Here we are, let’s create new experiences together
Concejos para cumplir tus metas laborales
Did you know that at the Costa Rica Convention Center you can do all kinds of events?
At the venue we are specialists in organizing amazing events, from the most intimate to world-class events. Our goal is to provide accessible, innovative and creative solutions to our clients.
This are some of the different events that you can carry out at the CRCC:
International and Government Events: congresses and multilateral events.
•Corporate Events: corporate meetings and all kinds of events for companies.
It should be noted that all the events we carry out in the venue are sustainable, which certifies and guarantees the good use of resources and our commitment to theenvironment. Another benefit that characterizes us is our location, since we are close to hotels, airports and the site is located on the main highways in the country.
If you want to know more about the venue, go to our website: costaricacc.com/ or you can call us at: 2106-1600.
15“We have received with joy the news that the meetings industry capacity for commercial and academic events goes from 150 people to 300, and social events from 30 to 75 without a doubt some great news for everyone. This industry that has been preparing all these months, for example, in the case of the convention center, we have 4 international certifications on health security issues to provide all visitors with security that they are going to have a fully controlled event , as have other colleagues in the industry,
this is good news not only for the convention center not only for national tourism but for all industries because all industries come together, that generates knowledge , generates innovation, generates new policies so with this news it continues to grow and we are waiting and with the doors open so that these next months that we are already waiting, begin more businesses are coming, more visitors and as we say in the industry that knowledge does not stop «
Alvaro Rojas
General Managerof the Costa Rica Convention Center
Today more than ever at the Convention Center we have been concerned with accompanying Costa Ricans in a difficult time that the country and the world are experiencing. And although our focus has been to be an Events Center specializing in congress and convention tourism, as well as social events,guaranteeing safety, well-being and moments full of good experiences have been our mission as a company and today they continue to be.
At the Costa Rica Convention Center our commitment now is the safety of our customers and just as we have implemented protocols for the prevention of COVID19, another important effort has been to train our kitchen and food staff since we firmly believe in the importance of a good diet to strengthen the immune system and thus be more prepared for the virus.
Have you ever wondered how diet can be an ally to protect your body in a pandemic? And we have heard many of the protection measures, but little about the importance of a diet that can help us during a pandemic.
We want to share the most important ones:
Keeping your body hydrated Drinking the right amount of water helps fight the flu and other ailments like kidney stones and heart attacks. In other words; improves our immune system
Proteins are the main components of our defenses, and the lipids of our neurological performance. Lipids can be found in oils and animal fats. Red meat (proteins, vitamins, fats and minerals like iron).
Let’s talk about carbohydrates: flours, noodles and rice, potatoes, are carbohydrates that give satiety but do not meet nutritional needs. To provide good nutrients, we can add ingredients, which have a high nutritional value, such as seeds (sunflower, chia, pumpkin, sesame) and cereals with good protein value (amaranth, millet, quinoa, oats, corn).
The importance of including seeds that are sources of essential fatty acids (formers of cell membranes, energy reserves, metabolic functions, neurological protectors and against inflammation). Most of the seeds contain omegas that are required for the disposal of toxic substances (antioxidants) and for the proper development of tissues.
In the same way, vegetables are always necessary in a healthy diet, many, if not all, are medicinal. For a dish to be nutritious, it has to have all the colors. Everything that is green in general provides iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamin C. They take care of the liver and the defenses. Within vegetables, green is usually the most complete. Everything that is orange, yellow or red generally provides vitamin A and C, folic acid and beta-carotene that take care of the skin and mucous membranes. White tends to contain potassium, selenium, and they are powerful antibiotics and antiparasitics, very important to take care of infections, in general they take care of the heart and lungs.
On the other hand, infusions take on a lot of value. They are therapeutic and keep the tract moist, warm and hydrated. It is always better to consume them without sugar or with honey. Honey and all its derivatives, pollen, royal jelly, propolis, are very important at this time and at this time, they are added at the end with the warm infusion to take advantage of their properties.
