Business Events Africa - Vol 42 No 10 - October 2022

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Voice of the Business Events Industry in Africa Vol 42 No 10 OCTOBER 2022

Business Events Africa: Serving the business events industry for 42 years

CONTENTSVOL 42 NO 10


Voice of the Business Events Industry in Africa Vol 42 No 10 OCTOBER 2022

Cover Feature

COVER STORY

8 Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch

celebrates two-year anniversary.

On the pages…

EDITOR’S COMMENT

4 What is your legacy?

NEWS

6 Reserve your spot for Meetings Africa

2023.

NEWS

7 Delta launches non-stop service

connecting Atlanta and Cape Town.

UMHLANGA FEATURE

13 Umhlanga is leading the recovery.

14 Play more in Umhlanga.

COMPANY PROFILE

17 Leo Melano Events —

delivering stellar events.

EXHIBITION OUTLOOK

18 African Exhibition Industry Outlook:

Unlocking untapped opportunities in Africa.

HOTEL GROUP UPDATE

20 City Lodge Hotel Group reports strong

recovery.

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

22 Honouring our heritage through truly

South African experiences.

CASE STUDY

24 Electra Mining Africa celebrates 50 years.

CHEF’S PROFILE

31 Claudia van Eyk — ‘food has always

played a big part in my life’.

PERSONALITY PROFILE

32 Angela Lorimer — ‘own your brand’.

VENUE OF THE MONTH

34 The Westin — an unmatched venue for

conferencing.

VENUE NEWS

37 Well-known hotel executive takes on new

role at Kruger Gate Hotel.

38 Grande Roche Hotel celebrates landmark

anniversary.

39 Sun City leads the way in hospitality

transformation.

41 Home Suite Hotels launches

Station House.

MARKET NEWS

42 Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo

drives the renewable energy agenda.

43 The KZN South Coast to host

The Conservation Symposium.

44 New Sandton restaurant arrives with a roar.

45 Dubai Tourism successfully showcases

offering in SA.

46 Guy Stehlik named among 100 Most

Powerful People in Africa Hospitality.

47 Open Day for The IIE of Hospitality &

Service Management.

Association news

EVENT GREENING FORUM

48 Your green venue checklist.

SAACI

49 Staying event-fit.

SITE

50 Three ways to deliver sustainable incentives

that motivate teams.

EXSA

52 Giving back to the community.

AAXO

53 Events of all kinds depend on teamwork.

Regulars

54 Directory.

MARKET NEWS

56 Brett Delport joins Hilton as regional

director.

56 Index of advertisers and contributors.

THE LAST WORD

57 The future of conferencing.

OCTOBER 2022

About the cover

As a focused service brand, Hilton

Garden Inn offers upscale and

affordable accommodations with

unexpected amenities for an

experience that is ‘Simply on

another level.’

The authority on meetings,

exhibitions, special events and

incentives management

Published by the proprietor

Contact Publications (Pty) Ltd

(Reg No. 1981/011920/07)

HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS:

PO Box 414, Kloof 3640, South Africa

publishers of Business Events Africa, is a member of:

Official media partner

Official Journal of the Southern

Africa Chapter of the Society for

Incentive Travel Excellence

TEL: +27 31 764 6977

FAX: 086 762 1867

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Malcolm King

malcolm@contactpub.co.za

EDITOR: Irene Costa

gomesi@iafrica.com

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER:

Vincent Goode

vincent@contactpub.co.za

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER:

Jackie Goosen

jackie@contactpub.co.za

SALES REPRESENTATIVE:

Irene Costa

+27 (0)82 558 7387

gomesi@iafrica.com

PUBLICATION DETAILS:

Volume 42 No 10

Business Events Africa has 12 issues a year and

is published monthly. This magazine is currently

only available in digital format.

Official journal of the

Exhibition & Event Association

of Southern Africa


EDITOR’S COMMENT

What is your legacy?

Legacy, not the soap opera, but the legacy that gives you an opportunity to live for a

purpose that’s bigger than yourself, is something we should all strive for.

Credit: Hein Liebetrau

Business events, speaks to this – be

it at a conference, event, incentive

or exhibition – every event hosted,

leaves some form of legacy.

In this edition, we feature Electra

Mining Africa and its 50-year celebration

and its legacy.

Wow, 50 years is no mean feat! So

much has happened in this show’s

lifetime. It is due to its legacy, in

many ways, that exhibitors return,

and visitors want to visit the show.

