headquarters Published by Headquarters Magazines PTE Ltd (Singapore) www.headquartersmagazine.com - press@headquartersmagazine.com
Asia-Pacific #
Edition July 2014
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Headquarters Asia-Pacific is > Malaysia the Asia-Pacific Magazine for Association Executives. Supported by UIA, the Union of International Associations. Published 4 times a year: April, July, October, December.
Research
Associations & Sustainability
Noor Ahmad Helping Asia-Pacific grow
> Contents
Colophon HAP or Headquarters Asia-Pacific is a niche publication for local, regional and international associations based in AsiaPacific and dealing with the organisation of worldwide congresses. Published 4 times a year. Circulation: 2,500 copies in 14 different countries. Subscriptions Subscriptions amount to 85€ (all incl.). The online version of the magazines is available at www.headquartersmagazine.com Editor in Chief Marcel A.M. Vissers T. +32 (0)3 226 88 81 marcel@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Director Cécile Caiati-Koch T. +32 (0)2 761 70 52 cecile@headquartersmagazine.com Account Manager – International Sales Kelvin Lu T. +32 (0)2 761 70 59 kelvin@headquartersmagazine.com Managing Editor Rémi Dévé T. +32 (0)2 761 70 58 remi@headquartersmagazine.com Contributor Katie Lau
Design Press Point Poelstraat 167 - 9820 Merelbeke T. +32 (0)9 362 52 50 - www.presspoint.be
Marcel A.M. VISSERS Editor in Chief
How is Asia-Pacific doing?
There are always two tell-tale sources that indicate how well an area is scoring in the MICE industry. The first one is perhaps the least credible one, i.e. the trade shows, providing endless optimistic statistics suggesting that the industry will continue to grow from here to eternity. I call them marketing statistics. I tend to have more faith in the data coming from an institute like the ICCA or from a well-respected research company like The Right Solution Limited (UK based). Here’s what Sally Greenhill thinks about ‘Key Points from China’: “You asked about whether last year’s results are showing an increase in congresses and the answer is: ‘No, not yet!’. It could be due to the long lead times that the focus on congresses is not yet being seen. It will most likely show in the near future. Especially now that Beijing has launched an ambassador programme and that Shanghai already has one. This year’s results show an increase in meetings and incentive travel however. The destinations being used outside China are mainly in Asia but already there are significant numbers of meetings going to Europe, the US and Australia and this is likely to increase in the future. 72% of buyers said they were looking at new destinations in the next 12 months.”
Supported by UIA, the Union of International Associations
In general terms we can say that the association market in the Asia-Pacific region is developing very slowly and that meetings and incentives (related to the corporate market) are growing exponentially. Association meetings still have a long way to go in this part of the world. In ICCA’s Asia-Pacific and Middle East Rankings (2013) Japan is at the top of the list, followed by China, Korea and Australia. Up and coming countries are the Philippines, New Zealand and Israel (Middle East).
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Associations still have a long way to go in the Asia-Pacific region! For this reason I am delighted to announce our interview with Noor Ahmed Hamid, Regional Director Asia Pacific at ICCA Global Research Centre in the Asia Pacific office (page 14). After all, he stands face to face on a daily basis with the Asian meetings industry… Sorry, I meant MICE industry!
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Contents GENERAL Edito 3 News 4 Association portrait 6
Cécile Caiati-Koch
RESEARCH Associations & Sustainability
Rémi Dévé
Kelvin Lu
UIA Leadership - a checklist
8
COVER INTERVIEW Noor Ahmad Hamid
14
DESTINATIONS Singapore 17 Shanghai 18 Dubai 20 Malaysia 22
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3
> News
Calabar International Conference Centre
Seoul Captures 4th Place in UIA International Meetings Cities Rankings Seoul captured 4th place in the 2013 International Meetings Statistics Report released last June by the Union of International Associations (UIA). Since 2010, the city has remained in the UIA world top 5 for three consecutive years. According to the report’s findings, Seoul’s ranking moved up a place, with the city shown to have hosted a total of 242 international congresses held in 2013 as determined by UIA criteria, accounting for 2.3% of the global total. Seoul also played a major part in South Korea’s ranking, which rose to 3rd place with 635 meetings, up from 5th place with 563 meetings in 2012, reflecting a 12.8% increase. www.miceseoul.com
Calabar International Convention Centre on track for opening in December The first dedicated international convention centre being built in Nigeria is on track for its official opening in December of this year. That was announced by the Governor of the Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke during a meeting with local and national stakeholders in April in Calabar. Construction of the CICC started already in 2012 after an international design competition that was won by the wellknown Danish architects Henning Larsen. The CICC will be able to accommodate national and international congresses and any other type of meetings with delegate numbers for plenary sessions from 10 or 20 up to 2000. The total capacity of the centre will exceed 5000 seats in twenty different venues. www.calabarconventioncentre.com 4
Cairns Convention Centre World’s Best The Cairns Convention Centre was announced as the 2014 World’s Best Congress Centre at the annual General Assembly of the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) in Berlin last June. The AIPC Apex award is made bi-annually on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of centre performance based on customer satisfaction surveys. An independent “blind” evaluation process is carried out by IPSOS, a recognised international market research company, ensuring an objective analysis of the data which addresses factors including centre facilities, project management capabilities, catering and technical capacity. www.cairnsconvention.com.au
World Ophthalmology Congress in Tokyo becomes largest international medical conference ever in Japan The approximately 20,000 attendees of the World Ophthalmology Congress 2014 (WOC2014) and 29th Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO2014) recorded the largest-ever international conference to be held in the capital city - and the biggest medical conference in Japan to date. Some 9,000 guests from overseas were given a hearty welcome in Tokyo as they participated in the WOC2014 and the APAO2014 from April 2-6. The meetings also marked the first time ever for the facilities at the Tokyo International Forum and Imperial Hotel Tokyo to be almost entirely dedicated to this global event. www.businesseventstokyo.org
Cairns Convention Centre
Glasgow beats China, Italy and Switzerland to secure 2022 World Congress of Soil Science Glasgow has beaten off strong competition from China, Italy and Switzerland to bring one of the world’s most prestigious conferences to Glasgow. More than 3,000 delegates from across the globe will travel to Glasgow in 2022 for the World Congress of Soil Science, which will take place at the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC). It will mark the first time that the conference has been held in Scotland and more than 80 years since it was last held in the UK in 1936. It will also inject more than £5.4 million into the local economy and secure some 16,000 room nights, providing a welcome boost to the city’s hotels, restaurants, shops, bars and other businesses. www.glasgowcitymarketingbureau.com
