The fifth edition of PCEB's BE@Penang event went fully virtual this year. Photo Credit: PCEB
The fifth edition of Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau's (PCEB)
annual event, BE@Penang, took place virtually last week (10-11
December) and saw industry peers from Malaysia and across the globe come
together to explore new ways of doing business in 2021.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Penang Tourism Development, Arts,
Culture and Heritage State Exco, YB Yeoh Soon Hin, urged attendees to
"take on new perspectives" and "consider fresh blueprints and action
plans" to regenerate the tourism and business events industry.
His sentiments were echoed by PCEB CEO, Ashwin Gunasekeran.
"We must not view each other as competitors anymore, but teammates
fighting for the same resolution to this obstacle — to revive and
rejuvenate our destinations: For Penang, for Malaysia, for Asia Pacific,
for the world — because it all starts somewhere."
Headlining the homegrown conference was professor Edde Obeng, known
for his creation of QUBE, the world's first 'super reality' avatar-based
campus, which can help event planners create collaborative learning
environments in the digital world.
As well as discussing new opportunities for digital engagement and
hybrid meetings, the conference also outlined ways to reboot the tourism
and business events sector, while evaluating the future of association
meetings and incentive travel.
Spicing up an online event? Try PCEB's way: A spice workshop by Tropical Spice Garden.To spice up the meeting, literally, Tropical Spice Garden conducted a
spice workshop, while The Habitat Penang Hill held a forest bathing
session.
As a thoughtful touch, all registration fees were pegged at just RM50 (US$12.32) and donated to CSR programmes under PCEB.
"I hope that BE@Penang 2020 will end the year on a positive note with
additional useful perspectives and ideas for our industry partners and
other relevant players while we continue to keep up the rejuvenation
momentum," said Gunasekeran.
Acknowledging Covid's hard hit, the CEO also noted how the business
events industry has demonstrated a "united front and resolution in
looking for avenues to aid in recovery efforts".