The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), in collaboration with the Department of Standards Malaysia and various business events industry players including The Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (MACEOS), is in the process of developing minimum Malaysian Standard requirements for PCOs, PEOs, and convention and exhibition centres in the country.
The Standard will emphasise compliance and practice in environmental, social and governance guidelines and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The initiative aims to attract more international business events and investors by ensuring higher levels of professionalism and services.
During a recent closed-door session by the Department of Standards Malaysia, representatives from PCOs, PEOs, and business event venues presented draft guidelines for minimum standard requirements. This meeting took place as part of Malaysia Business Events Week, hosted by MyCEB.
Industry stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, researchers, academia, business events players, the travel trade, and hospitality, were informed about the draft guidelines. They were invited to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement by October 14, 2024, to the Department of Malaysian Standards.
The guidelines are expected to be ready next year and it will be available on the Department of Standards Malaysia website.
Following this, MyCEB will train a panel of assessors to evaluate companies and certify those that meet the established standards.
The Malaysian Standard for convention centre, exhibition centre and event space outlines the general requirements of these spaces encompassing the physical setting, technology and services. Among the requirements of a physical setting of a convention centre is the capacity to fit at least 100 banquet tables or 1,000 people in theatre seating while the capacity requirement of an exhibition centre is being able to accommodate a minimum of 150 booths of nine square metres each.
Francis Teo, past president of MACEOS and working group committee head for convention centre, exhibition centre and event space, shared: “The Malaysian Standards will help future developers ensure that their facilities meet the benchmarks, creating venues that are competitive, efficient, and adaptable to a wide range of events while promoting growth in Malaysia’s business events industry.”
Meanwhile, The Malaysian Standard for PCOs establishes general criteria and a ‘tier-rating’ system to classify them.
Gracie Geikie, head of the working committee for PCO, explained that the requirements for a Tier 1 PCO include having provided PCO services for at least three years, managing a minimum of five national conventions or congresses with over 200 delegates in the past three years, and employing at least two certified key staff with a minimum of three years of PCO experience in the business events industry.
A Tier 2 PCO is considered more advanced, as the company must offer comprehensive PCO services for conventions and congresses, including handling the entire bidding process and strategic meetings management. Tier 2 PCOs should have managed at least five international conventions or congresses, each with over 800 delegates, and with at least 25 per cent foreign participation within the past five years. Additionally, the company must have a minimum of two certified key staff with at least five years of PCO experience, and employ at least two staff members who either hold or are in the process of obtaining international certification within the year.
This will provide clear benchmarks for companies entering the PCO business, Gracie shared. International organisers seeking to hold conferences or congresses in Malaysia will also benefit from a larger pool of qualified PCOs to choose from.
The Malaysian Standard also details the requirements for PEOs.
Exhibition organisers are responsible for identifying potential business opportunities, planning, and managing exhibitions either on behalf of a client or their own organisation. This role involves overseeing all aspects of an exhibition, from planning to execution, with a strong focus on customer service.
The minimum requirements in the draft of Malaysian Standard for a PEO includes having a registered physical premise for operations, experience in managing at least five exhibitions, and an upcoming exhibition within the year. Additionally, the company must have at least three certified key staff members with a minimum of five years of PEO experience in the business events industry to ensure the effective management of exhibitions.
