Press Room

The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau support the Malaysian government decision to reopen the borders of the country.  This according to the bureau will rejuvenate Malaysia’s economic activities from businesses, investments, conferences and exhibitions.

This year, MyCEB is expected to organise a total of 81 business events with about 113,700 delegates to Malaysia contributing an estimate of RM834 million to the economy.

While MyCEB backs the government’s decision to reopen the country’s border, the bureau has also urged that the government set a definite timeline for the reopening.

This year, Malaysia will play host to several international and regional business events activities. The government’s earlier initiatives claimed by the chief executive officer of MyCEB, Dato’Sri Abdul Khani Daud such as the Langkawi International Tourism Travel Bubble and the Singapore-Malaysia Vaccinated Travel Lane has proven that the country, can move towards careful reopening. 

Later in February, Malaysia will host the World Congress of Nephrology which in the past has attracted some 5,000 delegates. The annual event features symposia, presentations, training program and courses offering the latest science and state-of-the-art education in nephrology.  It’s reported that the event will continue as planned and, in a hybrid format with a high registration from the local expert community.

The revamped Queen Sirikit National Convention Center which is scheduled to be opened in September, will include, a new retail mall developed under the concept of active lifestyle, to attract health and fitness enthusiasts among urban workers and families in Bangkok.

QSNCC retail space is expected to expand from 7,200 square metres to 11,000 square metres divided into various zones from food and beverage, event support and active lifestyle. Thailand’s flagship store of a leading sports accessory brand will be located here.

“With our capabilities in providing a full range of services for all types of events, QSNCC will be the new event platform destination in Asia. The redeveloped QSNCC is expected to attract over 13 million visitors per year once it is reopened,” said Mr. Sakchai Pattarapreechakul, president of N.C.C. Management & Development.

An added advantage of the retail mall located within the QSNCC is that, it’s accessible with the venue’s linkage to Bangkok’s mass rapid transit system. QSNCC is also surrounded by 72 hectares of Benjakitti Forest Park, the new green lung of Bangkok with facilities for sports and recreational activities.

To date, 20 percent of retail space of the mall has been taken up and is slated that leased space, to increase by 40 percent the first quarter of this year.

Images are artist’s impressions of the QSNCC’s Bangkok Active Lifestyle Mall.

A subsidiary of Messe München for Southeast Asia MMI Asia Pte Ltd has taken over ownership and operation of the Asia Climate Forum from former owners Media Generation Ventures Ltd which include, the 2022 edition that will take place, alongside the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore from April 18 to 20 at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre.

Asia Climate Forum is one of Southeast Asia’s platforms for weather forecasting, meteorological and hydro meteorological equipment, flood prevention and mitigation, as well as air quality control and management.

The 2022 edition co-located with the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore runs concurrently with the Singapore International Water Week.

Group project director Ms. Julia Kwan, explains about the forum: “Asia Climate Forum addresses some of the most important subjects that the industry, governments and society have to tackle. The event already provides the means for the industry to enhance develop and deploy world leading solutions, technologies, and best practices in Southeast Asia.”

MMI Asia was established in Singapore in 1992.  It is now embarking on a significant growth and expansion program, bringing some of Messe München’s world leading brands to the ASEAN market.

For more information, please visit www.asiaclimateforum.com.

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has launched its bid to host a Specialised Expo 2028 in Phuket,  with the ambassador of Thailand to France, Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan submitting a Letter of Candidature to Mr. Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the expo’s governing body, Bureau International des Expositions in Paris.

Thailand’s bid feature Phuket as the host city. It will be known as EXPO 2028 Phuket to be co-hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health with the theme: Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity.

The event is expected to take place over a period of three months from March 20 to June 17, 2028, at Mai Khao area of Thalang district. It’s projected to attract 4.9 visitors with revenue estimated at 49.23 billion baht a contribution of 39.35 billion baht to Thailand’s GDP and, 9.5 billion baht in tax revenue with 113,439 jobs created.

Expo 2028 Phuket is the first of three mega-events that Thailand will be bidding with two others are: the 2026 and 2029 editions of the International Horticultural Exposition in Udon Thani; and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Three of these mega-events are estimated to generate combined revenue of more than 100.17 billion baht and to create more than 230,000 jobs.

