HKTB Hosts 100 Guests of Asian Financial Forum for Local Exploration Elite Global Leaders Marvel at the City’s Stunning Night Vista and Old Town Central Unrivalled Attractions Add Value to Business Travel and Mega Events

To attract high-yield visitors to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) constantly promotes the development of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism through elevating business travellers’ experience in Hong Kong, reinforcing the city’s position as the “World’s Meeting Place”. In line with this mission, HKTB hosted two memorable themed tours from 13-15 January for A-list speakers at the 18th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), a regional financial mega event which brought more than 3,600 MICE visitors and elite international leaders from the worlds of finance and business to Hong Kong. The itineraries, covering various attractions in the city including the inspiring Old Town Central, were meticulously planned for keynote speakers and about 100 other delegates, adding value to their business travel experience while promoting Hong Kong’s exceptional tourism appeal. Some guests praised Hong Kong’s captivating traditional culture inspiring them to revisit Hong Kong again in the future and recommend it to others.

Among the A-list speakers were Professor Justin Yifu Lin (former World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President), Ms Bei Saville (Chief Investment Officer, Treasury of Fingerboard Family Office, Advance), and Mr Marc Baghadjian (CEO and Co-Founder of Hypercard American Express).

1. From the peak to the Harbour – an excursion of world-class night view and store with local nostalgia

The HKTB arranged a tide-and-town evening excursion for guests after the forum on Monday and Tuesday (13-14 Jan) to soak up some of Hong Kong’s celebrated nighttime magic. Professor Lin, Ms Saville and Mr Baghadjian joined about 50 guests on the Chinese junk Aqua Luna, relaxing in style on Victoria Harbour at the end of the day’s business with a glass of cocktail. Mr Baghadjian, who went on the Harbour cruise for the first time, commended the vibrancy of Hong Kong under coupled effect by the Harbour and the night view, “when we’re doing business and we’re in our rooms negotiating, you don’t see how beautiful parts of the city are. But when you take a tour like this and you see all the buildings, you see the Hong Kong dream here. It’s beautiful.” He described Hong Kong as a unique East-meets-West centre where everybody comes to do business, and the experience in Hong Kong this time also allowed him to expand his network, “I hope my colleagues from the US come and bring their businesses here and see all the fruits that Hong Kong has to offer.”

Mr Marc Baghadjian, CEO and Co-Founder of Hypercard American Express)	Professor Justin Yifu Lin, former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank	Ms Bei Saville, Chief Investment Officer, Treasury of Fingerboard Family Office, Advance, and her husband

Another group of 40 guests went on a tour to see Hong Kong from a different perspective on Monday. They took the sixth generation Peak Tram and enjoyed breathtaking views over the skyline, combining nature and urban hustle, through the panoramic windows of the upgraded carriage. The guests then admired the city’s world-famous nighttime vista from the viewing platform of the Peak Tower and enjoyed a taste of old Hong Kong in a store with a nostalgic theme. Dr Jochen Biedermann, Managing Director of World Alliance of International Financial Centers, who visited Hong Kong about ten years ago, said, “I very much enjoy seeing the Peak Station from the distance – it was nicely illuminated and colourful, a really enjoyable scene. The nightview is really beautiful too.” As he enjoyed revisiting Hong Kong, Dr Biedermann added, “The Asian Financial Forum is something for the Mind, and the journey to the Peak, something to enjoy for the eyes – definitely something to be excited about.”

The group was also mesmerised by the Hong Kong-style snacks and toys at a experience studio full of local nostalgia, taking pictures to recollect their memories in Hong Kong.

2. A taste of traditional customs and heritage in Old Town Central

Some delegates stayed behind after the successful two-day forum to enjoy more of Hong Kong’s myriad charms and attractions. Yesterday (15 January), guests took a journey back in time to Old Town Central for a cultural and heritage adventure, learning more about the century-long history of the famous district which is also the city’s business centre. They visited one of Hong Kong’s oldest temples, Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan, and joined in traditional Chinese praying customs of decorating statues with gold foils by hand. They then went onto visit the Tai Kwun centre for heritage and arts in Central where they found out about Hong Kong’s long history of judiciary and law enforcement in the former police station compound and explored some of the city’s finest architectural treasures with the help of local guides.

Mr Felix Katterl, a Partner at Soutien Group in the field of advisory and consulting in Qatar, visited Hong Kong for the first time. He tried traditional fortune telling in Man Mo Temple, and made a wish for health, prosperity and the wellbeing and peace in the world. He found the traditional culture very different to his motherland, Austria, and it was a good chance for him to dive into a local experience and understand the local lifestyle as he observed the local temple visitors. Mr Katterl also learned more about Hong Kong’s cultural monument in Tai Kwun, appreciating the hospitality offerings he experienced during the tour: “I think the area has been revitalised and developed in a wonderful way, with bars and restaurant available inside a monument, offering completely different perspectives. The historic sites have been well maintained, including the prisons and prison cells.” He added that he will be staying in Hong Kong for a few more days to follow up on business pipelines, and was excited to come back to Hong Kong with his families again or suggesting his friends to visit Hong Kong.

The HKTB will continue to bring more international large-scale MICE events to Hong Kong and consolidate the city’s status as the World’s Meeting Place, driving growth in the MICE sector by creating an unrivalled business travel experience for visitors and generating global interest in Hong Kong’s unique and timeless appeal.

More photos of the guests of the Asian Financial Forum exploring the Old Town Central and night tour by sea and land: