The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre Celebrates its First Year Anniversary

The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre Celebrates its First Year Anniversary with it’s 101^st Event

Muscat – October 10, 2017 – The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is pleased to celebrate their first year of business on 10 October 2017. To date, OCEC has hosted 101 events and welcomed over 750,000 visitors who have attended a variety of events and helped to boost the local economy.

OCEC inaugurated the opening of the first phase; 22,000sqm of exhibition space, last year with their first event, Infra Oman organised by Al Nimr Expo. The event was such a success with increased demand that InfraOman is back again to the same venue for the 7^th International Exhibition for Infrastructure & Industrial Projects, marking OCEC’s 101^st event on its first anniversary on 10 October.

Much more is to come, as December will feature OCEC’s first international events with the ACI Airport Exchange 2017 (Conference and Exhibition), bringing the world’s airport community to the Gulf for the largest event in the Airport Council International’s calendar, and just ahead of the anticipated opening of the new Muscat International Airport. This will be closely followed by the second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture, which places Oman’s rich heritage in the world’s spotlight as over 65 ministers from around the globe have confirmed their attendance.

This is just the beginning for the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, as they have successfully won bids for 11 major regional and international conferences with the support of the local authorities and organisations in Oman such as the Oman Convention Bureau, Oman Air, OAMC, Hotels, Destination Management Companies, Professional Conference Organisers, Omran and various local associations. OCEC is working diligently on international bids for events scheduled as far ahead as 2024.

Trevor McCartney, General Manager of Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, says: “I am delighted to be able to welcome Salim Al Hashmi, General Manager and the team at Al Nimr International Exhibition Organisers back to OCEC and wish them a successful event and we look forward to many more years of collaboration ahead.”

This marks a milestone as OCEC is set to unveil yet another phase that is to launch soon and includes a tiered theatre with 3,200 seats, a 450-seat auditorium, two ballrooms for banquets for up to 1,200 guests, 20 meeting rooms with a capacity of up to 360 delegates, hospitality suites and a VIP pavilion.

The precinct includes a JW Marriott Hotel (five star) linked to the Convention Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel (four star) which represent 600 hotel rooms in total The OCEC precinct is a key component of Madinat al Irfan – the stunning new urban lifestyle development being developed by Omran (Oman Tourism Development Company), the master developer for OCEC and many other tourism projects in Oman.

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Editor’s Notes

About OCEC

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 meeting spaces to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organisers. It also incorporates 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 auditoriums to seat 3,200 and 456, while the five exhibition halls feature 22,396 square metres of column-free exhibition space. Hall 1 acts as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances and gala dinners on a larger scale. Halls 1 & 2 combined can seat over 10,000 seated in theatre-style.

The Centre will also include an additional 20 meeting rooms for 25-360 delegates, a Grand Ballroom to seat up to 1,200 guests, a Junior Ballroom to seat up to 540 guests for a banquet, 10 hospitality suites, and a VIP Pavilion. In total the Centre offers over 55 meeting space options plus a multi-storey car park with a capacity for 4,000 vehicles.

The Precinct will provide the infrastructure necessary to host successful international, regional and local events and is there for the enjoyment of delegates, visitors and the local community. The precinct includes a JW Marriott Hotel (five star) linked to the Convention Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel (four star). A business park and a retail shopping mall, surrounded by a nature reserve which will be a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife, together with parklands and a wadi (valley) park, are also part of this picturesque precinct.

About AEG Ogden

AEG Ogden is part of AEG Facilities of the United States, a division of AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company.

AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific and Middle East, including convention and exhibition centres in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Kuala Lumpur, Oman, and the ICC Sydney; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; and arenas including the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and adjacent Sports Centre, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Perth Arena, and Dubai Arena (opening December 2018). AEG Ogden is also the owner of National Basketball League (NBL) team, the Sydney Kings. More information aegogden.com

In addition, AEG Facilities operates the Los Angeles Convention Centre, Hawaii Convention Centre, and Puerto Rico Convention Centre. More information aegworldwide.com

About OMRAN
Omran drives investment, growth and development of the rapidly growing tourism and real-estate sectors in the Sultanate of Oman. We are the master developers of major tourism, heritage and urban developments, delivering some of nation’s most iconic destinations. Our projects create unique experiences that benefit the social and economic growth of the Sultanate.

Omran has a diverse portfolio of developments, hospitality assets and joint ventures that span across the Sultanate and contribute to growing the capacity of the Oman’s tourism sector. Our key projects include Madinat Al Irfan Urban Centre; a 7.4 million sqm mixed-use development designed to the best international standards in urban planning and strategically linked to the nearby Muscat International Airport and the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre; the Sultanate’s upcoming flagship business centre. Madinat Al Irfan will generate significant inbound revenues, and through Public Private Partnerships will increase capital retention within the local economy which is estimated to contribute OMR 450-500 million annually to the Sultanate’s GDP upon completion.

We are also the master developers of Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront, that is set to be the leading authentic waterfront destination in the region. The project is centered around the timeless scenery of Muttrah’s historic port, fort and mountains. The first phase of the waterfront will be delivered in time for the upcoming global events in the region such as Expo 2020 and the FIFA 2022 World Cup. It will consist of various hospitality, lifestyle, and entertainment, cultural zones as well as residential units that will redefine the experience of Muscat and provide investors with a significant opportunity to participate in a unique and unparalleled marketplace offering.

We develop relationships that create solid foundations for future economic diversification and prosperity of Oman, as well as providing outstanding long-term investment opportunities for private and public sector companies. Omran’s proven track record of delivering tourism projects to a world-class standards is an outcome of our commitment to integrity, transparency and collaboration. By working in partnership with local communities and embracing the unique aspects of Oman’s culture and heritage, we built sustainability into every project while safeguarding the natural beauty of the country for the future generations.

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#OMAN #OCEC #MICE #MICEnews #ConventionCentre #DMC #DestinationMarketing

Signature of management agreement for two hotels in Tehran

Signature of management agreement for two hotels in Tehran
AccorHotels, the world’s leading hotel operator, today announced that it has signed a management agreement with Aria Ziggurat for its two inaugural properties in Tehran.

The new hotels – Novotel IKIA and ibis IKIA – are connected to the main terminal of Imam Khomeini International Airport and scheduled to open in October 2015. AccorHotels is the first international hotel group to launch its brands in Iran.

Sébastien Bazin, AccorHotels’ Chairman and CEO, said at a press conference in Tehran today: “We are very excited about signing this partnership with Aria Ziggurat in Iran. We are certain that Novotel and ibis will fit perfectly into the growth momentum that Iran’s hospitality sector is enjoying. Our brands are looking at huge growth potential in this country, which is home to almost 80 million people and is expanding its economy. Our ambition is to develop an important network in the country thanks to our global portfolio of brands covering all segments, from luxury to midscale and economy.”

Dr Mehdi Jahangiri, Aria Ziggurat’s Chairman, added: “We believe the expertise of international hospitality groups will upgrade local standards and existing levels of service in our hotels, and ultimately add value to our business. This important agreement with AccorHotels for the management of Novotel and ibis IKIA hotels in Tehran is a prosperous beginning that defines our new offer of hotel service along with an Iranian taste of hospitality and rich culture to our valued customers, partners and employees.”

Aria Ziggurat Tourism Development Co., as a subsidiary of SEMEGA, is the owning company of Novotel and ibis IKIA hotels with 4 and 5 star ratings in Tehran. It is a private company established and registered in 2010 under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Aria Ziggurat, SEMEGA, Tourism Bank and 37 other sister companies are all members of Tourism Financial Group, a leading holding company in Iran with over 4100 staff members mainly dedicated to developing the tourism and hospitality industry in the country.

The almost 500-room cluster hotels encompass a midscale hotel – Novotel IKIA (296 rooms) – and an economy hotel – ibis IKIA (196 rooms). Strategically connected to the main terminal of Imam Khomeini International Airport, within a 45-minute drive from downtown Tehran, the two new hotels are ideally positioned to attract domestic and international business travelers and tourists. Guests will enjoy a choice of Iranian and international cuisine, large meeting rooms and convention venues, and wellness facilities including spas, fitness centers and swimming pools.

