Amelia Roziman, CEO, BESarawak
As the winner of M&C Asia Stella Award’s Best Sustainability Initiative (Destination) title, Sarawak has solidified its position as a leader in legacy and innovation for the MICE industry. Amelia Roziman, CEO of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), discusses how the destination has seamlessly woven sustainability into every facet of its business events strategy.
What sustainability initiatives have Sarawak adopted to ensure the legacy of the destination?
The Business Events Sarawak Legacy (BESLegacy) Initiative integrates environmental, social, and economic responsibility into business event design and programming. In 2025, we will launch the AI-powered legacy impact measurement dashboard where economic and legacy data can give us a more accurate picture of the industry’s contributions and significance in development agendas.
How has Sarawak integrated sustainable practices into its MICE infrastructure and event venues?
Most venues, like the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, implement eco friendly practices in their operations such as energy-efficient lighting, water conservation systems, and effective waste management. Hotels that double as venues also incorporate food and general waste management programmes, strengthening their recycling and repurposing programmes.
Sustainability is also about how daily operations are managed. Sarawak’s transportation network currently includes electric and hydrogen-powered buses, and will be expanding to include 56 modern buses in 2025 and autonomous rapid transit by 2027 to reduce carbon emissions.
What are Sarawak’s key sustainability targets going forward?
We aim for every business event in Sarawak to adopt the BESLegacy Initiative. The broader goal by 2030 is for business events to contribute to local and national progress while fostering strong relationships with the host community.
This article first appeared in the October-December 2024 issue of M&C Asia as part of the “Trailblazing stars: In celebration of Asia’s top MICE winners” feature. Click here to read more from this issue.