Bids for the events, are the result of collaboration between TCEB, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, as well as three MICE cities in the country which include, support from the cities’ chambers of commerce and city chapters of the Federation of Thai Industries.

“When the mega-events are over, the respective expo sites will be adapted for continued and purposeful use. For example, there is great potential for the expo site in Udon Thani to be redeveloped into a commerce and investment centre serving the Greater Mekong Sub-region or a green space for the city,” stated the president of TCEB, Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya

The waterfront purpose-built facility has announced three new personnel: Ms. Isabelle Chai is director of sales, events and marketing; Mr. Safian Bin Haji Omar, director of safety and security; and Ms. Clara Lim as the corporate communications manager.

Ms. Chai comes with 30 years of experience in international luxury hospitality and is tasked to strategise the venue’s branding and communication, manage sales activities of the facility and identify new market and growth opportunities for the centre.

While the new director of safety and secutiry was formerly with the Malaysian army who has also 37 years of security and safely work experience in luxury hotels and resorts. Mr Safian will lead the centre’s security programme including security policies, protocols and safety procedure in compliance with safety regulations and safety and health standard operating procedures issued by the government.

Ms. Lim has 26 years experience in hospitality and marketing. She will lead the centre’s communications team in creating marketing and communications campaigns, contents for social media and organising social community and events for the establishment.

Sabah International Convention Centre is located in East Malaysia, is considered to be the largest in Borneo, with a total function space of 153,197square metre and  gross built-up of 60,514 square metre on a six-hectare site

This year’s ATF with some 350 participants from more than 27 countries and regions is hosted by Cambodia held at Sihanoukville for three days beginning from January 18.  ‘A community of peace and shared future’ is the theme adopted reflecting ASEAN’s common values in the spirit of unity in diversity.

The event started off on January 16 with the official ASEAN national tourism organisation meeting and, tourism ministers and association meetings where leaders discussed the implementation of tourism recovery programmes.

At the heart of the ATF is, TRAVEX an annual ASEAN leisure travel trade fair showcasing the latest Southeast Asia travel experiences organised by a joint collaboration between MP Singapore and the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

TRAVEX features hoteliers, tour operators and travel agencies, national tourism boards, airline professionals, restaurateurs, attraction and theme park owners.

Everyone attending the event is required to take an antigen rapid test prior to entry, wear their masks at all times, and observe safe distancing. Meanwhile all frequent venue touch points and exhibition halls are regularly sanitised and disinfected.

As a country, by January 27 Cambodia would have vaccinated 89.46 percent of its total population of 16 million a safety requisite for herd immunity.

The ATF 2022 will close on January 20 with a ceremony of handing over the ATF flag to next year’s host, Indonesia.

Sarawak, secured a total of 109 business events with an estimation of RM365 million in total economic impact with tax revenue of RM21.4 million and, approximately 28, 289 new job opportunities from 2020 to 2021.

In Business Events Sarawak’s latest performance report, the destination has secured at least 43,471 delegates over a total of 160,142 delegate days worth RM 193.7 million in direct delegate expenditure. In terms of physical-to-virtual conversions, 34 events worth RM105.5 million in total economic impact have been converted, forfeiting the arrival of over 12,000 delegates, RM57.3 million in direct delegate expenditure and 8,370 new job openings.

Despite several events being converted to virtual, these figures are a statement of achievement for Sarawak as the destination continues to recover from the pandemic. Various initiatives were implemented to support recovery efforts that keep the destination active in the national and international scene: such as the provision of education for the local industry; a proactive approach to collaborating with stakeholders of varying levels; and Sarawak’s attractive incentivised packages for local, national, and international business events planners.

Sarawak made all the right moves to attract business events planners during the most fragile of times. In March 2021, BESarawak launched its incentivised packages to support the sector’s recovery efforts and provide valuable financial and in-kind support to planners.

“The incentives and comprehensive support offered are integral to the sector’s rehabilitation,” asserted BESarawak’s chief executive officer,  Ms.Amelia Roziman.

She further  added: “Most importantly, these offers are appealing to planners and catering to today’s event needs. Beyond incentives, our team continues to provide pre and post event support to ensure the best possible client experience that reflects Sarawak’s hospitality.”

Sarawak recently entered phase four of Malaysia’s national recovery plan, forecasting a positive restart for business events and a better outlook for the sector as a whole.

