MALAYSIA International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) took the coveted World’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre 2023 at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2023 in Dubai.
Receiving the award were Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC)’s head of marketing and sales, Cemone Chua, and senior F&B manager, Mohan Vasanthathevan.
MITEC triumphed out of 18 major business event venues including previous World Travel Awards (WTA) winners such as Las Vegas Convention Centre, ExCeL London, Qatar National Convention Centre, Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre and The Convention Centre Dublin.
The venue becomes the first Malaysian purpose-built centre for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and lifestyle events to win a WTA World Award since the awards inception in 1993.
MITEC now holds the distinction of being Malaysia’s only such venue to win both the WTA World and WTA Asia Awards for Leading Meetings and Conference Centre in the same year.
“This remarkable achievement reflects how MITEC is setting the global benchmark in the sector, as well as the strength of the Malaysian business events industry,” said WTA founder Graham Cooke.
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“The commitment of the entire MITEC team serves as an inspiration to us all,” he said.
Mala Dorasamy, MITEC chief executive, said: “This award holds significant meaning for us as we continuously strive to embody a purposeful and sustainable approach in managing MITEC.
“This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication and passion of every staff member of the MITEC team, members of the board, clients, service providers and stakeholders,” Dorasamy said.
As we shape the economic and professional landscape of business events in Malaysia by winning and hosting diverse world-class mega events, there will be a surge in demand for skilled professionals, creating more jobs that span event management, hospitality, logistics, and supporting sectors
– Mala Dorasamy, MITEC chief executive
“Just this year, MITEC generated 550,000 casual work hours and RM7.2million {about US$1.5m] in wages towards the gig economy sector, benefiting mostly university students by not only allowing them to earn but also gain meaningful hands-on professional experience in the events industry,” she added.
With 52,000 sqm of exhibition and convention space, MITEC is the largest trade and exhibition centre in Malaysia since opening in 2027. It served as a large vaccination centre in 2021 before reopening the following year to host more than 160 events and three million visitors through 2023.
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MITEC chairman, Abdul Rahman, said: “The centre significantly contributes to the economy of the country by hosting large-scale trade exhibitions that attract both domestic and international participants.
“The exchange of goods, services, and ideas within this dynamic environment stimulates economic activity, fostering collaboration and business development. Since its opening in 2017, MITEC has contributed estimated RM1 billion in economic impact to Malaysia,” Rahman said.
Main picture: Graham Cooke, founder of WTA, flanked by MITEC’s Mohan Vasanthathevan and Cemone Chua
