KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --



Progressive discussion into latest Airport Cities developments expected at annual conference and exhibition 

The 13th Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition, the global event for the creation and development of airport cities, will formally open today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event is the global platform providing thought leadership, best practice, innovation and high-level debate and discussion around the creation and development of airport cities.  

Hosted by Malaysia Airports and supported by ACI World, UKTI, CIDB Malaysia, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Visit Malaysia, Airport Cities 2014 has attracted some high level speakers to its thought-provoking programme.

Confirmed speakers include; Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), David Fei, President and CEO, Taoyuan International Airport Corporation, Atty. Arnel Casanova, President, Bases Conversion Development Authority, The Philippines, Tri S. Sunoko, President, Angkasa Pura II, S G K Kishore, Chief Executive Officer, GMR Airports - New Delhi and Hyderabad International Airports and Patrick Ong CEO, Macau International Airport amongst others.

Airport Cities Chairman, John D. Kasarda, Director for Air Commerce, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, University of North Carolina commented "Kuala Lumpur promises to be the most information packed Airport Cities conference to date.  With its worldwide airport city and aerotropolis developments, opportunities, and challenges will be addressed with especially in-depth coverage by leaders from the Asia-Pacific region, I expect the event to be both engaging and productive."

Adrian Newton, Group Director - Transport and Technology, UBM Live, stated "a unique element of attending this conference is the opportunity for attendees to observe first-hand a major aerotropolis in evolution. Maximising its highly lucrative location, Malaysia Airport's KLIA Aeropolis plan strives to maximise Malaysia's unique position in the region, and turn the airport city into a destination in its own right. In addition to learning about this airport-anchored urban economic region in the making, the conference programme will provide delegates with unique insights into some of the most exciting and innovative airport city and aerotropolis models from around the globe."

Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said "Malaysia Airports is pleased for Malaysia to be the first Asian country in the Southern hemisphere, and also the first Asian country outside China to host the event. This will be a great platform for us to discuss our own Aeropolis development and will generate business and commercial development opportunities related to expansion of airport cities. We hope all delegates will have a fruitful conference and gain extensive knowledge on airport cities."

Some of the conference sessions include; Introducing the Emerging Asian Airport Cities; Understanding the Importance of Stakeholder Alignment and Governance in a successful Airport City Development; and The Role of Airport Cities in Urban Renewal and Economic Development, amongst other topical and engaging topics.

In addition to the conference and exhibition, which will form the core elements of Airport Cities 2014, delegates will also have the chance to experience some of the highlights of Kuala Lumpur firsthand with a dedicated site tour of klia2, Kuala Lumpur International Airport's newest terminal and the world's largest purpose-built terminal for low cost carriers. The tour will subsequently include a sightseeing trip to the garden city of Putrajaya, located in the heart of the lavish Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) they will also be able to experience an F1 experience around the Sepang International Circuit.

The 2014 event will continue to unite the entire 'airport city community' with senior decision makers attending from airports, economic development agencies, financial institutions, real estate and urban development companies, industry suppliers and global and regional businesses.

Notes to Editors 

About Global Airport Cities 

• GlobalAirportCities.com is the online community website for attendees of the annual Airport Cities World conference and Exhibition (ACE), and anyone with an interest in the issues surrounding airport cities and aerotropoli.
• During its 13-year journey around the globe, a number of major international airports and pioneers of the Aerotropolis concept have hosted the Airport Cities conference, including Dubai, Detroit, Rome, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Beijing, Dallas, Memphis, Denver, Ekurhuleni and now Kuala Lumpur.
• The Airport Cities brand was acquired by UBM in 2012 and from 1^st August 2012 Airport Cities Conference and Exhibition, the Aerotropolis events and the Routes and ASM businesses became part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.
  
• UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands and expand their markets.  Through premiere brands such as MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes portfolio of events, Aerotropolis Americas, Aerotropolis EMEA and Airport Cities, UBM Live exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

Follow us on twitter: @AirportCities #AirportCitiesKL

About UBM plc 

• UBM plc is a global events-led marketing services and communications company.  We help businesses do business, bringing the world's buyers and sellers together at events and online, as well as producing and distributing news and specialist content.  Our 5,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into expert teams which serve commercial and professional communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.
  
• For more information, go to http://www.ubm.com; follow us on Twitter at @UBM_plc to get the latest UBM corporate news; follow @UBM for news from all UBM's businesses; follow @UBM for a flavour of UBM from selected members of UBM's Twitterati.

About Malaysia Airports 

Malaysia Airports manages and operates 39 airports in Malaysia: 5 international, 16 domestic and 18 Short Take-Off and Landing Ports (STOL Ports). It also has operations in India and Turkey. On November 30, 1999, Malaysia Airports became the first airport company to be listed in Asia.

KL International Airport (KLIA), its flagship airport was thrice voted as the Best Airport (15-25 million passengers per annum) in the 2005 AETRA awards, 2006 ACI-ASQ awards and 2007 ACI-ASQ awards while the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT-KLIA) was named CAPA Low Cost Airport of the Year at the CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence 2006. KLIA has also taken a big stride in the realisation of becoming a global integrated hub by launching the Next Generation Hub concept, an initiative aiming to position the ultra-modern airport as a complete hub for all.

Malaysia Airports has also received numerous awards that acknowledged its commitment in service, community engagement, corporate responsibility and organisational excellence.

Follow us on twitter @MY_Airports

SOURCE Airport Cities UBM Live