25 January 2015
Muscat - As the clock ticks down to the 2016 opening of the new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, global meetings planners continue to be amazed by what the Sultanate has to offer.

Internationally recognised as one of the world's newest and most exciting emerging convention destinations, Oman is now being seriously considered to host significant global conventions and congresses through strategic partnerships instigated by OCEC's venue managers, AEG Ogden.

One partnership gaining traction is that with the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) which represents 6,500 meeting industry leaders worldwide. Representatives from Oman attended the PCMA Convening Leaders annual congress in Chicago.

President and CEO of PCMA, Ms Deborah Sexton said that after a successful first year partnership with the Sultanate of Oman, her organisation was honored to have the Oman delegation among the 4,000 participants at the congress.

"Convening Leaders focuses on education for the leaders of the industry and it is critical for Oman to be part of these discussions. The ongoing commitment of Omran CEO, Wael Al Lawati, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre and Oman to raising awareness of the opportunities the country has to offer for the meetings, congresses and business events industry, should be a model for all emerging convention destinations," Ms Sexton said.

Attending this year's Convening Leaders Congress was the ideal opportunity to meet with the 13 international advisors who now form the PCMA Oman Advisory Board and share in their global knowledge and expertise. More than 230 dignitaries, members of professional associations and meetings industry suppliers attended the first Oman Advisory Summit in Muscat last year.

Among those at the PCMA Convening Leaders Congress was the OCEC's Director of Business Development, Gillian Taylor, who attended the business sessions, 'one on one' appointments with meeting planners and global workshops to further increase business opportunities for the OCEC and Oman.

Ms. Taylor gave potential clients the opportunity to experience some Omani hospitality by offering the unique flavours of traditional Omani Halwa (the delicious local delicacy - Omani sweet) and Omani Kahwa (coffee) during their presentations.

"There are exciting times ahead as we progress several bids and await decisions for major international congresses with PCMA meeting planners. They are all buoyed by the opening of the OCEC next year and are continually amazed by the beauty of the country and the countless opportunities the Sultanate has to offer," Ms Taylor said.

Market research indicates that the economic impact of the project will contribute an estimated OMR 180-295 million a year to Oman's GDP by 2030. Eng. Wael Al Lawati Chief Executive Officer at OMRAN, commented, "In its preparation to steer the economic growth of the Sultanate through new channels of diversification, OCEC continues to develop an infrastructure beyond the parameters of its own venue. The calibre of the facility itself, in addition to its operation by AEG Ogden, will position Oman at the forefront of the business meetings industry."

-Ends-

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 auditoria to seat 3,200 and 450 while the 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), ICC Sydney (opening December 2016) and the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; and 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.

www.aegogden.com

In addition, AEG Facilities was recently announced as operator of both the Los Angeles Convention Centre and Hawaii Convention Centre.

For press inquiries and images, please contact:
Shaza Taher
TRACCS Public Relations
Telephone: +968 24 649-099
Fax: +968 24 649-088
Email: shaza.taher@traccs.net 

To download imagery to support this release visit
 http://www.omanconvention.com/Gallery/Centre_Images.aspx

© Press Release 2015