AccorHotels currently manages 71 hotels (17,300 rooms) in the Middle East, spanning every segment from luxury to economy, in 10 countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

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ABOUT ACCORHOTELS
AccorHotels is a Group united by a shared passion for hospitality and driven by a shared promise to make everyone Feel Welcome.
Over 180,000 women and men in almost 3,800 AccorHotels establishments look after thousands of guests every day in 92 countries.

AccorHotels is the world’s leading hotel operator and offers its customers, partners and employees:
– its dual expertise as a hotel operator and franchisor (HotelServices) and a hotel owner and investor (HotelInvest);
– a large portfolio of internationally renowned brands covering the full spectrum, with luxury (Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, The Sebel), midscale (Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Mama Shelter, Adagio) economy (ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget, adagio access and hotelF1) establishments;
– a powerful marketplace and loyalty program Le Club AccorHotels
– almost half a century of commitment to corporate citizenship and solidarity with the PLANET 21 program.
Accor SA shares are listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and traded in the USA on the OTC marketplace (Code: ACRFY)

Follow news on Accor: Book a hotel: www.accorhotels.com
http://www.twitter.com/accorhotelsgroup | www.accorhotels-group.com

ABOUT NOVOTEL
Novotel is the midscale hotel brand of AccorHotels, the world’s leading hotel operator, present in 94 countries with almost 3,800 hotels and 180,000 employees. Novotel’s consistently high standard of service contributes to the wellbeing of both business and leisure travellers: think spacious, modular-design guestrooms, balanced cuisine available 24/7, excellent meeting facilities, attentive staff, dedicated children’s areas and rejuvenating wellness facilities. With PLANET 21, AccorHotels’ sustainable development program, Novotel commits itself to the planet. To meet today’s challenging environmental and social issues, the brand has chosen to rely on a world renowned environmental certification, ISO 14001. Novotel offers more than 400 hotels and resorts in 60 countries, situated in the centre of major international cities from business districts to tourist destinations. More information at: http://www.novotel.com

ABOUT IBIS
As one of the economy brands of AccorHotels, the world’s leading hotel operator active in 94 countries with almost 3,800 hotels, ibis has more than 1031 hotels and 129,000 rooms in 59 countries. The brand innovates constantly to illustrate its values of modernity, comfort and availability. For example, it has created the revolutionary bedding concept Sweet BedTM by ibis; new common areas; the Ibis Kitchen modern food and beverage offer. It also cultivates a spirit of service that drives each of its employees. ibis is the first hotel brand to have obtained ISO 9001 certification – 86% of the network certified – for its professionalism and reliability. In addition, 58% of the ibis network is ISO 14001-certified, concrete proof of the brand’s environmental commitment. Created in 1974, today ibis is European leader in economy hotels and in 4th place in its category worldwide. More information at: http://www.ibis.com

ABOUT TOURISM FINANCIAL GROUP
Tourism Financial Group is a leading holding company in Iran with over 4100 staff members and more than 40 member companies active and mainly dedicated to developing the tourism and hospitality industry in the country.
Investment programs in capital markets, commercial projects and production plans in profitable industries, construction projects to develop tourism industry, financial support to scientific, sports and cultural projects, charity and humanitarian activities are also among the large portfolio of activities the Tourism Financial Group accomplishes through its member companies.
Tourism Financial Group has 5 sub-group holding companies in the fields of Tourism, Banking, Construction, Oil & Gas, and Industry and Mines.

