This three-year partnership will create a significant new luxury lifestyle platform in Asia, bringing an unprecedented "City-as-Your-Showroom" experience to Hong Kong's most iconic destinations

HONG KONG, May 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Informa Markets, a leading B2B events organiser, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) on May 27, 2026, to support the launch The Festival of Connoisseurs (the "Festival") in Hong Kong. The Festival of Connoisseurs, which will hold its first edition in November 2026 before expanding into a full-scale festival in 2027, will transform Hong Kong into a living, breathing luxury universe. By signing the MOU, HKTB becomes the first strategic partner for this new initiative.

Introducing The Festival of Connoisseurs: Asia's Definitive Luxury Lifestyle Platform 

The launch of The Festival of Connoisseurs in Hong Kong represents a long-term strategic commitment by Informa Markets to build a definitive luxury show platform in Asia. The vision extends well beyond a single annual event: The Festival of Connoisseurs will serve as the foundation to introduce further leading brands in this market to Hong Kong in the coming years.

The Festival of Connoisseurs will initially showcase nine distinct worlds of connoisseurship — Marina, Marque, Vault, Galerie, Passage, Estate, Zenith, Vitalis, and Culinaire — each representing a defining pillar of the luxury lifestyle. This universe is designed to be dynamic and expansive; as the festival grows, these worlds will evolve and multiply to encompass even more facets of luxury living.

The Festival of Connoisseurs will draw on Informa's international expertise, networks and partnerships built from its existing market-leading brands, which include the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the world's largest in-water boat show; Top Marques Monaco, an exclusive international supercar show, and Cityscape, the world's leading real estate platform, ensuring the Festival remains at the absolute forefront of the global luxury lifestyle market.

A New Paradigm for Luxury Events: "City-as-Your-Showroom"

Rather than being a single venue event, The Festival of Connoisseurs adopts a "City-as-Your-Showroom" approach — an immersive, multi-day consumer experience that takes place across Hong Kong's most celebrated landmarks and cultural precincts.

From the shimmering waters of the harbour to the city's world-class cultural galleries and vibrant lifestyle districts, the city itself becomes the stage. This citywide format is designed to activate Hong Kong's unique urban geography and world-class infrastructure in ways that no single venue could achieve.

The 2026 edition of The Festival of Connoisseurs will serve as a high-impact soft launch, setting the stage for a full-scale expansion in 2027 with a broader programme, a larger international exhibitor base, and an even richer portfolio of immersive city experiences.

Supporting Hong Kong's Strategic Vision

Hong Kong is a major global hub for the luxury lifestyle market, with the fourth-highest concentration of ultra-high-net-worth individuals globally, over 3,300 single-family offices, and a top three world ranking as an arts trading centre. Combined with its world-class infrastructure and East-meets-West cultural identity as Asia's "super-connector," Hong Kong is ideally placed to host a festival dedicated to connoisseurship, closely aligned with the Hong Kong SAR Government's strategic priorities, including the promotion of Yacht Tourism and the "Tourism is Everywhere" initiative.

By establishing the yachting and marine lifestyle as a key pillar of the event, The Festival of Connoisseurs directly supports the development of Hong Kong's yacht economy and amplifies the city's unique maritime heritage to international audience.

Quotes from Key Stakeholders

"This partnership is of great significance. It not only elevates Hong Kong's position as a premier global destination for high-end MICE tourism, but also affirms the city's vital role as a 'super-connector' and a 'super value-adder' between the Chinese Mainland and the world. At the same time, the collaboration drives the development of Hong Kong's high-end tourism market and helps attract more international brands and high-value visitors to the city. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Tourism Commission, our trade partners and stakeholders for their unwavering support as we work hand in hand to advance Hong Kong's journey as the World's Meeting Place."

— Dr. Peter Lam, Chairman, Hong Kong Tourism Board

"Hong Kong has been at the heart of Informa's story in Asia for over three decades. In that time, we have grown alongside this city — through its transformations, its resilience, and its continued reinvention as one of most influential business destinations in the world. The decision to launch The Festival of Connoisseurs here is not simply a commercial one. It is a profound statement of conviction. We believe Hong Kong stands as the sovereign gateway between the world's second largest economy and the global stage, where the Eastern prosperity meets the Western artistry.  By bringing together the resources, know-how and expertise of Informa's global luxury portfolio — from the world's most prestigious boat shows to the finest Jewellery fairs, from the exclusive private aviation platforms in Dubai to the spectacular supercar showcases in Monaco — and anchoring them here in Hong Kong, we are establishing Asia's definitive luxury show platform for the long term."

