Durban ICC Delivers a Top Quality COP17 / CMP7 Conference Experience
13 December 2011
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Durban ICC Delivers a Top Quality COP17 / CMP7 Conference Experience
Certainly one of the most exciting, emotional and critically important events ever held at the Durban ICC, the COP 17 / CMP7 conference has drawn to a close. After an exhausting and adrenalin-charged 14 days the management and staff of the Durban ICC have been able to reflect on their performance as the host venue for one of the largest and most complex conferences in the world safe in the knowledge that our combined efforts in delivering a successful event have contributed towards moving the challenges with regard to climate change further forward on the global agenda.
The event called for 27 simultaneous meeting rooms with the capacity to host between 20 and 500 delegates, 2 plenary halls hosting between 1300 and 1900 delegates, 235 administration and country delegation offices, 800 computer internet stations, 278 exhibition stands in the ICC exhibition centre, a large travel and accommodation desk and 3 banking facilities.
Meeting rooms were booked back to back with the Durban ICC hosting 2520 meetings over the two week period. This is a huge feat taking into account that each meetings venue has to be refreshed before and after each meeting. Over and above this, country delegations hosted meetings in their own offices and meeting rooms and of course there were hundreds of impromptu and informal meetings held all over the Durban ICC precinct.
There was enormous demand over the period of the conference for the culinary services provided by the Durban ICC, through its 4 catering venues and for individually ordered beverages, meals, snacks and food platters. Delegates consumed 40 000 beverages and 58 250 meals, the most popular meal being the South African braai (barbeque) menu with 8 600-kilograms of chicken leg quarters being sold. As part of our menu offering The Centre also utilised 2 200-kilograms of beef, 985-kilograms of hake and 1 840-kilograms of lamb. Biodegradable packaging was used to serve all the meals including individually pre-packed bio-degradable cutlery with tooth picks and serviettes.
All the major role-players worked together with the Durban ICC to ensure a well coordinated event. First and foremost the roles of Expo Solutions and Conference Communications must be acknowledged, without them it would have been impossible to deliver a successful event. Further important roleplayers included the National Intelligence Agency, South African Police Services, eThekwini Metro Police, Airports Company South Africa, Hotel Security Staff and the UNFCCC Security.
The contracted waste management company “re-ethical environmental re-engineering (KZN) (Pty) Ltd” focused on maximizing the recovery of recyclable materials from the waste stream. Statistics in this regard reveal that by avoiding waste disposal to landfill sites, a carbon emission saving of 40, 751-kilograms of Carbon Dioxide was achieved. Recycled material from the conference totaled 32, 030-kilograms.
The Durban ICC has a track record of hosting many large and complex conferences which have been attended by Royalty, Heads of State, Ministers of State, Captains of Industry and Celebrities and this event was no different.
Whether it was communicating with overseas parties, meeting with local embassies, coordinating VIP arrivals or arranging safe, secure holding areas during the conference, ICC Durban demonstrated the required level of know-how and experience and was able to deliver a faultless event to the international environmental community.
Ms Salwa Dallalah, senior co-ordinator for conference affairs services with the UNFCCC commented on their experience at the Durban ICC. “The major asset of the ICC is it staff. From the guard at the door, the cleaners, the technicians to the CEO all worked round the clock to see to the last detail of proficient conference facilities in an African setting and hospitality basking in the Durban sun with the odd cooling showers when umbrellas would quickly be provided. The space the ICC provides includes spacious corridors, ample day light, numerous indoor and outdoor areas for huddle ups - formal and informal discussion were instrumental for the success of the conference. Durban ICC also provided the delegations with fully functional meeting rooms equipped with modern state of the art technology for negotiators communicating in the six UN official languages. The Chefs at the ICC saw to it that negotiators did not need to work on an empty stomach. They brewed good coffee catered for vegetarians and served a variety of the delicious Durban cuisine with its Indian and African flavours”.
“It has been a real privilege to have worked with the UNFCCC and been party to the successful hosting of COP17/CMP7. As one of the largest conferences in the world it has required team work, ingenuity and a good sense of humour.
The ICC received positive feedback from delegates who appreciated the friendly professional service, African hospitality and the world class facilities offered by the Durban ICC team.” said Julie-May Ellingson, Chief Executive Officer of the Durban International Convention Centre.
“Durban ICC has impeccable credentials as South Africa’s premier meetings and conferencing venue with the capacity to host large and complex events. The recent awarding of the International Rotary Conference to Durban in 2019 which is expected to attract up to 20 000 delegates clearly demonstrates the confidence that international associations and buyers of these mega events have in Durban as a destination and the Durban ICC” concludes Ellingson.
ENDS
Issued by:
The International Convention Centre Durban
For further information contact:
Sandy Le Brasse - Tel: 031 3601359, Mobile: 0837998333, Fax: 031 3601005. Email: sandyl@icc.co.za
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