Appreciation Awards for Convention Hosts
The Sarawak Convention Bureau's eleven new Honorary Convention Ambassadors received "star" treatment at their Appreciation Dinner held at the Merdeka Palace Hotel on Friday 16^th November.

After being picked up from their homes by chauffeur driven cars they were given a red carpet welcome complete with adoring fans, autograph hunters and paparazzi as part of their "Night at the Oscars" theme event.
The award recipients represent associations that have successfully bid for a national or international convention to come to Sarawak or worked with the Sarawak Convention Bureau in developing an inaugural meeting. The "Anak Sarawak Appreciation Award" acknowledges their commitment and dedication to growing Sarawak's convention industry.
The Bureau's Chairman, Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad, in announcing the new recipients said: "Running successful conventions is not an easy task and our Anak Sarawak recipients are busy professional people, who, in most cases, take on this challenging role in addition to their normal workload."
"By sharing their experience, we hope our new Honorary Convention Ambassadors will play an ongoing role in encouraging others to take up the challenge."
The 2007 recipients are responsible for conventions covering a wide range of topics including general medical science, new bone stretching orthopedic techniques, evidence-based nursing and foot reflexology in the medical field to better and cleaner toilets; eco tourism development/trade exchanges; human resource development; life insurance/financial advice and the development of Sarawak's lucrative fruit industry.
The individual recipients are:
Dr Zuwali Kifli Bin Merawai, CEO of the Centre for Modern Management for successfully bidding for the Asia HRD Congress (500 delegates) to be held from 14-16 July 2009 in Kuching.
Mr James Bong, Assistant Secretary General of the National Association of Life Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAMLIFA) for the 1^st Mandarin Speaking NAMLIFA national conference (1,000 delegates) to be held in Miri in January 2008.
Mr Albert George, AZAM Toastmasters Club, for the District 51 Toastmasters international Convention (500 delegates), to be held in Kuching from 1-4 May 2009.
Dr Chang Kam Hock, University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Department of Nursing, for the First Biennial international Evidence-Based Nursing Conference (100 delegates) to be held in Kuching from 27-28^th July, 2008
Mr Wong Fu Toh, Sibu Municipal Council for hosting the Second National Toilet Exp and Forum (NATEF) from 9-11^th August, 2007.
Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Department of Cardiology Sarawak General Hospital, (represented by Mr Soon Su Yang), for the 2008 Malaysia Medical Association AGM and Scientific Meeting (500) delegates to be held in Kuching from 1-3 June 2008.
Professor Madya Dr Margaret Chan Kit Yok, Sarawak Institute of Agriculture Scientists (SIAS) for the Sarawak Fruit Seminar 2007 held on the 8–9 August 2007 in Sibu which attracted 200 delegates.
Dr Aruchamy Ramalingam, Department of Orthopedics, Bintulu Hospital for the Ilizarov Workshop held April 2-3^rd 2007 in Bintulu and attracting 50 delegates.
Mr Benedict Jimbau, Sarawak Tourism Board, and Mr Albert Teo, Borneo Integrated Services for the fourth Borneo Tourism Conference held in Kuching from 11-13^th September, 2007 attracting 150 delegates.
Dr Cecilia Siew, RWO SHR Health Institute, represented by Ms Olivia Chan, for the RWO SHR Health and Bio-energy International Convention (1,000 delegates) to be held in Miri from 3-5^th April 2008.
Mr Wee Hong Seng, President Sarawak Tourism Federation, for the third BIMP EAGA Travel Exchange held in Kuching from 1-4 November 2007 attracting 80 exhibitors and over 200 foreign delegates.
The Sarawak Convention Bureau, established by the State Government last year, to attract more conventions to Sarawak. The Bureau's services are provided free of charge to meeting planners and include assistance with bids for conventions, marketing and delegate boosting services.