Far from being a passing trend, “sustainability” is now being actively implemented through measurable actions. At its Malaysia Business Events Awards (MBEA) and Gala Dinner tonight, this is exactly what the Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (MACEOS) is putting in place to showcase its commitment and contribution to the Business Events industry.
In his opening speech, MACEOS President, Francis Teo revealed the association’s commitment to enhancing the industry through industry awards recognition, standards development, and partnerships with key stakeholders, and shared several of the association’s strategic actions to support the sustainability agenda.
Teo said: “MACEOS is supporting the global initiative Net Zero Carbon Events, and hopes that each and everyone here will do so as well. With sustainability growing from a simple catchphrase to concrete actions, we all need to play our part to ensure that Business Events becomes the solution, not the problem.”
In line with its sustainability goals, MACEOS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) tonight with Yayasan Hijau Malaysia, an agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, cementing a partnership to integrate sustainable practices into the industry. Signatories to the MOU were Dr. Nurul Muiz Murad, CEO of Yayasan Hijau Malaysia, and Teo.
Teo said: “We are pleased to engage with Yayasan Hijau Malaysia who is enthusiastic about supporting our sustainability journey. The partnership will see the implementation of a series of sustainability awareness and training programmes for MACEOS members to equip them with the tools and knowledge needed to foster sustainability within our industry.”
“To drive the agenda forward, we will align all our association’s activities around sustainability, and we expect our members to consciously implement sustainability efforts in all their business activities,” he added.
Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) CEO, Mr. Azman Haji Tambi Chik, who graced the evening’s award and dinner, lauded MACEOS for its proactive approach to supporting its members and nurturing a growth mentality. In his affirmation, he expressed: “MyCEB is delighted to bolster MACEOS on its path towards growth, development, and sustainability, along with the business events industry stakeholers. MBEA is a powerful gathering that recognises the great efforts of our industry players and MACEOS has been a strategic drivier in uplifting the business events industry in order to ensure we collectively maintain relevance and remain an influential force.
MACEOS is walking the talk at tonight’s second MBEA, where 19 awards were given out to industry professionals who put together not only innovative trade and consumer exhibitions, meetings, and conferences, but whose events scored points for the implementation of sustainable event solutions. (See list of winners attached).
“The MBEA serves as a platform to recognise and celebrate excellence within the business events sector. Sustainability and green initiatives were a key focus of the judging criteria this year, besides event novelty and concept, methodology and strategy, business generation, event innovation and creativity, and impact and effectiveness,” said Kenneth Fong, Organising Chair of MBEA.
Entries opened on 20 October 2023, judged by a panel of 21 individuals from government agencies, national and international trade associations and MACEOS Office Bearers. For recipients, the award is a testament to their remarkable achievements, contributions, and milestones that have shaped the industry.
Furthering their commitment to raising the quality of Business Events in Malaysia and ensuring business continuity on a global level, MACEOS has been on a journey with Jabatan Standards Malaysia to develop standards and regulate the industry. The standards were developed for three categories namely, (i) convention, exhibition centre and event space requirements; (ii) professional congress organiser requirements; and (iii) professional exhibition organiser requirements.
Teo said: “These standards will ensure quality benchmarks are in place to instil trust and confidence in our potential clients, enable us to strengthen Malaysia’s branding as a Business Events destination and allow us to expand into new markets globally.”
He went on to share two of MACEOS’s upcoming signature events, underscoring the association’s commitment to digital transformation, professional standards, community strength, ongoing workforce upskilling, and a growth-oriented mindset.
“The first is our inaugural conference, BE in Sabah, from 29 February to 1 March. It is jointly organised by the MACEOS Sabah Chapter and Sabah International Convention Centre to enhance the positioning of Sabah as a preferred destination for business events in Malaysia,” Teo said.
“The second initiative is organising the MACEOS flagship event, EventXpo, from 14 to 16 January 2025. This inaugural event will be a marketplace to connect businesses with the gig community and promote collaborations to sharpen the Business Events economy and spur entrepreneurial growth. enhance the existing Business Events industry.”
