According to global market research firm ACNielson, there are more than 520,000 pets in Hong Kong – two-and-a-half times the number of children aged four and under. There is no doubt that the pet-related market in the city is enormous, and growing.

The increasing interest in pets and demand from exhibitors and visitors (more than 100,000 attended the 2009 event) led the Hong Kong Pet Show to stage its fifth edition at HKCEC for the first time to take advantage of the increased space and centralised location.


The three-day show, held in Hall 3 from 5-7 February, was open to the public - and even incorporated a pet-walking area to ensure an enjoyable outing for all concerned. More than 80 exhibitors joined the show, ranging from animal welfare societies to suppliers of all manner of pet food and accessories, from basics to toys and clothing. For many it offered an invaluable chance to obtain instant feedback from not just the human visitors, but also the pets themselves.

The show also incorporated a wide range of activities and presentations, including the HKCLS 15th Championship Cat Show.

The 6th Hong Kong Pet Show will take place at HKCEC in Spring 2011.

People spend more time in their own homes with their families or entertaining friends, they want their domestic environment to be as comfortable and chic as possible. Home textiles – everything from bed linen and bathroom towels to curtains and tabletop settings – are a very important sector of this business.

Hence the implementation of a new show, the HKTDC Hong Kong International Home Textiles Fair was staged at HKCEC from 20-23 April during the peak trade fair season.

More than 240 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions took the opportunity to join the inaugural event. The fairground was divided into specialist product zones, namely Hall of Glamour, Bedroom Textiles, Table/Kitchen Textiles, Interior & Decor Textiles, Carpet & Floor Coverings, Bathroom Textiles and Baby Textiles. The Hall of Glamour showcased products at the high end of the market in suitably elegant surroundings.

The show attracted buyers from around the world, who appreciated the very focused nature of the event, which made it easy for them to home in on the suppliers most suited to their business needs.

Seminars covered the topics of sustainable textile supply chains, the latest green textile technology and procurement trends, helping exhibitors and buyers find new business opportunities.

Andrea Bocelli, the Italian-born tenor whose crossover style has brought opera to a wide audience, performed at HKCEC as part of his Asian Tour on 4 May.

Bocelli is no stranger to HKCEC, having first performed at the venue in 2004, and once again he enchanted the audience with the tone and depth of his voice. His repertoire was typically eclectic, covering a range of musical genres, including pop, contemporary and classical. To date, he has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide, making him the biggest-selling singer of classical music. He first came to prominence in 1994 when he won the newcomers' section of the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival in his native land, and he had already attracted the admiration of the great Luciano Pavarotti.

The singer has a loyal and growing fan base in Hong Kong, and music lovers were thrilled to be able to see him live in the city once again. The occasion illustrated the Centre's expertise in staging top-quality classical concerts that appeal to nearly 8,000 highly demanding and sophisticated audiences.

Hong Kong, like many other mature economies, has an ageing population. In 2006, people aged 65 and over accounted for 12% of the population, and this is projected to rise to 15% by 2016 and 22% by 2026, meaning that one in five people will be elderly.


A new fair was launched from 13-15 May at HKCEC as a platform to cater to the growing demands of an ageing population. It covered a wide range of products and services targeted at senior citizens, such as medications, daily products, caring home services, funeral services and life-planning services. It effectively combined an expo with education and communication in one effective platform.

Open to the general public, this new show incorporated seminars on topics of relevance to seniors, and conferences to introduce new products and services.

Wine industry professionals are preparing to raise a glass to celebrate the success of the latest edition of VINEXPO Asia-Pacific. More than 880 exhibitors from 32 countries around the world attended the show between 25-27 May at HKCEC..

There is plenty to be joyous about, as Asia is the driver of world growth in the global wine market, and spirits consumption is expected to continue to grow in the region. China and Hong Kong are the most vigorous markets, with per-capita consumption on the increase, while Japan remains the world’s seventh largest wine importer in terms of value and the largest in Asia.


VINEXPO is the leading trade industry event in Hong Kong, and the 2010 staging is aniticipated to draw more than 12,000 trade professionals including importers and purchasers from countries in the region. The figure represents an increase of about 40% on VINEXPO Asia Pacific 2008. Total exhibition space has been increased by 1,500 sqm this year to accommodate more suppliers.

A total of 42 events took place as part of the VINEXPO Asia-Academy over the three days of the show, giving visitors the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of wines and spirits.