Featuring our appointed Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) for Events, Mr. Francis Teo. The hospitality industry was not the first choice of studies after high school for Francis Teo, he dabbled into computer science, accounting and engineering courses initially. He then took a year of sabbatical leave from his studies and worked with Club Med Malaysia, it is there that he discovered that he enjoys meeting and dealing with people instead of machines and processes. Mr. Francis then graduated top in his class from Taylor’s School of Hotel Management Higher Diploma in Hotel Management specializing in food & beverage in 1996.
He then joined Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur as a management trainee and then moved on to Palace of Golden Horses as a Catering Sales Manager before he transferred to Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC) for another three years. Feeling hot in the Klang Valley, he accepted an offer to run Genting International Convention Centre as a Convention Services Manager. When Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) opened, he joined them as Exhibition Sales Manager in 2003 and was in charge for entire exhibition portfolio for the Centre. Feeling restless and looking for more career challenges, Mr. Francis left his stable position at KLCC after eight years to head Setia City Convention Centre. The Centre opened in November 2012.
While being employed, he also continued his professional education by obtaining Exhibition Management Degree offered by UFI - The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry and University of Cooperative Education, Ravensburg, Germany. Due to the success of Setia City Convention Centre, Setia added another hall to accommodate mass events in 2016. Mid of 2020, Francis was put in charge of Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Penang as well and lead the Convention Centre portfolio for S P Setia. Mr. Francis also believes in giving back to the industry which has provided him with fruitful career. He is currently involved with Malaysia Association of Convention & Exhibition and Suppliers (MACEOS) since 2006 and has been a committee member, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary.
Recently, Francis was elected as the President for the term 2020 – 2022 for the event industry national association. As the President of MACEOS, he is working very actively to push for the revival of the business events industry in the current pandemic. All together Francis has about 24 years in the hospitality industry with 20 years specializing in convention centre venue and event management. When he is not at work, he has his hands full managing his three young children, are all hyperactive boys. which make matters worse.