PCEB extends alliance with Malaysia Aviation Group, with new incentives on offer for business travellers

Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) and Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) have extended their alliance and have pledged joint efforts to ‘reinvigorate’ the Penang economy together, include offering special airfare rates for travellers to business events. PCEB and MAG signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to extend MAG’s role to support and facilitate connectivity for business travellers and business events in Penang. The MoU was inked by the PCEB chief executive officer, Ashwin Gunasekeran, and global head of sales for Malaysia Airlines, Roslan Ismail. It was witnessed by the chief minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow, and group CEO of MAG, Captain Izham Ismail. Penang says it will be able to provide value-added services to business event organisers, notably in terms of special airfares. PCEB is also in talks with MAG about charter flights for special events, which should help when bidding for conferences. “I have credence that MAG via Malaysia Airlines and Firefly will add more direct connections to Penang and build Penang as the country’s second international hub and I am confident that this relationship will be critical in helping Penang and the industry to expand in leaps and bounds,” said Chow Kon Yeow. According to Gunasekeran, PCEB has acquired 28 hybrid conferences for the year 2022, as well as 11 for the year 2023. MAG will also join PCEB at all trade fairs and road shows that the bureau visits as part of the strategic collaboration, giving the national airline a stronger brand presence. Gunasekeran also emphasised the significance of the ‘BElong in Penang Campaign’, which aims to add some excitement in the Penang business events industry, as well as lay the groundwork for the state to continue supporting hybrid domestic events in the lead-up to the reopening of international borders and the return of international clients and events. The campaign’s goals are centred on sending a positive message that Penang will be open for business in 2022 and beyond, while also increasing trust in the destination’s business event health and safety standards. It also intends to enhance the number of RFPs and interest in future Penang events, as well as the amount of job opportunities in the tourism, hotel, and business events industries in Penang, Gunasekeran noted. According to Captain Izham Ismail of MAG, “Today’s MoU signing signifies a renewed hope and commitment to stimulate the recovery and demand of business events in Penang. MAG will be offering exclusive incentive packages, where BE organisers and delegates will gain access to savings on activities across our airlines and non-airlines businesses.” According to Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Yeoh Soon Hin, while encouraging fully vaccinated visitors to Penang, more secure and safe travel bubbles from nearby countries are anticipated before Malaysia’s global travel ban is removed entirely.