ABOUT SEMEGA
Cultural Heritage and Tourism Investment Company, abbreviated in Farsi as SEMEGA, is the executive arm to Tourism Financial Group in respect to hospitality and tourism services offered through its subsidiary companies. SEMEGA was established in 2009 with the Company mission to develop tourism industry in the country. As a specialized tourism holding with more than 15 subsidiaries, SEMEGA is currently participating in capital market and all sectors of tourism industry value chain and prepares itself to take new prominent steps towards its main objectives.
The company aims to promote its market position amongst the largest companies in tourism industry and to contend shareholders and investors through facilitating and developing investment opportunities in the industry besides the optimal utilization of its capacities.
SEMEGA is the first Iranian non-governmental member to UNWTO, and acts as investor, developer and operator to expand the range of activities in order to achieve the vision and realize its slogan: “SEMEGA, a familiar name to all Iranian families.”
As a listed company in Iran Securities & Exchange Organization, SEMEGA was able to meet shareholders satisfaction and receive their participations in the programs for capital market. SEMEGA is the largest shareholder of Aria Ziggurat Company and holds more than 70 percent of the company shares. It is also among the main shareholders of Tourism Bank in Iran.

ABOUT ARIA ZIGGURAT
Aria Ziggurat Tourism Development Co., as a subsidiary of SEMEGA, is the owning company of Novotel and ibis IKIA hotels with 4 and 5 star ratings, ideally located in Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. It is a private company established and registered in 2010 under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Aria Ziggurat is now a leading company active in the fields of hospitality, leisure and tourism development.
In line with a corporate strategy and SEMEGA holding vision to possess the largest chain of 4 and 5 star hotels in the country by 2025, Aria Ziggurat is now focused on new purchasing opportunities including new 5-star hotels in Tehran and other tourism oriented cities of Iran as well as feasible hotel construction plans across the country.

THE OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE ATTRACTS OVER 3,400 JOB APPLICATIONS

THE OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE ATTRACTS OVER 3,400 JOB APPLICATIONS

Muscat, August 6 2015: Following its third and final international recruitment drive for the year 2015, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) has received over 3,400 applications – its largest response to date. The aim of the drive was to fill almost 50 employment opportunities in various fields such as events, operations and food and beverage, as the Centre prepares to launch a new and exciting era for Oman’s business events industry.

“The response to this third recruitment drive has been impressive, not just in terms of the interest it has generated and the number of applicants it has produced, but also in terms of the quality of the applications we have received,” said Trevor McCartney, the OCEC General Manager.

McCartney added, “While job creation for Omani nationals is a priority for the OCEC, all appointments will be made on individual merit and successful applicants will have the satisfaction of knowing they have earned their position in the face of tough international competition.”

Over the next 15 years the OCEC and its surrounding precinct will be responsible for the creation of up to 24,000 direct and indirect jobs, contributing up to OMR240 million to the national economy. It is also expected that the OCEC will spur the creation and growth of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with design and print, transportation, food and beverage, event management, security and IT services directed towards Omani businesses.

The employment campaign was promoted in domestic and international media, as well as across several online platforms including OCEC’s social media channels, leading international job-site Naukri and at Sultan Qaboos University, the National Hospitality Institute and the Oman Tourism College. The campaign attracted more than 7,000 views on the OCEC website – omanconvention.com and in excess of 20,000 on Naukri.

GOOD NEWS FOR IBTM INDIA

GOOD NEWS FOR IBTM INDIA
Visitors from 43 countries can now get their visa for India online

Both international exhibitors and Hosted Buyers attending ibtm india 2015 will benefit from the recent news that tourists travelling to India from 43 countries including the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Germany and Japan will no longer have to queue at their local consulates to obtain visas. Following the announcement, individuals may now apply online for their tourist visa-on-arrival, entitling them to a 30-day stay in the India.

The new visa-on-arrival rules will benefit 43 countries including Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kingdom of Tongo, Laos, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Papua & New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea (i.e. South Korea), Republic of Marshall Islands, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam and Vanuatu.

“This is very good news for our international exhibitors and Hosted Buyers attending ibtm india 2015 which will take place in Jaipur, from 1-3 September. These new visa rules will also help to unleash the huge potential of the country’s growing MICE industry,” said Shinu Pillai, Exhibition Manager ibtm india and ibtm africa, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

Hosted Buyers registration for ibtm india 2015 will go live in May.

