Page 312 - The Guide To Sarawak

310 HOTELS - FOREWORD
Hospitality is an old Sarawak tradition; a stranger would always be assured of a hearty meal and a bed for the night in the remotest upriver longhouse. This tradition has developed into an expansive culture of reciprocal hospitality, especially during festivities such as Gawai Dayak, Hari Raya and Chinese New year. Therefore it is hardly surprising that Sarawak has a wide selection of welcoming hotels, resorts and other accommodation.
Four-and-five star luxury hotels can be found in Sarawak’s major urban centres - Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri - offering international-class comfort with relaxing Sarawak ambience. Many smaller towns offer comfortable business-class accommodation, even in far-flung outposts such as Kapit and Limbang. Serviced apartments are also available for long stay guests.
MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) visitors are very well catered for, as are conference organisers and event promoters. Sarawak offers venues of all sizes and formats, ranging from a brand-new, world-class convention centre (BCCK, see page 390) to remote jungle and mountain retreats. Almost all venues offer cutting-edge AV equipment, dedicated team building activity courses, and special themed events and activities, all at very competitive prices. The staff of the Sarawak Convention Bureau, Malaysia’s first state-level MICE facilitator (see page 388) would be pleased to offer further assistance.
Beach and urban resorts abound around Kuching and Miri, and fascinating eco-lodges hide deep in the Borneo rainforest. Ethnically-themed boutique hotels and backpacker lodges ensure that Sarawak offers hospitality for everyone, and our hotels are very affordable compared to similar destinations.
The best thing about Sarawak’s hotels, however, is the people who work in them. They take considerable pride in providing a warm welcome to all their guests, whether they are visiting Heads of State or weary backpackers just returned from jungle trekking. Thanks to their efforts, even the most discerning visitors are assured of a comfortable stay in Sarawak.
Tuan Haji Ibrahim Nordin
Chairman, Malaysia Association of Hotels (Sarawak Chapter)