March 29, 2024 9:00 AM
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Calabar ICC raises Nigeria’s profile as meetings destination

Calabar International Convention Centre (Calabar ICC) in Nigeria was once again on charm offensive at the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Client Supplier Conference 2015 in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa.

This is an annual event exclusively for ICCA members in Africa. It is organized by ICCA headquarters in Netherlands through the Africa Chapter office, based in South Africa, and brings together convention centers in Africa, association executives and meeting planners who organize high-profile conferences in Africa.

Calabar International Convention Centre in Nigeria is expected to open later this year.
Calabar International Convention Centre in Nigeria is expected to open later this year.

During this event, Calabar ICC made a destination presentation to university professors and association executives from eight countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroun, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

This group of professionals represented conference sectors and subjects that Calabar ICC would like to attract to Cross River State, Nigeria. Calabar ICC is bidding for the opportunity to host association conferences in the various key sectors, such as Medicine, ICT, Tours & Travel, Public Relations, Labor and importantly, from a Nigerian point of view, in the sector of Agriculture.

ICCA Africa Chapter
ICCA Africa Chapter

Calabar ICC has identified these associations and will continue to work on building relationships with these professionals to bid for the respective conferences that they represent. Calabar ICC also hosted, as part of the conference, the gala dinner – a move that allowed the venue an opportunity to not only put the destination on the map but also present Calabar, Cross River State and Nigeria as an emerging business tourism destination hub in Africa.

Zambia is the next host for this conference after South Africa, and Calabar ICC intends to bid for this event in Nigeria — a ‘strategic first’ for Nigeria and Calabar ICC. It is the facility leaders hope that Calabar ICC will be in a position to host ICCA Africa Chapter conference in 2017 in West Africa for the first time.

The ICCA Worldwide President Nina Freysen-Pretorius was the keynote speaker, and she noted that the positioning of Calabar ICC so far is very impressive and would be very instrumental in winning conferences to be hosted in Nigeria. By virtue of its unique position, ICCA Africa chapter is banking on Calabar ICC to be the flagship and catalyst for Business Tourism Growth for the West African region.

“The event in Stellenbosch, South Africa, I must say, went well! The participation was calculated to favorably position Calabar ICC, to bid for and win more high profile international conferences to Nigeria. It is clear that Calabar ICC stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the giants in the convention industry in Africa,” Ben Asoro, director of marketing, Calabar ICC commented.

Ben Asoro of Calabar ICC presents at an ICCA Africa gathering.
Ben Asoro of Calabar ICC presents at an ICCA Africa gathering.

Calabar ICC is the first and the only member of ICCA in Central and West Africa.

The Calabar ICC is part of the 367 hectare Summit Hills development, which will include a business hotel, international hospital, 18 hole golf course and a residential development. A scenic monorail will convey delegates across the Tinapa Lake between the Calabar ICC and the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel.

For more information on Calabar International Convention Centre, contact: +234 (0) 811 056 0617, or info@conventioncentrecalabar.com

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