In addition to providing this valuable information, we want to tell you about an important change that we have made in the Convention Center and it has been to achieve a specialized menu where all these points are included to offer a variety of healthy options. And furthermore, we have a platform where we share healthy recipes from our beloved Chef, so that our followers and clients can make them at home, with ingredients that will provide all the necessary nutrients to strengthen the immune system.
We know that better times will come and that we will be able to share them together. But for now our greatest wish is that you and your family are safe. Do not miss these tips.
Discover our services for virtual events l Costa Rica
At the Costa Rica ConventionCenter we are very happy to reopen our doors and welcome you. Not only are we ready to run events for up to 75 people with a corporate focus specialized in congress and convention tourism, but we have also reinvented ourselves to go further by offering new virtual products.
For us, security and the contribution that the knowledge of Costa Ricans does not stop have been our engine to be able to offer new virtual services and thus bring practical and innovative solutions to our clients and their businesses. Likewise, establishing and complying with health security protocols means that the opening to be able to organize and execute face-to-face events of up to 75 people ensures a quality experience, offering great technology, a variety of spaces, gastronomy of the highest level,and our advice personalized, which has differentiated us in the country.
And to tell you a little more about our new services, both our clients and their guests will be able to enjoy a wide portfolio of virtual products such as:
Streaming Service: A perfect way to reach a larger audience today.
Recording set: Where we provide the space, technology and necessary furniture.
Podcast room: To create personalized and original content offering you all the tools.
Hybrid experiences for congresses and fairs: A way to connect with your audience in a virtual and face-to-face way at the same time.
Global design service: Conceptualize, design and transmit a virtual experience either for a 100% online event or a hybrid event with people on site and online.
All these new services have the support and quality of the Costa Rica Convention Center, where we conceptualize and design your entire virtual experience, in addition to the advice before, during and after the event by our team.
So not only do we reopen our doors and hearts to face-to-face events, but we also welcome a new way of creating them.
If you want more information about our new services or to schedule an event, visit us here: https://envivo2020.costaricacc.com/
Launches of our virtual accessories for online or hybrid events
During these last 5 months, we have made the most of the time.
By closing our doors and being able to only attend a reduced capacity in our venue, we set ourselves the task of generating new services that could facilitate and expand the number of attendees to the events in a safe way and maintaining the quality that characterizes us.
For this reason, on Tuesday, August 11, we launched through the Zoom platform, our launch of the new virtual services «En VIVO 2020».
We were accompanied at the event by more than 300 participants, to whom we introduced live the new five services that the CCCR offers, which cover the different needs of the market, ranging from hybrid experiences, streaming services, to recording rooms. It is important to highlight that these can be adjusted according to the requirements of your companies or social activities.
Since the opening of the Costa Rica Convention Center, we have given life to the events industry, we have built the definition of live experiences as a team and we have always delivered the best of services. For that reason, if you could not participate or want to see the broadcast, we invite you to enter our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0XnYZL5fac&t=12s and if you want to quote any of these great services you can enter to the following link https://envivo2020.costaricacc.com/.
We thank all those people who in one way or another have supported us during this new stage, we are waiting for you soon at the CCCR, a safe environment.
Learn about these webinar tips to make the most of your time and generate an audience
Webinars are the opportunity to continue teaching from home and for that reason, we will tell you how to get the best out of them and connect with your audience.
The current situation has forced us to adapt to the new reality and the trainings found a place in the virtual world with webinars. These online talks are farfrom being a presentation where you stand in front of the camera and improvise and closer to being a structured format, where it is necessary to prepare a script, set some guidelines and practice, so that it flows in the best way.
If you are planning to make yours, take into account these recommendations to develop it successfully and leave your guests wanting more:
1. Use supporting graphic material
When planning your webinar, it is important that you accompany your seminar with a presentation that can serve as a guide for the participants. This material should contain little text and more images or infographics, so as not to saturate the screen with information and thus have the perfect balance to maintain attention throughout the talk.