The legacy of Electra Mining and

other events in our industry are

made up by the individuals that have

made it a success over the years.

But what is it that keeps a legacy

going? I have been thinking about this

quite a bit; it might be because I am just

getting to that age where I wonder, what

is my own purpose and what will my

legacy be, professionally and personally.

The mentors that come into our

lives leave an impact. This impact

could be seen as their legacy, as

we keep their memories alive.

I have, over the last 20 years of being in

the business events industry, had many

mentors. If I think back, they have all

shaped me in one way or another. I am

still learning; the learning

never ends. Contact

Publications celebrated 42

years this year. Its founder,

the late Godfrey King,

was one of my mentors.

He immersed himself

in the business industry

and always said that the

magazine was, and still

is, very much part of the

sector, a journal of records

for the industry. That has

always stuck with me.

We all have a part to play.

The new entries into the sector, are

just as important as the established

players. Our cover story this month

is the Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga

Arch. This hotel celebrates two years

in November and has already begun

leaving a legacy in the area.

The business industry certainly has

many personalities, be it the venue,

client, the organiser, the supplier — all

have a role to play. Your relationships

with your professional partners speak

volumes on what kind of legacy you

will leave behind. Integrity, for me, is

key; do what you promise, and if you

exceed expectations, that is a bonus.

The legacy that business events leave is

significant.

Sometimes, this could be through a

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

programme, or even ensuring that

the events footprint remains green,

through sustainability programmes.

There are many ways to ensure

legacy, just remember that what you

do today is part of your legacy.

Irene

Email: gomesi@iafrica.com

Providing Mobile Bars & Hospitality Solutions for any Event & Expo

EVENTS

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EXPO STANDS

ROADSHOWS

info@barmotion.co.za | 0861 937 625 | www.barmotion.co.za

PAGE NEWSSTRAP

Reserve your spot for Meetings Africa 2023

Registrations for the 2023 edition of Meetings Africa are now open!

Speaking at the recent Tourism

Business Council of South Africa’s

maiden Leadership Conference

on Friday, 16 September, South

African Tourism acting chief executive

officer, Mzilikazi Themba Khumalo

officially announced the opening of

registrations for Meetings Africa 2023.

Meetings Africa is a Pan-African

business events trade show,

showcasing Africa’s diverse offering of

services and products, where African

associations and African meetings

industry professionals can partner

to help transform our continent.

The next edition of Meetings Africa

will take place in a physical format

at the Sandton Convention Centre,

Johannesburg, from 28 February to

1 March 2023, with Business Opportunity

Networking Day (BONDay) preceding

the show on 27 February 2023.

In 2022, Meetings Africa brought

together 161 buyers and 216

exhibitors from 13 African countries.

“Meetings Africa 2023 aims to amplify

the continent’s stories of success and to

showcase to the world what Africa has to

offer as a business events destination,”

said Zinhle Nzama, acting chief

convention bureau officer at the South

African National Convention Bureau.

Ms Nzama said that the SANCB is

also excited to launch Meetings Africa’s

new positioning. “Africa’s success is

built on quality connections, because

it encompasses exactly what Meetings

Africa aims to do; create a platform

for African exhibitors to showcase to

international buyers, for Africa’s success.

To wrap up Meetings Africa 2022 and

in preparation for the 2023 edition,

the Meetings Africa team conducted

debriefing sessions, one-on-ones and

focus groups sessions. During these

sessions the post-show survey results

were shared, and insights derived

from the sessions have been used to

actively enhance the show offering.

These meaningful discussions are

critical, as they assist the Meetings Africa

team to understand what worked as

well as areas of improvement to enhance

the offering for the upcoming show.

For registration to participate as an

exhibitor, please contact the Meetings

Africa exhibition management and sales

teams who are on standby to assist.

The South Africa National Convention

Bureau, together with our official host

partners, the Gauteng Tourism Authority,

along with the City of Johannesburg

and the Sandton Convention Centre, are

ready to welcome you to Meetings Africa.

To register for the show, please visit our

website www.meetingsafrica.co.za.

6 Business Events Africa October 2022


EXHIBITION OUTLOOK

The SANCB Bid

Support Programme

Supporting your bidding needs

through winning partnerships

From compiling a bid strategy to site

inspections, marketing, or financial aid,

we’re here to simplify the bid support

process for you every step of the way for

a seamless experience.

