N THE HEART OF SOUTHEAST ASIA, MALAYSIA offers a meetings destination as diverse as its multicultural population. From skyscraper- studded skylines and modern convention ven- ues in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, to the tropical paradise of Langkawi, where five-star resorts and lush beaches await, Malaysia has meeting professionals taking notice of the des- tination’s ideal location for meetings, exhibi-
tions, and events. Leaping a notable three spots to No. 28 in the
latest country rankings from the International Congress and Convention Association, Malaysia has also seen a 24-percent jump in the number of meetings held there in the past year — from 96 in 2009 to 119 in 2010. And when more than 2,200 attendees from 93 countries gathered at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in July for the Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) first-ever conference in Asia, the response was overwhelmingly positive. “We were looking for a central destination in Asia that would
attract attendees from other continents,” said Augusto Baeta, direc- tor of international conferences for the IIA. “We had high expecta- tions regarding our event, and Malaysia met all of them. The Malay- sian government also played a large role in our success by helping promote the event.” With more than 2,200 attendees, IIA’s 2011 conference set a new
Situated in the heart of Asia, Malay- sia offers easy access to more than 55 percent of the world’s population.
registration record for an IIA International Conference held outside of the United States, surpassing IIA’s 2007 conference, which had 1,975 attendees. Since Malaysia is situated in the heart of Asia, the country pro-
vides convenient access to more than 55 percent of the world’s pop- ulation. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) connects visitors to more than 100 international destinations, and new transportation options will make getting to and around Kuala Lumpur, the country’s
pcma convene November 2011 ✱
MALAYSIA MULTIPLIED: The Kuala Lumpur Con- vention Centre will add 10,000 square meters of additional meeting space by 2013.
hub for large conventions, even easier. KLIA will add a new low-cost carrier terminal in April 2012, and a new citywide mass-rapid-transit system will be completed by 2020. A series of walkways linking shop- ping and entertainment in Bukit Bintang to Kuala Lumpur City Centre will provide additional convenience for visitors. Transportation isn’t the only area with new development in
Malaysia: Close to 4,000 new hotel rooms will debut by the end of 2011, including the 473-room InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, 361- room Best Western Premier Dua Sentral, and 214-room Four Points by Sheraton Langkawi Resort. 2012 and beyond will bring even more options with the opening of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s 10,000-square-meter expansion, along with more than a dozen hotels, including the 402-room Hyatt Kuala Lumpur and the 513- room Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar. Whether it’s international meetings, exhibitions, or corporate
incentives, the nonprofit Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) can assist meeting professionals with every stage of the meeting-planning process. n