{
  "id": 17049764,
  "title": "Later hours unlikely to boost bottle sales at Hong Kong wine festival: exhibitors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/later-hours-unlikely-to-boost-bottle-sales-at-hong-kong-wine-festival",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T11:05:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3372601/later-hours-unlikely-boost-bottle-sales-hong-kong-wine-festival-exhibitors-say"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The annual Wine and Dine Festival returned to Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront on Thursday, hosting over 340 booths – a 10 percent increase from the previous year. This year, the festival extended its operating hours from midday to midnight to include Halloween weekend. Exhibitors, however, remain skeptical about whether later opening times will boost wine sales by the bottle. Tom Lam, a Hong Kong importer specialising in Italian wines, expressed optimism for matching last year's business while acknowledging that any growth would be welcome. Frederic Brochet, a development director of the French GVS Group, agreed that Hong Kong serves as an indicator for broader trends in Asian markets, noting the positive sentiment and increased visitor activity. Cheng Qian, owner of a Chinese winery, stated that the festival helps raise brand awareness and provides direct access to consumers. He expects a 5 to 10 percent increase in sales this year, largely due to heightened Chinese wine approval following increased exposure. Tickets for the festival are priced at HK$40 for adults and HK$20 for children aged three to 11, with each tasting token costing HK$25.",
  "summary": "Later opening times are unlikely to boost wine sales by the bottle, exhibitors returning to Hong Kong’s annual Wine and Dine Festival have said, with new overseas participants believing that the city serves as an indicator for broader trends in Asian markets. The festival returned to the Central Harbourfront on Thursday with over 340 booths, an increase of more than 10 per cent from last year,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Festival extended to midnight for Halloween weekend",
    "Exhibitors doubtful about later hours boosting sales",
    "Chinese winery owner expects 5-10% sales increase"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Extending festival hours represents a gamble on consumer behavior that exhibitors believe may prioritize brand exposure and visitor engagement over immediate increases in retail bottle sales.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "India vs Pakistan Live Streaming, Hong Kong Sixes 2026: When and where to watch IND vs PAK live?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/india-vs-pakistan-live-streaming-hong-kong-sixes-2026-when-and-where",
        "published": "2026-10-29T11:31:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}