Business Events (BE) Malaysia|Vol 4|No 1|2018|Gunther Beissel MITEC

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VO l . 4 I N O. 1 I 2 01 8 ISSN 2289-893X RM10

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BUSINESS EVENTS MALAYSIA

TAKING THE MICE INDUSTRY TO NEW HEIGHTS Günther Beissel CEO of MITEC

MACEOS AGM

President re-elected for another term Outlines his plans to take MACEOS to the next level

MACEOS Venue Industry Dialogue

Sharing insights & data collection to raise ranking of BE industry internationally

Contents Vol. 4/No.1/2018 COVER STORY 4

Taking the BE Industry to New Heights The Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), is a game changer in the business events (BE) segment which will put Malaysia on the world map of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions events. Günther Beissel, CEO of MITEC shares with BE the role this exhibition centre will play.

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20 REGULARS 3

Publisher’s Note

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Calendar of Events

EVENTS 33 An Evening with ICE & MACEOS

34 MACEOS Celebrates 2018 in Style

FEATURES

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Bridging the Gen X & Gen Y Gap

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Event Technology Trends and the Future of Events

MACEOS’ 28th AGM Taking MACEOS to the Next Level

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Soaring High in Audio Visual Industry

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Putrajaya, Always Ready for MICE Events

2 MoUs Signed UFI Asia Pacific Conference

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Indonesia Convention Exhibition

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MACEOS Venue Industry Dialogue

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Talent & Globalisation among Challenges in Events Industry

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Amazingly Run Events with 4K Interactive Digital Display CORRECTION We refer to BE magazine Vol 3 No. 2 regarding the article on Growing the MICE Industry in the Northern Region. The Northern Region Chairperson is Eugene Goh and not Eugene Ng as stated in the article. We apologise for this oversight.

Publisher’s note

Publisher’s Note

MACEOS Secretariat

Level 3, East Wing, Menara MATRADE, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.

H/P No: 012-640 6106 Fax: +603-6203 7034 Email Address: secretariat@maceos.com.my ADVISORS Ir. Dr. Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen Madros, CEO of MATRADE Dato’ Dr. Tan Chin Huat, Founder of MIFF Datuk Zulkefli Hj Sharif, CEO of MyCEB

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (2018-2020) President Dato’ Vincent Lim Vice President, Exhibition Alun Jones Vice President, Conference Amos Wong Vice President, Industry Partners Kenneth Fong Acting Vice President, Event Mgmt Co. Mark Lee Honorary Secretary Francis Teo Honorary Treasurer WY Cheong

SUB-COMMITTEE (2018-2020) Publication Alun Jones Strategic Planning & East Malaysia Region Gracie Geikie Sustainability & Safety Eric Ho Events Syed Amirul Government Affairs Azmi Sulong Membership Services Melvin Shu Industry Research & Statistics Tiffany Chung Special Projects & CSR Edwin Lai MACEOS Youth Chair Jason Teh Northern Region Eugene Goh Secretariat Senior Manager G’ny Chin Association Secretary Lydia Woon

Business Events Malaysia is published 3 times a year for MACEOS by

Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd (609031-W) W-9-12, Menara Melawangi, Amcorp Trade Centre, 18, Persiaran Barat, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: +603-7932 3259 Email: hello@harini.com.my Publisher/CEO V.S. Ganesan Senior Editor Vimala Seneviratne Editor Aleyann Matthews Creative Goh Wei Lee Advertising Consultant Faridah Ismail Marketing Manager Karthik Ganesan Printed by United Mission Press Sdn Bhd (755329-X) No. 25 & 27, Jalan PBS 14/14, Taman Perindustrian Bukit Serdang, Seri Kembangan, 43300 Selangor.

Tel: +603-8941 6618 Fax: +603-8945 5168

ALUN JONES

Vice President, Exhibition

Dear All, It gives me great pleasure to present the first edition of BE Magazine of 2018.

A lot has happened since the last edition with revamped content and a more regional look and feel. In this edition you can find out more about the long awaited MITEC exhibition centre which is now fully delivered to market. Already we have seen established shows such as The Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) and Defence Services Asia (DSA) make use of this fantastic state of the art facility and for sure it is destined to be a game changer in the BE market in Malaysia.

Also, we feature the recent MACEOS AGM in which Dato’ Vincent Lim was cemented once again as President for the next 2 years and it is great to see the continuity in so much of the EXCO in order to help drive our long term future plan. Not long after the re-election, the mapping of the future for the association was done in a brainstorming session out of town. Watch this magazine for future updates on the outcome.

We also feature in this edition some information on the industry in Indonesia and looking in more detail at some of the technological trends impacting on the industry.

I would also like to express my thanks to Union Des Foires Internationales (UFI) for selecting Malaysia as its destination for the recent industry congress. It has been a while since we hosted but it was great to see such a quality representation of the industry in KL where some great content and quality networking were well received by all the delegates.

Moving forward, we will continue to strike that balance between local information and regional news and in the next edition watch this space as we look to shed some more light on the industry in Sarawak and how it is developing and thriving in its own unique way.

To all the contributors and advertisers in this month’s edition, thanks for all your support and we look forward to more content from BE Magazine as this year unfolds.

All authors automatically agree to indemnify MACEOS and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd against any loss, costs, expenses (including legal fees), damages and liabilities that might arise from their own incapacity, negligence, breach of contract or other civil misdeeds. We reserve the right to edit all articles. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2018 by MACEOS and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of MACEOS and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd. MACEOS and Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography, illustration and other editorial materials.

Cover Story

Taking the MICE industry to new heights The Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), the largest trade and exhibition centre in the country with state-of-the-art facilities and the most eco-friendly features, is a game changer in the business events (BE) segment which will put Malaysia on the world map of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions).

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Cover Story

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usiness events under which MICE is a major component, has been earmarked as one of the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

Since 2009, Malaysia’s MICE industry has attracted 958 international events and generated RM11 billion for the country. MICE is expected to generate RM3.9 billion incremental GNI (gross national income) and create 16,700 jobs by 2020.

According to the International Congress and Convention Association, Kuala Lumpur is ranked 10th in Asia Pacific and 38th globally as a convention centre city; while among countries, Malaysia was ranked 10th in the region and 24th in the world.

“Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur are increasingly becoming a preferred destinations for exhibition, meeting and convention planners,” says Günther Beissel, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

“Since MITEC has entered the Global Market space, we have seen a growing interest from exhibition organisers and event planners to enter Malaysia, #justdifferent.”

A NEW ERA FOR MICE IN MALAYSIA

A new era in the MICE industry started in Malaysia with the opening of MITEC. MITEC is the game changer in business events industry that Malaysia has been waiting for. “MITEC is now the third largest venue in Southeast Asia region that is capable of hosting large-scale international events,” says Beissel proudly. “As such, Malaysia will have the ability to compete in new growing markets, including regional and international exhibitions, conferences and events, particularly the ‘mega-exhibition’ market which attracts over 50,000 visitors and large-conference/ conventions of more than 20,000 delegates!”

Positioned as an economic catalyst and Gateway to Southeast Asia, MITEC’s modern corporate philosophy is closely aligned with its vision to see Malaysia become one of the leading MICE destinations in the Southeast Asia and the world.

“Our journey is to be the Southeast Asia’s leading international trade and exhibition centre,” explains Beissel. “Our rhythm is to deliver innovative standards of professionalism by instilling a culture of being extraordinary by displaying leadership and embracing our local, regional and global community.”

MITEC initiated the #myWorld campaign and incorporates environmental sustainability in its day to day operation.

SIZE DOES MATTER

When it comes to hosting the biggest and most prestigious MICE events, size does matter! In this category, MITEC offers some statistics never before seen in convention centres in Malaysia. As the largest venue in the country, MITEC specialises in hosting large events of 5,000 people or more. “So far, we have hosted a one-day convention event with over 42,000 people occupying the entire three double volume floors,” explains Beissel.

“As MITEC was designed to meet the growing demands of the MICE industry, we have in less than one year of operation, hosted major regional exhibitions with an overall increase of 110% in booth stands size, 15% visitor increase and 84.5% exhibitor increase, this further highlights the multipurpose built capability to accommodate large international events and exhibitions, including being en route to achieve ISO certification.

MITEC boasts 9 mega and 2 medium halls for events and exhibitions, a 1,500pax banquet room and numerous meeting rooms from 10-250pax. It boasts Malaysia’s largest pillar-less exhibition hall of 12,960 sqm on one level. The total area of

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Cover Story

its service provider are offering a tiered service that includes free Wi-Fi in public foyers and premium services with greater bandwidth for guests who want to upgrade the speed and connectivity on Levels 1 to 3 at a reasonable rate. Complimentary Wi-Fi access is offered in MITEC public areas on best-effort basis.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES

Our journey is to be the Southeast Asia’s leading international trade and exhibition centre . combined spaces of Exhibtion Halls 1 to 11 on three levels is at over 45,000 sqm. In development are two additional event rooms for up to 500pax.

