New Accor managed International Convention Centre opens in Hyderabad

Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), a purpose-built convention facility, officially opened today under Accor management.

Developed by Emaar Properties, HICC is located in India’s fastest growing high-technology corridor. Earlier this year, Emaar appointed Accor to operate the adjacent Novotel. The Andhra Pradesh provincial government co-owns HICC with Emaar, and the aim of the investment part is to attract prestigious international conventions to Hyderabad and serve the meeting needs of businesses in the area.

HICC offers convention and event organisers 291,000 square feet of primary meeting space with a capacity to seat 5,000 delegates, 250,000 square feet of pre-function areas supported by 32 break out rooms. This can be increased to 6,500 delegates for special events. The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art automated facilities and the latest audio visual technology, and is already attracting marque events including the Asian Development Bank meeting scheduled for May 2006.

Accor’s appointment to manage the Hyderabad International Convention Centre builds on a long and existing relationship with Emaar. In Dubai, Accor manages two high profile hotels, a 412-room Novotel and a 210-room Ibis, next to the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention complex that was developed by Emaar.

Accor Asia Pacific Chairman, David Baffsky, said the group was delighted to extend its business relationship with Emaar, and Accor looked forward to building Hyderabad’s profile in the national and international meetings and exhibitions market.

“Emaar is a visionary company that has a superb track record in identifying and opening up new destinations for development,” said Mr Baffsky.

“We believe the HICC development will continue to fuel the high technology boom in Hyderabad, and the Andhra Pradesh regional government’s business friendly policies have already attracted the world’s leading computer companies to the area. They are a key partner in the project and Accor is grateful for the support.”

The adjoining Novotel Hyderabad, which is scheduled to open in March 2006, is the first new-build Novotel for Accor in India and part of an aggressive expansion for the group and its hotel brands around the country.

In March 2005 Accor and Interglobe Enterprises announced the launch of a joint venture company to develop a network of up to 25 Ibis hotels in India over the next 10 years. Accor also announced the launch of its management company for India, AAPC India Hotel Management, to manage all hotels under the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis brands.

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