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Muscat - Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is all set to attract more international business travellers to the Sultanate after attending the annual Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME), the largest international business event in the Asia-Pacific region, held in Melbourne. On track to open in 2016, Oman's new hub for business events aims to identify potential business leads through its participation, and establish connections that can develop prospects with key decision makers from the conventions and meetings industry.
AIME serves as an ideal platform to develop new networks, understand client needs, transact business and exchange ideas with more than 3,000 visitors over the two day event.
Rochelle Uechtritz, AEG Ogden Group Manager, Convention Sales Development for the OCEC, said, "Our marketing efforts over the past three years have gained traction with Oman, now considered one of the world's most exciting emerging convention destinations, with numerous convention bids in the pipeline as far ahead as 2021. It was refreshing to converse with international clients who never thought of hosting major world congresses in Oman three years ago, and are now discussing availability and exact requirements at our venue."
Mona Tannous, Ministry of Tourism Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand highlighted that, "From 2011 to 2012, Oman witnessed a staggering 72% increase in visitors from Australia and New Zealand, followed by 11% in 2012-2013 and 10% in 2013-2014, and as a result exceeding those from European countries. We believe that the Sultanate is the hidden gem of Arabia but our clients tell us that Oman's unique natural beauty, heritage and culture, combined with the renowned warmth and hospitality of the people, makes the Sultanate the best-kept tourism secret on the planet."
Following his visit to the OCEC stand at AIME, Ben Hainsworth, Managing Director, K.I.T Group Germany praised the -development saying, "It is always exciting to hear about the growth happening in the Sultanate with the opening of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre next year. Oman is a very appealing destination and will be a perfect fit for our clients."
Mike Pickford, Director of ASN Events who organised 76 meetings last year alone, said, "Oman is my must visit destination every year."
OCEC exhibited at the Ministry of Tourism pavilion, along with several other entities such as Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Khimji's House of Travel, Tour Oman and Discover Oman. Annually, AIME attracts over 700 exhibitors from five continents, with more than 500 decision makers from Australia, Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world. The Expo has partnered with key associations from the business events and meetings industry, such as the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), and is a part of the international IBTM portfolio.
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About the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
Opening in 2016, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is located in its own fully integrated precinct only four kilometres from Muscat International Airport.
The design of the Centre will ensure a flow of the meetings space to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organisers. It also incorporated expansive concourse areas to enable ease of large delegations with floor to ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens and water features.
The Centre will feature two tiered auditorium to seat 3,200 and 450 while the five exhibition halls will feature 22,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space. Hall 1 will have a superior fit out, specialised acoustic treatment, advanced lighting and rigging requirements to act as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances, gala events on a larger scale. Halls 1 & 2 combined will seat up to 10,000 seated, theatre-style.
The Centre will also include an additional 13 meeting rooms for 80-300 delegates, two well-appointed ballrooms to seat up to 2,360, 10 hospitality suites, VIP Pavilion, a spacious food-court and a multi-storey car park with capacity for 4,000 vehicles.
The Precinct will provide the infrastructure necessary to host successful international, regional and local events and for the enjoyment of the community. These include a five star hotel linked to the convention centre, two four star, and a three star hotel and apartments with a combined total of 1,000 rooms. A business park, retail shopping mall surrounded by a nature reserve which will be a haven for Oman's exotic birdlife, parklands and wadi (valley) park are also part of this picturesque precinct.
www.omanconvention.com
About AEG Ogden
AEG Ogden is an Australian controlled joint venture between Australian venue management interests and AEG Facilities of the United States.
AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific region, including convention centres in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Hyderabad (currently in design), Oman (opening 2016), the ICC Sydney (opening December 2016) and the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; arenas including the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and the adjacent Sports Centre, Sydney's Allphones Arena, the Qantas Credit Union Arena (formerly the Sydney Entertainment Centre), the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Perth Arena; and live theatres including Perth's His Majesty's Theatre, Perth Concert Hall, the WA State Theatre Centre, Albany Entertainment Centre, and Subiaco Arts Centre.
www.aegogden.com
In addition, AEG Facilities was recently announced as operator of both the Los Angeles Convention Centre and Hawaii Convention Centre.
Media contact:
Shaza Taher
Associate Media Relations Director
TRACCS
Email: shaza.taher@traccs.net
To download imagery to support this release visit http://www.omanconvention.com/Gallery/Centre_Images.aspx
© Press Release 2015
