Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre at Its Peak in 2013!

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) closed 2013 on a high with a record 1,565 events; the most (events) held in a year since opening in June 2005, chalking up increased event and delegate numbers as well as economic contribution to the country. Besides an 8.5% jump in events, from 1,442, the venue welcomed 2.0 million delegates who contributed RM700 million (AUD235 million) in economic impact against 1.7 million delegates and RM590 million (AUD198 million) in 2012.

And during the course of the year in review, it continued to garner accolades with the ‘Purpose Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Award for Excellence’ in the Business Events category of the Malaysian rAWr (Recognising Award Winning Results) Awards 2013, Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s Universal Access Award 2013 which acknowledges the Centre’s design and layout as being accessible to all including the physically-challenged, the third consecutive ‘Most Outstanding Team in Culinary’ award at Culinaire Malaysia 2013 and the inaugural ICCA Best PR Award at the 52nd International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Congress 2013.

Speaking on the side-line of the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) 2014, General Manager, Datuk Peter Brokenshire shared that Australia continues to be an important target market for the facility and “we are especially proud to be the venue for Meetings & Events Australia’s (MEA) Annual National Conference 2014 from 15 to 17 May which is being held for the first time in Southeast Asia, and only the second time outside Australia.

“We shall definitely make the most of this occasion to showcase our offerings to Australia’s industry professionals and this is a very appropriate event to host during the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014 .”

Brokenshire added the MEA national conference will also allow the Centre’s Team Malaysia partners i.e., Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Malaysia Airlines, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), as well as local business tourism players to engage, network and explore business opportunities with over 500 international industry representatives.

In addition, with 2014 having been declared VMY 2014, the Centre will take advantage of the year-long celebration to highlight the country’s culinary diversity with exciting and creative, cross-cultural themed cuisine through its Culinaria campaign

Elaborating, the Centre’s Director of Sales & Marketing, Angeline Lue explained, “having garnered a reputation for innovative and creative culinary solutions for various events held at the Centre, Culinaria both defines and differentiates our culinary services from the competition whilst offering a value-added food & beverage experience that goes beyond standard convention fare and presentation.

“In addition, we will roll out special dishes and beverages every quarter at our public catering outlets; Parkview Deck and West Wing Café, so not only delegates but visitors and members of the public can enjoy the Culinaria experience,” said Lue.

And as technology becomes an even bigger component of any world-class convention facility, Lue said the Centre has initiated a RM7.5 million (AUD2.5 million) investment in technology upgrades as part of on-going efforts to enhance service delivery to delegates and visitors alike. “The investment covers four projects i.e., upgrading of the data centre backbone infrastructure to 10 Gigabytes and improving its virtualised server environment, implementation of a digital walkie-talkie system and installation of an IP (Internet Protocol) CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) system.”

On the subject of space, finalisation of plans including industry consultation for the adjacent Lot 91 bodes well for completion of the development by late 2017. Lot 91 will provide an additional 12,500 sqm of flexible and multipurpose space to the Centre’s current 22,659 sqm and enable the hosting of events with over 6,000 delegates and in turn, grow revenue by an estimated 40 percent.

The Centre is also set to benefit from its strategic location as accommodation choices in and around the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) precinct continues to increase. Between now and 2018, properties such as The Fairmont, St. Regis, The Regent, Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur, W Kuala Lumpur and the seven-star Harrods Hotel KL are scheduled to come on-stream. They will join an already impressive list that includes the 571-room Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 684-room Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, 523-room Impiana KLCC Hotel and 412-room Grand Hyatt Hotel, on-site and a further 4,800 hotel rooms in 4- and 5-star properties, all within a 10-minute walk.

Other major international events heading the Centre’s way this year include Toastmasters International’s 82nd Annual International Convention 2014; another first for the facility as this will be the first time in the organisation’s 89-year history its international convention is being held outside North America, 12th International Congress on Obesity, XXV FIG (International Federation of Surveyors) Congress 2014, 20th ASEAN Federation of Cardiology Congress, 16th Asian Congress of Architects 2014, 14th Western Pacific Congress on Chemotherapy and Infectious Diseases 2014 and Asia Water Expo 2014.