Being equipped with a maximum floor loading of 50kN/sqm, MITEC has already hosted heavy industries shows by being able to support the weight of heavy machinery and vehicle for large scale exhibitions and events – the first of its kind in the country. The large space and flexibility of the halls make MITEC the perfect venue for any type of event – exhibitions, sports, concerts, conference/ convention, and lifestyle events.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES

There’s no escaping the impact of technology and social media on how venues are marketing themselves and packaging their product offerings.

During MICE events, social media and other technology are vital in showcasing the events to the rest of the world. In line with this, MITEC and

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MITEC has been built with many environmental and sustainability features to ensure that it becomes a living monument that sustains the environment that supports it. Some of the special features include the surrounding green landscape that has been designed to reduce Heat Island Effect within the development thus, helping to control the zonal temperature.

Sustainability features such as fire system using recycled water, water efficient fittings and rainwater harvesting system ensure that water is reused and reduced. A highly insulated roof and horizontal sun shading devices ensure that the building is lit with as much natural daylight as possible while reducing the heat from the sun. Intelligent sensor lighting in public areas ensure minimum electrical consumption and in high traffic areas, oxygen levels are measured and regulated to ensure the comfort of delegates and visitors.

GOVERNMENT OWNED

MITEC is owned by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), a national trade promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. It is managed and operated by Prisma Galeri Sdn Bhd, a solely 100% Bumiputera company specialising in MICE venue management.

With MITEC being the Southeast Asian venue of choice, major national and international exhibitions, events and conferences are to take place at MITEC. In line with Malaysia’s business-friendly approach and policies the country is now closer than ever before in achieving the objective of making Kuala Lumpur one of the top five most visited cities by 2020. MITEC’s CEO Gunther Beissel is confident that with MITEC’s state-of-the-art facilities, it will put Malaysia on the map while creating job opportunities and raising skill levels and wages of the people.

TARGETING THE RIGHT MARKETS

With so many high class convention centres in Malaysia and in neighbouring countries like

Cover Story

Singapore, how is MITEC going to stand out? “#justdifferent, MITEC offers a unique value proposition which is innovative, progressive and in line with our modern business philosophy, of being a business partner and not just a venue provider,” reveals Beissel. Clients, he says, are increasingly cost sensitive, hence, product offerings and a unique delegate experience are key success factors.

Continues Beissel, “With regards to marketing, MITEC’s marketing approach is focused on key economic drivers who bring international investment and development for economic growth sectors including digital automation, Industry 4.0, manufacturing/agriculture, science and technology, aerospace/innovation and education.”

MITEC is also attracting events that focus on creating a legacy for Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia, particularly the industry sectors that boost the economy and help Malaysia achieve a high income status. “These events will receive prioritised stakeholder support, including funding, and incubator attention.”

organisations worldwide solidifies our reputation as a brand-new venue. It raises the bar within the industry and in turn increases our clients’ confidence level. ICCA, UFI and AIPC are excellent platforms for MITEC to expand its network, engaging and sharing best practices with industry colleagues within the associations’ community globally,” he adds.

Fortunately for MITEC, Malaysia’s unique selling propositions (USPs) such as value-for-money, direct air access from most major cities around the world, a safe and stable political climate and an established industry supply chain, etc. will help boost MITEC’s attractiveness to the regional and international marketplace.

The best days for the MICE industry in Malaysia are ahead thanks to venues like MITEC.

COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS

MITEC has also been actively collaborating and partnering with industry partners such as the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and InvestKL to bring in more regional and international events: from the bidding process through to execution and delivery of the final event.

“MyCEB has been very supportive of all players in the business tourism industry, including local and international professional conference organisers (PCOs). Its role as a one-stop centre for business-tourism activities and the official destination marketing organisation in relation to business-tourism events has made bidding efforts more cohesive and comprehensive, especially in the presentation of formal bids,” explains Beissel. “The subvention fund administered by MyCEB has created the opportunity for Malaysia to be more competitive in bidding for regional and international meetings as many competitive destinations have great incentive programmes and active convention bureaus supporting the industry supply chain.”

MITEC is a member of ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association), UFI Union des Foires Internationales/Union of International Fairs and AIPC (International Association of Convention Centres). “Being affiliated with respected

Major exhibitions and events held at MITEC so far 1. SMIDEX 2017 – the biggest established SME Showcase (11,195 visitors); 2. MITA Travel Fair 2018 – Malaysia’s biggest travel fair (48,000 visitors); 3. MIFF 2018 – Malaysian International Furniture Fair, the biggest show in 24 years (19,811 visitors); 4. MIHAS 2018 – 15th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), being the world’s largest Halal event (21,000 visitors); 5. DSA 2018 – 16th Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference, one of the top 5 defence shows in the world (50,000 visitors).

6. SEMICON SEA 2018 – SEMICON Southeast Asia, the largest microelectronics event in the region (9,000 visitors).

Find out more about MITEC at www.mitec.com.my

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MACEOS’

28th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018 D The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) held its 28th Annual General Meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, an event that was attended by more than 100 members.

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ato’ Vincent Lim, President of MACEOS welcomed MACEOS members to the AGM and in his message to the audience, he touched on MACEOS’ extensive activities throughout the year in which several Memorandum of Understanding and partnerships were initiated to extend MACEOS’ reach and network in the industry.

“Together with the committee, we have worked very hard to be seen and heard. We have built relationships and collaborations with relevant players. The committee has been aggressively producing education programmes, public relations initiatives, industry and international liaisons, forums,

awards, dinners, membership drives, industry surveys, MACEOS roadmap and many other events,” he said.

Dato’ Vincent also expressed his appreciation and thanks to the committee and secretariat for their hard work and commitment throughout the year. He also extended a special thanks to Amos Wong, the out-going Chief Executive Officer of MACEOS for his invaluable contributions to the success of MACEOS. During the AGM, three resolutions were passed and approved as follows: i) To create one additional position of

Vice President – Event Management. ii) To approve the new MACEOS logo.

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iii) To approve the appointment of Advisory Board – to increase the number of advisors from 3 to 7 members.

Francis Teo, Honorary Secretary of MACEOS confirmed the minutes of the 27th AGM held in 2017.

He also briefly reviewed the activities conducted

by MACEOS in 2017 and the 40-page Executive Committee Report for 2017. The newly published MACEOS Guide on Safety was also introduced to the members and copies were distributed to all present.

W. Y. Cheong, Honorary Treasurer of MACEOS presented the Treasurer’s Report and briefed the audience on the association’s accounts and expenditure.

The AGM culminated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MACEOS and Korea MICE Association (KMA) to collaborate on the education and training of MICE professionals and strengthening of business platforms for the development of MICE industry in Korea and Malaysia. MACEOS was represented by Dato’ Vincent Lim and KMA was represented by Eung Su Kim, President of KMA.

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MACEOS executive committee members for 2018-2020

President

Vice President – Conference

Vice President – Exhibition

Dato’ Vincent Lim C.I.S. Network Sdn Bhd

Amos Wong AOS Conventions & Events Sdn Bhd

Alun Jones UBM Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd

Vice President – Industry Partners

Honorary Secretary

Honorary Treasurer

Francis Teo Setia City Convention Centre

WY Cheong ECMI ITE Sdn Bhd

Ordinary Committee Member

Ordinary Committee Member

Ordinary Committee Member

Ordinary Committee Member

Edwin Lai Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd

Eric Ho Pico International (M) Sdn Bhd

Gracie Geikie Place Borneo Sdn Bhd

Melvin Shu Smart Reg System Sdn Bhd

Ordinary Committee Member

Ordinary Committee Member

Ordinary Committee Member

Ordinary Committee Member

Nor Azmi Sulong MATRADE Exhibition & Convention Centre

Syed Amirul R.E. Rogers (M) Sdn Bhd

Tiffany Chung Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Winnee Lim Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC)

Kenneth Fong Messe Worldwide

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Taking MACEOS To The Next Level MACEOS will continue to focus and complete activities centered on three hubs – improve, market and stage BE Forum on a regional scale; develop professional programmes suited to the local market; and increase membership.

I am very confident that our committee members are of high calibre and have the personality and attributes.

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ato’ Vincent Lim, re-elected as President of MACEOS for another two-year term, thanked the members for the trust put in him and added that the organisation will focus on activities related to the three hubs.

