The Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA) Elite Marketers’ Alumni (EMA) successfully hosted the seminar “Paws, People & Profits: Marketing Partnerships Across the Pet Economy Ecosystem” on 15 June 2026 at Happy Moment @ Infinitus Plaza (by H Properties).

As HKMA’s first-ever event welcoming participants to attend with their pets, the seminar attracted more than 100 corporate executives, marketing professionals and their beloved pets. Participants exchanged insights on the rapidly growing pet economy, evolving consumer trends and cross-sector collaboration opportunities, generating enthusiastic engagement throughout the event.

Building on a Legacy of Excellence While Exploring Emerging Growth Opportunities

Mr Bruce Lam, Founding Chairperson of HKMA Elite Marketers’ Alumni said in his opening address that, “EMA was newly established on 24 April this year, bringing together past winners of the ‘HKMA/ViuTV & Now TV Awards for Marketing Excellence’, including marketing elites and leaders from various industries. EMA aims to carry forward the spirit of excellence and industry leadership established by the HKMA Awards for Marketing Excellence over 40 years. We have created this high-level platform to promote industry exchange, cross-sector collaboration, and knowledge sharing, while nurturing a new generation of talent to drive the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s marketing profession.”

He further noted: “The pet economy is one of the most exciting emerging growth markets today. Industry estimates suggest that the number of pets in Hong Kong has already exceeded one million. More importantly, pets have evolved from companions into integral members of the family, driving growing demand across healthcare, insurance, dining, transportation and cultural experiences. This trend represents not only a rapidly expanding consumer segment, but also a force that is reshaping business models and creating new opportunities across multiple industries.”

Panel 1: Crafting the Ultimate Pet Lifestyle Ecosystem

The first session, “Crafting the Ultimate Pet Lifestyle Ecosystem”, explored how the pet economy is evolving from a standalone consumer market into a multi-industry ecosystem encompassing dining, healthcare and insurance.

In the first session of the seminar, Mr Zac Chan, Founder of Hooman Café, shared his practical experience in operating a pet-friendly restaurant and thoroughly analysed the market opportunities brought by the government’s newly launched dog-permitted restaurant licence. Ms Helen Chau, Head of Strategy and Senior Business Manager of VetiVa Center for Animal Wellness, pointed out that the new generation of pet medical and wellness management has transformed from traditional one-time consultations into comprehensive pet community health management to effectively meet the escalating care demands of pet owners. Ms Ching Chui, Deputy Head of Branding & Marketing Communications of OneDegree Hong Kong, shared insights from a pet insurance perspective, analysing the evolution of pet owners’ spending patterns and clearly illustrating the market opportunities embedded within the demand for protection, health management, and quality of life.

In the subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Ms Emily Chow, Executive Committee Member of HKMA Elite Marketers’ Alumni, the speakers further explored opportunities arising from the dog-permitted restaurant licence, developments in pet community healthcare and insurance markets, and the potential of cross-brand collaborations to create marketing synergies.

Panel 2: The Future of Pet-Friendly Living

In the second session of the seminar, Mr Carl Wong, Chairperson of Exhibition Group, drew upon extensive historical data accumulated through pet shows over the years to provide a deep analysis of the shifts in Hong Kong’s pet market as it transitions from a niche sector to the mainstream. Mr Bill Chan, Hong Kong Director, Asset Management of H Properties, introduced the “Pet-Inclusive Community” concept of Happy Moment and shared how pet-friendly commercial environments and community building enhance customer experiences and unlock commercial asset values. Ms Diane Chiu, General Manager – Marketing & Revenue Management of MTR Corporation, explored how pet-friendly mobility creates new consumer experiences and engagement opportunities and outlined the future blueprint and supporting facilities for pets travelling on public transport. Ms Angie Chung, Director, Business Development of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, shared insights on utilizing cultural events, lifestyle experiences, and cross-sector brand partnerships to inject dynamic vitality into the mega-event economy.
In the subsequent panel discussion, the moderator, Mr Franklin Law, Deputy Chairperson of HKMA Elite Marketers’ Alumni, led an insightful dialogue with the four speakers. The panel agreed that modern pet owners are increasingly characterised by high engagement, strong loyalty and significant spending power, making them an important consumer segment for brands to engage. Speakers also explored emerging consumer scenarios, evolving business models and cross-sector marketing opportunities arising from the convergence of the experience economy and the pet economy.

The seminar highlighted the tremendous growth potential of Hong Kong’s pet economy and reflected the increasingly important role pets play in shaping modern lifestyles and consumer behaviour. Through cross-sector dialogue and knowledge sharing, participants gained valuable insights into emerging market trends while exploring new opportunities for collaboration across industries.

