Alan Pryor, chairman, Business Events Council Malaysia: targeting July for commencement of events for the domestic market with up to 250 participants. Photo Credit: BECM
KUALA LUMPUR - Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM)’s appeal to the government to establish a restart date for its businesses is still ongoing. Mr Alan Pryor, chairman, Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM), said: “We are continuing to work closely with the industry supply chain and stakeholders and have had some positive dialogue with government ministries. We believe that we have made a strong case for the reopening of the business events industry and hope to see some progress soon.”
Malaysia recently extended its CMCO for a further month until 9 June.
BECM is a national council representing the voice of Malaysia's business events industry. Among its nine members are the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS); Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA); Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH); and Malaysian Society of Association Executives (MSAE).
Meanwhile, the association has been busy creating, adapting and advancing its recovery plans. There will be three main areas to help drive business operations forward. Said Mr Pryor: “Our first priority has been to get our venue operations and our team ready for the ‘new normal’ to ensure the health and safety of our employees, clients, suppliers and attendees.
“We have developed a very detailed Venue SOP to take into account the new operating procedures required as a result of Covid-19, and we have adjusted our training focus and developed a rotational work plan for our entire workforce to manage a phased return to work model. We also reviewed and re-prioritised our planned infrastructure investment and established new innovative products and offerings to cater to the post-COVID environment.
“Our second focus has been on our client base and regaining trust and retention. We realise that in the new landscape, it will be crucial to deliver assurance and trust. As such, we have created a phased approach to event commencement and delivery which, subject to government approval, we are targeting July for commencement of events for the domestic market with the aim to start with meetings and events of up to 250 participants.
“We will then look at regional events once borders open up and target global business events once access issues have been addressed and attendee confidence has been restored.
“Our third initiative is centred around industry collaboration and government engagement. It has been very uplifting to see how our industry supply chain has come together and worked so closely and in solidarity.
“We are currently in the process liaising with the government to consider and adopt our Industry Venue SOP, so that we can demonstrate our state of readiness and preparation. We have also been actively lobbying the government on the value of our industry to the economy, and to secure grant and subsidy support to the industry supply chain.
“The most important aspect has been information sharing and collaboration in developing our sector SOPs, and to ensure we can engage collectively with government to prepare our industry supply chain for business resumption and recovery.
“Our mutual objectives are aligned to focusing on supporting government to kick start the Malaysian economy, and with our SOPs in place, we can demonstrate business events take place in a very controlled and regulated environment and in line with government COVID-19 guidelines and adherence. With all the correct measures in place, we look forward to resuming business once the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) is lifted.”