Stepping into the future

The space-age Kuala Lumpur International Airport is just the merest taste of what Malaysia has to offer.

Take the ultra-modern, high-speed KLIA train that whisks visitors from the airport to the centre of Kuala Lumpur in just 28 minutes. Although the streets may be clogged with traffic, like many modern cities, the majesty of the skyline, with its cutting-edge architecture, makes the trip to any of the many well-appointed hotels more than worthwhile.

Malaysia is a budget-lover’s paradise, with 5 star hotels available at less than half the prices charged in Australia. All the major chains are represented and most are within the heart of the CBD, known as the Golden Triangle.

>> Conference & meeting venues in Malaysia

The business destination for the trip may be the newly opened Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, which is a modern wonder. The centre has a total function space of 20,059 square metres. This includes a 3,000 delegate capacity plenary hall, four exhibition halls with almost 10,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space, a Grand Ballroom for 2,380 delegates theatre style or 2,000 for banquets, a conference hall for 1,800 delegates theatre style, and another 20 meeting rooms.

Modern marvels
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is part of the 40 hectare Kuala Lumpur City Centre development, which includes the gleaming chrome expanse of the Petronas Twin Towers and the six-storey Suria KLCC shopping centre.

When the business part of the trip is over, visitors can jet off to one of the many extraordinary locations throughout Malaysia for some rest and recreation. Penang, with its beach resorts and rich colonial heritage, is popular; as is Sabah, with its rainforest, beaches and such compelling attractions as its wild orang-outang population. If there’s one constant with convening in Malaysia, it’s that there’s always too much to do in the available time. Which makes repeats visits a necessity!