Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre

The Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Complex is an events center complex located in the city centre of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Opened by former president Nelson Mandela in 1997, the Durban ICC was South Africa’s first International Convention Centre and has played a pioneering role in attracting international events to Durban since its inception. The complex is composed of an arena, hotel, convention and exhibition centre.

The venue has hosted the International AIDS Conference in 2000 and again in July 2016, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999, and the Non-Aligned Movement in 2004. It hosted the preliminary draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Final Draw for 2013 African Cup of Nations, and also hosted the COP17 meeting in 2011.

Facilities

• Durban International Convention Centre: The main facility of the complex. Its design allows the centre to be converted into 22 individual halls.
  • Hall of Stars: A plenary-styled auditorium that can seat over 1,500 guests.
  • Fig Tree Courtyard: An outdoor event space with an adjoining lawn area. Used for cocktail parties, banquets and small weddings.
• Durban ICC Arena: The arena and main event center of the complex. It is composed of Halls 4-6 of the Durban ICC. Depending on configuration, it can seat anywhere from 3,000-10,000. Construction began on 2004 and the arena opened 20 March 2007. The arena cost R460 million. Many international acts have performed at the arena, including: George Benson, Al Jarreau, Mary J. Blige, Josh Groban and Enrique Iglesias.
• Durban Exhibition Centre: A series of exhibition halls originally built/opened in the 1980s. In 2000, the DEC became a part of the complex.
  • Coast of Dreams and Mystrals: Banquet halls.
  • East Park: Outdoor space used for cocktail parties and open-air events. Includes at waterproof Bedouin Tent that is erected for weather issues.
• Hilton Durban Hotel: A 324-room hotel that opened August 1997.

History

Discussions in the city of Durban on the merits of a major convention centre date back to the 1960s. However, planning for the convention centre began in 1991. After consultations by the whites-only municipal authorities with unrepresented political groupings in 1993, construction commenced in 1994.^[1] The Convention Centre hosted the 123rd IOC Session where Pyeongchang was elected host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Change of name

It was proposed on Feb 1, 2006 that the name of the centre be changed from Durban International Convention Centre.

Awards

The Durban ICC has received a number of awards, some of which are listed here:

• Africa's Leading Meetings and Conference Centre: 2001 - 2006, 2008 - 2014 (World Travel Awards)
• World's Top 15 Congress Centres: 2014(International Association of Congress Centres - AIPC)
• World's Top 15 Congress Centres: 2016(International Association of Congress Centres - AIPC) ^[2]

View of the ICC from the adjoining Hilton Hotel

External links

• Durban ICC website

References

• Conflict over tenders at Durban ICC^[3]
• Disney on Ice! returns to SA^[4]
• Not left to ‘bleed to death’^[5]

Coordinates: 29°51′13″S 31°1′48″E / 29.85361°S 31.03000°E / -29.85361; 31.03000