Work on the much anticipated Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) is right on track for its opening in just under one year’s time.
Confidence in the construction is such that TESOL, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, has recently announced plans to hold a conference from 1 to 3 October 2011 at the most state-of-the-art convention centre in the Middle East.
With the main building exterior near completion, the focus is on the interior. Seats and rigging have already been fitted within the theatre whilst theatre stage machinery for stage platforms, orchestra pit and the sound and lighting cockpits is currently being installed.
Auditoriums 1, 2 and 3 now have seating and carpet and plenty of work is being carried out on the conference hall including the installation of the ceiling.
“We are pleased, though not surprised, to report that construction is bang on course to meet with our scheduled opening date next year. Around 6,400 people are on site making it a real hub of activity and excitement as we enter the final stages of building” said Anthony Gould, Manager Assets and Technical Services.
“It was such a thrill to watch the exterior take shape, and now, with so much going on and so quickly inside the building, it is equally exciting to see the interior come on in huge leaps and bounds. The end is well within sight” Gould concluded.
In no doubt that the convention centre will be finished on time, TESOL has announced plans for a three day conference in October next year. Its location, in the heart of Education City alongside the many elite universities as well as numerous research and technology institutions, makes QNCC the ideal venue for TESOL to hold its conference the aim of which is to bring together education experts from across the region and the globe.
TESOL Inc, in conjunction with local universities, as well as regional TESOL affiliates including Qatar TESOL and TESOL Arabia will be the first North American association to host a conference at the iconic venue with its world class facilities.
Commenting on TESOL’s decision that QNCC is to be its venue of choice, QNCC Director of Sales, Sue Hocking said: “We are delighted that we will be welcoming such an internationally influential association to Qatar and to the QNCC given that the conference is due to take place so soon after the convention centre is officially open.”
Hocking continued: “Education is a high priority to Qatar so it will be a real pleasure, and honour, to host TESOL next year. Most importantly, we very much look forward to playing our part in ensuring that the conference is highly successful.”
“As a global education association, TESOL has the responsibility to offer educational programs to members in different parts of the world” said TESOL President-Elect and Past President of TESOL Arabia Dr. Christine Coombe.
“We are proud to host the TESOL Conference on Putting Research into Practice for the first time in Doha and we are grateful to our sponsors and affiliates, TESOL Arabia, and other TESOL affiliates in the region for ensuring its success.”
