By Mabel Hung
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (“HKCEC”) scooped a record-breaking total of 44 awards and certificates in 2021 despite being seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining its leading position in the Asia-Pacific region. This remarkable achievement is attributed to the concerted effort by the team of professionals behind its management company, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited (“HML”).
Recognitions attained by HML span across many different categories. Providing customers with world-class 
services and facilities, the HKCEC was voted the “Best Convention Centre (North Asia)” for the second time in a row in the M&C Asia 2021 Stella Awards organized by Northstar Meetings Group; as well as the “Exhibition Venue of the Year – Hong Kong” in the 2021 APAC Business Awards organized by APAC Insider magazine. HML’s F&B team has also earned eight awards at the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic 2021, demonstrating high level of culinary excellence and creativity.
In light of the pandemic, stringent preventive and social distancing measures have been adopted at all events and restaurants to give visitors peace of mind. HML’s flexibility in events rescheduling and professionalism in tailor-making solutions to comply with the Hong Kong Government’s anti-epidemic regulations has been widely acclaimed by all organizers. The HKCEC is the only Asian finalist of “Best Venue Event Safety Plan” (COVID-19 category) in the Exhibition News (EN) Awards 2021, organized by Mash Media Group Ltd. HML also received nine awards and certificates at the “Business Resilience & Community Contribution Awards 2021” organized by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, with all facilities and restaurants fully complying with anti-epidemic measures.
HML’s commitment to sustainability was underpinned by the 19 sustainability-related awards and certificates garnered during the year, including the Grand Award in the Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) Achievements Awards Hong Kong organized by Green Council. Other awards and certificates were related to caring for the society, anti-discrimination and protecting the environment. HML was a founding signatory of the “Net Zero Carbon Events” Pledge, launched in November 2021 during COP26, committing to net zero carbon emission by 2050.
Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, is proud of the team’s outstanding accomplishments and remains positive towards the outlook of the industry, “Attributing to the resilience and innovation of the HML team in upholding hygiene measures, large-scale public events such as art shows, book fairs, and concerts were held successfully and safely during the year. While we remain vigilant to the new variant Omicron, I am confident that our team will continue to overcome challenges brought by the pandemic and is ready to welcome the return of international events and visitors as travel restrictions to and from Hong Kong are gradually relaxed.”
Photo: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited scooped 44 awards and certificates in 2021, maintaining its leading position in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mabel Hung is Director – Communications & Sustainability for the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.
