Press Room

Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre has been declared as a safe business event venue under the SafeBE certification following – a stringent inspection and audit by Bureau Veritas – a globally recognised certification body. The certification falls under its public buildings Inspection category based on convention centre certification guideline.

The audit process takes into account standard operating procedures in relation to covid-10 preparedness and safety measures.

“We have a comprehensive health and safety guide that governs all aspects of operations. Clients and partners who host an event at MITEC are briefed on our covid-19 safety policies and standards,” said Ms. Mala Dorasamy, the acting chief executive officer.

While Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture recognises the SafeBE certification, as part of a collaboration between the public and private sector, which comes under the Travel Safe Alliance cooperation consisting of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Malaysia Association of Hotel, Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers and Malaysia Airlines Group.

Sarawak government has announced its support of convention legacies, as part of the master plan for the state’s Post Covid Development Strategy 2030. The Business Events Sarawak Legacy, or BESLegacy as its known, is an initiative where business events planners can design their convention activities to align with the outcome of the legacy sought after.

The announcement was made during the virtual industry session themed ‘The Rising Impact of Business Events – TRIBE’ hosted by BESarawak in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Sarawak, and  the International Congress & Convention Association.

BESLegacy Initiative is a joint effort between the Sarawak Government and the business events industry. The Initiative has identified five core areas in which legacies can take place on a sectoral level, economic and environmental impact, as well as on the community’s social and political aspect.

According to the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Dr. Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, Sarawak is placing top priority on designing conventions as economic and social change makers. The legacy impact which is commonly known as convention legacies, was included in the Sarawak government’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 to recalibrate the destination’s economic, social and environmental development. Business events and legacy impact are officially marked as an aid to achieving the government’s objectives.

BESarawak’s chief executive officer, Ms. Amelia Roziman mentioned that the Sarawak government’s commitment will lead to the acceptance and long term development of legacy impact, as an equal to economic impact.

A new artwork by New Zealand’s multi-media and installation artist Lonnie Hutchinson, Hana will be placed in the foyer of Te Pae Christchurch, ahead of the convention centre’s opening later this year.

The three koru-shaped chandelier-like installations, are made of 11,000 glass and acrylic beads, and have a combined weight of just over one ton.

“Hana means to illuminate or brighten,” says Lonnie Hutchinson. “The work has been inspired by the Ngāi Tahu creation story and the concept of Ahikā or keeping the home fires burning. These illuminated yellow and red beads will combine to draw people into Te Pae Christchurch and help them feel welcome.”

“Each koru is made up of 109 individual strands, some as long as four metres. So, it has taken an army to thread them onto the wires. I’m so grateful to volunteers from the Christchurch Art Gallery who were able to lend a hand and a critical eye to the project.”

Te Pae Christchurch is being delivered by Ōtākaro Limited on behalf of the Crown.

Ōtākaro’s chief executive, Mr. John Bridgman affirmed that the Te Pae Christchurch is close to completion and is going to be an iconic building for the city.  He further mentioned, the Hana artwork effectively located in the front window is a spectacular sight both day and night for the convention centre.

The opening of the convention centre is scheduled for December, and the venue will begin hosting its first events leading up to Christmas.

After six months of hibernation since April 2021 due to COVID restrictions, Thailand’s biggest exhibition and convention centre, IMPACT is seeing the return of face-to-face events.

This is In line with Thailand opening its doors to fully vaccinated international travellers from over 63 countries with effect from November 1 this year; Thailand’s face-to-face event sector, is now seeing a gradual return of activities driven by the return of the staging of domestic events.

To date, it has been confirmed that 49 events will physically take place at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre between November and December this year – 12 of which are trade and consumer exhibitions organised by the government, private sector, and trade associations – serving markets such as; science and technology, Smart SMEs, baby products, automotive, finance and food and beverage.

In addition to exhibitions, over 14 business meeting and training seminar events are also booked during this period, reflecting the pent-up demands for face-to-face knowledge and networking exchanges.