For 2022, BESarawak will continue to place destination development high on its priority through promoting legacy impact and mobilising Sarawak’s covid-19 business events mitigation and recovery plans.

Mr. Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist visited Expo 2020 Dubai, and toured key projects of Expo Live, the global innovation and partnership programme that supports innovators who develop extraordinary low-cost solutions.

Mr. Bill Gates accompanied by Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai tour Expo Live Pavilion.

During the 20 minutes he spent looking at projects at the Expo Live Pavilion showed keen interest in Ideabatic, a low-cost innovation developed by Ms. Kitty Liao of the UK, keeping vaccines and life-saving medicines fresh during long journeys to remote rural areas. The smart last-mile vaccine and cooling system is basically a low-cost battery-powered carrier designed to eliminate vaccine wastage. It is portable and light, and can be carried by health workers, drones and other delivery mechanisms.  The simple design of the Ideabatic requires almost no training to operate, and thus saves money on in-field deployment.

The former Microsoft chairman was also impressed by Desert Control, a new technology developed by Atle Idland of Norway, to help create an agricultural revolution for arid regions. The invention uses Liquid NonoClay, a technology that converts poor soil into fertile land and works more quickly, uses less water than conventional agricultural methods.

Mr. Gates also toured the Sustainability Pavilion, which highlights technologies that consume zero energy. Speaking to Expo TV, Gates urged the world to speed up the implementation of its commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, with the deadline just eight years away.

He also said that the world was going through a difficult stage in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the success achieved, and called for more efforts for a fair distribution of vaccines.

In the annual report released by Melbourne Convention Bureau, it stated that 40 business events worth AUD150 million have been secured – adding to its strong pipeline of future events for the bureau. This pipeline now boasts 118 business events for 2022 to 2028 that will attract 133,495 delegates, filling 387,372 hotel room nights across the city, and set to inject AUD804 million into Victoria’s visitor economy.

This will result in over 65,800 room nights secured, enough to fill the city  three times over. Melbourne Convention Bureau has reordered that from 2020 to 2021, more than 1,800 jobs were created from business events.

Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting, Melbourne Convention Bureau chief executive Ms. Julia Swanson reflected on the challenges created by the pandemic, and how the bureau’s purpose has never been more relevant than over the past year.

“Driving economic and social progress for Victoria by securing and delivering world class business events has provided, MCB with a strong sense of direction in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this backdrop, we have delivered a sound result, strengthening Melbourne’s position as a global leader in business events and reinforcing Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s event capital.”

Ms. Swanson added: “Our strategy has been the right one to guide the organisation in laying the foundation for a bright future for business events in our state, from enhancing our profile and business opportunities across both international and domestic markets, engaging stakeholders, and an ambition to provide a leading digital experience for professional event organisers and event planners globally.”

Melbourne Convention Bureau has also successfully launched a national business events program, the first of its kind for Victoria – designed to aid the immediate restart of the business events sector.

The funding program provided business event organisers with a significant cash injection to support costs for the hosting of their events in Melbourne. The events approved are at the close of the financial year, and are to be held in 2022, they are expected to deliver AUD102 million in economic contribution to the state.

Western Australia’s official convention bureau, Business Events Perth announced, it has successfully won bids  for 67 national and international business events, set to take place in Western Australia from 2022 to 2024 – injecting direct expenditure of AUD54 million into the state’s economy – in addition to 190 local business events supported in 2021.

Business Events Perth chief executive officer, Mr. Gareth Martin stated that; the 67 national and international events secured this year, were critical to securing the path to recovery for Western Australia’s business events industry, however this was not the organisation’s only strategy at play throughout the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

The convention bureau implemented a content development strategy, to enhance its capabilities in marketing Western Australia as a business event destination through digital channels.

It included a 3D venue tours, new website and interactive business event planner, as well as a member content creation program, which has funded the creation of new marketing assets by member venues and suppliers.

At the same time, Business Events Perth introduced a member professional development program which supports members to send their staff to conferences or training events in professional development.

“We’ve provided tangible support for the recovery of Western Australia’s business events industry, and I’m proud to say that in the 2020-21 financial year, Business Events Perth supported 190 local business events that have brought more than 82,000 delegates together across the state, thus ensuring our venues and suppliers had a steady stream of bookings generating much needed revenue to keep their doors open, while we wait for the stable return of national and international events,” said Mr. Martin.