Not every conference center can boast of hosting celebrities and presidents, but Bangsar South takes pride in saying that our very own Connexion Conference & Event Centre (CCEC) has done just that.
From December 10-14 2019, CCEC hosted the inaugural Obama Foundation Leaders: Asia Pacific Programme. This leadership development and community engagement initiative brought together 200 prominent leaders from 33 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region. Participants were inspired by influential figures such as President and Mrs. Obama, celebrities like Julia Roberts, as well as local icons including Deputy Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Hannah Yeoh, AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, former Miss Malaysia and activist Deborah Henry, The Star Media Group’s R.AGE executive editor Ian Yee, and SPOT Community Program founder Siti Aishah Hassan Hariri.
The CCEC team, consisting of over 100 members, played crucial roles in bringing this event to life. We recently spoke with the task force at CCEC, and they shared insights on how they flawlessly executed such a large-scale event with seamless precision.
Venue Selection
The first to share his experience was Harriz Kamal, Director of Sales & Marketing for CCEC. “To comfortably host over 200 people from around the world, The Obama Foundation needed a spacious venue,” Harriz explained. “With over 200,000 sq. ft. of conference and event space, CCEC can accommodate up to 2,100 people in one location. It more than met the needs of the attendees, guests, organizing committee, and security personnel.”
Although CCEC spans both Nexus and The Vertical, both capable of hosting large events, The Vertical, adjacent to the business-class VE Hotel & Residence, was selected for this occasion.
Harriz continued, “What made CCEC such an ideal venue is that all function spaces are located on the same floor, allowing participants to move effortlessly between activities—whether plenary sessions, skill-building workshops, leadership training, or the dynamic talks from the event’s celebrated speakers.”
Securing the VVIPs
“Security is a top priority for high-profile events,” said Ramli Manaff, CCEC’s Security Manager. “The Vertical was chosen as the safer venue because its lifts and escalators are easier to control.”
Reflecting on the event, he noted, “The heightened level of security was one of the most memorable aspects. I’ve worked with many external security companies before, but this was on a much larger scale. In addition to coordinating with the organizers on VVIP seating and their movements through the venue, we partnered with another company to install metal detectors at the main entrance and conduct bag checks during event days, almost like airport security.”
Despite these stringent measures, participants still had the freedom to move around the one-floor venue with ease.
Precision in Motion
Zubaidah Bidin, Assistant Manager of Housekeeping and a key member of the task force, noted how closely their movements were monitored, with frequent guidance in and out of the function space. “The moment we got the signal, my team jumped into action, swiftly cleaning the area within minutes before security escorted us out again,” she explained.
“The same applied to the banquet team,” added Zainuddin, CCEC’s Banquet Manager. “We had to quickly reset the room under the watchful eyes of security.” Despite the challenges, the entire CCEC team valued the experience. “This event highlighted the seamless coordination between our team, local and international staff, and both outsourced and in-house security, ensuring everyone’s comfort and safety,” he shared.
Catering to a Global Taste
CCEC’s Executive Chef, Chef Loh, who played a key role in the event, emphasized that food is an integral part of Malaysian culture and identity. “We made it a top priority to showcase the best of our culinary offerings and turn mealtimes into memorable experiences for the Obama Foundation leaders,” he said. “To achieve this, we had extensive discussions about the delicacies to serve and held numerous preparation meetings to carefully plan each meal,” he added.
The morning tea break and lunch featured a mix of Western and local dishes, while themed dinner buffets were the highlight of the evenings. To accommodate the Obama Foundation organizing team’s busy schedule, CCEC chefs also prepared convenient “grab-and-go plates” for those short on time.
Given the diverse dietary needs, allergies, and religious considerations of the 200 delegates from around the world, CCEC ensured that vegan and vegetarian options were available across all buffet menus. “We even went the extra mile by providing ingredient lists for each meal to ensure participants knew exactly what was in their food,” said Chef Loh.
“But I believe the themed dinner buffet menu was our standout feature,” he noted. Each night showcased a different theme, including Asian Fusion, Taste of Malaysia, and Tastes of the Pacific Islands. Naturally, the spread included various Malaysian dishes, with action stalls preparing favorites like Satay, Ais Batu Kacang, and Assam Laksa made to order. It also served as a cultural showcase; as Chef Loh explained, “We wanted participants to see how these dishes are made, and the chefs were available to answer any questions they might have.”
“Many participants approached our chefs to praise the food. Ultimately, I’m proud to say, ‘job well done,’” he declared.
An Event of Distinction
We at Bangsar South, particularly those of us at CCEC, were honored to host the Obama Foundation Leaders: Asia-Pacific Programme, and we take pride in the fact that this event has raised CCEC’s profile. “This has been a tremendous learning experience for us, and with this achievement, we’re prepared to tackle other high-profile international events in the future,” Harriz remarked.
Source: Tatler Asia. “Six Lessons We Learnt from Michelle Obama,” December 2024. Read more: https://www.tatlerasia.com/the-scene/people-parties/th-six-lessons-we-learnt-from-michelle-obama.
