The site visit will take place from November 20th to the 23rd, as part of the Sarawak Convention Bureau’s aggressive marketing strategy to further attract meetings, conventions and incentives from West Malaysia.
“When it comes to meetings, conventions and incentives’, seeing is absolutely believing in introducing Sarawak to these decision makers,” stated Mrs. Jill Henry, Chief Executive Officer of the Sarawak Convention Bureau. “Not only do we offer an outstanding range of top meeting facilities in Sarawak, but we also can provide “only here,” one-of-a-kind type group activities such as walks in the rainforest, visits to Orangutans rehabilitation centre, world-class golfing course, award-winning cuisine and much more. They will then help us spread the word about what makes Sarawak a “paradise” to accommodate their clients in future.”
Upon their arrival, the planners will be accommodated at the 360 Hotel – the brand new hotel and apartment complex nestled high above the hustle and bustle of the City streets. After lunch at the Hotel’s spectacular Horizon Café, planners will have an opportunity to listen to product update presentations by key speakers, Mr. Alvin Wee from the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) and Mr. Geoffrey Lee from the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB). Before the end of the day, they will be treated to a cocktail reception at Hilton Kuching’s Governor Suite and proceed to Progressive Dinner.
Part of their itinerary for the second day of the site visit is a unique introduction to some voluntary work with the Habitat for Humanity Program at Kampung Senibong. Here Mr. Eric Yap, site supervisor of the Habitat Program will assign them to their respective tasks.
Habitat for Humanity is an International grass-roots movement whose work is accomplished by affiliates — independent, locally-run, non-profit volunteer groups. Each affiliate is run by a board of directors and co-ordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its area. They select prospective partner families and suitable building sites, then organizes fund-raising and donations of materials; house construction using volunteers and, where appropriate, paid specialist construction workers to build houses; as well as mortgage repayments. There are 132 affiliates in the Asia-Pacific region and 2,291 worldwide.
All work and no play make Jack and Jill a dull boy and girl. The planners will get to enjoy themselves when performing their tasks with a football match planned and lunch. In the late afternoon, the group will return to their hotel to freshen up then proceed to Dinner at the Original Carwash Restaurant.
On their third day’s tour, the planners are scheduled to visit the Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Here they will be educated not only to the ‘Heart to Heart’ program, but also to the rehabilitation of the endangered Orangutans and other wildlife at the Centre.
Next stop is the Borneo Highlands Resort & Spa. In addition to site inspection of the property that meet the needs of a potential group, the planners will be treated to a foot reflexology massage treatment, organic lunch at the Resort’s Annah Rais Café and a walking tour to the Kalimantan Border.
In the evening, the planners will enjoy a great night of celebration at the Anak Sarawak Appreciation Awards’ Dinner where everyone will be expected to ‘dressed to kill’ in a James Bond inspired theme party to be held at the Civic Center’s Links Restaurant.
Before departure the next day, the planners will visit the Kuching Waterfront Main Bazaar to shop for Sarawak’s unique handicrafts and antiques. The Main Bazaar is one of the oldest & busiest streets in Kuching where trading took place since a long time ago in the era of James Brooke, The White Rajah. Today, the Main Bazaar is still buzzing with people, entertainment & business activities, traditional spice shops, antiques, jewelry & restaurants.
Among the varieties of shops at the Main Bazaar lies the Waterfront Lodge that sits right in the heart of the City. The splendid waterfront is situated right in front of the Lodge’s doorstep, and a few steps away are the Tua Pek Kong Temple, shopping malls & pubs. Here at the Waterfront Lodge, the planners will indulge to lunch to fully experience what else the historic city of Kuching can offer.
These are just several of the “over-the-top” options that make hosting a program in Sarawak stand out from other destinations.
– Ends
