Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre to underpin Sultanate’s growth as a business events destination

In the lead up to its opening in 2016, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), the Sultanate’s landmark business events hub, has shared new 3D structures and aerial drone images.

Revealing the imagery at the recent IMEX Frankfurt 2015, the leading worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, OCEC General Manager Trevor McCartney said that the opening of the Exhibition Halls and hospitality suites will be a truly memorable occasion, changing the face of events in the region and putting the global spotlight on Oman as the new centre of opportunity.

McCartney explained “our collaboration with the Oman Ministry of Tourism at IMEX over the last four years, and this most recent one in particular, has showcased the Sultanate as a formidable international events destination and intellectual knowledge hub, with the OCEC as its driving force and catalyst.”

Oman’s current meetings and conventions industry offering, ahead of the opening of the OCEC, was recently endorsed when it was ranked, for the first time, in the top 80 countries worldwide, by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) - one of the most preeminent global meetings organisations.

The attraction of Oman as a business events destination has also been underpinned by the latest statistics from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report, placing Oman at an impressive ninth position out of 141 countries worldwide under the security and safety criteria.

Sharing the statistics at an IMEX media conference, McCartney added “the most recent WTTC report on Oman, and indeed the many international accolades the Sultanate has received in the last year, is a positive affirmation of Oman’s tourism strategy.

“Striving to become a pioneer in business events in the Arabian Gulf, the OCEC is enormously proud to be a major force in the momentum of the industry.”

As well as contributing 8% of the 72,000 jobs created in the tourism sector by 2025, the OCEC with its surrounding precinct, is expected to contribute well over US$400 million to Oman’s GDP by the same year.

In addition, the OCEC will be the impetus for a multitude of opportunities for SMEs in areas of food and beverage supplies, equipment hire, transportation, IT support, design and printing and event production.

According to HE Dr. Ali bin Masood Al Sunaidy, Chairman of Omran, the Sultanate’s mandated organisation for the development of major tourism projects “the OCEC plays a key role in the Government’s vision for the diversification of the national economy and stands as the centrepiece of Oman’s business development programme.

“The development will position the Sultanate as a major venue for regional and international events and in doing so, will increase Oman’s business tourism offerings and strengthen the sector at large.”

The venue will be managed by AEG Ogden – the Australian controlled joint venture between Australian venue management interests and AEG Facilities of the United States.

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

For more information go to www.omanconvention.com

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