Questex Reopens in Hong Kong: A Decade-Long Investment in the Hospitality Industry Amid Pandemic and Protests

Questex, the event planning company, is making a comeback in Hong Kong with a hospitality forum, six years post shutting down its local office. The city has been chosen as the location for its annual hospitality investment gathering, marking its return after half a decade.

The coordinator of events, which are centred around sectors such as hospitality, IT, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, had its major office in Hong Kong for a dozen years, with approximately 30 employees. However, in 2018, the company decided to merge its activities in Singapore because of a decline in business, as stated by Alexi Khajavi, the head of hospitality, travel, and wellness at the company based in New York.

"We intend to keep hosting the event in Hong Kong, viewing it as a commitment that spans over ten years," Khajavi stated during the initial International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) held at the Regent Hong Kong hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

He maintained that Hong Kong continues to be the center for the Asian market, drawing interest from North Asia and Southeast Asia alike.

Hong Kong's appeal as a leading location for regional events took a hit after the anti-government demonstrations in 2019. This situation was further worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, during which the city imposed some of the most stringent measures globally to curb the virus's spread.