MACEOS 25th Anniversary "A Journey Through Time"|Vol 1|No 1|2017|MACEOS

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Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers

PRICE: RM50

A Journey Through Time



Celebrating 25 years A journey through time


Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers Level 3, East Wing, Menara MATRADE, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Mobile: 012-343 6106 Fax: +603-6203 7034 Email Address: secretariat@maceos.com.my ADVISOR Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen B. Madros Matrade CEO EX-OFFICIO MyCEB - Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)

Executive Committee (2016-2018) PRESIDENT Dato’ Vincent Lim

HONORARY SECRETARY Francis Teo

VICE PRESIDENT Alun Jones

HONORARY TREASURER W Y Cheong

Sub-Committee (2016-2018) CSR, SUSTAINABILITY & SAFETY Eric Ho EDUCATION & TRAINING Kenneth Fong

INDUSTRY LIAISON Andrew Soon

MEMBERSHIP Melvin Shu

PUBLICATION Alun Jones

INDUSTRY RESEARCH & STATISTICS Alice Lem

PR & MEDIA RELATIONS Irene Leow

SOCIAL Chris Smith

SARAWAK STATE Gracie Geikie

MACEOS Secretariat CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Amos Wong ASSOCIATION SECRETARY Carol Lok

Celebrating 25 Years, A Journey Through Time is produced for MACEOS

ISBN 978-967-15054-0-3 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: harini.mservices@gmail.com

PUBLISHER / CEO V.S. Ganesan

SENIOR EDITOR Vimala Seneviratne

WRITER Khaw Chia Hui

MARKETING MANAGER Karthik Ganesan

EDITOR Aleyann M. Jacks

CREATIVE DESIGNER Rajita Sivan

PRINTER PERCETAKAN LAGENDA SDN BHD (406003-A) No. 4 & 6, Jalan Tembaga SD5/2B, Sri Damansara Industrial Park, 52200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: 603-6273 6599 Fax: 603-6273 6606

ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Faridah Ismail

All rights reserved. Copyright © 2017 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 writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of MACEOS & Harini Management Services Sdn Bhd.


Contents Forewords

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MACEOS Past Presidents

14 - 23

MACEOS President, Dato’ Vincent Lim

24 - 26

How It All Began

27 - 42

Today & The Future

43 - 50

Business Events in Malaysia

51 - 56

Education, Industry Training & Seminars

57 - 72

Engaging in Activities

73 - 78

Recognising Excellence

79 - 90

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

It is my great pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) on its 25th Anniversary. Since its inception, MACEOS has played an instrumental role in providing a platform for business matching and showcasing Malaysian products through the smooth organisation of trade exhibitions. As a trading nation and open economy, it is imperative for Malaysia to continue expanding and diversifying its trade with the rest of the world. In this context, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and its agencies will continue to work closely with MACEOS in organising and supporting more quality trade exhibitions. Once again, I thank MACEOS for assisting the Government in promoting Malaysia to the world. Moving forward, it is important for us to ensure that this strong relationship is strengthened and continues to flourish in the years to come. Congratulations to MACEOS on this special milestone. I look forward to many more years of strong collaboration and business opportunities. Thank you.

Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed

Minister of International Trade and Industry

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

I would like to congratulate the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) on celebrating your 25th Anniversary and producing this coffee table book as a commemoration of the event. Your members have played an instrumental part in the growth of the Malaysian business events industry through the years. It is no surprise that Malaysia is a top of the mind choice for business events in the region with our strategic location, award-winning convention and exhibition facilities, economic stability and the best of Asian hospitality in this multi-religious and multi-cultural melting pot. Malaysia’s accolades of being recognised as Asia’s Top Travel Destination has served as a prime opportunity for us to ride the wave of being a major business events destination. Under the Economic Transformation Program, Malaysia targets to increase business tourism arrivals from five percent to eight percent of the overall tourism arrivals. This translates to an increase from 1.2 million to 2.9 million by the year 2020. The industry is also expected to contribute RM3.9 billion in incremental Gross National Income (GNI) and 16,700 additional jobs to the nation by year 2020. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) through our agency, the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), has been actively promoting Malaysia and the bid for regional and international business events to be held in the country. We are definitely looking forward to working more closely with MACEOS to enrich the experience offered for delegates and visitors for conventions and exhibitions respectively. Once again, congratulations! #SayangMalaysia

Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

It is with great honour and privilege I present to you the MACEOS Coffee Table Book 2016. This book is a testimony of just how much the association has done for the business events industry while celebrating the people behind the scenes. Here, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Past President and Past Committee members for their dedication and tireless effort. Our combined commitment is evident in the progress through the years and it is also evident in the activities we have set forth thus far. The passion, determination and dedication of many has ensured a journey filled with significant milestones and accomplishments. Today more than ever, MACEOS is now being recognised as the voice of the MICE or Business Events industry in Malaysia with a renewed focus on education to build human capacity for the industry. Our new education and training arm addresses our dire need for more experienced and industry-ready individuals who are all set to hit the ground running, while our social arm is keen on creating a platform where industry leaders can meet and exchange ideas and business practices effectively. Our membership drive encourages more industry professionals to join our movement so that together we can be a bigger voice for the industry slowly but surely carving our way in with years of experience and industry knowledge. Our membership wing has expanded to the Northern States as well as the state of Sarawak and we hope to infiltrate the South of the Peninsula as well as Sabah. This is imperative for the betterment of the industry we are so passionate about. Also, as part of our publication arm, together with BE Magazine and now this Coffee Table book, we have created an arena for business events to shine so that the public will know the contributions of the industry to the country. In 25 years, MACEOS has achieved what it was set up to do but our work is far from finished and we are pushing forward more aggressively than ever before. I am proud to say my committee and I are currently brining many ideas into fruition and we have all of you to thank for it. It is crucial that the Malaysian Business Events industry is up to par internationally to compete effectively with our neighbours for business, creating an opportunity for our local players to enjoy their piece of the pie. We are confident that through the years, we as an industry have grown leaps and bounds and I am happy to note that MACEOS had a hand in this development. That said, we promise to continue to strive to improve on the overall strategy of winning bids through effectively improving the business events industry here in Malaysia. I would like to extend a very special thank you to YBhg. Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud, MATRADE’s Chief Executive Officer for his expert advice as the association’s official advisor. Also, I would like to extend my thanks to MyCEB for their continuous support. I would like to thank all those who have been instrumental in producing this coffee table book, which is yet another milestone in our roadmap of achievements and I look forward to many more milestones. These last 25 years could not have been possible without each and every one of you, for that I thank you and I look forward to many more years of business events success with all of you! I hope you enjoy going down memory lane, while taking in the bright future we have ahead of us.

Dato’ Vincent Lim

President (2016 -2018), MACEOS

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Congratulations to the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) and for your initiative in producing this coffee table book. The publication of this coffee table book is timely as it coincides with MACEOS’ 25th anniversary, as well as presenting an opportunity to reflect on the association’s success stories, products and services offered since its inception a quarter of a century ago. For the past six years, MyCEB together with MACEOS have embarked on a strategic partnership to strategically position Malaysia as a force within the exhibition industry. I wish to highlight that we value and recognise MACEOS’s efforts in staging the AEC+ Expo 2015, a flagship event of the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Association (AFECA), in the pursuit of making Asia and ASEAN the preferred business events destination. This is also a platform for other industry players to understand MACEOS’ new roles under Malaysia’s Business Events Roadmap, sharing the task together with MyCEB to help fellow Malaysians expand their global investment, trade and professional networks. On behalf of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), I would like to take the opportunity to once again applaud MACEOS for this great effort, and I look forward to continue working with MACEOS as we work towards achieving the government’s aspirations for 2020 and beyond. Thank you. Datuk Zulkefli Hj Sharif Chief Executive Officer Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

25 years is a notable achievement! I would like to extend my Congratulations to MACEOS and all its members on this significant milestone. There is no doubt that associations flourish because of a strong and active membership, and the passion and dedication of your members is evident with the publication of this commemorative coffee table book. Let me take this opportunity to thank the members of MACEOS on behalf of the members of MATTA for the close ties and working relationship we have shared through the years. In our industries, it is clear that we rely on each other while sharing our expertise for the betterment of the tourism industry of our beloved Malaysia. We look forward to many more years of working together as we continue to strive to make the tourism industry even better for everyone. Once again, congratulations and we look forward to flipping through the pages of your 25 years! Datuk Haji Hamzah Rahmat President Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel (MATTA)

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Salam 1Malaysia. On behalf of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), I wish to congratulate MACEOS for producing this coffee table book showcasing the various activities and milestones they have achieved thus far. This book is the true testimony that showcases the commitment, hardwork and untiring efforts of the association and its members over the last 25 years. With Malaysia fast rising as a preferred MICE destination, I believe the MACEOS and MAH collaboration will further enhance growth in the hospitality and tourism industry to meet the demand of business tourism. This collaboration shall not be limited to capacity, service and quality. We shall jointly work to meet the expectations of business event tourists to have an enjoyable and memorable stay in Malaysia. Once again, our heartiest congratulations to MACEOS celebrating their 25th Anniversary and we look forward to continuing our collaboration bringing the Malaysian Hospitality and business tourism to the world. Cheah Swee Hee (Sam) CHA President Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH)

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MACEOS Presidents


MACEOS Presidents 1991-2016 1991 Pro Tem President Jonathan Kan 1992 - 1996 The late Kamaruzaman Barhadun 1996 - 1998 Mak Weng Kit 1998 - 2000 Steven Thong 2000-2002 Koh Pak Boo 2002 / 2004 / 2006 Jonathan Kan 2006 - 2008 Anthony Wong 2008 / 2010 / 2012 / 2014 Jonathan Kan 2014 / 2016 / 2018 Dato’ Vincent Lim


PRO TEM Committee 1991 Jonathan Kan The late Kamaruzaman Barhadun Mak Weng Kit Peter Teh Michael Soo

First MACEOS Committee Members 1992 President, the late Kamaruzaman Barhadun Vice President, Jonathan Kan Mak Weng Kit Peter Teh Koh Pak Boo M. Gandhi Michael Soo


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Jonathan Kan – A pioneer and maverick

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s he sat in his memorabilia filled office in Subang Jaya, Jonathan Kan’s enthusiasm and passion for his work were evident. He was candid about the state of the industry during his employment in Malaysian Exhibition Services Centre Sdn Bhd (MES).

In July 1984, he was headhunted by UK-based Andry Montgomery Group to start MES, which marked the beginning of a new era for the professional trade exhibition industry in Malaysia. He was promoted as a director of MES in 1989 and held that position until 1993. “Back in the ‘80s, there was no infrastructure and halls to support a growing exhibition industry. We had to make do with any open spaces we could find. We were having shows in the National Stadium and its car park, Changkat Pavilion next to the Chin Woo Association, large fields and so on. “Often we would retrofit the area with false ceilings, plywood sidewalls and so on. Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) wasn’t ready until 1986 and its second phase was only functional in 1993. The demand for MICE activities was great, just that we were burgeoned by infrastructure.” Kan proudly mentioned that the industry enjoyed a tremendous double-digit economic boom from 1989 to 1995. He pointed to an example, where MES’ machinery show grew so big that the shed it used to occupy beside the French Embassy was no longer enough.

