Travel, Tourism & Hospitality
OCEC gearing to host leading international events
The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is set to host a series of world-class regional and international events in the final quarter of 2023. The premier event destination will see more than 10 expos and conferences until the beginning of 2024.
The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is set to organise a series of world-class regional and international events in the final quarter of 2023.
The OCEC is closing its 2023 successful season with a range of impactful events including the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology Congress (November 29-December 2) and the Green Hydrogen Summit (December 12-15), the largest Green Hydrogen event in the MENA region, among other standout events. The premier event destination will host more than 10 exhibitions and conferences until the beginning of 2024 – strengthening its position as a world-leading venue.
Preparing for the year ahead, the venue has already secured high-level international conferences in 2024 such as the Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology World Congress (October 2024), attracting thousands of health professionals to share insights and best practice in this field of significant importance.
The 2023 calendar is set to surpass 2022’s achievements as the OCEC already hosted more than 170 events including exhibitions, conferences and live shows attracting thousands of visitors and exhibitors to Oman’s premier venue.
Highlights from the 2023 schedule include the 27th Muscat International Book Fair with more than 385,000 booklovers discovering thousands of titles including Arabic and non-Arabic books. The OCEC also hosted the Oman Sustainability Week in March 2023, a leading event across the MENA region bringing together policy makers, sustainability experts and industry leaders to share best practice and further Oman’s energy transition.
The OCEC has become a strong contender in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector by actively bidding on and securing competitive and high-profile regional and international events, said a statement.
A testament to the venue’s ambition, the OCEC won the prestigious “Best Venue” award at the Middle East Event Awards 2023 taking place in Dubai (UAE).
Discussing the range of upcoming international and regional events, Said Al Shanfari, Chief Executive Office, OCEC, stated: “The OCEC has established itself as a world-leading destination for conferences and exhibitions across the Middle East and internationally. I am proud to see the value that the OCEC brings to the country, particularly to our economy.
“Research shows business travellers can spend up to four times more than leisure travellers, often paying premium hotel and airline bookings which directly benefits the hospitality and tourism industry.
“Ultimately, the OCEC enables foreign investments, raising the level of foreign spending and placing Oman on the map in the MICE sector. My vision is to continue building the visibility of the OCEC as a serious contender more globally, in alignment with Oman Vision 2040 and our country’s overall economic and tourism strategy.”
Shanfari reiterated the venue’s steadfast commitment to providing exceptional services and facilities for event organisers and delegates alike. The OCEC’s success is a direct result of the administrative and technical expertise performed by the venue’s operational departments, including events, venue operations and marketing, he said. – TradeArabia News Service