Malaysia bounces back with 46 event wins

New bid wins span the entire MICE spectrum, despite industry-wide challenges due to Covid-19.

With bookings from now until 2024, Malaysia remains a favoured destination for international delegates.
With bookings from now until 2024, Malaysia remains a favoured destination for international delegates. Photo Credit: Gettyimages/alex cheong

It is good news in dark times for the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), which has announced 46 event wins clinched in the third quarter of 2020.

The breakdown stands at 21 conventions and exhibitions, 19 meetings and incentives, and six trade exhibitions. For the lattermost category, this includes the Asian Consumable Appliances and Smart Electronics Trade Expo (ACASE) 2020, Kuala Lumpur International Logistics and Transportation Exhibition (KILAT) 2020 and Asia Fence Expo 2020.

The bureau has secured bookings right up until 2022: the 19th Asian Battery Conference and Exhibition (19ABC), the 16th World Federation of Chiropractic Biennial Congress and Asian Mayor’s Summit on Active Living 2022.

As a further testament to the global event community's confidence in Malaysia, the country has also won the bid to host the Asia-Oceanian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (AOCRM) 2024. The conference typically receives an average of 1,000 global participants.

“We would like to thank you and your team for a job well done [in supporting] us for the successful AOCRM bid,” said Dr. Nazirah Hasnan, president of Malaysian Association of Rehabilitation Physicians (MARP) Malaysia.

These wins have come on the back of new health and safety SOPs for events and strategically launched campaigns to support the reopening of Malaysia's domestic MICE sector.

The ‘Meet in Malaysia' campaign launched in July takes a two-pronged approach to stimulate both domestic meetings and restore confidence among the international market to encourage planners to return when travel restrictions are eased.

Malaysia took the win for Best Conferences & Exhibitions Destination (Asia) at M&C Asia Stella Awards 2020 on Tuesday, 20 October.
Malaysia took the win for Best Conferences & Exhibitions Destination (Asia) at M&C Asia Stella Awards 2020 on Tuesday, 20 October.

In fact, at the recent M&C Asia Stella Awards 2020 held Tuesday, 20 October, Malaysia was named Best Conference & Exhibitions Destination (Asia). During the event, MyCeb CEO, Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani, spoke of the importance of stabilising the entire MICE supply chain.

“[We are] engaging all industry stakeholders in order to restore trust among regional and international meetings planners. We believe business events will be greater together.”

In related news, the country is two days away from the lifting its Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) enforced in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya amid a third wave of Covid-19. This includes a temporary ban on all MICE events and social gatherings.

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