The flagship event, BE Forum which takes place on 10 October 2018, will be held on a much larger scale. “We will be working with Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) with the sole intent of securing more support and help market this forum on a regional scale among targeted audiences – event professionals and academic bodies,” said Dato’ Vincent. MACEOS will also work with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC), Bureaus, regional associated partners and industry partners.

On professional development, he said that MACEOS is aware of the need of a program content which is more relevant and suited to the local market.

“With the effort of a group of passionate individuals in the industry, we have developed Exhibition Management Program (EMP), Conference Management Program (CMP) and Total Event Management (TEM), targeted to launch in Q3 2018. All MACEOS courses are HRDF claimable,” he stated.

MACEOS will also be engaging in a nationwide recruitment drive. “The recruitment drive will reach out to various segments of the industry, including Destination Management Companies (DMCs), and service providers. At the same time, the executive committee members are committed to deliver better values and benefits to all members.” MACEOS currently has 140 members.

He also pointed out that since this would be his final term as President of MACEOS, it was time to draw up a succession plan for the next in-line - a candidate for the post of President for 2020 and beyond.

“I am very confident that our committee members are of high calibre and have the personality and attributes. I sincerely hope we are able to identify that person who can be honed from now and be ready to continue to carry the torch when my term ends,” he said.

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2 MoUs Signed

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he AFECA-ASEAN Committee (AAC) represented by MACEOS and Myanmar Exhibition and Conventions Association (MECA) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at further strengthening the Business Events industry, especially the exhibition and conventions market, in Southeast Asia.

The MoU was signed by AAC Committee President Dato’ Vincent Lim who is also the President of MACEOS and U Myo Thant @ Nelson of MECA on 2nd March 2018 in Kuala Lumpur. AAC consists of seven trade associations – Malaysia (MACEOS), Indonesia (IECA), Philippines (PACEOS), Singapore (SACEOS), Thailand (TEA & TICA) and Myanmar (MECA).

The collaboration with these leading trade associations is to take the MICE/Business Events industry to the next level and at the same time spur the economic growth in the region. Its objectives are also to exchange trade information and industry news through AAC partners, build awareness, cultivate and increase new industry players in the market, recommend educational programmes related to Business Events/MICE industry and encourage the industry players to expand its business beyond its own territories.

Meanwhile, MACEOS also signed a MoU with the Korea MICE Association (KMA) on 14 May, 2018 in Kuala Lumpur. The MoU was signed by Dato’ Vincent Lim on behalf of MACEO and Eung Su Kim, President of KMA. With the signing of the MoU, both associations will collaborate on education and training of MICE professionals – invite members of each other’s association to attend educational meetings and sessions as well as promote internship programmes and accept interns, and send speakers to each other’s MICE events.

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UFI Asia Pacific Conference 2018: Exploring limitless possibilities The leading global association of the world’s tradeshow organisers and exhibition centre operators (UFI) brought together experts from across the globe to discuss, debate and explore alternative sources of revenue and new approaches for growth in the years ahead.

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he two-day conference, themed ‘New Approaches, Different Angles’ and held in Kuala Lumpur recently, featured insights on the changes and innovations taking place in the exhibition industry.

It also highlighted the rising need for exhibitors and organisers to embrace the changes and leverage on them to deepen their footprints in the industry.

UFI’s main goal is to represent, promote and support the business interests of its members and the exhibition industry. UFI directly represents close to 50,000 exhibition industry employees globally, and also works closely with its 50 national and regional association members. To-date, 770 member organisations in 87 countries around the world are signed up as members. UFI’s approved label adorns more than 1,000 international trade fairs providing the international business community with unique

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marketing media aimed at developing outstanding face-to-face business opportunities.

The speakers were introduced and welcomed

by Mark Cochrane, Regional Manager, UFI AsiaPacific Office. The keynote speaker, Dato’ Sri Idris Jala, CEO of PEMANDU, gave a comprehensive overview of the ongoing transformation of the Malaysian economy. The new economic model, he said, is focused on high income, sustainability and inclusiveness.

The new way of working encompasses the 8-step BFR (Big Fast Results) Methodology which are strategic direction; establishing actions; sharing output with audience and receiving feedback; creating a roadmap; setting KPIs for monitoring and tracking; on the ground implementation; international panel and audit; and annual reports on deliverables.

He added that Malaysia is no longer stuck in the

The new economic model is focused on high income, sustainability and inclusiveness. middle income trap with worsening fiscal deficit.

Growth in private investments has increased twice, the Compound Annual Growth for 2006 – 2010 was at 5.5% while for 2011 – 2016 it was 11%. “Malaysia’s total trade increased yearly – exports rose from RM698 billion in 2011 to RM935 billion in 2017 and imports, from RM574 billion in 2011 to RM838 billion in 2017. Electrical and Electronics is the largest export product from Malaysia at RM343 billion or 36.7% of exports surpassing petroleum products at RM72 billion or 7.7%.”

On what’s next for Malaysia, he stressed that innovation is the way forward – from 1st industrial revolution to 4th industrial revolution using artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things, 3D printing and quantum computing.

“Digital free trade zone was established to drive e-commerce and position Malaysia as a regional hub for eCommerce logistics. Innovation in agriculture includes remote sensing technology using powerful sensors to track weather, planting and soil data; GPS to locate crops suffering drought, insect pressure, lack of nitrogen, among others; and tractors connected to networks to communicate work progress. Innovation in the construction industry includes industrialised building systems (IBS).”

Atul Todi, Co-founder & CEO, 10 Times (India) shared his views on how to use digital tools to encourage greater participation and how to reach first-time visitors, including millennials. Real opportunities, he said, are hidden with more than 7.4 billion potential audience. Current event-goers are mainly in the age group of between 19 and 65 years old. There is potential for growth for event-goers in this segment.

“To reach them, the right approach has to be undertaken with steps that include Reach-out; Engage; Acquire; and Leverage,” said Atul, whose company is an India-based online platform that serves as a database of events and as a powerful marketing tool for organisers and venues.

Dato’ Sri Idris Jala, CEO of PEMANDU

Atul Todi, Co-founder & CEO, 10 Times (India)

Ali Lee, Founder & MD, Expo Stars Interactive Ltd. (UK)

Matt Pearce, Managing Director of Talk 2 Media & Events (Australia)

Stephanie Selesnick, Blogger & Trainer, International Trade Information Inc. (USA)

Wolfram Diener, Senior VP, UBM Asia Ltd. (Hong Kong)

Reach-out encompasses personalising messages and diversifying them across channels to generate demand; engaging involves providing relevant content and communicating with the right audience while eliminating irrelevant communication; acquire is about making the right recommendations and match-making audiences with the right platforms, while leverage involves word-of-mouth, social sharing, invitations and the ability to influence the right audience.

Matt Pearce, Managing Director of Talk 2 Media & Events (Australia) spoke on the topic ‘B2C

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Events: An Overlooked Segment.’ He stated that consumer shows are often neglected by international organisers. B2C Events have not been given sufficient attention. In a survey conducted, the overall satisfaction score for trade shows revealed an index of 3.83 while the score for consumer shows showed 4.02. The survey also revealed that the likelihood of visitors returning to trade shows was 3.97 while for consumer shows the index stood at 3.85. “This needs to be addressed to make consumer shows more attractive,” he stated.

On ‘Opportunities for Asia in America’, Stephanie Selesnick, Blogger & Trainer, International Trade Information Inc. (USA), stated that USA is the world’s largest exhibition market, and unlike many other countries, most exhibitions are owned by the cities. It is best to form relationships with the Society of Independent Show Organisers (SISO), International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE) and consultants to meet organisers.

As quick response is crucial, the best channels to reach out to the USA market include LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, she said.

Engaging exhibition visitors is one of the factors often overlooked by exhibitors and organisers said Ali Lee, Founder & MD, Expo Stars Interactive Ltd. (UK). He shared his views on best practices related to attendee engagement strategies and effective stand management.

Exhibiting at trade shows is considered a vital important marketing touch point for the customer.

There are four elements that make trade shows successful – Strategy, Engagement, People and Measurement. “To improve visitor and exhibitor engagement, it is important to shift mindset to be

Quan Yu, Senior Director Consumer & SME Financial-Risk Management, Ant Financial (China)

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more open which includes making strategy and engagement a part of the package,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wolfram Diener, Senior VP, UBM Asia Ltd. (Hong Kong), shared his experiences managing UBM’s highly successful portfolio of jewellery exhibitions and the geo-cloning strategy behind those events. UBM built one of the industry’s most successful geo-cloned events, and its jewellery exhibitions are held in major cities in Asia as well Istanbul. Each year, these events attract more than 11,000 exhibitors and 120,000 buyers worldwide.

Geo-cloning means to export an exhibition brand to a new territory, extending the promise of trusted brand and combining the best aspects of one’s brand with full consideration of the local market.

