TORONTO — The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s new Director for Canada, Beverly Cheng, is ready to take visitation from this market from strength to strength.

She’s got a great foundation to go on, with 360,000 Canadians  heading to Hong Kong in 2025. That’s a 13% year over year increase.

Introduced to trade media and partners yesterday at a beautifully presented dim sum event at Lee Wah Heen in downtown Toronto, Cheng said her new role at the HKTB is “deeply meaningful” for her.

Born in Hong Kong, she emigrated to Toronto when she was four years old, and grew up here. “My family is from Hong Kong and I’ve developed my own connection to the city, living and working there for 10 years,” she said.

In her new role, first announced earlier this month, Cheng will focus on strengthening partnerships and delivering campaigns that inspire Canadians to experience Hong Kong.

Her professional background includes senior communications roles with global hospitality brands including Marriott International, where she led communications for a portfolio of 16 hotel brands across Asia Pacific.

Dim sum at Lee Wah Heen in Toronto

Most recently, she served as Head of Marketing, Communications and Visitor Experience at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto.

Her connection to the arts explains why one of her own personal favourite spots in Hong Kong, as she shared with Travelweek, is M+, Hong Kong’s Museum of Contemporary Art. “It’s in West Kowloon, and it’s outstanding,” she said. “And it’s part of WestK, the West Kowloon Cultural District redevelopment with parks, shops, dining and more.”

The swan pastry – with sweet lotus paste and sesame seed – is an 8-hour process to make

Another of Cheng’s hidden gems in the city? The green space, calm and serene beauty of Chi Lin Nunnery. “The nunnery dates back to the Tang Dynasty, and it’s literally smack dab in the middle of busy Kowloon,” she says.

She’s also a fan of the Tai Tau Chau Coastal Trail, the main beach trail head at Shek O.

Jorge Lee, Sr. Manager, Marketing and PR for the HKTB, said the Toronto office is “very excited to have Beverly onboard. She brings a lot of experience in destination branding, arts and culture.”

Hong Kong is currently one of the top three destinations in Asia for growth from Canada, he noted.

At yesterday’s event, Cheng and Lee were joined by Yuen Kan Wong, Sr. Manager, Trade Marketing, and Carol Lam, Manager, Marketing & PR.

“Having seasoned team members who are so passionate about their work is a gift,” said Cheng.

Lead image caption: The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Jorge Lee, Sr. Manager, Marketing and PR; Beverly Cheng, Director for Canada; Carol Lam, Manager, Marketing & PR; Yuen Kan Wong, Sr. Manager, Trade Marketing