For the first time in its 88-year history, Toastmasters International, a world leader in communication and leadership development, will be going offshore for its annual international convention…all the way to the heart of Southeast Asia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre), Malaysia’s premier convention facility, will be the host venue for the prestigious event to be held in 2014.
The Toastmasters International82nd Annual International Convention will take place from 20 – 23 August 2014 and is expected to gather more than 2,000 delegates from across the globe. The four-day meeting will feature keynote presentations, skills-building seminars, election of the International Board of Directors, gala dinners and a host of networking opportunities.
Toastmasters International Executive Director, Daniel Rex in a statement released on 25 June 2012 said, Kuala Lumpur’s selection reflects the global nature of the organisation, as well as its evolving membership. “More than 30 percent of all Toastmasters now live outside North America, with the greatest area of membership growth in Southeast Asia.”
Comparing Kuala Lumpur with the organisation, Mr Rex said that like Toastmasters International, Kuala Lumpur celebrates diversity and is a melting pot of races and religions. “The city is safe and clean and her people, notably friendly. Millions from around the world visit every year as evidenced by the nearly 80 international meetings held there last year (2011).”
Speaking on behalf of the Centre, General Manager Datuk Peter Brokenshire said Toastmasters International’s decision to hold its 82th Annual International Convention in 2014 in Malaysia “is an honour for the country, Kuala Lumpur city and the Centre and is a reflection of the organisation’s confidence in Malaysia’s meetings industry. It also shows that slowly but surely, our message that Malaysia offers something new for off-shore meetings that have done the more established destinations is getting heard.”
Brokenshire added that besides a safe and stable political climate, world-class infrastructure and well-established service and hospitality industry, Malaysia is also one of the most value-for-money destinations for the global meetings industry. “The lower cost of doing business here means meeting organisers do not have to worry about cutting costs or, compromising on the delegate experience.”
The Centre hosted among others, the notable US-based Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) in February this year, and is the chosen venue for the coming Women Deliver Conference in 2013.
Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, Toastmasters International boasts over 300,000 members in more than 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. Since its inception in 1924, the organisation has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience.
