Informa Markets, Hong Kong Tourism partner to launch The Festival of Connoisseurs
Dr. Peter Lam (back left), Stephen Carter (back right), Anthony Lau (front left) and Margaret Ma Connolly (front right)
Under three-year partnership, both will work together to position Hong Kong as the host city of The Festival of Connoisseurs from 2026 to 2028.
Informa Markets and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced the signing of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 27, 2026, to support the launch of The Festival of Connoisseurs (the "Festival") in Hong Kong.
Under the MoU, HKTB and Informa Markets will work together to position Hong Kong as the host city of The Festival of Connoisseurs from 2026 to 2028. Before expanding into a full-scale festival in 2027, the Festival of Connoisseurs will host its first edition in November 2026. By signing the MOU, HKTB becomes the first strategic partner for this new initiative.
A signing ceremony was held in Hong Kong by Dr. Peter Lam, HKTB Chairman, Stephen Carter, Group CEO, Informa Plc, Anthony Lau, HKTB Executive Director, and Margaret Ma Connolly, President & CEO of Informa Markets Asia, in the presence of other travel trade representatives.
With the debut of the festival in Hong Kong, Informa Markets is establishing a definitive luxury show platform in Asia. This initiative reflects a long-term strategic investment, with a vision transcends a recurring annual event to introduce further leading brands to the region in the coming years.
Initially the festival will showcase nine distinct worlds of connoisseurship — Marina, Marque, Vault, Galerie, Passage, Estate, Zenith, Vitalis, and Culinaire — each representing a defining pillar of the luxury lifestyle. Designed to be dynamic and expansive, these worlds will evolve and multiply to encompass even more facets of luxury living.
The event will leverage Informa’s international expertise, networks and partnerships to ensure Festival’s position at the pinnacle of the global luxury market.
Rather than being a single venue event, The Festival of Connoisseurs adopts a "City-as-Your-Showroom" approach — an immersive, multi-day consumer experience that takes place across Hong Kong's most celebrated landmarks and cultural precincts.
The 2026 edition of The Festival of Connoisseurs will serve as a high-impact soft launch, setting the stage for a full-scale expansion in 2027 with a broader programme, a larger international exhibitor base, and an even richer portfolio of immersive city experiences.
The Festival of Connoisseurs aims to directly support the development of Hong Kong’s yacht economy and amplifies the city’s unique maritime heritage to international audience.
“This partnership is of great significance. It not only elevates Hong Kong's position as a premier global destination for high-end MICE tourism but also affirms the city's vital role as a 'super-connector' and a 'super value-adder' between the Chinese Mainland and the world. At the same time, the collaboration drives the development of Hong Kong's high-end tourism market and helps attract more international brands and high-value visitors to the city. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Tourism Commission, our trade partners and stakeholders for their unwavering support as we work hand in hand to advance Hong Kong's journey as the World's Meeting Place,” said Dr. Lam, from Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Ma Connolly, President & CEO, Informa Markets Asia said, “The decision to launch The Festival of Connoisseurs here is not simply a commercial one. It is a profound statement of conviction. We believe Hong Kong stands as the sovereign gateway between the world's second largest economy and the global stage, where the Eastern prosperity meets the Western artistry. By bringing together the resources, know-how and expertise of Informa's global luxury portfolio — from the world's most prestigious boat shows to the finest Jewellery fairs, from the exclusive private aviation platforms in Dubai to the spectacular supercar showcases in Monaco — and anchoring them here in Hong Kong, we are establishing Asia's definitive luxury show platform for the long term.”
Sources: PR Newswire