As the industry grew so did the number of players. However, the issue of infrastructure lingered. Kan, representing MES, and many others banded together to form MACEOS in 1991. Kan was its protem chairman with five others. He later went on to be MACEOS president for six terms – 2000-2002, 2002-2004, 2004-2006, 2008-2010, 2010-2012 and 2012-2014. The committee held an election in 1993 to form its first Executive Committee. To join MACEOS in its early days, a potential member had to have organised at least two exhibitions with a minimum of 1,000 square metres. Kan and his team were clear on the association’s objective, which is to develop and raise industry standards in Malaysia. “We conduct numerous knowledge sharing sessions, joint certification programmes, UFI sales seminars and various talks to enrich and empower our members.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Of course no venue is big enough even though now we have a variety of purpose-built MICE infrastructure. The challenge remains. “Many are reluctant to build one, simply because they don’t know what to do when it’s not booked for MICE events. Venue owners really need to think outside the box to afford the upkeep of such places.” He too shared the technical requirements of a good MICE facility. He mentioned having freight doors big enough to accommodate containers, stable ground, trench for electrical cords, air and water, connectivity, breakout rooms, catering, ease of parking and turnaround time between shows. During his tenure as MACEOS President, he represented MACEOS to engage in dialogue sessions with policymakers to introduce several changes, making the association more visible and vibrant. He also called on organisers to provide facts and figures so the data could be used to formulate strategic plans to improve the industry. Representing MACEOS, he managed to negotiate for better rates with venue owners and freight forwarder contractors. After a distinguished career with MES, he set up his first exhibition company, Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd, in 1993 and served as its managing director until 2004 before selling it. He was not done with the MICE industry. In late 2004, he founded Fair & Events Management Sdn Bhd and now serves as its CEO. He has successfully organised more than 300 leading trade exhibitions and events in the country.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Mak Weng Kit – Self-starter and visionary

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ecognised as one of the MICE industry pioneers, Mak Weng Kit’s career spans 30 years and counting. When MACEOS was formed in 1991, he was a member of the pro-tem committee and was elected into the main committee in 1992.

He is proud to be among the MACEOS founding members. “I don’t think MACEOS’ objectives have changed much over the 25 years. In essence, it serves to regulate the industry and be a voice to bring ideas, suggestions and issues to the Government’s attention. “After all our good work over the years, MACEOS is one of the bodies who are providing advice to the government’s annual budget.” Mak immersed himself in the exhibition industry in 1986 when he joined the Cahners Exhibition Group. Eventually, Cahners was merged with Reed Exhibitions and Mak was appointed its General Manager for the Malaysian market. He recalled that the then PWTC Chairman Kamaruzaman Baharun decided to step down after being President for two terms – 1992-1994 and 1994-1996. However, it was not an easy path for Mak when he took over MACEOS after the election. MACEOS was in trouble with the Registrar of Societies for failing to submit the relevant documents. Facing deregistration, Mak and his committee met with the RoS to get MACEOS back on track.

“We called for an AGM and I was elected president. First order of things was to get our house in order. This included tweaking and strengthening the constitution where necessary and recruiting more members. “It was a big challenge to establish ourselves. We faced sceptics when we tweaked the constitution to include more companies related to MICE to join us, especially suppliers, hotels, printers and tour companies. After all they are part of the industry. “We started in 1991 with 15 members, comprising exhibition organisers, freight forwarders, contractors and two hall owners – PWTC and Changkat Pavilion, which closed after a few years. In a way we are all competitors so sceptics are expected.” During his tenure, Mak set out to have dialogue sessions with the Government and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. The main objective was to convince policymakers that the MICE industry would be a big contributor to the economy so MACEOS should be consulted on related trade policies.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

“I think we managed to raise the necessary awareness and got the Government to realise that the MICE industry contributes with direct investment and spillover effects in tourism and domestic trade. “We also wanted better venues. Back then we only had PWTC and a handful of hotels to choose from. The current MICE infrastructure didn’t exist at all.” Among the issues during these deliberations were friendlier terms to attract international exhibitors and exhibition organisers and promote homegrown shows with heavier incentives. “Without incentives, Malaysia will always be passed over for Thailand and Singapore. If there are good terms for international players here, it makes it fiscally better to pick Malaysia. “We benefit from international exposure. As for encouraging local shows, this is important too. We need to have a robust local MICE industry too.” In 1996, Mak joined Miller Freeman, which was setting up a Malaysian office. He soon became its Executive Director and Miller Freeman was the leading MICE organiser in the country. Despite that, Mak struck out to form his own company in 2000 – Interexpo (M) Sdn Bhd. He found success quickly banking on his eye for opportunity and decades of experience. In 2000, he organised Beauty Expo, which became the longest running show in Malaysia, and later the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show. These days, he has dialled back on work and prefers to offer consultation and management services to new players.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Steven Thong – Dedicated and accomplished

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teven Thong was already an experienced hand in the MICE industry when he was elected as MACEOS President for the 1998-2000 term. His vision for the association, apart from continuing the good work his predecessor had done, was to sell Malaysia as the ideal country for world-class exhibitions and conventions. “The exhibition industry in Malaysia has grown and with it the need has arisen for an orderly and structured industry that will be better prepared to promote Malaysia as a foremost convention centre in the region.” He had said. He was confident of the spin-off effect that a healthy MICE industry would bring. At that time, business opportunities available were worth RM1 billion in supporting services such as freight forwarding, tourism, advertising, printing, entertainment and retail. “Exhibitions can generate a spin-off effect of eight times into the economy and such we can expect a greater vibrancy in this specific sector.” Prior to his position at MACEOS, in 1992 Thong was running Malaysia’s first telecommunication trade show for the Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd, in addition to trade shows in defence, and oil and gas. He moved to Reed Exhibitions in 1996 and stayed until 2005 where he headed its Malaysian office. Under his leadership, Reed managed several key exhibitions in Malaysia, that includes 3rd APEC Tradeshow and Conference 1998, which saw representatives from 21 APEC countries, and MALBEX 1998 (Asia’s largest building and construction show that year). For his successes, he was awarded the M&C Gold Award for Best Exhibition Organiser in 1999. However, his Presidency at MACEOS was not smooth sailing as the country was still reeling from the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997. He had the unenviable task of navigating through choppy water as he led the association in reviving the MICE industry by creating more awareness via initiatives such as marketing campaigns and national seminars for marketing professionals that were endorsed by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. “Back then revenue from exhibitions dropped from RM1 billion in 1997 to RM700 million in 1998. We had anticipated the industry to pick up with the aggressive promotions that were taking place.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

It was expected that the market would grow 3-4% in 1999 as the overseas marketing and promotion activities were beginning to pay off. There was no shortcut to reviving the industry after the financial crisis. MACEOS’ hard work certainly paid off when more international shows made their way to our shores.” “This, of course, increased our reputation and good standing with the Government and within the industry. The foundation that was laid by those before me were bearing fruit.” Thong oversaw the setting up of MACEOS marketing offices overseas and tasked capable representatives to manage them. MACEOS was also bolstered by the successful 16th Commonwealth Games in 1998 as Malaysia proved that organising and managing world-class events was of no issues. “We were also beginning to have better supporting infrastructure such as the Mines Convention Centre, KL International Airport, enhanced port facilities and improved transportation and road systems.” Thong’s vast MICE experience helped him to successfully propel MACEOS’ standing as the leading voice of the industry, a vision shared by his predecessors and founding members. Under his stewardship, MACEOS membership also grew as more companies expressed interest to join. After he handed over the reins to his successor, Thong continued carving a name for himself in the MICE industry. In 2005, he was appointed General Manager of the Binhai international Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin, China. Two years later, he was head hunted by Brunei to organise and manage Bridex, the small nation’s inaugural defence show.

Thong’s vast MICE experience helped him to successfully propel MACEOS’ standing as the leading voice of the industry, a vision shared by his predecessors and founding members.

Thong also owns Beez Solutions that he set up in 2007. With Beez Solutions, he shares his wealth of industry experience through management and consultancy services while continuing to run international trade shows and conferences across Asia.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Koh Pak Boo – Building bridges and opening doors

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efore being elected as President of MACEOS 20002002, Koh Pak Boo had been organising agricultural shows on behalf of University Malaya Agriculture Graduate Alumni (UMAGA). Koh, born in Kuala Lumpur, spent most of his formative years in Chinese vernacular school supplemented with English classes. His hard work and dedication to his books paid off when he gained admission to the University of Malaya. In 1969, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science. “After I joined the alumni, they are quite active in producing written materials on agriculture as well as organising industry related shows domestically. That was how I got my early experience in organising exhibitions.” Upon graduation, Koh was an assistant research officer in Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) for three years, which was a “natural progression” for him. He then moved to the private agricultural sector until 1982, that was when he started his own company. When he took the MACEOS reins in 2000, he was the Managing Director of Trans-Event Sdn Bhd. Koh said, “there were a few people who wanted to relinquish their positions in MACEOS, and some among the committee were elected to fill those seats.” In those early days, MACEOS didn’t have as many members as it does now. And he saw that a working relationship with the government, during that period, was almost non-existent. “I would say that establishing a close liaison with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry was my chief concern. Back then, the development of the exhibition industry was under a board within the Tourism Ministry.

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However, our venue facilities then were woeful, so we needed to ensure the government received our feedback, issues and suggestions as they were ultimately, for the benefit of the country.” In order to nurture a healthy relationship with the relevant government agencies, Koh, on behalf of MACEOS, invited an ex officio from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry to sit in the association’s exco meetings. “I think that was an important move. The officer would be able to carry our messages directly to the Ministry. It gave MACEOS a clear channel to help promote trade and tourism via our exhibitions and shows.” Koh added that the Ministry was attentive and strongly considered their suggestions. MACEOS also brought back information from huge, successful trade shows in China and Thailand as to show that Malaysia needed to improve its infrastructure in order to stay competitive in the ASEAN region. “With the ties that I had already established with the Chinese government, I petitioned for them to visit Malaysia’s exhibitions. Most of the time their trips were organised by the respective government agencies and each delegation would have representation from 20 to 30 companies. “I wanted to show that Malaysian show should not just be a domestic industry but able to attract an international crowd. I would say the inaugural visit from China was the breakthrough we needed.” He also said that opened the eyes of many to how other ASEAN countries were doing, especially Singapore and Thailand. Their exhibitions did attract a lot of foreign participation, and most importantly, these countries had good exhibition infrastructure. Koh continued to use MACEOS as a platform and a voice to bring in more international delegations to later participate in Malaysian shows. He said although the exhibition market has grown by leaps and bounds, there are still plenty of opportunities in the ASEAN region. During his presidency, Koh managed his roles at both MACEOS and Trans-Event with aplomb. He didn’t have issues juggling the two sets of responsibilities, crediting his ability to multi-task.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Anthony Wong – Trailblazer and risk-taker