Tokyo
> News
Brisbane
FCCI publishes study on the diverse impact of business tourism In 2010 Abu Dhabi, Durban, London, San Francisco, Seoul, Sydney and Toronto devised the concept of the Future Conventions Cities Initiative (FCCI). With a focus on strategic research, collaboration and knowledge sharing, the seven cities set out to position themselves as leading destinations for key knowledge economy related to business events. Acknowledging the enormous potential of meetings and business events, FCCI’s first official project expanded on earlier research completed by fellow member, Business Events Sydney. In 2013, FCCI commissioned the University of Technology Sydney to undertake a groundbreaking international study to lend further support to the global business events industry. The results can be downloaded here: www.fccinitiative.org
Brisbane to lead global conversations in a G20 first Brisbane will bring together some of the world’s most influential thinkers in a bold new venture to capitalise on the city’s status as the “capital of the world” when it hosts the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit in November. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the Brisbane Global Cafe would be a first for a G20 host city but he hoped the concept would be adopted by other G20 cities in the future. The “cafe” will explore important issues around improving human life, developing cities that match future needs, powering the future economy and workforce needs, and exploring the emerging frontiers of tourism. The global cafe will consist of a two-day event featuring speakers, workshops and media conferences in the week of the G20, as well as a series of events between July and November and an online information and discussion forum. www.brisbanemarketing.com.au
More news on www.headquartersmagazine.com 5
>Association portrait
A talk with Arpita Bhose, Association Manager Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR)
The Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) was first founded in 1963 in Sydney as SEAPAL (South East Asia and Pacific Area League Against Rheumatism) by four country members. Renamed as APLAR in 1989, the association has been striving to promote the awareness of rheumatology in the Asia Pacific region by publishing its own journal and organising events. Interview Katie Lau HQ: Could you briefly describe the history and goals of APLAR? Arpita Bhose: APLAR was formed in 1963 in Sydney. Australia, India, Japan and New Zealand were the founding members. Over the last 50 years, the association has gone from strength to strength, and we now have nearly 30 members, which are the regional rheumatology societies in countries across Asia Pacific. APLAR spearheads the fight against arthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases. Its mission and goals focus on providing stateof-the-art therapy to patients with arthritis through continuing professional development of the members. It strives to increase the awareness and understanding about rheumatic diseases by fostering research in the field. APLAR offers annual scholarships to younger doctors to help achieve its goals. HQ: How has APLAR evolved and overcome the challenges in the practice of rheumatology over the years? Arpita Bhose: As a non-profit organisation, APLAR is fortunate to have funding from various pharmaceutical companies who support APLAR’s educational programmes. Last year, our education committee started 6
to write the first APLAR Guidelines and there are more in the pipeline. We try to have a new initiative every year. Last year, a small group of members from Australia visited an institution in Cambodia to establish a working relationship between our members and the Cambodian doctors and nurses. Their aim is to hold joint patient clinics and workshops which would broaden the skill base of all concerned. It’s very important to spread the knowledge as some countries in Asia Pacific have very few or no trained rheumatologists, so teaching general practitioners in early diagnosis of the diseases can be very valuable. HQ: What kind of events does APLAR usually organise? Arpita Bhose: We’re looking to hold an annual congress from 2015 but since 2011, we’ve held either a symposium or a congress every year, usually attended by about 1,200 participants, depending on the number of rheumatologists in the host country. HQ: What kind of venues and destinations do you prefer? Arpita Bhose: We prefer somewhere with a strong local society presence. We also appreciate easy access from the airport and the less
Arpita Bhose
visa requirements, the better. However, the primary concern for us as a medical society is that the location cannot be a resort because the pharmaceutical companies, bound by their industry code, will not be able to participate. The next three successive Congresses will be held in India, China and Taiwan. HQ: What do you think are the latest trends in the association industry? Arpita Bhose: We’re seeing greater collaboration between fellow societies in the USA and Europe. We can hold a symposium in their congresses and vice versa. There is also an increased interest in Asia, and the same goes for the knowledge and research that is being done there. The knowledge works both ways and we regularly send younger doctors on fellowships to the USA and Europe where they train for six months in established rheumatology centres. We also want to venture into online learning, but with members in so many different economic environments, not everyone has regular use of computers or even effective internet access, so printed journals and teaching aids are still preferable though more costly. It’s a challenge to meet everyone’s needs when the membership covers such a huge area.
>Association portrait
APLAR Past Presidents
HQ: Please tell us about APLAR’s most memorable event. Arpita Bhose: Last year we celebrated APLAR’s 50th anniversary. During a symposium in Bali we held a celebration of its achievements. We were lucky enough to have 10 past presidents in Bali, all of whom were honoured in a special ceremony. We produced a video and a commemorative book highlighting landmark events. It was a lot of work but the members rose to the challenge!
I’m never bored because of the different opportunities and challenges that the job brings. I get to travel to many new locations and I feel very privileged to have this experience. It helps that I am very fond of the members and executive boards that I have worked with. I moved to Singapore from the UK seven years ago and becoming the association manager of APLAR was my first employment here. In the UK, I worked for the Royal College of Physicians (RCP)
We’re seeing greater collaboration between fellow societies in the USA and Europe. There is also an increased interest in Asia, and the same goes for the knowledge and research that is being done there HQ: What is the most memorable destination that you’ve been to? Arpita Bhose: I have travelled quite a lot in the last few years but one of the most memorable places was Jordan. We held our Congress in a wonderful venue in the Dead Sea. The Congress was a great success and the opportunity to visit Petra was amazing. I think all the delegates took the opportunity to do some sightseeing. HQ: As Association Manager, what is interesting and challenging about your job? Arpita Bhose: Every day is different and
and now I see how many APLAR members are Fellows of the RCP, I realise I may have met many of them before in London during the Fellowship ceremonies that we used to organise. It’s very interesting every two years when the new President and officers are elected. Each board works in a different way with different dynamics and personalities. It’s very rewarding to see ideas that are first raised in meetings come to fruition. I am proud that I work with people who are committed to making a difference to the association.
