Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur rise in ICCA global rankings

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur have strengthened their global standing in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) 2024 Country & City Rankings, reaffirming their position as premier destinations for international business events.

The country hosted 129 international association meetings last year, moving up two spots to 31st in the global country rankings and holding firm at 9th place in the Asia Pacific, remaining within the region's Top 10.

Kuala Lumpur also made impressive gains, jumping six places to 26th in the World City Rankings.

"Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur's growing reputation reflects their compelling value proposition," said Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre's (the Centre) general manager John Burke.

With Kuala Lumpur International Airport served by 79 airlines and visa-free access for 175 countries, Malaysia provides the great connectivity that global business events demand, he said in a statement.

"On top of that, we have a mature supply chain aligned with global standards, wide English proficiency and a favourable exchange rate. Combined with its rich cultural heritage and natural assets, Malaysia is a competitive choice."

According to the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), business events are projected to contribute RM42.12 billion to the economy by 2030 and attract 5.9 million delegates. These events are expected to drive trade, boost tourism, and support job creation.

The Centre was a key venue last year, hosting many of the city's 78 international association events.

Owned by KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, a Petroliam Nasional Bhd subsidiary, the Centre is located beneath the Petronas Twin Towers in the KLCC precinct. It offers 34,000 sqm of flexible, purpose-built space with integrated facilities.

Burke noted that with sustainability becoming a growing priority in global events, responsible and long-term growth will be vital.

-nst online.

PATA, ICCA to nurture business travel in Asia-Pacific

 

PATA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), becoming dedicated partners in establishing meaningful connections between the two organisations.

The MoU was signed in conjunction with the 62nd ICCA Congress in Bangkok hosted by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). This is the second time Thailand played host to the ICCA Congress, with the first time in 2007 in Pattaya.

Both parties plan to create joint programme content designed to nurture the ‘Business Travel’ sector in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasise sustainability in future activities and events, and begin cross-participation in flagship events between the Associations, among other priorities.

“This partnership holds great promise for the expansion of business opportunities in the region as there is important synergy between the travel and tourism industry and business events, as both relate to travel and economic impact for destination and industry players. We eagerly look forward to sharing valuable insights and best practices with them,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid.

“We both share values around sustainability, education, legacy, and advocating for the global significance of international collaboration and partnership. Asia-Pacific is an amazing place, culturally diverse and endlessly fascinating. It offers so much to the world in terms of travel and business. Yet it is the people here that are key to developing new opportunities, and ICCA salutes the collective energy, efficiency, and boundless desire to create unique event experiences for all,” said ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath.

-TTG Asia.

The Future of Business Events in Malaysia - Tuesday Talk Live ( 5 May 2020 )

TuesdayTalk LIVE - tomorrow at 10.00am!

The 5th edition of TuesdayTalk LIVE tomorrow, this time in collaboration with MACEOS, will be discussing the Future of Business Events in Malaysia, with speakers from different states in Malaysia, including Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Bin Daud, CEO of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Tune in as our speakers share their market outlook and trends of the Business Events industry in Malaysia and their plans for business recovery.

Set your calendar reminders, this webinar is not to be missed. See you tomorrow!

Join here:
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85856496191
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0XM-KQk4JWd-PIN1KaZScA

-Place Borneo MICE Management.

ICCA Malaysia names its leaders

ICCA Malaysia has nominated Ho Yoke Ping and Fu Kei Cheong to lead the charge in strengthening Malaysia's profile as a business events destination as chair and deputy chair respectively.

Ho is general manager – sales and marketing at Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, while Fu is the general manager of Reliance Conventions & Events. The nine members of ICCA Malaysia met last week to pick its leaders through an election.

Speaking after her appointment, Ho said: “It is timely to form a Malaysia committee so we can strengthen the Malaysian business events industry.  As the host of ICCA Congress 2016, which will be held in Kuching, we want to showcase Malaysia’s capability and lift the profile of the Malaysia business events industry.

“We will focus on working with students, the government, national associations and the trade to further strengthen the business events industry in Malaysia.”

ICCA Malaysia member, Anthony Wong, said setting up the committee was a step in the right direction. “We need to have formal gatherings so we can work closely as a team and strengthen the industry further by pooling resources and working closely with academia and government,” he commented.

-TTG Asia.

Oneworld enters conventions market, buyers mixed about alliances' offers

OneWorld has joined other global air alliances in competing for large convention groups, although data shows international meetings are actually getting smaller. 
 
Like Star Alliance Conventions Plus, Oneworld Events, launched at IMEX last week, offers a “one-stop solution” to planners with a meeting of minimum 500 pax travelling from at least two regions.
 
The solution comprises discounted flights on its member airlines, an easy-to-use online booking system for attendees, online real-time management reports 24/7 for planners and a promotional toolkit to build attendee awareness, among others. Attendees earn miles as usual, while planners earn credits for travel on participating Oneworld airlines.
 
Jose Maria Alvarado, Oneworld Alliance’s director-sales, said Oneworld Events was superior to the others because “we are easier to use and faster to market”.
 
He said timing and technology made it feasible to launch this solution now. “ICCA data shows 3.5 million delegates attend these kinds of conferences and events around the world every year, spending around US$1.5 billion on air travel,” he said.
 
But a check with ICCA also shows that 75 per cent of international meetings are attended by fewer than 500 pax, with the average size hovering between 230 pax and 256 pax from 2003 to 2012.
 
This explains why Star Alliance and Skyteam also offer solutions aimed at small meetings (e.g., Star’s Meetings Plus targets events with minimum 50 international passengers from at least three countries).
 
Asked if Oneworld Events would lose out because of this, Michael Blunt, Oneworld’s vice president corporate communications, said: “Most of our member airlines will continue to offer their own MICE products, and our feeling is that these individual airline offerings are better suited to this end of the market, while our new Oneworld Events product is ideal for the large-scale conference or event.
 
“Our 500 delegates number is a guideline only, rather than a firm cut-off limit. We will of course look at exceptions so long as many hundred of international delegates are expected to attend.”
 
Blunt insisted there is “a big market for big conventions and events in many parts of the world”. “In the past few months, Oneworld has been approached by organisers arranging conferences for 1,000 to 5,000 delegates in venues ranging from Buenos Aires, Singapore and Vienna,” he said.
 
Kitty Wong, president, K&A International, Taiwan, remains sceptical about the effectiveness of alliances’ MICE solutions. “It’s hard to force all the airline members in the alliance to offer the same deal, i.e., the best market price or 50 per cent off the tariff, especially when the meeting is smaller than 500 pax and the reality is, most meetings are.” Wong said she was talking to two airlines directly for her bigger conventions of more than 3,000 pax to be held in the next few years and even then, “although I know the key guys, I’m not sure if I can get a better deal”.

Sumate Sudasna, head of CDM Thailand, agreed the fares were “hardly attractive compared to market prices”, but added that the solution could work if it made the event host’s life easier.
-TTG Asia.