Wine and Dine Festival vendors report Halloween boost in sales and footfall

Vendors at Hong Kong’s Wine and Dine Festival reported a stronger turnout and signs of improving business on Saturday as the annual event entered its first weekend, coinciding with Halloween celebrations and extended opening hours until 1am.

Some exhibitors said visitor numbers had increased noticeably compared with the first two days of the four-day festival, while others expressed cautious optimism about sales amid a challenging retail environment.

Henry Leung, a staff member at food and beverage importer Unicube, said business at his booth was about 20 per cent higher than at the same time last year, with the evening’s peak expected after 8pm.

“There are more people. Just look at our booth, we have customers coming in groups,” he said, adding that Saturday had been busier than Thursday and Friday.

But he also pointed to pressure such as the greater cross-border connectivity weighing on local retail by spreading consumer spending across different destinations, even as he reported seeing more mainland Chinese visitors at the festival.

Leung said Halloween had helped create a livelier atmosphere, with more visitors expected to arrive in costume as the evening progressed.

Michelle Chan, 29, an office employee, visited the festival with three friends after dinner and planned to spend about HK$500 (US$64) on wine and snacks.

“We thought we’d do something different for Halloween this year instead of going to Lan Kwai Fong,” she said. “It’s nice to have somewhere outdoors where we can have a few drinks, try different wines and enjoy the harbour view.”

Chan said the extended opening hours were an added attraction, as her group did not have to rush through the festival.

“We’ll probably stay until around midnight. It’s Saturday anyway, so there’s no hurry to go home,” she said.

Charmaine Suen, executive secretary at EcceVino, a European wine importer exhibiting at the Grand Wine Pavilion, also said the atmosphere was better than last year, with noticeably more people attending.

Suen, whose company has operated in Hong Kong for more than a decade and specialises primarily in Italian wines, praised organisers for improving the festival’s surrounding environment and facilities.

She suggested that government efforts to stimulate the economy might have contributed to the more upbeat atmosphere.

Asked whether Hong Kong consumers had become more knowledgeable about wine, Suen said their understanding had been relatively sophisticated for years.

The festival, organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, returned to the Central Harbourfront Event Space and Tamar Park on Thursday with more than 340 booths, an increase of more than 10 per cent from last year, showcasing wines and food from around 31 countries and regions.

For the first time, Friday and Saturday opening hours were extended until 1am, an hour later than in previous years, offering visitors more time to enjoy the waterfront festivities.

The event also coincided with Halloween weekend this year, giving organisers an opportunity to attract evening revellers alongside wine enthusiasts and food lovers.

New attractions include a coffee garden at Tamar Park featuring 13 coffee brands, creative coffee cocktails and live performances, as well as three guided wine walks introducing participants to different wine regions, grape varieties and food pairings.

More than 20 wine masterclasses are also being held, while the Grand Wine Pavilion features premium selections from renowned regions including Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Saturday’s programme included a free tasting of a 2014 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Burgundy wine during a sunset session, alongside special offers on selected premium wines.

The festival runs until Sunday, when special dining experiences featuring European cheeses and contemporary interpretations of Hong Kong cuisine will round off the four-day event.

Admission costs HK$40 for adults and HK$20 for children aged three to 11, while tasting tokens cost HK$25 each.