Why Prague lost to Kuching
Published on: Friday, June 28, 2024
By: David Thien
.jpg "Why Prague lost to Kuching")
Premala said the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), founded in 2009 as an ambitious initiative by the Sarawak Government, stands as a testament to the state’s commitment to fostering Business Tourism, Trade and the Exchange of Knowledge.
Kota Kinabalu: The success of the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) to host the 55th International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) over Czech Republic capital Prague raised many eyebrows.
It was all about crafting a great experience for the visiting delegates to Kuching from their arrival at the KLIA in Sepang to the Kuching International Airport to their hotels and the impressive BCCK and back.
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The BCCK success story was presented at the Business Events Forum (BE in Sabah) recently.
Premala Danapakiam, BCCK Director of Sales & Marketing said:
“Kuching showcased its potential as an emerging leading destination for international conferences, and with strong government advocacy and support, demonstrated by high-level participation and commitment, did play a crucial role in securing the bid for Kuching.
“There was effective collaboration between industry stakeholders, including the BE Sarawak, MyCEB, ICCA Malaysia members, industry players and local associations, which demonstrated a unified approach towards hosting successful international events.”
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She said the collaboration with government agencies and industry partners supported 11 young local industry professionals and students attending the congress.
“Kuching City also got involved. Through a partnership with ICCA Malaysia, a book-sharing programme was created whereby delegates could bring along used children’s books to be donated during the congress.
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“The books were then shared with Sarawak Library and eventually expanded to a Longhouse Community Library. We also supported the local tribal art and craft community by providing them with a platform to showcase and sell their souvenirs to the participants.”
Premala said the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), founded in 2009 as an ambitious initiative by the Sarawak Government, stands as a testament to the state’s commitment to fostering Business Tourism, Trade and the Exchange of Knowledge.
“Over the past 15 years, BCCK has emerged as a premier venue, welcoming a diverse array of international conferences spanning fields such as medicine, engineering, renewable energy, among others.
"Among its stellar achievements, BCCK hosted distinguished gatherings like the 55th International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the prestigious 27th World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT), the esteemed 42nd Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) and an array of other notable business events.”
Premala suggested SICC and Kota Kinabalu MICE venues use Sabah’s resources and assets to reach out to BE organisers and turn them into clients.
“Leverage your events. Attract attendees, elevate event programming and increase satisfaction. Size doesn’t matter. It’s not about having the ‘big events’ – it’s about having lots of things going on. Smaller events are also the lifeblood of any destination.”
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