The SANCB Bid Support Programme

offers bidding, convention planning, and

delegate boosting support services to

win world-class business events.

Arrive Inspired. Leave Empowered.

#ShareSouthAfrica

Scan the QR code to learn more or

visit: https://sancb.southafrica.net/

sat_bidsupport_microsite_1

PAGE COVER STRAP STORY: HILTON GARDEN INN UMHLANGA ARCH

Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch

celebrates two-year anniversary

Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch is the first mid-market hotel for Hilton in South Africa. The unique

property provides guests with upscale and affordable accommodations for the perfect hotel stay.

Lovet Robinson, General Manager

at Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga

Arch, said: “The hotel opened

in a time of uncertainty, but

our dynamic team ensured

stability for guests.” During all of this,

we had a truly amazing and supportive

team that went above and beyond

what is generally expected from team

members. I can truly say that without

their commitment and dedication during

these times, we would not have achieved

the success we have managed to achieve.

Mr Robinson describes the hotel

as brighthearted! “At Hilton Garden

Inn Umhlanga Arch, you will find

an open, inviting atmosphere with

a warm, sunny service — from

the first hello to the next.”

Location

This acclaimed hotel is located within the

business hub of the bespoke, mixed-use

Umhlanga Arch, only 20 minutes from

King Shaka International Airport.

Attracting both local and international

travellers, guests are able to enjoy

sub-tropical weather, incredible Blue Flag

beaches, historic sites, infinite nature

and activities.

Expect only the best, with peaceful rest

and work-filled days in one of our 203

tastefully finished guest rooms. The

hotel’s facilities include a connectivity

desk, fitness hub, outdoor pool and

various food and beverage outlets,

including a garden and lounge bar.

Whether you are planning an

important business meeting, a

conference, or a magnificent event,

choose Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga

Arch and enjoy our spacious meeting

venues, personalised service and

delicious catering options.

Highlights over the last two years

“Growing our market share, seeing our

hotel reputation grow and becoming one

of the preferred hotels for many frequent

travellers to Umhlanga. Even through the

tough pandemic period we managed to

continuously increase the number of our

team members as our business grew.

Travel with Purpose

Travel with Purpose is Hilton’s

Environmental, Social, and Governance

(ESG) strategy to drive responsible

travel and tourism globally. We

have committed to double our

investment in social impact and cut

our environmental footprint in half by

2030. Hilton Enhances ESG Targets to

Drive Climate Action and Social Impact.

“Locally, the hotel supports Hilton’s

Travel With Purpose Objectives

by partnering with Wildlife and

Environment Society of South

Africa (WESSA), a leading South

African environmental conservation

organisation. This partnership allows

the hotel to enhance the local

community and expand its social

footprint,” Mr Robinson said.



COVER STORY: HILTON GARDEN INN UMHLANGA PAGE STRAP ARCH

What makes Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga

Arch stand out from other hotels?

Who is

Lovet Robinson?

Lovet Robinson was born in Cape

Town in 1973 and, after completing

his military service, he attended the

Hotel and Culinary School at the Cape

Peninsula University of Technology to

study towards his National Diploma in

Hospitality Management. Lovet’s first

workplace was at Villa Belmonte, a fivestar

luxury boutique hotel. From there

he moved to Pezula Resort in Knysna

as an Executive Butler at Noetzie

Castle. In 2012, Pezula converted to

Conrad Pezula when it joined Hilton.

Then, in 2017 Lovet was promoted

to Resort Manager at Conrad Pezula.

In 2018 he was relocated to Durban

and joined Hilton Durban as Director

of Operations. This is Lovet’s first

appointment as General Manager and

he has held this position at the Hilton

Garden Inn Umhlanga since July 2020.

Hilton’s Digital Key

With Hilton’s Digital Check-In, our guests

can seamlessly navigate through the hotel.

With Digital Key, guests can check-in to the

hotel online through the Hilton Honors

App, select their preferred room, access the

guest lift and unlock their room door.

Rooms

The hotel has 203 rooms which includes 4,

one-bedroom suites; 5 accessible rooms;

55 twin bedrooms and 139 king bedrooms.

Out of the 203 bedrooms, 112 are

inter-leading, which is ideal for families.

Other facilities

• Together & Co Restaurant and Terrace:

We bring people together, one meal,

coffee and conversation at a time.

