Penang sets up MICE bureau.

Date: 7 January 2013

Penang sets up MICE bureau.

PENANG has unveiled the formation of its first-ever CVB, as part of the city's ongoing efforts to position itself as a MICE destination in South-east Asia (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 5, 2012). At the recently concluded 3rd Penang International MICE Conference held at Hard Rock Hotel Penang last Saturday, Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng announced the launch of the Penang International Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PICEB).

Spearheading the project is Abdul Malik Kassim, State Religious Affairs, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman and Danny Law, Penang Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman. A pro tem committee with its own elected chairman and members would be established within the first quarter of 2013, according to Abdul Malik, but no date was given on when PICEB would be operational. He said: “PICEB would be run by the private sector, and we (the state government) will support it in whatever means we can except financial (assistance).”

Mike Williams, consultant to Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, said: “PICEB can support us on product development in Penang and work with us on bids to bring business events to Malaysia. With its local knowledge (on Penang), we will need its help to handle fam trips to Penang.”

While acknowledging PICEB as a potential competitor, Sarawak Convention Bureau’s managing director Mike Cannon said: “What counts here is Malaysia, and we need more products, services and destination marketing organisations. PICEB will add robustness to the destination and get people talking about Malaysia.

“We will share with PICEB our trade secrets, and set up meetings with government agencies, academia and associations in Sarawak so that PICEB will be able to network with them.”

By S Puvaneswary, reporting from the 3rd Penang International MICE Conference

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