Sandakan eyes medium-size MICE groups

Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan is determined to build a stronger business events base, by attracting groups with 350 delegates or less, despite being in a destination with limited air accessibility and seat capacity.

The hotel’s general manager, Peter Padman, said the five-year-old property recently welcomed a group from Tier 1 cities in China earlier in April. The group comprised 260 delegates who looked into the bird nest business in Sabah, and it was the first time the Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan hosted a Chinese group.

Padman added: “The organiser from China will be hosting a similar event in September which is expected to attract some 200 delegates.”

In addition, a 120-strong student group from China will be holding a workshop at the hotel this June, and will be making use of its conference facilities.

Currently, Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan is the only international-branded hotel in Sandakan. Corporate and business events currently make up 40 per cent of the hotel’s business mix, where the key sectors are government, banking, and telecommunications.

Aside from the local and Chinese markets, the property is also reaching out to business events organisers in Singapore, Australia and India who are on the lookout for new secondary destinations. The main draws in Sandakan are soft adventure, eco-tourism activities and bird-watching.

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