A Global Luxury Showcase

The Connoisseurs Festival, organized by Informa Markets and funded with one million dollars from the Hong Kong Government, marked an important moment in the history of Hong Kong's luxury expo. The event saw the participation of over nine sectors of luxury, including yachts, supercars, gastronomy, fashion, travel, health, jewelry, and private jets, contributing to creating a business environment that had been missing until then.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region emphasized how this showcase of quality has been a success, showing how Hong Kong can be used as a global reference point for luxury goods. He pointed out that Hong Kong has a competitive advantage compared to other cities around the world, such as its freedom of capital, trade, talent, and information regulation, lower tax rates, and logistics facilitation.

Patrick Martell, CEO of Informa Markets, said that the festival has shown how Hong Kong is an island where high-quality products meet interested buyers and create a trading environment conducive to prosperity. 'Hong Kong has an incredible attraction because it offers all these characteristics,' he added.

Marine Italia Asia, the exclusive distributor of Azimut Yachts, was very enthusiastic about the future of the luxury industry in Hong Kong. 'Hong Kong needs this type of fair, and it should elevate the presentation of this type of event,' commented Paul Grange, co-founder and operational head of Marine Italia Asia. 'In general, yacht fairs are small and often not considered important.'

Grange added that the company was participating in the festival to promote its brand but also highlighted how being present in Hong Kong was important for the growth of the luxury industry. 'It's important to be seen as part of this movement toward promoting yachting,' he concluded.

The Connoisseurs Festival represented a significant moment in the history of Hong Kong's luxury expo, showing how the city can continue to be a global reference point for luxury goods.