Delicious, fresh food and drink is just

where things get started; what really

matters to us is building a local

community of people that know how

to work together, support each other

and have a great time doing it. That’s

what Together & Co is all about

— people.

• The Shop: A 24-hour, self-service retail

space offering snacks, locally sourced

food and beverages as well as essential

personal items.

• Outdoor heated swimming pool with

ocean views.

• Fitness Centre — open 24 hours.

• Complimentary self-service laundry

room — open 24 hours.

• Complimentary self-service connectivity

desk — open 24 hours.

Conference facilities

Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch has

five meeting rooms, one boardroom and

a private dining room. All meeting rooms

are equipped with the latest smart

technology and are named after local

Umhlanga Beaches.

Mr Robinson said: “Meeting facilities

are an integral part of our business

structure, and our focus is to cater for

small to medium-sized meetings.”

“We have seen business levels

grow rapidly from month to month

across both the domestic leisure and

corporate market, with international

travel increasing gradually. During the

middle to latter part of 2022 we have

seen an increase in the demand for

larger meetings,” Mr Robinson said.

“My vision for the hotel is to be the

best Hilton Garden Inn in the Africa and

Indian Ocean Region,” Mr Robinson

added.

www.businesseventsafrica.com Business Events Africa October 2022 9


Meet the team

Fanie Meintjes

40, Commercial Manager

Brief history

Graduated from the University of Pretoria in

2005 with a BCom Honours degree in Tourism

Management. I joined Hilton in September

2011 as a Sales Executive. With hard work

and determination over the past couple of

years, I worked my way up within Hilton to

Senior Sales Manager based at Hilton Sandton

before relocating to Umhlanga and joining the

Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch as

Commercial Manager.

Quote on the hotel celebrating two

years

“Brighter Together! You’re gonna see us rise!”

What is the most exciting part about

working at this property?

The most exciting part about working at

Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch is that we

create heartfelt experiences by removing the

‘random’ in random acts of kindness,

elevating moments into memories. Hilton

Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch is designed to

facilitate authentic experiences and

touchpoints for the modern traveller. Our

beautiful hotel perfectly blends modern

design with the warmth of our Brighthearted

Hospitality. Every detail has been carefully

executed with our guests in mind. Our hotel

also takes on the personality and vibe of

Umhlanga. We are ready to serve, smile, learn

and brighten your day.

Nikita Richards

31, Sales, Groups, Conferencing

and Events Supervisor

What makes Hilton Garden Inn perfect

for conferences and events?

• HGI is based in Durban’s Business Hub.

• We are conveniently located in Umhlanga Arch.

• Our conference venues have state-of-the-art

equipment with modern technology.

• Our conference/event packages are suitable for

all, whether you are planning an important

business meeting, a conference, or a

magnificent event, choose Hilton Garden Inn

Umhlanga Arch and enjoy our spacious

meeting venues, personalised service, and

delicious catering options. Our conference and

events team will assist you to create a

seamless, stress-free experience that will

‘WOW’ your guests.

Meeting facilities are an integral part of our

business structure, and our focus is to cater for

smaller- to medium-size meetings ranging from

8 pax to 150 pax.

What makes this property unique from a

conference/meeting perspective?

Our LightStay Meeting Impact Calculator report

generates a customised estimate of your event’s

environmental impact, using the hotel’s

consumption data to project the total carbon

emissions, energy use, water, and waste for your

event. The customised forecast is created

pre-event and provides you with suggestions to

reduce your event’s projected carbon footprint.

The post-event report provides an itemised

measurement of the event’s overall impact.

Corporate Responsibility —

Meet with Purpose

We strive to lead the way in delivering responsible

solutions that meeting planners want, and we

are able to deliver superb guest experiences that

allow everyone to proudly ‘meet with purpose’.

Hilton Honors Event Planner Programme

gives event planners an opportunity to

earn Hilton Honors bonus points for

events held at any Hilton property.

What can delegates look forward to

when booking at Hilton Garden Inn?

• Complimentary Wi-Fi.

• State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment.

• Healthy and flexible meal offerings to keep our

delegates engaged and inspired.

• Our Brighthearted meeting and events team

that understand conference delegates and their

requirements.

• Convenient and safe parking.

• Direct access to accommodation.



COVER STORY: HILTON GARDEN INN UMHLANGA PAGE STRAP ARCH

What kind of cuisine can guests expect

when visiting Hilton Garden Inn?

Our menu places a high emphasis on

togetherness and sharing meals, with a focus

on local and flavoursome food.

