Why come to Jordan for your conference, your incentive trip or indeed for leisure?
[Q]uite simply, Jordan has some of the best meeting and conference facilities in the world, combined with some of the most amazing and extraordinary sites of historic interest anywhere on the planet. We also have the world’s largest outdoor Spa – the Dead Sea – and some of the best indoor health and Spa facilities anywhere in the world. Old meets new in Jordan, in the most spectacular way imaginable.
[W]e recognise that Jordan has to compete with many other countries for business, so what advantages are there in coming to Jordan? It has a well developed infrastructure for meetings and incentive business, with a great many qualified hospitality professionals working in the country. The whole industry enjoys both royal and governmental support and there are few visa restrictions on nationals of any country. Jordan is very proud of its rich heritage and diverse culture and enjoys showing it to the world.
- [J]ordan is very conveniently situated at the crossroads of three continents – Europe, Asia and Africa which means it is no more than a four to five hour flight to Amman for millions of people from each of those continents. In the case of Europe, that is virtually the whole continent within five hours flying time of Jordan. Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) is located 35km south of Amman and its new terminal opened in March 2013, tripling the airport’s capacity. There are currently more than 40 airlines flying to and from Amman with over 1200 flights per week. It is now a major international hub.
[J]ordan offers everything that a MICE buyer or event planner is looking for. As well as having very good international flight connections, it has some outstanding modern and sophisticated conference venues and a complete range of big chain hotels, both in Amman and elsewhere in the country. Jordan also offers a fascinating mix, with a great many ancient historical sites, some of which are in the capital Amman or within a very short distance of this modern, bustling city.
[W]e guarantee that delegates will want to add on a few more days to their trip for some once-in-a-lifetime experiences at places like the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on earth; the red desert landscape of the World Heritage site at Wadi Rum, where dining under the stars around a camp fire and sleeping in a Bedouin tent is a must. Then there is the jewel in Jordan’s crown; the extraordinary rose-red city of Petra, hewn out of the sandstone rock and recently recognised as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
[T]he perception of Jordan can be affected by tensions in its neighbouring countries, but as a sovereign Kingdom with its own monarchy, Jordan is like an oasis of calm and tranquility. It remains trouble-free and there are no restrictions on travelling there. To avoid Jordan simply because it is in the ‘Middle East’ would be to pass up an opportunity of visiting one of the few countries in the world that is easily able to combine the requirements of both 21st century business delegates and also leisure travellers, with the awe-inspiring historical sites of two thousand years ago and more.
- [T]here are a number of options. Jordan’s most impressive convention centre is the Hilton-owned King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre at the Dead Sea, 45km from Amman. It has 25,000m2 of meeting space, world-class facilities and is one of the best business and meetings venues in the Middle East. It is a purpose-built centre for around 3,000 delegates, which has hosted a number of very high profile organisations such as the World Economic Forum, UNICEF and the United Nations. Its 25 meeting spaces have large wraparound terraces suitable for breakouts and cocktail receptions.
[F]acilities at the Dead Sea make it a very appropriate location for medical conferences in particular. It is located at the heart of the Jordan Valley and is regarded as the lowest point on earth at around 400 metres below sea level. It is the largest natural open spa in the world and is a major centre for health research and treatment.
[T]he Royal Convention Centre is the largest in Amman and it is very conveniently connected to the excellent Le Meridien hotel, which has 430 rooms and eight restaurants. The ballroom at the Royal Convention Centre caters for 1,200 delegates and there are seven large breakout rooms, plus six of boardroom-size.
[F]or events needing exhibition space, the Zara Expo Amman is a good option as it houses an auditorium for 300 people with translation booths, three large exhibition spaces totalling 3,000m2 and six breakout rooms. It is linked to the Grand Hyatt hotel via a footbridge, which has an additional 1,800m2 of meeting space, including a ballroom for up to 1,000 people.
[A]lthough the Kempinski does not have a central location, it has 11 modern meeting rooms with daylight across two floors, a ballroom, foyer and a small exhibition area. It also has a bowling alley that has been used for events, such as a product car launch for Mini and it has also hosted a meeting for the World Health Organisation.
[T]he Landmark Hotel has 267 rooms, parking for up to 400 cars and its biggest room can host 400 people.
[D]o you want something different? The Royal Automobile Museum features the late King Hussein’s collection of more than 80 cars dating from 1909 and can be used for private evening events for 350 people.
- [A]mman International Exhibition and Convention Centre is one of the country’s biggest development projects. It will have an outdoor exhibition space of 13,000m2 and an indoor space of 62,000m2. The conference space will have an auditorium and theatre rooms with two four and five-star hotels on site.
- [A]half-day tour to the Citadel high above the city and the ancient Roman amphitheatre that sits in the heart of modern, bustling Amman is a must. Other ideas include a full-day trip to Jerash, which is located 48 kilometres north of Amman and is considered to be one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside of Italy.
[A] visit to the world’s largest natural spa, the Dead Sea which is only an hour’s drive away is another must. A three-hour drive south is the ancient city of Petra, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Made famous most recently by the Indiana Jones film, it is a truly awe-inspiring place to visit. The Treasury features in most photographs of this wondrous place but we challenge you to visit the Monastery – a near 1000 step climb into the mountains beyond. Mules are available to take the strain, but there is a real sense of achievement if you do it yourself!
[Y]ou can visit the land of Lawrence of Arabia at Wadi Rum, a vast red desert landscape and World Heritage site. Diving fans can enjoy Aqaba, situated on the northern tip of the Red Sea, just 40 minutes further away on the coast, where boat trips with stunning views of Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia are available. Aqaba also offers a very convenient alternative to Wadi Rum for those who would enjoy dining under the stars in the desert, but would prefer the comfort of a hotel bed for the night!
