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CONTACT: Lee Lancaster (+1.972.952.9304; e-mail
llancaster@otcnet.org)
or Jennifer Patitz (+1.972.952.9321; e-mail jpatitz@otcnet.org)
RICHARDSON, Texas, U.S.A. (17 March 2003) –
Improvements to parking, food service, cell phone usage, and motor
vehicle traffic will be implemented to create a more user-friendly
environment for the 2003 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), scheduled
for 5-8 May at Reliant Center at Reliant Park in Houston.
After 33 exceptionally prosperous years in
Houston, OTC moved its home to Reliant Park in 2002. Last year’s
event at the new center was especially successful with more than
49,600 participants. The conference also generated more than $49,000,000
in revenue to the city of Houston.
“OTC continues to be a major source of
excitement for the city of Houston and now for Reliant Park,”
said Michael Clarke, Director of Marketing at Reliant Park. “This
year we’re taking many measures to make Reliant Park a more
comfortable environment and a better overall experience for attendees
and exhibitors. We’ve added additional parking spaces, improved
food options, and added restaurant choices, among many other improvements.”
Cell phone towers have been added to the building
to improve cellular reception for conference participants. On-site
registration will flow smoother with two registration areas, one
located inside Hall A and the other at the east end of the building,
inside Hall E.
Aramark, the conference center food provider,
has upgraded a number of offerings, including a move to Starbucks
coffee. New food vendors will be offering selections such as Krispy
Kreme donuts, Maui Wowi smoothies, Chipotle burritos, Papa John’s
pizza, Weatherly’s East Texas Barbeque, Einsteins bagels and
Baja nachos
The exhibition will remain open until 7 p.m.
on Monday, 5 May, for the first time this year. This added time
allows Houston locals a chance to visit the conference after working
hours and also for attendees to visit the exhibition after the technical
sessions are over. This year’s exhibitors also are able to
hang signs for the first time this year, making it easier for attendees
to locate them in the exhibition hall.
“OTC and Reliant Park are taking measures
this year to provide adequate, clear, and effective communications
to attendees and exhibitors of OTC regarding parking, driving, and
traffic conditions on a daily basis,” Clarke continued. “This
will decrease the time used to enter and exit the center for attendees,
therefore maximizing the investment for OTC participants.”
Reliant Park has an additional 3,000 parking spots for this year,
for a total of 14,000 within Reliant Park. Parking lots are numbered
and color-coded for efficiency. Shuttles will run within the parking
lot to transport attendees to the door of Reliant Center. Parking
and shuttle coordinators will direct traffic within the parking
lots to ensure shuttle schedules are maintained.
Construction on Kirby Drive continues from
last year, and OTC is preparing maps and information for attendees
to use in avoiding traffic congestion. All traffic information will
be relayed to attendees through the following Web sites: www.OTCnet.org,
Metro, Transtar, www.reliantpark.com, and www.houston-guide.com.
For more information on OTC, including maps,
visit www.OTCnet.org.
Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology
Conference is the world’s foremost event for the development
of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production,
and environmental protection. OTC is held annually in May at Reliant
Center at Reliant Park in Houston. For more information, visit www.OTCnet.org.
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