Features

MICE in Hyderabad: Conventions Central

1 Aug 2016 by Akanksha Maker
Hyderabad International Convention Centre

The inception of the state of “Telangana” completed its second year anniversary on June 2. This also marked the end of one the most long-lasting movements of the people of South India, the Telangana movement, that resulted in the truncation of Telangana from the original state of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad, the current shared capital of the two states will remain so for no more than ten years. There was a sense of celebration in the air, as I arrived at the ultra-modern Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on this momentous date. Purple and pink lights embellished maps of the new state that were proudly displayed. Indeed, a fascinating day to be here, I thought to myself, as we drove past the Express Highway towards the Jawaharlal Nehru Outer Ring Road. 

The city is an interesting mix of technology and culture. Telangana’s rich heritage infuses a sense of patriotism into the people of the region, especially post the bifurcation. Our drive into the city was accompanied by a brief rainfall and the scurry of denizens who were happy to welcome a downpour after two years. Crossing the mighty Google office, that is its largest Indian campus, we made our way to HITEC City (The Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy City) that houses headquarters of bigwigs such as Facebook, Microsoft and Tech Mahindra. Home to around 1,300 IT firms and the maximum number of SEZs (special economic zones) in any Indian city, Hyderabad finds base for giants such as Apple, Amazon and IBM as well.

Along with being the Information Technology hub of the country, Hyderabad is also regarded as one of the foremost convention destinations of India (it lags behind Delhi). My visit to Hyderabad was dedicated to delving into this title. And as luck would have it, I was welcomed at the Novotel Hyderabad International Convention Centre amidst festivities commemorating the “Telangana State Formation Day”. Government officials thronged in with their families to be a part of the celebration that was underway at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC). The sheer scale of the event in progress was overwhelming, and I was told that this wasn’t even the Convention Centre in all its glory. Its sprawling 6,480 sqm-pillar-less hall can be partitioned into six and is equipped with a 16-feet built-in rear projection screen. The Convention Centre also boasts of 37 meeting rooms, boardrooms, VIP lounges, 16 registration terminals, speaker preparatory rooms, state-of-the-art sound systems, translation booths and a balcony area that projects additional seating.   

After a tour of the massive HICC, we sat down at the hotel’s cafe for some insight from Gorav Arora, director, sales and marketing at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre over coffee. He took us back to 2004 in South Korea, when the Asian Development Bank announced that its 39th conference would be held in Asia. The Indian government was keen to host it in the country, but lacked a space that could accommodate a conference of about 3,000 delegates. “The former Prime Minister handed over the responsibility to former Chief Minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu to build a convention facility in the city. A public-private partnership between the government (minor share) and Dubai-based Emaar Properties (major share) was formed to build this ambitious project.” Fast forward to two years later, the two entities HICC and Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre unveiled together as a solid combination that was ready to welcome global conventions.

The property is managed by the AccorHotels and spearheaded by its General Manager, Neil Patterson, whose two decades worth of experience in hospitality adds significant value to HICC and inbound MICE travel. “Together the hotel and the Convention Centre form an important spoke in the progressing wheel of Brand Hyderabad,” says Patterson. “The provision of the Convention Centre and hotel in one location has made it the hub for MICE and business travellers. The city hosted 18 prestigious meetings in 2014. The significant contribution of HICC is highlighted by the fact that 13 of these 18 meetings were hosted here. Over the past two months, HICC has hosted and managed two international events, six medical conferences and several larger corporate gatherings catering up to 9,000 delegates,” he adds.

HITEC City, Hyderabad

Being the largest and the most technologically advanced convention venue in not just Hyderabad, but all of India, HICC hosts around 800 conferences each year that range from international and national conferences, association conventions and social gatherings. Events at HICC are also associated with the proximally located HITEX Exhibition Center that hosts outdoor corporate exhibitions and trade-shows. The facility spread across 100 acres works in tangent with HICC to offer a complete package to corporate managers. Novotel further adds an advantage of hospitality for residential events. A convention centre, an exhibition centre and a five-star hotel all in the premises of HITEC City is an unparalleled offering that isn’t available anywhere else in the country. 

The influx of inbound MICE travel can be credited to the joint efforts by Hyderabad Conventions Bureau (HCVB), HICC and Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport along with other hotels and convention centres. It is interesting to note that Hyderabad is the only city in India to have its conventions bureau. “The Bureau was born out of a vast study conducted by the Indian School of Business (ISB) that gauged all its resources from the global MICE industry data and other variables and pointed out that the city (Hyderabad) is poised to account for a much larger share of the MICE industry,” says Gary Khan, CEO of HCVB. “The Bureau was formed in April 2011 by a troika of three mega entities — Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport and the state government. The innovative thinking and far-sightedness of the above mentioned “big three” rendered the formation of the only local convention bureau in the country. The sole philosophy of the Bureau is ‘Taking Hyderabad to the world and bringing the world to Hyderabad’.”

The easy accessibility to Hyderabad from the rest of India and South East Asia is one reason why it’s such a viable MICE destination. Khan adds, “Not only does the City of Pearls (Hyderabad was historically known as a pearl and diamond trading centre) have the best airport in India and central Asia (titled by SkyTrax) but it also has the biggest state-of-the-art Convention Centre in India (HICC).” 

Hyderabad’s reachability, along with its rich culture, a plethora of international and homegrown hotels, a versatile culinary scene and modern infrastructure makes it an attractive destination for conventions. When the Bureau pitches for conventions, it’s not just the convention centres but the entire city that is promoted as a complete offering. Patterson explains how they compete with other international cities such as Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Sharjah and Doha. “We spend a lot of time and money to sell all those other things, be it tourism, shopping or culture that Hyderabad has to offer. Over the last few years, we hosted more international conventions than Mumbai and Bengaluru, because of the infrastructure we have got, cooperative approach and because we know where to go to get this business. In India, we are only behind Delhi, which has an advantage of having the headquarters of a large number of national associations that host their international counterparts. There is no reason why Hyderabad cannot be in the top 50 destinations of the world if we continue to market ourselves well.”

