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Hong Kong Tourism Board Remixes Business Events with World-Class Gastronomy at Wine & Dine Festival

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10 months ago

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Hong Kong

Blending mega events appeal with business opportunities and MICE visitors are invited to top-class wine-pairing experiences; in tandem, the HKTB launches new products to drive high-yield MICE tourism.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 October 2025 – The annual flagship “Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival” returns this year (23-26 October) with the vibrant theme “REMIX. BEST OF ALL WORLDS.” The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) took the opportunity to solidify Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class epicurean capital and premier destination for business and leisure.

The HKTB unveiled a series of strategic initiatives designed to engage high-yield visitors, and invited convention and exhibition visitors and travel agents from nine strategic markets to join in the festival. An exclusive sommelier wine-pairing private tour was arranged and an annual top agent award gala dinner was hosted to drive high-yield tourism and maximise the impact of mega events.

Along with the mega experience enhancement, the HKTB captured the opportunity to launch new incentive products in the “Hong Kong Incentive Playbook 2.0: New Discovery Product Update” on 24 October at Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, to drive high-yield MICE tourism.

MICE Meets Gastronomy: Top Agents Celebrate with Master Chefs’ Tasting Menu at Gala Dinner

The HKTB hosted over 80 top-tier travel agents from nine short-haul markets – Chinese Mainland, India, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and The Philippines for a familiarisation trip from 22 October to 27 October, offering them a taste of the new incentive products in town, as well as recognising their achievements in bringing incentive groups to Hong Kong for the past year.

To celebrate their success, the HKTB hosted the prestigious “Toast to Success: Hong Kong Top Travel Agents Celebration & Gala Dinner”, where guests savoured an exquisite Cantonese dinner crafted by five master chefs, while being recognised for their roles in promoting Hong Kong. This underscored the city’s dual appeal as a global gastronomic hub and MICE powerhouse.

Jennifer Ma, Executive President of Grand China MICE Holdings Co. Ltd., remarked that corporate groups from Chinese Mainland place particular importance on food, making the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival highly attractive to them. Participants can enjoy wine, and the format of the event allows them to deeply experience a sense of integration with local Hong Kong life. It also offers a cultural experience that blends East and West. “This kind of opportunity is especially popular among many young people in Chinese enterprises”, she noted. Additionally, she mentioned that the upgraded Hong Kong Incentive Playbook 2.0 together with its new ‘Empowerment’ theme and HKTB’s curated familiarisation trip in Hong Kong provided insights into many new tourism resources, such as events and venues, which will help Chinese Mainland enterprises better plan future MICE travel activities to Hong Kong.

Coinciding with the Festival, HKTB unveiled the upgraded “Hong Kong Incentive Playbook 2.0: New Discovery” on 24 October at a gathering of close to 300 agents and industry partners. Expanding on the first edition’s success, Playbook 2.0 delivers 200+ fresh experiences, from fencing workshops and billiard masterclasses to tours of grand auction houses, iconic movie sets and traditional Chinese temples, immersing MICE travellers in Hong Kong’s vibrant culture. Two new themes —Cruise and Empowerment— have been added to broaden itinerary possibilities, blending team-building thrills with personal enrichment and taking the excitement to the sea, ensuring both professional growth and unforgettable moments in Victoria Harbour. Some of the ideas were curated for a sneak peek during the mega familiarisation trip from 22-27 October.

Ornnichcha Chomraka of Bonus Travel, Thailand said that the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, held in late October, coincides with public holidays in Thailand, making it an ideal time for Thai food lovers to visit Hong Kong and enjoy the experience. She also observed a growing interest among companies in cruise tourism products. Many cruises operating out of Hong Kong include itineraries that visit other countries and regions, which helps her company expand and enrich its MICE travel offerings — for example, combining a two-day Hong Kong land itinerary with a cruise voyage.

Convention and Exhibitions Visitors Staying Longer for Wine & Dine Thrills

To highlight the city’s seamless integration of business events and leisure experiences, the HKTB invited thousands of conventions and exhibition visitors from six business events to join the Festival 2025. The events spanned five key sectors – Legal Services, Aviation, Financial Services, Manufacturing and Trade. The allure of the vibrant Wine & Dine Festival encouraged overseas participants to prolong their stay, in order to explore and experience Hong Kong fully.

 

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Energy

Transnet Freight Rail Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Spotlight South Africa’s Rail Reform at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026

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1 week ago

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August 20, 2026

By

Etu Energias

As South Africa accelerates freight rail reforms and private sector participation to unlock mining investment, Transnet Freight Rail CEO Russell Baatjies will outline the company’s infrastructure modernization strategy and opportunities for investors at African Mining Week 2026

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 20, 2026/APO Group/ –Russell Baatjies, Group Chief Executive of Transnet Freight Rail, has been confirmed as a speaker at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – Africa’s premier gathering for the mining industry – taking place October 14-16 in Cape Town.

