Sarawak’s first purpose-built conference centre proves doubters wrong to carve a niche among best in the region
The BCCK sits on the Kuching Isthmus ringed by the Sarawak River.
WHEN the idea of building a Convention Centre here in Kuching was first mooted there was quite a bit of scepticism about its viability.
“We are not a travel hub. International attendees will have to spend extra days travelling via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.”
“Air connectivity is going to be a challenge.”
“We don’t have professional event organisers to service the clients.”
These were some of the negative comments. However, the State Government ploughed on with the scheme and went on to engage a team of dynamic locals and internationals to manage the place and to market it as a choice convention and exhibition destination.
In less than ten years BCCK has proven to be a success and now poses as a serious competitor to the more established conference centres in the region.
The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) is the first purpose-built convention centre on the island of Borneo. It was hoped that it would be a catalyst to spur the Conferences and Exhibitions business and to further enhance the tourism sector in Sarawak.
It sits on the Kuching Isthmus and is ringed by the Sarawak River. It is away from the hustle and bustle of the Kuching city centre, yet is only a few minutes ride by land and even river transport.
The interior design and décor reflect the rainforest of Sarawak.
The Centre boasts of an available space of more than 3,700 square metres and is designed to offer flexible functional spaces for plenary sessions, meetings, exhibitions and banquets.
The pride is the pillarless Great Hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 delegates. Complementing this is the state-of-the-art facilities such as audio visual equipment and latest Internet technology that can cater to the demands of conference organisers.
BCCK has hosted more than 500 local, national and international events since 2009 – from congresses, meetings, seminars, concerts to wedding receptions, and more. Among the notable high profile events are the 2012 Commonwealth Dental Association/Malaysian Dental Association/FDI World Dental Federation Joint International Scientific Convention and Trade Exhibition, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist 10th International Scientific Congress, The 14th Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatrics and 4th Asia Pacific Congress of Pediatric Nursing and the ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards 2013.
“BCCK together with Sarawak’s unique leisure offerings have shown their mettle of being able to compete favourably in the business event arena in Malaysia and beyond. With strong backing from the state government of Sarawak, BCCK offers an attractive proposition to conference buyers – pairing world-class convention facilities, international-branded hotels and modernity with culture, nature and adventure-based tourism – at favourable prices to conference buyers and delegates. These offerings are all within comfortable reach from the heart of Kuching,” proffered Eric van Piggelen, CEO of BCCK.
A recent Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu convention held at the pillarless BCCK Great Hall that can accommodate up to 5,000 delegates.
One of the feathers in its cap is the winning bid against Prague (Czech Republic)to host the prestigious International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Annual Congress 2016. Support for this bid from the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Sarawak Convention Bureau, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and BCCK’s other Team Malaysia partners demonstrates the confidence that BCCK has earned from the authorities and players in the industry.
“Come 2016, Kuching will welcome about 700 ICCA members from the world over. Through the lens of the 2016 Congress, ICCA members comprising conference planners and buyers will experience Sarawak and especially Kuching – our diversity of culture, nature and history as well as our capability to deliver major and prominent business events. We are looking beyond 2016 at the potential international associations business that we can tap from the 2016 Congress. The Congress augurs well for the state’s tourism sector as conference delegates also contribute significantly to tourist spending,” said van Piggelen.
Kuching’s rise as a choice destination for business tourism is being solidified as the tourism, airport and airline industries take note by appointing Kuching as the host city for a range of tourism-related events.
The more recent events of this type hosted at BCCK were the Global Tourism Cities Conference 2013, Asia Pacific Tourism, Hospitality and Technology Conference 2013, ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2014 and Routes Asia 2014.
While it is carving a niche in the international market, BCCK also attracts more local event organisers now that an extensive network of new roads and bridges connects it to the city centre and Kuching International Airport which is only twenty minutes away.
Local organisers recognise BCCK’s status as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) venue which enhances the presence of their events in Kuching.
Plans are now afoot to further develop the area around the Kuching Isthmus into a fully-fledged commercial hub. A new 500-room hotel is on the drawing board. Future visitors will have access to all the modern public amenities within a stone’s throw of the convention centre.
Raintree Restaurant provides a five-star dining experience at the BCCK.
Culinary services form an integral part of BCCK’s overall offerings, both from its in-house and special arrangement with outside suppliers to cater for numbers ranging from the tens to thousands.
Food lovers will also find a trove of gastronomy delights at the Raintree Restaurant, a five-star fine dining restaurant that BCCK owns and operates on its premises. This in-house culinary production team offers a wide variety of menu options for international, Malay and Chinese cuisines.
BCCK started off hesitantly but with perseverance of its management and marketing team and the upgrading of its services it is now making a name in the region as a choice convention venue.