Northstar

Feature Cover Story 24 MAY-JUN 2019 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS MCMAG-ASIA.COM "With the increasing need to provide unforgettable meeting experiences and clients' ever readiness to explore out-of- the-norm, a trend of holding events outside the conference halls or ballroom is surfacing." GUNTHER BEISSEL, CEO, MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE & EXHIBITION CENTRE TRADE & EXHIBITION CENTRE MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE & EXHIBITION CENTRE | MITEC CONTINUED KEY UPDATES MITEC's website now displays new languages: Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin, as well as a chat-bot. Marking another rst in Malaysia is the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets, which allow meeting planners to view MITEC's 45,000 sqm virtually. End 2019 will also see the launch of an Exhibitor Service Centre, which allows clients to complete applications, manage documents, submit service orders, and make payments from the comfort of their oce. Come September 2019, MITEC will also unveil two multipurpose rooms, joining the existing 11 exhibition halls, one ballroom, 13 meeting rooms, and two outdoor amphitheatres. VICINITY ALLURE MITEC sits right within Kuala Lumpur's International Trade and Exhibition District, and is the agship face of the KL Metropolis nucleus: a 75.5-acre mixed integrated development. Lodging is not too far o either, with 3,268 hotel rooms from the four- or ve-star brackets located within a 10km radius or under a 15-minute drive from MITEC. Japan's rst international conference centre opened in 1966, and its 156,000sqm grounds have since hosted nearly 17,000 conferences and events. As proof of its enduring legacy, ICCK added their third independent building within the complex in October 2018. KEY UPDATES The New Hall features 2,000sqm of space, built for use in conjunction with the adjacent 3,000sqm Event Hall, which together brings its capacity to over 4,000 attendees. The new space features the latest technology and sustainable practices, while still retaining the clean lines of Kyoto-style design, such as rice-paper walls and traditional lacquered furnishings. VICINITY ALLURE The city centre is 15 minutes away, though visitors are likely to explore the surrounding Mt. Hiei in the east and Japanese gardens in the south. The closeness to nature results in deeper social interaction and engagement, according to Shunichi Uchida, president, ICCK. The 300- room Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto can be reached on foot, and another 10 more hotels are just 15 minutes away by car. KYOTO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER | ICCK 3D-projection mapping on full display in ICCK's New Hall.

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