Past APLAR Congresses 2012 Dead Sea, Jordan 2011 (Symposium) Taipei, Taiwan 2010 Hong Kong 2008 Yokohama, Japan 2006 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2004 Jeju, Korea 2002 Bangkok, Thailand 2000 Beijing, China
HQ: How do you see the future of your association? Arpita Bhose: We will continue to offer fellowships and publish the first Guidelines. Last year we held training workshops in China, Korea, India and Hong Kong, and the plan is to bring them to other countries. I believe the future of APLAR is strong, largely due to the contribution of the members who volunteer their time so generously. The focus will remain on meeting the needs of the membership with the emphasis on education.
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> Research
So sustainable events are important… But where do I start? Many association executives are hearing the call for sustainable or green events and we all get the philosophy and understand the need in our personal lives. But where does one start in planning a large scale conference sustainably? Roger Simons, CMP, Group Sustainability Manager, MCI Group “Global Initiatives”, an organisation headquartered in Singapore but active in markets across the world, has a driving message and an industry it wants to prosper and flourish. Its cause is to promote partnership solutions to global challenges by sharing knowledge and best practices, and calling on all stakeholders to take action bringing, business leaders, NGOs and policy-makers together. Events are a key weapon in its armoury and following a number of years of great events around the world they wanted to take their 2013 event to the next level, calling on MCI Group on board. With an event focused on sustainability the need is even greater to “walk the walk” and putting together the forum with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the Natural Capital Coalition (NCC) and the Sustainable World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the event’s strategic partners agreed to invest in the space. The Responsible Business Forum held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was a showcase sustainability event in Singapore, mostly for the Asian meetings industry. Not only with its content and participants, but also by the use of innovative sustainable event practices including a 100% vegetarian
the shampoo and soap station
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and local food menu and one of the highest waste diversion rates ever disclosed for an event of this scale in Singapore.
How did they do it? To promote event industry sustainability and the event management process, the organisers based their approach on the ISO20121 Specification for Event Sustainability and the Singapore Sustainable MICE Guidelines.
• High energy consumption and demand The planning team leaders reviewed these risks and identified other opportunities that affected the Forum. A strategy was developed with clear objectives and actions to increase the sustainable performance of the event. 2. ACT: Through a series of meetings with key suppliers, the organisers shared a Sustainability Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct and the Singapore Sustainability Guidelines for the MICE industry (produced by the Singapore Tourism Board). These helped the suppliers and event team to review, discuss and improve the event management
The Responsible Business Forum held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was a showcase sustainability event in Singapore, mostly for the Asian meetings industry They defined five key steps: 1. ENGAGE: The event management team engaged key suppliers and a selection of key event stakeholders and collectively identified the following key sustainability issues and risks when planning the Forum: • Carbon emissions created by the high volume of international flights to Singapore for delegates and speakers • Perceived scarcity of local food • Waste created by stage set production, delegate communication, catering and materials
practices. The event management team made a series of conscientious decisions in the purchasing of material and services. This included procuring sustainable signage, badge holders, lanyards, printing, catering, communications as well as the selection of venue and location. 3. MEASURE: MCI Sustainability Services provided independent assessment on the sustainability practices of the hotel, venue, catering, food and beverage and suppliers. They collected measurement data and documented results.
> Research
4. COMMUNICATE: The organisers communicated widely and early with delegates, key suppliers and event partners. A dedicated sustainability page was created on the website to share details with delegates. The team created a post-event report and an educational video. 5. IMPROVE: The results and experiences from the sustainability initiatives were reviewed and will be incorporated into the planning of future events in order to improve performance. Having set up a strategy, the organisers identified important areas that needed to be addressed:
The issue of waste The organisers set aggressive waste recycling targets diverting 88% away from landfill. Cooking oil was recycled and bottled water was eliminated saving approximately 2,000 plastic bottles. Delegates were provided with glassware and large water dispensers. All signage was recycled. The hotel operated a linen re-use programme for those staying at the official venue, reduced paper usage and increased functionality by implementing a mobile application for Android & IOS systems containing the programme, speakers and event information.
Using suppliers to support goals Sourcing the right supplies is key and not always as hard as it might seem. The organisers managed to source badge holders that were hand made with 100% recycled paper & banana fibre and sourced recycled PET lanyards. Conference bags were eliminated and for signs the organisers switched to “Re-board signage”, constructed of 95% renewably sourced paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and 100% recyclable. Understanding that the events impact reached far beyond the venue all delegate transport was eliminated, holding the event and dinners alike onsite and promoted the local public transport network. Working with the host venue the team selected a 100% vegetarian and locally sourced “harvest” menu with ingredients from Thailand,
Indonesia and Malaysia. Herbs used in the menu were also supplemented from Marina Bay Sands’ very own herb garden. All condiments were served in bulk and no individual sachets (except sweetener) were used to reduce wastage. In the meeting rooms there was no pre-setting of paper, mints, and water at tables and chair covers for lunches were avoided. Water dispensers and glasses were provided for delegates in each room to reduce wastage.
Harnessing the power of CSR projects A mainstay of many events across the world, CSR projects are becoming a must have. The organisers wanted to have as broad an impact in Singapore and beyond as possible and undertook a number of initiatives: Food Donation - Donating waste food is easy but can be constrained by local legislation. In Singapore the team donated waste food to “Willing Hearts”, supporting the elderly of Singapore and organised an on-site CSR project in support of the Marina Bay Sands “Soap for Hope” project. Leftover liquid soaps and shampoo from its hotel rooms were collected at a station and delegates helped pour leftover soaps into containers which were then given to charity. Integrating CSR into the programme - Thinking innovatively the team weaved a community project into the programme by hiring a local community group, MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore) to perform the Forum’s opening act. Engaging Youth - Wanting to support the youth of Singapore the team organised a side event in partnership with the Singapore Management University to engage with
high-potential young future leaders and attracted 50 locals. Legacy - What remains after the event is a critical consideration so the team created an educational video and sustainability report to share sustainability best practices and inspire other event organisers to make more responsible decisions.