It’s safe to say that the entire city experiences the macro financial outcome of conventions and not just the hotels and convention centres. When a MICE movement takes place, a number of participating players economically gain from their visit. Their experience entails expenses on airfare, tourism, restaurants, accommodation and retail. As a ratio, if the hotel (and convention centre) earns 1, the city in totality earns 20 — indirectly benefiting the economy of Hyderabad.

There is no doubt that inbound MICE travel is becoming growingly important in India, and Hyderabad pilots the way for this industry. Patterson adds, “Industry predictions indicate that the MICE sector is on an upward trend. Recovering after the recession, the MICE market is now springing back, stronger than ever. The demand for meetings is on the rise and though companies are not splurging, luxury venues are not being ruled out either. Infrastructure development and India becoming an attractive business destination, has created opportunities for hotels to develop their MICE offerings and match the standards set by their global counterparts. Over the years, Hyderabad has emerged as the convention capital of India. Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (NHCC) and Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) has helped to promote the MICE business in the country, and the fact that among all the significant events that the city has hosted, most of them were conducted here at HICC, and this has helped cement Hyderabad’s status as India’s favoured MICE destination. The future looks strong!

Other convention centres in Hyderabad

RD Convention Centre

Size of convention centre: 3,809 sqm

Kompally, Hyderabad; rdconventioncentre.com

City Convention Centre

Size of convention centre: 929 sqm

Near Medwin Hospital, Nampally; cccentre.co.in 

Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre

Size of convention centre: 2,809 sqm

Tank Bund Road, Opposite Hussain Sagar Lake; marriott.com

Charminar, Hyderabad

GETTING AROUND

The underway Hyderabad Metro Rail project will be operational by 2017, connecting 66 stations across three lines. Pre-book using Ola Cabs, Uber or TaxiForSure, unless the iconic rickshaws tempt your adventurous streak. Make sure you are charged by the meter.

WHERE TO EAT

Food is taken very seriously in this part of India. While Hyderabad has always been known for its traditional cuisine that was developed by the muslims after the Nizams (governors) of the princely state, it has today turned into a modern metropolis that boasts of all kinds of specialised cuisines. Popular restaurant chains such as Mamagoto (pan-Asian cuisine; Banjara Hills; mamagoto.in), SodaBottleOpenerWala (Irani cuisine; Jubilee Hills) and Glocal Junction (Indian fusion cuisine; Jubilee Hills) have popped up in the last six months. The city is also known for its “drive-ins” that house stalls of multiple restaurants in the same space. A few noteworthy ones that serve food beyond midnight are Syala drive-in (Jubilee Hills), District drive-in (Vittal Rao Nagar) and Suburb drive-in (Green Hills Road). These are particularly famous for their take-away style dining concept that has picked up in the city. Hyderabad also has an upcoming cafe culture and boasts of home-grown patisseries that exude an old-world charm. Pick between Conçu (Jubilee Hills), Eclaire (Banjara Hills) or The Gallery Cafe (Banjara Hills) for an informal evening over coffee and cake. For a break from all the modernity, head to Cafe Niloufer & Bakers (Red Hills) to bite into their traditional Osmania biscuits, that are dubbed so after the last ruler of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, along with its caramelised Irani chai. For some indulgence, Taj Falaknuma Palace’s Adaa features an exotic Chef’s Choice set menu and for some good old Hyderabadi biryani, head to either Ulavacharu (Jubilee Hills) or Ananda (Banjara Hills).

WHERE TO STAY

Taj Falaknuma Palace

The Taj Falaknuma Palace is set in a restored 19th century palace. The hotel resonates with luxury with a large staircase, grand fountains, and Venetian chandeliers. Its magnificent ballroom also hosts discerning corporate events. The room categories are: Luxury rooms, Palace rooms, Historical rooms, Royal suites, Grand Royal suites and Grand Presidential suite. It is conveniently located at about 3km from the Charminar and about 10km from the Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station. With five restaurants, a Hookah lounge, Taj’s signature Jiva spa, swimming pool and a library, it boasts of numerous leisure facilities. Complimentary unlimited wifi is provided in the rooms up-to two devices. tajhotels.com

Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre

Connected to Hyderabad International Convention Centre and a 45-minute driving distance to the city’s international airport, the Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre is a prominent property, especially known for its large-scaled corporate events. Its 287 rooms range as: Superior rooms, Junior suites, Executive suites and Deluxe suites. Complimentary unlimited internet, a 24-hour gym, two restaurants, one bar and a business friendly location (it’s close to Gachibowli Financial District) make it the ideal property for the frequent corporate traveller. novotelhyderabad.com

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, Hyderabad

Park Hyatt Hyderabad

With 185 rooms, 24 suites and 43 serviced apartments — the hotel offers the business traveller secretarial service, foreign exchange facility, 24-hour laundry service, valet parking, 24-hour gym along with the finest in-room amenities. Long-stay corporate travellers can choose to stay at the serviced apartments equipped with facilities designed to offer a very homely experience. Situated in the quiet residential neighbourhood of Banjara Hills, the Park Hyatt is about 10km from HITEC, the IT hub of the city. The hotel also houses a spa, a temperature-controlled swimming pool, salon services, three restaurants, two bars. The Park Hyatt also has an extensive meetings and events space that is hired for weddings and corporate affairs frequently. hyderabad.park.hyatt.com

The Park, Hyderabad
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