Event National Heart Association of Malaysia (NHAM) 14th Annual Scientific Meeting
Venue Hilton and Le Meridien, Kuala Lumpur
Organiser Event Solution Management
Delegates 1,500
Date April 8-11



The brief
The NHAM annual meeting is the largest gathering of medical professionals in Malaysia and attendees include cardiologists, local and international doctors, and paramedics. The event provides doctors with updates on medical research and various facets of cardiology practice. Delegates also included an international panel of cardiac societies.

Challenges
This year’s meeting included several concurrent symposia to cater for multiple interests. At one point there were eight sessions running concurrently.

“Le Meridien is not a huge venue, so to have the sessions all running at the same time was a challenge from a logistical point of view,” says Connie Loh of Event Solution Management. “We used the facilities at both the Hilton and Le Meridien to accommodate our needs. ”

Room set-ups were also done under time pressure. For example, the set-up for the Fellowship of the National Heart Association of Malaysia symposium had to be completed in two hours.

Execution
The event included pre-congress meetings, plenary sessions, concurrent symposia and an official opening ceremony in the Hilton ballroom. A dinner was held in Prime Restaurant at Le Meridien on April 9 and a presidential dinner was held on the Saturday night at Chynna Restaurant, also at Le Meridien, where delegates had an opportunity to network with other doctors. 

Registration of delegates and submission of research papers was all done electronically, minimising queues and providing organisers with an early indication of attendance figures.

Comment
Loh says feedback from the NHAM was positive. Turnout this year was the largest in the meeting’s history.

“Delegates increased by 25 per cent and the booth exhibition space increased by 15 per cent. Everyone was very satisfied with the scientific programme.”