— Margaret Ma Connolly, President & CEO, Informa Markets Asia

About The Festival of Connoisseurs 

The Festival of Connoisseurs is Asia's premier luxury lifestyle show platform, debuting its soft launch in Hong Kong in November 2026. Organised by Informa Markets and supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and other strategic partners, the Festival showcases dynamic worlds of connoisseurship — including Marina, Marque, Vault, Galerie, Passage, Estate, Zenith, Vitalis, Culinaire and more — across Hong Kong's iconic venues and destinations. "Where the World's Finest Converge in Asia's Most Dynamic City."

About Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a Government-subvented body. Its primary mission is to maximise the social and economic contribution of the tourism industry to Hong Kong and to consolidate the city's position as a world-class destination. HKTB works closely with the Government, travel industry and other partners to promote Hong Kong worldwide, widen the range of tourism products Hong Kong offers, elevate service standards, and enhance the visitor experience. In addition to its head office in Hong Kong, HKTB operates 15 offices around the world and has representative offices in six different markets.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organiser, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year.  For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2988805/Image_1.jpg 

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2988804/Image_2.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/informa-markets-partners-with-hong-kong-tourism-board-to-launch-the-festival-of-connoisseurs-in-hong-kong-302783332.html

Der Bundesrat verschärft im Streit um das Frühfranzösisch den Ton und greift zu einem bundesrechtlichen Instrument. Alle Primarschülerinnen und Primarschüler in der Schweiz sollen künftig zwingend eine zweite Landessprache lernen. Um dieses Ziel durchzusetzen, hat die Landesregierung eine Revision des Sprachengesetzes in die Vernehmlassung geschickt. Sie reagiert damit auf Vorstösse in mehreren deutschsprachigen Kantonen, Französisch aus den Stundenplänen der Primarschule zu streichen.

Im Zentrum steht die Frage, welche Rolle die Landessprachen im obligatorischen Unterricht spielen sollen. Für den Bundesrat ist dies eine «Frage von nationaler Bedeutung». Die Bundesverfassung verpflichte Bund und Kantone gemeinsam, die Landessprachen zu erhalten, die Verständigung zwischen den Sprachgemeinschaften zu stärken und nationale Minderheiten zu schützen, hält die Regierung fest. Der Bund sehe sich damit in der Verantwortung, den Zusammenhalt zwischen den Sprachregionen und den Respekt vor der sprachlichen Vielfalt zu sichern, während die Kantone ihr Schulwesen so zu harmonisieren hätten, dass Qualität und Durchlässigkeit des Bildungsraums Schweiz gewahrt bleiben.

Der Konflikt entzündet sich an der 2004 beschlossenen Sprachenstrategie der Kantone, die 2009 im HarmoS-Konkordat verankert wurde. Diese sieht vor, dass Kinder in der Primarschule zwei Fremdsprachen erlernen – darunter eine zweite Landessprache. In einzelnen Kantonen gibt es inzwischen Bestrebungen, den Unterricht einer Landessprache als Fremdsprache auf der Primarstufe zu streichen. Das widerspreche der gemeinsamen Strategie, schreibt der Bundesrat und zeigt sich über diese Entwicklung «beunruhigt».

Um gegenzusteuern, legt die Regierung zwei Varianten für eine Gesetzesänderung vor. Die erste folgt dem HarmoS-Modell: In der Primarschule sollen obligatorisch zwei Fremdsprachen unterrichtet werden, eine Landessprache und Englisch. Damit würde die heutige Praxis in den 15 HarmoS-Kantonen bundesrechtlich abgesichert und für alle gelten, sollte es nötig werden. Die zweite Variante lässt den Kantonen mehr Spielraum: Sie verpflichtet lediglich dazu, dass eine zweite Landessprache spätestens ab der Primarschule und durchgehend bis zum Ende der obligatorischen Schulzeit unterrichtet wird, ohne Englisch explizit als zweite Fremdsprache vorzuschreiben.

Mit der Revision will der Bundesrat den Rahmen abstecken für den Fall, dass die Kantone ihre Sprachenstrategie ganz oder teilweise aufgeben. Konkrete Entscheide sind noch offen: Zunächst läuft bis zum 5. Oktober 2026 eine Vernehmlassung, in der Kantone, Parteien und weitere Akteure Stellung beziehen können. Erst danach wird sich zeigen, ob sich das strengere HarmoS-Modell oder die flexibelere Lösung durchsetzt – und wie viel Gewicht der Bund seiner sprachpolitischen Rolle im Schulbereich tatsächlich geben will.