Incentive - August 2008 - (Page 54) TRAVEL “It’s a city of great contrasts, and you’ll see it from Victoria Peak, along with the congestion of a cityscape.” —Lynda Obront, Tour East Planner Resources Hong Kong Tourism Board www.discoverhongkong.com Tour East Inc. www.toureast.net World Marketing Group www.worldmarketinggroup.com Known as Hong Kong’s “back garden,” the district of Sai Kung is located on the eastern side of Hong Kong. Warm, inviting beaches, clear waters and tantalizing sea breezes beckon. On weekends, locals and visitors like to rent boats and cruise around the many nearby islands decision along the way in the planning determines the final budget. Clearly, the reasons companies choose Hong Kong as an incentive reward rest in the allure of the destination itself. Though the former British Crown Colony was handed back to China in 1997, it has not lost its luster. “Hong Kong conjures up images of intrigue that can be very motivational,” says HKTB’s LaValle. “You don’t have to work so hard to communicate the value. The motivational value of Hong Kong is built in.” In addition, for an international destination, though far-flung, it’s easy to reach with numerous nonstop flights (151⁄2 hours from New York; 131⁄2 hours from the West Coast), though roughly twice the travel time to Western Europe. “It’s the old saying: ‘three meals, two movies and a nap,’” says LaValle. Indeed, the major hurdle for selling Hong Kong as an incentive is the competition from its Asian neighbors. Once the one and only major destination in Asia, Hong Kong now competes head-to-head with Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok. “There’s so much competition,” says Jane Schuldt, president of World Marketing Group, a sales and marketing representation company based in Minneapolis. “That’s the challenge. Now all the eyes are on China. It’s about breaking through all that other noise.” Another challenge: At times, people insist on certain venues that are not large enough for their group, so they sometimes have to go in shifts. Finally, there’s the misconception that travelers will “starve” in Asia, says Schuldt. Many are just not aware of the myriad fine-cuisine options. That, too, is easily overcome. Asian, continental, and gourmet international cuisine of all types abound. “The dining is still the dining and the dining is still spectacular,” she says. Once you arrive, Hong Kong is easy to navigate. The hotels, the cuisine, the harbor (Hong Kong means “fragrant harbor,” where aromatic wood products and fragrant incense were once traded), and the fact that it is a collection of 262 islands along with the Kowloon Peninsula in the South China Sea, spell exotic. The narrow body of water that separates Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon Peninsula is one of the greatest attractions—Victoria Harbour, one of the deepest natural maritime ports in the world. “The harbor is everything in Hong Kong, and the bustling streets, the mysterious alleys,” says Tour East’s Obront. “You’re in the pulse of a business center, globally. It’s a city of great contrasts, and you’ll really see it from Victoria Peak, along with the congestion of a cityscape.” Despite the challenges, Hong Kong continues to attract incentive groups, and is especially interesting to those going to Asia for the first time. “The attraction of Hong Kong is just saying the word,” says Tour East’s Obront. “It’s the magic of it, the magic of the harbor.” s Send comments to feedback@incentivemag.com 54 | Incentive | August 2008 | incentivemag.com http://www.discoverhongkong.com http://www.toureast.net http://www.worldmarketinggroup.com http://incentivemag.com
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