Carbon emissions Carbon emissions are a hot topic at the international and national government level and recent climate disasters reinforce the need to reduce our impact on the atmosphere. Savvy association executives know that offsetting doesn’t directly address the issue, it merely attempts to balance the damage. Therefore the organisers strategy was to first reduce demand on the earth’s resources and then what couldn’t be reduced would be offset. The event set out not only to save as much energy as possible but to accurately measure impact, partnering with Marina Bay Sands to use their new system for metering energy usage of individual meetings and debuting advanced in-room movement sensors to reduce our energy consumption in meeting rooms. The Forum produced a total of 249.31 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, or an average of 0.55 tons CO2 equivalent per delegate. Typically events in destinations with strong road and rail networks have less carbon emissions but in this case Singapore is a city most if not all international delegates flew to. To read more about the event read the sustainable event report at www.globalinitiatives.com and check out the event video www.youtube.com/ GroupCommunication 9
> Research
JUMP to it! Is Sustainability at the top of your list? Well it probably depends on the year you were born, for clarification, the generation to which you belong. We all know about the various generations: the Traditionalists, the Baby Boomers, Generation X, GenY… and where they fit in to the decades. In order to understand where we are going however, we need to recap where they, within a murky generalisation, fit into the sustainability scheme of things. The Traditionalists, in the main now retired, definitely did not have sustainability high on their list of priorities as they struggled with the aftermath of the Second World War and the meteoric rise of technology in their latter years. The Baby Boomers, having drifted through the late 60s, the Beatles and carefree living, whilst highly aware of the need to preserve the planet, did not perhaps engage with it as much as they should as far as their workplace was concerned. Generation X, currently in the height of their careers, are often characterised as “managing” with the ability to control, to advance, to create, often at the cost of sustainability, which is not necessarily the highest point on their agenda.
Looking good Which leaves us with Generation Y, the youth of today, starting out on their chosen career paths and who are, as a generalisation, nothing less than demanding, wanting, and expecting, instant gratification and constant feedback. By 2025, around three quarters of the world’s working population will be Generation Y: 10
Sue Daugulis, Venue West, visiting a Grade 3 class at Mt. Currie 1st Nations Reserve
what are those characteristics that will shape the future, and will it include sustainability at their core? Moving away from the Gen X philosophy of all work, Gen Y seeks to create a more sustainable work-life balance, added to which they are social and environmentally conscious. It is therefore looking good for the planet with Generation Y. They care more about Corporate Social Responsibility and green issues, and in principal expect to have some interaction with the local community - giving back. At home, pretty well all of the generation categories automatically recycle their household materials. It is not something to have to think about, the average person just “does it”; the paper in the paper-bin,
the cans in the cans-bin, the plastics in the plastics-bin, the bottles in the bottle-bank, and so on. It is essential that that second nature extends into the workplace. And from the very outset. When putting out an RfP, potentially from an International Association to a PCO, one of the many questions to be asked should refer to their in-house CSR policy, and to their active sustainability programme. Does the company have a CSR project, such as, for example, JUMP (Junior Undiscovered Mathematical Prodigies), where since 2000, PCO Venue West has been spearheading an initiative to spread the work of this nonfor-profit charity to many inner-city schools in Vancouver, helping turn children from failure to success.
> Research
The foundations for JUMP were laid in 1998, when Dr John Mighton, who has a PhD in mathematics and philosophy, volunteered to tutor failing children in inner-city Toronto in mathematics. With his support, the children’s marks improved dramatically,
initiatives, how green is their venue? Generation Y want different things from their venues today: they want chill-out zones, natural daylight, outdoor areas, green policies… all contributing to the secondnature of their sustainable culture.
When putting out an RfP, potentially from an International Association to a PCO, one of the many questions to be asked should refer to their in-house CSR policy, and to their active sustainability programme from failing to 95% or above, on average. Perhaps the most significant benefit of Dr Mighton’s intervention was that the children, having mastered the challenging subject of mathematics, approached the rest of their education with enthusiasm and confidence as well. In 2011, Dr Mighton was awarded the Order of Canada for his JUMP program. Recently the charity has attracted the interest and support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates himself was of the Baby Boomer generation. This is just one of many hundreds of CSR projects continually supported by companies in the meetings industry. What’s yours? Tenders sent out to venues should ask similar questions. What are their sustainable
Not just a checklist Sustainability within the meeting industry is not just a checklist of “Do’s and Don’ts”, it is, and has to be, something permanent and essential. If there is nothing in place, it should either be put it in place or the business will be taken elsewhere. Much is common sense: turn off unwanted lights and electrical appliances when not required, apply technology for marketing rather than printed materials, utilise venues with excellent public transportation networks, increase use of conference apps for communication… This we know and implement. But is there more? Of course there is. And generally it will also assist the budget by making savings!
To find out “more”, regardless of the sector within the meetings industry from which one emanates, before engaging/contracting with any PCO, company, venue, client, insist on receiving a tangible demonstration as to how they are more sustainable than others. This will keep everyone on their toes and help shift the green movement along. By creating competition everyone will think of ways to improve their working practices. Whilst it might be that it is the Generation Y within today’s companies and meetings industry that is propelling the drive towards CSR and Sustainability, it should be second nature to all of the generations.
