Hospitality chiefs back extravaganza

Hospitality and tourism industry sources are mostly optimistic about the potential benefits of the Harbour Fest series of concerts, despite a possible $80 million bill for taxpayers.

Sally de Souza, director of communications at the Mandarin Oriental, is confident the festival will boost business, especially with the hotel's location near the Tamar site, the festival venue.

'People in the Asian region will come to the festival for the big names which should boost business for hotels and will definitely be good for restaurants,' she said

Patrick Saw, a partner in the restaurant and bar Hubbub, agrees. 'It will certainly help business, especially if they can make it into an annual event. People are definitely willing to travel for concerts. I know of a group of 60 who flew to Singapore to see Robbie Williams.'

Kim Minards, general manager of Staunton's Wine Bar, also thinks the festival will be good for business, given the bar's location near the Mid-Levels escalator, a tourist favourite.

'If the festival has the right acts, the money will be well spent. But it all depends on how well it is organised. For example, how will they deal with noise restrictions?'

Dragon-i nightclub general manager Franck Crouvezier is another believer. 'If there's more international people coming to town, more people will be going out.'

Richard Feldman, chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong Association, said: 'It's the right time to party and the weather will be fantastic.'

Danny Badiola, general manager of Joe Bananas, in Wan Chai, also agrees, but he believes the money would have been better spent on offering discounted air tickets to attract tourists.