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glance at Anthony Wong’s early years tells of an adventurous young man with an eye for business. When he was just 16 in 1972, he was already organising and guiding trekking expeditions across Malaysia for young international travellers. One of his more challenging expedition was guiding a group of students up Gunung Tahan, West Malaysia’s highest peak, at a time where there were no hiking trails yet. His entrepreneurial streak was strong and led him to form the Asian Overland Services Tours and Travels in 1976, at the age of 20. His foresight and business acumen transformed his first company into an international brand. Wong’s foray into the MICE industry started in 1990 when he founded AOS Conventions & Events. In 1998, he joined MACEOS and was elected as a Committee Member in 2000. His contributions to MACEOS grew when he chaired the Training and Education Sub-Committee from 2002 to 2004. It was a natural progression when he was elected MACEOS President from 2006 to 2008. He quickly took the opportunity to champion the importance of training and professional learning among MACEOS members. Wong’s leveraged on his vast experience as a speaker and trainer, having given talks and seminars across industries in many parts of the world. “I had identified several training programmes for our members which included training on exhibitions, event management, congress management, destination marketing and event organising. “I was able to secure a grant from the Tourism Ministry in 2006 to fund those training programmes. The fund was also able to provide MACEOS with a full-time secretariat.” This had allowed MACEOS to further its role as an encompassing organisation for all MICE related industries such as logistics, hotels and malls, audio-visual suppliers, contractors, and hospitality and tourism universities. Wong had envisioned MACEOS as an enabler to explore MICE potential as a unified group and platform. Wong’s favourite motto is, “Don’t go where the path leads, rather go where there’s no path and leave a trail.” Leave a trail, he did. Under his leadership, MACEOS was able to increase its working relationship with various Government bodies and academia. MACEOS’ educational programmes were mostly funded by the Human Resource Development Fund, on the whole, increasing MACEOS’ standing as the industry’s leading voice.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Carving another path for MACEOS, Wong was able to bring other regional peer associations together, via his simultaneous chairmanship at the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Asia Pacific chapter. MACEOS members were able to benefit greatly from the numerous knowledge sharing programmes that were held. Wong received many accolades for being an industry trailblazer. In 2007, he was awarded the Industry Person of the Year in the Asia Pacific Region by Reed Travel Exhibitions in Melbourne, Australia. Meanwhile at the IMEX 2003, he was among the four recipient of the Academy Awards in Frankfurt, Germany. It was to recognised his contributions in bringing greater awareness of the Incentive and Meetings product to Asia Pacific. In the same year, Wong had called for the Government to lend some attention to the severe labour shortage in the tourism and hospitality industry. It would have an adverse effect on the MICE industry if not handled well. “I had presented a joint study done by ICCA and MACEOS which looked at the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in this region up to 2010. “While losing local talent was inevitable, the government should ensure there would always be a constant supply of new talent. I also called for the setting up of more vocational schools, courses to be taught in English and a revamp of the education system to make it compulsory for lecturers and trainers in the tourism and hospitality industry to have industry attachments.” As MACEOS President, Wong had set out to achieve several key milestones – further enhancing MACEOS’ industry recognition, more Government support and funding to the Malaysian MICE industry, advocate for a Government-run convention and exhibition bureau, and improving MICE education and training through partnerships with the academia world. His foundation work in advocating for a Government bureau was paid off in a huge way when MyCEB was established in 2009.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Reshaping the future of MACEOS With more than 20 years in the Business Events industry, Dato’ Vincent Lim was elected to spearhead MACEOS in 2014. Now in his second term, he shares initiatives that the association has to further cement its representation in Malaysia. Can you share with us your journey in the MACEOS’ role is to bring together conference and exhibition organisers, industry partners such as Business Events industry? venue owners, freight forwarders and contractors My current company, C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd, was so each component can unite to form a bigger voice set up in 1994. However, I stumbled upon the to liaise with the relevant government authorities, events business through my experience in the built agencies and policymakers. industry, where as a teenager, I worked part-time with my subcontractor father building homes. Until As the President of MACEOS, how do you fit into today, the lesson I learnt will always stay with me the picture? and that is; ‘you can build something from nothing’. Currently, I’m in the first year of my second term as After a couple of years in the supervisory role in the President. In this role, there are a lot of initiatives construction industry, I wanted to explore other on my plate, and it involves our entire MACEOS opportunities and that’s how C.I.S was formed in Committee, who are all very enthusiastic and 1994 to focus on events management businesses dedicated. related to retail and consumer exhibitions. On top of the list is the membership drive, so we Subsequently, we embarked on organising trade can fully represent the industry nationwide. This and lifestyle exhibitions in PWTC. From 1999, we is in line with the objective to encourage more continued to build our own home grown brands engagement with our members and also as an exercise to promote a deeper understanding of the such as ARCHIDEX and HOMEDEC. roles of MACEOS. It’s a big challenge to establish a new show, in Malaysia or otherwise because you will have no We have already set up a northern committee, to reference, and you’ll need a lot of groundwork and represent that region, which has its own chairman, marketing campaigns to gain relevant industry committee members and plans. We also have such recognition. With these recognitions, you can a committee in Sarawak. The same exercise to form cement the show’s status and branding. committees are also ongoing in Sabah and the southern region of the Peninsular Malaysia as well. Did MACEOS help in establishing new shows? We have also initiated the education and No, it’s not really the role of the association in this training component:- the Professional Exhibition context. Organiser (PEO) and Professional Conference

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Organiser (PCO) courses for members, business events industry professionals and the relevant governmental departments and ministries. The courses have been held in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and soon, in Sabah. Another focus of training and industry updates was through the first BE Forum held in October 2016, where local and international speakers were invited to share their experiences and expertise. One of the plans I implemented was the MACEOS Roadmap, which was a first for the association, to realign and set a vision and goal for the association. And in June 2016, we continued with the second roadmap to further improve on our strategies, with a new focus on the training component, government relations, industry regulations and more. All these efforts will be working towards building Business Events excellence. What obstacles do you face when implementing the MACEOS roadmap? I feel that by having the roadmaps, it has ensured that we are on track in achieving our objectives and targets.

In a year, we would have had 12 meetings, but, with the roadmap KPI set, it enables us to plan ahead and see the final destination better. It’s definitely not an obstacle, but we just have to keep up and execute the best laid out plan through the year and make it happen for the association. That way, the Committee and members know what to do to achieve what we want and everyone will meet at the final destination together. I hope this way we can achieve the KPI set. I’m very happy that the committee and members are committed to take time out from their busy schedules to attend these roadmaps for the good of MACEOS. Can you share the level of engagement between MACEOS and the relevant government agencies? It is good but it is also a continuous effort to improve and strengthen the relationship through more collaborations and opening up new opportunities. At the culmination of that, I’m proud to announce that Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation’s (MATRADE) CEO - Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud is now on the Board of Advisors for MACEOS. The other agency that we are currently working closely with is Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). MyCEB falls under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture while MATRADE is linked to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. Both are vital to the Business Events industry, and it is important for MACEOS to have a close and good working relationship for the benefit of the industry and the country.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

What is your opinion on the exhibition space Earlier in 2016, MACEOS had organised the Malaysian development in Malaysia? MICE Youth Challenge Competition giving students a chance to present their proposals for a convention, There is a need for change where relevant government festival or business events to be judged. The winner agencies can look at plans in place to fulfil the ever represented Malaysia at the AFECA Asia MICE Youth increasing demand for space. In Malaysia, we are lacking Challenge that was held in November 2016 in Xiamen, in the long term infrastructure planning for large China. exhibitions. Venue is always an issue for organisers. After MACEOS’ 25th anniversary celebrations in A research by BSG Asia for UFI found that by the end of 2016, what lies ahead? 2015, there were 206 purpose-built exhibition venues in Asia, the figure doubled compared to a decade ago. We have seen MACEOS becoming a louder and bigger You can see that is a significant increase in venues, voice year by year in playing its role to contribute to signalling a huge potential for the BE industry. the business event fraternity locally, regionally and overseas. Currently, more than 70% of this venue capacity lies in China, 15 times more than Japan, which is the Now, we have appointed a CEO to run the second largest market. Japan now has 355,658 sqm administration and manage the association efficiently versus China’s 5.58 million sqm. By the end of 2016, and professionally. seven markets will add venue capacity which includes Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Taiwan, Australia, Vietnam To shed light on the industry issues and updates of the and Thailand. It is clear that Malaysia needs to step up its association, we have the quarterly BE magazine. The game in terms of purpose-built infrastructure to remain magazine also allows us to further engage with our competitive and relevant in the ASEAN BE industry. members and link with the government. MACEOS, MyCEB and industry partners formed the Business Events Council Malaysia in November 2016, and the role of the council will be to move the industry development forward and also serve as a government liaison.

In the future, we want to have a more effective distribution and marketing of the annual MACEOS events listing. This will include major international and local events of our members, and will be distributed to local and overseas partners, chambers of commerce and other relevant authorities.

Earlier you had stressed on the importance of the training component that MACEOS has. Do elaborate. I would also like to emphasize on the digital technology to come into our industry. We have to continuously Our PEM and PCM training courses are helping to prepare ourselves for the inevitable change and also develop future talents of the workforce in the industry. adapt to the new generation workforce. Years ago, the BE industry was not in the tertiary education syllabus, so awareness was low and students Finally, we look forward to being the important voice were unaware of the opportunities the industry has. of the industry and contribute as much as possible through the association. It is still a continuous long The MACEOS education committee has been doing journey for us to progress, to be relevant, to encourage a good job in building awareness by organising and to expand our membership to enable enhanced programmes and training workshops with selected collaborations and to work hand-in-hand for the colleges and universities. betterment of our industry.

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How It All Began


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

MACEOS, Celebrating 25 Years of Progress

I

n the early days of the MICE industry, exhibition and conference organisers were faced with insurmountable challenges, from venues to suppliers. More than 30 years ago, organisers were tasked with setting up exhibitions in large public and privates areas such as the national stadium, hotel ballrooms and more. These venues are not only unsuitable, they do not have the proper support system to hold MICE events of international standards. Industry players were well aware of these limitations and how it stagnated their growth and abilities to attract international events. The industry players decided to come together to figure out some solutions to the problems. Discussions and planning took some time, and by 1990 the industry was ready for the big leagues. The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) was set up by a handful of visionary companies with the objective of developing and raising standards of the MICE industry nationwide. Over the years MACEOS began to emerge as a leading voice on MICE and business events development in Malaysia. Since its inception, the membership has steadily grown close to 100 companies, encompassing exhibition organisers, conference organisers, destination management and event management companies, venue owners, hoteliers, IV/AV suppliers, stand contractors including freight forwarders, to name a few.

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Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik, then Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism with MACEOS officials.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

The inaugural MACEOS AGM in 1992.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

MACEOS also sees itself as a standard bearer to encourage high ethics and professionalism among MICE organisers and related suppliers. It engages with policymakers, business associations and government agencies to ensure Malaysia’s MICE platform continues flourishing by facilitating two-way discussions of various issues that affect the industry. Aside from securing a better future for the industry, MACEOS provides free information and professional advice as well as collating information and statistics related to the industry which are proven useful to develop technical education. In addition, MACEOS together with MyCEB, hold the biennial rAWr (Recognising Award Winning Results) Awards to recognise the high level of professionalism by local companies. Other MACEOS contributions included getting endorsed as a training provider by the Human Resource Development Fund, familiarisation trips, conducted Professional Conference Management and Professional Exhibition Management courses, business matching and forums. Fast forward to 2016, MACEOS is delighted and proud to celebrate its 25th anniversary. This milestone serves to remind the industry of how far it has come since the early years. MACEOS will continue to champion the MICE and business events industry in Malaysia and its Executive Council members with its permanent secretariat will seek to lead the industry to compete even more effectively with other regional players, especially with the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) last year.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Take a journey through time... MACEOS has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1991, let’s take a walk done memory lane and see just how far we’ve come!

MACEOS Committee with Tan Sri Rafidah binti Aziz, then Minister of International Trade and Industry.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Pico building launched in 1994.

Peter Teh with Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik, then Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism.

Peter Teh with the late Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Peter Teh with Dato’ Seri Tan Sri Nazri Aziz.

Peter Teh with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Malaysian International Furniture Fair

Malaysian International Furniture Fair 1995

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Malaysian International Furniture Fair 1997

Malaysian International Furniture Fair 1999

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

First show after building of Hall 1, PWTC in 1990 for the Apparel Machinery Exhibition.

Apparel Machinery Exhibition with the Minister, late Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Daud.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Exhibition for Auto & Accessories, Changkat (No PWTC halls at that time).

