Convention bureau BESarawak sealed its collaboration with ICCA, the
International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), at the IMEX trade
show in Frankfurt.
The partnership will see them working together on the new International
Journal of Business Events and Legacies, the first publication in South East
Asia to merge the two topics.
The journal is a collaborative effort, with 44 international advisors and
expert editors from 15 countries in Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, the
Middle East and Oceania.
Its aim is to elevate the knowledge around business meetings – including
international association conferences – by focusing on the wider, lasting
impact of those events.
PCMA (The Professional Convention Management Association), The Iceberg,
GainingEdge, Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau have also leant their
support to the project.
“The journal is beyond a learning tool, but a platform for every destination
in the world to innovate, improve and inspire the sector,” said The Honourable
Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Sarawak’s Minister of Tourism, Creative
Industries and Performing Arts.
“The Ministry is serious about business events flourishing in Sarawak, hence
the inclusion of this sector in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, a
10-year policy by the Sarawak Government.”
The Minister said BESarawak’s collaboration with ICCA was the “strongest yet
between the Government and the global industry” and encouraged more
associations, convention bureaux, and academia around the world to become IJBEL
strategic partners.
“The world is beginning to embrace the fact that associations and
destinations need each other. The most effective way for these two to connect
is through legacy impact,” stated James Rees, President of ICCA. “ICCA is more
than delighted to support a destination like Sarawak as a strategic association
partner in developing the journal. It is a platform and voice for ICCA members
and their networks, far and wide. We will endorse, recognise, and actively
develop the journal; share resources, and continue supporting education goals
which are aligned with ICCA objectives.”
BESarawak’s CEO Amelia Roziman was optimistic that the journal would connect
more global partners to unite the industry and advocate for the highest purpose
of business events.
“IJBEL will be a journal to most. But it’s really a grandstand to drive the
growth and possibilities of this sector,” she said. “With enough contributions
and collaborations, we’re foreseeing better professionalism from global
industry partners and stronger G2G and G2B support, resulting in a better
experience for planners and delegates.”
Sarawak began to promote the legacy of business events in 2016 to create a
point of difference with other destinations vying for international
conferences. The initiative forms part of 10-year strategy called Sarawak 2030
aimed at turning the Malaysian region into an advanced destination for business
events. The strategy is aligned with six key industrial sectors the Sarawak government
wants to bolster: Agriculture, Forestry, Manufacturing, Mining, Tourism, and
Social Services.
The BESarawak Alliance, a platform dedicated to
improving collaboration between the bureau and the public and private sectors to
strengthen Sarawak’s position in bidding for regional and international
business events, was launched in 2018.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
