Tuesday, December 19, 2023
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) is wrapping up 2023 on a high note, having successfully hosted 1,724 events throughout the year. This represents a significant rebound for the venue, which faced a challenging 2021 with only 300 events during the peak of the pandemic.
In addition to hosting the 1,724 events, the Centre welcomed a total of 1,342,295 delegates in 2023. Both international and Malaysian visitors contributed to the Centre’s impressive economic impact, estimated at RM656 million for Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia—more than double the economic impact generated in 2022.
John Burke, the Centre’s General Manager, expressed delight with the outstanding performance in 2023, surpassing ambitious targets by over 30%. He credited the success to the hard work and dedication of the team, emphasizing the collaborative effort within the Malaysian business events supply chain, including the contributions of partners like the Malaysia Exhibition and Conference Bureau (MyCEB).
Looking back at the Centre’s history since its opening in 2005, John highlighted its role in hosting over 20,000 events, welcoming more than 28 million guests, and generating over RM11 billion in economic impact for Malaysia. He emphasized the significant contribution of the business events sector to Malaysia’s ongoing prosperity, particularly in facilitating knowledge exchange, best practices, and learning through major international conventions and exhibitions.
Ravindran Sathiamoorthy, the Centre’s Director of Sales, provided insights into the revenue distribution for 2023, with Conventions contributing 26%, Exhibitions 28%, and the Corporate segment (including banquets, functions, meetings, and events) generating 46%. Entertainment events, including international acts, reached a record high of 29 during the year. Conventions and Exhibitions combined accounted for 54% of revenue, with plans to increase this to 60% in the future. Sathiamoorthy expressed optimism for a positive 2024, with 65% of targeted revenue already secured through advance bookings.
Looking ahead, the Centre has confirmed 47 exhibitions and 32 conventions for the next 12 months, including major international events. These commitments are anticipated to benefit not only the Centre but also the entire Malaysian business events supply chain, the tourism industry, and the country as a whole.
Beyond business success, the Centre achieved notable milestones in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives in 2023. These efforts, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the venue’s Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) pledge, included waste reduction initiatives, extensive recycling programs, food waste minimization, sustainable sourcing practices, and a subscription to the Green Electricity Tariff (GET). The Centre also formalized a sustainability partnership with the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) to enhance progress toward net zero goals.
The Centre received recognition for its sustainability efforts through awards such as “Best Managed & Sustainable Property” and “Malaysia’s Outstanding Specialized Development 2023” at The Edge Best Managed & Sustainable Property Awards (BMSPA) 2023. Other accolades in 2023 included the “Best Convention and Exhibition Centre” at the TTG Travel Awards, the “Malaysia Partner Experience of the Year – Exhibition Centre” from the Asian Experience Awards, and the “Graduate’s Choice of Employer in Hospitality” award from Talentbank.
The culinary expertise of the Centre’s chefs was showcased at the Culinaire Malaysia chefs’ competition, where they secured numerous medals, including four gold, six silver, and six bronze. The Centre’s team emerged as champions in the Most Outstanding Chef and Junior Chef categories.
In 2023, the Centre actively promoted Malaysia as the preferred business events destination in Southeast Asia, participating in major international travel and business event trade shows worldwide. John Burke’s election to the prestigious UFI Board of Directors further reinforced the Centre’s global standing.
Looking forward, the Centre is not resting on its laurels and has planned enhancements and upgrades for 2024. These include a revamped Ten on Call (TOC) area, new meeting rooms, and interactive meeting control technologies to improve delegate and organizer experiences in line with evolving workstyles and meeting trends.
John Burke concluded by expressing gratitude to everyone at the Centre, acknowledging their resilience and dedication, and looking ahead to 2024 with optimism. With 65% of the revenue target already secured, the Centre remains committed to excellence, innovation, and creating a venue that fosters collaboration and connectivity in the global events landscape.
There are no upcoming events at this time
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