This article was provided by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, author Sarah Storie-Pugh, Executive Director of IAPCO. IAPCO represents today 116 professional organisers, meeting planners and managers of international and national congresses, conventions and special events from 40 countries. info@iacpo.org / www.iapco.org
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Leadership
A checklist for bringing out the best Leadership is what brings out the best in people: enthusiasm, courage, initiative, trust, loyalty, imagination… You can make your own list. But it can also bring out the worst in people: despair, fear, apathy, suspicion, blame, powerlessness… This is a checklist for bringing out the best. Text Tim Casswell, Vice President of the UIA and Director of CreativeConnection (www.creativeconnection.co.uk)
L is for Listening. If we stop and remember times in our lives when we became really inspired, involved and committed and not just compliant… a time when we really loved what we were doing… it will almost certainly be when someone listened to us. When leaders listen to the ideas, intuitions, imagination, and initiative of people it brings out the best in them. Great leaders do this. Great associations do this in our society. Listening is transformative.
and are sustained. True association is, of course, about listening. Recollect the times when you were pleased to be associated with a cause, an organisation or a person. It was when you felt your voice was heard. And making associations is the process we go through in making links between ideas, and therefore conceiving new thoughts. D is for Decision-making. The important part of that word is making. It is the gathering of
Making associations is the process we go through in making links between ideas, and therefore conceiving new thoughts
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E is for Engagement. Great leaders engage people. Stop for a moment and think of a time in your life when you performed to the best of your ability… Wasn’t it a time when you were entrusted, encouraged and appreciated? Associations themselves exist as a means of expression and courage. Associations are the means of true engagement in our societies.
people together; gathering of information; gathering of hearts and minds and it is an art. It has the same daring as artists need to make their work. Leaders who have the true art of enabling the making of decisions will have the reward of profoundly committed people who will give everything to see the decision realised, because it was their decision… it all comes back again to listening.
A is naturally for Association in all its meanings: connections, links, partnerships, networks. Great leaders are hubs in the network of activity. Associations are the hubs of civil society - places where relationships grow
E is for Extraordinary. Great leadership looks for and finds amazing qualities in people and extraordinary challenges to take on. People don’t join associations to do something ordinary. A great leader dares to
Tim Casswell
dream the extraordinary, something as yet unseen, something considered impossible, and so provides an invitation for others to dream too. This is one of the key functions of civil society to encourage people to believe the extraordinary is possible. It is the mark of great international and grassroots political leaders too. R is for Recognition. Radical remembering of reality. Leaders see that the change they want has happened and then they live in that new reality. They don’t only have a dream, they see the dream in the hearts and minds of the people, they see the dream as reality. The status quo “normal” is revealed as weird and ridiculous. S is for Story. This re-cognition becomes the leader’s story - their understanding of the situation and what it demands, a dream of what is actually true. They inhabit that dream because it is their reality. The telling of this story invites people to be their part in a legend in the making. Recognising this changes everything.
> UIA
What’s the Union of International Associations (UIA)? H is for Humility. Being part of a legend in the making can tempt people to self righteousness, pride and arrogance. Nothing of any importance is solved finally and forever. Any battle truly worth fighting can never be won finally and forever. Humility allows for vigilant curiosity, imagination and an authentic desire to listen to the ideas and dreams of others. Arrogance can appear to be confidence but it usually masks insecurity. Humility is the only authentic position in the face of complexity. Great leaders acknowledge their insecurity, uncertainty, and ignorance and therefore their genuine need to listen to people around them. I is for Invitation. Whenever you ask people how they first became involved in anything they almost always point to a particular point when they were specifically invited to become involved. We often forget that the most powerful way to enlist support and commitment is to ask someone in a way that recognises their qualities rather than
promoting the qualities of the association or the worthiness of the cause. P is for Power. True power is exercised when it is entrusted in others by leaders who encourage others to have and exercise power. Those who recognise the power of the passion and commitment of those around them are those with true power. International Associations provide a platform for ordinary people to discover, explore and exercise power. True Civil Society is the expression of the power of the people. Listen. Can you hear it? For over a hundred years the UIA has rigorously collected and collated the story of this extraordinary expression of leadership. You can see the results in our Yearbook of International Associations and the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential. We will be listening for where you take the story now.
The Union of International Associations - UIA - is a non-profit, independent, apolitical, and non-governmental institution in the service of international associations. Since its foundation in 1907, the UIA is a leading provider of information about international non-profit organisations and a premium networking platform between international organisations and the meeting industry worldwide. Main activities: •
Yearbook of International Organisations - contains information on over 64,000 international organisations active in all fields of human endeavour, in all corners of the world, and over centuries of history. Available online and in book form.
•
International Congress Calendar with information on over 350,000 international meetings. Available online, in pdf, and on paper.
•
Annual Associations Round Table - features both open-space / networking and discussion oriented sessions as well as practical skills training sessions for associations. See www.uia.org/roundtable
Who can use the UIA’s research and networking platform? Everyone with an interest in international associations and cooperation: international associations, the businesses which provide services to them, media and press, research centres, universities, libraries, government offices. Associate Members have quick access to first quality material to benefit their business. To join, see http://www.uia.be/associate-members. For more information, please contact uia@uia.org
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> Cover interview
Noor Ahmad Hamid Helping Asia-Pacific grow with ICCA Noor Ahmad Hamid is Regional Director Asia Pacific at ICCA Global Research Centre in the Asia Pacific office. A man of stamina and knowledge, he shares here his insights about the state of the association community in the Asia-Pacific. Interview Marcel A.M. Vissers
HQ: Can you briefly introduce yourself to the readers of HQ Asia Pacific? I have been in the meetings industry for quite some time but not in the mainstream until 2009 when I took up the role with ICCA. I started my career with the Tourism Malaysia where I was involved in tourism marketing, PR, meeting and incentive projects. During my tenure in the United States, I was actively involved in the meetings segment. After 16 years with the tourism body, I then joined the business sector in event management, sponsorship and innovative tourism projects. One thing that I have always wanted to do is to take up a regional challenge especially in a knowledge-based industry and ICCA is the perfect platform. I am happy to work with ICCA members with diverse culture, backgrounds and proud to be part of this exciting industry. HQ: How long has ICCA been active now in Asia-Pacific and what are the main tasks of an overseas branch of this kind? ICCA’s biggest step was to establish a fullfledged Asia-Pacific Regional Office in 1997, the first regional hub outside Europe. Our key objective is to help members to become more competitive and to win more international association business. We are also here to provide local support, recruitment, 14
organising educational activities and most important to advocate the importance of the international association meetings segment to our community. When I joined ICCA, we had a strong base of more than 140 members. Today we have more than 200 members in this region, which makes up over 22% of ICCA’s global membership. I believe that Asia Pacific will continue to be the dominant driver of growth for ICCA and the meetings industry.
