The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) has launched the first edition of Next Normal Guidelines for Business Events Penang, a comprehensive document detailing the new standards of organising business events in the state.
Produced by a task force of 29 industry partners to ensure every aspect of organising business events was covered, the guidelines were announced at an event held at Setia SPICE Convention Centre last Saturday, 18 July, its first event since the Malaysian Movement Control Order was implemented.
Launching the guidelines were The Right Honourable Chow Kon Yeow (Chief Minister of Penang), The Honourable Yeoh Soon Hin (Penang State Executive Councillor of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Heritage and Chairman of PCEB) and Mr Ashwin Gunasekeran (Chief Executive Officer of PCEB).
“We are keeping at heart PEOPLE-FIRST and this transformation for new beginnings need to start with how we conduct our businesses. I believe that with these guidelines, we are proving that Penang is taking the recovery phase 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.
The entire event was organised from pre-planning to tear down in accordance with the guidelines. A total of 140 guests consisting of industry players, government officials, clients and members of the media attended the launch and social distancing measures were implemented throughout the event.
The appointed professional conference organiser (PCO), ACE Conference & Exhibitions, carried out contactless and paperless registrations for guests, while Setia SPICE set up the ballroom with a one-metre distance from each table and chair. As per the guidelines, pre-packed food was prepared accordingly in biodegradable bento boxes and markings were placed in the foyer to remind guests of maintaining one-metre distance.
Besides the main set up, event partner DQuest Ventures also set up a photobooth that had social distancing markings on the floor as clear indications for where guests were allowed to stand to take photos.
After the launch, there was also an immersive simulation by transportation partner Capital One Leisure for guests to experience the process of alighting delegate coaches and social distancing within official vehicles during the ‘Next Normal’.
PCEB also unveiled new souvenirs for Business Events Penang, mainly Penang Turtle Cares signature batik turtles with a twist. The turtles now wear ‘N95 respiratory masks’ as a safety measure. PCEB also distributed batik masks to delegates that come in their own batik sleeves with N95 filters.
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