Bronwyn Coetzee

36, Executive Chef

Brief history

I fell in love with cooking at a young age,

always under my mother’s feet in the

kitchen, curious about what she was

preparing. When I reached high school, Hotel

and Catering was offered as a subject and,

as they would say, ‘the rest is history.’ This

paved the way for me to further my studies

in professional cookery and pursue a career

as a chef. It has been a journey.

What are the current food trends

— locally and globally?

We have noticed an increase of plant-based

diets becoming more popular with our guests

and have introduced more vegetarian/vegan

offerings, as well as a variety of local dishes.

What kind of food can delegates

expect when attending conferences

or events at HGI?

Delegates will enjoy freshly prepared, hearty

meals that will leave them wanting more.

What has been your biggest

challenge in terms of Covid-19 and

food presentation?

Our biggest challenges were social

distancing, the restriction on capacity

and operating hour s, the individual

food portioning and the continuous

sanitising of the restaurant facilities

and operating equipment.

Bobby Kausiyo

40, Guest Operations Manager

Brief history

I have worked in the hospitality industry for the

past 14 years, and spent 11 years with Hilton.

What is the most exciting part about

working at this property?

I am proud to work for Hilton because of

the warmth of Team Members. At the heart

of what we do is making guests happy and

cultivating memorable experiences.

“Lovet Robinson is our General Manager.

He is a good leader who provides a

nurturing environment that makes us

better leaders.”



Vidhatha Harichunder

40, Support Services

Manager

Brief history

Graduated with an honours degree in

finance and has been in the hospitality

industry for the past 14 years, having

worked in senior management roles at

various hotels and conference centres

around Durban.

What is the most exciting part

about working for this property?

The best part of working at the Hilton

Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch, is that no

two days are ever alike. There are always

new challenges, and we constantly look

for innovative ways to meet the needs of

our guests.

We are extremely proud of all the

challenges that we have overcome over

the past two years, with us opening

during the Covid pandemic, and look

forward to many more successful years

ahead.

Thembekile Nhlapo

41, HR Manager

Brief history

I have over 15 years of cross-industry

experience in the hospitality and tourism

sector.

Throughout my career, I have always

had a passion for people, learning,

development and excellent service

delivery.


about working for this property?

Working here has offered me the

opportunity to connect with people and

be part of the process of ensuring

excellent service delivery to our guests by

equipping our teams with a number of

learning opportunities.

“It is not just a hotel anniversary; it is a

family anniversary, one that has defied all

odds to grow strong and achieve great

things together as the Hilton Garden Inn

Umhlanga Arch Community! Happy

anniversary and cheers to many more

years of success!”

Nomusa Purity

Khumalo

44, Security Supervisor

Brief history

I joined Hilton Durban in 2004 as an

outsourced security guard, operating

the hotel’s control room. With hopes

of progressing within Hilton, I worked

towards developing my skills and

was promoted in Hilton Durban, as

Assistant Security Manager. This

gave me a feeling of acomplishment

and I was subsequently promoted to

Security Manager at Conrad Pezuela.


about working at this property?

Overseeing all the security requirements,

working with my fellow colleagues to grow

our hotel and interacting with guests.



UMHLANGA PAGE FEATURE STRAP

Umhlanga is leading

the recovery

Umhlanga, located in the north coast of

KwaZulu-Natal, offers both formal and relaxed

settings, a friendly atmosphere and diverse

attractions to keep delegates stimulated.

Meeting venues in Umhlanga can cater for both

large and small functions with ease.

Umhlanga is a popular year-round destination because of its great

climate and facilities — it is also a short connecting flight from

Johannesburg (one hour) and other major centres in South Africa.

The location of the sophisticated King Shaka International Airport allows

for quick highway access to Umhlanga.

South Africa’s hospitality industry was extremely hard-hit during the

Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

The first half of 2022 has seen mixed fortunes for the South African

property market. This is according to a new report by JLL, a leading

professional services firm that specialises in real estate and investment

management. The Q2 report, which covers Cape Town, Durban and

Johannesburg, shows that the office, industrial, retail, hospitality, and

residential sectors are all growing at different rates.

Mieke Purnell, JLL's research manager for sub-Saharan Africa, said:

“The five-star market recovered particularly well, recording growth of over

120 per cent. Occupancy over this period averaged 51 per cent, which is

approximately 72 per cent of the rate achieved between January and May

2019.”

