The NEC Group is expanding into the European market via venue consultation. NEC Group International – a division of the Birmingham-based NEC Group – is currently developing a number of European opportunities in the conference, arenas, stadiums and exhibitions market.

The group, which is headed by Koen Melis, is already consulting on the planning stages of Lyon’s 10,000-seater Villeurbanne Arena which is set to open in 2015; Rome’s Citta Dello Sport arena, which has capacity for 15,000 and 8,000 in its two venues and is also due to open in 2015; and Derby’s 10,000-seater multi-purpose arena. This work is in addition to the management contract for the Convention Centre Dublin, which opened in September 2010.

The group has also consulted on other international venues including Asia-World Expo in Hong Kong, which opened in 2005; The Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre in Reykjavik, which opened last year; Nottingham Conference Centre, part of The University of Nottingham Trent; and the Konstantinovsky Congress Centre, St Petersburg.

Melis said:"We know how important it is, as an international organisation, to become entrenched at all levels of the community in which our ventures exist – from the start of a new build to the day-to-day responsibilities of facility management – and we look forward to escalating the operations of the group and taking on the challenges European venues present.

“Overall, our Group mission is fixed on bringing venues to life and we will be employing our extensive knowledge and experience of facility management to achieve our objectives.”

Pictured: NEC Group is consulting on Lyon’s Villeurbanne Arena, opening in 2015