Since its official opening on 21 December 2005, AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) has opened the doors of its East side facilities for a series of new events ranging from emerging trade fairs, local and international concerts and professional conferences during the first quarter of 2006. These facilities include Hall 1 (AsiaWorld-Arena), Hall 2 and the Meeting and Conference Centre on Level 2.
In mid-April, AsiaWorld-Expo will truly come into its own as Hong Kong’s premier exhibition and events venue. The grand launch of its entire 70,000 square metres of facilities enable mega scale global branded events to be held in Hong Kong. The grand launch will kick start the staging of the first series of China Sourcing Fairs – major global events organised by Global Sources. They will be followed by a range of other large-scale international events, including the World’s largest ICT and Telecom show, the ITU Telecom World 2006 in December and the recently announced Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress in September 2007.
AsiaWorld-Expo’s single level column free exhibitions halls, offering a ceiling height of 10 to 19 metres, and world class specifications is the drawcard for world renowned exhibition organisers who have not been able to stage events in Hong Kong before due to the absence of suitable venues. The grand launch of the entire AWE facilities allows Hong Kong to play host to prestigious and economically beneficial events that further enhance Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s World City.
China Sourcing Fairs
Organised by Global Sources, a Nasdaq-listed business-to-business media company which has been facilitating global trade for 35 years, the China Sourcing Fairs are taking place in Hong Kong for the first time. Held in Shanghai previously, the fairs are being relocated to Hong Kong due to the city’s position as an international trading hub. The opening of AsiaWorld-Expo also provides Global Sources with a world-class venue to present these fairs in the best possible light. The fairs showcase the latest products from quality suppliers from China, Hong Kong and the rest of Asia and are “must attend” events for buyers from all over the world looking for the best and most competitively priced merchandise. They also serve as a good springboard for mainland Chinese manufacturers, a majority of them exhibiting in Hong Kong for the first time, to expand their business internationally.
The China Sourcing Fairs comprise of three separate shows: Electronics & Components, Fashion Accessories and Gifts & Home Products.
Electronics & Components
- Held from April 15 to 18, the fair will feature more than a thousand suppliers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Asia offering the latest innovative products in consumer electronics, computer and networking products, telecom products and accessories, electronic components and much more.
Fashion Accessories
- Held from April 15 to 18, the fair is Hong Kong’s first specialised fashion accessory show and will feature hundreds of suppliers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India and Thailand showcasing their latest designs and manufacturing capability.
Gifts & Home Products
- Held from April 22 to 25, this is Hong Kong’s biggest new show featuring over 3,600 booths. They include over 1,000 from mainland China from the emerging sourcing centres of Guangxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Liaoning and Shangdong as well as established supply areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Shanghai. In addition, manufacturers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, India and other countries provide buyers with a full spectrum of gifts and home products.
International Hardware Fair/Practical World Hong Kong
- Co-located with the Gifts & Home Products China Sourcing Fair, this fair is jointly organised by Global Sources and Koelnmesse, one of the world’s largest international trade show organisers. The International Hardware Fair/Practical World Hong Kong is Germany’s leading trade show for hardware, DIY and outdoor products to be held in Hong Kong for the first time.
The China Sourcing Fairs are being held strategically in April to allow buyers from all over the world to maximise the value of their sourcing trips. In addition to the China Sourcing Fairs, visitors can source merchandise at other trade fairs in Hong Kong as well as the Canton Fair Phase 1 and 2 held in Guangzhou.
Value Added Services
Befitting its position as a world-class exhibition centre, AsiaWorld-Expo offers a range of value added services to exhibitors and buyers to enhance their comfort and convenience.
The Expo Concierge
- The Expo Concierge, provided in partnership with Worldwide Flight Services, offers professional meet and greet service from its two service counters located at the arrival hall baggage claim area at the Hong Kong International Airport, free porter service and complimentary luggage storage service (two hours during the China Sourcing Fairs) to visitors of AsiaWorld-Expo. The Concierge team also offers baggage handling and forwarding service to all parts of Hong Kong at reasonable fees.
- Full service information counters, located close to the entrances of AsiaWorld-Expo at both Ground Level and Level 1, offer complimentary service on local travel and transport information, restaurant bookings, phone numbers, addresses and more.
Business Centre
- Conveniently located at the Upper East Lobby on Level 1, the Business Centre offers an extensive range of administration and business services as well as equipment and conference room rental.
Extensive food and beverage facilities
- AsiaWorld-Expo’s full complement of food and beverage outlets will be operational during its grand launch and the China Sourcing Fairs. Visitors can choose from over 20 venues ranging from IKON, a casual fine dining restaurant with a sea view, to a selection of efficient self-service and fast food outlets serving Asian and Western specialities and the Spotlight Bar for exotic cocktails and restorative drinks.
Welcome pack
- In celebration of the grand launch, AsiaWorld-Expo, together with Global Sources, will offer a commemorative welcome pack to all exhibitors and visitors of the China Sourcing Fairs.
Complimentary services from Global Sources
- These include a free shuttle bus service to and from AsiaWorld-Expo and Admiralty, Causeway, Wanchai and Tsimshatsui during fair days. Buyers’ Lounges located inside Halls 7 and 8 offer visitors a comfortable rest area to take a break and check their e-mails while a permanent Global Sources’ Customer Service Center provides visitors with free sourcing information throughout the year.
Easily Accessible Location
AsiaWorld-Expo is easily accessible to all visitors via a multi-modal transportation system.
By air
- It only takes approximately one minute on the Airport Express from the Airport station to the in-venue AsiaWorld-Expo station for visitors flying into Hong Kong.
By land
- AsiaWorld-Expo, in partnership with the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC), offers special fares to visitors on the Airport Express.
- Passengers using the same Octopus Cards, taking same-day round-trips and staying for over two hours at AsiaWorld-Expo will enjoy the following special fares:
|
From
|
Adult |
Child |
| Tsing Yi |
HK$42 |
HK$21
|
| Kowloon |
HK$64 |
HK$32
|
| Hong Kong |
HK$72 |
HK$36 |
- Passengers will be charged the full fare for the journey to AsiaWorld-Expo. The credit for the fare discount will be given back on the return journey to the city.
- In addition, the MTRC also provides free connections from any MTR station when passengers use their Octopus Cards with usable value and their travel on the MTR and Airport Express is within one hour of each other.
- Visitors can also make use of both urban taxis (red) and Lantau taxis (blue) to travel to and from AsiaWorld-Expo. They will be dropped off at the East Entrance of AsiaWorld-Expo and there are taxi ranks close to the East Entrance for their return trip.
- SkyCity Carpark (open air), which is only five minutes’ away from the West Entrance of AsiaWorld-Expo, can accommodate about 1,000 cars. Parking fee is HK$16 per hour.