Friday, October 12, 2012

Penang to set up new convention bureau


News this week: The northern Malaysian state of Penang plans to set-up a convention bureau in the near future to attract more MICE business to the region. It is not yet known whether the bureau will be government assisted or privately run at this stage.

There will also be a number of new MICE facilities opening in Penang in the coming years. The subterranean Penang International Convention & Exhibition Centre (sPICE) is scheduled to open in 2015. sPICE will contain a floor area of 4,459 m2 along with a business class hotel and F&B services.

Another convention centre, the Light Convention Centre will open in 2016, which is privately funded and developed by IJM Land. The architectural details of the venue have not yet been confirmed.

According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the number of international association meetings held in Penang increased from 8 in 2010 to 12 last year – increasing its ranking from 45 to 32 in Asia & Middle East in 2011.

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