Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) launched the first edition of the Next Normal Guidelines for Business Events since Movement  Controlled Order (MCO) was enforced in Malaysia.

The  MICE industry in Penang is expected to recover from the Covid-19 crisis from September this year.

The Chief Minister of Penang  Chow Kon Yeow said that this "New Normal Guide" for Penang 's business event is Malaysia's first guide which allows related fields to comply with standard operating procedures and enables more people to visit Penang for business events.

"We have to work together and organize a united front to demonstrate that we are prepared to embrace MICE activities in Penang with the established SOPs," he said.

He also urged event organizers to find alternative ways, including some activities and online events, of organising this new trend, to meet a wider community of people

Meanwhile, Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran said that the launch of the Next Normal Guidelines for Business Events is the initiative of the state goverment and industry players to rebound the MICE industry.

I believe that with these guidelines, we are proving that Penang is taking the recovery phrase seriously and that we are ready to welcome back events into the destination,” said Ashwin Gunasekeran, Chief Executive Officer of PCEB who was chairing the task force.

Ashwin said the SOPs were split into six sectors for the Next Normal Guidelines for Business Events in Penang namely venues and convention centers, hotels, unique venues, destination management company (DMC) and transportation, professional conference organisers (PCO) and exhibition organisers, and event and exhibition suppliers.

The launch started with a brief presentation of the Setia Spice Arena 's Hygiene Service Program and ended with high tea.