Shenzhen’s rise over the past 20 years from rural backwater to urban powerhouse has been phenomenal. The city now has a population of just under ten million people (nearly double that of Hong Kong) and is one of China’s fastest-growing cities.
This success has not gone unnoticed in Hong Kong, which has recognised the potential economic benefits of the two cities merging into a single entity. Last year the Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre, a Hong Kong-based non-government think tank focusing on the ‘one party, two systems’
rule, published a research paper highlighting the benefits of merging Hong Kong and Shenzhen into a single metropolis.
The paper speculated that if the two cities could work out how to arrange the free flow of people, capital, goods, information and services between them, then the end result would be a metropolis on a global par with London, Tokyo and New York, and well ahead of Beijing and Shanghai.
This economic development has had a major effect on the city’s conference and exhibition
facilities. Modern hotels have sprung up there over the past decade with several more under development. The Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre (SZCEC) has also played a major role in attracting these large hotel brands to the city.
SZCEC is the largest single building in Shenzhen, covering 220,000 sqm. Recent events to be held there include the China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) and the China Hi-Tech
Fair – International Consumer Electronics Fair 2008. The Shenzhen International Motor Show will be held there this month.
The SZCEC’s largest events space is 30,000 sqm with its nine exhibition halls totalling 105,000 sqm. Its largest meeting space can hold 2,200 people.
HOTELS
The Marco Polo Shenzhen is located in the newly developed area of Futian and is well located near SZCEC and other hotels. Its 391 guestrooms start from 35 sqm and the ballroom can hold 1,010 theatre style. Nearby the Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel is just over one year old and offers
328 guestrooms and a ballroom that can hold 1,400 theatre style.
One of the newest properties in town is the InterContinental Shenzhen. The hotel is designed on a Spanish theme, which includes a full-sized Spanish galleon that sits on the roof of the property. The boat is not just there for looks - its deck can hold 400 for outdoor functions while inside it features space for 200 people.
The hotel’s meetings facilities are also impressive, with the España Ballroom able to hold 1,200 theatre style or 1,100 for a cocktail reception.
InterContinental is owned by OCT East, which also owns several other properties in the area including the nearby Crowne Plaza Shenzhen and the Interlaken OCT Hotel Shenzhen.
The Crowne Plaza Shenzhen offers meeting space for 700 people, while the newly rebranded the 311-room Crowne Plaza Hotel & Suites Landmark Shenzhen that has the biggest rooms in town, starting from 50 sqm. The hotel is located nearby the Hong Kong border crossing at Luohu.
The five-star Interlaken OCT Hotel is a one-hour drive from Shenzhen in the mountains, and resembles the famous Swiss resort area of the same name with similarly designed shops and houses, streets and 1,400-seat theatre. Leisure facilities include two golf courses, tennis centre, an eco-park and China’s largest indoor and outdoor mineral spring spa.
COMING UP
The 548-room Futian Shangri-La is scheduled for a July opening. The hotel is minutes away from SZCEC and will dramatically increase the competition among the other MICE hotels in the area,
including the Sheraton and Marco Polo. It will feature an 1,800 sqm ballroom that can hold up to 2,000 people, making it the largest hotel space in town.
Later in the year, Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen will open with a 700 sqm ballroom and 273 rooms. This will be the brand’s second in Guangdong province after the Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou opened earlier this year. This new property is also near the SZCEC.
HANDY ACCESS
Shenzhen is a well connected city that is continuing to modernise its infrastructure. There are several road and train links with Hong Kong that are generally hassle-free crossings. However
the Luohu Border Crossing is officially China’s busiest border so it is best to avoid where possible.
Shenzhen also offers 150 domestic air routes and 11 international air routes.
LOCAL STRENGTH
Just over the border from Hong Kong, Shenzhen is easy for groups to access and the city is showing that it, too, has the skills to attract regional conference and exhibition business.