Sabah to host World Tourism Conference

Sabah will host the prestigious World Tourism Conference (WTC) on Oct 4-6, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.

He said the event would provide opportunities for the state's tourism sector to showcase Sabah's assets to the international delegations and provide avenue for stakeholders to participate.

Musa said the federal government had approved an allocation of RM500,000 to the Tourism Ministry to organise the event.

"We welcome and thank the federal government, especially the Tourism Ministry, for suggesting that the event be hosted by Sabah," he told reporters after chairing the state cabinet meeting, here Wednesday.

He said the WTC 2007, hosted by Kuala Lumpur, attracted 826 participants from 72 countries, including 13 ministerial-level participations.

"This will bring about positive impact to the state's tourism sector. We hope that participations would be as many as the WTC 2007 in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

According to the WTC website, the conference, organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, was held for the first time in Manila, the Philippines in 1980, followed by Acapulco, Mexico in 1982.

After an absence of 25 years, the WTC returned for the third time in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.


Source : Bernama
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

New Tourism Bureau - MyCEB

The Tourism Ministry will establish a special unit called Malaysian Convention Exhibition Bureau (Myceb) to woo tourists.

The ministry’s Policy and International Communication Secretary Mohd Halimi Ibrahim said the bureau would have plenty of work cut out for it as competition for tourist dollars was great.

“The current economic situation makes it an even greater challenge,” he added.

He said that Myceb would focus on international conventions, seminars and conferences with foreign participation.

“The tourism industry is not just about traditional tourist products. It has been widened to include events like seminars and workshops.

“When foreigners come here for a conference, they may extend their stays and thus spend more,” said Halimi when met after presenting prizes to winners of the Tioman Mega Dive event in Tioman Island.

Also present was Tioman Development Authority general manager Datuk Hashim Mat Tahir.

Mohd Halimi said, due to the adverse economic and health situation, the Government had to be realistic about the target of 24 million tourists set earlier this year.

As such, the target had been revised to 20 million, he added.

He said that Malaysia had plenty of attractions in the form of highlands, seas, islands and rainforests complemented by its hospitality.

“We have successfully embarked on various programmes such as the Golden Third Age. Foreign senior citizens love to travel and like visiting our country,” he said.

Mohd Halimi added that, last year, the Government earned RM42bil from the tourism industry.

Source : Star
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel tourism news]

Encouraging response to Borneo Tourism Conference

Over 70 participants have signed up for the 4th Borneo Tourism Conference and more are expected.

Besides Malaysians, those who have confirmed their attendance are from Brunei, Thailand and New Zealand.

Organised by Borneo Integrated Services with the support of the Sarawak Tourism Board, the conference will be held from Sept 11 to 13 at the Sarawak Tourism Complex here.

It aims to develop and market Borneo as a major tourist destination, promote tourism-related activities, stimulate domestic tourism growth and increase the number of tourists to Malaysia, Brunei and Kalimantan.

It also looks to consolidate best practices in the hospitality sector, build knowledge and appreciation of nature and develop networks among tourism players.

Speakers include Hector Ceballos-Lascurain from Mexico, Prof Ross Dowling and Mark Exeter (Australia), Costas Christ (United States) and Sarawak Convention Bureau chief executive Jill Henry.

A key feature of the conference will be a series of professional development workshops on topics such as developing an ecotourism masterplan and designing an ecolodge, attracting the cruise industry to Borneo and going green.

Registration for the conference is still open and forms are available online at www.borneotourism.org.

For more details, contact the conference secretariat at the Sarawak Tourism Board at 082-423600.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Toastmaster Convention in Sarawak

THE Sarawak Convention Bureau has won the bid to host the District 51 Toastmasters International Annual Convention 2009, which will be held in Kuching in May that year.

The bid was won by Azam Toastmasters Kuching. This conference is expected to attract a total of 500 participants.

To date the bureau has won 12 conference bids with seven under development.


Source : TTG
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Malaysia to set up Convention Bureau by early 2008

MALAYSIA is planning to set up a convention bureau early next year to boost MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) arrivals into the country.

Tourism Malaysia's convention division deputy director, Mr Zulkefli Sharif, said Tourism Malaysia had sought professional advice from an Australian consultant on the setting up of a convention bureau. He is expected to submit his recommendations to Tourism Malaysia's director-general, Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, in September.

MICE arrivals are expected to contribute 10 per cent of total arrivals and 30 per cent of total tourism receipts this year. Based on the Malaysia's target of 20.1 million visitor arrivals and tourism receipts of RM44.5 billion (US$12.98 billion), some 2.01 million MICE delegates are expected to visit Malaysia and contribute RM13.35 billion in tourism receipts.

