KUCHING: Sarawak's approach to creating lasting impact through business events has once again earned international recognition, with the destination named Best Sustainability Initiative (Destination) at the Meetings & Conventions Asia Stella Awards 2026.
The win marks Sarawak's second in the category, after 2024, reinforcing legacy impact as an important part of its approach to sustainable destination development.
The win was driven by Sarawak's legacy impact approach, which demonstrates how business events can be intentionally designed to create meaningful long-term outcomes beyond the event itself.
By focusing on economic development, social progress, and environmental responsibility, the approach connects business events with Sarawak's Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
This year's recognition carries added significance as the award was determined through public nominations and voting. Public support for Sarawak reflects the growing relevance of legacy impact beyond the business events industry, showing that the value of creating meaningful, lasting outcomes is resonating with the wider community.
"Winning this award for the second time demonstrates the importance of sustainability and legacy to Sarawak's business events strategy and wider development," said Datuk Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak.
"Sustainability must go beyond the environment to include social and economic progress, while legacy ensures that the value created through business events can continue long after an event has ended."
Since its first M&C Asia Stella Award victory in 2024, Sarawak has continued to advance its legacy agenda through programmes and platforms focused on education, measurement and industry participation. The focus is increasingly on embedding legacy throughout the event journey and strengthening the industry's ability to translate intent into meaningful outcomes.
"This recognition reflects the collective effort behind Sarawak's legacy journey," said Datuk Hii Chang Kee, Deputy State Secretary (Operation) and Chairman of BESarawak.
"What began with advocacy is gaining greater participation across the industry. Legacy is ultimately about shaping the future together, with government, industry, organisers and communities each playing a role in creating shared and meaningful outcomes."
"This award signals that legacy impact is gaining greater relevance, not only for Sarawak but across the Asia Pacific business events industry," said Jason Tan Chin Foo, Chief Executive Officer of BESarawak. "Our next phase is to drive greater adoption across the ecosystem, ensuring that legacy outcomes are consistently planned, measured and demonstrated, while strengthening the industry's capability to deliver them. That is how we turn recognition into lasting value for Sarawak."
The M&C Asia Best Sustainability Initiative (Destination) Award 2026 marks another milestone in Sarawak's legacy journey, strengthening its commitment to advancing legacy impact as a driver of sustainable destination development.
Established by the Sarawak Government in 2006, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) is the destination marketing organisation responsible for attracting high-value business events aligned with the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030. Through business events, BESarawak drives visitor expenditure, innovation, global expertise, and strategic partnerships – creating economic, social, and environmental impact that strengthens Sarawak's economy, intellectual capital and sustainability. (www.businesseventssarawak.com)
Legacy impact refers to the positive, long-term change generated through business events. In Sarawak, conventions and exhibitions are structured to create legacies, whereas corporate meetings and incentive programmes emphasise the experience of legacies. Through strategic event planning, programming, and curated experiences, Sarawak aims to build a legacy of innovation, collaboration, and sustainable impact, generating tangible benefits for communities, industries, and the region.
