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Over three quarters of Sabah’s population inhabits the coastal plains, and it’s not difficult to see why. The second largest state in Malaysia and one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo, Sabah is blessed with some of the world’s most pristine and inviting white sandy beaches.
Eco-tourism is a major contributor to the economy of Sabah. Its wonderfully diverse geography means Sabah offers everything from unique flora and fauna to some of southeast Asia’s highest mountains and the oldest rainforests on the globe. Also known as the ‘Land Below The Wind’ as it lies below the typhoon belt, Sabah is where you’ll find the majestic Mt Kinabalu which, standing at 4101 metres, is the second highest mountain in southeast Asia and dominates the surrounding landscape.
It’s not just the geography that makes this destination a winner for the MICE market. Sabah’s diverse cultural heritage also adds something special to the mix. The people of Sabah comprise 32 different ethnic groups – the largest indigenous group is the Kadazan-Dusun (about 25 per cent of Sabah’s population) and the largest non-indigenous group is the Chinese (about 20 per cent of the population). All these ethnic groups live together harmoniously while at the same time preserving their own culture, traditions, festivals and customs to make Sabah a multicultural and exotic place to experience.
When it comes to meetings and incentives, Sabah’s capital city, Kota Kinabalu is home to a score of first-rate facilities, off-site dining options and attractions that will leave groups in awe.
So whether you’re experiencing Sabah while trekking through the wild of the Danum Valley, scuba diving around the famous island of Pulau Sipadan, or just sitting on the balcony of a luxurious five-star hotel room, there’s no question that it makes for a unique incentive and meeting destination bound to offer memorable experiences for delegates.
For a three-day, two-night incentive trip in Sandakan on the east coast of Sabah, incentive groups could consider the following itinerary options:
Day one – on arrival to Sandakan, proceed to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre which is adjacent to the Sepilok Jungle Resort and the Orang Utan Resort. Here you will view a video presentation on the centre, and at the conclusion go to the feeding platform to witness the morning session of feeding the orang-utans. After viewing “The Wild Man of Borneo Feed” you can return to the information centre and take the opportunity to adopt an orang-utan of your own. You receive an adoption certificate, photo, individual history, and regular updates on your orang-utan. For more information, visit www.orangutan-appeal.org.
At the conclusion of this activity you make your way to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. This establishment offers a perfect observation spot for anyone wanting a closer look at these very special monkeys. The sanctuary is located at the centre of a mangrove forest along costal land near Samawang Village at Labuk Bay Sandakan. For more information, visit www.proboscis.cc.
To complete day one, either lunch or dinner at The English Tea House situated high on the hill overlooking Sandakan Bay is a must. Here you will immerse yourself in the tranquil surroundings of this unique venue including lush gardens and the charm of yesteryear in style and comfort. For more information, visit www.englishteahouse.org. Suggested accommodation for a night’s stay in Sandakan include Sabah Hotel, Sandakan Hotel or Sepilok Nature Resort.
Day two – you could take a boat trip to Turtle Island where you’ll stay overnight in order to witness turtle hatchlings in the darkest of hours. This can be done nightly all year round. Or instead you could take a boat to Kinabatangan River where you will stay overnight in a jungle lodge. Many of the major tour operators in nearby Suka maintain lodges. There you will have the chance to see wildlife such as Asian elephants, and rare birds, including the hornbill.
Day three – boat back to Sandakan and visit the Sandakan Memorial Park dedicated to the Australian and British prisoners of war and local civilians who suffered and died at Sandakan and Ranau and during the infamous ‘death marches’ of World War II. A new attraction on the west coast is @mosphere, a revolving restaurant and bar on the 18th floor of the Menura Tun Mustapha Building, about 20 minutes north of Kota Kinabalu. Travel here to enjoy the view and stick around for lunch, afternoon tea, sunset cocktails or dinner. For more information, visit www.atmosphererestaurant.com.
Hyatt Regency Kinabalu is situated right in the heart of Kota Kinabalu’s business, shopping and entertainment hub overlooking the breathtaking coral islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and the South China Sea.
In short, it is an excellent choice for your next MICE event.
This established hotel with its 288 spacious guestrooms provides a range of multi-purpose function rooms to cater for incentives, meetings, banquets, receptions and exhibitions. Its function rooms can be reconfigured to suit meetings of any size. The hotel’s multi-purpose function rooms also feature the latest high-speed internet broadband and Wi-Fi access.