2. I shared timely information
A webinar is a space to present the most important data of what you want to communicate, therefore, we recommend that you choose the key ideas and present them with a brief explanation, without falling into the practice of complementing your seminar with filler information that it can generate loss of interest in your audience.
3. Add success stories or examples
The information you are presenting can impact even more those who are part of your webinar,, if you link that data with examples or success stories,ideally it can be related to situations that they may have in their daily life so that their understanding about them is even easier. how to apply it to reality.
4. Interact with your audience
One of the parts that you will surely miss about face-to-face seminars is the interaction. Therefore, it is important that you make a space for questions at the end of your talk so that participants can evacuate doubts, add comments and thus enjoy a pleasant conversation. These types of initiatives should be communicated before starting the talk, so that the public can write down their questions during the development of the webinar.
5. I offered options to continue their learning
Since you caught their attention, you can take advantage of this interest to recommendother topics to your audience that they can learn about with you and thus create a link for what your next webinar could be. It is important that you recommend a maximum of 2 or 3 extra topics as the closing of your presentation and a short explanation of how they could be useful for its growth. This way, the next time you do one, many will be interested in participating.
Are you ready for your next webinar? Take the leap! At the CCCR we have a space equipped with all the comforts and a support team that will accompany you before, during and after the broadcast, to make sure that everything will go as you planned.
Take the opportunity to attract your audience and show your talent with training that can be very helpful for those at home wanting to learn.
Juliana López Bermúdez, recognized as a leader of 2020
The global consulting company in association management, Interel Group, recognized
Juliana López recognized by Interel Group:
The global consulting company in association management, Interel Group, recognized Juliana López, president of Grupo Heroica, operator of the Cartagena de Indias Convention Center,as one of the 20 Women Who Advance Associations in 2020 and highlighted her leadership work in the Meeting Industry, as a tribute to commemorate women’s day.
she refers to the role of women within associations and, although she believes that there is much work to be done, she values that there is an awareness of diversity and inclusion as a fundamental factor for the development of the sector.
Another key factor to achieve success, according to the president of Grupo Heroica, is learning to know the members of an association because it facilitates the identification of collective needs and objectives.
At the same time, it highlights the need for teamwork, the exchange of different generations in the boards of directors and the use of digital platforms that allow instant communication.
In her experience as leader of three venues and member of the board of directors of AIPC (International Association of Convention Centers), Juliana López recognizes that she likes to be fully involved in the Meetings Industry because it is a setting where relationships are strengthened with the colleagues from other latitudes.
«It is incredible that, in countries and cultures very different from ours, there are common situations that can be addressed together and seek innovative solutions that benefit us all,» he says.
As advice to the next generations of leaders in Latin America, he recommends replicating in the region the experience of associations in Europe, where countries participate more among themselves.
“Thanks to continuous innovation in communications, our world is increasingly connected; therefore, we have more opportunities to learn from the successful experiences of other associations around the world, ”he says.
Juliana López is currently the president of Grupo Heroica, operator of the Cartagena de Indias Convention Center, the Valle del Pacífico Event Center and the Costa Rica Convention Center; among other positions during his career is the presidency of the Board of Directors of the Cartagena de Indias Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Board of Directors of the Colombian American Chamber.
Initiative declared of public interest by the Government of Costa Rica
The strategy aims to strengthen the gastronomy, the development of tourism products, and the country as a gastronomic and tourism destination San Jose, Costa Rica The Costa Rica Convention Center announced its incorporation to the National Plan of Sustainable and Healthy Costa Rican Gastronomy (PNGCSS) for the events held at its premises. The goal is to offer creative options based on local products, both traditional and innovative, and to present a gastronomy and with identity, that supports the entrepreneurship of national farmers and, therefore, that stimulates the country’s economy and gastronomic creativity, also giving visibility to the producers.
