The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2025, a four‐day event hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) at the Central Harbourfront Event Space, concluded successfully yesterday (Oct. 26). Over 300 booths showcased curated wines and gourmet delights from 31 countries and regions worldwide. Even as the event neared its conclusion, the venue remained packed, with attendees sampling and purchasing wines and delicacies while capturing memorable moments with selfies.
Exhibitors noted that despite current economic challenges, the festival offers a rare opportunity for residents and visitors to experience diverse global wines and cuisine in one place, bringing both "prosperity and revenue". A visitor from Shenzhen remarked that the event gathered wines from around the world—many of which are hard to find locally—making the day trip well worth the effort.
Busy crowds and exceptional offerings
The wine and hot food sections were bustling with crowds, with some food stalls drawing long queues. Chef Lee from The Chinese Library, a high-end Chinese restaurant, shared that this was his first time participating at the invitation of HKTB. He noted that Central Harbourfront, with its concentration of wine and food-related industries, was an ideal location for the festival.
Lee described HK consumers' current spending habits as being in a state of "semi‐hibernation," explaining that the pandemic has altered public lifestyles, reducing outings for entertainment and significantly impacting nighttime consumption patterns. He expressed hope that large-scale events like the Wine & Dine Festival would help drive the recovery of the food and beverage industry.
Lee praised the venue's excellent environment and atmosphere, noting that many exhibitors showcased innovative dishes and creative concepts. In addition to offering signature restaurant dishes, his booth also sold craft beer. Business over the past few days had been so strong and consistent that there were moments when they could barely keep up with demand.
Wang, a representative of an exhibitor specializing in Georgian qvevri wine—a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage—highlighted the unique characteristics of this wine, including its distinct grape varieties and special fermentation techniques. "Its taste profile is noticeably different from other wines," she explained. On-site promotions were offered, with select bottles originally priced at over HK$400 each available in a three-bottle set for just HK$1,088. This attracted many customers who made special trips to purchase.
Wang praised the HKTB for its extensive experience in organizing the event and its effective promotion, which successfully drew many visitors from the Chinese mainland and overseas.
A convenient location and vibrant atmosphere
Chen, who comes from Singapore and has worked in HK for many years, shared that this marked her fifth or sixth year attending the event. She also commended the event's convenient location, spacious venue, and vibrant atmosphere.
Lai, who traveled from Shenzhen specifically to attend this event, mentioned that her family has a longstanding tradition of wine appreciation. She described the event as a rare opportunity to explore wines from around the world, especially hard-to-find varieties.
Drawing on her family's past experiences and information from the popular mainland platform Xiaohongshu, she opened a bottle of Japanese wine on-site to share with her family, praising its smooth texture and lingering finish.
Mr. Chan and Ms. Chan, HK residents sampling various wines at the venue, shared that they occasionally enjoy fine wines. Having tasted cocktails, white wines, and spirits yesterday, they planned to make informed purchasing decisions after further comparisons.
Lam, a local resident, brought his children to experience the festive weekend atmosphere. While his underage children couldn't drink, they were able to enjoy the diverse culinary offerings.
Industry engagement and global culinary fusion
The HKTB has been hosting its annual large-scale familiarization trip for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) since Oct. 22. The six-day event has brought together over 80 industry representatives from nine countries or regions to visit HK, allowing them to personally explore and experience the city's latest MICE resources and advantages. The goal is to uncover opportunities and foster business growth.
Taking advantage of the occasion, the HKTB also invited the representatives to attend the Wine & Dine Festival, aiming to promote the city's unique appeal and opportunities as a destination for "mega events + tourism" through firsthand experiences. Both mainland and overseas MICE representatives praised the Wine & Dine Festival for bringing together global cuisines in one venue, highlighting its appeal to MICE travelers, particularly the younger generation.
The delegation members hail from the Chinese Mainland, India, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. On the evening of Oct. 25, the HKTB hosted the "Toast to Success: Hong Kong Top Travel Agent Awards Celebration & Gala Dinner of 2025 Wine and Dine Festival." During the event, the representatives were invited to enjoy exquisite Cantonese dishes presented by a team of renowned Michelin-starred chefs, paired with selected fine wines, to experience the unique charm of HK as the "Culinary Capital of Asia."
Ma, executive president of Grand China MICE Holdings Co. Ltd, noted that mainland corporate teams place particular emphasis on culinary experiences. She said the Wine & Dine Festival brings together global cuisine and wines, offering an immersive experience that blends local HK life with a fusion of Chinese and Western cultures.
She added that this visit to HK introduced her to more innovative tourism resources, which would help her better plan MICE tourism activities for mainland enterprises in the future.
Ormnichcha Chomraka from Thailand's Bonus Travel noted that the timing of the festival coincided with Thailand's public holidays, making it an ideal opportunity for food enthusiasts from Thailand to experience HK.
The event also served to recognize and commend the industry's efforts in promoting the development of HK's MICE tourism. The HKTB expressed its hope to forge closer partnerships with the industry, encouraging the representatives to continue promoting HK's diverse tourism resources and major events.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalists: Bei Shanyan, Li Zhishan; English Intern Editor: Vesper; English Editor: Zoey SUN)
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