The Global Alliance has announced the appointment of Ms. Julie-May Ellingson, chief executive officer of Durban International Convention Centre, as its first chair.
Global Alliance is a group of conference and exhibition centers that have joined forces to work with international associations and event organizers whose events rotate among worldwide destinations.
Members of the alliance are the Durban International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa; Adelaide Convention Centre in Adelaide, Australia; Centro Banamex in Mexico City, Mexico; Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool in Liverpool, U.K.; and Advantage BOSTON (representing the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the Hynes Convention Center) in Boston, Mass.
“Providing a detailed handover of a major international conference is a huge benefit to conference organizers, saving time and making for an altogether more professional start to their event,” Ellingson said. “In addition to providing this seamless transition, Global Alliance members hold international venue accreditations and guarantee an international quality standard across their venues.”
Ellingson joined the Durban ICC in 2011 having spent 10 years heading up the Strategic Projects Unit of eThekwini Municipality where she was responsible for all major infrastructural projects and all large scale national and international events hosted in the city of Durban.
Global Alliance launched its new Web site and identity at an international breakfast event October 15 at IMEX America 2013 in Las Vegas.
Details about the Global Alliance members:
Durban, South Africa: The Durban International Convention Centre offers incorporates the Durban ICC Arena and adjacent Exhibition Centre, offering clients 355,000 square feet of flexible exhibition and meeting space. This facility has been voted Africa's Leading Meetings and Conference Centre 11 times by the World Travel Awards and is ISO 9001, 14001, 22000, and HACCP certified. With raked seating for 5,532 delegates, plenary seating for 12,000 and up to 32 meeting rooms ranging in size from 460 square feet to 4,300 square feet, the Durban ICC can accommodate large scale events of every type. The Durban ICC also provides banqueting for up to 5,000 guests and can accommodate up to 10,000 for concerts with full technical capacity for live broadcasts.
Adelaide, Australia: Adelaide Convention Centre is currently undergoing an extensive expansion and refurbishment program, which has been designed to take advantage of spectacular views offered across the River Torrens. Once complete in 2017, the center will have a flexible, raked plenary hall that can seat up to 3,500 delegates, can be subdivided into four smaller theaters, or converted into a flat-floor configuration. It also offers 161,000 square feet of column-free space, 24 serviced meeting rooms capable of subdivision or consolidation, and a variety of networking and outdoor spaces. The center also offers free Wi-Fi and provides web-streaming facilities in every venue.
Boston, Mass., U.S.: Advantage BOSTON incorporates the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and the Hynes Convention Center. With 516,000 square feet of exhibition space, a column-free ballroom of 40,020 square feet, and 82 high-tech meeting rooms, BCEC is equipped to accommodate large-scale events which have exhibit requirements and extensive educational programs. The Hynes is located in the heart of Boston’s historic Back Bay area, surrounded by shopping, dining, attractions, public transportation, and other amenities. It offers a range of options, including a multipurpose auditorium with built-in balcony and seating for more than 4,000 delegates, 176,480 square feet of exhibition space, 38 meeting rooms and a 24,544-square-foot ballroom featuring a vaulted ceiling and natural light. Both the BCEC and Hynes are Gold Certified by AIPC and provide free wireless Internet access throughout the facilities.
Mexico City, Mexico: Centro Banamex is an iconic convention center that is part of the Las Americas Complex. The purpose-built center provides access to a wide range of amenities in addition to offering a flexible range of rooms including nearly 2 million square feet of multi-purpose events space, with 25 convention rooms and 366,000 square feet of column-free exhibition halls. Centro Banamex has been awarded the ‘Earth Check’ Silver Certification.
Liverpool, U.K.: ACC Liverpool comprises BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena, and is located on Liverpool’s world-famous Mersey waterfront, adjacent to the Grade 1 listed Albert Dock and UNESCO World heritage site. BT Convention Centre has a 1,350-seat auditorium, a 40,000-square-foot multipurpose hall and 18 further meeting rooms. Total exhibition space, when combined with the 11,000-seat Echo Arena, is in excess of 77,000 square feet. In 2014 ACC Liverpool will begin construction of Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the integrated Pullman hotel, which will both be open for business in 2015.
