Sarawak Convention Bureau performed very well in 2013

By Anthony Tan | VIRGIN Communications
email: anthonykhtan@yahoo.co.uk

The Board of Directors with its Chairman of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) Dato’ Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad Abdullah was pleased with his team’s performance for 2013.

 

This was announced when the board had its meeting recently to discuss the excellent achievement of SCB managing the Sarawak’s Business Events Industry.

The SCB team feeling above the cloud

SCB was established in 2006 by the State Government of Sarawak and the first to be set up in Malaysia.

Key wins for 2013 that contributed towards Kuching’s successful ranking in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) include The International Hakka Conference and 55th Anniversary Celebration (October 2013 with 1320 delegates), The International Energy Week (September 2014 with 1200 delegates), and the International Clinical Conference for Assistant Medical Officers and Paramedics (April 2015 with an estimated 700 delegates).

 

In 2013, SCB supported 57 convention bids representing 21,277 delegates, and 71,798 delegate days, which contributed an estimated direct delegate expenditure of RM41.6 million to Sarawak.

 

Dr Muhammad Leo said, “The Business Events sector in Sarawak keeps getting better and better. Recently, we made the Top 30 with ICCA-Asia Pacific and Middle East Country and City ranking for international wins in 2013. This recognition is a huge compliment to the Business Events sector of Sarawak.”

 

At the meeting, Dr Muhammad Leo reinforced SCB’s core objectives to maintain ahead in the industry:

• To win more bids for Sarawak by placing greater emphasis on

  marketing and business partnerships, and on the use of

  sponsorship,

• To enhance education of business and government communities

  and Business Event suppliers of Sarawak so as to retain brand

  value and encourage referred and repeat business and

• To continue to brand Sarawak as a unique destination for Business

  Events.
 

SCB had been on the radar of the ICCA-Asia Pacific and Middle East Country and City ranking in 2010. Kuching has continued to improve its ranking from 38th in 2012 to its current spot at 28th and a worldwide ranking of 136th out of 371 cities - alongside Birmingham, Johannesburg, Las Vegas and Orlando among others.

“Having come out of a tough period in 2012, we were thrilled to place among ICCA’s Top 30 meeting cities in Asia Pacific and Middle East. This would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our industry partners and clients.

"The Business Events Industry in Sarawak just keeps getting better and better. Recently, we made the Top 30 with ICCA-Asia Pacific and Middle East Country and City ranking for international wins in 2013. This recognition is a huge compliment to the Business Events sector of Sarawak.

Dr Muhammad Leo  

"Sarawak industry players can also look forward to industry education opportunities and programs for the remainder of 2014, and in 2015 we will begin an aggressive campaign to capture the international business influenced in the West Malaysia, Singapore, Southeast Asia and Australasia markets,” he added

 

SCB Managing Director Mike Cannon commented: “There has been exciting development for 2014 with the appointment of an Australian based representative, which should result in greater opportunities for further wins and successful familiarisation projects.

 



Mike Cannon


 

“The remainder of 2014 will see the Bureau’s participation in the International Meetings Exchanges (IMEX) America in October 2014 with a familiarisation trip for US based buyers to Sarawak after the show.”