Over the next two months, the venue will also host 13 wedding events now that restrictions for such events have been relaxed. Other types of events taking place will include public examinations, sporting, and competition events.

The return of face-to-face events to IMPACT is timely as it celebrates its 23rd anniversary of operations this year. Over the years, the venue has established itself as one of the biggest and most modern exhibition and convention venues in Thailand and Southeast Asia, with over 140,000 square metres of indoor space, 100,000 square metres of outdoor space and two on-site hotels with over 967 rooms.

Mr. Loy Joon How, the general manager stated that IMPACT looks forward to a return in normalcy, and hopes to establish the pre-COVID situation of hosting over 800 events and welcoming over 10 million attendees annually.

In terms of accessibility to the venue, it will further be made easier to reach the exhibition and convention centre, with two mass rapid transit train stations under construction at the venue, which will be operational by end of 2024.

The tribute was made at ICCA’s 60^th Best Marketing Award event, a signature ceremony of the international body that recognises, the excellence and accomplishments of destinations around the world in their effort to market their products and services.

Ms Amelia Roziman, chief executive officer of BESarawak said that the award is a reflection of the stakeholder’s commitment to elevate the industry’s market presence and standards of excellence in Sarawak.

Sarawak on the other hand, has demonstrated true marketing flair with its advocacy marketing plan ‘Sarawak 2030’, where the local business events industry through Business Events Sarawak collaborated with the government sector, in identifying the economic and non-economic returns of business events as part of the government’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030.

While the marketing through transformation theme adopted by ICCA at this year’s event reflects on the marketing challenges faced by destinations during the pandemic and how, the industry innovate and remain resilient during the covid-19 outbreak.

The award is the second time Sarawak is recognised for its achievements, in 2008 Sarawak won the coveted ICCA Best Marketing Award.

The lifestyle event returned to the Centre from October 28 to 31 and with the recent announcement by the government of Malaysia, to expedite, the resumption of business events; all scheduled upcoming events are now able to proceed at the Centre, without any need for postponements or cancellations.

Over 50 events ranging from conferences, exhibitions, meetings and dinners are to take place at the Centre by year-end.

This event has always been a significant part of our annual event calendar and to host it again after a challenging two years, is a privilege to me and my team. This is made possible by the accelerated government move to re-open the industry allowing business continuity in the supply chain and stimulation of our economy. We have worked very closely with the organisers to ensure a safe and smooth journey for visitors and guests while at the Centre during the four days, said Alan Pryor, the general manager.

HOMEDEC has been a recurring show for the Centre since 2006 where visitors, are able to discover new designs and home solutions at the exhibition.  This year, the show utilised some five exhibition halls at the Centre occupying up to 10,000 square metres of space.

The country’s centre of covid-19 situation administration which is the  body that oversees disease control measures and covid-19 policies, has approved TCEB’s proposal to allow MICE events to be held under covid free setting protocols.

This follows the government’s announcement on October 11 that fully-vaccinated overseas visitors will be allowed to enter Thailand without having to serve quarantine from November 1. The reopening, will begin, with a list of countries the centre of covid-19 situation administration considers low-risk, such as the United States, United Kingdom, China, Germany and Singapore.

Approval of TCEB’s MICE proposal was the result of the collaboration between the bureau with the department of health, department of disease control of the Ministry of Public Health, and 23 partner organisations, which include the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai Exhibition Association, Business Creative and Event Management Association, and the Thai Hotels Association.

Under TCEB’s proposal, limits on a venue’s operating hours and number of attendees will be relaxed. Trade fair centres, convention centres, exhibition halls, and event spaces in hotels and department stores will be allowed to operate until 10.00 pm in all cities and provinces.

Number of attendees allowed however, will depend on the event site’s risk level of which there are five levels: maximum controlled and strict zone (highest risk); maximum controlled zone; controlled zone; high surveillance zone; and surveillance zone (lowest risk).

