Oman will be celebrating its first ever ranking in the top 100 countries worldwide for the meetings and conventions industry by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and classed in the top 25 countries in the Asia Pacific-Middle East region. To celebrate the Oman Ministry of Tourism will run a social media competition during the three days of the event giving one pre-charged mobile phone USB charger to the first forty visitors who mention the stand accompanied by a picture of it in a Facebook or Twitter post.
These rankings procede the opening of the new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, due to open in the first quarter of 2016, it is set to become an iconic landmark for Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman. Surrounded by natural landscapes it overlooks a wadi which is a haven for Oman's exotic bird life. The Centre is conveniently located only 10 minutes from the new Muscat International Airport. Located in its own precinct, this world-class facility is perfectly suited to host international, regional and national conventions, exhibitions and business events. Amongst its features are a tiered auditorium seating 3,200 people and more than 22,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space.
All five star hotels in Oman have excellent meeting and event facilities, ballrooms and restaurants ranging from a fully functional theatre at the Al Bustan Palace Ritz Carlton to an auditorium in the Shangri-La Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa. The Royal Opera House and grounds are also available for hire on request. Oman's hotel stock is growing and a number of key international chains operate in the destination alongside boutique properties. Other prominent hotel brands include: Grand Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, Millennium and InterContinental in Muscat and the Marriott, Rotana and Hilton Resorts in Salalah.
