JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 businesstraveller.comThe government is working hard to attract and retain
young talent, with a wide range of financial incentives
from tax breaks to free rent schemes for returning
graduates. Lifestyle benefits within this tech frontier are
also evident – from the prevalence of mobile payments
and app-centric services, to the presence
of luxury brands like Godiva and cool
new neighbourhoods like Shekou
populated by growing numbers of expats
and modern entrepreneurs.EVENTFUL DESTINATION
Major technolog y-centric events are also
frequently held in the city, says Fiona
Liao, director of communications at
Shangri-La Hotel Shenzhen. From the Intel
Development Forum, which welcomed more
than 20,000 guests, to the “must-attend”
Mars Summit. Apple, Tencent and Huawei
all host major annual or biannual events as well.
In fact, the city has a thriving conference and
events industry in its own right, reveals Liao. “One
of the reasons Shenzhen is so popular is that it’s very
convenient with transport. Shangri-La is the first choice
for a conference hotel in Shenzhen – we have more
than 8,000 sqm of conference space and are near the
Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre. Recently
we hosted the XIX International Botanical Congress,
which saw more than 6,000 guests from 100 countries.”
The MICE business is thriving so much that a brand-
new convention centre is currently being built in the
Airport New City in Bao’an District – touted to be theSHENZHEN
largest in the world. The Shenzhen World Exhibition
& Convention Centre mega facility is scheduled to be
completed by the end of 2018, with 500,000 sqm of
exhibition space comprising 19 exhibition halls plus
meeting venues on either side.
But the new Shenzhen World development is just one
part of a new commercial and residential area planned
for Bao’an, as Shenzhen develops even further into its
western districts. According to Mao Daben, executive
deputy general manager for China Merchants Real
Estate’s exhibition operations centre: “The venue is in
talks with IHG, Marriott, Hyatt and Accor [among
others] to bring 4,000 hotel rooms in five-star and four-
star properties to the area.”
Thenewdevelopmentwillbeservedbytwometro
stations, a new highway and a fourth terminal at
the nearby airport, as part of continuing upgrades
to transport infrastructure in order to keep up with
demand. Commuters have been enjoying the added
convenience provided by the ongoing expansion of
Shenzhen’s metro line, which now boasts eight lines with
three more under construction.
Another major boost to the city’s transport network
will come next year, with the completion of the new
Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Railway
thatwillwhiskcommutersfromFutiantoHongKong’s
West Kowloon Station in just 15 minutes.
With efficient transport, cutting-edge technolog y,
world-leading conference venues and modern five-star
accommodation, Shenzhen has come on in leaps and
bounds in the past four decades – and there’s no sign of
it slowing down any time soon.MTRCABOVE:
The new
high-speed
railway from
Guangzhou to
Hong Kong via
ShenzhenNew neighbourhoods
likeShekouare
populated by growing
numbers of expats
and entrepreneurs32