According to Zhi Tong Finance APP, China will serve as the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for the third time this year. Among the related events, the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting will be held in Hong Kong from the 20th to the 21st of this month. Beyond the political implications of the finance ministers' gathering, the catering and hospitality arrangements during the meeting are also being viewed as a window reflecting Hong Kong's soft power.
Leung Hei, Chairman of the Hong Kong Hotels and Catering Association, said the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting is a significant opportunity for the hotel and catering industry. He expects that participants, together with business representatives and family members of attendees, will bring approximately 500 visitors to Hong Kong, and he believes this international event can drive the catering and tourism sectors while showcasing Hong Kong's image as a "city of hospitality."
It is understood that the Hong Kong government will host banquets to welcome guests from various countries during the two-day meeting. Leung Hei hopes the banquet menus can feature fusion dining, using high-quality local ingredients such as the local fishery and agriculture brand "Premium Fresh Hong Kong," to present traditional Cantonese flavors or Hong Kong-style specialty ingredients, demonstrating Hong Kong's unique charm as a "hub where East meets West."
Leung Hei also suggested that banquet menus could include introductions to ingredient sources and cultural background stories, allowing foreign guests to learn about Hong Kong's fishery and agriculture development, traditional culinary history, and modern innovation while enjoying the food. Tea ceremonies and dim sum-making demonstrations could also be added so that guests can personally experience Hong Kong's food culture.
Industry Can Launch APEC-Themed Experience Menus
This meeting will drive up visitor numbers, including many high-end clientele. Leung Hei believes these visitors can boost hotels, fine dining, bars in Central and Lan Kwai Fong, and high-end spending. He hopes overseas political leaders and business elites will experience it firsthand and promote Hong Kong's fine dining and culinary experiences internationally.
Leung Hei said Hong Kong has long enjoyed a stellar reputation as a "culinary paradise" and "Asia's culinary capital," known for its outstanding culinary skills and diverse East-meets-West culture, home to world-class top restaurants whose food quality and service have gained international recognition. By combining the hotel, tourism, and catering industries to provide high-standard dining along with one-stop services such as private tourist vehicles and guided tours, high-end restaurants and banquet halls can seize the opportunity to launch APEC-themed experience menus and offer multilingual support and cultural adaptation for guests' needs, such as Muslim-friendly catering services.
Hong Kong Is Attractive in the High-End Consumption Segment
To meet such demand, restaurants need halal certification, vegetarian options, strict ingredient supply chain traceability, and precise service capabilities for various allergens. Frontline teams need multilingual communication skills, such as English and Arabic, and the ability to clearly narrate the brand stories and cultural connotations behind each dish, as well as provide high-standard private room services.
When asked whether the industry currently has the capability for such hospitality, Leung Hei said Hong Kong ranks first in China for the number of Michelin restaurants, and many high-end dining establishments have been included in the "Black Pearl Restaurant Guide," highlighting Hong Kong's appeal in the high-end consumption segment. He believes Hong Kong's high-end restaurants, while leveraging their existing strengths, can meet the needs of high-end clientele through brand storytelling, cultural connotations, unique experiences, and innovation.
Proposal to Build a Complete Consumption Chain to Extend Stays and Boost Spending
Apart from the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting, the Hong Kong government has actively promoted various international-scale conferences and exhibitions in recent years. Leung Hei suggested the government announce the events calendar as early as possible and work with the industry to build a complete consumption chain, which would help attract tourists to extend their stays in Hong Kong and increase spending. At the same time, he hopes mega events can be distributed as evenly as possible across different times rather than being overly concentrated in a single week or month, giving visitors a reason to visit Hong Kong in all four seasons and allowing mega events to continuously drive the economy across all sectors.
He cited Singapore's annual F1 race as an example, noting that financial summits are held before and after the event, bringing together global business celebrities and extending what was originally just a three-day race into a golden period of more than a week, generating a powerful multiplier effect that benefits all industries.
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