ICE Jakarta
In what may prove a game changer for organisers, the International Convention and Exhibition Jakarta opened last August in BSD City, a new development in the north of the capital. BSD is nearer the airport and offers an alternative to the congestion experienced in downtown Jakarta where, despite the traffic challenges, executives are eager to meet corporate partners and tap into the huge Indonesian market.
Progress towards improving Jakarta’s infrastructure with a light-rail and subway system have faced delays, but the Deutsche Messe-operated facility spared no time in opening and proving its capabilities with events ranging from conventions and concerts, to car shows and exhibitions. The capital’s convention bureau also sees it as an opportunity to attract more large association conferences and business meetings.
Borneo Convention Centre
Borneo Convention Centre Kuching won its category at the “rawr” business event awards, organised by Malaysia Convention Bureau in November. Next November, it will have ratcheted up another achievement – the hosting of the ICCA conference, the global gathering of conference and congress organisers.
ICCA 2016 will also reflect the centre’s position as “Kuching’s pride and joy” – a modern facility that complements East Malaysia’s rainforest environment. The roof is shaped as a ririk leaf, a rainforest plant important to the locality. Rainwater flows down the central vein of the leaf on the rooftop and is collected for irrigation in the centre’s gardens and grounds
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Malaysia’s premier convention facility celebrated it 10th year anniversary in 2015. Among the honours it has garnered this year has been the International Association of Convention Centres Innovation Award. KLCC impressed judges with its TenOnCall concept that helps planners seeking meeting space at short notice. TenOnCall sets aside 10 flexible meeting spaces available on the day of request for half or full-day packages without any hidden costs.
The centre’s foyers provide enviable views looking up to the Petronas Twin Towers and looking over the Kuala Lumpur City Centre development, which has a park as the centerpiece surrounded by an upscale mall, restaurants, hotels and residencies. Work has begun on “Lot 91” alongside the centre. By 2018, KLCC will gain 10,000 sqm of space, enabling it to host larger association meetings and multiple events over the same period.
Langkawi Convention Centre
Asean leaders meeting in the tropical island of Langkawi last April were able to use three different entrances to ease their arrival and exit from the convention centre, which opened in time for the regional power talks. The opening of the centre this year symbolises Langkawi’s efforts to extend its allure to business event organisers.
The centre is alongside the Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa and linked by a covered walkway. A sister hotel in the form of the St Regis is due to open in April 2016, a five-minute drive from the centre.
Max Atria Singapore
The convention facility alongside Singapore Expo opened in 2012, heralding a number of firsts, including the first MICE venue in the city to attain a Green Platinum Award from the local authorities and the installing of complimentary, high-performance Xirrus wifi. The facility is state-of-the-art and prioritises high-tech eco-solutions such as 30 per cent savings on energy usage compared to other buildings of the same type, thanks to LED light fixtures.
The management of SingEx and Max Atria also operate management consultancy for overseas centres and have recently struck a deal with Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.
SMX, Philippines
The SMX centre in Manila will soon be linked to a new Conrad hotel – part of a development that is changing the face of the city’s bay area and helping it to compete as a business events destination. Among SMX Manila’s advantages is its proximity to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. SMX also owns convention facilities in Davao and Cebu, and added Bacolod to its portfolio in October 2014.
