Vinexpo Asia opens its doors tomorrow, Tuesday 28th May, returning to Hong Kong for the first time since the COVID pandemic, hosting over 1,000 wine and spirits producers from around the world.
The 2024 exhibition will feature 1,032 producers from 35 different countries - 60% international and 40% French, showing the country's prominence in the category. Over 10,000 trade visitors are expected to pass through the doors of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for the event between 28 - 30th May, with 50% of attendees being importers and the other 50% split across wholesalers, distributors, wine merchants, retailers, hoteliers and restauranteurs.
Trends from this year's show are expected to be:
Drink less and better - consumers are tending to drink less but seeking better quality.
A greater taste for craft spirits - the popularity of craft spirits is growing, as consumers appreciate transparency surrounding the distillation process and the origin of ingredients.
Digital engagement - brands are leveraging digital platforms for marketing, using cross-screen communication, live streaming and social media to engage consumers.
Experience appeal - wine brands are organising events such as wine festivals and movie nights to increase their visibility and consumer engagement.
The third wave of Asia's bar scene - with local operators opening their own concepts and using local ingredients to create cocktails made in Bangkok, Seoul or Taipei.
A craze for cocktail innovation - all over Asia, from Tokyo to Singapore, Hong Kong to Taipei, bars are experimenting with new recipes.
Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of the Vinexposium group, commented: "Building on Vinexpo Asia's proven success in Singapore in 2023, Vinexposium continues to play a central part in the economic growth and vitality of the wine and spirits industry in Asia, consistently raising industry standards and promoting an environment conducive to trade and investments".
Find out more about the Vinexpo Asia event here.