OCEC HIRES HIGHLY SKILLED PERSONNEL

News

OCEC, Muscat 15 May 2022

15 MAY 2022, MUSCAT, OMAN: As part of their plan to continue hosting large-scale events following the country’s recovery from COVID-19, Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) has hired a number of highly skilled and experienced middle and senior management personnel.
 
The new hires come as OCEC rapidly gains momentum in 2022 with its roll-out of an exciting line-up of events, conferences and exhibitions, after having had to suspend nearly all events for a 16-month period following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
 
The new members of OCEC’s elite team – which include three Omanis and one expatriate – are set to further enhance OCEC’s operational capacity, and reinforce its status as a world class venue delivering exceptional facilities and operations for the local and international Meetings, Conferencing & Exhibitions sector.
 
Collectively, the new personnel bring to OCEC well over 60 years’ experience from the events industry and related sectors, as well as proven expertise, and proven track records of success in their individual fields.
 
The OCEC will leverage each individual’s experience as team and strategic leaders – and their contribution of new, innovative ideas, and best practice approaches to each department, and the rapidly evolving international events industry.
 
For OCEC, the new hires represent another vital step ahead in their journey as Muscat and Oman’s premier events destination; and a venue #WhereTheWorldMeets
 
Commenting on the new hires, Eng. Said Al Shanfari, Chief Executive Officer – OCEC, stated: “In our hosting of world class events and provision of state-of-the-art services and infrastructure for event organizers, the OCEC is committed to maintaining the highest standards in business and operational excellence. We are therefore delighted to welcome these new, highly qualified and highly experienced members to our team. I am confident that they will make a significant and value-adding impact within our Business Development department, Human Resources, and Event Operations, both in their individual capacity, and while working with our existing team members, partners and stakeholders.”
 
In OCEC’s Business Development department, the new hires include Mr. Talal Al Mushaifri, Director; and Ms. Maryam Al Balushi, Live Events Manager.
 
Mr. Hisham Al Ojaili joins OCEC’s Human Resource department as Human Resources Manager; while Mr. Nagendran Naidu takes up the position of Director, Event Operations.
 
Talal Al Mushaifri – Director, Business Development
In Business Development, Mr. Talal Al Mushaifri joins OCEC as the departments new Director, to oversee the overall sales plan, and to bring additional events – both local and international – to the iconic venue. Mr. Al Mushaifri brings with him over 17 years’ experience in sales and retail, most notably from the telecommunications sector, including the telecom giant, Ooredoo. With his vast experience in establishing new sales opportunities, Mr. Al Mushaifri is set to play a pivotal role in maintaining OCEC’s image as a regional hub for exceptional events.
 
Maryam Al Balushi – Live Events Manager, Business Development
In the same department, the incoming Ms. Maryam Al Balushi will play a key role for OCEC as the venue’s new Live Events Manager. Ms. Al Balushi has over seven years’ experience engaging with local and international MICE tourism markets while working in the Omani and UAE events industry. She also played a part in overseeing the success of the Oman Pavilion at the recent Dubai Expo. In her new role, Ms. Al Balushi will add a number of new event categories to OCEC’s portfolio – including some brand new, first-for-Oman event concepts. She holds a Bachelor of International Hotel & Tourism Management with Honors from the University of Queensland, in Australia.
 
Hisham Al Ojaili – Human Resources Manager, Finance & Corporate Services
In the Finance & Corporate Services department, OCEC appointed Mr. Hisham Al Ojaili, whose role will be to maintain and enhance staff skills, competencies and morale on an ongoing basis. Mr. Al Ojaili has over 16 years’ experience in the hospitality industry focusing on Human Resources. One of his recent career highlights in 2021 was receiving an official Appreciation Certificate from Oman’s Ministry of Labour, for an initiative he implemented for staff welfare.
 
Nagendran Naidu – Director, Event Operations
In Event Operations, OCEC has brought in a new department Director, Mr. Nagendran Naidu, who will oversee all event related operations. Mr. Naidu brings to OCEC over 26 years of event industry experience, having worked in various arenas, including hotels and large venues around the world. He is highly skilled in all aspects of business events activities, such as venue and facility management, strategic event planning, Food & Beverage operations, and Audio-Visual roll-out. Mr. Naidu’s role at OCEC will be to transfer his knowledge and expertise to young, up-and-coming Omani leaders in the industry. 
 
Event organizers planning to host world class events at Oman’s premier events destination can contact the OCEC team via the venue’s website www.ocec.om
   
MEDIA ENQUIRIES - PLEASE CONTACT:
Manal Al Kiyumi – Marketing & Communications Manager
Email: malkiyumi@ocec.om
Telephone: +968 2423 3849
Website: www.ocec.om
 
ABOUT: OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) – Oman’s premier Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing & Exhibitions (MICE) venue – is located in its own fully integrated precinct only four kilometers from Muscat International Airport. OCEC features two tiered auditoriums to seat 3,200 and 456 guests, while five exhibition halls feature 22,396 square meters 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. OCEC also includes an additional 20 meeting rooms for 25 – 360 delegates, the Grand Ballroom which seats up to 1,200 guests in banquet style, the Junior Ballroom which seats up to 540 guests for banquets, 10 hospitality suites, and a VIP Pavilion. In total, OCEC offers over 120,000 square meters of hirable event space plus a multi-story car park with a capacity for 5,000 vehicles. The design of the Centre ensures a flow of meeting spaces to suit the most discerning conference and exhibition organizers. It also incorporates expansive concourse areas with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking landscaped gardens to enable ease of movement for large delegations. As a part of OCEC, 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. It includes the 5 Star JW Marriott Muscat Hotel linked to the Convention Centre itself, as well as the 4 Star Crowne Plaza OCEC Hotel. A business park, surrounded by a nature reserve, which is a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife, together with parklands and a wadi river valley, also form part of The 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 – including Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. OMRAN has a proven track record of delivering tourism and related projects to a world-class standard due to their core philosophy of sustainability, transparency and partnering with renowned regional and international investors.