Hyatt Regency Kinabalu has restaurants with a wide selection of local and international cuisine, featuring speciality Japanese and Chinese Restaurants. A 24-hours café, delicatessen with fresh bakeries and a western eatery rounds out your selection. A lounge with light evening entertainment, a modern fitness centre and spa, an outdoor swimming pool and Shenanigan’s – The Irish Fun Pub, featuring nightly live band. Go beyond the meeting rooms and find yourself overwhelmed by the local cultural escapades and a seemingly endless list of things to engage and delight in. Just outside the hotel is a popular shopping centre and the local handicraft market. For the thrill seekers, try conquering the world-renowned Mount Kinabalu, the tallest peak in south east Asia or white water raft down one of the challenging rivers.
 Situated 30 kilometres northeast of Kota Kinabalu city, Nexus Resort Karambunai lies on 3335 acres of natural and landscaped surroundings on the Karambunai Peninsula. A six-kilometre white sandy beach and a million-year-old tropical rainforest poise as the margin and backdrop to the hotel.
Nexus Resort Karambunai offers 235 Borneo guest rooms, nestled in a cluster of seven two-storey buildings, plus 250 guest rooms in the five-storey Ocean Wing, and six Royal and Presidential Villas with private swimming pools and gardens.
The resort also features the 18-hole championship Karambunai Resort Golf Course, a 75-acre nature park, and the Lagoon Park, the resort’s water sport centre, plus eight restaurants and bars, three free-form swimming pools, an outdoor jacuzzi, gymnasium, squash court, outdoor tennis courts, and the Borneo Spa, the resort’s latest addition which offers a wide range of treatments aimed to stimulate the five senses – the ultimate way to relax and unwind.
The resort offers eight spacious meeting rooms designed to suit various function and meeting requirements, and a grand ballroom which seats 1200 banquet-style and is lit by magnificent crystal chandeliers.
A shuttle service from the hotel to Kota Kinabalu runs five times a day for shopping and city sightseeing.
On the shores of the South China Sea, overlooking the five tropical islands of the national marine park, lies Sutera Harbour Resort – a mere 10 minutes from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and five minutes from the shopping and business districts.
Encompassing the five-star hotels of The Magellan Sutera and The Pacific Sutera, the resort collectively features 956 rooms and suites, 14 food and beverage outlets, 27-hole golf course, 104-berth marina, two spas and a host of recreational facilities including a 12-lane bowling alley and 100-seat movie theatre.
Its meeting facilities include the grand ballrooms at The Pacific Sutera and The Magellan Sutera, which accommodate 550 and 1600 respectively banquet-style. Supported by an additional 28 function rooms found across the resort, as well as covered and uncovered outdoor banquet venues beachside, poolside and along the marina boardwalk, Sutera Harbour Resort features the largest MICE facilities in Sabah and Borneo.
A range of outstanding creative theme setups add to the allure of the resort as a MICE venue of distinction. Upcoming major conferences include the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development’s (UNCTAD) first ever high-level conference on e-tourism in the Asia Pacific region.
Through its affiliation with the Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, Sutera Harbour Resort also manages the accommodation and restaurants of Sabah’s five major eco-resorts of Kinabalu Park, Poring Hot Spring & Nature Reserve, Mesilau Nature Resort, Laban Rata and Manukan Island Resort.
Sutera Harbour Resort is also partnered with the Sabah State Railway Department to launch the North Borneo Railway, offering passengers the opportunity to experience the unique sights and sounds of the Sabah landscape onboard a vintage steam train.
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu
One of Malaysia’s newest five-star hotels, Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu is situated only 15 minutes from the international airport and enjoys a central city location in Kota Kinabalu. The hotel has 306 guest rooms, plus the two club floors and the Le Royal Club Lounge which all have sweeping views of either the South China Sea or Mt Kinabalu. Its meeting and conference facilities reflect the property’s commitment to superior personalised service, with the 370-capacity ballroom offering state-of-the-art audio visual support in all three of its possible configurations. Five additional meeting rooms enjoy natural light and views, one of which also offers an outdoor balcony for break-out or cocktail functions. Guests can also enjoy sea views by the swimming pool, spa and pool bar. For more information, phone +60 8832 2222 or visit www.lemeridien.com/kotakinabalu.
Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort
Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort is a seaside retreat boasting 495 guest rooms, five restaurants, three bars, a Health Club, sauna, gym, two swimming pools, the largest Kids Club in Sabah, a wading pool, nine-hole golf course, four tennis courts, and a water sports centre. The hotel is currently re-imaging its semi-detached island, Pulau Bayu into CHI, The Spa due to be completed by the end of June 2007 at a cost of USD2.5 million. The spa village will have five single garden villas, three couple villas and an open yoga pavilion. CHI is the signature spa brand of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts with a Himalayan and Chinese spa concept. For more information, phone +60 88 225 800 or visit www.shangri-la.com.