He also spoke of the pitfalls of geo-cloning.

These include oversight of local market needs; over-estimation of the brand’s power in the target market; limitations to adaptability of the brand; and danger of the vampire effect where the attention of the target audience is taken away from the product or the brand.

Quan Yu, Senior Director Consumer & SME Financial-Risk Management, Ant Financial (China) spoke on Digital Payments & Online Financial Platforms in China by providing an overview of Ant Financials’ services and how those services are transforming the small-and-medium sized business environment. Ant Financial (formerly AliPay) has more than 7,000 employees, 450 million active users and a valuation of more than US$60 billion. This financial engine powers sites such as Taobao. It is a mobile payment platform, an Internet bank, and an online money-market fund, among others.

Digital payments, she said, are rapidly penetrating the market with various platforms that include Alipay, Tenpay, China union and others.

“Mobile payment transactions in China amounted to 81 trillion yuan in 2017, making it the largest mobile payment market, while peer-to-peer payment have been possible via Alipay since 2012 and WeChat since 2014,” said Quan Yu. There was also a venue panel discussion on future sources of income for venues in Asia. The panellist were Aloysius Arlando, CEO of SingEx Holdings, Loy Joon How, General Manager pf IMPACT Exhibition Management Company and Aage Hansen, General Manager of ICE, Indonesia.

Mobile payment transactions in China amounted to 81 trillion yuan in 2017, making it the largest mobile payment market.

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EXCELLENCE IN CONVENTION CENTRE MANAGEMENT

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Indonesia Convention Exhibition

Venue of Choice for National & International Scale Events Indonesia Convention Exhibition, or ICE, is fast becoming the country’s event destination. As the biggest convention and exhibition centre in Indonesia, ICE is the preferred venue for hosting national and international scale events. Located in the heart of Tangerang district of the greater Jakarta region, ICE opened its doors for business in 2015. SITI KARMILA, Head of Sales & Marketing at ICE shares with BE the facilities it offers and Indonesia’s role in the contributing to the growth of the MICE industry in the region.

What is the aim of your visit to Malaysia and your participation in UFI Asia Pacific Conference?

We participated in the UFI Asia Pacific Conference 2018 in Kuala Lumpur in order to keep up to date with the trends in the Exhibition industry at the Asia Pacific region. ICE is a very active participant in UFI events such as the UFI Global Congress and the UFI Asia Pacific Conference as we need to keep in touch with the industry.

We see UFI Asia Pacific Conference as the main conference for the region’s industry leaders to gather and share their experience and updates about the future prospects and challenges. It is a great platform to share insights into the market and what are on offer for 2018.

How do you plan to boost the participation of Indonesian industry players in international conferences and exhibitions?

ICE believes that international conference and exhibition is important for industry players to participate. It is also a platform for us to introduce and market our brand and the facilities it has to offer to potential clients.

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Through participation in events, we have the opportunity to network with industry players from other countries in the region. It is also provides an opportunity for us to promote our venue in international media, especially those with a focus in the MICE industry.

What are the facilities and services offered by ICE? ICE is the largest convention and exhibition venue in Indonesia and one of the biggest convention and exhibition centres in Southeast Asia, with a land area of 22 hectares.

The facilities include: 10 exhibition halls of 50,000 square metres, where each hall is 5,000 square metres, and additional 50,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition area.

ICE has one of the largest convention halls with 4,000 square metres of luxury carpeted hall space that can be divided to 4 separated convention areas.

33 meeting rooms of various sizes – ideal for small and medium sized meetings.

World class, five-star F&B services; has own in-house kitchen.

Abundant parking space for 5,000 cars can be

• • • • •

parked at our basement at outdoor parking area.

Dedicated hotel on site with 285 rooms; surrounded by 20 hotels with more than 2,000 rooms in the BSD City area.

•

What is Indonesia’s strengths in the conference and exhibition industry?

Indonesia’s goal is to be one of the most desired MICE destinations in Asia Pacific. This is achievable as the country has shown positive signs of economic growth, and also has all the necessary and modern infrastructure in place.

Major destinations such as Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya and Medan are well equipped with international airports and convention and exhibition centres to cater to MICE events. ICE itself is just 30 minutes from Jakarta’s international airport. This makes ICE a very convenient venue for staging both national and international events.

How can Indonesia companies add value to the regional conference and exhibition industry?

We believe that Indonesia can play a key role in the regional conference and exhibition market. We are the third most populous country in the region and that means there is a lot of potential in terms of the size of the ready market. Also, Indonesia is one of the strongest economies within the Asia Pacific region, and the purchasing power is high.

Indonesia also has many large scale venues, Professional Exhibition Organisers and Professional Conference Organisers who can handle international scale MICE events.

Indonesia is also an attractive tourist destination as it offers natural landscape and breathtaking views, which can be another plus factor for Indonesia as a MICE destination.

ICE is the largest convention and exhibition venue in Indonesia and one of the biggest convention and exhibition centres in Southeast Asia, with a land area of 22 hectares.

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Feature

MACEOS Venue Industry Dialogue

By Chow Ee-Tan

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T

he Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) held a Venue Industry Dialogue which saw the participation of 30 senior management and executives from MICE venues and associations.

Moderated by Mark Lee, MACEOS Acting Vice President-Industry Partners, the dialogue covered presentations on MICE industry and venues, followed by an open discussion session that addressed the challenges and opportunities of MICE venues today.

In his opening speech, MACEOS President Dato’ Vincent Lim gave an overview of the growth in the MICE industry and venues in Malaysia. He quoted findings from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) that showed Kuala Lumpur is ranked 8th in the Asia Pacific and 28th globally as a convention centre city. Among countries, Malaysia is ranked 7th in the region and 30th in the world. Malaysia is the third largest contributor (following Thailand and Singapore) to the exhibition industry in ASEAN. Dato’ Lim said in 2016, the Malaysian MICE industry had attracted 111,298 international delegates to 153 events that generated RM1.035 billion in revenue. By 2020, business tourism is expected to contribute RM3.9 billion to gross national income.

“This will be supported by the growth in venues and exhibition space in years to come. Currently, we have an exhibition space of 140,000sqm in 2017 but by 2021, the total size will be increased to 356,000sqm. Some existing venues such as Putra World Trade Centre and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre will undergo expansion. The soon-to-be constructed MyEXPO, combined with the existing Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) will become the largest MICE venue in Southeast Asia.”

The UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) statistics presented by Ms Norisma Ismail, Exhibition Sales Manager from MyCEB (Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau) showed Malaysia is number nine in the trade exhibition industry in Asia in 2017. Malaysia held 115 events and attracted some 45,721 participants last year.

She said from 2011-2017, MyCEB recorded that MICE industry in Malaysia had 1,824 events, 1,115,696 delegates and generated RM9,448 billion economic impact.

Group photo of participants at the industry dialogue session.

Mr. Francis Teo, Honorary Secretary of MACEOS shared his insights on maximum practical occupancy for venues. While the maximum occupancy according to international standard is 70 per cent, he said the local standard recommendation for maximum occupancy is 60 per cent due to Malaysia’s many festive seasons and public holidays.

There would always be some challenges in the industry measurements for venues, thus it is important for venue operators to calculate their venue occupancy and average rate and revenue management, bearing in mind factors such as demand and supply during high and low seasons, event types and function areas.

Chairman of Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM) Mr. Alan Pryor encouraged members of the industry to become more active in “telling their story” to the respective communities and governments. He highlighted some roles

From 2011-2017, MyCEB recorded that MICE industry in Malaysia had 1,824 events, 1,115,696 delegates and generated RM9,448 billion economic impact.

- Ms Norisma Ismail, Exhibition Sales Manager, MyCEB.

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and purposes that meetings play in economic, professional and educational development.

“As our industry grows, so do its impacts and interactions with the rest of the community. We need awareness and understanding to get the kind of support needed for the industry to continue growing and prospering,” he said, adding that competition for resources has intensified and recent geopolitical, economic, transportation changes have brought many issues into a sharper focus.

He pointed out that MICE venues are one of the vital factors for a destination to be selected for MICE activity. Malaysia has joined other ASEAN MICE venues to adopt the ASEAN MICE Venue Standards (AMVS) as a reference to develop and enhance the capacity and competitiveness of MICE entrepreneurs. Ms Sya from MyCEB briefed the participants about AMVS and AMVS assessment methodology.

Sharing insights on the venue industry.

Venue Data Collection One of the major talking points brought up during the open discussion session was how to address the lack of statistics and data input from venues.

Dato’ Lim said data analysis started in 2015 on a yearly basis.

“MACEOS needs the support of venues operators. We need to work together to move forward and play our role in contributing to the nation’s GDP,” he said, adding that current statistics showing MICE’s contributions to tourism GDP is lower than actual because of the insufficient data input from industry players.