This initiative is possible thanks to the joint coordination with the Costa Rican Gastronomic Foundation (FUCOGA),which coordinates the PNGCSS and aims to promote the gastronomy of the country as a pillar of cultural and social identity, as well as a new added value to the tourism offer and an economic, progress, and wellness development factor for all Costa Ricans. All while being inclusive and within the frame established by the PNGCSS.
“For the Costa Rica Convention Center it is a great opportunity to be part of the PNGCSS because it is part of the strategies that we implement so that all details are met in every event, that the food service promotes a creative, sustainable, and healthy gastronomy, and that each client receives the best products and services,” added Álvaro Rojas, General Manager of the conventions center.
«At the Food and Beverages department, this program allows everyone involved in the food service delivery to be active participants on the day-to-day operation. Part of our commitment is to have workshops on the conceptualization of the plan that allows us to link the bases of the project with the development, design, and execution of a gastronomic proposal that creates an experience for our clients and attendees,” concluded María Victoria Piñeres, Operations Manager of the CCCR.
With the implementation of this plan, our purpose is to contribute to the link between society, the government, and private enterprises; to a better natural resource conservation; to a sustainable food production; to revitalize the gastronomic and cultural heritage of the country by using native plants of different geographic areas and excellent quality; to reduce waste and create a positive impact for climate change; to decarbonization, framed within the national plan, which aims to reduce completely the carbon emissions.
“The incorporation of the CCCR as a strategic ally in the PNGCSS represents a milestone in the initiative’s history because the CCCR has an extraordinary capacity to implement its principles practically and transversally to an unprecedented scale, as well as communicating it and sharing it socially, both nationally and internationally, as a contribution and example for Costa Rica on a worldwide level if possible,” declared Alfredo Echeverría, president of FUCOGA.
Initiative was declared of public interest by the Government of Costa Rica.
The recognition was awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The building achieved the gold lever, the second highest on the renowned LEED certification scale.
August, 2019. From the design and construction phases of the Costa Rica Convention Centerto its opening, the building was made to be sustainable.. Thanks to this systematic and organized work, the CCCR received the LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
“Sustainability is one of the three strategic cornerstones in the process that we work on every day at the ICT. This is why all the actions and projects that we develop are planned and executed under green parameters. The Costa Rica Convention Center is an example of it, and thanks to that we got the LEED certification, which gives us joy and pride,” added Gustavo Alvarado, Director of Tourism Management of the ICT.
The recognition was awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the same that uses the LEED system to evaluate different rubrics to award the certifications, among which are:
Sustainable place: aims to minimize the building’s impact on the ground and water, which is why it is recommended not to build in urban areas.
Water efficiency: optimization of its consumption inside and outside the premises.
Energy and atmosphere: energy efficient design and construction, efficient thermal and light facilities, monitoring, use of renewable energies, among others.
Materials and resources: the use of sustainable materials in terms of manufacture, transportation, and use is encouraged, as well as the reduction of waste and recycling.
Quality of interior ambience: values the improvement of the interior air quality, the use of natural lighting, the reduction of noise and the quality of the exterior views.
Situation and relations with the community: values the establishment of the building in already-habited places, away from environmentally sensible areas, near existing infrastructures and green areas.
Design innovation.
CRCC is awarded the golden category
Each category considers prerequisites and credits, and the total sum in 110 points. The minimum level is 40 points, the next level, “silver,” is 50 points, followed by the “gold” level with 60 points, and 80 points or more is equivalent to “platinum.” The Costa Rica Convention Center achieved a gold level, which is awarded for life, as it is given to the building and not the operation.
“The Costa Rica Convention Center is very pleased to have been awarded a gold LEED certification. At Grupo Heroica we are committed to the sustainability and innovation as strategic cornerstones for the uprising of a building environmentally friendly in its totality. This award reinforces the commitment to sustainability as a core idea in our tourism model, which positively infused the conventions center from its conception,” added Álvaro Rojas, General Manager of the Costa Rica Convention Center.