Pet Products Roadshow

Beyond the insightful presentations on stage, the concurrently held “Pet Products Roadshow” garnered an enthusiastic response from attendees. The roadshow served as a highly effective networking platform, drawing a large number of participants to explore potential collaboration and business opportunities within the rapidly growing pet market. It featured a robust lineup of leading pet product and service brands, including HKT Limited, MTR Corporation, OneDegree Hong Kong, Gosu, Heung Yau, Joywood Life, Matelaser (Hong Kong), Pet Connection Therapy by Mandy, PP Lab, ProVet, VETALO powered by CATALO, VetiVa Center for Animal Wellness and We Care Pet.

Please click here to download more event photos

Venue Sponsor: Happy Moment @ Infinitus Plaza (by H Properties)

Established in 2015, H Properties Limited (“H Properties”), a member of Lee Kum Kee Group, is a dedicated specialist in property investment and asset management. Our portfolio spans across prime districts of major cities like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and London. It includes award-winning premium buildings that provide tenants and customers with exceptional business, work, leisure, and living environments.
We are not just in the business of property – we are in the business of people. We strive to co-create a happier world through innovative real estate solutions. Our unwavering mission is to create happier places for people to work better, live better and ultimately feel happier.
Happiness lies at the heart of everything we do. We aim to transform each building into a happier space, where we actively promote pet-friendly and sustainability, organize enriching activities focused on well-being, and even provide a tenant-exclusive space called “Happy Moment”. Our goal is to create happier communities for our tenants and customers, enabling everyone to enjoy a healthier and happier work-life experience.

Supporting Organizations

The event was also made possible through the generous support of various supporting organizations, which enhanced the attendee experience with premium privileges. MTR Corporation specially presented exquisite pet carriers to the first ten registered pet owners, while Heung Yau gifted premium hand cream sets to the guest speakers. Additionally, all attendees were treated to an array of exclusive gifts, including vouchers from PP Lab, dry towels from VetiVa, and the OneDegree | Sport b. IoT Sport Tracker “PawBook Tag”. Throughout the event, Hooman Café provided delicate refreshments, creating a comfortable and sophisticated networking environment for all participants.

About HKMA Elite Marketers’ Alumni

The HKMA Elite Marketers’ Alumni is dedicated to championing marketing excellence and promoting the highest standards of marketing practice, innovation, and strategic impact across industries. The Alumni aims to facilitate high-level networking and continuous learning, creating meaningful opportunities for members to connect, exchange ideas, and stay at the forefront of industry trends. Central to its mission is strengthening the legacy of the HKMA Awards for Marketing Excellence by enhancing engagement between award winners and the HKMA, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging, pride, and long-term partnership. The HKMA Elite Marketers’ Alumni is also committed to nurturing the next generation of marketing leaders through mentorship, knowledge sharing, and leadership development. Furthermore, the Alumni serves as a strategic think tank, providing thought leadership to the Government, NGOs, startups, and SMEs on business, branding, and economic initiatives that contribute to the advancement and competitiveness of Hong Kong and the region.

HKMA ELITE MARKETERS’ ALUMNI
2026 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

About The Hong Kong Management Association

The Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA) is a leading professional organization which was established in 1960 for the purpose of advancing management excellence in Hong Kong and the region. Services provided by HKMA can be categorized into three major areas, namely education and training; management services and membership services. With a commitment to nurturing human capital through management education and training at all levels, HKMA offers around 2,000 training and education programmes covering a wide range of management disciplines for over 50,000 executives every year. From distance learning courses, seminars and workshops, certificates, diplomas, all the way to bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree programmes jointly organized with prestigious overseas universities. Diversified management services are offered to provide platforms for business executives to exchange ideas, to network and to gain professional development. Annually, the Association organizes diverse functions such as Annual Conference, seminars, workshops and talks. Prominent business leaders are invited to share their invaluable insights and wisdom on the most updated trends and development of management. To promote best practices in management, the Association organizes nine business awards, recognized as the highest accolades of the business community. These include the HKMA Best Annual Reports Awards, the HKMA Quality Award, the HKMA Award for Excellence in Training and Development, the HKMA/ViuTV & Now TV Awards for Marketing Excellence, the HKMA Sustainability Award, the HKMA Business Simulation Competition, the HKMA Distinguished Salesperson Award, HKMA/HKT Global Innovation Award and the China Marketing Award. ((https://www2.hkma.org.hk/))

HKMA Website： www.hkma.org.hk
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Issued by The Hong Kong Management Association on 16 June 2026.

For press enquiries, please contact:
Ms Carrie Lok Head of Marketing
2774 8542 / carrielok@hkma.org.hk