Page 357 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA 349
conventions, corporate meetings and incentives.
• Advising and assisting meeting and event planners on availability of local products and services.
• Assisting business event owners
with selection
of professional meeting and event management companies.
Malaysia has hosted many world-ranked conferences. Here Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong (Queen of Malaysia) officiates the opening of the Soroptimist International Convention 2019 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
• Providing
government liaison and contacts.
• Assisting with site inspections.
• Event promotion advice and assistance.
• Providing promotional materials.
• On-site event support programme including cultural shows, city tours and welcome kits for qualified groups.
Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB), set up by the Sarawak State Government in 2006, was the first convention marketing agency in Malaysia. SCB’s successful strategy – combining professional conference bidding and support services with innovative promotions that focus on the destination’s particular strengths – has attracted business events by the thousands. Although only Malaysia’s 8th largest municipality, state capital
Kuching has risen from nowhere to become the country’s second most popular business event location.
Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) was set up by the Penang State Government in 2016. PCEB has been actively promoting and developing business events in Penang
with remarkable success, doubling the number of events in the state in its first year of operation,
from 1,251 in 2016 to 2,511 in 2017. PCEB’s efforts were recognised with the Gold Award for ‘Best Convention & Exhibition Bureau’ category at the Malaysia Tourism Council Gold Awards 2019.
The Sarawak Convention Bureau’s success is built on promoting and bidding for original and innovative events, such as the Seeing Eye To Eye Conference 2019.