Noor Ahmad Hamid
has in store in 2016. This is a good example that proves Asian destinations have the know-how to win convention bids including our own annual meeting.
Across Asia there is a history of countries learning from one another in all kinds of economic and different business spheres In this context, our office is expected to play a bigger role. Therefore, I was entrusted to expand our research team in Kuala Lumpur and in 2010 we have been recognised as ICCA Global Research Centre. One of our major accomplishments is the relocation of ICCA Asia-Pac Office into a larger office space in early 2013. With six full time researchers, we are now able to undertake more comprehensive research projects that would benefit members worldwide. I am also happy to see that within a short period of time, Asia-Pacific has hosted two ICCA Congresses, 2010 in Hyderabad and last year in Shanghai. Of course, I am thrilled to see what Kuching
HQ: It is clear that the meetings industry in Asian countries is enjoying steady growth. How far apart is Asia still from Europe? It’s important to recognise that international meetings don’t take place in isolation; instead they happen in connection with broader economic factors. It should be noted as well that associations use meetings to build membership, to help members get connected to suppliers or markets, and to deliver their products, services and accreditations to a segmented membership. So as Asia ascends to be the engine driving the global economy and R&D powerhouse, all of which will help drive Asia’s new growth
> Cover interview
and economic dynamism. What is also clear across the region is that there is some very smart, joined-up thinking at government level, where many countries have understood how international meetings support their economic development and knowledge economy objectives. This has led to more investment in both meetings infrastructure and in marketing and bidding. Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of China to Asia’s accelerating meetings market: it has become the most important market for almost everyone! HQ: I use meetings industry, but in Asian countries they generally use MICE. Why is that? I believe the term ‘MICE’ is conveniently used simply because in the early years the tourism boards functions covered ‘meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition’ as part of their business activities. However, there has been an industry trend towards using the term “meetings” to avoid confusion since the incentive travel portion is no longer part of their core business activity. Some are now using the term ‘business events’,
similar to what being used in Australia and New Zealand. Some of the convention bureaus in this region are now linked to the trade sectors, which I think is more logical and this would mean more recognition to this sector. So, MICE may not be the best name but it serves its purpose for the industry players here in Asia. As for me, I would call it “meetings” as an umbrella term for the vast scope of the business events industry. HQ: There are still a few Asian countries lagging behind or which are slow to promote their meetings facilities. How can ICCA help speed up that process? In every region, there will be leaders and followers. For Singapore or South Korea, which are known for their very sophisticated strategies, there are other destinations which are just starting to venture into meetings industry seriously. However, across Asia there is a history of countries learning from one another in all kinds of economic and different business spheres, so I am pretty confident that we will see big moves in the near future amongst the less developed countries.
It is undeniable that you will find ICCA membership in the most successful destinations, which is typically the largest and most active ones, and there are a few countries in the region where we haven’t established our presence yet. However, as has always been the case, when a first member from a country joins ICCA, usually it has some government connection, so we work first on advising on the meetings strategy, then help in practical ways to set up their own ambassador programmes, and train their teams in bidding skills, etc. Every member uses ICCA differently, so we have to be very flexible to help each member obtains the best ROI from membership: there is no single formula for success. HQ: How does ICCA see the future for Asia Pacific? Very simply: positive, competitive, and innovative! Some of the smartest thinking worldwide is coming from Asia-Pacific, and ICCA’s regional membership is on track to reach 25% of the global total within a few years. www.iccaworld.com/dbs/asiapacific 15
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> Singapore
Strong Sustainability Commitment in Singapore’s MICE Industry If you’re looking for a world-class destination in Asia to organise your next green meeting, you need not look further than Singapore where strong green policies, initiatives and infrastructure have placed the city well above the average in the 2013 Asian Green City Index research project conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The city’s commitment to green meetings has gone from strength to strength since November 2013, when the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) launched the Sustainability Guidelines for the MICE industry to encourage local MICE professionals to meet global sustainability requirements. These guidelines were referenced from the ISO20121 and the APEX/ ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards, and cover seven industry categories. Many of Singapore’s MICE venues and hotels such as MAX Atria, Marina Bay Sands (MBS), Gardens by the Bay, Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore, and PARKROYAL on Pickering also closely follow the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark scheme which raises environmental awareness among developers, designers and builders.
Successful Green Business Events held in Singapore Held on 25-26 November 2013, the Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development is the first event to enforce these Guidelines at Marina Bay Sands (MBS), the first MICE venue in Southeast Asia to be certified with the aforementioned international sustainability standards. MBS’ state-of-the-art equipment and eco-friendly practices include various measures to reduce wastage by composting and recycling as well as the ECO360o Meetings Programme that offers a customised sustainable experience for clients. The outstanding sustainable venue sets the perfect stage for green events such as the recently concluded Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) and the World Cities Summit. More info www.yoursingapore.com/mice
GREEN IS THEIR FAVOURITE COLOUR The International Green Building Conference, Build Eco Xpo Asia and the World Engineering Expo, were co-located events held at the Marina Bay Sands from 11 – 13 September 2013 that collectively took the lead in driving one key objective: Sustainability. Aside from the themes, topics and discussions at each event, all three focused on the promotion of sustainable practices, solutions and development for a greener future. As shown below, all three events implemented sustainability initiatives:
RESOURCE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
ENERGY CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT
100%
recycled notepads and flipcharts REUSABLE instead of disposables WATER BOTTLES for delegates REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE Untouched food DONATED TO CHARITY = NO FOOD WASTAGE (in collaboration with MBS) MODULAR & VERSATILE Furniture, booths, signage standees REUSED FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS
Airconditioning temperature was set
25°
in the conference rooms and exhibition halls.
