Bringing PWTC Back To Its Glory

The pioneer convention centre in Kuala Lumpur renamed World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur to give it a more global appeal

- Rajendran Govindarajoo

The Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition (MICE) sector has seen rapid growth in the past eight years along with business travel in the country. It was reported that the International Congress and Convention Association has ranked Kuala Lumpur eighth in Asia Pacific and 28th globally as a convention centre city; while among countries, Malaysia was ranked seventh in the region and 30th in the world.

Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), the first convention centre in Kuala Lumpur, which opened its doors in 1986, is now feeling the heat with the emergence on new MICE venues with modern facilities in the Klang Valley. Under the leadership of PWTC’s new Chief Executive Officer Mohd Yusri Junos and his team, the 34-year-old convention centre is now undergoing a rebranding exercise in an effort to clinch its position as the top-notch MICE venue in Malaysia after Putrade Property Management Sdn Bhd recently signed a 60 years lease agreement from UMNO.

Business Today speaks to Yusri on the rebranding exercise, PWTC’s challenges amid a shrinking domestic market and its unique selling points.

Yusri, who has vast experience in finance in the hospitality industry, began his career with PWTC in 2010 as a Financial Controller. He was later promoted to General Manager of Finance and Admin, then to Chief Financial Officer before assuming the Chief Executive Officer position early September this year.

With all the new markets we are tapping into, PWTC hopes to secure at least RM30 million to RM40 million revenue in the next five years