For further information on ibtm india 2015, please visit www.ibtmindia.com

 

OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE SHOWCASES

OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE SHOWCASES PROWESS TO OVER 15,000 INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AT EIBTM 2014

Muscat, December 2nd 2014 – In its latest bid to present itself as the upcoming international venue of choice, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) demonstrated its capability to host large-scale global events at the European Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (EIBTM) held recently in Barcelona, Spain.

Coming hot on the heels of OCEC’s successful European Roadshow in London, Paris, Geneva and Brussels, EIBTM is one of the foremost global business travel industry gatherings, bringing together approximately 15,000 professionals from the convention and exhibition sector.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the OCEC team highlighted the versatile appeal of Oman and the Centre to representatives from the educational, healthcare, commerce, industry, agriculture and financial sectors. OCEC’s participation at EIBTM aimed to build relationships and grow business opportunities with industry leaders to expand their knowledge base by meeting face-to-face with more than 30 top-level meeting planners and buyers from the across the globe.

“The energy at EIBTM was nothing short of infectious. It was remarkable to see influential decision makers from across the industry share our enthusiasm about this landmark project, as we presented our strong case as to why OCEC is the international venue of choice and what makes Oman so special,” said Gillian Taylor, Director of Business Development at OCEC.

“These are very exciting times for both OCEC and Oman. Our team continues to grow which brings together some of the finest talent from Oman and other parts of the world to embrace our shared vision. We have 22 events already booked for 2016 that are expected to bring more than 200,000 visitors to the Sultanate in our first year alone, which in itself underscores the potential of OCEC as an international exhibition and congress venue and driver of socio-economic benefits for the country. We aim to continually expand our market reach with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and key industry partners, as we advance on our journey to capture the industry on mass and secure business right through to 2024,” said Ms Taylor.

Muscat is only a seven hour flight from 50% of the world’s population, and OCEC promises to become the foundation for Oman’s emergence as a major force in the convention and exhibition marketplace. The Centre will feature an environmentally-friendly, world-class design, characterised by an elaborate lyric-style tiered auditorium seating 3,200, while the exhibition halls will give an innovative, column-free space of 22,000 square metres which can be sub-divided into five separate halls. Thirteen meeting rooms capable of seating between 80–300 delegates, as well as two Ballrooms, a VIP Pavilion, a shopping mall and a range of internationally branded hotels all culminate to demonstrate the vision that is the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre precinct.

PREVIEW: GIBTM GEARS UP FOR SERIOUS BUSINESS IN ABU DHABI

GIBTM GEARS UP FOR SERIOUS BUSINESS IN ABU DHABI

New exhibitors, novel showcase features, major regional buyers, enhanced education programme, networking events and post-event fam’ trips – set the stage for GIBTM (www.gibtm.com) as the leading MICE exhibition in the Middle East.

The 2014 edition of The Gulf Incentives, Business, Travel and Meetings is shaping up to be the most successful yet, with robust exhibitor and buyer interest in the event giving rise to new exhibition features, innovative concept areas, up to 300 hosted buyers, over 2,000 trade visitors and an expanded educational programme.

Kicking off at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 24-26 March 2014, GIBTM has piqued the interest of a truly international audience, with a number of first-time exhibitors attending from Spain, the United States, Thailand, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Czech Republic, UAE, Korea, United Kingdom, Uganda, South Africa and Morocco.

Last year GIBTM tripled corporate meetings buyer attendance accounting for 35% of all hosted buyers attending the show, compared to 11% from the corporate sector in 2012.

The international pavilions have a new addition in the shape of the Africa Pavilion, which is being added in response to a surge in demand from exhibitors looking at targeting outbound business from the Middle East into the continent, with newcomers including Tips Tours and Rovos Rail Tours.

It joins the Asia Pavilion, with Korea and Thailand confirmed newcomers, as well as the European Pavilion, which this year will occupy a much larger area due to the addition of debutants such as L’way Express from the Czech Republic, Spain’s Iberostar Management, Serbia Convention Bureau, EPI Georgia, Arsenal Football Club and AYGUN TURIZM of Turkey.

