The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre), Malaysia’s premier purpose-built venue for conferences, exhibitions, and events, commemorated its 20th anniversary with a vibrant reception on 12 June, bringing together industry stakeholders, partners, and clients to celebrate two decades of excellence as a hub for global dialogue, economic growth, and cultural exchange.
Themed “Celebrating the Past 20. Shaping the Next 20.”, the evening was hosted by popular singer and actress Atilia Haron, who entertained guests with her warm hosting and musical performances. The event also showcased the Centre’s award-winning culinary talents with dishes made from locally and sustainably sourced ingredients—some of which were served on standalone ice sculptures.
“Events are changing. Client needs are changing. The next 20 years will depend on our ability to adapt and be agile. We have evolved our event support services as event formats change. We have refurbished and redesigned many parts of the event space to enhance and meet new client needs. And there are more developments to come. We have gone into overdrive on our sustainability efforts. For example, we are powered by green energy, we compost 100% of our waste food and 70% of our food and beverage is locally sourced in Malaysia,” said the Centre’s General Manager John Burke, who took the helm in 2023.Since opening in 2005, the Centre has hosted over 22,000 events and welcomed 29 million visitors, contributing RM12.6 billion to Malaysia’s economy. It is the only venue in Malaysia to have hosted multiple ASEAN Summits—2005, 2015, and most recently, the 46th ASEAN Summit held in May 2025. World leaders and global icons that have been welcomed by the Centre include the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the 44th U.S. President Barack Obama, and football legend David Beckham. “Some of the team members of the Centre have been here from day one. It is their anniversary too.” John added as he thanked all those present for their support in the centre’s success, including all team members. During the reception, the Centre expressed its gratitude to KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd for its collaborative spirit and continued trust. The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is managed by Convex Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd and ASM Global. The Centre also expressed its sincere appreciation to all past and present clients, as well as its precinct partners in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Business Events Alliance (KLCCBEA). The KLCCBEA members include the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Impiana KLCC Hotel, Suria KLCC, airline partners, and the KLCC team for their continued collaboration and support. Also acknowledged were the valuable contributions of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), along with international affiliates such as the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), for their continued support in strengthening Malaysia’s presence in global business events. To mark its 20th anniversary, the Centre launched KLCC Connects earlier in the year, a long-term initiative that aims to unite its sustainability actions and community partnerships under one forward-looking platform. The focus of the initiative is to foster collaboration across the business events industry, hospitality sector, tertiary institutions, NGOs, and UNSDG stakeholders such as Urbanice Malaysia.