Twenty Years at the Top

It is amazing to think that HKCEC is already celebrating 20 years in business - and very successful business, at that.

Between 1988 and 2008 we hosted 36,110 events. They have included a huge number of exhibitions and conferences, many of them among the largest of their kind in Asia and even the world. Countless international recording artists have performed on stage; thousands and thousands of Hong Kong people have celebrated weddings and anniversaries with parties here; while companies have staged banquets, presentations and other corporate events in our facilities. And, of course, the biggest event in Hong Kong's history - the handover to the PRC -- took place within HKCEC.

Despite the current global financial crisis, we still have plenty to celebrate and remain upbeat about the future. We are gratified to note that our prestigious recurrent shows remain strong and new shows continue to select Hong Kong and the Centre. We are confident that Hong Kong will continue to reflect its record of trade fair success, and remain central to Asia's international exhibition market. It is inevitable that Hong Kong and HKCEC will experience an adverse impact to some degree, but we believe that the GDP growth and buying power of the region will help everyone to weather the storm.

There's plenty to look forward to in the near future. Motor fans are in for a real treat, as Top Gear Live, the phenomenal car show based on the award-winning BBC TV series roars into HKCEC in February. Not only will this high-octane event feature the hottest and sexiest new sports cars, but also breathtaking stunts, amazing special effects and choreographed driving sequences. It will be hosted by two of the TV's famous - some would say infamous - presenters, Jeremy Clarkson ("the tall one") and Richard Hammond ("the short one"), along with Hong Kong's own Marchy Lee.

Other new shows for 2009 include Asia Funeral Expo 2009, taking place in May; Retail Asia Expo & Congress, to be staged in June; and Sibos 2009, the global financial services industry's premier event, showing in September.