Seven groundbreaking venues in Asia-Pacific are setting new standards for space, technology, and sustainability across the region
The global events industry is entering a high-growth phase with the arrival of several new convention centres in Asia-Pacific designed for a new era of connectivity.
From the New Zealand International Convention Centre to the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre, these landmarks aim to set new benchmarks in spatial versatility, technological infrastructure, and ESG-led design. We profile seven latest openings poised to reshape the international exhibition market.
Penang Waterfront Convention Centre
The Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC), opened in October 2025, is the largest convention and exhibition facility in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia.
Situated within The Light City integrated development on Penang Island, the centre benefits from its vibrant surroundings, including The Waterfront Shoppes with 302 retail outlets, a waterfront promenade, and two international hotels, JdV by Hyatt and Galaxy Minyoun, offering a combined 459 rooms for convenient delegate access.
Developed by IJM Perennial Development and managed by KinMalaysia Management, PWCC delivers extensive event space designed for flexibility and scale.
“From the outset, PWCC was planned as a venue that could cater to everything from large-scale exhibitions to highly customised conferences, with flexibility built into every layer of the design,” said KinMalaysia Management’s CEO, Dominic Oh.
Its five exhibition halls span 7,318m² of column-free space, accommodating international exhibitions, tradeshows, and large conferences. The halls support up to 6,000 guests in banquet configuration or 10,000 in theatre-style seating, allowing organisers to tailor layouts to diverse event requirements.
PWCC currently offers 10 conference rooms, with nine additional rooms underway. Once completed, the 19 rooms will provide a total of 1,895m² of meeting space designed to host up to 1,000 delegates, across multiple breakout sessions.
The Le Grand Bleu Terrace – which can accommodate up to 3,000 people – provides an elevated venue for cocktail receptions and dinners, featuring panoramic sea views, and the Penang Bridge as a dramatic backdrop.
In terms of technology, high-speed connectivity and modern technical systems ensure organisers have access to reliable solutions for exhibitions, conferences, and hybrid event needs.
PWCC is also equipped with a Building Management System that semi-automates lighting and air-conditioning operations to ensure optimal energy use during event and non-event periods. Other sustainability features include solar panel installations to power cooling system operations, and a rainwater harvesting system to support landscape irrigation.
Oh shared: “Sustainability and operational efficiency are integral to how the venue is run, from energy management to long-term cost optimisation. We focus on balancing operational performance with responsible venue management.”
Upcoming events include the Penang Autoshow 2026, MedHealth Pharma Expo 2026, Smart Kiddies Expo 2026, and MyAnaesthesia 2026. – S Puvaneswary
Pohang International Exhibition and Convention Center
Known for decades as the grey industrial backbone of South Korea, the seaside city of Pohang is undergoing a transformation. With the scheduled 2027 opening of POEX, the city is signalling its evolution into a sustainable business events hub that leverages its industrial DNA.
The five-storey POEX is being built near the beach, connecting directly to Duho Park and offering delegates views of the East Sea. Its second floor houses a 7,183m² Exhibition Hall with a 14-metre ceiling height, capable of accommodating up to 10,000 visitors.
For plenary sessions, the fourth floor offers a 2,128m² Grand Convention Hall with a 2,000-person capacity, complemented by a suite of 11 meeting rooms across the third and fourth floors that seat between 60 and 220 attendees. The facility is further supported by a rooftop restaurant, an observatory, and a parking infrastructure designed for 838 vehicles.
POEX plans to leverage Pohang’s status as Korea’s “Battery Capital” – home to industry giants like POSCO and EcoPro – to bridge the gap between heavy manufacturing and eco-friendly innovation through specialised technical seminars and industrial tours.
The facility also solves a long-standing capacity issue for the city’s academic sector. While world-class researchers at POSTECH university were previously limited to small-scale hotel venues, they can now scale their high-level international conferences to host up to 2,000 attendees at the new centre.
Pohang is also aiming to become a green policy leader through the World Green Growth Forum (WGGF), a flagship event that successfully debuted in May 2025. This summit gathers global leaders from organisations like the Global Green Growth Institute and industry giants such as POSCO to discuss carbon neutrality and industrial transition. With WGGF 2026 already scheduled for July, the city plans to move this annual summit to POEX upon its 2027 completion.
POEX’s green credentials will be exemplified by its hosting of the 2027 ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) World Congress, a global summit focused on carbon-neutral urban development. This prestigious event marks a turning point for the city as it demonstrates how industrial infrastructure can coexist with nature, specifically through the centre’s integration with Yeongildae Beach, and the “GreenWay” urban forest network.
To support the upcoming convention centre, Pohang is expanding its hospitality infrastructure with over 1,000 new rooms in the pipeline. This includes a 200-room four-star luxury hotel at the Yeongildae Waterfront opening alongside POEX in 2027, followed by a 300-room property in Hwanho Park by 2028, and a 150-room hotel in the former Pohang Station District by 2030. – Rachel AJ Lee
