Meeting News - February 25, 2008 - (Page 10g)

Popular teambuilding options include the 1,000year-old Chinese custom of lion dancing, which requires a mastery of coordination and teamwork. Participants assume different roles: the two halves of the mystical lion, the Happy Buddha orchestrating the dance, and the musicians. Adventurous groups also try their hand at dragon boat racing—an international sport designed to test achievers’ physical and mental limits. In Hong Kong, no auspicious occasion (think: opening-night reception or lavish awards dinner) is complete without the colorful costumes and rhythmic lion and dragon dancing performances, bringing these fantastic mythical creatures to life for unforgettable events. Itineraries go a step further when delegates are treated to an intimate view of one of Hong Kong’s many authentic Chinese festivals. VIP access is easily obtained for such spectacular fetes as the International Chinese New Year Parade, featuring performers from around the world, booming fireworks, technicolor floats, and thousands of enthusiastic revelers cheering in the streets and in the stands. The traditional Bun Festival is another unique QUICK FACTS spectacle, held each May on the Cantonese and English are island of Cheung the official languages of Chau. The weekHong Kong. All major signage long festivities is in English or bilingual. consist of religious ceremonies, street processions, Chinese opera performances, lion dances, martial arts displays, and, of course, the distribution of buns that have been blessed. Perhaps the most internationally recognized event in the city is the Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) festival, where long slender boats with dragon heads and tails sail through various locations on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. Rhythmic drumbeats, historical settings, and suspenseful races set a titillating atmosphere, and offer ample opportunity for groups to make merry, feast, and savor Hong Kong’s inimitable surroundings. “The city of Hong Kong is a brilliant mix of old, new, urban, and rural that makes for a quality of life unmatched by most cities in Asia,” Chan says. “Get out on your feet and explore the sights and sounds—it’s a perfect way to capture local culture during a program.” >> Open Shop A true shopper’s paradise, Hong Kong is the couture capital of Asia as well as a bargainhunter’s dream. From bustling street bazaars to vast mega-malls, visitors can purchase a startling array of goods. The city’s Jade Market is legendary, where traders and buyers gather to bargain for the precious green stone. Kowloon’s Temple Street offers unrivaled outdoor bargaining, along with long rows of Chinese medicine shops, electronics emporiums, and clothing and shoe outlets. Hollywood Road is home to antique and curio shops brimming with Chinese artifacts, furniture, and bric-a-brac. In addition to the famous street markets of Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, and Stanley, the compact nature of the city allows shoppers to hop between malls in Causeway Bay, Central, Admiralty, Tai Koo, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Tong, and Tsing Yi. Harbour City is the largest shopping mall in Hong Kong, featuring more than 700 upscale shops and restaurants. The Quality Tourism (QTS) Scheme makes it easy for visitors to locate shops that meet high standards of product and service. Administered by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, QTSaccredited establishments must pass stringent annual assessments. Only qualifying shops are allowed to display the QTS designation.

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Meeting News - February 25, 2008

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