Last year, the country received 820,243 MICE delegates who contributed some RM2.14 billion in tourism receipts.


Source : TTG
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Finally, A convention bureau for Malaysia

After almost a decade of false start-ups, Malaysia may finally get its own convention bureau once the Malaysian Cabinet approves the proposal for its formation.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the proposal had been submitted to the cabinet for approval. "We are pushing for the bureau to be up and running by the end of this year."

Apart from saying that the ministry is in talks with ICCA (International Congress ad Convention Association) and other MICE experts on the bureau's structure, he declined to elaborate.

All he would say at this stage is: "We'll be the catalyst for the bureau's formation but we'll leave it to the Cabinet to decide if it'll be private-sector driven or we (Tourism Malaysia) will run it ourselves."

The formation of the bureau will, hopefully, push MICE delegates to Malaysia to a new high. Tourism Malaysia hopes to increase the number of MICE delegate arrivals this year to 10 percent of total tourist arrivals and contribute 20 percent to total tourist receipts. This will translate into 2.01 million arrivals and RM4.45 billion tourism receipts.



Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

World Tourism Conference 4 June at Shangri-La Hotel

NINETEEN speakers have confirmed attendance at the three-day World Tourism Conference in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by the Tourism Ministry, in conjunction with UNWTO.

They include: UNWTO assistant secretary-general, Mr Geoffrey Lipman; PATA CEO, Mr Peter de Jong; third vice-president, International Congress & Convention Association, International Board of Directors, Mr Anthony Wong; Resorts World's president and CEO, Mr Lee Choong Yan; AirAsia CEO, Datuk Tony Fernandes; and Hong Kong's Tourism Commissioner, Mr King-Chi Au.

The key areas for discussion are Sustainable Growth, Marketing, Product Development and Partnership.

Key Speakers of World Tourism Conference

Mr Geoffrey Lipman, Asst. Secretary General, UNWTO Spain	Mr Christopher Rodrigues CBE Chairman, VisitBritain, Britain	Prof. Dr. Amran Hamzah, Course Director, Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia	Datuk Dr Victor Wee, Secretary-General, Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia	Mr Moeketsi Mosola, CEO, South African Tourism, South Africa
Dato Tony Fernandez, CEO, Air Asia, Malaysia	Mr James C. Ram, President, Indusa Global, USA	Mr Walter Jamieson, Dean, University of Hawaii, USA	Mr Peter De Jong CEO, PATA Thailand	Mr Jeff Javis, Program Director, Monash University Australia
Dato' Dr. K. Govindan, Head of Secretariat, National Economic Action Council, PM's Dept, Malaysia	Mr. Reas M Kondraschow, Executive VP, Wyndham Hotel Group International, USA	Mr. Wayne Calder General Manager, Dept of Industry, Tourism and Resources, Australia	Mr Anthony Wong, Third Vice-President, ICCA’s International Board of Directors, Netherlands	Dr Frédéric Dimanche, Director-Center for Tourism Mgt, CERAM Sophia Antipolis, France

It will bring together a wide range of world leaders in tourism, high-level policy makers, specialists and experts from the public and private sectors to exchange experiences, put forward ideas and provide guidance for future tourism development.

The conference, themed Tourism Success Stories and Shooting Stars will be from June 4, at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

World Tourism Conference

- http://www.worldtourismconference.com/ -

Source : TTG WTC
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Kuala Lumpur Leaps Up in ICCA's City Ranking Meetings ladder

Kuala Lumpur attained 15th place in 2006 with 63 meetings from 30th place in 2005 with 38 meetings. This places Kuala Lumpur as the fourth city in the Asia Pacific region after Singapore.
Among the hosted meetings were the 39th ASEAN Regional Forum and the 21st WSBI World Congress.

The meetings industry in Malaysia as a whole is growing from strength to strength, with her increasing position in the country rankings.

KLCC saw 1.5 million people attending 430 events between January and December 2006

ICCA [International Congress & Convention Association] - http://www.iccaworld.com/

Source : TravelWeekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre first in Asia to be Green Globe Benchmarked

In another progressive leap, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has proven its commitment to excellence by becoming one of two convention centres worldwide to be the first in their industry to achieve the prestigious Green Globe Benchmarked status. Awarded under the international Green Globe Benchmarking programme, this Benchmarked status places the Centre as pioneer of the Asian region.

