The pre event programmes leading into BE in SABAH 2026 were deliberately designed to do more than build anticipation. They laid the strategic and operational foundation for Sabah’s business events ecosystem.
From a closed door C suite breakfast with Mr Steen Jakobsen, CEO of GainingEdge, to the inaugural Sabah Business Events Bootcamp, BE Youth Hub, and BE Match sessions, each initiative served a clear purpose. Together, they reframed business events as strategic infrastructure, strengthened industry capabilities, developed future talent and created meaningful pathways for collaboration and deal making.
From Strategy to Readiness - Shaping Sabah’s Business Events Future
Strategy & Mindset
The C suite breakfast set the strategic lens, challenging traditional tourism centric thinking and positioning business events as tools for long term economic growth, innovation, and global relevance. Discussions focused on competitive positioning, market intelligence and the importance of hosting the right events aligned with economic and innovation priorities.
Future Talent & Continuity
Talent development and continuity were addressed through the BE Youth Hub, a dedicated platform engaging students and emerging professionals to promote learning, cultural exchange, and global perspectives in business events, ensuring a future ready workforce for the industry.
Deal Making & Outcomes
Complementing this, BE Match sessions were designed to drive tangible outcomes. By bringing together curated participants for structured business matching, the programme enabled efficient networking, early collaboration, and deal making ahead of the main forum. Collectively, these pre event initiatives demonstrate Sabah’s commitment to building a coordinated, professional, and globally competitive business events ecosystem. They reflect a shift from hosting events to positioning the destination, from transactional outcomes to long term value creation.
Capability & Professionalism
This strategic thinking was translated into action through the Sabah Business Events Bootcamp, organised by Sabah Convention Bureau (SCB) in collaboration with Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Gaining Edge, and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). The programme brought together government agencies, industry players, associations, and hoteliers to build practical competencies in bidding strategy, site inspection readiness, and operational excellence. As highlighted by Noredah Othman, CEO of Sabah Convention Bureau, business events are not a cost, but an economic strategy that delivers knowledge transfer, investment, and community development when approached collectively.
As the pre event programme concludes, participants step into BE in SABAH 2026 better equipped, better aligned and more connected. With strategy, skills, talent and partnerships in place, Sabah is ready to engage the global business events community when BE in SABAH 2026 takes place from 4th to 5th February 2026.