Construction for Sabah’s first dedicated convention centre is expected to be completed by end-2018, and be fully operational by January 2019.
Developed by Yayasan Sabah Group, the Sabah International Convention Centre will be a five-storey building with a built-up area of 92,000m2. The centre will be equipped with a 5,200m2 column-free convention hall, alongside meeting facilities and VIP suites, as well as a performing arts hall with a permanent two-tier seating for 1,200 people.
Other facilities include a 7,000m2 open plaza, 4,000m2 indoor F&B area and more than 1,000 parking bays.
The new centre will sit within the Kota Kinabalu Central Business District, five minutes from the city centre, 20 minutes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport and 10 minutes from the State Administrative Centre.
In the lead up to the centre’s opening, Sabah’s leaders in the business events industry have been investing in programmes to uplift professionalism and prepare the local industry for future conferences.
As well, Place Borneo, a PCO based in Kuching, Sarawak, has set up an office in Sabah in June. Mona Manap, managing director and founder at Place Borneo, told TTGmice her decision was encouraged by new business opportunities in Sabah.
She added: “Sabah is the blue ocean for business events, it being new and on the verge of rapid growth.”
