HKTB Wins Inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific 2025

HKTB Wins Inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific 2025
Edited by Travel Weekly


    The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced that Hong Kong has won IBTM, the world’s leading Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) event brand, to organise its inaugural MICE trade show IBTM Asia Pacific 2025, in Spring 2025 in Hong Kong.

    The event is expected to attract more than 1,500 travel trade and MICE professionals from the Mainland, Southeast Asia, India, Japan, South Korea and other markets in the region, and long-haul markets. The event not only provides an ideal platform for Hong Kong, Mainland and overseas travel agents, hotels, MICE venues, attractions, airlines and other industry players to explore business opportunities, but also helps consolidate Hong Kong’s position as the World’s Meeting Place.

    Dr Pang Yiu-kai, HKTB chairman, said, “IBTM’s decision to host its inaugural flagship trade show for the Asia Pacific region in Hong Kong is a strong testament to Hong Kong’s international standing and its unique role as a super-connector of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) by the global MICE industry. The event will not only bring more than 1,500 high-yield visitors from the global travel trade and MICE industry to Hong Kong but will also generate positive word-of-mouth with their personal experience. This, in turn, will help bring more MICE events to Hong Kong, creating multiplier effect contributing to the city’s economy.”

    Vasyl Zhygalo, IBTM portfolio director, agreed that Hong Kong is an international MICE hub, “Hong Kong comes with various competitive edges, such as its diverse choice of venues, convenient transport facilities and the provision of comprehensive professional support. Geographically, it is well positioned as a gateway between the world and the Mainland, especially cities in the GBA, which makes the city the ideal host of IBTM Asia Pacific. I am confident that this exhibition will help MICE trade members in different markets establish contacts with each other and explore opportunities in the region.”

    Team Hong Kong celebrates the announcement of IBTM Asia Pacific 2025 at Hong Kong Stand with a lion dance performance.

    Showcasing Hong Kong’s unique advantages with the trade and new growth opportunities

    In order to bring this APAC flagship event to Hong Kong, the HKTB teamed up with the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Hotels Association, Hong Kong Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, and AsiaWorld-Expo to pitch to the organiser with Hong Kong’s latest tourism updates and growth momentum, showcasing the city’s unique edges with the strong support of the Mainland while being closely connected to the world, as well as the city’s potential in developing multi-destination tourism in GBA.

    Hong Kong’s new infrastructural developments are also set to take business events to new heights. Excellent accessibility is enabled through state-of-the-art cross-boundary transport infrastructure including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the High-Speed Rail (HSR) (Hong Kong Section) that connects to 73 Mainland stations. Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is transforming from a city airport into an Airport City, including the development of SKYCITY and the Three-runway System (3RS). HKIA is capable in handling an annual passenger volume of 120 million when the 3RS operates in full. The developments will further strengthen Hong Kong as an international aviation hub and create a new landmark for Hong Kong.

    With strong fundamentals, new growth opportunities coupled with novel tourism offerings and experiences, the HKTB will continue to bid for major MICE events for Hong Kong, adding impetus to the city’s MICE sector and taking the industry to a new height!

    Latest News

    • Products

    Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

    If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

    • Tour Operators
    • Tourism

    TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

    The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

    • Aviation

    Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

    Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

    • Hotels

    Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

    Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

    • Luxury
    • News

    Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

    Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]