Elite Step Asia adds Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival on its sports marketing credentials

Elite Step Asia won the business after a pitch in January against three to four undisclosed competitors. The agency will be in charge of all the race and event management, including the opening ceremony and the logistics of the participating teams.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association and Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) are major partners for the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival, which last year welcomed 3,000 participants from more 10 countries or cities.

Other commercial sponsors for the event include China Construction Bank (Asia) as the title sponsor and San Miguel as the official beer sponsor.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association is still looking for a creative agency for this year’s race, according to an agency source, while the HKTB will handle the media planning.

Elite Step Asia was established five years ago, though its MD, Sean Moore, has worked on the Hong Kong Sevens event for more than 10 years with other agencies.

The agency also works on the Hong Kong Golf Open, Asian Five Nations (15s rugby), HSBC Asian Seven Series (rugby), Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, Ice Hockey 5's, as well as the Cross-Harbour swimming race.