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Malaysia Association meetings between East and West
facts DestinationFast Report Malaysia
is a special edition of Headquarters Magazine May 2013
Introduction
Malaysia
The Premiere Destination For Business Events There are many reasons why Malaysia is heralded by the world as the crossroads of Asia. Strategically located at the centre of Southeast Asia between the booming economies of India, China and the Middle East, the country possesses a multi-racial and multi-ethnic identity, rich natural resources and boasting upscale world-class modern infrastructures next to inner-city heritage communities. In its efforts to position Malaysia as the top five meetings destinations in Asia Pacific by year 2020, the government has established Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) as a catalyst in championing the Malaysian business tourism industry. This is also with the realisation that there is a growing need by associations around the world to engage with Asia - the world’s largest and fastest growing economic region. According to a report released by ICCA, Kuala Lumpur has jumped two places in world convention city rankings and three places in Asia Pacific ranking based on the number of international association meetings held in 2011. Kuala Lumpur staged 78 international association meetings, gaining two places on the ladder to finish 21st in the world and securing the top five position in Asia Pacific. Malaysia is ranked 29th overall in its country rankings while retaining its position as one of the top 10 meetings destinations in Asia Pacific. According to the report, the number of international association meetings hosted in Malaysia grew from 119 to 126 in 2011. With Malaysia’s stature as an Asian microcosm, admirable accolades and an innovative approach to business events, it is no doubt that the country is increasingly rising as the first port of call for international meetings. 2
Coming to Malaysia 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. International airport hubs in Malaysia include Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Malaysia is also well-served by 16 domestic airports. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is the main gateway. Transport from the KLIA to Kuala Lumpur takes only 28 minutes on the KLIA Ekspres, a high-speed rail service. National carrier Malaysia Airlines has a global network that spans more than 100 destinations across six continents. In addition to an extensive domestic network, there is direct mid to long-haul access to Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. The high accessibility into Malaysia is an essential feature that enables associations visitors around the world to frequent the country.
What’s new in Malaysia? Kuala Lumpur Defined as one of the three Malaysian Federal Territories, Kuala Lumpur (fondly known as KL) is Malaysia’s economic and
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Penang
business centre. Industrial and economic development in its surrounding urban areas have made KL the country’s fastest growing region. A fantastic hybrid and pulsing metropolis, KL is home to various purpose built convention centres and world-class standard hotels. A new addition to the city’s landscape, the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur is ideally located in the city centre adjacent to the world renowned Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) and surrounded by the lush gardens of KLCC Park. It features luxurious and spacious guestrooms that include 370 guestrooms and 42 suites - all with the benefit of floor-to-ceiling windows to best capture the magnificent panoramic views of KL or the iconic PETRONAS Twin Towers. To meet the demands for larger space, the Centre has acquired 2,600 sqm of additional space to add to its facility. Built as a semipermanent marquee adjacent to the Centre, the new marquee structure, known as Hall 6 will allow the Centre to accommodate larger exhibitions, conferences and other events.
> Introduction
Multicultural Traditional Costumes
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Conceptualised as a 21st century commercial business district, KL Metropolis is poised to become one of the nation’s most important hub, with synergistic mixed-use of development and Green Building Index (GBI) Township requirements. Spanning across 75.5 acre this comprehensive development is home to Malaysia’s largest exhibition centre, the new MATRADE Centre, which is set to become the epicentre for business events activities when it opens in 2015 (http://klmetropolis.com/cms/). Langkawi A 55-minutes flight from Kuala Lumpur or 90-minutes from Singapore, and you will find yourself in the mythical island of Langkawi, off the coast of Kedah, a cluster of 99 islands, with fascinating legends, world-class infrastructure, mangroves rich in flora and fauna, excellent diving opportunities and ultra-cheap duty-free shopping. Langkawi is also known for having some of the region’s finest beaches with luxury resorts and five-star conveniences complete with meetings facilities. With its ‘Meetings in Nature Package’, the artfully designed Four Seasons Resort Langkawi combines,
