‘High-end international tourists' to experience revamped facilities at Sha Tin
As Hong Kong government promotes racing tourism, Champion Circle and Inner Circle improvements can enhance race-going experience for all
Just 48 hours before it welcomes thousands of international guests to Sha Tin for FWD Champions Day, the Jockey Club on Friday unveiled upgraded dining and entertainment facilities it was confident would 'enhance the race-going experience for both local racing fans and overseas visitors'.
With the Hong Kong government eager to unlock racing's potential to attract high-spending visitors, the Jockey Club said 'dozens of high-end international tourists will be among the first customers to enjoy the premium experience offered by Inner Circle'.
'This is a wonderful venue which will help to keep the racing interest of our customers and I look forward to welcoming customers on Sunday,' said Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges of the revamped Champion Circle and Inner Circle on the third floor of grandstand one at Sha Tin.
'I think this is one of the most interesting venues if you really like horse racing. This is not only for members but for the public and it shows our determination to recognise the contribution our customers make to Hong Kong.'
Improvements to Champion Circle, which is geared more towards Hong Kong customers, and Inner Circle have been undertaken using 'feedback from customer surveys, particularly in terms of ambience, space and catering' and the space features 'the longest venue-exclusive balconies on-course, overlooking both the parade ring and the track'.
'We hope the stylish interior, optimised layout, wide variety of seating combinations and venue-specific and upgraded catering choices have all the boxes checked, taking our customers' sporting and social entertainment experience, which is unique to the racecourse, to the next level,' Dennis Hau, the Jockey Club's executive director of customer strategy, insights and innovation, said.
The renovations are part of phase four of the Jockey Club's HK$7.5 billion racecourse master plan, with phase five aimed at further catering to tourists, particularly Gen Z.
'In the next phase, which we will reveal in September, we will build a completely new arrival experience in grandstand two and there we will have more facilities for our mainland tourists who come to the races,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
'For international tourists, we will have certain zones which create a special experience. We will have on the sixth and seventh floor certain venues for the real high-end tourists, I would call them VIP tourists.
'Looking at our strategy to expand our customer base and equine tourism, we will have special venues designed for our equine tourists who come to Hong Kong.'
After about 10,000 tourists descended on the city for the Longines Hong Kong International Races in December, the Jockey Club again expected healthy tourist numbers at Sha Tin this Sunday, fuelled by tour groups from mainland China and Australia.
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