HONG KONG’S drive to attract more business event visitors from the Middle East and across the Muslim world took a step forward with Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) receiving a gold-standard accreditation for halal facilities.
HKCEC has become the first conference and exhibition centre in Hong Kong to be accredited with Gold Certification for MICE Venues from CrescentRating, an internationally recognised halal travel promotion company.
The endorsement is the highest ranking in CrescentRating’s certification scheme and comes as Hong Kong pledges to raise its appeal to Muslim travellers by offering more halal-based options and services. The objectives were outlined in the Hong Kong Tourism Blueprint 2.0, which also advised the positioning of signage in Arabic at the city’s airport and in taxis.
Hong Kong Tourism Board commissioned Singapore-based CrescentRating to conduct work that included assessing local hotels, attractions and venues to find if they met international benchmarks. Several stringent rating requirements are required to gain Gold Certification.
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HML, the management company of HKCEC, added separate prayer spaces for male and female users on the venue’s second floor marked with the direction of qibla and equipped with prayer mats.
Restrooms next to the prayer room are now equipped with ablution facilities including hand showers. Halal-certified food is also available at concession stands during events HML’s food and beverage team also providing halal menus upon request.
“Recently, the presence of Muslim exhibitors, buyers, and visitors has grown notably,” said Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd. “To enhance the experience of our guests and provide them with the dedicated support of HML, we have introduced a prayer room and other Muslim-friendly facilities.
“We are delighted that HML’s dedication to ensuring a positive experience for all users of HKCEC has been acknowledged, making it the first convention and exhibition centre to achieve the highest-level award Gold Certification, while also contributing to Hong Kong’s economy and enhancing its reputation as a Muslim-friendly travel destination.”