Langkawi Cable Car and Skybridge
Sarawak Rainforest
for instance, adventure with nature through highly interactive team building activities. The Seri Chenang Resort and Spa has also just opened its doors in February this year. Aiming to present its guests with the luxurious experience of age-old Malay traditions, its every inch of architecture showcases true Malay heritage influence. Penang Located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Penang is a fascinating fusion of the East and West - embracing modernity while retaining its traditions and old world charm. These are reflected in its well-preserved heritage buildings which led to George Town, its capital city, listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Long regarded as the food capital of Malaysia, Penang also entices visitors with its beautiful coasts and unique culture. For business events travelers, Penang offers a variety of meetings facilities. Penang International Convention Centre is currently getting an uplift via its new name as the Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition (sPICE). As the name suggests, sPICE will be the first
subterranean convention centre in Malaysia built partially beneath the ground. Sarawak New hotels are constantly being built in Sarawak, and in particular, Kuching, its capital city. Upcoming developments such as the Riverine Resort Kuching and Plaza Merdeka Mall and Hotel will feature panoramic views of the Sarawak River and lush surrounding landscape that will add-on to the premier tourists and retail areas. Adding on to the growing list of accommodation available in Kuching, The Ranee is an exclusive boutique hotel situated along the famed waterfront. It occupies a stylishly rebuilt old style shop houses along the oldest street in Kuching. Offering 24 suites, it overlooks the bazaar, river and the colonial heritage buildings. In terms of transportation, Kuching Sentral will soon be the only fully integrated regional transportation terminal of Kuching. Located within mere minutes from Kuching International Airport, it will be the perfect one-stop destination for regional longdistance bus travel and shopping trips. 3
Meeting venues
Borneo Convention Centre Kuching
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Malaysian meeting venues More than meets the eye From the small very special venue to the big-shot conference centre, from the budget hotel to the five-star hotel, Malaysia can cater to any need the demanding meeting planners might have.
Conferences and much more Situated at the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Central Business District, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) is the city’s most technologically-advanced, purposebuilt facility for events of any kind. Winner of numerous awards since opening in 2005, the Centre is one of the components within PETRONAS’ distinctive Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) development. Designed as a unique ‘city within a city’, the 100acre development offers a stimulating environment. The Centre’s total function space is 22,659m2 inclusive of support areas and circulation space with gross built-up area of 120,000m2 on a 7.3 acre site. The latest addition to the Centre’s existing flexible function 4
space is the 2,600 m2 semi-permanent marquee known as Hall 6 that is conveniently located adjacent to the Centre. Connected via its Exhibition Hall 5 and the Centre’s West Wing entrance, Hall 6 will provide additional multipurpose function space for the Centre to meet the demand for larger space in the short to medium term. With 1,673 four and five-star hotel rooms on site and a further 17,581 rooms within 10 minutes from the Centre, and coupled with convenient accessibility to public transportation, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre remains one of the most soughtafter venues in the region. Only an hour and a half’s flight away is the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching
Putrajaya International Convention Centre
(BCCK), which is located in the eco-friendly state of Sarawak, East Malaysia, which accommodates up to 3,500 delegates. Opened in June 2009, BCCK is the first purpose-built convention centre in Borneo to accommodate conferences, exhibitions and multi-dimensional events. Its Great Hall with 2,793 sqm complemented by 14 additional meeting rooms. There is also Putrajaya International Convention Centre, an international venue with world-class hospitality entailing services that offers perfect gateway discussions among world leaders in the heart of Puncak Selatan. Fronting the main uniqueness of the building, it is engrafted with a thorough combination of ‘Wau’, an ancient kite popularly known in the state of Terengganu and the ‘Pending Perak, a silver royal like belt buckle, of which the main hall is flanked in the bejeweled eye of such engraftment.
