Destination and Venue

Kota Kinabalu (usually referred to as KK) is the state capital of Sabah, located midway along Sabah’s west coast. The rugged terrain of the Crocker Range and the towering bulk of Mount Kinabalu provide a stunning backdrop, while the five islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lie a short distance offshore in the South China Sea, clothed in forest and surrounded by coral reefs. As a conference venue KK offers access to an amazing array of tropical mountain and coastal environments.

The modern era of settlement in Kota Kinabalu began with the establishment of a small trading post by the British North Borneo Company on one of the islands, Pulau Gaya in 1881. Uneasy relations with the Bajau tribe on the islands resulted in the early settlement being destroyed and it was subsequently relocated to the more easily defended mainland. Named Jesselton after the Vice Chairman of the company, the settlement grew into a major trading post, based mainly on the rubber industry. During the Second World War almost all the buildings in the town were destroyed and the rapid rebuilding has yielded few architectural gems, though there is an interesting mix of Malay, Chinese and European influences. The Sabah Museum, State Mosque and Tun Mustafa Tower are examples of modern iconic buildings, while a number of stilt villages (kampongs) survive. The narrow strip of coastal land of the original settlement has been expanded through reclamation and rapid economic development has fuelled urban sprawl to the north and inland. Jesselton was renamed Kota Kinabalu in 1968. The official population is 350,000.

Kota Kinabalu International Airport is the second busiest airport in Malaysia (in terms of passenger numbers) and is located a short distance south of the town centre. KK is well served by international and domestic flights. International travellers are most likely to transit via Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brunei or Hong Kong. There are also direct flights from Japan and Taiwan.

The conference will take place at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort, Kota Kinabalu. Located at the tip of the Tanjung Aru peninsula, the hotel is about 15 minutes drive from the airport and the same from the city centre. This luxury hotel combines a spectacular location with a wide range of facilities and recreational activities. We have been able to negotiate a special discounted rate for conference facilities and rooms at the hotel.