InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) have announced the opening of Crowne Plaza Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat.

The newly opened hotel is the second Crowne Plaza in the capital and the fifth in Oman, demonstrating the increasing popularity of the brand in the sultanate.

The 296-room hotel is conveniently located 10 minutes from the New Muscat International Airport and is a part of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) project, situated in Phase One of Madinat Al Irfan, a world-class, urban mixed-use development by Omran designed to meet global standards.

OCEC is Muscat’s state-of-the-art commercial hub for business and international events. This precinct is one of many innovative communities currently being developed that are designed to world-class standards in support of the sultanate’s growing tourism sector.

While guests will benefit from the centre’s 22,000 sq m of exhibition space, they will also enjoy overlooking a natural waterway and the surrounding parklands, a wadi, and a nature reserve. With elements that allow for both productivity and recreation, Crowne Plaza Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is ideal for both business and leisure travellers.

The hotel also offers great facilities for a broad range of visitors including two pools, a children’s playground, a large fitness zone, three large meeting rooms and an independent function centre, which includes a glamourous ballroom with a terrace, ideal for weddings and other social functions.

Crowne Plaza Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre also boasts a selection of five dining options including Mosaic, that offers an all-day menu and Charm Thai that offers an authentic taste of Thailand in an ambient environment. Additionally, guests can enjoy the best of Belgian food and beverage in a traditional Belgian setting at Le Petit Belge or savour delicious cocktails by the poolside.  Visitors can also indulge in an extensive collection of drinks which can be enjoyed in the lobby of the hotel. 

Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “We are delighted to celebrate the opening of our second Crowne Plaza in Muscat, especially as it augments the city’s latest development, the OCEC in Madinat Al Irfan. This landmark will facilitate Oman’s growth as a business hub in the Middle East and boost tourism into the country.”

“As part of our growth strategy we are constantly looking for quality growth in new and existing markets, and with this hotel we will be serving guests as we partake in Oman’s economic growth. In partnership with Omran, we look forward to catering to the growing number of travellers into the nation’s capital.”

Salah Bin Salim Al Ghazali, division head - Development Partnerships & Investor Relations Omran and chairman of Destination Hotel Management Company, added: “With the development of the monumental Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) at Madinat Al Irfan in Muscat, Omran continues to support Oman’s positioning as a strong Mice hub in the Middle East. In the near to mid term, the centre will attract a steady stream of business travellers to the city and as Omran, together with its Omani pension fund partners continue to develop the centre’s retail, recreational and hospitality features, the OCEC will also attract more leisure travellers, creating a new destination and unique experiences that will benefit the social and economic growth of the sultanate. The new Crowne Plaza Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre will be perfectly positioned to cater to both sets of travellers and add another dimension of productivity and relaxation to their experience.”

He added: “We look forward to placing the sultanate on the map as a business hub and consequently look forward to demonstrating the hospitality that both Oman and Crowne Plaza are known for.” - TradeArabia News Service