Just two-and-a-half year old and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) continues to garner recognition as the venue of choice for a host of prominent international, regional and national conventions, exhibitions, corporate meetings, banquets and entertainment events in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s federal capital. This is evident from…
Just two-and-a-half year old and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) continues to garner recognition as the venue of choice for a host of prominent international, regional and national conventions, exhibitions, corporate meetings, banquets and entertainment events in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s federal capital. This is evident from the review of 2007, which saw an estimated 32 percent growth over 2006 for the total number of events held and an encouraging increase by 26 percent in number of delegates/visitors attending events at the Centre.On the Centre’s second full-year performance, General Manager Peter Brokenshire said the Centre’s increasing popularity can be seen in the 628 events attended by over 2.1 million people, which produced 2.2 million delegate days held in 2007. This comprised 219 banquets and functions attended by 111,755 guests, 22 conventions attended by 17,237 delegates, 64 exhibitions attended by 1.8 million visitors, 293 meetings and events attended by 89,863 participants and 30 entertainment productions attended by 82,775 people.
Of the 628 events, 76 were international and the balance, national or local in nature. The average attendance was 3,397 delegates for an average duration of 2 days representing 3,542 delegate days per event.
The highest growth in terms of number of events was recorded in entertainment (50 percent), followed by exhibitions (39 percent) and banquet and functions (33 percent).
The 64 exhibitions were split 45 per cent Trade (206,264 visitors) and 54 per cent Consumer (1.6 million visitors) with an increasing number being recurrent shows. These figures placed the Centre as the preferred venue for 38.5 percent of all exhibitions held in Kuala Lumpur.
Elaborating further, Brokenshire said that among the more notable events were the 3rd Global Knowledge Conference attended by 1,766 delegates from 135 countries, Microsoft Tech Ed 2007 South East Asia (2,000 delegates), the 9th Hagemeyer Connections Conference & Trade Expo (850 delegates from Australia), Automechanika Asia 2007 (5,480 buyers), Offshore Asia Conference & Exhibition 2007 (2,290 delegates), Viennese Ball (575 guests), Chicago the Musical (10,000 guests), the historic Launch of the Angkasawan (Malaysia’s first astronaut, 2,100 guests) and many others. Both the Microsoft and Offshore Asia events are returning to the Centre for the third time in 2008.
“What is more important,” said Brokenshire “is that looking ahead, the Centre has won more than 15 international and regional conventions from 2008 through to 2011.”
These include The IIA 2011 International Conference (3,000 delegates), 14th Conference on Thinking 2009 (2,000 delegates), 18th Asian Pacific Congress of Cardiology 2011 (2,000 delegates), Asia Pacific Digestive Week 2010 (2,000 delegates) among others.
Up to December 2007, the Centre had already secured more than 300 bookings for 2008. In acknowledging the Centre’s success to date, Brokenshire said this would not have been possible without the support of “Team Malaysia” comprising the Centre’s strategic partners Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
“Without doubt, the ongoing cooperation among members of Team Malaysia to ensure that all bids showcase Malaysian hospitality and quality and efficient service delivery; from travel arrangements and point-of-arrival to event execution, business opportunities and cultural exposure, were critical in winning many of the businesses.”
Team Malaysia’s first win for 2008 is the 10th International Conference on Low Vision 2011.
2007 was also a year of achievements. The Centre won the ‘Best Exhibition and Convention Centre in Asia’ award in the TravelWeekly (Asia) Industry Awards 2007 and Brokenshire, the Malaysia Tourism Minister’s Special Award in the Malaysia Tourism Awards 2005/2006 that recognises individuals and organisations who have contributed significantly to Malaysia’s tourism industry.
In addition, the Centre is the only one in its industry in Malaysia, and among the select few in the Asian region to have its Food Safety, Quality, Environmental, Safety and Health (FOQESH) Management System successfully audited by the world’s leading certifier, Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) of London and the Malaysian National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Certification arm, NIOSH Certification Sdn Bhd (NCSB). Not only is the Centre now certified to ISO 9001, ISO 22000 and OHSAS 18001, it has benchmarked status to the Green Globe Company Standard which again, places it ahead of every other similar facility in Asia.
