The Accor-operated Hyderabad International
Convention Centre (HICC) is the first such
purpose-built centre in the country and opened its
doors ahead of schedule to meet demand.
The city has become a major focus for cuttingedge
IT firms, with companies such as Microsoft
setting up major operations and research units in
the city's technology-driven business parks.
HICC general manager Philip Logan said:
"Hyderabad is like Shanghai 20 years ago. We
already have 31 events on the books. The city has
always been a major trading zone and attracts
entrepreneurs.
"When word got round about our facilities there
was so much interest and demand that we had to
bring our opening forward by four months."
Situated in the centre of the Indian subcontinent,
Logan believes the city has enormous potential to
act as a regional hub, with infrastructure superior to
Delhi or Mumbai.
He said: "With a new international airport
scheduled to open in the next two years, Hyderabad is set for a major boost."
The HICC's first highprofile international event
will be the hosting of the 39th annual meeting of the
Governors of the Asian Development Bank from
May 3 to 6.
Accor will also be operating a 287-room Novotel
property adjacent to the HICC. The hotel will have
covered access to the HICC and also have some
meeting space.
The Novotel is due to open its doors in April.
New Hyderabad centre sets Indian benchmark
HYDERABAD The Indian city of Hyderabad has raised the bar for the country's conference industry with its recently opened state-of-the-art convention centre.
