Inspiring the Next Generation to Explore the Infinite Possibilities of the Events Industry Through Real-Life Cases
HONG KONGJune 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The finals and award ceremony of the third “AsiaWorld-Expo Business Case Competition 2026” were successfully held at AsiaWorld-Expo on June 11. With the theme “Can You Shape Hong Kong’s Next Event Landmark? Draft the Future Blueprint of AsiaWorld-Expo,” the competition encouraged students to propose innovative solutions from perspectives such as business strategy, venue development, event experience, and industry trends through real-life business cases, nurturing future talent for Hong Kong’s events economy.
As Hong Kong actively promotes the development of its events economy and the demand for large-scale activities and international conventions and exhibitions continues to grow, the importance of talent cultivation is increasingly prominent. This year’s competition received an enthusiastic response, attracting nearly a hundred students from multiple universities. The number of registrations and submitted proposals both set new records, reflecting the growing interest of young talent in large-scale venues and the events industry. After preliminary selection, six finalist teams stood out and shared their innovative ideas with a professional panel of judges at the finals.
The number of registrations and submitted proposals for the third “AsiaWorld-Expo Business Case Competition 2026” both set new records.
Using AsiaWorld-Expo Phase 2 Development as a Case Study Inspiring Students to Explore New Opportunities in the Events Industry
This year’s competition used the Phase 2 development of AsiaWorld-Expo as a case study background. Participating teams conducted in-depth analysis and proposed innovative suggestions on aspects such as the venue’s future development, event experience, cross-sector collaboration, and market positioning, showcasing the new generation’s unique insights into trends in the events industry. Through real-life cases closely aligned with industry practices, students not only gained a deeper understanding of the crucial role of large-scale venues in urban development, tourism economy, and event planning but also explored new opportunities for the future development of Hong Kong’s events industry.
The champion team consisted of students from the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Baptist University. The judging panel believed that their proposal fully leveraged the unique locational advantage of AsiaWorld-Expo’s proximity to Hong Kong International Airport and proposed an integrated development concept from multiple dimensions, including conventions and exhibitions, cultural entertainment, tourism, and lifestyle experiences. It combined innovative thinking with practical potential, offering valuable recommendations for the future development of AsiaWorld-Expo and Hong Kong’s events economy.
“AsiaWorld-Expo Creative Pioneer Award” Nurtures Future Events Talent
AsiaWorld-Expo has long been committed to nurturing future events talent. In addition to the champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up awards, this year continued to feature the “AsiaWorld-Expo Creative Pioneer Award,” recognizing participants who demonstrated outstanding creativity and leadership potential during the competition. It also provides internship opportunities, allowing students to step out of the classroom and experience the actual operations of large-scale events and venues firsthand.
By organizing the business case competition, AsiaWorld-Expo aims to provide young people with a platform to engage with real business topics, encouraging students to combine theoretical knowledge with market observations, and fostering skills in strategic analysis, innovative thinking, and teamwork. At the same time, it promotes exchanges between the industry and academia, discovering and cultivating new forces for Hong Kong’s events economy and related industries.
One of last year’s “AsiaWorld-Expo Creative Pioneer Award” winners, Connie Li, is currently interning with the event planning and management team at AsiaWorld-Expo, participating in the planning and execution of international exhibitions, conferences, and large-scale events. Connie said: “The business case competition sparked my strong interest in the events industry and gave me the opportunity to intern at AsiaWorld-Expo. Through participating in different events, I not only learn from professional teams but also get involved in the preparatory work behind large-scale exhibitions, conferences, and concerts, including preliminary planning, venue setup, on-site operations, catering, and guest services. This experience has given me a more comprehensive understanding of the events industry and has been an incredibly valuable learning journey.”
Networking Luncheon Sustains Creative Sparks, Connecting the New Generation with the Industry’s Future
After the competition, AsiaWorld-Expo hosted a networking luncheon, allowing participating students to engage in in-depth exchanges with the AsiaWorld-Expo team, further understanding the behind-the-scenes operations and development opportunities of the conventions, exhibitions, and events industry. Students also actively shared their views on the industry, showcasing the new generation’s passion and aspirations for the events sector.
Looking ahead, AsiaWorld-Expo will continue to uphold its philosophy of promoting events development, nurturing young talent, and fostering industry exchanges. It will collaborate with various universities to cultivate a new generation of conventions, exhibitions, and events talent, supporting more large-scale international events to be held in Hong Kong, further solidifying the city’s leading position as Asia’s events capital.
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