For maximum controlled and strict zone, the number of attendees allowed has been raised from 25 to 50 while for maximum controlled zone from 50 to 100 and controlled zone from 100 to 200. High surveillance zone is from 200 to 300. However, for surveillance zone, the number is maintained at 500.

This easing of restrictions will require venues and organisers to strictly follow a set of three covid free setting protocols covering the event environment, personnel and customers

TCEB’s proposal incorporating covid free setting is the first step towards reviving MICE in Thailand and the next step would be, for TCEB and its partners to push for further easing, especially for larger size events stated Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

After successfully hosting the hybrid programs of the 2021 ICCA Congress, Seoul city continues to grow as a global hybrid destination with two more events scheduled, the World Congress of Neurology 2021 and World Congress of Audiology 2026. Winning the bids for the two international events will see between 1,000 to 5,000 participants to Seoul and the experiences the city can acquire, from hosting different types of international hybrid events.

Further to this, the Seoul Convention Bureau has announced the city’s long term plans to establish a hybrid model for its meetings and exhibitions industry.  This is in support of in-person events when the industry resumes business. The bureau has stepped up its information and communications technology –  soon to be released is the upgraded version of its 3-D event hosting.

Seoul Convention Bureau was also the first member in Asia to join the Hybrid City Alliance. Part of the bureau’s effort for the city to become a multi-hub global hybrid destination.

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The collaboration was established during a road show ’Meet in Malaysia @ Sarawak’ held in Kuching in conjunction with the launch of the city, as a member of the Hybrid City Alliance.

‘Meet in Malaysia’ campaign is MyCEB’s brainchild to captivate engagement with the national business events industry and powering its move to support recovery efforts.

While the inclusion of Kuching in the Alliance is expected, to create, new value proposition for business events planners in Sarawak, and increase Sarawak’s destination appeal.

Joining the Hybrid City Alliance is also said to be a strong point for Sarawak government’s Post Covid Development Strategy 2030 which identify digital transformation as a means, to expedite economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability.

To date, Sarawak has secured 105 business events worth approximately RM332.1 million in total economic impact of which RM20 million in tax revenue and 26,354 jobs.

Since 2010 until 2020, MyCEB has supported 86 events for Sarawak, bringing in over 40,000 delegates which have contributed RM457.0 million in estimated economic impact. Under the ‘Meet in Malaysia’ campaign since its launch on  July 24 last year, the campaign has supported four events that will be held in Sarawak, expecting 2,600 delegates and contributing to RM26.9 million in estimated economic impact

MyCEB became a member of the Hybrid City Alliance in December 2020which it intends, through the partnership, offer solutions for national and international events taking place across cities in the country.

In a press release issued by the corporate communications department of the venue stated that; the recommence of the business events sector in the country bodes well, for the small medium enterprises and Malaysian businesses in general. In 2019 the business events sector alone recorded RM9.2 billion in revenue of the national economy.

The acting chief executive officer of MITEC, Ms. Mala Dorasamy welcomed the re-opening of business events and the venue look forward to the return of all conferences and exhibitions. MITEC she mentioned has, contributed in strengthening small and medium enterprises in the country – significantly contributed to job creation with more than 841,000 gig worker labour hours – as well as jobs for over 100,000 people since the inception of centre.

According to the acting chief executive officer, collaboration is key to the recovery of business and MITEC, has worked with the country’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to convert the venue, as a mega vaccination centre handling over 12,000 people for vaccination a day.

At the same time, MITEC successfully collaborated with the international trade industry to operate as an industrial vaccination centre under a public-private partnership.

It has also partnered with the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau for the ‘Lets Meet tomorrow’ and ‘Let’s Meet Locally’ campaigns.  Both campaigns are aimed at stimulating the domestic business events industry and to encourage new domestic events in Malaysia.

On the road to recovery, Malaysia has now permitted domestic travel to revive travel and tourism within the country. It is expected that the country will reinstate overseas travel by end of the year.