Lighting: Set at 50% during setup, and 75% during the exhibitions
AIR POLLUTION REDUCTION
GREEN PROCUREMENT
Minimal use of private transportation + easily accessible public transport
• Supplier Kingsmen Creatives put an environmental and sustainability policy in place to adopt environmentally friendly practices • MBS provided Meetings Impact Statements, tracking in detail the economic social and environmental impact of the events based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators.
= LESSER EMISSIONS Same speakers and delegates
= REDUCTION OF TRAVEL CARBON FOOTPRINT
Reinforcing Singapore’s Position To educate the industry on the city’s innovative green initiatives, STB offers active support to Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) in developing educational and training courses that can further upgrade professionalism in the MICE industry. SACEOS will be launching their sustainability training programme for MICE professionals in the second half of 2014 as part of their ongoing commitment to ensuring service quality for all business events held in Singapore. With all these strategic practices and plans in place, Singapore looks set to secure its eminent position as Asia’s dynamic exhibitions and conventions hub in the Asia-Pacific region, and of course, reinforce its reputation as “A City in a Garden.” 17
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> China
Ancient Watertown of Fengjing
Panoramic view of Pudong & Puxi
10 facts you might not know about Shanghai Shanghai has all the ingredients of an exciting destination: it’s old meets new, ageless and growing, where something is always happening. Below are 10 facts you might not know about the city.
1. Art Deco Hotel The Park Hotel, designed by Hungarian architect Laszlo Hudec and built in 1934 of Art Deco style, was the city’s tallest building (it’s a mere 84 meters tall) until 1988. Zero Center Point of Shanghai can be found in the hotel’s lobby. It is said that it was this building that inspired young I. M. Pei’s zest for architecture and his life-long pursuit.
This unusual event that takes place on weekends at People’s Square is jampacked with parents who have children of marrying age. Their mission: to matchmake their still single offspring. They show off their child’s best attributes by writing their details on a placard or piece of paper (a bit like a resume), and in the hope of getting a blind date for them.
Get your favorite suit, dress, jeans made in 24 hours. The tailors at the South Bund Fabric Market will make anything you fancy for a fraction of the designer price.
5. (Oriental) Pearl Tower
It wouldn’t be the Shanghai skyline without the Pearl Tower. Other buildings might come up around and above it, but this was the first building to define the Shanghai cityscape and it’s irreplaceable.
6. The Bund The Bund is well known for its grand exteriors, but a number of buildings have remarkably well-preserved interiors. If you step into the lobby of the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Building (former home of the HSBC building), you will be treated to its breathtaking dome with exquisitely designed mosaic frescos plastered over in 1954 and remain undiscovered until 1997.
3. Second tallest in the world At 632 meters tall, the Shanghai Tower is the second-tallest building in the world and is to be completed in late 2015, topped only by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, at 828 meters tall.
Shanghai now has the longest metro system in the world, with 567km of track (352 miles) and 331 stations overtaking the London Underground’s 408km. It took London 140 years to build this length whereas Shanghai did it in 15 years.
4. The town that’s tailored for you
2. People’s Park Matchmaking Market
8. Commuting
7. Mag Lev
This is the fastest way to Pudong International airport and a fun ride at the speed of 431 km/h.
9. Entrepreneur city
Shanghai is a city of entrepreneurs. Whether selling new technologies or old crafts, there’s always a will and a way. Small shops often specialize in selling one fruit, implements for one trade or tools for one craft. Treasures can be found anywhere. There’s also a market for everything, from trophies and hair dye to electronics and retro specs.
10. Shikumen style Visitors consider Shikumen style houses an iconic example of local architecture, but Shanghainese feel like they are an example of East meets West. Why? Well, here’s the twist: most original Shikumen were actually built by foreign companies for Shanghainese residents.
Contact Patrick Chen Deputy Director International Tourism Promotion Department Shangahi Municipal Tourism Administration woya@ meet-in-shanghai.net www.meet-in-shanghai.net 19
> Australia
Sydney
A global city in transition My second trip to Sydney ever saw me constantly in awe. If the last time I was there, a few years back, I was amazed like any visitor would be because it was, after all, Sydney, the Australian city par excellence, I was this time taken aback everywhere my head turned, but in a good way. The face of the largest city in Australia is changing, primarily thanks to the effort and the good will of the New South Wales Government. This will definitely benefit Sydney as a convention city. Report Rémi Dévé Driving and walking around Sydney - especially around the CBD and the famous Darling Harbour - you immediately notice them. Big cranes and construction sites are everywhere to be seen: Sydney is a city on the move, the feeling is tangible. With the fastest-growing economy in Australia, huge investments both in terms of transportation (a second airport is in the pipeline) and infrastructure (a brand-new International Convention Sydney will open late 2016), the city is set to put its feets on the international meetings map even firmer. As a leader in the Asia-Pacific region, it also combines business and leisure like no other. 20
Maths quickly done Tim Williams, CEO of Committee for Sydney, an independent think tank and champion for Sydney providing thought leadership, puts it like this: ‘Sydney is at the heart of Australia’s economy, leading the nation in a range of industry sectors including professional services, research and education, the visitor economy, and creative industries. Both a global city and the gateaway to the AsiaPacific, it’s Australia’s finance and business hub, and constantly ranks high in terms of intellectual capital of innovation. Add to this a quality of life many would not dare to even dream about, and the maths is quickly done.’
Starting in Barangaroo, a former container port that is being transformed into a waterfront extraordinaire, to Darling Harbour all the way to the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) precinct, the unofficially named Western corridor which is opening up the city is on everyone’s lips. That’s where things happen, where new venues will open, like the Frank Gehry designed Dr Chau Chak Wing Building which I was lucky enough to visit - scheduled for completion end of this year, it will be able to accommodate small events of up to 240 people. As such, UTS will also benefit from this major redevelopment. A member of BESydney’s Ambassador Programme, Pr. Roy Green, Dean of the UTS Business School, explains: ‘Sydney is reinventing itself as a global city, where entrepreneurial spirit is kicking and alive. As a creative, innovative hub, the city boasts all the tools for people to shape
> Australia
ICC Sydney: What to expect The brand-new ICC Sydney will be located where the old convention centre once was, on Darling Harbour, with over 3,300 hotel rooms in the immediate precinct, all at walking distance. As a fully-integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment complex, it will feature an open, contemporary design, leading technology throughout and flexible meeting spaces to cater for the changing architecture of meetings, as well as the largest exhibition space in Australia!
