The AsiaWorld–Expo is one of the two major convention and exhibition facilities in Hong Kong along with Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was opened on 21 December 2005 by Donald Tsang, the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and it is operated by AsiaWorld–Expo Management Limited. It is located on Chek Lap Kok island, next to the Hong Kong International Airport.
| AsiaWorld–Expo | |
|---|---|
  Overview of the AsiaWorld–Expo in December 2007 | |
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| Address | 1 Airport Expo Boulevard Chek Lap Kok, Lantau Island Hong Kong |
| Location | Hong Kong International Airport |
| Owner | Airport Authority Hong Kong |
| Operator | AsiaWorld–Expo Management, Ltd. |
| Built | 29 March 2004 |
| Opened | 21 December 2005 |
Construction cost | HK$2.35 billion |
| Banquet/ballroom | 4,000 (VIVA@AsiaWorld-Expo) 3,800 (Runway 11) |
Theatre seating | 14,000 (AsiaWorld-Arena) 5,000 (AsiaWorld-Summit [Hall 2]) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 70,000 square metres (750,000 sq ft) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 1,143 square metres (12,300 sq ft) |
| • Ballroom | 32,340 square metres (348,100 sq ft) |
| Public transit access | AsiaWorld–Expo station |
| Website | |
| Venue Website | |
| AsiaWorld–Expo | |||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 亞洲國際博覽館 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 亚洲国际博览馆 | ||||||||||||
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History
editThe complex was built under a public–private partnership involving the Hong Kong government, landowner Airport Authority Hong Kong, and a consortium led by private company Dragages et Travaux Publics.[1] The name of the new centre, AsiaWorld–Expo, was announced on 27 November 2003, and is intended to reflect Hong Kong's "Asia's World City" promotional brand, which was launched in 2001.[2]
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 29 March 2004.[3] The new facility opened on 21 December 2005.[4]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, AsiaWorld–Expo was used as a Department of Health saliva collection and testing centre for those arriving at Hong Kong International Airport.[5] Starting in January 2022, it has been used as a treatment facility for patients with mild cases of COVID-19.[6]
In May 2022, Irene Chan Fong-ying, chief executive of AsiaWorld-Expo, said the first phase of the facility will have upgraded facilities and smart sanitizing equipment such as UV lights costing HK$600 million while a new 30,000 square meter second phase will have 20,000 seats.[7]
Features
editAt a construction cost of HK$2.35 billion, AsiaWorld–Expo has over 70,000 square metres of space with 10 ground-level and column-free halls, including the AsiaWorld–Arena – the biggest purpose-built indoor seated entertainment arena in Hong Kong with a maximum capacity of 14,000; the AsiaWorld–Summit – Hong Kong's largest indoor conference venue that seats 700 to 5,000 persons; the Runway 11 – the venue's latest conference and function hall for 500 to 3,800 guests.
AsiaWorld–Expo is also an award-winning venue. In 2017, the arena is awarded the "Best International Venue" at the Exhibition News Awards.[8]
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Entrance of AsiaWorld–Expo -
Lobby of the arena -
Indoor acts and exhibitions arena -
Makeshift hospital operating since 1 August 2020.
Venues
edit- The Arena (Hall 1)
- AsiaWorld-Summit (Hall 2)
- Typical Halls (Halls 3–11)
- VIVA (Halls 8 & 10)
- Runway 11 (Hall 11)
- Meeting & Hospitality Centre[9]
Transport
editAsiaWorld–Expo is next to the airport; visitors can walk to the venue in a short distance. The venue is next to the AsiaWorld–Expo station, on the Airport Express of the Hong Kong MTR. Buses and coach from Mainland China are also available.
Most road signs directing to AsiaWorld–Expo simply refer to the venue as "Expo".[10]
Exhibitions and events
editThe halls of AsiaWorld–Expo, mainly AsiaWorld–Arena, AsiaWorld-Summit, and VIVA, have been used for various entertainment events. They have staged concerts by acts such as Oasis,[11] Michael Bublé, Eric Clapton,[12] Il Divo,[13] Coldplay, David Guetta, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys, Björk, Avril Lavigne, Bruno Mars, One Direction,[14] Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Maroon 5, Lily Allen, Ariana Grande, Westlife,[15] Christina Aguilera,[16] Plácido Domingo,[17] Ayumi Hamasaki,[18] Deep Purple,[19] Green Day,[20] Wonder Girls,[21] Girls' Generation,[22] L'Arc-en-Ciel,[23] Namie Amuro,[24] Stone Roses,[25] Super Junior,[26] Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Imagine Dragons, X Japan, Smashing Pumpkins, Big Bang, 2NE1, G-Dragon,[27] JYJ, Exo, BTS, GOT7, Monsta X, 5 Seconds of Summer, Katy Perry, Metallica, Jessie J, Shane Filan of Westlife, Guns N' Roses, Above & Beyond, Blackpink, Treasure, IU and many more.
Since 2013, it has hosted the Mnet Asian Music Awards. It has also hosted exhibition such as ITU Telecom World 2006, Asian Aerospace, and E-Commerce Asia.
Footnotes
edit
- ^ Wu, Elaine (24 August 2003). "Airport unveils exhibition centre design". South China Morning Post. p. 4.
- ^ "New Exhibition Centre's Name is Announced!". AsiaWorld-Expo. 27 November 2003. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ Chan, Carrie (30 March 2004). "Exhibition centres are told to work together to avoid rivalry". South China Morning Post. p. 3.
- ^ Chow, Vivienne (22 December 2005). "New exhibition venue no threat to smaller rival, operators say". South China Morning Post. p. 4.
- ^ "Recovering Covid-19 patients complain of prolonged stay at Hong Kong facility". South China Morning Post. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ Stacy Shi (27 May 2022). "11SKIES airport complex a bridgehead to GBA, says Cheng". The Standard (Hong Kong).
- ^ "AsiaWorld-Expo Crowned 'Best International Venue' – News Archives ICCA Member Press Releases ICCA". iccaworld.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ^ AsiaWorld-Expo. "Venues Listings | AsiaWorld-Expo". www.asiaworld-expo.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ^ Typical road sign directing to "Expo". https://www.flickr.com/photos/raymondyue/8298021961/player/fabfcbd4b1. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
- ^ concert date: 25 February 2006
- ^ concert date: 17 January 2007
- ^ concert dates: 22 January 2007 and 26 September 2009
- ^ concert date: 18 March 2015
- ^ "AsiaWorld–Expo Concerts". Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ "Christina Aguilera Back to Basics Concert Tour". Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
- ^ concert date: 1 March 2008
- ^ concert dates: 20–21 September 2008
- ^ concert date: 10 May 2010
- ^ concert date: 16 January 2010
- ^ concert date: 17 December 2010
- ^ concert date: 15 January 2012
- ^ concert date: 3 March 2012
- ^ concert date: 16 March 2012
- ^ concert date: 24 July 2012
- ^ concert date: 15–16 June 2012
- ^ "G-Dragon 2017 World Tour". YG Entertainment. 26 June 2017.