GIBTM’s ‘Knowledge Programme’ has also been ramped up for 2014, with educational sessions conducted by some of the world’s leading meetings industry associations including MPI, ICCA and SITE, covering topics spanning industry trends, sustainability, issues impacting the corporate travel industry, and the challenges of staging international association meetings.

The seminar programme, sponsored by Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), has interesting sessions this year including the MICE Buyers report, in this session, Rob Davidson of the University of Greenwich in London will present the results of the Middle Eastern Meeting Planners’ Site Selection Survey – brand new research which demonstrates the factors that are most important to Middle Eastern meeting planners when they are deciding where to locate their events.

Another research study being presented by Sunil Malhotra, Director, Aviation Sector – Middle East & North Africa, Ernst and Young, is ‘The Habits of Middle East Business Travellers’. To view the full programme visit http://www.gibtm.com/knowledge

The GIBTM 20×20 Challenge, powered by PechaKucha is back for a second year running due to popular demand.

“The upswing in interest from a much wider audience of exhibitors than ever before has led the GIBTM team to introduce a number of exciting new initiatives at the 2014 show, enabling the event to reflect the demands and trends shaping the local and global meetings markets,” said Lois Hall, Exhibition Director, GIBTM.

“These new features include sourceme Pavilion in partnership with Nicholas Publishing International (NPI), which will showcase the leading event service suppliers from the Gulf region’s only annual events directory; the Technology & Services Zone, dedicated to the industry’s most technologically-advanced products and event planning services; plus Business Travel @GIBTM, featuring exhibitors in the Business Travel Zone. A dedicated Business Travel Knowledge programme and dedicated networking sessions.

“GIBTM will welcome up to 300 highly influential regional and international Hosted Buyers to attend this year’s show, all of whom have proven budget and sizeable business to place.” continued Hall.

Representatives from major industry players such as Kuoni Events, TE Connectivity, UHY International, Medicongress, Mary Kay, HelmsBriscoe, FEI Company, China International Medicine Exchange Association International Service Center, Contendam and Portigon Financial Services have all been accepted as Hosted Buyers.

“More than 8,500 pre-scheduled appointments are expected to take place between buyers and exhibitors at this year’s GIBTM,” said hall.

Additional value will be offered to Hosted Buyers through the launch of a series of post-event familiarisation tours to Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai, Jordan and Oman, giving these prime MICE destinations the opportunity to showcase their business and meeting facilities, hospitality portfolio and leisure attractions to global decision-makers.

To find out more about GIBTM please visit http://www.gibtm.com

Join GIBTM on Linked in, Twitter and Facebook.

ALLGAEU-ORIENT RALLY TRAILER

ALLGAEU-ORIENT RALLY TRAILER
The Allgaeu-Orient Rally 2012 from Oberstaufen to Baku

The Challenge:
2 Weeks – 13 Countries – 6,000 Kilometer and
No Highways – No Toll Roads – No Ferry Boats – No GPS!

The Allgaeu-Orient Rally is one of the largest Rally Events worldwide. Each year they have approx. 100 teams (each team goes with 3 vehicles). 2010 they had more than 250 cars/motorcycles with circa 500 participants.

Follow my worldwide travel adventures, sport events and incentives.
My adventures include the Allgaeu-Orient Rally (Germany to Azerbaijan), worldwide Marathon-Races, Adventure Trekking in Mongolia, China, Uzbekistan, Oman, Iceland, Thailand, Philippines, Russia and Eastern Europe.
My favorite tours are the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing (called The Vodka Train) as well as travelling along the Silk Road… Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan.