Bronte Beach
What to do before or after the congress: A few ideas • a day trip to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains and a scenic tour of the Scenic World park • a casino night at The Star, the dazzling entertainment complex • Shopping til you drop at the fancy QVB shopping mall • A short outing to the famous Bondi Beach or the not-so-well-known-but-equallyattractive Manly • A visit of Q Station, the former site used as the quarantine of migrants and travellers suspected of carrying contagious diseases (it’s possible to organise events there!)
their own destiny. That’s where UTS comes in handy, I like to think: we give students the opportunity to become their own master.’
Together for a renewed city In Sydney, everybody works together, and the epitome of this may well be found in the local suppliers of the meetings industry. It is three years since the election of a New South Wales Government with a massive mandate for change, and, with key initiatives being promoted in transport, planning, urban renewal, governance and attracting global talent, the local meetings industry plays a big part as a driver of Sydney’s economy. All the people I met insisted on the unified effort made by the city as a whole to attract more events and conventions to Sydney. Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney, said: ‘With many redevelopments and revitalisation projects underway, Sydney is undoubtedly changing. This is a great time to maximise the
benefits for the city’s business event offering, and we all work hand in hand to put Sydney on the map. There is an understanding that the more united we stay, the stronger we are. And we at BESydney have the expertise, connections and leadership to continue delivering great results for the harbour city.’
Geoff Donaghy, CEO of ICC Sydney, cannot be stopped when talking about the venue: ‘As part of AEG Ogden, we have a lot of expertise in the hosting of international events. The new centre and its highly flexible spaces will make it especially easy for associations to hold their conference. We understand the design of meetings have changed and we can cater to them. But ICC Sydney won’t definitely be a stand-alone facility: it will play a major part in the Darling Harbour precinct and create a sense of belonging to Sydneysiders. People have to feel we’re part of the bigger community and we’ll make sure this happens: the economic, financial and social impact of such a venue cannot be underestimated and this is a role we take quite seriously.’ For those of you who need figures, the ICC Sydney will boast 40,000 m2 of exhibition space, a total of 8,000 m2 of meeting spaces across more than 40 rooms linked to both the convention and exhibition, plenary space for 12,000 people over four different areas, and Sydney’s largest ballroom with a 2,000-people capacity.
With such a commitment to success, it comes as no surprise more and more international associations are choosing Sydney for their events. Geoff Donaghey even told me they have already secured the first ‘Lucky 30’ conventions even if ICC Sydney hasn’t opened yet. I’m sure there will be even better news to come soon.
Contact Kristian Nicholls General Manager Business Development +61 9332 5241 knicholls@besydney.com.au www.businesseventssydney.com.au
ICC Sydney
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> Malaysia
MEA 2014 comes to Kuala Lumpur for the first time History was created when Meetings and Events Australia’s (MEA) 2014 Annual National Conference was hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from May 15-17. This marks just the second time MEA’s annual gathering is taking place out of Australia and the first time it is making an appearance in Southeast Asia.
‘This close collaboration is definitely a win-win opportunity for both Australia and Malaysia as it will mutually benefit and boost business opportunities and relationship between both countries, especially in the area of business events industry,’ said Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) general manager of Business Events, Ho Yoke Ping.
Malaysia - ‘An excellent track record for hosting international conventions’ Due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Southeast Asia and at the heart between China and India, Malaysia offers a compelling business proposition for international business events that want to connect with the Asian marketplace and raise their profile in the world’s most dynamic growth region. MEA chief executive officer, Linda Gaunt said, ‘Choosing Malaysia to host MEA 2014 is very timely as Australia looks to strengthen its trade and economic ties with Asia. Malaysia is certainly an appropriate choice for MEA 2014 conference as it has an excellent track record for hosting international conventions. The fact that this year we are holding our annual conference in Southeast Asia has also presented some exciting opportunities which will benefit our members hugely.’ Despite the distance between the two countries, MyCEB was able to bid for the event to be hosted in Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia offers a cost-effective solution for organisers and value for money proposition for conference delegates. MyCEB further secured the bid by emphasizing that Malaysia possessed 22
the finest facilities to accommodate the conference at KLCC.
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) – A perfect fit Located in the heart of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre precinct, fondly known as KLCC and designed to be ‘a city within a city’, is Asia’s first Green Globe Benchmarked venue (Green Globe Earthcheck™). Strategic located, it boasts easy access to more than 18,000 hotels rooms, local attractions, entertainment facilities and convenient transport connections. An expansion to increase the Centre’s convention and exhibition space by 2017 is planned. Ms Gaunt commented, ‘Kuala Lumpur City Centre is a perfect fit with exceptional supporting infrastructure making it very convenient for conference delegates. Public transportations such as taxis and trains are cheap and plenty. English is widely spoken here with most signage in both Bahasa Malaysia and English. The city feels safe with police or security officers and city security cameras everywhere. There is also a variety of affordable, yet fabulous food. Kuala Lumpur City Centre is also an excellent venue for the industries of Asia and Australia to engage, collaborate, build business networks and exchange ideas in what is the most dynamic growth region in the world.’
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Kuala Lumpur - Asia’s Business Events Hub Apart from its strategic location, arrivals into Malaysia are further boosted by the easily available transportation services. Over 50 airlines (including low-cost carriers) provide direct access from Malaysia to over 100 destinations worldwide. As 2014 is Visit Malaysia Year, MEA and the local host committee partnered with local Destination Management Companies to offer MEA delegates a selection of pre- and post-conference tours to a variety of exciting Malaysian destinations.
Contact Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau T. +603 2034 2090 sales@myceb.com.my www.myceb.com.my www.facebook.com/MyCEB