Northstar

S P E C I A L F E A T U R E A decade on, BCCK grows into the future Winning Track Record Following a trophy-laden 10 years, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching hunts for more success in 2020 Over the past decade, the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) has built a reputation for its service excellence, congenial hospitality, and a personal touch when welcoming conference delegates from all over the globe. On its 10th anniversary, it is now a top business events destination, and a key contributor to the Sarawak's economy. The results speak for itself. Since its rst ofcial event — the Green International Festival Kuching 2009 — BCCK has since hosted more than 1,646 events, attracting over 2 million delegates home and abroad, and earned multiple international awards and recognition along the way. It has delivered more than MYR266 million (US$63.5 million) in economic impact to the state of Sarawak since 2013. Just 2018 alone, BCCK hosted 196 events — including 13 international events — and attracted close to 7,000 delegates. "We have risen up to the challenge set by the Sarawak Government to grow business tourism through the hosting of business events," said Datuk Hajjah Raziah Mahmud-Geneid, Chairman of Borneo Isthmus Development Sdn Bhd (BID), which operates BCCK. "With the continuous support of our clients, competency and dedication of our team, and the vision of our leadership, we are condent Sarawak will continue to prosper." BCCK's emergence as a top events venue was instrumental in helping Kuching leapfrog more than 45 places within a year to become the 28th most preferred Asia Pacic city for business events in the 2018 ICCA rankings, and the second most attractive business events destination in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur. "Kuching has proven its potential to be a leading business events destination in this region, and BCCK played a big part in that elevation," said BCCK executive director Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot. NOV-DEC 2019 15 MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS MCMAG-ASIA.COM 2011 First convention centre in Borneo to receive ISO 22000 certication for food safety 2013 Awarded ISO 9001 for quality management principles. 2015 Introduced e-booking for its Ramadhan buffet. In the same year, clinched a rAWr (Recognising Award Winning Results) Award for Purpose Built Convention Centre Award for Excellence 2017 Bagged the Malaysia Best Employer Brand Award, two Malaysia Business Events Awards of Excellence, and a rAWr (Recognising Award Winning Results) Award 2018 Earned ISO14001 for waste management, as well as an AIPC Gold Quality Standards Certication. Also a nalist at the International Association of Convention Centre (AIPC) Apex Award 2019 Inducted as a member of The Global Association for the Exhibition Industry (UFI). "We'll continue to be the platform from which Kuching can build even more success." Riding on the success of the past 10 years, BCCK CEO Eric van Piggelen is optimistic with what the future holds. He said: "We look forward to continuing our business relationships with our local stakeholders, and together we can bring Sarawak's business events industry to greater heights."

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