Iam trying to keep this Travel Blog updated with all my upcoming trips and adventures.
http://1001adventuretrips.wordpress.com

For general info you can follow my sites:
– FACEBOOK – http://www.facebook.com/1001AdventureTrips
– SMS FRANKFURT – http://www.incentives-worldwide.com
– YOUTUBE – http://www.youtube.com/1001adventures

TERI ORTON NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF HAWAI‘I CONVENTION CENTER

TERI ORTON NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF HAWAI‘I CONVENTION CENTER

HONOLULU, December 12, 2013 – AEG Facilities, which will assume management of the Hawai‘i Convention Center January 1, 2014, has named Teri Orton as General Manager of the 1.1 million square-foot facility located at the entrance to Waikïkï, O‘ahu. She will join AEG on December 18.

Prior to accepting the position, Orton was Vice President of Condominium Resort Marketing for Outrigger Enterprises Group, which consists of 16 properties across the Hawaiian Islands.

“Teri’s dynamic leadership skills, ability to motivate teams and proficiency in the hospitality arena combined with her experience and deep understanding of the destination make her the ideal person to oversee this great facility,” said Brad Gessner, Vice President of Convention Centers, AEG Facilities. “The addition of Teri along with the existing knowledgeable and professional staff to our experienced AEG Facilities team are uniquely qualified and poised to take the Center to new standards of success in service, bookings and guest satisfaction.”

In her new role, Orton will oversee all overall management of the Hawai‘i Convention Center, including sales and marketing, operations, finance, food and beverage and customer service, while implementing the strategic positioning and marketing plans for the facility in conjunction with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), and the Meet Hawai‘i team.

“I am excited and privileged to have the opportunity to join the well-respected AEG Facilities management group in operating the world class Hawai‘i Convention Center,” said Orton. “Together with the veteran existing staff members, I am looking forward to working in conjunction with all of the community and hospitality stakeholders along with the HTA and Meet Hawai‘i sales team in marketing the Center and the Hawaiian Islands as an unmatched business meetings destination.”

“We are very fortunate to have found in Teri an individual born and raised in the Islands with outstanding travel industry credentials and a passionate belief in the strength and marketability of Hawai‘i as a meetings destination,” said Mike McCartney, HTA’s president and CEO. “Her proven track record of success and leadership will contribute greatly to elevating the Center’s global presence and optimizing its usage.”

Orton’s 17 years of hospitality experience includes posts as hotel general manager, director of sales and marketing and other management roles with Outrigger Enterprises Group, Embassy Suites, The Ilikai, W Diamond Head, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and the Huntington Beach Hilton Resort.

Orton majored in communications at the University of Hawai‘i – Windward Campus and advanced her training in hospitality management through various certifications with Starwood and Hilton Hotels. She has also been a member of the Waikiki Roundtable Committee for two years and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) membership committee chair for two years.

AEG Facilities has more than 20 years of experience in the management of convention centers, as well as arenas, stadiums and other facilities. The company offers a network of elite
worldwide convention centers, all of which have a similar look and feel to Hawai‘i’s convention center. With a presence in more than 100 venues on five continents, the Los Angeles-based organization expects to immediately position the HCC in some of the HTA’s key Meetings, Conventions and Incentive (MCI) markets, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

AEG takes over the management of the Honolulu center from SMG, which has run the venue since it opened in 1998.

About Meet Hawai‘i
Meet Hawai‘i is a collaboration of the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and Hawai‘i Convention Center (HCC) to reinforce the brand of the Hawaiian Islands as a world-class destination for business meetings, conventions, and incentive programs. The marketing efforts of the Meet Hawai‘i team are overseen by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state of Hawai‘i’s tourism agency. HTA was established in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawai‘i tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the state of Hawai‘i’s economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs. For information about Meet Hawai‘i and the hosting of meetings, conventions and incentives, please visit MeetHawaii.com.

