Hyderabad, India, Gets Convention and Visitors Bureau

June 5, 2011

Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in India to establish a convention and visitors bureau – the Hyderabad Convention Visitors Bureau (HCVB). HCVB is an initiative of the Andhra Pradesh state government, with funding from both the state and private sectors. A non-profit association, HCVB has been registered under India’s society’s act with an elected executive board of governors.

The bureau’s appointed CEO, Jalil (Gary) Khan, is a former 23-year veteran with United Airlines based in California. HCVB’s first elected president, Paul Archer, is the Andhra Pradesh regional general manager of Accor Hotels – which also is the operator of Hyderabad International Convention Centre.

HCVB will promote Hyderabad as a MICE destination through industry trade shows, road shows, site visits and in collaboration with other local industry bodies.

“The idea of HCVB is to promote the entire city in one uniform voice, and to act as a one-stop shop to assist planners and provide value-added support such as package tours or transfers,” Khan said. “Our role is to facilitate meetings, to be the entity planners turn to, so that it will be as easy and seamless as possible for them to bring their meetings to Hyderabad.”

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