HK maintains global event destination status with Asian edition of Leap

Hong Kong remains the preferred destination for hosting international events in Asia, says Monica Lee-Muller, managing director of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management).

Lee made the remark as she revealed that HKCEC will host the first overseas edition of Leap, the Middle East’s annual tech event, in July next year.

The financial hub’s close ties with the mainland and the absence of sales tax give it an edge over other places in the region, Lee said at an event on Monday. She added that HKCEC, located in the business district, offers convenient transportation, high-quality services, and excellent hosting capabilities.

Tahaluf, organizer of Saudi Arabia’s Leap, will debut an all-new series dubbed Leap East at HKCEC as it expands into Asia, Lee said.

TikTok’s chief executive Chew Shou Zi and Sinovation Ventures’ chair Lee Kai-fu are among the 300 speakers set to share their insights into the future of technology, Tahaluf said earlier in a statement.

Lee said attendees from the Middle East jumped 40 percent at the beauty trade show Cosmoprof Asia in November last year, and that HKCEC has added a series of facilities and services, including prayer rooms and certified Halal food, to cater to their needs.

Last month’s Consensus Hong Kong 2025 attracted 10,000 crypto, blockchain, and Web3 professionals from 102 countries and regions, including 7,500 non-locals, Lee said, adding that these visitors contributed around HK$275 million to Hong Kong’s economy during their stays.

HKCEC will host another crypto event – Bitcoin Asia 2025 – in August, Lee said.

AIDEN HE