Day four of the COP17/CMP7 conference and with approximately 8000 delegates from 191 countries already on-site over the four days, the ICC Durban is abuzz with activity. In order to deliver a top quality conferencing experience the ICC staff are working hard to ensure that the catering, conferencing locations and amenities are running to the highest standards as befits a five-star conferencing venue. Conference delegates have commented positively on their experience at the Centre and the team is certainly pulling out all the stops to ensure the most conducive meetings experience for our visiting delegates.

The opening of the conference on Monday was threatened by the violent storms that hit the city on Sunday evening resulting in some isolated flooding in the ICC building. The team responded to this crisis in record time ensuring that all the damage caused was dealt with over night and the facility was 100% ready for the opening on Monday morning despite the interventions of mother nature. The opening event went off like clockwork reflecting well on the organisational abilities of the entire Durban ICC team. Both senior and junior staff were deployed around the building to ensure that the delegates were welcomed on arrival and were given advice and assistance as they familiarised themselves with the layout of the building and the location of the meeting venues and of course the opening event.

In addition to the COP17/CMP7 country delegates who are mainly active in the ICC, the ICC Exhibition Centre is filled with non-government organisations (NGO’s) and lobby groups all eager to influence the main debate towards a successful outcome. The Exhibition Centre is the key venue for lively debate and impromptu meetings all over the place with people from almost every country in the world seated in groups on the floor or in the restaurant facilities eagerly discussing the direction that the conference is taking and whether this suits their different agendas and how they are able to bring influence to bear. The Exhibition Centre also features a substantial exhibition component with a wide variety of organisations and products focused on mitigating environmental impact, exhibiting and interacting.

The culinary teams are hard at work ensuring that the Durban ICC’s catering points in the ICC and at the ICC Exhibition Centre are well stocked and geared to deliver quality food and service. Catering equipment includes bio-degradable cutlery, plates and cups for use by delegates. Over and above other items sold at the Durban ICC’s catering points over the three day period, delegates have consumed more than 6 000 meals and 9 000 beverages.

These numbers do not include refreshments and food sold at the catering outlets run by service providers within the CCR Expo site.

Our roving reporter interviewed some of the delegates and received very positive feedback on the quality of the catering on offer;

“I had a Lamb Roll from your barbeque (braai) and it was the BEST! I would recommend this meal to all delegates”.  Arthur from the Bahamas

“My colleague and I had the South African dish which was very exciting”. Helmut from Austria

“I had the King Platter and can honestly say it was fit for a KING!” Paulo from Portugal

Given that Durban tap water is 100% safe to drink and of the highest quality, bottled water is only being sold at the catering outlets.  All speakers, interpreters etc, are supplied with tap water in jugs.  The Durban ICC has over 80 water coolers placed throughout the ICC and ICC Exhibition Centre each with a prepared tap water holding capacity of twenty litres.  These water coolers have been replenished at least 10 times per day (some more often) over the last three days and we don’t foresee this being any less going forward considering the warm weather. This translates into a minimum of 16 000-litres of water being consumed on a daily basis. The Durban ICC is ISO 14001 accredited in terms of its environmental management programmes and the provision of water in plastic bottles is discouraged as much as possible.

The hosting of the COP17 / CMP7 conference is testament to the Durban ICC’s ability to host the largest and most complex conferences and events in the world. “There is no doubt that the Durban ICC is able to compete on a global stage and deliver a top quality conferencing experience” concludes Durban ICC CEO, Julie-May Ellingson. “We have received many compliments over the past few days expressing appreciation for the professional delivery of this event from both delegates and organisers and we are confident that the reputation of our city and the Durban ICC will be considerably enhanced on a global scale with the continued successful hosting of this event”.

ENDS.

 

The International Convention Centre Durban

Sandy Le Brasse, Corporate Affairs Manager, International Convention Centre Durban                

Tel: 031 3601359, Mobile : 0837998333, Fax: 031 3601005.                                                           

Email:  sandyl@icc.co.za

www.icc.co.za