First exhibition in PWTC, MEX Machinery & Technology visited by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

The late Tun Ghaffar Baba, Deputy Prime Minister in 1993 at an exhibition.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

The face of business events then...

PWTC under construction

MINES International Exhibition & Convention Centre

Stadium Negara

Changkat Pavillion

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Machinery exhibition


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

... and now

SPICE Convention Centre, Penang

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

New and modern exhibition booths

Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Putrajaya International Convention Centre

Shah Alam Convention Centre, Selangor

MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Connexion Conference & Event Centre

Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre

Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur

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Today and The Future


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

MACEOS Road MAP: Mapping Out The Future

Dato’ Vincent with the MACEOS Executive Committee.

The MACEOS 2016-2018 EXCO committee got together in the slightly cooler climate of Genting Highlands to discuss the future direction of the association as well as the future of the industry.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

“T

he Exco is unanimous in its aim to drive our industry forward to the next level. To do this, we need more than just willing hearts and minds, we need a tangible road map to navigate by and to use as a benchmark to measure our success. Our EXCO members are also volunteers with a lot of commitments from our day to day jobs. Therefore, we felt it is essential to get away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives to develop this road map which we hope will be our path for the next 5 years,” says Dato Vincent Lim, President of MACEOS in his opening address to the EXCO.

Exploring the MACEOS ROADMAP EDUCATION AND TRAINING

MEMBERSHIP

Moving forward, MACEOS is committed to this key driver for the industry. Kenneth Fong, the Chairman of the Education Committee explains, “For the BE industry to thrive and grow, we need new talent coming through the system. MACEOS feels this cannot be left to chance, therefore, one of our major projects over the short and medium term is to develop and upgrade our own in house training capability.” Kenneth says that MACEOS want to show people coming into the BE industry that there is a structured training programme that employers can tap into to help educate and improve their staff. “But that’s only the beginning, stepping back into the academic sphere, we are keen to entice more and more young talent to consider the BE industry as a viable career path in a world when their choices are wide and comprehensive,” says Kenneth. Hence, MACEOS will continue to engage with institutions such as Taylors and Berjaya to offer their degree and diploma students an opportunity to intern with the BE industry. This will be a cornerstone of the association’s education policy moving forward and they are confident that this early exposure will help their members in the perennial problem of finding new talent for the industry.

Melvin Shu, the Chairman of the Membership Committee takes us further down the road map. “MACEOS has in recent times addressed the stagnation in membership that had plagued us in the earlier years of the 21st century. Now, due to increased activities and a more proactive EXCO, we have seen our membership grow slowly to see us hit that magical 100 barrier earlier this year,” explains Melvin. However, MACEOS is not stopping there! Their key goal over the next 5 years is to double this membership and cement MACEOS’ position as the only relevant voice for the BE industry in Malaysia. “At the moment, our membership is too KL centric and so we will be going out to widen our net into the whole of the country,” says Melvin. He adds, “ We plan on expanding our membership into the hotel sector as well as the event management and conference organiser sectors as we see these sides of the BE industry very relevant to the activities of MACEOS. To spearhead some of these plans we have already appointed an East Malaysia Representative for Sabah and Sarawak and also for the North of Malaysia, based in Penang.”

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

PUBLICATIONS MACEOS is delighted to see the successful adoption of the BE magazine. Launched in December 2014, this quarterly publication has developed into a key income stream for the association. Alun Jones, Vice President of MACEOS explains, “It’s difficult for any trade association to survive on subscriptions only, even if you can steadily grow the membership in order for us to be able to function effectively, we needed alternative sources of revenue.” He continues to explain that The BE Magazine was conceptualised to help increase the association’s revenue and at the same time raising the profile of the industry both in the public and private sectors. Since its launch in 2014, BE Magazine has seen its advertiser base grow. “However, like our membership, we need to widen our readership to the rest of the country not just Kuala Lumpur and this includes the conference industry and the event management sectors. But our publicity does not stop there, we need a focus on social media and really develop the association’s impact in this new arenas of communication,” says Alun. Irene Leow one of the new EXCO members will focus on this area as well as the public relations side and the trade and business media will be an important focus as well. “But we are not stopping here. A huge issue for our industry now is to ensure that the Malaysian Government understands the benefit our industry can have on the domestic economy,” explains Alun. He adds,” The BE industry brings in large numbers of foreign visitors either for one off meetings or for regular cyclical events that are held annually.” According to research by MyCEB, trade visitors spend five times more than tourist. “It’s our job over the next 5 years to make sure we have done all the necessary research so that we have the figures that back up this claim. So our industry research will go hand in hand with our government liaison to ensure that we are constantly championing our industry to the stakeholders in Government.”

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Alun shares that it is an exciting time for the association moving forward. “There is a lot for us to do in the areas I have discussed but we must not forget the need for greater sustainability at a time when green practices become more and more significant. MACEOS is already developing green practices for our members to adhere too,” he says. “The next 5 years will be such a significant time for the BE industry and we at MACEOS are committed to working even closer with the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MYCEB) and this desire was fully endorsed at the recent exco roadmap. We feel the MACEOS/MYCEB partnership will make our road map more easily navigable and help to ensure that the needs of the private sector gel with the needs of the public bodies that patronise the BE industry,” concludes Dato’ Vincent Lim.


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

The first of its kind business events magazine published by MACEOS was launched on 12 November 2014. Although part of MyCEB’s fun networking evening, the night was a memorable night especially for the members of MACEOS who witnessed the launch of their very own Business Events Magazine. In line with the growth of the association as well as the business events industry on the whole, the magazine is a platform for industry professionals to learn and be in touch with the industry here in Malaysia. This brainchild of MACEOS is published by the association and is distributed widely to relevant parties and sold in bookstores nationwide. Inspired to be the voice of the industry, the magazine has indeed set out to do what it was envisioned for.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

MACEOS Industry Dialogue 2016 8 January 2016 marked the first time the association collectively identify the problems and challenges in the business events industry.

M

alaysia is becoming increasingly popular as a business events destination in Asia. However, like any industry, the Malaysian business events industry isn’t without its challenges. MACEOS is determined to be a strong and collective voice for the industry. Therefore, in line with the association’s vision to be a bigger and more active voice for the industry, this inaugural event was held to get feedback for PEMANDU’s Lab 2.0. The session was held at MATRADE and welcomed members as well as non-members to the session. Dialogue panellist included President of MACEOS, Dato’ Vincent Lim, Chairman Government Liaison, Dato’ Mohd Shukri Abdullah, MACEOS CEO, Amos Wong and MACEOSCSR-Green Initiatives Sub-committee Chairman, Eric Ho.

President of MACEOS, Dato’ Vincent Lim

Dato’ Vincent Lim expressed his satisfaction on the positive turnout at the event and thanked Dato’ Shukri for organising the dialogue. Dato’ Shukri pointed out that MACEOS has done a lot for the industry including approaching the relevant ministries, agencies, local councils, and they have welcomed MACEOS’ effort to bring forward the issues industry players face. He also invited non-members present to become members of MACEOS and reminded everyone that the MICE industry is, in fact, a very important player in the Malaysian economy contributing significantly to the national GDP. Participants were divided into groups based on their specific industries which included contractors, logistics, venue providers and organisers. They were given 30 minutes to discuss the issues they faced before a representative from each group presented the issues to everyone.

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Chairman Government Liaison, Dato’ Mohd Shukri Abdullah


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Lim Win Nee from MyCEB

Alun Jones represented the organisers

Jason Teh spoke on behalf of the suppliers

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Contractors Industry Dialogue

Industry Dialogue for Contractors / Organisers 2016

I

n a bid to include all areas of the industry, MACEOS sat down with business events contractors and organisers separately to find out what challenges they faced. The contractors dialogue was held on 2 September 2016 at Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur and the organisers dialogue was held on 7 May 2015 at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Those who attended felt that the dialogue was a good platform to voice their concerns as well as build rapport with their competitors and business associates.

Organisers Industry Dialogue

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Business Events in Malaysia


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Malaysia: Without a Doubt The Best Choice for Business Events in the Region

O

ffering everything under one roof, Malaysia is an enticing place if you’re looking for business events situated in the heart of Southeast Asia. Malaysia competitively presents the best value in investments with business, education, thought leadership and unique experiences. Supported with concerted Government and industry collaborations, as well as complemented by a vibrant mix of exotic cultural, natural, historical, geographical and gastronomical offerings in one destination, Malaysia is aid to be Asia’s Business Events Hub.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

LET’S EXPLORE: WHY MALAYSIA FOR BUSINESS EVENTS?

1. STRATEGIC LOCATION • Gateway to Asia, connect with 45% of the world’s population. • Launch pad into ASEAN Economic Community: 620 mil population; USD 2.4 tril trade potential; USD 617 mil market. • Microcosm of authentic Asian experiences. 2. INTERNATIONALLY CONNECTED, LOCALLY ACCESSIBLE • Over 60 direct international airlines, from more than 100 destinations • 5 International Airports – Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching • KLIA: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) - main airline hub • KLIA 2: International and local low cost including full service carrier airport • Seamless connectivity via air, land (Thailand/Singapore) and sea. 2 Version: 23 May 2016 3. VALUE FOR MONEY • Competitively priced products and services • Favourable exchange rate: Approximately USD 1 = MYR 4.0; Euro 1 = MYR 4.4 • 7 th Most Price Competitive in the Asia Pacific (Travel & Tourism Competitive Report 2015, World Economic Forum). • 5 th Best Priced First Class Hotel in the World (TripAdvisor’s TripIndex Room Service, 2014)

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

4. WORLD CLASS FACILITIES & SERVICES

6. SOLID TRACK RECORD

• Key locations: Kuala Lumpur; Putrajaya; Penang Island; Langkawi Island, Kedah; Kuching, Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah • Wide range of facilities, from hotels with meeting facilities to purpose-built meeting/ convention centres • Total of major 20 convention/exhibition centres, max capacity for up to 10,000 delegates per event • 200,000 sqm current total exhibition space, additional 80,000sqm by 2017 • 6 convention/exhibition centres to be launched by 2019 • Collaborative government and industry supports facilitated by MyCEB

• Malaysia has been hosting numerous significant business events, often drawing record attendances, just to name a few: - Malaysia International Furniture Fair (MIFF) - Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) - The Asian International Machine Tools and Metalworking Technology (METALTECH) - Asian Oil, Gas & Petrochemical Engineering Exhibition (OGA) - 7th International Aids Society (IAS) HIV Conference in Pathogenesis and Prevention 2013. - Woman Deliver Conference 2013 - Million Dollar Round Table 2014 - Australian Directors’ Conference 2015

5. VARIETY OF ACCOMMODATIONS

7. UNIQUE LOCATIONS AND VENUES

• Diverse range – budget-friendly, boutique, 3 to 5-star luxury hotels to fully equipped serviced apartments, within close proximity to event venues.

• Exciting sensory experiences for meetings, incentive travels and beyond • Breath-taking vistas - 130 million-year-old tropical rainforests, 800+

Who is Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)?

Source: MyCEB

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MyCEB’s business events division specialises in securing and supporting international corporate meeting, incentive travel, association convention and trade exhibition events for Malaysia. Their support services are complimentary and impartial, designed to assist in the bidding process, fostering government and industry collaborations, providing event support as well as consultation on products and services. In addition to having marketing offices in Australia / New Zealand, Europe, China, and North America, they work closely with over 40 Tourism Malaysia offices worldwide to ensure seamless connections for staging successful business events in Malaysia.


