Hong Kong’s visiting business travellers like to work hard, and play hard, relaxing when the job is done with high-end dining and entertainment.

This is where Hong Kong’s hotel industry comes to the fore, says James Lu, executive director of the Hong Kong Hotels Association.

“While business travellers are initially attracted by the business opportunities available in Hong Kong, the hotel industry provides them with the essential services to make their work more effective, their stay more enjoyable, and international telecommunications more readily accessible.

For the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, which adjoins the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, business tourism is a bonus, says director of sales and marketing Andy So Ngai Hung.

“Visitors to trade fairs account for 20 to 30 per cent of our room occupancy during the fair days, and sometimes during peak season (April, September, October and November), our rooms are booked out.

The annual Rugby Sevens has become one of Hong Kong’s premier corporate entertainment events and a prime example of how Hong Kong mixes business with pleasure.

Says Brian Stevenson, president of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union: “The development of the Hong Kong Sevens’ famous carnival atmosphere owes much to Hong Kong’s eclectic, multicultural environment, mix of East and West and geographic location. Such is its popularity that many of Hong Kong’s leading companies and regional multinationals act as corporate sponsors of the event, entertaining several thousand local and international guests over the Sevens weekend and organising conferences and board meetings during the Sevens week.

“This results in a huge influx of foreign businessmen to Hong Kong, contributing to a sell-out week for the local economy as regards hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs and other entertainment and retail venues.