Source:
https://scmp.com/article/971883/profits-distant-hope-lookout-deck

Profits a distant hope at lookout deck

The observation deck at Hong Kong's tallest building is not expected to break even any time soon.

Sky100's general manager, Elaine Tsui, said it was inevitable it would lose money this year. But she said it would be profitable in the long run.

'It's more than just business,' she said, as the lookout deck was expected to become a major tourist spot.

Tsui said since its opening on April 17, the average number of daily visitors had increased by more than 1,000 to about 2,800, still far short of the target of 5,000 a day.

Mainlanders and foreign tourists are expected to form 80 per cent of visitors to sky100. The company is planning to allocate a large part of its publicity budget to the mainland market, mainly on advertising and online marketing.

Observation decks around the world rely heavily on admission fees. ICC's, which offers a 360-degree view of the cityscape, charges HK$125 - less than the decks at the world's tallest building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa (HK$213), and Shanghai's World Financial Centre (HK$178).

But it is four times more expensive than Sky Terrace, the facility on The Peak, which sits at a higher altitude and charges only HK$30.

Tsui said 10,000 underprivileged children and elderly people had visited the deck under its community service programme.