A worldwide Benchmarking, Certification and improvement system, Green Globe assists the international travel and tourism industry to attain sustainability. It provides a certification system that responds directly to the major environmental problems facing the planet, including the greenhouse effect, over-use of freshwater resources and the destruction of biodiversity.

The Centre’s receipt of the Green Globe Benchmarked status is in recognition of its conscientious first steps towards improving their business and community’s environmental, social and economic performance.

On achieving this status, Mr Geoff Hayward, Director of Facilities, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre says: “It is really quite a coup and we are extremely proud to be the first Asian convention centre to be recognised for operating with these environmental performance standards. This is certainly in line with our goal to establish the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre as not only a world-class international venue, but a leader in the local community working towards more environmentally sound operating processes”.

The Benchmarked status commits the Centre to a standard of excellence in energy and water consumption, total waste production and community commitment, as determined by their unique earthcheck™ measures. It also commits the Centre to implementing an integrated environmental and social sustainability policy.

With a commendable sustainability policy already in place, the Centre achieved above earthcheck™’s best practice results in energy consumption (41 per cent), water consumption (27 per cent), water saving (25 points), waste recycling (7.6 points) and pesticides (25 points).

According to Mr Hayward, measures implemented to accomplish this include taking maximum advantage of the Centre’s natural light, courtesy of its intelligent building design; keeping a keen eye on energy-saving technology innovations; and pushing the 3R (Reduce, Re-use and Recycle) campaign. The latter encourages the Centre’s staff and visitors to segregate their rubbish into colourful bins strategically located around the Centre.

Mr Jason Keating, General Manager of Green Globe Asia Pacific and Green Globe International says: “I am delighted that the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has achieved Benchmarked status. The Centre is a prime example of an organisation committed to environmentally sustainable tourism. They have demonstrated through a variety of initiatives, that the business and its employees can make a difference by reducing their environmental impact. The commitment they have shown with their participation in the Green Globe programme and their achievements set an example for similar facilities worldwide and other businesses to pursue.”

The Centre’s Benchmarked status will be reviewed annually, against changing criteria to reflect the increasing sophistication in environmental needs. From here, the next step for the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre will be moving forward towards being Green Globe certified.

About the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, which opened in June 2005, is a component part of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and is managed and operated by Convex Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture company between KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd and Ogden International Facilities Corporation Pty Ltd, Australia.

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is a wholly-owned facility of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Sdn Bhd which in turn, is owned by KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS).

The Centre, which consists of two auditoria (seating 3,000 and 500 respectively), 9,710 sq metres of exhibition halls, a Grand Ballroom which seats 2,000 diners, a Banquet Hall for 500, a Conference Hall for 1,800 and 20 other meeting rooms, represents an investment of RM550 million (approximately USD146 million) and 20,059 sq metres of function space in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Source : ehotelier
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

KL to host 6th World Chambers Congress 2009

KUALA LUMPUR - Kuala Lumpur and the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre have become the first city and convention centre respectively in South East Asia to host the 6th World Chambers Congress 2009. (6th WCC 2009)

KL won the bid, through the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, over Commerce Queensland, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikstan.

The WCC is the only international forum for chamber executives worldwide, which is held once every two years in different regions of the world.

Weblink - http://www.iccwbo.org/
Related Link - 6th World Chambers Congress 2009 (PDF)

Source : Travel Weekly
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Sarawak Convention Bureau launched yesterday

Bureau targets 50 conventions for Sarawak
By SHARON LING

KUCHING: The new Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB), officially launched yesterday, has set a target of 50 conventions to bid for next year.

Its chief executive Jill Henry said the bureau would work hard to bring in national as well as international organisations to hold their meetings in the state.

“We want to convince 50 organisations from different industries that Sarawak can host their meetings.

“Our first target will be national organisations, which regularly meet in Kuala Lumpur or Langkawi, and get them to consider Sarawak as an alternative venue for their conventions,” she told reporters after the bureau was launched by Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh at the state legislative assembly building here.

Henry also said the bureau would be compiling statistics and baseline data on the number of people coming into Sarawak to attend meetings.

“At the moment, the meetings industry is not separated from ordinary tourist arrivals, so we’re now working with the tourism industry and hotels to get the statistical evidence in place.

“Once we have the baseline information, we’ll be able to track our growth,” she said.
Wong, who was representing Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, said in his speech earlier that the bureau would provide specialist services and assistance to the business community and event organisers in bidding for conventions to be held in the state.

“Sarawak is still relatively unknown as a meetings destination. In establishing Malaysia’s first convention bureau, we have taken an important step forward to attract more meetings to Sarawak,” he said.