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

idyllic islands and “untouched piece of art” diving sites off Sabah • Iconic landmarks, e.g. PETRONAS Twin Towers and UNESCO heritage sites - Georgetown, Penang; Melaka City, Melaka and Kinabalu National Park, Sabah 8. MICROCOSM OF ASIA • Population of over 30 million - Malay, Chinese, Indian, and 47 other indigenous groups • Multi-culturalism reflected in cuisines, arts & heritage, traditions, lifestyle and yearround colourful festivals • Variety of authentic cultural and lifestyle experiences for corporate meetings and incentive travel itinerary - Unique themes, venues, CSR and team building programmes to enrich, recharge and reward. 9. GASTRONOMIC PARADISE • Globally renowned for a delectable array of local and international delicacies: - Nasi Lemak - Time’s Top 10 Healthy Breakfast, 2016. - Laksa - 6 th World’s Best Food, CNN’s Facebook, 2015. - Penang, Malaysia – Top Culinary Spot, Lonely Planet 2014 10. RECOGNISED FOR EXCELLENCE • Destination Support: - Among the Top 10 countries for Best International MICE Destination (China MICE Industry Golden Chair Award, 2016) - Best for MICE in Asia 2014 (Business Destinations Travel Awards, 2014) • Strong Economic Fundamentals & Performance: - 18th Most Competitive Economy in the World For Doing Business & 4th in Asia Pacific (World Bank, Doing Business Report,

2015: Going Beyond Efficiency) • Melting Pot of Multiculturalism and Diversity: - 8th Most Visited Country in the World (MasterCard Index: Global Destination Cities Index, 2015) - Top 10 Travel Destinations (Lonely Planet, 2014). 4 Version: 23 May 2016 - 11th Most Travelled Destination in the World (United Nations World Travel Organisation – UNWTA, 2013) • Friendly and Harmonious: - Top 10 Most Peaceful Country in Asia Pacific and 28th Safest and Most Peaceful in the World (Global Peace Index, 2015) • Ease of Communication: - 2nd Highly Proficient in English among non-native speaking Asian countries and the only country outside Europe (English Proficiency Index, 2015) Source: MyCEB

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

KUALA LUMPUR (KL) AND GREATER KL Venue City/Location Exhibition (sqm) Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Kuala Lumpur 9,710 Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) Serdang 8,000 Matrade Exhibition & Convention Centre Kuala Lumpur 33,000 Putra World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur 35,000 Putrajaya International Convention Centre Putrajaya 8,000 Shah Alam Convention Centre Shah Alam 2,240 Sunway Convention & Exhibition Centre Petaling Jaya 4,880

JOHOR Venue

Persada Johor International Convention Centre

City/Location Johor Bahru

Exhibition (sqm) 6,000

KEDAH Venue Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre

City/Location Kuah, Langkawi

Exhibition (sqm) 20,000

MELAKA Venue Melaka International Trade Centre

City/Location Ayer Keroh

Exhibition (sqm) 13,000

PAHANG Venue Genting International Convention Centre Sultan Ahmad Shah International Convention Centre

City/Location

Exhibition (sqm)

Genting Highlands

14,000

Kuantan

1,672

SARAWAK Venue Borneo Convention Centre Kuching

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City/Location

Exhibition (sqm)

Kuching

2,790


Education, Industry Training & Seminar


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

MACEOS nurtures young talent in the Business Events Industry Education takes the lead

T

he association has taken matters into their own hands and have set into motion various ways in which to educate and train a pool of young talents so that the industry can reach greater heights. They believe that Education and Training has to encompass both ends of the spectrum and therefore they are determined to cover students within the academia or vocational areas as well as working professionals who want to brush up on their skill sets. Ongoing Professional Exhibition Management (PEM) and Professional Conference Management (PCM) courses allow for business events talent to obtain a professional certification from MACEOS. MOU signing with various universities also allow for opportunities for students to get involved in the industry from the get go so they can hit the ground running.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Graduates of Professional Exhibition Management organised by MACEOS with SACEOS from 14 - 17 December, 2009.

MOU signing with SACEOS for the PEM/PCM courses together with the Malaysian trainers.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Graduates of the Inaugural Professional Conference Management Course at AEC+EXPO 2015.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Easing the GST Transition MACEOS members were able to get a professional take on the pending GST and its effects on the business events industry.

T

o calm the nerves of members and to provide a platform to answer any questions about GST and its implications, members had a chance to hear from Dato’ Chua Tia Guan, Head of Tax and Financial Consulting of Great Vision Business Advisory Services. The comprehensive talk was held in anticipation of the GST on 3 July 2014.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Dato’ Sri Idris Jala, CEO of PEMANDU explained what the future holds – towards 2020.

A Bigger Congregation of like-minded industry professionals Themed, “Our Future by Design” this edition of Malaysia Business Events Week (MBEW) created a platform for all stakeholders of the business events industry to converge, communicate and debate issues that impact the future growth and sustainability of the industry.

H

eld at the Shangri-la Hotel from 21-23 September 2015, MBEW drew an attendance of more than 200 participants which consisted of professional conference organisers, destination management companies, exhibition organisers, venue owners, event management companies and hotels, as well

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as government ministries, national associations, convention bureau and regional tourism offices as well as suppliers of products and services relevant to the industry. The conference which is in its second year was an initiative by Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia.


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Datuk Zulkefli Haji Sharif, Chief Executive Officer of MyCEB believes that the provision of education, networking, exchanging of ideas and debating of issues in the threeday event, helps the Malaysian business events industry be better equipped to take ownership of its future. RELEVANT ACTIVITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS Key sessions included Designing a sustainable future by MCI Global’s Guy Bigwood and Roger Simmons; Unlocking The Future Through Creativity by L&R Contract Busi-

ness Services’ Ruth Lillian; and What the Future Holds – Towards 2020 by Dato’ Sri Idris Jala, Chief Executive Officer of Performance Management and Delivery Unit Malaysia (PEMANDU). In the 2015 session, MBEW participants were also able to tap the brains of 20 local and international renowned speakers through plenary sessions, break-out sessions on leadership, sales and marketing and operations, and cluster sessions categorised by the various MICE segments, namely convention, exhibition and incentive.

One of the sessions during the MBEW 2015 Conference.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Malaysia delegation at UFI Asia Pacific Open Seminar held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2016.

MACEOS is a solid voice for the industry The association represents the Malaysian conference and exhibition organisers and suppliers locally and overseas.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Presenting the BE Magazine to a Business Events delegation from Japan.

Malaysian Tourism NKEA committee.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Innovations in MICE – The Way Forward Hosted by Malaysia, the 3-day inaugural AEC+Expo 2015 successfully heightened the MICE industry in ASEAN with the congregation of key players from the region.

J

ointly organised by the Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations (AFECA) and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), the first AEC + Expo 2015 was a great success. Malaysia’s hosting of the inaugural AEC+ Expo 2015 will definitely boost regional meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry with the congregation

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of more than 100 local and international MICE and business events captains of the industry, including trade visitors, forum delegates and international buyers. The event was supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE),the event was managed by Fairs & Events Management Sdn Bhd (FEMSB).


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Official opening of AEC+EXPO.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Photo opportunity with the speakers at the end of the forum.

MACEOS BE Forum 2016

26th October 2016 BE the change!

H Dato’ Vincent presented a token of appreciation to the CEO of MATRADE, Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud.

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eld in conjunction with the MACEOS 25th Anniversary celebrations, the BE Forum provided an opportunity for industry professionals to exchange industry ideas and insights. International and local speakers brought a very broad perspective on current challenges and trends in the business events industry. Forum participants were actively involved in the question and answer session after each panel discussion.


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Participants were ready for the challenge.

MICE Youth Challenge 2016 Sunway University played host to this highly anticipated event organised by MACEOS.

A

part from hosting the event, Sunway University students emerged the winners at the MACEOS Asia MICE Youth Challenge held on 25 August 2016 at Sunway University, Malaysia. The same team of students, Gan Tick Mun Natassia, Han Ning, Mun Quang Hui, Nur Hidayah bt Khairul Anuar and Yee Kai Mun went on to compete at the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) Asia MICE Youth Challenge 2016 in Xiamen, China. They competed against 14 other teams who came from 10 Asian countries. Specifically for students in the hospitality and events industries, the MICE Youth Challenge gives students a chance to have a feel of what it would be like to bid for exhibitions in the real world. MACEOS CEO and Vice President, Amos Wong and Alun Jones were part of the judging panel for the event. As part of their intention to build on business event excellence, MACEOS is very passionate about building on young talents in the industry through opportunities like the MICE Youth Challenge.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

MACEOS Familiarisation Trips

Visit to Penang in December 2016.

Visit to Kuching in March 2016.

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Engaging in Activities


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Ringing in the New Year Pico played host to MACEOS members while they celebrated the beginning of 2015 with food and drinks and lots of smiles!

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Some Fun After Work MACEOS members got together for some bowling fun on 7 September 2016. MACEOS encourages more fun activities to take members out of their work environment for some much needed rest and relaxation. Together with their industry friends and colleagues, a good time is guaranteed everytime!

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Celebrating Exhibitions In A Big Way

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

The Inaugural Global Exhibition Day is set to become an annual event for the industry.

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n 8 June 2016, Global Exhibition Day (GED) was celebrated globally. For the first time in Malaysia, MACEOS organised a National level celebration to commemorate the GED16 which was held at The Apartment & Bar in Suria KLCC. About 100 guests attended the event and it was an opportune time for business and social networking. This event successfully highlighted the exhibition industry’s significant role in contributing to the global economy. Driven by Paris based UFI, the global Association of the Exhibition Industry, Dallas based IAEE (The International Association of Exhibition and Events) and numerous association partners worldwide, Global Exhibition Day is a combined effort from across the exhibition industry. Global Exhibition Day has successfully raised awareness of the exhibition industry as one of the forces driving global trade and growth.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Christmas Cheer 2015 for MACEOS Members It was time for some year-end fun at the Christmas Party 2015 held at One City USJ. Members, friends, associates and fellow colleagues got together for some fun and games before saying farewell to 2015!

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Recognising Excellence


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

The Award Show That Rocks The Business Events Industry : The rAWr Awards Roaring its way as the first of its kind awards recognition in Malaysia, the rAWr Awards showcases the best of the best in Malaysian Business Events and is welcomed with open arms by the industry.

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aunched in 2013, the rAWr Awards was initiated by Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS). Recognising Awards Winning Results (rAWr) is open to business event owners, organisers, venues, products and suppliers for their outstanding achievements in setting new benchmarks and levels of professionalism for the industry. This prestigious accolade is judged by a pool of independent industry experts with years of knowledge and experience in the industry. Winners are chosen and awarded accordingly, covering the four main components of the business events industry – Incentive, Convention, Exhibition and Meeting. The industry comes out in full force to celebrate, recognise and indulge in an industry close to their hearts.

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THE OBJECTIVES OF THE rAWr AWARDS • To recognise excellence and leadership in the Business Events industry. • To increase brand recognition and prestige for shows, events and services within the Business Events industry. • To showcase the members’ innovation, performance and success. • To bestow winners and finalists a marque of distinction and quality that they can use for promotional campaigns. • To help support high standards in the business event industry. • To create a benchmark for excellence within the business events industry. • To strengthen the contribution of our industry


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

rAWr Awards 2013 Winners Exhibition

Name of Event

Award Winners

Best Trade Exhibition (Gross 15,000 sqm and below)

Archidex 2012

C.I.S. Network Sdn. Bhd

Best Trade Exhibition (Gross 15,001 sqm and above)

Oil & Gas Asia 2011

Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn. Bhd.