About AEG Facilities
AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, is the leading sports, entertainment and venue operator in the world. AEG Facilities, a stand-alone affiliate of AEG, owns, operates or consults with more than 100 of the industry’s preeminent venues worldwide, across five continents, providing complete venue management, as well as specialized programs in operations, guest services, ticketing, booking, sales and marketing. AEG Facilities also provides resources and access to other AEG-affiliated entities, including live event producer, AEG Live, AEG Global Partnerships, AEG Development, AEG 1Earth, AEG Encore and AEG Creative to support the success of AEG venues across the globe. The Los Angeles-based organization owns, operates or provides services to the world’s most elite venues, including STAPLES Center (Los Angeles, Calif.), StubHub Center (Carson, Calif.), Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE (Los Angeles, Calif.), Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.), KFC Yum! Center (Louisville, Ky.),
AmericanAirlines Arena(Miami, Fla.), Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.), Target Center (Minneapolis, Minn.) and BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas). Among the roster of world class convention centers and other facilities managed by the division are the Los Angeles Convention Center, Hawai’i Convention Center (Honolulu, HI), Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (Brisbane, Australia), Oman Convention and Exhibition Center (Muscat, Oman), Sydney International Convention, Exhibition, and Entertainment District, Cairns Convention Center and Darwin Conventions Centre. Other venues include Oracle Arena and O.co Coliseum (Oakland, Calif.), CONSOL Energy Center (Pittsburgh, Penn.), Rabobank Arena (Bakersfield, Calif.), Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai, China), MasterCard Center (Beijing, China), The O2 Arena (London, England), O2 World (Berlin, Germany), O2 World Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany), Ahoy Arena (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Itaipava Arena Pernambuco (Recife, Brazil), Allianz Parque (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Allphones Arena (Sydney, Australia), Ülker Sports Arena (Istanbul, Turkey), Ericsson Globe Arena (Stockholm, Sweden) and the. For more information, please visit aegworldwide.com.

AEG OGDEN ANNOUNCES OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE GM

AEG OGDEN ANNOUNCES OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE GM

Internationally respected convention centre executive, Trevor McCartney has been appointed the inaugural General Manager at Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Mr. McCartney’s appointment was announced today by Geoff Donaghy, the Director of Convention Centres for AEG Ogden which manages the venue on behalf of Omran, the company established by the Government of Oman to deliver major projects and manage its assets and investments in the tourism sector.

Mr. McCartney was previously the Director of Business Development at the Qatar National Convention Centre, a role he has held since June 2011.

Before his appointment in Qatar, Mr. McCartney was Chief Executive at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Malaysia for three years and Director of International Sales and Operations at the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, Thailand for a further three years. He has also been a key member of pre-opening teams at three major UK conference centres.

Mr Donaghy said there was considerable international interest in the position but the internal promotion of Mr. McCartney was an endorsement of the strength and talent within the AEG Ogden network.

“Trevor is an outstanding and experienced convention centre executive who is well respected throughout the industry globally.

“In the past decade, he has developed a strong understanding of the local cultures and managing congress venues in Asia and the Middle East and is suitably qualified to meet the challenges in the highly competitive business events industry,” Mr. Donaghy said.

Mr. McCartney is excited by his new role.

“The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is the new kid on the global conventions block and has tremendous potential.

“We look forward to working closely with Omran, the Ministry of Tourism and the local community to deliver first-class events that showcase the traditional and unique Omani hospitality and in creating extensive local employment opportunities,” Mr. McCartney said.

The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is due for completion in December 2016.

Mr. Donaghy said to date, AEG Ogden had been involved in the design and planning of the Centre and was now utilising its experience, extensive worldwide network and expertise in preparing the Centre for opening and competing for its share of the lucrative business events market.

“There are more than 200 convention and exhibition centres competing on the world stage for a slice of the business events pie but research already undertaken has identified international conventions with the potential to be held in Oman as far ahead as 2024,” he said.

Mr. McCartney will commence his new role in early 2014.

About the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
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 an elaborate tiered auditorium to seat 3,200 while the exhibition halls will feature 22,000 square metres 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 carpark 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. http://www.omanconvention.com

About AEG Ogden
AEG Ogden is a 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, Oman (under construction), Sydney (construction commencing 2014) and the Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island (from February 2014); arenas including Sydney’s Allphones Arena, the Sydney Entertainment Centre (from December 2013), the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Perth Arena; Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; 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. http://www.aegogden.com

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

For more information contact:
Greg Adermann
Group Communications Manager, AEG Ogden