World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) achieved a historic international milestone by receiving the ASEAN Tourism Standards Award (2026-2028) for the 3rd ASEAN MICE Venue (Exhibition Venue Category).

This prestigious recognition, which marks a grand opening to 2026 for WTCKL was presented by Dato’ Shaharuddin bin Abu Sohot, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Malaysia at the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards 2026–2028 Ceremony held in Cebu, Philippines, on 30 January 2026.

The ceremony was officiated by the Honourable Christina Garcia Frasco, Secretary of Tourism of the Republic of the Philippines. She also announced the conferment of the ASEAN Tourism Standards Award (2026–2028) for the 3rd ASEAN MICE Venue (Exhibition Venue Category) to WTCKL. The Philippines is the host of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026, in conjunction with the country’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026.

This accolade solidifies WTCKL’s position as a premier hub for Business Events, high-impact exhibitions, conferences, and large-scale gatherings, in line with Malaysia’s national aspirations. This achievement places WTCKL among the elite exhibition venues that meet rigorous ASEAN regional standards encompassing physical infrastructure, technology, and services while highlighting its excellence in facility quality, central management, and team expertise.

Group Managing Director of World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, Dato’ Sri Dr. Haji Irmohizam bin Ibrahim, said the recognition reflects WTCKL’s continuous commitment to maintaining international-class service standards.

“This recognition underscores our ability to meet ASEAN benchmarks and our continued focus on delivering high-quality, safe, and competitive exhibition facilities.”

He added that WTCKL will continue investing in infrastructure enhancement and service innovation to align with global industry trends and evolving client expectations.

“Our main focus now is to further strengthen our infrastructure in line with global trends, while driving service innovation that exceeds customer expectations. Through closer strategic collaborations with industry partners, WTCKL will continue to be a key driver of a sustainable event economy in the region.”

Dato’ Sri Dr. Irmohizam Ibrahim also had the opportunity to meet with The Honourable Christina Garcia Frasco, Secretary of Tourism of the Republic of the Philippines, and informed her about the developments of WTCKL and to reaffirm the commitment to continue and strengthen the existing bilateral relationship between Malaysia and the Philippines in advancing the Business Events industry in the region.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of WTCKL, Mr. Fauzy Wahab, also described the recognition as a catalyst for WTCKL to remain committed to driving growth and excellence in the Business Events and MICE industry.

This commitment is reflected through a continued emphasis on innovation, relevance, and high standards for every event organised, while further

strengthening WTCKL’s role as a leading international Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards recognizes tourism organisations and facilities that meet standards set by ASEAN member countries, in line with efforts to enhance quality and consistency within the tourism and MICE industries across the region.