Hong Kong’s flagship Wine & Dine Festival wrapped up on 26 October with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) reporting about 163,000 attendees over four nights at the Central Harbourfront. Attendance was more than 30 percent higher than in 2024 after the board extended opening hours to midnight and expanded the mix to more than 300 booths—70 percent wine, 30 percent cuisine. Merchants told HKTB they saw 40- to 50-percent sales growth, evidence that high-yield travellers are returning and that locals are spending again.
Behind the scenes, HKTB positioned the festival as a pillar of its “Mega Events + Tourism” strategy aimed at lifting visitor arrivals to 46 million by 2026. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said the turnout validates government subsidies for large-scale events, while HKTB chairman Peter Lam highlighted Bordeaux’s 1855 Grand Cru showcase as a draw for affluent visitors from mainland China, the United States, Australia and nine ASEAN markets.
The festival’s success matters for global-mobility managers: it shows Hong Kong can once again accommodate large incentive groups safely and profitably. With the city promoting “bleisure” packages that bundle conferences with gastronomy, corporates planning regional meetings will find greater capacity in hotels, venues and evening entertainment.
HKTB will use the data to refine the 2026 edition and to court additional airlift, particularly from Middle-East and Australian carriers that have announced capacity increases from the start of the northern-winter timetable. For travellers, the practical takeaway is to book early; premium-event tickets sold out two weeks in advance this year.
For relocation and destination-services providers, the revival of nightlife and dining options also helps persuade expatriates that Hong Kong’s quality-of-life offering is rebounding after the pandemic slump.
Behind the scenes, HKTB positioned the festival as a pillar of its “Mega Events + Tourism” strategy aimed at lifting visitor arrivals to 46 million by 2026. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said the turnout validates government subsidies for large-scale events, while HKTB chairman Peter Lam highlighted Bordeaux’s 1855 Grand Cru showcase as a draw for affluent visitors from mainland China, the United States, Australia and nine ASEAN markets.
The festival’s success matters for global-mobility managers: it shows Hong Kong can once again accommodate large incentive groups safely and profitably. With the city promoting “bleisure” packages that bundle conferences with gastronomy, corporates planning regional meetings will find greater capacity in hotels, venues and evening entertainment.
HKTB will use the data to refine the 2026 edition and to court additional airlift, particularly from Middle-East and Australian carriers that have announced capacity increases from the start of the northern-winter timetable. For travellers, the practical takeaway is to book early; premium-event tickets sold out two weeks in advance this year.
For relocation and destination-services providers, the revival of nightlife and dining options also helps persuade expatriates that Hong Kong’s quality-of-life offering is rebounding after the pandemic slump.