Such data would help raise the rankings of the MICE industry, and also raise government attention on where the MICE industry stands regionally and internationally.

Ms. Ho Yoke Ping, MyCEB General Manager for Business Events, proposed that to make the data collection process easier, there should be a standardised template for the venues operators to submit their data electronically.

“Data is powerful to help us make strategies for the future. We give assurance to venue operators that the data collected will be kept confidential within MACEOS,” said Ms. Ho. Mr. Pryor said the data collection template should be kept simple where only non-specific information such as occupancy rate, estimated

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revenue and industry of clients would be required.

“No other client details are needed. The simpler it is, the higher the chances of getting back the data,” he said.

It was agreed that a working committee would be formed among MACEOS, MyCEB and BECM to work together to come out with a standardised formula to collect data from venue operators.

It was also proposed that there should be a rating system for convention centres in Malaysia.

One way is to adopt the ASEAN MICE Venue Rating system to grade and set standards for venues.

“If we want to be seen, we need to benchmark ourselves with international standard. And if we want to get more international business, we can’t just stay here. We need to be seen and present at international platforms and trade forums.” said Ms. Ho. Indeed, the participants are in one voice in their hope to see various players in the Malaysian MICE industry working closer together, to set a benchmark and to position the industry internationally.

There were also a few other questions raised from the floor. The organisers and participants agreed that they need more dialogues such as this in the future to address other industry issues and to get more venue operators to come onboard.

Feature

Talent & Globalisation among Challenges in Events Industry Carine Sire, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI)’s regional manager of Europe gave an insight into the business of the exhibition industry and trends that will make an impact in the next 12 to 18 months.

S

ire, who stood in for Kai Hattendorf, the Managing Director and CEO of UFI, spoke to students and members of the business events industry at the recent UFI Youth Programme organised

by MACEOS at Sunway University. She presented Hattendorf’s message and answered questions on the industry. Sire said that the exhibition industry is growing at a faster rate than the global economy, and in Asia it is growing at an even faster pace.

“The infrastructure investment, new venues, and all the other projects taking place in Malaysia are signs that the country is geared to grow above average in the Southeast Asian region.”

There are five trends that will impact the exhibition industry in the coming 12 to 18 months, she said. They are: growing political uncertainties, polarisation of global leading shows, continued

Digitisation is the big trend that will define our industry in the next years. It will change our industry more in the next 10 years than our history has changed in the past 50 years.

Carine Sire, UFI’s Regional Manager of Europe.

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digitisation, a focus on operational excellence and, evolving business models.

Digitisation is the word on everyone’s lips, and it is set to take over globalisation as the biggest trend disrupting the industry. “Digitisation is the big trend that will define our industry in the next years. It will change our industry more in the next 10 years than our history has changed in the past 50 years.”

However, the biggest fear the industry has about digitisation is that it will “take the business out of our venues”. She believes the industry is resilient and will be able to adapt to the changes ahead.

“Globalisation has been driving the growth of our industry for the past 30 years, and it will continue to do so. However, a consensus is evolving that future growth will increasingly come from the digitisation of business in general. Our industry will respond by combining the physical marketplaces we provide with digital services and offerings beyond the show dates.

“We have proven time and again that we can adapt to changing business environments.

Digitisation is probably the biggest test – and opportunity. We know that, globally, CEOs in our industry are focusing their organic investments and attention increasingly on two areas: building new business models for a data-driven marketing environment, and future-proofing the existing, square-metre-based business models through new products. In parallel, they are reducing investments in existing products.

“UFI’s Digitisation Index shows that, as an industry, we have begun to digitise ourselves – a simple necessity if we want to stay relevant for companies who are building complex solutions to

directly interact with their customers, cutting out whole segments of the traditional value chain.

“What makes this industry special is its capacity to adapt to the ever changing needs of our core customer groups: buyers and sellers looking to exchange goods, ideas, and contacts,” she stressed.

However, the biggest challenge facing the events industry, Sire said, was people. “We need the right people to manage ever-faster change. Organisers and venues are rethinking who they need to hire and what skills they need to add. The evolution of our business will increasingly be shaped by a new, and younger group of leaders, many of whom are currently rising fast through the ranks of international industry players.”

She pointed out that programmes such as the BSc (Hons) in Conventions and Events Management at Sunway University create a pool of talents that will be useful upon graduation. “In parallel, our industry

will focus even more on bringing in leadership and skills from other sectors, and will look to add greater diversity to the top levels of management. To facilitate all this, the focus of HR within companies is shifting towards investment more in people.”

Developments that will impact the global exhibition industry in 2018 according to UFI

1

SEEMINGLY STABLE CORE

Organisers of conferences and exhibitions are benefitting from a shift in the way marketing budgets are allocated, with various research showing that companies are spending less on advertising and more on live events and digital marketing.

Venue capacities are expanding worldwide.

However, as the industry always follows market developments, growth cannot be taken for granted, and systemic growth can only come from expanding the industry’s offerings.

2

DATA POINTS TO DIGITAL

UFI’s Digitisation Index shows that the industry has begun to digitise - a necessity to stay relevant for companies that are building complex solutions to directly interact with their consumer customers, cutting out whole segments of the traditional value chain.

3

BLURRING OF LINES

Another major trend picking up steam is the “blurring of the lines” between historically separate event formats like exhibitions, congresses, and conferences.

Many of the fastest growing business events currently are managed by “accidental organisers”.

Driven by a need from digital communities to meet in person, hybrid formats like the Web Summit have evolved – part festival, past conference, part exhibition.

In addition, more entertainment elements are blending into B2B events as they adapt to changing audiences. As hybrid business events thrive, there will be more collaboration, even mergers, between these new organisers, established association, congresses and for profit exhibition organisers to match these developments.

4

QUEST FOR TALENT & SKILLS

The evolution of the business will be shaped by a new and younger group of leaders. Education programmes still need to be developed to provide sufficient qualified talent for everyday needs, especially on the venue side.

The industry will focus even more on bringing in leadership and skills from other sectors, and will look to adding more diversity to the top levels of management. There is a need to invest more in people.

5

CHALLENGE OF SECURITY

In the past year, organisers and venues have been working closely to minimise risk. There is no “one size fits all”, no single “checklist” solution for all the different types of events.

The biggest challenge for exhibitions is, whilst venue operators often know local procedures best, exhibitors and visitors will always look to the organiser for solutions. Security for everyone at events will be shaped by the level of collaboration between all the parties involved, including the service providers.

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Feature

Bridging the

Gen X and Gen Y

gap

How do you explain the vast chasm in the office between the Gen X bosses and their Gen Y workers? Blame it on parenting!

Here’s how to improve the situation.

By Daryl Wong

I

am a corporate trainer and in my line of job, I get to hear many interesting stories about what’s happening in the corporate world. In the last few years I have come across a new situation that has not been encountered before: the huge gap that exists in the workforce between Gen X and Gen Y. Wikipedia defines Gen X as those born between 1964 and 1980 and Gen Y as those born between 1980 and 2000. Preceding Gen X is the famous Baby Boomers whom we all have heard so much about. This generation refers to those born post World War II (1946 to 1964).

Gen Y entered the working world in the beginning of the 21st century and it seems that their bosses, most of whom are from Gen X got a culture shock working with this new batch of millennial workers.

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Here are some of the most common complaints I have heard from Gen X bosses about Gen Y:

“Why is Gen Y so difficult to manage? Why are they so lazy? They assume it is ok to act like buddies – I am their boss, for God’s sake! If I do anything nice, they act as if I owe it to them! I have always been a people pleaser but I think they have cured me!”

Gen Y have their own grouses about working for their Gen X bosses:

“Why does my Gen X manager use so many outdated methods to do things? Why do they insist on meeting face to face? Haven’t they heard of messaging via WhatsApp? And don’t call me on the phone unnecessarily – most things can be solved via text! Why are they so picky on me being in the office all the time? I work equally as well, if not better, from home or the cafe next door! My manager has trust issues. I just want him to give me direction and then get out of my way! I will deliver.”

Blame it on the parents

In order for both Gen X and Gen Y to understand each other better, it’s best to look at their upbringing.

To understand each generation, it is important to find out why they think and act the way they do. This stems largely from the values that they were brought up with. It is a universal truth that each generation wants its children, that is, the next generation, to have a better life than them. This has a huge effect on the values they pass on to their children.

Gen X’s parents were the Baby Boomers. They were growing up post World War II and in Asia, most of them had a very hard life. Job was scarce, education opportunities were hard to come by, families were large and older siblings were supposed to go out and work to support the family.