Some of the characteristics considered for the conventions center to win the certification were the following:
Accessibility to the project through alternative transportation.
Infrastructure that encourages the use of bicycles to get to the project.
Preferential parking spaces for energy-efficient and low emission vehicles.
43% of water savings with the use of efficient accessories (toilets, lavatories, urinals).
50% reduction in the use of potable water for irrigation by reusing water from the treatment plant.
Highly efficient lighting and air conditioning systems.
Domes that increase the light that enters the building.
Preference of use of local materials to reduce the project’s carbon footprint.
Exterior air recirculation design systems, which reduces CO2 concentrations for the comfort and health of the occupants.
In the segment Business Tourism, Incentives, Congresses, and Conventions both provinces occupy positions 11 and 24 respectively in Latin America, according to the supplier network Cvent, one of the main quantification tools of prospect cities.
July 29, 2019. Guanacaste and San Jose were included on the list of the best cities in Latin America to carry out events in the business tourism and congresses market, according to the world supplier network of this niche, known as Cvent, a tool to measure the localities with more projection and ideal characteristics in the segment known as MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Congress, and Events).
In Cvent’s most recent ranking published this month, Guanacaste occupies the 11th position and San Jose the 24th on the list The Best 25 Destinations for Meetings in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2019. San Jose appears on the list for the first time. Taken into consideration is the number of hotels suitable for meetings and events, as well as the quantity of rooms available, among other characteristics.
The list of the top 25 cities that Costa Rica has been competing with are consolidated destinations that include Nassau in Bahamas; Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Mexico City, Cabo San Lucas, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic; Montego Bay in Jamaica; Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands; Palm Beach in Aruba; Buenos Aires in Argentina; Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil; Bogota in Colombia; among others.
For Rafael Quesada, Head of Advertisement of the ICT and coordinator of the MICE promotion strategy, having Guanacaste and San Jose on this prestigious ranking is the result of the efforts of the ICT on the promotion strategy and advertisement of the destination on the mail markets of MICE segment. “The ICT has made relevant efforts to position Costa Rica as a solid destination in the business tourism, congresses, events, and incentives segment in the last years by working together with the private sector.
The recent opening of the Costa Rica Convention Center adds more high-level venues to San José specifically. There has also been a great tourism investment in Guanacaste with hotels that offer the ideal characteristics to hold events of great magnitude,” concluded Alvarado.
Breakthroughs in the Business Meeting Strategy
The ICT’s strategy for the promotion, as well as complimentary actions for the development of business tourism, is still current and is under development on the frame of the National Plan for Tourist Development 2017-2021. The meeting industry represents 22{30dd3214b74d4cf0e57e5e890f1c17b34234794e50f8b5c977f8eb8df4eb7a78} of the tourism globally, and those who participate have a high purchasing power and invests from 3 to 4 more times than a traditional tourist;
this is a repetitive tourism or client. Also, the importance of this niche has increased because it represents a change in the season’s components, as the high season for congresses matches the low season in the remaining tourism segments in our country, boosting the local economy, particularly because many of the service providers are small and medium enterprises.
For supervision of the business tourism strategy relies on a strategic partner: the Costa Rica Convention Bureau. In addition, the ICT has an action plan that includes advertisement in specialized media, participating in the segment’s specialized fairs with the private sector, the participation of consolidated organizations of the industry such as ICCA, specialized press trips and with potential buyers, training programs.
Also, one of the main actions in the strategy is the accompaniment in the process and candidacy presentation, where there is an investigation on the associative market to locate the congresses with an open date to present the candidacy for Costa Rica to be the next venue. With this action, the consolidation of the ambassadors plan is underway, in which we have internationally renowned professionals in their respective associations.
Cvent is a provider network that has the largest database for hotels, destinations for special events, conference centers, congresses, restaurants, audiovisual companies or catering providers, among others, with a record of over 200,000 venues and 20,000 providers globally.
