The visit coincided with the 2026 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, one of Asia’s most significant annual sporting and cultural events. Participants received VIP access to the races and harbourfront festivities, providing a direct demonstration of how a major public event of international standing can be incorporated into corporate travel programmes and create experiences beyond conventional conference settings.
The initiative reflected HKTB’s broader strategy of inviting business event visitors to participate in Hong Kong’s landmark public events, strengthening the city’s appeal as a business events destination.
During the five-day itinerary, participants conducted site inspections across a range of Hong Kong’s key MICE properties. The Kowloon Shangri-La in Tsim Sha Tsui, a luxury waterfront hotel with comprehensive event facilities and direct harbour views, and the Kerry Hotel in Hung Hom Bay, a contemporary urban resort featuring flexible event spaces and acclaimed dining, were assessed for their suitability for Indian corporate groups.
The programme also featured a venue introduction and site inspection at the West Kowloon Cultural District, focusing on M+, the museum of contemporary visual culture that anchors the precinct. Alongside its role as a leading cultural institution, M+ provides world-class event spaces with harbour views, advanced facilities, and professional event services, positioning it as a venue for conferences, exhibitions, and large-scale corporate gatherings. The West Kowloon Cultural District represents Hong Kong’s flagship arts quarter and one of the world’s largest cultural centres, increasingly recognised as a destination for business events seeking a creative and culturally distinctive environment.
Beyond venue infrastructure, The Dragon Pulse demonstrated the range of experiences available for corporate groups visiting Hong Kong. Participants took a speedboat tour through the UNESCO Global Geopark in Sai Kung, viewing dramatic volcanic rock formations, sea arches, and a rugged coastline. Located just 30 minutes from the city centre, the excursion showcased how Hong Kong combines a vibrant urban environment with landscapes of international natural heritage significance within a compact footprint.
Cultural experiences remained central throughout the itinerary. A hands-on dim sum making workshop at Maxim’s Palace introduced participants to one of Hong Kong’s deeply rooted culinary traditions in a classic teahouse setting. A cocktail workshop at Tell Camellia provided exposure to the city’s internationally recognised mixology culture. Dinner at Rajasthan Rifles, the Anglo-Indian brasserie at The Peak, further highlighted Hong Kong’s diverse dining landscape and its ability to offer Indian visitors familiar cultural connections alongside distinctly local experiences.
The programme also included the Peak Tram experience and Sky Terrace 428, the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong at 428 metres above sea level; an evening at the Sha Tin Racecourse with dinner at The Box Seat; an exclusive visit to Ocean Park Hong Kong including an encounter with the Giant Panda Twins; the “Pixar Pals Spectacular” and “Momentous” nighttime shows at Hong Kong Disneyland; an evening at Lan Kwai Fong; and a harbour cruise aboard the Oriental Pearl.
Together, these experiences presented Hong Kong as a destination that serves both seasoned visitors and first-time travellers, bringing together iconic landmarks, natural heritage, world-class dining, and after-dark culture within a compact and highly navigable city.
"India continues to be one of Hong Kong's most strategically important MICE markets, and The Dragon Pulse was designed to reflect the full scope of what the city can offer Indian corporate groups today," said Puneet Kumar, Director – South Asia, Hong Kong Tourism Board.
"From VIP access to the 50th Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races to site inspections at some of the city's most exceptional venues, the programme demonstrated that Hong Kong's MICE proposition goes well beyond infrastructure. It is a destination where world-class event facilities, natural heritage, cultural traditions, and dining experiences of genuine distinction exist within a highly connected city. What The Dragon Pulse affirmed is that for Indian companies looking to deliver incentive and conference programmes that leave a lasting impression, Hong Kong remains one of the strongest choices in Asia."
Hong Kong offers a spectrum of venues suited to events of every scale. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), a globally recognised facility, has recently received Gold Certification for MICE Venues from CrescentRating, an internationally recognised halal travel accreditation body, recognising the standards it has established for Muslim exhibitors and delegates and a consideration of growing relevance for Indian corporate groups.
At the larger end of the scale, AsiaWorld-Expo is undergoing a Phase II expansion that will add more than 20,000 square metres of column-free space, responding directly to rising demand for large-scale, flexible exhibition and arena-style events and reinforcing Hong Kong’s competitiveness for major global gatherings.
Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong’s history, opened in March 2025. Its Main Stadium seats 50,000 and is designed to host international sporting competitions, concerts, music festivals, exhibitions, and corporate gatherings within a fully integrated harbourfront precinct that also includes retail, dining, and open community spaces.
Additionally, more than 20 new hotels have opened in Hong Kong over the past five years, expanding the city’s capacity for small and medium-sized meetings and conventions while providing organisers with a wider range of accommodation and meeting configurations.
For the Indian MICE industry, the visit reinforced Hong Kong’s continued relevance as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. With visa-free entry under the Pre-arrival Registration (PAR) arrangement for eligible Indian passport holders, direct flight connectivity, and an established ecosystem of hotels, venues, and experiences, Hong Kong offers organisers the flexibility to create programmes that balance business objectives with memorable experiences.
Rather than relying on a single attraction, Hong Kong’s appeal lies in the combination of its venues, connectivity, cultural offerings, and visitor experiences, creating a comprehensive corporate itinerary for international business events.
The Dragon Pulse – Hong Kong MICE Familiarisation Trip was organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in partnership with the Shangri-La Group, from 26–30 June 2026.
About Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a government-subvented body tasked to market and promote Hong Kong as a travel destination worldwide and enhance visitors' experience once they arrive. These include making recommendations to the Government and other relevant bodies on the range and quality of visitor facilities.
The HKTB’s missions are to maximise the social and economic contribution made by tourism to the community of Hong Kong and to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a unique, world-class, and most desired destination.
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