Those without much education had low paying jobs. Others who went into business worked very hard, learning from mistakes as they had no one to guide them. These people saw that those with better education (and they were generally from well-off families who could afford to educate their children) had good paying jobs and led a comfortable life. The goal for many Baby Boomers was to have a secure job that guaranteed a consistent income.

Being children of Baby Boomers, Gen X was brought up to believe that they had to study very hard, obtain a degree and focus on their career and in their pursuit to make as much money as possible for a comfortable life. They were still taught to be financially responsible to help out their family.

Their aim in life was to get employed in a good company, preferably an MNC, work very hard and climb up the corporate ladder as high as possible.

If this meant sacrificing their time with the family, so be it. They were doing this for the betterment of the family, or so they believed.

But as Gen X grew older (and wiser one suspects) they felt the beginnings of a burnout.

Suddenly, they realised that all the money and career advancement did not bring the necessary happiness in life. Their job did not bring them joy; they did it as a means to provide for their family. They longed to balance their hectic work life with some family time and other things. It was in the 1990s that the phrase “work life balance” first began to emerge.

Gen X parents created Gen Y

When Gen X became parents (we are looking at you Gen Y!), they wanted their children to have the freedom to explore the choices Gen X never had. So they taught Gen Y to discover themselves, go after their dreams while still young. Education was still

Coping with a Gen X boss Now that as Gen Y you have some insights into your Gen X boss, here are some tips on how to deal with them:

• Respect is important to Gen X. They have sacrificed a lot in their life to be where they are today and it is important for them that they are shown respect. They never went around telling their bosses what to do when they were starting out in their career and they expect you to do the same.

• If you really want to tell them how to do things, do it

professionally. Call for a meeting or have lunch with them.

Provide plenty of facts, data and figures to prove that your method works and most importantly, how it will help the company in its Return On Investment (ROI). Gen X grew up with a belief that there was a set formula for success. You need to convince them that your way is the new formula for success.

• Words never to tell your Gen X boss: “It makes sense”

and “We’ll figure it out along the way”. This generation needs processes and structure to be able to see the big picture. Show them how your plan will be executed and implemented instead of telling them, “We’ll see how it goes from there.”

• Like you, Gen X too values work/life balance. But unlike

you, they may not think it is a ‘cool’ to work a couple of 23 hours a day and then crash out for a few days. If your ideas disrupt that work/life balance, Gen X boss will not go for it. Instead, show that your plan will increase efficiency and support their work/life balance.

very important, but they as parents were determined to expose them to many things in life. Gen Y is brought up in prosperity compared to their parents.

So Gen Y never faced the pressure to be financially secure because they were already coming from a financially secure background. Money is not the most important goal for Gen Y, personal satisfaction is.

Gen X parents will do all their best to ensure their children get what they want. But in the process some of them end up being ‘Helicopter Parents’ – hovering over their children and rushing in to fix whatever problem the children face. This behaviour continues even when the children become young adults, resulting in some negative traits in some Gen Y such as a sense of entitlement or becoming too dependent on parents to the point they lose selfesteem and confidence and lack life skills.

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Event technology trends and the future of events The future of event management is going to be heavily shaped by emerging technology trends. This was one of the takeaways from the 4th Future Leaders Day 2018 at Sunway University.

H

ow are event technology trends going to change the shape of future events?

This was the theme of the 4th Future Leaders Day 2018 that was held at Sunway University recently. The event was aimed at providing students with an insight into the BE industry. The students were given a first hand look into the workings of the BE industry and what type of careers it offers to fresh graduates. The event saw participation by industry leaders and young professionals from the industry. Partners for this event were MyCEB, MACEOS and ICCA Malaysia.

The highlight of the one-day event was the plenary session which saw presentations by some well-respected names in the industry. They shared information on various aspects of the impact

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technology has had and will continue to have on the BE industry.

Graham Peter Williams, CEO and co-founder of Interrobang Sdn Bhd discussed how technology can be used in various ways to engage with visitors before, during and after an event. Mervyn Tan, The Seraph and Chief Technology Officer of Aavii Worldwide Sdn Bhd, touched on fads vs trends and told listeners to concentrate on trends. He then proceeded to talk about the current trends used in event managements to create an impact. Rahul Bharadwaj, co-founder of Anderes Fourdy Sdn Bhd, showed how technology can be used to create experience at events while the last speaker, Yusno Yunos, CEO and founder of Evenesis –Y Us Sdn Bhd, spoke on how technology is increasingly being used to create an emotional experience for people who attend events.

Attendees were told of how the industry had to be ready for various technological innovations such as augmented reality, facial recognition and animoji. The industry was urged to be ahead of the curve when it comes to digital and social media. The presenters also presented the various trends and shared ideas on how to leverage on technology to make events more engaging and appealing.

Besides the plenary session, there were other events that were designed to keep the participants occupied such as the workshop where they were put into groups and asked to design their own version of a Future Leader event. The participants had to come up with an organising committee which combined the expertise on event planning, event operations, marketing, previous conference experience along with an appointed Professional Conference Organiser (PCO). The workshop was a spirited session as everyone was involved in the collaboration which included a brainstorming session, sharing of ideas and suggestions.

THE CHALLENGE

The final round of the Challenge was an exciting affair where a total of five teams consisting of 20 students from Taylor’s University, Sunway University and SEGi College Penang, participated.

The objectives of this event were to give students an opportunity to develop their creativity and present fresh and unique ideas for the industry. They also had to make use of what they learned in school for industry experience by conceptualising businesstesting and organising a BE event.

The winners were Team ‘JC Bae & Co’ from Sunway University. Topic: International Edible Technology Expo (IETE) 2021 and Team ‘Zefic & Co from Taylor’s University. Topic: Go Eventech (GET) 2020. They will have the opportunity to attend the AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge 2018. Flight on economy class and accommodation for four students will be provided.

The 1st Runner Up was Team ‘GenY Inc’ from Sunway University. Topic: Sustainable, Leisure & Lifestyle Exhibition 2019.

Members of this team will be given the opportunity for internship for a live event organised

by MyCEB – Malaysia Business Events Week (MBEW) 2018.

KNOWLEDGE AND FUN COMBINED

The event was not all about listening to lectures and participating in challenges. There were also interesting sessions such as meeting with industry professionals to gain insight into the business, job opportunities and mentorship among others.

There was also a lively debate session entitled.

“The Importance of Technology in Events.” This debate served as an ice breaker between students and industry partners. Teams debated on given topics and had a great time coming up with arguments and counterarguments supporting and opposing the motion.

It was interesting to see how some of the students could hold their own against some very experienced industry professionals in the debate. With students like these entering the BE industry of tomorrow, it is safe to say that the future of this industry in the this country looks very promising indeed!

On the whole, the overwhelming consensus among the participants was that the event was really beneficial to them as they had a chance to gather knowledge on the industry, get some much needed career guidance advice, challenge themselves via the workshop and other activities, network and make some new friends.

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Feature

Soaring High in Audio Visual Industry DOREMI Services & Rental Sdn Bhd. Malaysia’s best light, sound and events service provider, continues to create waves fusing cutting edge AV technology, creativity and innovative ideas that leave a memorable impression.

W

ith the largest range of AV and event services, an unrivaled venue network, a fanatical attention to detail, DoReMi, the country’s best event experts, is known for bringing any event to life. Whether it is a creating a global conference, a 1000 guest gala dinner, an office party or a wedding, DoReMi provides services that go above and beyond your expectations.

“It is our passion for creating unforgettable experiences that drives our team,” says Managing Director, Lim Ee Huang. “We invest in our people because we believe in hiring the most talented in their field – professionals who can bring something special to your event.”

All 70 of Doremi’s full time team of professionals in their respective fields undergo regular training to

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upgrade their skills and comply with the necessary standards and requirements needed in the industry. Training aside, the company also invests in the wellbeing of their staff, offering education sponsorships and career growth advancements when needed.

According to Lim, “if the team is happy, the operation will succeed”, adding that the culture of the company is to build long term relationships. As an event staging company, it offers a comprehensive event production solution, superior audio-visual support, set design, multimedia production, mapping technology and digital event services. They have staged large scale events such as Expo Negaraku and Music Run, and have won the Events Products & Services Award for Excellence at the 2017 rAWr Awards.

DoReMi’s strength lies in its extensive inventory, professionally trained personnel, efficient logistic support and the ‘can do’ attitude when executing their expertise on the job. The company constantly invests in the latest equipment and technical training which enables them to operate at the highest level of effectiveness and consistency.

“We truly love what we do. We love transforming spaces using creative ideas and the latest event technology. Ultimately we turn an ordinary event into an extraordinary experience,” states Chief Operating Officer, CK Lam. What began as a jamming studio in 1979 has flourished into a full-fledged company providing all your audio needs and more. Today, DoReMi is a one-stop event requisition depot, covering local and international events with a diverse range of clientele.