 

Baatjies will participate in the Regional Connectivity: Financing Africa’s Mineral Infrastructure panel, where he is expected to discuss Transnet’s strategy to modernize South Africa’s freight rail network, expand private sector participation and strengthen regional logistics corridors to support mining growth and cross-border trade.

His participation comes as South Africa accelerates sweeping logistics reforms aimed at removing infrastructure bottlenecks and unlocking greater investment across its mining sector. As the country seeks to mobilize R2 trillion to develop its critical minerals industry – including an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore resources – expanding rail and port capacity has become central to increasing exports of coal, platinum group metals, manganese, chrome and iron ore while improving regional trade connectivity.

In May 2026, Transnet signed rail access agreements with 11 Train Operating Companies (TOCs) serving the coal, manganese, container, fuel and general freight sectors, marking a major step toward opening the national freight rail network to private operators. The agreements are expected to add 24 million tons of annual freight capacity, with the potential to increase to 52 million tons over the next five years, supporting South Africa’s goal of increasing annual rail volumes from approximately 180 million tons to 250 million tons by 2030.

Building on these reforms, Transnet launched the procurement process in June 2026 for The Leasing Company, a rolling stock leasing platform designed to improve access to locomotives and wagons for both established and emerging TOCs. The initiative is expected to increase asset utilization, strengthen freight capacity and attract greater private investment into Southern Africa’s rail sector.

The company is also reinforcing its financial position to accelerate infrastructure modernization through major financing agreements, including a €300 million loan from Agence Française de Développement, a €350 million loan from the European Investment Bank, a $278 million facility from the New Development Bank, a $1 billion loan from the African Development Bank and a R94.8 billion government guarantee package supporting its long-term recovery and investment program.

Alongside infrastructure investment, Transnet is strengthening collaboration with the mining industry to improve export capacity through strategic agreements with Exxaro Resources, United Manganese of Kalahari, Hotazel Manganese Mines and Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mining, reinforcing efforts to support higher mining production through more efficient logistics.

At AMW 2026, Baatjies is expected to examine how rail modernization, private sector participation and regional logistics integration can unlock new mining investment while strengthening Africa’s mineral value chains and improving access to global markets.

 

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

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Energy

Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa (EIUG) and VUKA Group announce joint EIUG Conference and C&I Energy + Storage Summit

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2 weeks ago

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August 18, 2026

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Energy

The EIUG Conference will provide a platform for open dialogue on electricity industry challenges and opportunities

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 18, 2026/APO Group/ –The Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa (EIUG), together with VUKA Group (https://WeAreVUKA.com/), will co‑host the EIUG Conference alongside the C&I Energy + Storage Summit, created by VUKA Group, on 28–29 October 2026 at The Maslow Hotel, Sandton.

The EIUG Conference is more than a gathering – it is a platform to shape South Africa’s industrial energy future

The EIUG Conference will provide a platform for open dialogue on electricity industry challenges and opportunities. It will bring together government, industry leaders, energy‑intensive consumers, and service providers to exchange perspectives, strengthen industrial competitiveness, and explore solutions for South Africa’s energy future.

The two‑day programme features ministerial and industry keynotes, panel discussions on tariff escalation, carbon tax, CBAM, and electricity market reforms, as well as masterclasses on financing, digitalisation, grid security, and hydrogen development.

Delegates will also benefit from networking functions, case study presentations, and practical workshops designed to accelerate the just energy transition.

“The EIUG Conference is more than a gathering – it is a platform to shape South Africa’s industrial energy future,” says Fanele Mondi, EIUG CEO. “ By bringing together government, industry, and service providers, we aim to foster open dialogue and practical solutions that support competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience.”

For more information, visit EIUG Conference (https://apo-opa.co/4x0Wzwd).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Business

JSCCIB Joins Forces with Public Sector and World Bank to Launch “The Bangkok Business Summit 2026: Reinvent Thailand, Resilient ASEAN”

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2 weeks ago

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August 18, 2026

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Bangkok Business Summit

Driving the Thai Economy and Charting New Strategic Pathways for the Future of ASEAN
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB), comprising the Thai Bankers’ Association, the Board of Trade of Thailand, and the Federation of Thai Industries, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Thailand, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and the World Bank, has announced its readiness to convene a high-level leadership conference, ‘The Bangkok Business Summit 2026,’ under the theme ‘Reinvent Thailand, Resilient ASEAN.’

To be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), the summit will showcase the vision of public-private sector collaboration aimed at restructuring Thailand’s economy. This event serves as a milestone paving the way toward the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026, which Thailand will proudly host in Bangkok in October 2026, as well as Thailand’s upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship in 2028.

