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31 JAN-FEB 2019 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS MCMAG-ASIA.COM increase awareness of the city as an attractive MICE destination. What's coming This year, Penang is cementing its MICE position with the hosting of more major international events. Some 500 participants are expected to attend the International Congress and Conferences on Computational Design and Engineering in July, held outside of South Korea for the rst time. In September, it will host the prestigious World Seafood Congress, which will make its debut outside of Europe. Regional programmes in Penang slated for this year include the 7th Asia-Paci c Urban Forum, as well as the triple-header of conferences for rehabilitative medicine: the 18th Asian Spinal Cord Network (ASCoN), 9th ASEAN Rehabilitation Medicine Association (ARMA) Congress, as well as the 11th Annual Malaysian Rehabilitation Medicine Conference. According to Yeoh Kheng Ho, senior manager at Setia SPICE, the convention centre has been booked out from Fridays to Sundays for the whole of 2019. Nine hotels are also expected to be ready by early-2020, equipped with meeting facilities. They include Marriott Residences, Marriott Courtyard, Jazz Hotel, Amari Penang, and Angsana by Banyan Tree — conveniently situated just opposite Setia SPICE. In total, more than 3,000 rooms will be available. Piling work at the upcoming Penang Waterfront Convention Centre has also commenced, with an expected completion date of 2021. The new convention centre will span 25,083sqm and feature a 7,060sqm multipurpose hall, making it the biggest event space in the state. Penang's enticements Penang has 281 direct international ights per week originating from Asian countries and is connected to 25 major local and regional airports. In addition, over 100 local and international airports are connected via Kuala Lumpur. The airport in Penang is also set for expansion in the future. Gunasekeran says what sets the state apart from any other destination in Malaysia is the experience it o ers, from "The convention centre has been centre has been fully booked from Fridays to Sundays throughout the calendar year of 2019." YEOH KHENG HO, SENIOR MANAGER, SETIA SPICE CONVENTION CENTRE CONVENTION CENTRE the food to the heritage, the culture, the people and the attractions, natural and man-made. PCEB's commitment to sustainability in the state's MICE industry also left a strong impression on attendees. Compared to other states in Malaysia, Penang places a substantial amount of emphasis on green initiatives, such as the reduction of plastic usage, as well as the implementation of waste segregation. The incentive tourism market is set for further growth, as industry players look to tap on Penang's unique o erings to entice visitors who have already visited Malaysia before. Penang skyline.