Delivering a full range of equipment and services that include lighting, audio, special effects, rigging and many others, it covers events in a variety of industries, up to 1,000 shows a year.

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“Our event team can manage everything from A to Z. All you need to do is sit back and relax. Our specialists are skilled in technical event production management, meaning we’re able to provide you with people who will oversee the logistical management and work with you every step of the way,” says Lam. DoReMi manages the production and execution of all event services. The company offers a complete event staging solution to cater to all types of events from superior audio-visual solutions, video mapping, stage design, multimedia and content production to audience engagement tools.

“When you partner with us, you can enjoy the confidence in knowing your event is in the hands of an experienced events company and audio-visual specialists. With our extensive experience comes knowledge that any event, large or small, requires a tailored and dedicated approach. We implement this attitude to any event – gala dinners, awards nights, conferences and AGMs. Each event’s individuality will be recognised during our production and delivery,” he adds.

The events industry has grown exponentially and as providers, DoReMi has the upper hand in shaping trends. “For instance, we’ve gone into projection mapping. This is an exciting projection technique that uses specialised software and other technologies to warp and blend projected images so they fit perfectly on irregularly-shaped ‘screens’ such as buildings, interior spaces, objects and natural landscapes,” shares Lam. “We have the best people in the business who combine their passions with flair to create memorable moments. With so many years of experience, we really understand what it takes to deliver great events and we plan on sharing it with the world,” he adds.

In 2019, DoReMi will celebrate its 40th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, DOREMI will launch Science of Entertainment, a CSR project that will open the company’s doors to students in universities, schools and technical institutions. These students will be invited for industry expert talks and field trips at DoReMi. This is not the first time DoReMi has given back to society. Under its Anak DoReMi programme, the company regularly awards its staff and hosts monthly charity drives for the less fortunate.

According to Lam if there is one thing that has not changed with DoReMi from the day of its inception, it is the culture of giving. “This is why at every step of the way, we are constantly thinking of ways to benefit the society.”

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We truly love what we do.

We love transforming spaces using creative ideas and the latest event technology.

Ultimately we turn an ordinary event into an extraordinary experience.

Event AN EVENING WITH ICE AND MACEOS

ICE and MACEOS hosted a cocktail session to create the right environment for convention and exhibition industry players to establish strategic business relationships.

The Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) and The Malaysian Association of Conventions & Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) hosted a networking cocktail at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur recently which brought together Malaysia’s exhibition and convention industry players, over drinks and food.

Aage Hansen, General Manager of ICE, welcomed guests to the cocktail session and introduced ICE and its facilities in Indonesia. He explained the dynamics of the award-winning venue which has held numerous national and international events in Indonesia. “ICE is located in the heart of Jakarta and we offer 10 exhibition halls with a total area of 50,000 square meters and an additional 50,000 square meters of outdoor space. We also have a 4,000 square meter convention hall which can be partitioned into 4 rooms. Aside from that, ICE also offers 33 meeting rooms and 12,000 square meters of pre-function lobby area,” explained Hansen.

Dato’ Vincent Lim, President of MACEOS was also at hand to welcome the guests. In his address he said, “Through this session, we hope to achieve greater synergy and optimise our resources in the conventions and exhibitions industry. I hope that this session will provide our industry players with more options and the opportunity to explore more innovative ideas.”

The session was attended by about 40 guests and industry players who took the opportunity to interact and form strategic business relationships.

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Event

MACEOS CELEBRATES 2018 IN STYLE

The Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) hosted its annual New Year Celebration at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre on 29 March 2018. The event brought together industry players from various organisations that are actively involved in the convention and exhibition industry.

About 60 guests attended the event which was held in a cocktail-styled reception. At the event, President of MACEOS, Dato’ Vincent Lim wished the guests a very prosperous New Year and expressed his hope to engage more industry players in similar events over the next few months.

The event presented an opportunity for convention and exhibition organisers as well as suppliers to meet and interact with business partners and form strategic business relationships to expand the convention and exhibition industry landscape.

Guests were also treated to a diverse spread of food and drinks at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre’s newly refurbished reception area.

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Feature

Putrajaya, Always Ready for MICE Events Putrajaya has fast emerged as one of the most preferred Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions destinations. It has everything needed for organising or staging successful events – board meetings, incentive trips for employees or customers, team building gatherings, conferences for key stakeholders, or exhibitions.

A

ccording to Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), the local MICE industry attracted more than 111,298 delegates to 153 events and generated RM1.035 billion in revenue in 2016. In 2017 the revenue generated was more since Malaysia had secured business events worth RM32.7 million in the first half of the year with Putrajaya being one of the contributors to the MICE industry.

With its well-developed infrastructural facilities, remarkable economic development, strategic location, seamless business experience, and guestfriendly culture, Putrajaya assures your team a comfortable and inspiring stay. A melting pot of cultures living in harmony, this smart MICE city promises guests a secure and peaceful experience.

STRATEGIC LOCATION

Putrajaya welcomes event organisers and planners to host their events at any of its strategically-located MICE venues. As the federal administrative centre of Malaysia, this city is wellconnected to a wide network of highways and public transport. Putrajaya is about 45 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur city centre via Maju Expressway

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(MEX), ELITE or PLUS highway. Logistics is highly streamlined – people, equipment and exhibition items can be moved smoothly.

Furthermore, Putrajaya is only 30 minutes away by train and car from KLIA1 and KLIA2 where over thousands of flights land and depart daily from both airports.

Within a four-to-five-hour flight radius, business operating from Malaysia can gain access to a pool of more than 600 million people living in Southeast Asia. By extending that flight radius by just two more hours, business can reach the rest of the Asia Pacific region and gain access to a wider market of over billions of people. As such, events that are held in Putrajaya will be well-attended by international delegates and receive a strong representation from the Asia Pacific region due to strong regional air links from full service and low-cost carriers.

MEETING NEEDS OF EVENT ORGANISERS & PLANNERS

According to the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2017-2018, Malaysia is the 8th safest country in Asia. As such, event organisers and planners can plan their events with peace of mind as Putrajaya is one of the cities with a steadfast

commitment to digital security, health security, infrastructure safety and personal safety. These factors provide a safe and secure foundation for event organisers and planners to deliver fresh and forward-thinking MICE events.

Furthermore, Malaysia is also ranked 24th as the most convenient place to do business in the world by the World Bank in its Doing Business 2018 Report. This is another plus point for Malaysia, and specifically Putrajaya, as an ideal MICE destination.

It also has all the conveniences that event organisers and planners ask for – shopping malls, variety of foods at restaurant and cafés, hotels, spa and sports hub for golf, equestrian, water sport and bowling.

GREAT DIVERSITY OF VENUES & UNIQUE SPACES

The wheels are already in motion to prepare Putrajaya for its role as one of the largest hubs for MICE in the region. Malaysia is now ranked 3rd after Thailand and Singapore as a MICE hub, according to the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS).

This ranking may change once ample infrastructure are in place. Event organisers and planners can choose from various MICE venues and unique spaces at Putrajaya that offer a variety of facilities and services excellence to foster the development of great ideas and connections.

The Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), the upcoming Malaysia Exposition and Convention Centre (MyExpo) and other community halls that are managed by “Perbadanan Putrajaya” business subsidiaries are all suitable for large-scale international exhibitions and conferences, providing a flexible setting with world-class facilities. For instance, if event planners and organisers are looking for a venue for 3Cs (Convention, Conference & Congress), PICC would be the right choice. Also, these MICE venues offer a wide range of unique meeting spaces and social venues that are available for any MICE functions and side events.

PULSE GRANDE Hotel.

There are also unconventional venues in Putrajaya to meet the MICE industry’s needs for interesting and exciting experiences outside of conventional board room and hotel meeting facilities.

Unique spaces that incorporate MICE facilities are Floria Putrajaya, Taman Ekuestrian Putrajaya (TEP), Marina Putrajaya and Cruise Tasik Putrajaya. Other small venues which are also available for more intimate gatherings are Bora Ombak Putrajaya and Putrajaya Seafood Restaurant (PSR).

Putrajaya also has modern business hotels and resorts offering an extensive range of accommodation to suit every budget and preference.

With over eight hotels and more than thousands rooms, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Most hotels in Putrajaya consistently deliver superior service and excellent value for money. The hotels also offer “bleisure” travellers a range of facilities – fully-equipped business centres, meeting facilities, broadband Internet access and other conveniences.

PULSE GRANDE Hotel (PGH) is one of the luxury hotels in Putrajaya which is a venue of choice of many expatriates and VVIPs. With all the conveniences and top class facilities that Putrajaya offers, there is no doubt that this place will definitely be on the radar of MICE event organisers and planners.

