JW Marriott Muscat To Bring Tailored Culinary Experiences as Official Caterer For OCEC

News

OCEC, Muscat 11 October 2020

Muscat – 11 October 2020 - Continuing to enhance the Sultanate’s meetings and conferences offerings, JW Marriott Muscat is now the official catering partner for the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC). The agreement was signed between Giuseppe Ressa, General Manager of JW Marriott Muscat and Eng. Said Al Shanfari, Chief Executive Officer of OCEC, with Zoltan Kali, Senior Vice President of Omran Hospitality, also in attendance. The partnership will see JW Marriott Muscat undertake all of the catering requirements for OCEC’s events, which are held throughout the year. Developed by Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN), the five-star hotel and OCEC are situated side-by-side in the up-and-coming Madinat Al Irfan development, and an integral part of the country’s conference tourism drive.

Giuseppe Ressa said, “With the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre directly connected with the hotel, it is a natural partnership and one that we’re delighted to embark upon. Bringing our tailored culinary experiences and ‘Mindful and Present’ philosophy to OCEC’s prestigious events, we look forward to contributing further to boost Oman’s growing events sector and adding another layer to our role in attracting both business and leisure travellers to Oman.”

Eng. Said Al Shanfari added, “We host a wide range of successful events, from conferences and exhibitions to weddings and banquets, each requiring different catering services. Food and beverages are extremely important to our overall guest experience, which is why we chose to partner with JW Marriott Muscat, whose hospitality is second-to-none. We look forward to welcoming domestic and, when we can, international travellers, and continuing to establish OCEC as a hub for world-class events of all kinds.”

The agreement between JW Marriott Muscat and OCEC will add another dimension to the wider Madinat Al Irfan development, and Omran’s vision to create lifestyle and tourism destinations that enhance the experience of local, regional and international visitors. As part of the Omani government’s strategy to diversify the national economy, Omran plays a key role in developing the tourism sector as one of the key drivers of future growth for the Sultanate. 

Strategically located just 10 minutes’ drive from Muscat International Airport, JW Marriott Muscat is the latest addition to Omran Group’s hotel portfolio, the only hotel which is directly connected to the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, and the first five-star hotel in Madinat Al Irfan.
Oman Convention & Exhibition Center 
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 ensures 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 features two tiered auditoriums to seat 3,200 and 450, while the five exhibition halls feature 22,396 square metres of column-free exhibition space along with a 6,000 square metres of outdoor 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 also includes 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 120,000 square metres of hireable event space options plus a total carpark of 5,000 vehicles.
The Precinct provides 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, surrounded by a nature reserve, which is a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife, together with parklands and a wadi (valley) park, are also part of this picturesque precinct.


About OMRAN
Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (Omran) drives the investment, growth and development of the rapidly growing tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman. The company is the master developer of major tourism, heritage, urban and mixed-use projects, delivering some of nation’s most visionary and iconic destinations. As the leading executive government arm for tourism development, Omran has a proven track record of delivering tourism and related projects to a world-class standard, due to our core philosophy of sustainability, transparency and partnering with renowned regional and international investors.

About JW Marriott
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio of brands and consists of award-winning properties and beautiful resort locations around the world. Inspired by the principles of mindfulness, JW Marriott is a haven designed to allow guests to focus on feeling whole – present in mind, nourished in body, and revitalized in spirit – through programs and offerings that encourage them to come together and experience every moment to the fullest. Today there are over 95 JW Marriott hotels in more than 30 countries and territories worldwide that cater to sophisticated, mindful travelers who come seeking experiences that help them be fully present, foster meaningful connections and feed the soul. Visit JW Marriott online, on Instagram and Facebook. JW Marriott is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy™, the new name of Marriott’s travel program replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including earning points toward free hotel stays and nights toward Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visitMarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,300 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 134 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program with 141 million members globally. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.