(Hong Kong, 15 October 2009) In part due to its new 20,000 sqm (215,200 sq ft) expansion which opened this past April, the first quarter of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)'s fiscal year (July - September 2009) was the Centre's best first quarter in its 21-year history. Compared to the same period last year, operating revenues soared upward by 20.2%; overall attendance increased by 20% to 2.3 million.
Eight (8) of the Centre's annually recurrent exhibitions showed growth over the same quarter in 2008. Among these successes, the July Hong Kong Book Fair organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) had a record 900,000 attendance during the 7-day fair, an increase of 8% over 2008.
The Society of Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) held its 2009 Sibos international conference and exhibition exceeding expectations in attendance drawing nearly 6,000 delegates and also recognised the expanded HKCEC as one of the best and most functional venues used for Sibos in its history.
The September Jewellery and Gem Fair organised by UBM Asia became the world's largest exhibition in its category utilising all exhibition space of the expanded Centre.
The total number of events hosted by the Centre during the quarter was 231 consisting of 548 event days considering the many multiple-day events, or an average of 6 event activities occurring each day.
With the recent expansion, the Centre boasts of 91,500 sqm (984,540 sq ft) of rentable space (of which 66,000 sqm (710,160 sq ft) is purpose-built exhibition hall space). It is Hong Kong and Macau's largest venue.
Ironically, only months after the opening of the Centre's expansion, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn edition) organised by the HKTDC (13 - 16 October) had to utilise the underground car park facilities for exhibition booths to meet even greater space demands by its exhibitors.
HKCEC Managing Director Cliff Wallace stated, "How gratifying it is to have such demand for space, such a functional venue in Hong Kong's most central location, and such prestigious clients that enhance the high standard of our exhibitions and maintain continual growth as they do. It will be only a matter of time when the planning for our third expansion must be expedited to meet the growing demand by existing clients for more space."
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Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (HML) is a member of NWS Holdings Limited. NWS Holdings Limited ("NWS Holdings", Hong Kong stock code: 0659), the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 0017), embraces a diversified range of businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau. Its Infrastructure portfolio includes Roads, Energy, Water and Ports projects. Its Service & Rental division comprises Facilities Rental (the management of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and ATL Logistics Centre), Contracting (Hip Hing Construction Group and NWS Engineering Group), Transport (New World First Bus, Citybus and New World First Ferry), etc.