Best Consumer Exhibition

Homedec 2012

C.I.S. Network Sdn. Bhd.

Exhibition Organiser Award for Excellence

-

Elite Expo Sdn. Bhd.

Best Booth Design (36 sqm and below)

Pekat Technologies @ International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Exhibition (IGEM) 2012

Innogen Sdn. Bhd.

Best Booth Design (37 sqm – 72 sqm)

Sclumberger @ Petroleum Geoscience Conference & Exhibition

Innogen Sdn. Bhd.

Best Booth Design (73 sqm and above)

Panasonic @ International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Exhibition (IGEM) 2012

Pico International (M) Sdn. Bhd.

MACEOS Industry Recognition Award

Food & Hotel Malaysia

Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn. Bhd.

Aseanwood - Woodtech

Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn. Bhd.

Homedec

C.I.S. Network Sdn. Bhd.

ITEX International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition

C.I.S. Network Sdn. Bhd.

Malaysian International Jewellery Fair

Elite Expo Sdn. Bhd.

Convention

Name of Event

Award Winners

International Conference Award for Excellence (1001 delegates & above)

26th East Asia Insurance Congress 2012

Console Communications Sdn. Bhd.

National Conference Award For Excellence

MIA National Conference 2012

Malaysian Institute of Accountants

Professional Conference Organiser Award For Excellence

Console Communications Sdn. Bhd.

Incentives

Name of Event

Award Winners

Best Incentive Programme

STRYKER Emerging Market Sales Meeting (EMSM) 2011

Pacific World Kuala Lumpur

Destination Management Company Award For Excellence

Business Events

Pearl Holiday (M) Travel & Tours Sdn. Bhd.

Name of Event

Award Winners

Purpose Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Awards For Excellence

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Hotel with Meeting Facilities Award For Excellence

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

Specialty Venue Award For Excellence Best Event

Chin Swee Cave Temple @ Genting Highlands

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Best Booth Design (36 sqm and below)

Pekat Technologies @ International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Exhibition (IGEM) 2012

Innogen Sdn. Bhd.

Best Booth Design (37 sqm – 72 sqm)

Sclumberger @ Petroleum Geoscience Conference & Exhibition

Innogen Sdn. Bhd.

Best Booth Design (73 sqm and above)

Panasonic @ International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Exhibition (IGEM) 2012

Pico International (M) Sdn. Bhd.

MACEOS Industry Recognition Award

Food & Hotel Malaysia

Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn. Bhd.

Aseanwood - Woodtech

Trade-Link Exhibition Services Sdn. Bhd.

Homedec

C.I.S. Network Sdn. Bhd.

ITEX International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition

C.I.S. Network Sdn. Bhd.

Malaysian International Jewellery Fair

Elite Expo Sdn. Bhd.

Convention

Name of Event

Award Winners

International Conference Award for Excellence (1001 delegates & above)

26th East Asia Insurance Congress 2012

Console Communications Sdn. Bhd.

National Conference Award For Excellence

MIA National Conference 2012

Malaysian Institute of Accountants

MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Professional Conference Organiser Award For Excellence

Console Communications Sdn. Bhd.

Incentives

Name of Event

Award Winners

Best Incentive Programme

STRYKER Emerging Market Sales Meeting (EMSM) 2011

Pacific World Kuala Lumpur

Destination Management Company Award For Excellence

Business Events

Pearl Holiday (M) Travel & Tours Sdn. Bhd.

Name of Event

Purpose Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Awards For Excellence

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Hotel with Meeting Facilities Award For Excellence

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

Specialty Venue Award For Excellence Best Event

Chin Swee Cave Temple @ Genting Highlands Gala Dinner for World Islamic Economic Forum 2012

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Award Winners

X2 International Imagix Experts

Event Management Company Award For Excellence

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn. Bhd.

Environment Initiative Award For Excellence

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn. Bhd.

Business Events Products & Services Award For Excellence

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn. Bhd.

Minister’s Award For Business Events Industry

Y.B. Dato’ Seri Dr. Muhammad Leo Toyad Abdullah, Chairman, Sarawak Convention Bureau


R R rAWr Awards 2013 Winners

Sarawak Convention Bureau

Pico International (M) Sdn Bhd

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn Bhd

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn Bhd

Pearl Holiday (M) Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd

Elite Expo Sdn Bhd

Chin Swee Cave Temple @ Genting Highland

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Pacific World Kuala Lumpur

X2 International Imagix Experts

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn Bhd

Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd

Malaysian Institute of Accountants

Console Communications Sdn Bhd

C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

rAWr Awards 2015 – Celebrating the best of the best in Malaysian Business Events The highly anticipated rAWr Awards recognises consistent excellence in the Malaysian Business Events industry.

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he business events industry came out in full force to recognise and celebrate the winners of the rAWr Awards 2015. On 12 November, the award dinner was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to end the simultaneous activities of the AEC+Expo. A collaboration between the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) , recognises excellence, leadership, professional standards, innovation and best practices within the Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) industries. Held for the second year in the running, the rAWr Awards 2015 celebrated the prestigious talents, dedication and innovation behind the years of successful Business Events, Conventions, Exhibitions and Incentives. The event was graced by government officials, high profile business leaders, entrepreneurs, stakeholders, sponsors, partners and media representatives. Entertainment for the night included local comedian Douglas Lim who was a popular favourite with the crowd.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

rAWr Awards 2015 Winners Exhibition

Name of Event

Award Winners

Best Booth Design Award (36 sqm and below)

IAS 2014 - Partec

Innogen (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Best Booth Design Award (37-72 sqm)

Archidex 2013 - Premtex

Innogen (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Best Booth Design Award (73 sqm and above)

IGEM 2014 - Hitachi

Pico International (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Best Consumer Exhibition

Homedec 2014

C.I.S Network Sdn. Bhd.

Best Trade Exhibition (gross 15,000 sqm and below)

FHM 2013

Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn. Bhd.

Best Trade Exhibition (gross 15,001 sqm and above)

Archidex 2014

C.I.S Network Sdn. Bhd.

Exhibition Organiser Award for Excellence MACEOS Industry Recognition Award

C.I.S Network Sdn. Bhd. Deepavali Carnival

ASC Agenda Suria Communication Sdn. Bhd.

Global Indian Festival

ASC Agenda Suria Communication Sdn. Bhd.

Cosmobeaute Asia

ECMI ITE Asia Sdn. Bhd.

Lab Asia

ECMI ITE Asia Sdn. Bhd.

Print Technology

Kaizer Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn. Bhd.

Penang Career & Postgraduate Expo

Penexpo Events Sdn. Bhd.

IFSEC Southeast Asia

UBM Malaysia

TENAGA Expo & Forum

UBM Malaysia

REVAC

UBM Malaysia

Livestock Asia Expo & Forum

UBM Malaysia

AsiaWater

UBM Malaysia

Convention

Name of Event

Award Winners

International Confrence Award for Excellence (above 1,001 delegates)

GES 2013

AOS Conventions & Events Sdn. Bhd.

Professional Conference Organiser Award for Excellence

MCI Management Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Incentives

Name of Event

Award Winners

Best Incentive Programme

Winning Together' Sales Kick-Off Meeting

Pacific World Destination East Sdn. Bhd.

Destination Management Company Award For Excellence

IPC 2013

Pearl Holiday (M) Travel & Tour Sdn. Bhd.

Business Events

Name of Event

Award Winners

Best Event

BMW xDrive Experience 2014

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn. Bhd.

Environmental Initiative Award for Excellence

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn. Bhd.

Event Management Company Award

Sepang International Circuit Sdn. Bhd.

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Print Technology

Kaizer Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn. Bhd.

Penang Career & Postgraduate Expo

Penexpo Events Sdn. Bhd.

IFSEC Southeast Asia

UBM Malaysia

TENAGA Expo & Forum

UBM Malaysia

REVAC

UBM Malaysia

Livestock Asia Expo & Forum

UBM Malaysia

AsiaWater

UBM Malaysia

Convention

Name of Event

Award Winners

International Confrence Award for Excellence (above 1,001 delegates)

GES 2013

AOS Conventions & Events Sdn. Bhd.

MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Professional Conference Organiser Award for Excellence

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MCI Management Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Incentives

Name of Event

Award Winners

Best Incentive Programme

Winning Together' Sales Kick-Off Meeting

Pacific World Destination East Sdn. Bhd.

Destination Management Company Award For Excellence

IPC 2013

Pearl Holiday (M) Travel & Tour Sdn. Bhd.

Business Events

Name of Event

Award Winners

Best Event

BMW xDrive Experience 2014

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn. Bhd.

Environmental Initiative Award for Excellence

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn. Bhd.

Event Management Company Award for Excellence

Sepang International Circuit Sdn. Bhd.

Hotel with Meeting Facilities Award for Excellence

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Purpose Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Award for Excellence (below 15,000 sqm gross saleable space)

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching

Purpose Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Award for Excellence (above 15,001 sqm gross saleable space)

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (Convex Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.)

Youth Scholarship

Samantha Lau Pui Yee Pacific World Destination East Sdn. Bhd.

Minister's Award for The Business Events Industry

Anthony Wong Kim Hooi AOS Conventions & Events Sdn. Bhd.

Special Award

Region

Award Winners

International Incentive Operator Award of Excellence

China

Shanghai VR Conference Organizer Co. Ltd.

India

FCm Travel Solutions India Pvt. Ltd.

Indonesia

Lily Tours

Korea

SM Culture & Contents


R R rAWr Awards 2015 Winners

AOS Conventions & Events Sdn. Bhd.

C.I.S Network Sdn. Bhd.

Innogen (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Pico International (M) Sdn. Bhd.

Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn. Bhd.

Pacific World Destination East Sdn. Bhd.

Pearl Holiday (M) Travel & Tour Sdn. Bhd.

Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn Bhd

Sepang International Circuit Sdn. Bhd.

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

Borneo Convention Centre Kuching

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Pacific World Destination East Sdn. Bhd.

Lily Tours

Shanghai VR Conference Organizer Co. Ltd.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Celebrating 21 Years! Apart from celebrating everything that MACEOS had achieved over 21 years, it was only fitting to recognise the best of the best with an awards presentation. Best Booth Design (below 36 square metres) Gold – Qube Integrated Malaysia Silver – Radius Exhibits & Interiors Sdn Bhd Bronze – Pico International (M) Sdn Bhd Best Booth Design (37-72 square metres) Gold – Innogen Sdn Bhd Silver – Pico International (M) Sdn Bhd Bronze – SixDegrees Exhibits & Interior Solutions Best Booth Design (above 73 square metres) Gold – Innogen Sdn Bhd Silver – Pico International (M) Sdn Bhd Bronze – Pico International (M) Sdn Bhd Best Supporting Service and Venue Award Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Best Conference and Exhibition Award AOS Conventions & Events Sdn Bhd 14th International Conference on Thinking

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Best New Launch Exhibition (Trade) C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd Archidex 2010 Best Consumer Exhibition C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd Homedec 2010 Best Trade Exhibition Malaysian Exhibition Services Oil & Gas Asia 2009 Industry Excellence Awards Archidex Oil & Gas Asia Metaltech Malaysia International Machinery Fair Malaysian International Furniture Fair IPMEX Malaysia Outstanding Contribution Award Datuk Peter Brokenshire


MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Award recipients with Tan Sri Dr Ong Hong Peng.

The Entrepreneurs Awards 2016 The time has come to recognise excellence.

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eing recognised for contributions made for the Malaysian Business Events, The MACEOS Entrepreneurs Awards 2016 saw the cream de la cream of the industry receive this honour from the association on 26 October 2016.

