Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), in collaboration with 15 esteemed industry partners, has made an impactful appearance at IBTM World Barcelona for the 13th consecutive year.

Held from November 28-30, 2023 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, this year’s participation marked a significant endeavour by MyCEB and partners in positioning the country as the preferred business events destination in Asia.

“The main objective behind this participation is to establish Malaysia as a preferred destination for business events, emphasising the country’s capabilities and world-class offerings.

“Secondly, MyCEB seeks to provide invaluable firsthand insights into the ever-evolving industry to international travel trade buyers.

“Finally, our participation is a concerted effort to create networking opportunities, foster fruitful collaborations, and secure new business contracts, further amplifying Malaysia’s role on the global stage,”says Azman Tambi Chik, chief executive officer of MyCEB.

The Malaysian entourage’s presence at IBTM World Barcelona yielded a range of positive outcomes and numerous networking opportunities which opened accessibility into new markets. This strategic participation underscores Malaysia’s commitment to fostering new partnerships and growth in this dynamic industry.

“I firmly believe that IBTM World has always been and will continue to be a strategic platform for us as it is one of the avenues that opens up to the European and international market.

“This is my first tradeshow as I took office this month and I am delighted to be part of this occasion and look forward to conclude succesful meetings with some of the world’s biggest players,” Azman continued.

MyCEB since its establishment in 2011 has charted a track record of supporting 2857 business events, which brings around 2.3 million delegates and contributed some RM17.4 billion in estimated economic impact. This year alone, the national bureau has succesfully secured 305 events from the year 2023 – 2030 which translates to RM4.8 billion in estimated economic impact.

Some of the successful bid wins that will take place in Malaysia include International Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICEM) 2027, ENLIT ASIA 2024 and Federation of Asian and Oceanic Physiological Societies 2027 which will accumulatively generate RM57.26 million or 11.23 million Euros in estimated economic impact.

Under the overarching theme, “Tekat” takes centre stage, symbolising a traditional craft of embroidering gold thread on a velvet-type base cloth. The gold thread in “Tekat” mirrors the golden opportunities that Malaysia offers for the creation of masterful business events in the destination.