For more information on MICE venues at Putrajaya, log on to: www.ppj.gov.my; www.pulsegroup.com.my; www.picc.com; www.marinaputrajaya.com; www.cruisetasikputrajaya.com; www.tep.my and www.floriaputrajaya.com.

Aerial view of PICC.

BUSINESS EVENTS MALAYSIA

37

Feature

Amazingly run Events with 4K Interactive Digital Display i3Display 4K provides cost effective business applications and data-driven experiences to realise goals for all industries.

D

igital interactive displays are a huge benefit to any public event such as roadshows and conferences to keep the audience intrigued and engaged. With i3Display 4K, a complete software for digital display management, you can now turn your 4K TV screens into brilliant advertising display panels where images are brighter, clearer, and more vibrant!

In fact, the i3Display 4K allows you to showcase your business events’ products or content in the best way possible to draw and engage customers. What’s even better, you can manage it from anywhere on your mobile phone.

The i3Display 4K software is suitable for all industries. It comes with many plugin possibilities, friendly content management system on cloud, data collection and data mining as well as real time events sharing on social network, among others. With more than 100 functions, it is also ideal for camera and selfie photo sharing, Interaction Games, Event

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BUSINESS EVENTS MALAYSIA

Registration and RSVP and Informational kiosk & e-Brochure download. Event organisers can create greater awareness of their events when customers are able to share their selfie via i3Display 4K on their own social media accounts from any location.

By using a simple survey form via i3Display 4K panel, companies can capture customer details and generate useful data for its business marketing strategy. Organisations can also create ready-toplay interactive games such as ‘Spin-the-Wheel’, ‘Tikam Tikam’ and Lucky Draws to engage customers or guests in a fun way!

Event organisers can also reduce printing costs by digitalizing event brochures/agenda or any other promotional materials, and manage guests’ invitations, RSVP and walk-in guests on the i3Display 4K panel itself.

The i3Display 4K software is the only software you ever need to build any storyboard or any content flow without the need to do programming.

Each content page has a variable timing control for flexibility in content and broadcasting scheduling. i3Display 4K Content Management System is also internet offline ready. Even without internet connectivity, content will continue running as usual – zero downtime for your event!

It is also created with security access controls where essential data is encrypted through cloud hosting companies for daily backup.

There is no doubt that i3Display 4K will be one of the smartest investments you make for your business. It is not only versatile and eye catching but a cost effective and fun way to reach a wider segment of people.

Calendar DATE

NAME OF EVENT

VENUE

TYPE

ORGANISED BY

CONTACT PERSON

WEBSITE

JUN 9-17

16th Global Indian Festival 2018 21st Penang Career & Postgraduate Expo & Conference (21st PCPEC)

Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, KL (MVEC) Seberang Perai Areana Convention Centre, Penang

Consumer

-

www.agendasuria.com

Trade

ASC Agenda Suria Communication Sdn Bhd PenExpo Events

Francis Wong / francis@ penexpo.com.my

www.penexpo.com.my

JUL 4-7

16th Global Indian Festival 2018

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade

C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd

Yuhanis Latif / yuhanis@ cisnetwork.com

www.archidex.com.my

JUL 6-8

HOMEFAiR’2018 (HF2018)

Persada Johor International Convention Centre

Consumer

X Two Media Sdn Bhd

Dato’ Jonest Wong / djw@x2.com.my

www.x2.com.my

JUL 9

ASEAN Disruptive Leadership Summit 2018 (ADLS2018)

KLCC Plenary Hall

Conference (International)

Shapers Malaysia Sdn Bhd

Azhani Samat / azhani@ shapers.my

www.shapers.my

JUL 9 -12

Cosmobeaute Asia 2018 (CBA2018)

Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)

Trade

ECMI ITE Asia Sdn Bhd

WY Cheong / wycheong@ ecmi.com.my

www.cosmobeauteasia.com

JUL 11-14

Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2018

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade

United Business Media (M) Sdn Bhd

-

JUL 12-15

Malaysia Coffee Fest 2018

1 Utama Shopping Centre

Consumer

GEMS Conference & Exhibition (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Co Shin Lee / coshin@ cems.com.my

www.mycoffeefest.com.my

JUL 17-19

ASEAN Lift Expo & Forum 2018

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade

United Business Media (M) Sdn Bhd

-

www.aseanlift.org

JUL 17-19

ASEAN Premier Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Show (ASEAN M&E Show)

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade

United Business Media (M) Sdn Bhd

Shyan Tan / shyan.tan@ ubm.com

www.aseanmne.com

JUL 17-19

ASEAN Solar Expo & Forum 2018

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade

United Business Media (M) Sdn Bhd

Shyan Tan / shyan.tan@ ubm.com

www.greenenergy.org.my

JUL 17-19

Green Energy Expo & Forum 201

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade

United Business Media (M) Sdn Bhd

Shyan Tan / shyan.tan@ ubm.com

www.greenenergy.org.my

JUL 17-19

REVAC Expo & Forum 2018

Trade

United Business Media (M) Sdn Bhd

Lycoris Goh / revac-my@ ubm.com

www.greenenergy.org.my

JUL 17-19

TENAGA Expo & Forum 2018

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade

United Business Media (M) Sdn Bhd

-

www.tenaga.org

JUL 19-22

Malaysia International Packaging & Labelling, Food Processing Machinery & Equipment Exhibition (M’SIA-PACK & FOODPRO 2018)

Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)

Trade

ES International Event Management Sdn Bhd

Esther Ooi / esther@ esevent.com.my

www.malaysiapack.com.my

JUL 19-22

Malaysia International Plastic, Mould & Tools Exhibition (M’SIA-PLAS 2018)

Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)

Trade

ES International Event Management Sdn Bhd

Esther Ooi / esther@ esevent.com.my

www.malaysiaplas.com.my

JUL 25-27

10th Malaysia Gifts Fair 2018

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade

Malaysian Gifts And Premium Association (MGPA)

Suzanna / enquiry@mgpa. org.my

www.malaysiagiftsfair.com.my

JUL 27-29

Home Design & Interior Exhibition (HOMEDEC)

Persada Johor International Convention Centre

Consumer

C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd

Elicia Khoo / elicia@ cisnetwork.com

www.homedec.com.my

AUG 1-3

18th Asian Australasian Animal Production Congress (AAAP2018)

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK)

Conference (International)

The Malaysian Society of Animal Production

Place Borneo Sdn Bhd / fifi@placeborneo.com

www.aaap2018.com

AUG 2-5

Print Technology 2018 (PRINTECH 2018)

Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)

Trade

Kaizer Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn Bhd

Belle Yam / enquiries@ kaizer.com.my

www.printechnology.com.my

AUG 3-5

PROJECTS: Baby & Kids Fair (Aug)

Persada Johor International Convention Centre

Consumer

X Two Media Sdn Bhd

Dato’ Jonest Wong / djw@x2.com.my

www.x2.com.my

AUG 3-6

Malaysia International Jewellery Fair (MIJF)

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Trade & Consumer

Elite Expo Sdn Bhd

Lavigne Fong / lavigne@ elite.com.my

www.mijf.com.my

AUG 10-12

Penang Signature Gold Fair (PSG)

Straits Quay Convention Centre, Penang

Trade

Elite Expo Sdn Bhd

Koo Siong Ann / koo@ elite.com.my

www.elite.com.my/penanggold

AUG 16-19

World Federation of Neurological Societies (WFNS) Symposia 2018

Hilton Kuala Lumpur

-

Medical Conference Partners

Dee Dee Quah / deedee.quah@ medicalconferencepartners. com

www.wfns-symposia2018.com

AUGUST 22-26

10th Penang International Indian Shopping Festival 2018

Penang International Sports Arena (PISA)

Trade

ASC Agenda Suria Communication Sdn Bhd

info@agendasuria.com

www.agendasuria.com

AUG 28-29

OIC-SME Summit 2018 (OSS2018)

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)

Conference (National)

Shapers Malaysia Sdn Bhd

Azhani Samat / azhani@ shapers.my

www.oicsmesummit.com

AUG 29SEPT 2

Halal Fiesta Asean 2018 (Halfest Asean 2018)

Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC)

Trade & Consumer

Shapers Malaysia Sdn Bhd

Azhani Samat / azhani@ shapers.my

www.halfest.com

AUG 31SEPT 2

Mega Home Electrical & Home Fair

lpoh Convention Centre (ICC)

Consumer

KH Event Management Sdn Bhd

Gary Wong / gary@ khevent.com

www.megahome.my

JUN 30JUL 1

40

BUSINESS EVENTS MALAYSIA

www.worldchefs2018.org