PLANNERS looking to organise events in Bahrain would do well to look to the Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre (GICEC), which is the largest and most elegant conference and banqueting facility in Bahrain, and according to the venue spokesperson Sidney Fortun, is the favourite destination for the island’s most prestigious events.
Adjacent to the Gulf Hotel, the GICEC has 4,780sqm of space to offer for international conferences, corporate parties and exhibitions.
The Al Dana Hall and pre-function area measures 1,934sqm and accommodates 2500 persons for a cocktail reception and 1,260 persons for banquet. An exhibition space that provides floor power supply units and light rigs, built in stage, catwalk facilities and an option to divide the hall into separate conference area by retractable partitions, are but a few of a features.
The mezzanine floor provides four individuals meeting rooms accommodating from 10 to 190 people with audio-visual equipment, while the ground floor houses the Exhibition Hall with 2480sqm of space, she says.
And for other events, conferences and seminars, there are 20 versatile function rooms and board rooms in the centre and hotel to choose from.
Over the years, the GICEC and other banqueting rooms have witnessed the most glittering social events and hosted many high-powered meetings and conferences, she says.
Its status as a preferred venue is expected to continue with the promise of excellent service and assurance of the latest facilities ensuring the success of any event, from small seminars to elegant evening balls.
Meanwhile, the BD13 million ($34.5 million) renovation proceeds apace on the Gulf Hotel. This involves a section of the car park of one hundred parking bays, set to be complete by the end of April, where after phase two which includes the new multi storey car park and the complete exterior and interior renovation of the Tower block of guestrooms will commence.