Hong Kong is the undisputed trade show and business events’ capital of Asia. While Singapore, Shanghai and Dubai can all legitimately lay claim to be excellent trade show venues, Hong Kong has managed to stay a league apart thus far.
The city’s proximity and links with mainland China undoubtedly is a key factor in Hong Kong retaining its pre-eminence as a trade show location. Couple it with the city’s cosmopolitan nature; its image as a dynamic, vibrant and modern city that is extremely business friendly; its great connectivity with the rest of the world with a top-notch airport that is truly world class and it is easy to fathom what makes this wonderful city a magnet for trade show visitors year after year.
True to its reputation as a tourist-friendly city, Hong Kong boasts of a large number of hotels to meet different budgets and preferences. Visitors to Hong Kong can choose from small and independent boutique hotels to luxurious, business class hotels from globally-known hotel chains.
Finding the right Hong Kong hotel
Selecting the right hotel to stay in from among the hundreds of Hong Kong hotels available, is undoubtedly challenging. Finding the right hotel during the major trade show season becomes even more difficult as rooms tend to get filled up months in advance.
Based on our experience, here are some things to remember when looking to book a hotel room in Hong Kong when traveling for an important trade show.
Book well in advance
I cannot emphasise this point enough. The peak trade show season in Hong Kong is during April and October, when a number of trade shows in electronics, gifts and housewares are held. Of course, there are other trade shows held through out the year, but the months of April and October are usually jam-packed in the Hong Kong trade show circuit.
Despite having a decent capacity, rooms get booked several months in advance. Hotels also raise their prices. Therefore, one should try to book hotel rooms at least 2-3 months before the trade show to ensure a hotel room of one’s choice at a reasonable price.
Check the location
Find a hotel near to the trade show venue. If the show is at the Hong Kong convention centre in Wan Chai, a hotel on Hong Kong island would be better. However, if the show is at the new Asia World Expo which is close to the Chek Lap Kok airport, find a hotel near the airport.
Enjoy great views of the harbour
If room rates are not a big factor and you don’t mind paying a premium, then consider getting ‘hotels with a view’ of the Hong Kong / Kowloon harbor. On bright sunny days, the views of the harbor are quite a spectacle indeed.
Compare hotels and check hotel reviews
While one can expect a certain standard of service from the large international hotel chains, it is helpful to ensure the reliability of the relatively unknown hotels. Therefore, check a travel search engine such as Sprice.com that not only shows information from multiple providers but also presents reliable Hong Kong hotel reviews from other travelers who have stayed at these hotels. There is nothing quite like first hand information!
I hope you find these tips useful as you plan your trip to the next trade show in Hong Kong.