The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) have opened the Crowne Plaza Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. Located in Muscat, it is the second Crowne Plaza in the capital and the fifth such hotel in Oman.

The 296-room hotel is part of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) project, which is Muscat’s commercial hub for business and international events. The precinct is itself located within phase one of Madinat Al Irfan, a mixed-use development by Omran.

“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 travelers into the nation’s capital,” said Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India, Middle East & Africa at InterContinental Hotels Group.

The exhibition centre offers 22,000sqm of space and overlooks a natural waterway, parklands, a wadi and a natural reserve. These elements are said to make the venue ideal for productivity and recreation. The hotel also offers two pools, a children’s playground, a large fitness zone, three large meeting rooms and an independent function centre, which includes a ballroom with a terrace.

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 Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), 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 travelers 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 travelers, 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 travelers and add another dimension of productivity and relaxation to their experience.”