KUALA LUMPUR, 5 June 2025 – Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur continue their upward trajectory in the ICCA (International Convention & Conference Association) 2024 Country & City Rankings report, strengthening their profile as premier business events destinations in the global marketplace.
Malaysia hosted 129 international association meetings, moving two places up to 31st in the global country rankings and placing 9th in the Asia Pacific region, remaining firmly in the region’s Top 10. Kuala Lumpur showed strong improvement, jumping six spots to 26th in the World City Rankings, with the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) among the venues that accommodated some of the city’s 78 international association meetings that year.
“Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur’s growing reputation reflects their compelling value proposition,” said the Centre’s General Manager John Burke. “With KLIA served by 79 airlines and visa-free access for 175 countries, Malaysia provides the great connectivity that global business events demand. On top of that, we have a mature supply chain aligned with global standards, wide English proficiency and a favourable exchange rate. Combined with its rich cultural heritage and natural assets, Malaysia is a competitive choice.”
To promote the global profile of both Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, the Centre maintains a strong partnership with the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB)—an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture—regularly collaborating at international trade shows to attract business events to the country.
In the first half of 2025, the Centre was part of MyCEB’s delegation at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) 2025 in Melbourne and IMEX in Frankfurt. Key international trade shows on MyCEB’s international calendar that the Centre will also be participating in later this year are The Meetings Show in London, and IBTM in Barcelona.
John also noted that as global emphasis on ESG escalates, sustainable growth will be key to ensuring the success of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and the Centre in the business events sector. He stressed the importance of industry efforts in positioning Malaysia as a sustainable business events destination.
“At the Centre, we are fully committed to setting a global benchmark in environmental responsibility and sustainability. In 2024, we achieved 100% food waste circularity through composting and strengthened our emissions reduction strategy by adopting green power via the Green Electricity Tariff (GET). We are targeting a 25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, guided by our Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) goals. We are also on our way to ISO 20121 certification in Sustainable Event Management,” he said.
As global business environments evolve, so too have delegate needs and expectations. The Centre believes flexibility is essential to meeting these demands, with personalisation and technology as the key enabler in delivering it. “Our newly refurbished meeting spaces feature hybrid technology and upgraded audio-visual infrastructure. A new shared workspace concept has also been launched to support delegates needing a convenient place to catch-up on work and life between sessions,” added John.
Located in the heart of the KLCC precinct beneath the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the world-class venue offers 34,000 sqm of flexible, purpose-built space with multiple advantages under one roof. Its commitment to global standards and operational excellence is reflected in its portfolio of ISO certifications, which include ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 37001 (Anti-Bribery Management System), and ISO 41001 (Facility Management System).
“With business events projected to contribute RM42.12 billion (USD 9.9 billion; Euro 8.8 billion) to our national economy by 2030, every international meeting or event we host delivers tangible value and long-term impact across our communities. The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is proud to be a key contributor to this dynamic sector, and we remain fully committed to maximising its potential,” he concluded.
For updates and latest news, visit the Centre’s Newsroom at www.klccconventioncentre.com or connect on social media (Facebook – @klccconventioncentre, LinkedIn – Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Twitter – @klccconvention and Instagram – @klccconventioncentre).
