Introduction to the conference industry from local to the global perspective, the importance of conference beyond tourism benefit, and the economic impact of the conference industry contributing to a country. This session will introduce what is the process to develop strategic planning. Topics include Malaysia Business Events Roadmap and its terminology, external environment impacts on the global and regional congress industry, evaluate factors that impact on the Malaysian marketplace, using situation analysis to evaluate the opportunities and threats to given conference, identify and understand the importance of conference 'objective' and identify the key elements of conference planning.

This session will explain the role of a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) on how one takes the role of management in a bidding process from the beginning to the end with the steps of recruiting organising committee, determine possible dates, research venues, review available resources, develop a budget and bid proposal. The session will also analyse the needs and importance of side events. Followed by a group discussion on how and 'Why should Malaysia bid for International Conferences?' encompassed side events design and its importance and how does one decide if it is important to have side events.

This session will share the latest meeting trends and its key and critical areas, followed by a group discussion of challenges facing by an organisation based on its location and industry sectors.

This session will introduce professionals to the various venues suitable for organising a conference. Topics include the current conference venue capacity and the new venues that are either being planned or built, points to consider before selecting a venue and a quick group discussion on designing site layout.

This session will introduce meeting trends and what goes into organising (with the help of service suppliers and relevant stakeholders) a successful conference and introduce an ideal conference cycle; Essential of understanding stakeholders & management standards of professional behaviour; Sharing ethical issues in conference industry, CMP Standards of Ethical Conduct Statement and Policy Managing Client Expectations, followed by a group discussion on conference planning and identify who are the stakeholders and how to manage various stakeholders in organising conference.

This session will introduce the principles of meeting design inclusive of every aspect of assessment and evaluation, meaningful engagement, collaboration, distributed learning and event experience. Besides, what are the areas to focus on an event to deliver great values and making the participants fully engaged? Topics include setting the scene, programme development, tools, set-up of the event room. Group discussion based on a video presentation to engage with participants on how one can do differently based on the topics taught.

This session will introduce the need for technology in organising a conference. Topics include the trends and disruption in the exhibition industry, the need for technology / social media, a mobile / social transformation and application, technology importance, categories of event technology and much more.

This session will share the importance and understanding of PDPA and GDPR; explain what is risk management and how it is integrated into meetings planned with the concept of discovery, analysis and planning (plan, program & process) and the 4 stages of risk management. Followed by a group discussion whether you as a PCO have you done your job in due diligence.

Continued Session of 'Meeting & Event Design - Program Development'

This session will be of group work to access the understanding and knowledge that participants have gained throughout the 2 and half-day workshop. They are to develop and plan a financial or marketing components based on the project theme given to present their concept on how to execute the following aspect of Marketing, Promotion, Delegate Boosting, Risk Management and Financial projection (event budget), costing, sponsorship, breakeven analysis, etc.

This session will be of group work to access the understanding and knowledge that participants have gained throughout the 2 and half-day workshop. They are to develop and plan a financial or marketing components based on the project theme given to present their concept on how to execute the following aspect of Marketing, Promotion, Delegate Boosting, Risk Management and Financial projection (event budget), costing, sponsorship, breakeven analysis, etc.

This session will explain the need for good financial management to determine whether a project is financially feasible to proceed; to use as a measurement - actual vs. budgeted; to hold departments and projects heads responsible and accountable for cost and revenue; to plan company’s resources and to decide whether has sufficient resources to undertake new project; to use as cash flow management and planning; to present to external and internal stakeholders. Topics include the Budget, Types of Income and Expense, Project Viability and a Case Study.

This session will share the development of sponsorship goals, elements in a sponsors prospectus, manage sponsor expectations, subvention process and managing grants. Apart from that, it also explains the need for sales, monitoring sales and the tools that sales staff might need to use. Topics include sales strategy, understanding project resource, pricing strategy, deploying a sales network (local and international), monitoring sales, various promotional tools that the sales staff should make use of and more. Ultimately, how to 'close' sales.

This session will discuss the importance of marketing. Topics include managing marketing plan, marketing materials and the importance of Public Relations. Followed then by group activity on the pros and cons of engaging public relation service.