HONG KONG, Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Informa Markets today marked the inaugural launch of The Festival of Connoisseurs (TFOC) at AsiaWorld-Expo, Halls 3 and 6. Presented in collaboration with AsiaWorld-Expo, TFOC is a government-supported international flagship exhibition for premium lifestyle, covering superyachts, supercars, fine jewellery and watches, private aviation, premium travel and fine art.
Under its “City-as-your-showroom” concept, TFOC connects exhibition displays with waterfront experiences, giving brands, buyers, connoisseurs and the public different ways to take part. The outdoor Marina Showcase offers the public a first look at TFOC and Hong Kong’s yacht economy, with free entry available by advance registration.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, said, “A festival like this needs people who appreciate the exhibits, customers who want to buy them and an environment where business can flourish. Hong Kong brings all three together.” Referring to the $100 million reserved in this year’s Budget to attract high-quality, large-scale international exhibitions with new elements to Hong Kong, Mr Chan said, “I am delighted that this festival is the first one under the initiative.” He added, “We will continue to strengthen Hong Kong as an international trading centre and a world-class exhibition hub, where craftspeople reach new audiences, brands find new customers and visitors discover something extraordinary.”
Other officiating guests included the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mrs Vivian Cheung Kar-fay; and the Group Chief Operating Officer of Informa PLC and Chief Executive Officer of Informa Markets, Mr Patrick Martell.
Mrs Cheung said, “The Festival comes at an important stage in our development of SKYTOPIA, whose vision is to transform the airport into a world-class destination that brings together aviation, entertainment, arts and culture, exhibitions, business, hospitality, yachting and waterfront leisure. The Festival offers a glimpse of that vision coming to life. Building on Hong Kong’s strengths as an international aviation hub, we are developing SKYTOPIA into a destination in its own right.”
Mr Martell said, “Informa Markets has had a front-row seat to Hong Kong’s transformation over the decades, from a trading post to a financial capital, and now to the cultural and lifestyle hub it is today. We organise more than 200 events across Asia each year, connecting over 60,000 exhibitors, and Hong Kong has consistently been the city where our most ambitious ideas take root. When we considered where a new festival of this calibre should be born, the answer was clear. Hong Kong does not need to compete for relevance in the global luxury conversation; it needs a stage worthy of the role it already plays. That is what we have set out to build together.”
Commenting on the launch, Ms Irene Chan, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaWorld-Expo, said, “We are excited to bring a new land-and-sea exhibition concept to life at AsiaWorld-Expo, taking the exhibition experience beyond traditional boundaries.” She added, “We worked closely with the organiser to bring TFOC to Hong Kong, investing in dedicated berthing facilities and waterfront upgrades to make this concept possible. By connecting the indoor exhibition with the waterfront Marina Showcase, we are opening up new possibilities for international events in Hong Kong.”
The opening ceremony was attended by over 200 guests. Following the ceremony, guests and members of the media joined a guided tour of the exhibition and visited the outdoor Marina Showcase.
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SOURCE Informa Markets Asia
