By V. Sivaji
Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) held its networking night for industry players at the Hin Bus Depot yesterday.
The “Ko-Tai” themed evening saw a good turnout of over 150 guests from the various industries and trades attending the event.
They were from the hospitality, tour & travel, property, event planners and other related industries.
Guest of honour was Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai who was welcomed by PCEB chief executive officer, Ashwin Gunasekeran and his team.
Guests got a chance to mingle and acquainted themselves with the guests.
Wong in his address shared the updates in the tourism sector and hailed the number òf direct flights from China.
“The Penang International Airport has direct flights by Juneyao Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Cathay Pacific and the latest by Shanghai Airlines.
“We are also expecting other airlines based in Hong Hong to also fly direct here but the final details are being formulated. This is surely a boost for the tourism industry and economy of the state”, said Wong.
He also added that this region in East China accounts for some 86 million people and is a huge potential for Penang’s tourism.
Meanwhile, Ashwin added that the evening represents more than just networking, it is a celebration of the connections, collaborations, and innovations that drive our industry forward.
“One of the most exciting milestones on the horizon is the opening of the Penang Waterfront Convention Center (PWCC) in the second quarter of 2025. It will serve as a catalyst for attracting more events to the destination, with a particular emphasis on exhibitions.
“For Penang in 2024, the top five segments leading the MICE events are Medical Science, Management, Technology, Education,and Factory related industries. We are proud to share that, up till June this year, we have hosted 1,024 events, contributing to an estimated economic impact of RM1.097 billion”, shared Ashwin.
Earlier in the day, the team made a visit to the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) site to get an idea of the massive ballroom and meeting facilities there.
Others present at the get-together were Dato Khoo Boo Lim (MAH national vice president), Jeffrey Chew, chairman of Teluk Ewa port in Langkawi, Penang MAH chairman Dato Tony Goh, Ben Ho, vice chairman of MAH Penang, Ms Goh Su Yin (IJM Penang), Ms Carolyn Leong, MATTA Penang chairman, general managers of the various hotels and other captains of the industry.
Hard Hat tour of PWCC