Hong Kong Licensing Show Ends on High Note

The 14th annual Hong Kong International Licensing Show hosted a record number of visitors at its three-day event, Jan. 11-13.

Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the show gathered more than 20,800 industry professionals from 100-plus countries and regions, an increase of 5.6 percent from 2015.

This year's event highlighted the growing range and scope of licensing opportunities in Asia.

"Hong Kong possesses many distinct advantages, including its proximity to the Chinese mainland, its robust protection of intellectual property and a deep pool of licensing professionals," says Raymond Yip, acting executive director, HKTDC. "Not only can Hong Kong help international brands enter markets in the Chinese mainland and Asia, it is also the best gateway for mainland enterprises to promote their brands to the world. The Hong Kong International Licensing Show is the ideal platform for companies from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and the world to come together and explore opportunities in licensing."

The show featured more than 340 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions and showcased more than 860 brands and properties across such categories as animation, edutainment, art and design, fashion and food and beverage. Among the exhibitors were Hearst Magazines and its licensing agent IMG (which also showcased client Ducati), BBC Worldwide, Chelsea Football Club, Hasbro, Sanrio, Warner Bros., the Palace Museum, "Peppa Pig," Yale University, Lamborghini and Twentieth Century Fox. Eight international pavilions also featured brands from Australia, the Chinese mainland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and the U.K.

More than 600 business sessions were held, of which 80 were organized in partnership with local industry associations to promote cross-industry collaboration and explore licensing opportunities. Among the participating associations were the Federation of Hong Kong brands, the Hong Kong Apparel Society and the Hong Kong Toys Council.

Held simultaneously to the Licensing Show was the fifth annual Asian Licensing Conference, which featured more than 30 experts from around the globe and included executives from Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Michelin, The Walt Disney Company, Sesame Workshop, Cosmopolitan and the British Library.

The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association also hosted the 2015 Asian Licensing Awards, which recognizes licensing excellence and innovation across Asia. Brands were honored in a host of categories including Best Corporate Brand, Best Promotion, and Retailer, Licensee and Agency of the Year.

Separately, the Asian Licensing Association also hosted a concurrent International Licensing Summit and award ceremony honoring Hong Kong's licensing accomplishments and featured speakers such as Yoon Sunmin, vice president of "Line Friends" in Korea and License! Global's publisher Steven Ekstract. Ekstract discussed the explosive growth of the entertainment business in China and examined the new potential for licensing in the region as the Chinese government cracks down on counterfeits.