Genuine Asian Hospitality

HOFEX 2004. It's an acronym synonymous with food, drink, and every aspect of the equipment and technology used to provide them. To give this year's version its full name, it's the 10th Asian International Exhibition of Hospitality Equipment, Supplies and Technology, Food and Drink, held at the HKCEC from 10-13 February 2004 and organised by Hong Kong Exhibition Services Ltd. This biennial exhibition was originally scheduled for March 2003, but was delayed until 2004 because of the SARS outbreak, so buyers' appetites for the exhibition were specially keen. Of the 26,500 attending, some 7,000 came from overseas to take advantage of products and services displayed by around 1,000 exhibitors from 46 countries and regions. Once again HOFEX proved itself the show for the region, and the region's show for the world.

As usual, HOFEX served up a superb range of professional on-site events in an exceptionally varied programme, including specialised forums, competitions, demonstrations and seminars. Some new developments at HOFEX reflected interesting changes in the industry. For example, health foods and spa trends were a notable feature of this year's event, reflecting heightened demand for health and relaxation products. Exciting new technology, such as Palm devices for streamlining restaurant ordering, was also on display. And booming development in China has led to increased interest from Mainland visitors in equipment and supplies for clubhouse facilities. Once again, whatever participants' needs within this vast and complex industry, HOFEX was the place to have them met.

In the light of constant demand for the fair, the organiser is sticking to the schedule for HOFEX 2005, so the next fair is now just over twelve months away. The dates for your diary: 10-13 May 2005.

Natural Living

For a fair associated with organic products and related health and nutrition items, the Natural Products Expo Asia 2003 displayed its own kind of highly impressive 'organic growth'. Returning for its second year and running from 3-5 December 2003 at the HKCEC, the Expo Asia increased its total floor space by twenty-eight per cent over its inaugural 2002 event, and welcomed increased numbers of buyers too, especially from Mainland China. Organisers Penton Media Asia Ltd and New Hope Natural Media were strongly upbeat about the 2003 version, which saw well over 4,000 global buyers from forty-two countries and regions arriving to check out this superb sourcing opportunity for both natural finished products and raw materials. Governments and national associations from many Asia-Pacific countries supported national pavilions, with products on display ranging across the latest in natural and organic foods, vitamins and supplements, natural personal care products, herbal and alternative remedies, and raw materials. Supplemented by a rich conference programme that focused on regulatory issues affecting the industry, the Expo Asia was proclaimed a resounding success by participants and organisers alike. Preparations for the third Natural Products Expo Asia, which will once again be held at the HKCEC from 1-3 December 2004, are already well underway.

Height of Fashion

If there are two related sectors in which change can be guaranteed from year to year, they must be the fashion and garment industries. That's why annual trade exhibitions are so vital, bringing together garment and fashion importers, distributors and brand owners to stay at the cutting edge of shifting trends, and giving them the chance to be the first to embrace new styles. Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2004, running in conjunction with World Boutique, Hong Kong from 13-16 January, is a vital occasion used by many major players to stay ahead of the field. The two events are run by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, which this year placed special emphasis on the benefits of the CEPA agreement for enterprises doing business with Hong Kong companies. But this was no dry and purely commercial joint event. The nearly one thousand exhibitors at Hong Kong Fashion Week displayed their garments, fabrics and accessories for over twenty thousand enthusiastic local and international buyers. Nearly half of the visitors to both events were from outside Hong Kong, indicating the importance of these events on the larger global fashion stage. In between doing business, participants could enjoy a whirlwind of spectacular fashion shows, join in the "Water World" Fashion Extravaganza, watch emerging industry players at the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers Contest, and participate in a whole host of stylish social events.