PENANG's newest landmark - the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) is set to host its inaugural mega event next month with the Penang Green Summit.
Located just off the Penang Bridge, PWCC is the largest meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibition (MICE) asset up north and the anchor to the master city - The Light City, a project under renowned developer - IJM Group.
IJM is etched in the minds of Penangites, having built the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which is a major link between the northern and southern part of the island state.
The 10,000 sqm convention centre features a column-free hall that can accommodate up to 10,000 guests and it is learnt that the facility is mostly booked until mid-next year.
After the summit, there will be the K - Beauty Expo of Korean brands in November and in December, the Water Tech Asia - a business to business event on the water industry.
PWCC will likely cement Penang as a leading MICE destination in the region, supplementing the SPICE Convention Centre off Sungai Ara.
A key component of The Light City, which costs about US$1.07 billion to build, PWCC is expected to attract over 30,000 delegates this year, generating approximately US$13.2 million for Penang’s economy, said its owner - IJM Perennial who is represented by its sister company IJM Land's chief executive officer Datuk Tony Ling Thou Lung.
Ling recently also hosted the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce delegation led by its adviser Tan Sri Tan Kok Pin and president Datuk Seri Choot Ewe Seng.
It has been reported that Penang hosted over 2,000 business events last year, bringing in more than 300,000 delegates and generating an estimated US$300 million.
PWCC is Penang’s third and largest MICE venue, and one which will be managed by Korea International Exhibition Centre (KINTEX), which also manages Yashobhoomi Exhibition Centre in New Delhi, India.
Besides the PWCC, master city developer - IJM will build a 34-storey Light City waterfront destination features a 750m sea promenade and a shopping mall offering more than 300 retail outlets.
The development also features a 156-room luxury boutique hotel covering a span of six floors called JdV by Hyatt, which will make its debut in Penang. Joie de Vivre (JdV) Hospitality is a hotel and restaurant company based in San Francisco, California, and the second-largest operator of boutique hotels in the United States.
China’s Galaxy Minyoun Hotels will operate a four-star property with 303 rooms over nine floors and marks the brand’s first venture into Southeast Asia.
The hotels are slated to open next year, and it will be the first time that two hotels are housed under the same roof in Penang.
The properties will be positioned above an 11-storey office component, which will offer a total of 200,000 sq ft of workspace.
The Light City is located about 10 minutes from Penang International Airport and about 20 minutes away from the capital Georgetown.
Ling said that platform that will position Penang firmly on the global MICE map.
"We believe PWCC will be a game-changer for Penang. Beyond attracting global conventions and exhibitions, it will generate substantial economic benefits, create opportunities for local businesses, and open new pathways for collaboration and growth. Most importantly, it will showcase Penang’s strengths — our connectivity, our talent, and our rich cultural heritage — to the world," said Ling. - September 26, 2025.
