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.
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 ~ MACEOS President, Francis Teo
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.
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 stakeholders. MBEA is a powerful gathering that recognises the great efforts of our industry players and MACEOS has been a strategic driver 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.
Winners List
Malaysia Business Events Awards 2023
- Innovative Booth Design Excellence Award (36sqm & below) – Pilatus Aircraft @ Lima 2023 by ES Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd
- Innovative Booth Design Excellence Award (37sqm-71sqm) – JCORP @ Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2023 by PICO International (M) Sdn Bhd
- Innovative Booth Design Excellence Award (72sqm & above) – Roca Malaysia @ ARCHIDEX 2023 by Qube Integrated (M) Sdn Bhd
- Innovative Pavilion Design Excellence Award (72sqm & above) – Korea Tourism Organization @ Natas Travel Fair 2022 by Innogen Sdn Bhd
- Most Interesting Event Excellence Award (1,000 Pax & Below) – Panasonic Awarding Dinner 2022 by Innogen Sdn Bhd
- Most Interesting Event Excellence Award (1,001 Pax & Above) – Platinum Business Awards 2023 by Radiant Expo Sdn Bhd
- Best Service Provider Excellence Award – Bulan Bintang Takes the Sky by Doremi Services & Rental Sdn Bhd
- Digital Integration Excellence Award – Malaysia Digital Expo 2023 (MDX) by Evenesis – Y Us Sdn Bhd
- Hotel With Meeting Facilities Excellence Award – The Everly Putrajaya
- Purpose Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Excellence Award (15,000sqm & below) – Borneo Convention Centre Kuching
- Purpose Built Convention & Exhibition Centre Excellence Award (15,001sqm & above) -Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)
- Trade Exhibition Excellence Award (10,000sqm & Below) – Engineer & Marvex 2023 by C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd
- Trade Exhibition Excellence Award (20,001sqm & Above) – DSA & NATSEC Asia 2022 by Dsa Exhibitions Holdings Sdn Bhd
- Consumer Exhibition Excellence Award (5,000sqm & below) – PH Expo 2023 by Property Hunter Sdn Bhd
- Consumer Exhibition Excellence Award (5,001sqm-10,000sqm) – Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE) by Asiaevents Exsic Sdn Bhd
- Consumer Exhibition Excellence Award (10,001sqm-15,000sqm) – HOMEDEC 2023 by C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd
- New Home-Grown Event Excellence Award (Trade Exhibition) – CyberDSA 2023 by Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd For Dsa Exhibition & Conference Sdn Bhd
- New Home-Grown Event Excellence Award (Consumer Exhibition) – Borneo International Garden Expo Sarawak 2023 by Borneo Convention Centre Kuching
- New Home-Grown Event Excellence Award (Congress/Convention) – E.A.T. Taste of Borneo Conference 2022 by Borneo Convention Centre Kuching
“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 about MACEOS’s upcoming signature event, BE in Sabah, underscoring the association’s commitment to digital transformation, professional standards, community strength, ongoing workforce upskilling, and a growth-oriented mindset.
“The inaugural BE in Sabah conference will be held 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.