A key highlight of The Bangkok Business Summit 2026 includes a keynote address entitled ‘Thailand’s Offer to the World’ by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand. The address will declare Thailand’s readiness as a global investment hub, shifting the nation from cost-based competition to enhancing capabilities, innovation, and digital infrastructure. Furthermore, Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, will deliver a policy address on ‘Unlocking the Next Growth Engines for Thailand & ASEAN,’ revealing policy reform steps designed to unlock private sector investment and drive the country’s new economic engines. Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, will address positioning Thailand as a regional investment platform for high-tech industries.

Mr. Payong Srivanich, Chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB), stated that this event aims to answer a critical question: How can Thailand transform global shifts and its central location in ASEAN into new opportunities for investment, job creation, and sustainable growth?

“The Bangkok Business Summit 2026 is not merely a platform for exchanging perspectives, but a venue where Thailand presents its concrete strengths, opportunities, and development directions to the global business community—bridging the government’s vision, recommendations from international organizations, and the practical expertise of the private sector,” Mr. Payong stated.”Thailand’s challenge today is not just growth, but building competitive growth in a rapidly changing world. We need a platform for collaborative efforts to ‘Reinvent Thailand’ by creating new economic engines and elevating our competitiveness so Thailand can capture new opportunities and become an integral part of a ‘Resilient ASEAN’ capable of adapting to global dynamics.”

Key Highlights & Session Overview

Special Keynote: Mr. Vitai Ratanakorn, Governor of the Bank of Thailand, will present on ‘Thailand’s New Horizons: From Ambition to Delivery.’
Global Insights Panel: Featuring in-depth discussions with Mr. Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Mr. Sarvesh Suri, Regional Vice President for Asia and Pacific, The International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Mr. John W.H. Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) exchanging views on economic trends, investments, and business opportunities.
Report Launch: Launch of the World Bank’s latest report, ‘Building Thailand’s Future Today: The Investment and Growth Playbook.’ The report proposes a roadmap for Thailand to achieve high-income country status through investment and reforms that create jobs, boost productivity, and lay the foundation for long-term growth, highlighting potential industries such as advanced manufacturing, sustainable & wellness tourism, digital services, agriculture & food, and the creative economy.
Luncheon Discussion: Thai Beverage Public Company Limited will host a special session entitled ‘Growth Reaches Communities: Sufficiency Economy Philosophy,’ presenting the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as a framework that creates balance, strength, and sustainability from local communities to the business sector and macroeconomy.
Afternoon Tracks

Track 1: Building Resilience (Infrastructure, Energy, and Digital Finance): Led by Mr. Piti Disyatat, Deputy Governor for Monetary Stability, Bank of Thailand, in building competitiveness and the ability to attract future industries to the country. The session will include discussions on the topics of ‘Efficient Energy & Low-Carbon Infrastructure’ and ‘Policy Architecture and Low-Carbon Cities in Action’ focusing on investing in key infrastructure that will drive the industrial transition to a low-carbon society, with leaders from various sectors, including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, PTT Public Company Limited, Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited, Siam Cement Public Company Limited, Thai Airways Public Company Limited, and Google LLC and the topic of ‘Building Thailand’s Trusted Economy: Digital Public Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth,’ focusing on digital public infrastructure in the financial sector for sustainable growth, and safe and inclusive digital finance, with senior executives from Bangkok Bank, Krungsri Bank, TMBThanachart Bank, and Ascend Money.
Track 2: New Horizons (Future Industries, Agri-Food, and Human-Centric Economy): Led by Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, focusing on developing high-potential talent within organizations and positioning Thailand as a regional investment platform for high-tech industries, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and advanced R&D.
Additionally, the Bangkok Business Summit 2026 will feature a panel discussion titled ‘The Future of Agrifood Business.’ Under the concept of Elevating to a Regional Strategic Asset, leaders from top companies including Sea Value PCL and Olam Agri (Singapore) will share their perspectives on how Thailand’s agrifood industry is evolving beyond its traditional role as the ‘Kitchen of the World’ to become a vital strategic asset for regional food security, and another discussion on ‘The Future of the Human-Centric Economy,’ integrating health, wellness, tourism, and the creative economy centered around people rather than isolated sectors. Panelists include Minor International, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), and Cerecin.

Closing & Actions

To conclude the summit, leaders from the three JSCCIB member organizations will summarize actionable proposals to transform insights into concrete practices. These encompass enhancing competitiveness, building investment ecosystems, and developing future industries. The event will culminate in the signing of a Letter of Intent for Cooperation on the Digital & AI Compact between Thailand’s economic agencies and the World Bank.

 

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