> Meeting venues
Recent Association Meetings Secured by Malaysia Year 2013
2014 Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
ACCOMMODATION & SHOPPING Malaysia is also one of the world’s best value-for-money destinations when it comes to accommodation ranging from budget-friendly to luxury 5-star hotels and resorts. This is supported by the fact that Malaysia is ranked 3rd Most Price Competitive Country in the World for Travel 2011 by Travel & Tourism Competitive Index of the World Economic Forum. No wonder, then, Malaysia offers excellent value for money for meeting planners. Event managers will find a wide range of international hotels such as Hilton, Hyatt, Intercontinental, Le Meridien, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott, Novotel, Park Royal, Shangri-la, Sheraton, Renaissance and Traders. Examples of national branded hotels include Sunway Resort & Spa, Royale Chulan, Pangkor Laut, Tanjung Jara, Impiana and Swiss Garden Hotels. A lot of new properties are in the pipeline - among them, let’s name the 6-star St Regis, with its 208 rooms, set to open in 2014 or a new Grand Hyatt, with 412 guest rooms, which just opened. Malaysia’s largest city Kuala Lumpur has ample accommodation for large scale conventions with over 36,000 rooms and a number of new properties under development. Likewise other key destinations such as Penang, Langkawi, Malacca, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching (state of Borneo) also provide a wide selection of accommodation options. According to The Globe Shopper Index for Asia Pacific, Malaysia is also ranked 2nd as the best shopping destination in Asia Pacific and
2015
2016
Event Name
Venue/Host City
Expected Delegates
Wounds International Conference
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
1,000
Women Deliver Conference 2013
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
4,500
Global Women Summit
Kuala Lumpur
1,000
International Dragon Award (IDA) Annual Conference
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
5,000
7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
6,000
16th Asian Congress of Architects (ACA 2014)
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
3,000
XXV International Federation of Surveyors Congress
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
3,000
12th International Congress on Obesity 2014
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
3,000
International Convention of Toastmasters International
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
2,000
Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Experience 2014
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
5,000
Routes Asia 2014
Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching
500
Human Genome Meeting
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
1,000
Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Association of Cataract and Retractive Surgeons (APACRS)
Kuala Lumpur
1,500
44th International Federation of Training and Development Organizations World Conference 2015 (IFTDO)
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
1,500
15th International Peat Congress (IPC) 2016
Kuching, Sarawak
700
The Asia Pacific Congress of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology
Kuala Lumpur
1,500
IEEE International Conference on Communications 2016 (ICC)
Kuala Lumpur
1,500
ranked 4th by CNN Travel as the best shopping destination in the world. So if you’d like to go on a shopping spree after a conference, Malaysia is definitely the place!
Social activities Malaysia is a colourful blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian culture which is reflected in its diversity of food, architecture and lifestyle. It is often said that Malaysia is truly the epitome of Asia. It can showcase of all that makes Asia so fascinating; colourful and festive with gracious hospitality. The country, as a whole offers an extensive and affordable choice of exotic, beautiful and exciting experiences within one destination: delegates looking for a very special pre- or post-conference tour will have plenty of choice, whether it be lush tropical rainforests, idyllic island resorts, abundant wildlife or historic towns. Oh, and did we mention Kuala Lumpur ranks 9th most popular tourist destination by United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Doesn’t this say it all?
6 C’s why you should choose Malaysia 1. Cost Competitive. Malaysia provides good value for money. For instance, one could easily get a 5- star suite at the price of a standard room in other parts of the world. 2. Connection. Malaysia is easily accessible from every part of the world, thanks to efficient connections. 3. Convenience. KL is easy to get around with state-of-the-art commuting systems. 4. Comfort. Visitors find it easy to get around Malaysia as English is widely spoken throughout the country. 5. Capabilities. With world-class convention centres, hotels and infrastructure, Malaysia is equipped to service any event. 6. Character. The country has an incredible variety. In all 13 states and 3 federal territories, there is something different and appealing. In fact, Malaysia is all of Asian culture in one single, unique country.
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Case studies
Two Case Studies Why they chose Malaysia The World’s Foremost Experts in Lung Health in Kuala Lumpur World experts on lung health converged in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 13-17 November 2012 to attend the 43rd Union World Conference on Lung Health (the Conference) organised by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (the Union) and supported by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). Held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre), the Union World Conference on Lung Health is the largest global annual meeting focusing on the issue. More than 2,600 delegates from over 122 countries attended the Conference in its mission to bring innovation, expertise, solutions and support to address health challenges in lowand middle-income populations. Themed ‘Driving sustainability through mutual responsibility’, the five-day event gathered speakers from 65 countries which included, among many others, Dr Anneke Hesseling, Director of the Paediatric TB Research Programme at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa who made the case on the topic “Childhood TB - We need to do more”. Discussions were led on diverse topics ranging from tuberculosis (TB), child TB, 6
child lung health, HIV and TB-HIV, TB and diabetes, new diagnostic tool for TB, tobacco control, operational research, how to improve health programmes and policies, how to increase civil society participation and awareness in these public health issues. Two other significant highlights of the Conference in Malaysia included the ‘Run for your Lungs’ activity and the launch of The Union Centennial Campaign for Research and Education. ‘Run for your Lungs’ was organised as an awareness building fun run programme stressing on the importance of lung health, while The Union Centennial Campaign for Research and Education was launched to raise unrestricted funds for its research and education programmes between now and 2020 which marks the Union’s 100th year. Dr Nils E Billo, Executive Director of the Union said: ‘Malaysia provides a compelling setting for the Conference that brings together views from around the world to call for action against lung disease. With more than 2,600 delegates attending the Conference, we truly consider this as an excellent turnout. We are also very pleased with all the collaborations and support which we have gained from local sponsors and partners especially MyCEB, who offered not only financial support, but also excellent advice on a variety of local matters.’
Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Mr. Zulkefli Hj. Sharif commented: ‘MyCEB is very supportive of this Conference based on several reasons. Other than its obvious economic benefits, the Conference will definitely facilitate the opportunity for professional developments, knowledge exchange and best practices in the local and regional health sectors, particularly in respiratory health. This in turn will impact positively on Malaysia as a model developing country.’
25th World Gas Conference 2012 in KL The commitment and formidable efforts of Datuk (Dr) Abdul Rahim Hashim, President, International Gas Union (IGU) 2009 – 2012 Triennium, Malaysian Gas Union and the National Organising Committee as organiser to put on a good show in hosting the prestigious 25th World Gas Conference 2012 (WGC2012) has certainly been nothing short of outstanding. Touted as the Olympics of the Gas Industry, the theme chosen for the conference in Malaysia is “Gas: Sustaining Future Global Growth” and gathers global gas and energy leaders from around the world. The conference attracted a record breaking number of delegates. While IGU expected the number to top out close to 3,500, more than 5,299 from 90 countries showed up. The five day event also recorded 13,803 visitors to
> Case studies
Prof Lee B Reichman gives inaugural address
Run for your lungs was co-organised by the Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (MAPTB)
the exhibition, including exhibitors from 43 countries around the globe. The conference itself has attracted over 712 abstracts - another record number for IGU and WGC. Held from 4-8 June 2012 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the WGC2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the World Gas Conference. Supported by MyCEB, it is a significant milestone for Malaysia as this is only the second time in the IGU’s 80-year history that WGC is held in Asia, and for the first time in Southeast Asia. To celebrate the occasion, the organising committee put together the inaugural Kuala Lumpur International Music & Light Festival with performances from some of the best ethnic bands from this region. Another significant mark for WGC in Malaysia is the introduction for the first time, a Youth Programme. About 216 youth from around the world were invited to share their views, hopes and aspirations with regards to the gas industry, befitting the theme of the event. With a greener nation in mind, WGC2012 also worked with MyCEB and Forest Reserve Institute Malaysia (FRIM) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The project aims to support MyCEB’s efforts in recognizing the government’s vision to offset 40% of carbon emissions by year 2020. Throughout the
conference, the 5,299 industry delegates, trade visitors and exhibitors were given the opportunity to contribute a minimum of USD10 towards MyCEB’s “Let’s Meet & Green” campaign and pave the road to a greener future. It ties in with the overall WGC2012 theme in ensuring sustainable future global growth. Datuk Anuar Ahmad, Chairman of the National Organising Committee for WGC2012 said, “The organising of WGC 2012 would not be a success without the cooperation of many other organisations, such as Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Department of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), MyCEB and City Hall of Kuala Lumpur. MyCEB in particular gave a tremendous support in the form of facilitating immigration clearance, strategic liaison with the City Hall, arranging for pre and post tour programmes for delegates and their spouses; and also the sponsorship of souvenirs to the delegates”.
Dr Mario Raviglione
Dr Anneke Hessling
Another testimonial From 30 June - 3 July 2013, 6,000 participants are expected to attend the IAS Conference on Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Anouk Rey, Deputy Executive Director, International AIDS Society, explains: ‘The IAS Conference on Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention rotates around the world and when it came to Asia’s turn, we felt Kuala Lumpur possessed all the ingredients needed to organise a great scientific conference. Not only is Kuala Lumpur easily accessible within Asia, it also has a beautiful and centrally located convention centre and an excellent range of accommodation. The people are very kind, very service oriented, and always ready to help.’ 7