He added that the meetings industry worldwide was worth an estimated US$280bil (RM1 trillion) and that international delegates were especially sought after because they typically spent up to three times more than the average tourist.

“Sarawak has a distinct advantage in that we have so many assets endowed by nature.

“Our excellent tourism products such as Mulu National Park and unique cultural attractions will add to the delegate experience and encourage them to extend their stay here,” he said.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]

Putrajaya Sets Sights on Events Business

Putrajaya sets sights on events business
S Puvaneswary reporting for TTGmice, Kuala Lumpur (2006-11-22)

MORE aggressive marketing effort will be undertaken next year to push the administrative capital of Putrajaya as a business events and tourist destination.

According to Tourism Malaysia director-general, Mr Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, the national tourist office has plans to organise familiarisation programmes for inbound tour operators and tourist guides next year.

Talks with Glasgow City Marketing Bureau in the UK are also underway on co-operative measures to promote and channel meetings to Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), Malaysian tourism minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said. The outcome of the discussions are expected to be known only next year.

News Source : TTG

[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]

Sarawak's New Convention and Exhibition Centre - 2008

Manager needed for convention centre

The plenary hall will take 1,500 delegates, the banquet hall will take 2,000 and there will be 14 breakout rooms for smaller meetings. The largest pillar-free exhibition space will be 2,500m².

The establishment of the Sarawak Convention Bureau coincided with the announcement by the state government of Sarawak that it is building a RM300 million (US$81.6 million) convention and exhibition venue on the Kuching Isthmus, six kilometres from the state capital of Kuching.

The state government is looking for an operator to manage the centre.

In the interim, the bureau will take a leading role in marketing the venue.

When completed in late 2008, the Sarawak Convention and Exhibition Centre (SCEC) will have 36,500m² of gross floor space.

The venue will cover six hectares of riverside land.

The centre will form part of a new marina and shopping mall development, including the 39-storey Kuching Tower, which will be the tallest building in Sarawak.

The tower complex will house an office building and a 315-room hotel.

The main design element is the convention centre’s roof, which is in the shape of a ririg leaf, a plant native to Sarawak’s rainforest.

The plenary hall will take 1,500 delegates, the banquet hall will take 2,000 and there will be 14 breakout rooms for smaller meetings. The largest pillar-free exhibition space will be 2,500m².

There will be altogether 800 indoor and outdoor car park lots and loading docks are located at the rear.

In addition, there will be reception and pre-function assembly areas, a VIP lounge, administration offices, commercial kitchens capable of servicing 2,000 delegates and a public restaurant.

Services will include wireless Internet access in the public areas and simultaneous translation in four languages.

The bureau’s CEO, Ms Jill Henry, said: “We are confident the new centre, with its environmentally-friendly design and operational flexibility, will be instrumental in attracting the world’s meeting planners to experience Sarawak’s outstanding nature and culture.”

News Source : TTGMice

[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]

Persada Johor convention hub to help raise city hotel rates

Persada Johor convention hub to help raise city hotel rates

S Puvaneswary
Kuala Lumpur (2006-10-26)

THE Persada Johor International Convention Centre, which officially opened in Johor Bahru on October 16, is expected to be a catalyst for the growth of the state's hotel industry. It is the first purpose-built International Convention Centre in Johor and south of Kuala Lumpur and given the advantage of its strategic location - a mere five-minute drive to the Causeway and 30 minutes from Senai Airport - gives it the advantage of tapping into both the Singapore and southern peninsular MICE markets.

"At present, there are insufficient rooms to support the potential MICE business," Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Johor Chapter chairman, Mr John Roozemond, who is also Persada Johor's managing director, said.

There are 206 hotels of all categories in Johor with 9,892 rooms. Of these, 28 are star-rated hotels. The average room occupancy rate is between 60 and 70 per cent.

The average rates stand at RM130 (US$35.35) for city hotels, and city hoteliers hope these rates will increase to RM170 (US$46.24) by end 2007.


Source : TTG Asia
PJICC : http://www.persadajohor.com/

[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news]

FIGO : Largest Convention in Malaysia

A Malaysian record for number of event participants

KUALA LUMPUR -Malaysia’s biggest conference has achieved its target of 8,000 participants for the 18th triennial congress of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) that will be held in this city from November 5 to 10.

The gynaecologists and obstetricians are coming from 130 countries and territories.

During the visit, International delegates are expected to “inject some RM80 million into the Malaysian economy”, according to local organising committee chair Dr. Abdul Aziz Yahya.

The congress is being organised by the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM).

FIGO webpage : http://www.figo2006kl.com/

Source : TravelWeekly

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