Malaysia Aviation Group and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau String Out Alliance in Strengthening Connections in Reinvigorating Penang Economy Together

George Town, Penang, 24 February 2022: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) string out alliance in the effort of strengthening connections and reinvigorating the Penang economy together.

MAG and PCEB fortified their shared commitments by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further extend MAG’s role to support and facilitate connectivity for business travellers and business events in Penang. The MoU was inked by the Global Head of Sales for Malaysia Airlines, Roslan Ismail and Chief Executive Officer of PCEB, Ashwin Gunasekeran, and witnessed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of MAG, Captain Izham Ismail, and Chief Minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow.

Penang will be able to provide value-added services to Business Event organisers, notably in terms of special airfare fares, owing to its important partner, MAG. PCEB is also in talks with MAG about charter flights for special events, which speaks well for Penang and MAG when they go out for bids.

“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 Captain Izham Ismail of MAG, Penang continues to be a preferred international and domestic hub for MAG by facilitating air connectivity to and from Penang for business and leisure travellers alike through its airlines Malaysia Airlines and Firefly. “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. We look forward to further extending our support to the State Bureau’s initiative to reinvigorate domestic tourism and business travel for the economic recovery of this sector. As a member of the Travel Safe Alliance Malaysia (TSAM) and a caring organisation, the safety of our passengers remains our utmost priority. We are committed to providing safe, seamless and hygienic experience for all our guests,” he added.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of PCEB, Ashwin Gunasekeran, PCEB has acquired 28 hybrid conferences for the year 2022, as well as 11 for the year 2023 and that PCEB has formed a Strategic Partnership with MAG, which would play a critical role in enhancing the support value of Business Events Penang. MAG will join PCEB at all trade fairs and road shows that the bureau visits as part of this strategic collaboration, giving the national airline a stronger brand presence.

He also emphasised the significance of the "BElong in Penang Campaign," which aims to instill hope and 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 our international clients and events.

The Campaign's Goals are centered on to send a positive message that Penang will be open for business in 2022 and beyond, while also retaining destination knowledge and increasing destination trust in 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.

According to Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Yeoh Soon Hin, while maintaining to encourage fully vaccinated visitors to Penang, they are anticipating more secure and safe travel bubbles from nearby countries before the global travel ban is removed entirely. He genuinely thinks that the campaign name, when merged with the state's vision of becoming a smart state while continuing to develop its digital economy through Penang2030, will entice more tourists and business event organizers to visit Penang again, as well as to choose Penang as their next preferred destination for future events.

“Over the years, PCEB and the Penang Business Events players have been able to leverage Malaysia Airlines' extensive network to position and promote Penang as the preferred Business Events destination in the region, and I am confident that this strong relationship will only raise profitability for both PCEB and MAG in a multitude of ways,” said Yeoh Soon Hin.

Making and creating connections, advancing careers, concluding deals, nurturing client relationships, engaging employees, growing businesses, and strengthening economies are all aims of business travel. PCEB understands the importance of this activity and is working hard to revamp it.

MAG’s participation in this exciting road of contributing to the developing Business Events sector is a tremendous honour. As Penangites, we are proud to promote Malaysian products, and none is more iconic than MAG.

This ongoing connection would serve as a catalyst for Penang's development as a global business event destination and the collaboration as a catalyst for Penang's development as a global corporate event destination.