Omran, Oman’s tourism development company, has launched the first hotel within the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) precinct. The highly anticipated Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC has opened its doors, providing luxurious, convenient accommodation for business and leisure travellers, and boosting the MICE sector in the Sultanate.
Situated in Madinat Al Irfan, the new urban development in the heart of Muscat, the 296-room property boasts extensive meeting and event facilities. With a dedicated events team, a ballroom, and executive lounges, the hotel caters for the needs of each and every business traveller. There are also five food and beverage outlets for guests to enjoy, including a rooftop restaurant showcasing the picturesque views of Muscat.
The opening ceremony was attended by HH Sayyid Tareq bin Shabib al Said. Commenting on the new hotel, he said, “The opening of the Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC showcases the significant progress in Oman’s MICE sector. The OCEC has provided a foundation for the growth of Oman’s events industry, and with the opening of this hotel, it is becoming an increasingly attractive option for business travellers worldwide, I was impressed by the initiative taken by Omran and the hotel management focusing on sustainability and their impact on the environment.”

The four-star Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC is the first of three hotels to open within the new Madinat Al Irfan district. Development of the area is fast progressing, with the 5-star JW Marriot hotel and OCEC Convention Centre set to open next year. Once complete, the precinct will also include a business park, retail shopping areas and residential districts, surrounded by a nature reserve. Developed in line with Omran’s sustainability policies, the Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC was designed to achieve a gold rating accreditation under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard.
Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Omran, said, “Developed to align with Oman’s vision to strengthen and diversify the national economy, the OCEC project aims to accelerate the capacity, scope and potential of the tourism sector in the Sultanate.
Set to enjoy strong occupancy rates, the Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC has already achieved a number of pre-bookings from visitors attending large-scale international conferences taking place in December this year, including the ACI Airport Exchange Exhibition and the Second UNWTO/Unesco World Conference on Tourism and Culture.
Christian Kronast, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC, said, “With a strategic location in the core of Oman’s up and coming business region, we expect the majority of our guests to be joining us from the exhibition or conference centres. With this in mind, we managed to tailor each and every aspect of the Crowne Plaza to the requirements and needs of the business traveller, providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience.”
Located in its own fully integrated precinct only four kilometres from Muscat International Airport, OCEC forms part of phase one of Madinat Al Irfan, Muscat’s state-of-the-art hub for business and international events.