In conjunction with the association’s 25 years of excellence celebration, themed ‘Journey Through Time’ the Entrepreneurs Awards 2016 was a welcomed addition to the night’s festivities. The award recipients were chosen based on few criterias which includes an Entrepreneurial Spirit, Financial Performance, Strategic Direction, Community or Industry Impact and Innovation. Graced by Tan Sri Dr Ong Hong Peng, Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. The event saw over 500 guests in presence.

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MACEOS 25TH ANNIVERSARY • 1991 – 2016

Congratulations to the 14 awards recipients !

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1.

Anthony Wong AOS Conventions & Events Sdn Bhd

2.

Dato’ Albert Lai ITE Group

3.

Belle Yam Kaizer Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn Bhd

4.

Dato’ Chong Chong Tik ES Event Management Sdn Bhd

5.

Collier Yong The Hot Shoe Show & Co

6.

Chris Smith R.E Rogers

7.

Daniel Mithran JIM Project & Expo Logistics Sdn Bhd

8.

Fong Chit Ying Messe Frankfurt Sdn Bhd

9.

Jonathan Kan Thai Kim Fair & Events Management

10.

Lee Mark The Hot Shoe Show & Co

11.

Lim Ching Wah DOREMI Services & Rental Sdn Bhd

12.

Mak Weng Kit INTEREXPO Sdn Bhd

13.

Dato’ Dr Tan Chin Huat
 Malaysian International Furniture Fair

14.

Peter Teh Pico International Sdn Bhd



IN THE LIME LIGHT

A one stop PLACE for event needs Get to know your event specialists in Borneo, Place Borneo Sdn Bhd.

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lace Borneo Sdn Bhd (originally known as Planet Conventions and Events) was formed in Sarawak as a full-fledged Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) offering complete PCO services. With its Headquarters in Kuching and branch offices in Kuala Lumpur (Place Malaysia Sdn Bhd) as well as Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, (Place Borneo {Sabah} Sdn Bhd), Place is strategically positioned to serve their clients. With a current core team of 10 executives and 12 project support assistants, Place Borneo has the capability to offer their clients personalised, tailor-made services and even handle mega business and festival events. With a combined experience of 60 years in the conference management and hospitality industry, the team is confident in executing events based on clients’ preferences while leveraging on its extensive network of partners in the industry. Under the Place Borneo Group of Companies, their subsidiaries offer services in publishing and production (videography, professional photography, books, magazines and newsletters) and communications services management (press, media and social online), skills trainings and workshops for events and MICE marketing, Events IT management services (payment gateways, online conference management) and consulting in tourism and hospitality services.

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SERVING OVER 3000 DELEGATES SINCE 2011 Notable recent conferences handled are the 9th World Congress of Chinese Medicine (1700 delegates from 26 countries), World Toilet Summit (800 delegates from 7 countries) and the Asia for Animals (AfA) Conference (450 delegates from 40 countries) to name a few. Apart from Place Borneo’s core business as a conference organiser, they have all round expertise in providing and managing festivals with their very own homegrown event Miri Country Music Fest since 2013. Their experience in music events provides services for artistic direct, sound and light stage management and event marketing and promotions. With over 30 conferences and events ranging from 200 to 3000 delegates and participants since 2011, Place Borneo is poised to contribute to the success of Malaysia’s Business and Events industry in a big way!



IN THE LIME LIGHT

Leave Congress Organising in Expert Hands Award-winning AOS Conventions & Events Sdn Bhd proves that they are the leaders in congress and conference organising and management.

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OS Conventions & Events Sdn Bhd (AOSCE) was incorporated on 5 October 1992. As one of the leading independent Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) committed to promoting Malaysia as a world class Business Events destination - AOSCE stays true to its calling. Since AOSCE’s inception, they have been working closely with Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB), the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MYCEB), and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) including government ministries in promoting the Business Events industry in Malaysia. In 2009, AOSCE even established AOS Conventions & Events Borneo Sdn Bhd to serve the growing meetings and incentive market in the state of Sarawak. HIGHLY - EXPERIENCED IN BUSINESS EVENTS Key management of AOS Conventions & Events Sdn Bhd are experienced in their areas of specialisation. Over the years, they have managed international association congresses, conferences, meetings, incentives, and events while dealing with anywhere from 50 to 8,000 international delegates. Time and time again, AOS ensures that congress and conferences are managed in a timely man-

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ner and delivered as a world class event as part of their primary objective. Part of AOSCE’s goal is also to achieve unmatched delegate turnout combined with creating a memorable event and maximum returns to the respective stakeholders. “We will be responsible with providing our expertise to organise and manage the Congress or Conference with resources, services and identifying and selecting 3rd party vendors with recommendation to clients to provide the best possible outcome,” says Anthony Wong, Group Managing Director of AOS Hospitality Group. A WINNING STREAK The various awards and accolades received by AOSCE is a testimony of their dedication and skill. The latest addition to their collection is the rAWr Awards 2015 – International Conference Award for Excellence, and the Minister’s Award for the Business Events Industry 2015. In addition to that, Group Managing Director, Anthony Wong is one of the recipients for the Entrepreneurs Awards 2016 in conjunction with MACEOS’ 25 years of excellence celebration. The award recognises Anthony’s contribution towards the Malaysian business events through his many years of industry experience and know-how. During the 55th ICCA Congress in Kuching in 2016, Anthony received the prestigious ICCA Moises Shuster Award from ICCA President, Nina Freysen-Pretorius that is given to an individual who has contributed to the association’s development and achieved great career success in the international meetings industry. Despite their vast experience and overall industry contributions and knowledge, AOSCE continuously strives to be the best in the field. “Although experience plays a pivotal role in the success of any company, continuous learning and education will ensure success in the long term,” concludes Anthony Wong.



WINNER’S CIRCLE



WINNER’S CIRCLE

Lights, Sound, Action!

Leave all the worry and stress of sound and light to the experts at DoReMi Services & Rental Sdn Bhd.

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ith over 30 years of light and sound experience under their belt, Doremi has some of the best experts in the industry that bring vibrancy, articulation and a bucket load of knowledge to bring your event to life! Run by passionate and very ‘hands on’ professionals with years of experience in the event planning and entertainment industry, Doremi Events is your total one-stop event requisition depot. Doremi delivers a full range of event equipment and services including but not limited to Lighting, Audio, Special Effects, Truss, Stage, LED Screen and Rigging services covering concerts, corporate events, product launches, conferences, exhibitions, music shows, theatrical productions, pop tours, fashion & catwalk shows and installations for over 30,000 events over the past 30 years. Apart from having a strong hold in the Malaysian market, they have ventured into international events, which makes their clientele base a diversified one.

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YOU CAN COUNT ON DOREMI WHEN IT MATTERS MOST Doremi believes that the key to any successful event is the sound collaboration with clients, fusing creativity and coming up with innovative ideas that will leave a lasting impression for any event.They pride themselves on their attention to detail and ‘can do’ attitude when executing their expertise on the job. This reputation is maintained thanks to the meticulous selection of both equipment and highly skilled production staff coupled with high levels of equipment maintenance and presentation. YEARS OF BUSINESS EVENTS EXPERINCE RECOGNISED Managing Director of DoReMi, Mr Lim Ching Wah was setting up the disco scene for all to enjoy in the 80s. Because of his love for music, he continued down the career path musically introducing jamming studios and started working for Showmasters who brought international acts into Malaysia. One of his most prominent set ups was for DBKL where he set up the longest entertainment stage from Dataran Merdeka to Pertama Complex. Thanks to his chosen profession, he has had the privilege to rub shoulders with popular artists, celebrities and VIPS throughout his career. He is also instrumental in starting the Malaysian Event Enhancer Association to fight unfair practice by international copyright groups. Apart from his colourful career, Mr Lim has a keen focus on his CSR activities that is close to his heart. For all his contributions to the industry, Mr Lim was one of the proud recipients of the MACEOS Enterpernuers Awards 2016.



WINNER’S CIRCLE

JIM Has All The Answers

For A Seamless Logistics Experience Jim Project & Expo Logistics (M) Sdn. Bhd, formerly known as Jardine International Movers (M) Sdn. Bhd was incepted in 1991 as a specialist Event Logistics and sitehandling contractor.

J

IM’s main activities are handling cargo for shows and exhibitions in Malaysia and abroad. JIM undertakes and offers comprehensive packages for the benefit and convenience of exhibitors and organisers which includes full site to site services covering also the application of all necessary government permits. For added convenience, JIM maintains customs brokerage licenses at both the port and airport whilst operating a 2,325 square meter warehouse at Subang 2 in Shah Alam. JIM also provide bank guarantees / bonds to customs as a convenience, on behalf of promoters, organisers and exhibitors to facilitate delay-free clearance on temporary imports. Having attained the ISO 9001-2008 and OSHAS 18001 certification a few years back, JIM emphasis a lot of effort into staff training. All JIM site personnel are certified and trained Riggers, signal-men and forklift drivers. HIGHLY RELIABLE JIM is totally committed towards this Industry and in the last 25 years has grown from strength to strength in improving Professionalism in handling all aspects of exhibition freight handling. Towards this JIM has invested in state of the art equipment that covers lifting and moving gear upto 600,000 kilograms in weight, container handling/transporting sideloader,low-bed vehicle,trucks with cranes,air-ride/climate controlled trucks and forklifts of various sizes and drive trains(gas,diesel & electric). JIM has also invested in custom building various on-site transport dollies and equipment to enhance the return deliveries at the close of an exhibition. The self-sufficiency developed,ensures that JIM is able to service the Industry 24 hours a day,365 days a year without much dependence on sub-contractors. JIM is a member of the International Exhibition Logistics Association(IELA), the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) and actively work at all venues as an Official Contractor.

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IN THE LIME LIGHT

AUDIO VISUAL INNOVATION AT ITS BEST AV Image Sdn Bhd is proud to be a pioneer in event rental and staging equipment in Malaysia. it is important that he gets the right people to do the job. “It is crucial that I hire the right people with the right attitude, that way I can ensure that my projects run seamlessly and without glitches.” A CONTINUOUS LEARNING CURVE

S

tarting out at a point when rental of staging equipment was not the norm, AV Image Sdn Bhd was born into the market to meet the needs of events in Malaysia. “We started in 1989 by doing installation projects and AV Image Sdn Bhd was a natural progression from that. Today, we are one of the pioneers and leaders in staging and rental equipment here and abroad,” says Martin Wong (picture), Director of AV Images Sdn Bhd. Starting off with just a small outfit, today AV Image is 18 staff strong with many other staff joining the team on freelance projects when necessary. When asked about his years of audio visual experience, Martin is quick to explain that equipping events with audio visuals is a tremendous responsibility and one that comes with plenty of work performance stress. Martin reiterates, “We have only one option in our line of work, which is a good result.” He also says that although human resource is a continuous problem in the industry,

In today’s rapidly changing technological era, being innovative and creative is essential in ensuring that AV Image should be up to par in the international arena in the events industry where expectations are high. “We work with technological partners like Bosch and Panasonic to provide the best audio visual technology to our clients,” Martin says. He adds, “To ensure that our team provides the best expertise, we work closely with our partners through continuous training and upskilling.” Martin shares that AV Image are moving their business across the region into ASEAN. “As a continuation of the successful work we did at the ASEAN Summit held here in Kuala Lumpur last year where President Barack Obama with other ASEAN leaders attended, we were asked to lend our expertise in Laos for this year’s ASEAN Summit,” explains Martin. This only proves AV Image is well sought after and is a highly reliable AV solutions specialist with an impressive list of clientele as part of their portfolio. CONGRESS RENTAL NETWORK (CRN) There is a worldwide network of top-quality companies, all equipped with the latest Bosch Congress equipment for hire, called the Congress Rental Network (CRN) and AV Image is a member representing Malaysia. Martin believes that this appointed membership adds value to the kind of services that AV Image provides. This just reiterates that fact that Martin is adamant about the quality and the precision that AV Images brings to their clients. “I believe that no matter what, the show must go on and must go on well.”