Beringgis Beach Resort
Only 15 minutes away from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, the Beringgis Beach Resort has 78 guest rooms with private balconies and two two-room chalets which provide privacy for meetings. The resort is on a three kilometre stretch of sandy beach along the Kinarut coastline. It has two dining facilities, the Hornbill Café which seats 100 and the Woodpecker Lounge which caters for 50, plus a swimming pool, snorkelling, and horse riding. The resort has three meeting rooms which can hold a cocktail function of 30 people up to a banquet of 200. For more information, phone +60 88 752 333 or visit www.beringgis.com.
Gayana Island EcoResort
Gayana Island EcoResort is only 30 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu city, and offers 44 guest rooms furnished with local materials and exotic design. The resort boasts its own Marine Ecology Research Centre with a primary mission to restore and rehabilitate the marine habitats in the bay. The resort has four restaurants and bars, including the Island Seafood Restaurant which seats up to 170. It offers recreational activities including kayaking, canoeing, swimming in the Nacre Pool, scuba diving, snorkelling, hiking, fishing and island hopping. The resort’s conference facilities include two rooms, one with the capacity to seat 90 theatre-style. For more information, phone +60 88 245 158 or email info@gayana-ecoresort.com.
The Jesselton Hotel
The Jesselton Hotel, located in the historic heart of Kota Kinabalu, promises a unique experience. The hotel was established in 1954 when Sabah was known as British North Borneo and Kota Kinabalu was still called by its colonial name Jesselton. Regarded as boutique, The Jesselton Hotel has 31 guest rooms and a junior suite, plus a business centre, Turnbull Club executive lounge, three dining options including the Gardenia Grill Room Restaurant which seats 38, plus a conference room and banquet hall with various dimensions and seating capacities from between 20 and 400. For more information, phone +60 88 223 333 or email jesshtl@po.jaring.my.
Death trek
Team-building experiences for the MICE market come no better than those offered by Tham Yau Kong, Sabah’s leading trekking expert, and Lynette Silver, an Australian investigative historian. The six-day trek they have developed, across the most scenic and challenging part of the Sandakan Ranau Death March original track, not only allows participants to appreciate the tenacity of the prisoners, but also engenders a high level of team spirit. It’s certainly a unique opportunity to create a close-knit bond between each member of the group. The trek is based on the following historical incident in 1945, when the Japanese marched more than 1000 weak and starving Australian and British prisoners of war across the uninhabited, jungle-clad mountains of British North Borneo (now Sabah). Of those who set out from the Sandakan POW Camp only six were alive at war’s end. The rest had perished either en route or at their destination, the tiny village of Ranau on the flanks of Mt Kinabalu, southest Asia’s highest peak. That any prisoners completed what is now known as “the death march” was due entirely to the spirit of mateship which had sustained them throughout their captivity. Their story of courage and determination, in the face of appalling odds, is one of the most tragic, yet uplifting, of World War II.
Groups that walk in these men’s same footsteps find that it is an emotionally and physically life-changing experience. For more information, visit www.sandakan-deathmarch.com.
Therapeutic springs
Situated 40 kilometres north east of the Kinabalu Park HQ, the Poring Hot Spring is in the lowlands. The spring is known for its therapeutic and soothing baths that contains minerals which have been known to take away aches in muscles. The bath is favoured by those who have just returned from the arduous climb of nearby Mount Kinabalu. Poring Hot Springs are very popular among the locals, with natives claiming that it has curative powers.
Challenging swings
About 30 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu city is the Nexus Resort Karambunai and Karambunai Resorts Golf Club at Menggatal. This is a beautifully-crafted 18-hole par 72 championship golf course stretching from the edge of low hills and reaching towards the sandy beaches, and requires both strength and strategy from golfers with its numerous dogleg holes, meandering waterways, bunkers and not to mention the ocean winds.
Cave wonders
Located inside Gomantong Hill in a Sabah Parks forest reserve, Sandakan, the Gomantong Caves are an intricate cave system protected for wildlife, especially orangutans. The cave system is frequented by many different birds, including swallows, crested serpent eagles, kingfishers, and Asian fairy bluebirds. For centuries, the caves have been renowned for their valuable edible swiftlet nests, which are harvested for bird’s nest soup. Every evening, over two million resident bats spiral out for their evening feed. Access to the caves is in the form of wooden walkways circuiting the interior.
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