Conferences in Sarawak boost conservation efforts

17 Jan 2017 2091 | World Travel News

Sarawak's endangered species, the Bornean Orangutan, continues to woo the international conference community who have evidently fallen in love with the idea of saving Sarawak's largest primate - even after the conference curtain has drawn to a close.

Anthony Wong, Group Managing Director of AOS Conventions and Events, decided to donate his prize winnings of EU1,000 - which he re

ceived from the prestigious Moises Schuster Award 2016 of the International Convention and Congress Association (ICCA) - to the Semenggoh Orang Utan Sanctuary, which he nominated as his top choice for most outstanding charity.

Named after one of ICCA’s “founding fathers”, this award recognises individuals in the international meetings sector who model the values of inspiring business success, leadership, and contribution to ICCA’s development.

Wong, who is a pioneering figure in the Asian meetings market, as well as a regional champion of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, received the honour in November at the past 55th ICCA Congress in Kuching, Sarawak.

Wong’s choice is also a strong nod of support to both ICCA and Sarawak Convention Bureau, who jointly ran the wildly successful 'Borneo Orangutan Project' (BOP) as the Congress' flagship Corporate Social Responsibility project to an international audience from Barcelona and Melbourne, to Shanghai, Bangkok and Las Vegas.

"Like many others working over a lifetime to promote sustainability in this sector, I was truly inspired by Sarawak's efforts to use conferences as an excellent global platform to reawaken interest in conservation or charitable programmes; in this case, to promote the plight of our 'Man of the Forest'," said Wong.

The BOP was part of ICCA’s #RoadtoSarawak campaign, in which ICCA members had the chance to become an “adoptive guardian” for a year to precious young orang-utans.

"The BOP aimed to reawaken the need for conservation of endangered species, on a global scale by traversing borders and making a lasting and personal impact," said Amelia Roziman, SCB's General Manager of Marketing and Sales.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia