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Conferences in Sarawak witnessed attendance of 15,830 delegates in 2015.
Scandinavian hotel honored
with environmental award
Sarawak host
to international
conference every
week of 2015
Malaysia stepped-up in global recognition
through 52 internationally-acclaimed conferences,
hosted in Sarawak, “the Land of
the Hornbills.”
The conferences witnessed attendance of
15,830 delegates. They also comprise a majority
of the 59 conferences won by Sarawak
Convention Bureau (SCB).
Chairman of SCB, Dato’ Sri Dr Leo Michael
Toyad said, “The bureau has been consistent
and fervent in pursuing and winning conferences
that do not merely reap monetary
gains, but international acclaim and benefits
to the community as well as the nation.
We closed 2015’s chapter and enter 2016
with much anticipation, knowing that the
team will strive to elevate the state’s business
events industry in the international arena
through quality events,” says Dato’ Sri Dr
Leo Michael Toyad, Chairman of SCB.
In review of 2015, Managing Director of
SCB, Mike Cannon said, “The wealth of
knowledge gained from the international
conferences is tremendous – it can be converted
into skillsets that propel the nation
through knowledge sharing, capacity building
and technological advances.”
On the subject of up-skilling talents, Cannon
commented: “Conferences such as the XXIII
Asian and Oceania Congress of Obstetrics
and Gynecology, the Conference for Process
Integration, Modelling & Optimisation for
Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction 2015,
and International Conference of the International
Vocational Education and Training
Association offer the latest in trends, research
and education. We can harness the essence
from other fields to empower the people to
strive forward in this fast-developing state.”
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore is one of 89 hotels
in Asia who have complied with the new ASEAN
Green Hotel Standard to promote sustainable
tourism practices in the region.
“The hotel’s environmental policy and programmes
are detailed in the in-room directory
and guests are encouraged to participate
in the programmes.
Recycling bins are placed in some public
guest areas to encourage guests to recycle.
Being a green hotel means that the guests
and customers can have an assurance that
they are staying in an accommodation. That
is responsible and actively participating in
the improvement of the environment, and
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore is proud to
be one.
Evidently, the number of travelers who prefer
to stay in green hotels is also rising,” so says
Christian Hassing, Denmark, General Manager
at Mandarin Oriental in Singapore.
Mandarin Oriental was one of 89 hotels who
for the first time at an ATF (Asia Tourism
Forum) was awarded “Awards for environmentally
friendly hotels.”
ATF 16 was held in Manila, the Philippines,
and 10 tourism ministers from Asia recognized
the 89 hotels environmental efforts.
The 10 tourism ministers wrote in their report
from the ATF in Manila:
“Through the ASEAN Green Hotel Award
Ceremony, the Ministers were pleased to
note that 89 hotels in the region have complied
with the new ASEAN Green Hotel
Standard to promote sustainable tourism
practices in the region through adoption of
environmental-friendly and energy conservation
initiatives in their establishments in
line with ASEAN tourism initiative on
Tourism and Climate Change Monitoring
System and Work Plan.”
“What have you done to get a green hotel?
“The journey to becoming a green hotel
starts with full commitments by the top
management of the hotel. Spearheaded by
the Hotel Manager, the hotel has a Corporate
Responsibility Committee (CRC), consisting
of department heads and colleagues.
The committee meets regularly every month
to review environmental data and performance,
discuss inspection and audit findings,
brainstorm new initiatives, conduct
stakeholders’ engagement, champion community
activities and explore sustainable
sourcing. Environmental targets on energy,
emissions, water and waste are established
and monitored in the meeting,” says Christian
Hassing to TTO Scandinavia.
“Adopting the motto “Doing More for a Sustainable
Future” plans and initiatives covering
the entire environmental spectrum of
energy, water, waste, chemicals and noise
controls were developed and implemented.
These initiatives include replacement of
traditional lighting to energy-saving LED
lighting, upgrade of the water cisterns from
single to dual flush, and recycling of a myriad
of materials from paper, plastics, glass,
cans, to soaps, lamps and cooking oil.
Another important aspect was the engagement
of stakeholders (colleagues, guests,
suppliers and the local community) in the
hotel’s environmental programmes and activities.
For example, guests were encouraged
to play a role in the hotel’s environmental
programme by reusing linens and towels.
Messages are printed on recycled “Caring
for the Environment” cards and guests are
requested to place them on their pillow tops,
should they prefer to have a daily change
of sheets. Various colleagues’ engagement,
training and awareness programmes are in
place at the hotel to support the advancement
of a ‘Green Culture’, including annual
Sustainability Awareness training, a dedicated
Sustainability Notice Board and TV
screen, incentive programme for innovative
ideas and Green Events. The hotel’s long
term vision is to develop a ‘Green Culture’
where 3R principles for energy, water and
waste management is a way of life and internalized
by the colleagues.”
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