendees. In terms of food and beverage, HKCEC provides a total of seven dining options that offer a variety of Western and Chinese cuisine. These options cater to different budgets, ranging from affordable quick-service to high-quality fine dining. Additionally, snacks bars are available at each exhibition hall.
Therefore, the venue offers a wide range of food and beverage options to the attendees and is equipped with good facilities and excellent services. Additionally, its location provides great advantages for entertainment, as attendees can easily visit Admiralty or Central, which are only one to two stops away by MTR, for shopping, site-seeing, and enjoying the nightlife in Hong Kong. In conclusion, HKCEC is a convenient convention and exhibition center that provides a full range of supporting elements such as accommodation, food and beverage, and entertainment.
All the mentioned goods of the venue are balanced by its limitations, primarily the lack of space. To ensure long-term competency, a prompt third expansion is recommended for the HKCEC. However, given Wan Chai’s current car overload, future expansions must carefully address their potential negative impact on residents. Thus, improving the traffic condition in the district is also necessary for any future expansion projects.