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WINNER’S CIRCLE

Standing second from left, Winner of the Entrepreneurs Award, Chris Smith.

R

From Cows to Cargo

ogers Asia Group’s Managing Director and Advisor Chris Smith came from humble beginnings in the UK. Born in January 1954, Chris as a young lad was admittedly an average student.

Having completed his early education at Cheam Primary School, he went on to further his studies at various secondary schools. However, it is said that leaving at 16 years of age was the happiest day of his life. He has always had a passion for Agriculture and the country, therefore he took up an apprenticeship in animal husbandry for three years. After completing his apprenticeship, he went on to do relief work in the UK, and found himself on shaky ground later, as he travelled to several places in Libya to work on government related projects.

a pertinent role. In 1991, he was promoted as General Manager and Regional Exhibition Manager. In a few short years, he was then given the reins to R.E. Rogers Malaysia, when Chris took on the challenging role of Managing Director in 1995. Far from smooth sailing, 2004 saw a major change with a management buyout of the Malaysian operation from the London office, resulting in all shares to date being held in Malaysia. That major move did not dent Smith’s position at the helm as the Rogers Brand has spread its influential wings to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and more recently Myanmar, collectively known as Rogers Asia. The Group is now recognised as the market leaders in the respective countries.

FINDING HIS NICHE

FROM CHARMING ENGLAND TO BEAUTIFUL MALAYSIA

Upon returning to the UK, he joined a new venture known as R.E. Rogers which was based in Croydon. The company was providing shipping, customs brokerage, and onsite exhibition management to domestic and international trade show organisers and exhibitors.Chris had finally found his niche, possessing a knack for the job. For the first two years, he was UK based and gained invaluable experience as he globe-trotted handling various exhibitions.

Now the Englishman is overseeing the handling of more than 100 events a year in Malaysia and the ASEAN region, but admitted to taking a step back to spend time contributing to the flourishing industry. Chris has been sharing his expertise with MACEOS, serving as Committee Member, Treasurer and Honorary Secretary. The youthful spark remains with Chris as he is known to entertain friends and business associates in his lovely house in the hills away from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur. His home has often been featured in print media and films for its charm and beauty. Little known fact about him is that he possesses green fingers and loves gardening – a passion far removed from the exhibition industry.

Recognising his talent and value to the company, he was seat, in 1980, to the newly opened R.E. Rogers Singapore to take up the post as Exhibition Manager. During the roaring ‘80s, the R.E. Rogers Group grew exponentially, with offices in Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Africa, India and the US, to name a few. After more than a decade in cosmopolitan Singapore, Chris was transferred to the Kuala Lumpur office to assume

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It can be said that Chris has come full circle – his early hard graft days to now overseeing a business empire thousands of miles away from the UK, establishing a name for himself in the BE industry.



IN THE LIME LIGHT

The customer comes first Smart Reg System Sdn Bhd has got it down to a tee when it comes to absolute customer satisfaction.

“D

o it right the first time. Customer satisfaction is our ultimate goal,” is the mantra of Melvin Shu, Project Director of Smart Reg System Sdn Bhd (SRS). Obviously the company has been doing it right all this time because there have many satisfied customers. If not, how else does one account for the meteoric rise of SRS from its humble beginnings in 2005 to become one of the most respected and sought after company in database management service and solutions. A quick glance at SRS’ client listing will show that SRS has vast experience and expertise managing various registration services amongst the most prestigious and biggest trade fairs, consumer events and conferences in the country. Over the years, their reputation has grown in the Industry and has continuously remained true to the core values of the company. SRS has stayed focused, providing unrivalled data solutions needed by the industry, namely for registration services and solutions. Engaging in their services, will allow any Event Organiser to alleviate tedious registration processes and in turn provide ease and peace of mind. SRS has technically proficient staff that are trained to support your needs with a wide variety of services such as; fully integrated and customised show registration services and solutions i.e: Customer Continues Engagement System (Event 1ID), Online Pre-Registration, Online and Onsite Registration, Self Check-In Kiosk, Touch Screen Kiosk Registration, Tracking System, Badge Printing, Lead Retrieval Management, Data Analysis, Special Customization for Surveys and Reports as well as event materials supplies. With SRS as your Registration Solutions Partner, Event Organisers will be assured that their professional staff will see to it that everything runs smoothly to achieve customer satisfaction.

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WINNER’S CIRCLE

Creating Business Opportunities For You UBM creates a platform for business opportunities to thrive through their various exhibitions.

U

BM Malaysia, the largest exhibition organiser in Malaysia is a subsidiary of UBM Asia. Their growing portfolio of regional trade events and conferences covers a wide range of industries. This includes furniture and interiors, water and wastewater, industrial machinery, environmental technology, renewable energy, power generation, livestock, security, green construction and railways to create growth opportunities for businesses in Southeast Asia and with the rest of the world.

Some of UBM Malaysia’s most notable shows include: - Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) is Southeast Asia’s leading furniture trade show held annually in Kuala Lumpur. It is also a global leading trade show approved by UFI, The Global Association for Exhibition Industry. - Livestock Asia is Asia’s major event for international feed, livestock and meat industry held in Kuala Lumpur biennially. - Asia Water is Asia’s leading industry event held in Kuala Lumpur biennially. - Ecobuild Southeast Asia is the region’s annual leading event for sustainable design, construction, energy and built environment. Launched in Kuala Lumpur in 2013. - ASEAN M&E Expo is South East Asia’s biggest mechanical, electrical and engineering exhibition. - IFSEC Southeast Asia is a platform for the whole nation’s buying chain to come together and witness the latest products and solutions available in the market. First launched in Kuala Lumpur in 2013, it is the region’s annual fully- integrated security and safety exhibition. - beautyexpo is the largest and longest beauty event in Malaysia recognised by all beauty professional as the must attend event of the year. They take great pride in their solid track record and dedicated team to offer more insights and more value for their clients in one of the world’s most exciting regions for commerce today.

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WINNER’S CIRCLE

Belle Yam, Accomplished in her own right

T

he Business Events industry can sometimes come across as a male-dominated segment, hence Belle Yam, Managing Director of Kaizer Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn Bhd is rare and very much welcomed.

Singlehandedly, Yam has carved out a niche business for herself. Kaizen was established on October 25, 1996, and has built a stellar reputation as a homegrown success in the BE industry. This is no sheer luck as it took her many years of hard work, dedication and most of all passion to succeed especially when one of her brainchild, IPMEX Malaysia and Print Technology, has brought renown to Malaysia as it is the premier printing exhibition in the region. This exhibition has raised industry standards by consistently hosting a comprehensive gathering of names behind the latest technology for print application. Yam, has more than 30 years of experience, allowing her to bring forth valuable input and advice in entrepreneurial business management concepts, in organising exhibitions and events. She also had in her tremendous creativity and innovative energy to continuously lead a passionate team. Her keen eye has led her to develop more international exhibition such as Malaysia International Café & Bakery Show that is now into its third year. Also under her guidance, KL Summit Conference 2010 (a conference for International

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Printing Standard under ISO 12647-2) and Print Submit Conference 2013 had been successfully held. The Malaysia International Café & Bakery Show is a platform for the trade to come together to create business opportunities, and get to know the latest trends as well as product supplies and designs. Of course, accolades were not far behind for Yam and her team. Over the years, MACEOS has recognised her contributions and awarded her the MACEOS Industry Excellence award 2011 for IPMEX Malaysia, MACEOS Industry Recognition award 2015 for Print Technology and the coveted MACEOS Entrepreneur Award 2016. Aside from her role in Kaizer, Yam is ever willing to do her best to propel the industry forward. She was appointed the first Vice-President of Federation of Asia Print Exhibitions (Asia Print), which aims to exchange ideas, promote cooperation between members and provide mutual support in print exhibitions. She also held posts as Vice-President of Asia Advertisement Association (Asia Advertisement Association), Secretary of Advertisers’ Association of Selangor & Federal Territory, and a member of Malaysia Printers Association, Federation of Malaysia Advertising Manufacturer, Selangor Federal Territory Chinese Printing Press Association, Malaysia Association of Papers merchants as well as the Malaysia Association of Corrugated Carbon Manufacturer.


2017 SHOW 2017

Ministry of Home Affairs Malaysia

2017


IN THE LIME LIGHT

More Space, More Opportunities

Read about how Setia City Convention Centre can be the best place for your next event.

S

P Setia, an award winning property developer. This is a rare feat indeed, unmatched by others. They symbolise the best in everything, quality, luxury, elegance and sustainability. S P Setia’s quest for growth has seen them forage into other countries thus becoming more global in their outlook and ambition. They are well established in Vietnam, Singapore and Australia and have lately gained a strong foothold in China and United Kingdom. In their quest for growth, they have not only gone global but have also ventured into the retail and commercial property market. Their operational presence in these countries are in fact cross-border collaboration transcending cultural differences. STRATEGICALLY LOCATED

Nestled within the 240-acre green commercial hub of Setia City in the heart of Shah Alam, lies Setia City Convention Centre (the Centre). Modern, slick, elegant and absolutely striking in architecture and interior, the Centre has plenty to offer. Besides that, its bold, classy, and most importantly comfortable interior design has won it the Persatuan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) Awards 2014 for Excellence in Architecture in the interior design category. Adjacent to the popular Setia City Mall, the Centre offers a comprehensive range of facilities for conferences, meetings, seminars, weddings, performances and more. Not only does it comprise of a grand ballroom with 2,000 seating capacity and 8 function halls, it also boasts a unique green event lawn, overlooking the oval lawn. Also, it is just 40 minutes from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Setia City Convention Centre is easily accessible through the New Klang Valley Expressway via the dedicated Setia Alam Interchange.

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THE POPULAR CHOICE Since its operation in November 2012, the Centre has become a popular venue; hosting events such as weddings, corporate banquet, product launches, exhibitions and outdoor events and lately has been receiving numerous enquiries on events which require a spacious venue to accommodate their guests that is growing on a yearly basis. The new 6000sqm² hall is a column less hall with a height of 10m to 12m and it is also divisible into 2 halls enabling organisers to create different types of spaces to house their events. This extension is designed to be flexible, functional and facilitate free-flowing traffic to cater to all types of MICE events. In addition to this, the car park at the Centre will increase up to 1,800 parking lots dedicated solely for the events participants. Besides the parking lots at the Centre, Setia City Mall that is adjacent has additional parking lots of 2,400 for a bigger capacity event. INCREDIBLE PERKS The brand new hall opened since November 2016 encompass individual drop-off areas, VIP holding rooms, reception, organisers office and 3 meeting rooms. The hall would be able to accommodate up to 350 booths for exhibitions, 4,000 people in banquet style seating and up to 7,500 people in theatre style arrangement. This hall boasts the longest partition board in the country that has been validated by the Malaysia book of Records. Apart from creating business that is truly international, they have a renewed focus on their core market. The best example is the Setia City Convention Centre, a grandeur project that combines the best in hospitality and up to date facilities. This elegantly crafted centre showcases the fundamental principle of long-term sustainability and LiveLearnWorkPlay lifestyle.




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