Collaborative efforts to promote Oman

The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is taking centre stage to build awareness as one of the world's newest and exciting international congress venues.

With the venue due for completion in late 2016, operator AEG Ogden together with the Ministry of Tourism has been actively targeting key decision makers worldwide to ensure they are aware of the many and unique benefits of hosting their events in the Sultanate of Oman.

Following the successful showcasing of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre at global industry tradeshows, a delegation from the Oman Ministry of Tourism and venue representatives have undertaken the first in a series of exclusive client events across Europe

The delegation included Oman Embassy Ambassadors, Directors of the Ministry of Tourism and their representatives in each city location, as well as Oman's leading sportsman, Ahmad Al Harthy, the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Pro-Am 1 Champion.

More than 80 clients with the potential to bring 65,000 convention delegates to Oman attended these presentations in key European markets.

Oman's Director General of Tourism Development for the Ministry of Tourism, Salim Al Mamari was upbeat about the collaborative initiatives targeting international convention decision makers.

He explained "many of these decision makers are looking for something a little different and unique to help 'globalise' their conventions and at the same time, grow their membership. Oman ticks both of those boxes.

"With Oman, it's all about telling the story of our 5,000 years of history and our traditional hospitality of welcoming visitors and traders from all over the world.

"With the completion of the new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre now closer with every passing day, we must take every opportunity to spread the word and secure international conferences beyond 2016."

For the past two years, AEG Ogden Group Manager, Convention Sales Development, Rochelle Uechtritz has been working closely with the Omani authorities in the pre-opening global positioning and business development for the venue.

Uechritz added "this is my fourth pre-opening of a world-class convention centre in a 'green field' convention destination and I am genuinely excited about the feedback and interest in the venue, and particularly what Oman as a country has to offer."

Due for completion in late 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 metres2 of column-free exhibition space. Halls 1 and 2 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 of up to 10,000 seated, theatre-style.

The Centre will also include an additional 14 meeting rooms for 70-360 delegates, two well-appointed ballrooms to seat up to 2,360, 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, parkland

http://www.omanconvention.com