To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson: 'Build a better Mice trap and the world will beat a path to your door.'
Those were not the renowned American writer's exact words but the basic principle is one that Hong Kong's two major exhibition venues have clearly been following.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai rounded off a HK$1.4 billion expansion last April, increasing total space to 83,000 square metres.
Thirty major exhibitions were lined up to make use of the newly available area in the 12 months following completion and 10 expos, featuring sectors such as electronics and jewellery, are expected to fill almost the entire centre during their runs.
'The expansion will improve the logistics and functionality throughout the overall venue and ensure that Hong Kong's status as Asia's trade fair capital will remain intact as the industry grows,' said the centre's managing director Cliff Wallace.
He knows, though, that competition for business is sure to intensify with rival AsiaWorld-Expo at Chek Lap Kok airport now well into its stride after opening three years ago. Selling points are its location next to the airport, its own MTR station and, perhaps more important for exhibitors, that the 70,000 square metres of exhibition space include 10 ground-level, column-free halls with ceiling clearance of up to 19 metres.