In terms of hospitality, according to the report, Umhlanga seems to be

leading this recovery.

Umhlanga has proven ‘especially popular’ during the first six months

of this year, achieving an average occupancy of 63.9 per cent. This is the

highest nodal performance in the country for the period and is closely

followed by the Drakensberg and Midlands region (63.7 per cent).

Testament to the strength of the Umhlanga market segment, she said, is

the recent opening of the five-star Radisson Blu Hotel Durban Umhlanga.

There are eight meeting and events spaces, including a ballroom,

accommodating up to 600 guests, and a 340-capacity outdoor terrace.

The Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch is another upscale property that

opened in this region recently (December 2020), in spite of the pandemic.

The hotel has five meeting rooms, one boardroom, called Lighthouse, and

a private dining room.

The Premier Hotel Umhlanga, another new hotel, is situated high on

Umhlanga Ridge and is conveniently located in the heart of the blue-chip

corporate office environment in Umhlanga. The new conference centre

offers three conference rooms, configurable to one large 300-capacity

venue.

Other existing hotels include City Lodge Hotel Group properties: City

Lodge Hotel Umhlanga Ridge, Town Lodge Umhlanga and Road Lodge

Umhlanga Ridge. Most of City Lodge Hotel Group’s (CLHG) Courtyard

Hotels, City Lodge Hotels and Town Lodges feature meeting rooms and

boardrooms and are the ideal place to hold business meetings and events.

Other hotels with conferencing in Umhlanga include: Coastlands

Umhlanga Hotel and Convention Centre, The Oyster Box, aha Gateway

Hotel, Protea Hotel by Marriott Fire & Ice! Durban Umhlanga Ridge,

The Capital Pearls Hotel and The Beverly Hills Hotel; to name a few.


PAGE COVER UMHLANGA STRAP STORY: FEATURE HILTON GARDEN INN UMHLANGA ARCH

Play more in Umhlanga

Three hotels at compelling price points.

Umhlanga is a vibrant destination in

KwaZulu-Natal, just north of Durban.

It is home to a range of leisure

activities along the stretch of coastline

and warm Indian Ocean, including nature trails,

golf courses, Sibaya Casino, and many more

exciting retail, dining, cultural and historical

destinations.

The business node has seen a number of

corporates set up their headquarters in this

scenic part of the country, increasing the influx

of travellers for meetings and conferences. It’s

also close to Durban for major events, expos and

shows being held at the Durban International

Convention Centre, Moses Mabhida Stadium

and King Shaka International Airport.

City Lodge Hotel Group has three hotel

brands serving this growing leisure and

business precinct to accommodate guests at

all price points. City Lodge Hotel Umhlanga

Ridge and Road Lodge Umhlanga Ridge are

across the road from the Gateway Theatre

of Shopping, and the newer Town Lodge

Umhlanga is a short 1.5km drive away.

Big news for Town Lodge Umhlanga and Road

Lodge Umhlanga Ridge is the recent addition of

the Eat-in menu, offering freshly prepared lunch

and dinner in the hotel restaurant. Favourite

dishes include the Shisa Nyama platter, featuring

lemon and herb chicken, sticky barbeque ribs

and traditional beef boerewors, grilled and

served with stiff, buttery pap, relish and corn on

the cob; full- or half-portion chicken marinated

in mild peri-peri or sweet-tangy barbeque sauce,

roasted and served with corn-on-the-cob, our

famous house slaw and your choice of either

hot potato wedges or pap and chakalaka;

and traditional barbeque-basted, sweet and

sticky pork loin ribs, grilled and served with

slaw, corn-on-the-cob and a side of golden hot

potato wedges. The accompanying drinks menu

features a range of hot and cold, alcoholic and

non-alcoholic beverages to go with the meals.

All three hotels offer complimentary, fast and

reliable Wi-Fi, free secure parking, 24-hour

reception, ensuite bathroom, television with

selected DStv channels and radio stations,

tea and coffee making facilities, and selected

rooms designed for the physically disabled.

When taking a trip to the Umhlanga region

of KwaZulu-Natal, whether for business

meetings in the city centre, relaxation on the

beach, or as a base for further exploration

into this culturally rich province, City Lodge

Hotel Group has a convenient, comfortable

property near to where you want to be.



COVER STORY: HILTON GARDEN INN UMHLANGA PAGE FEATURE STRAP ARCH

City Lodge Hotel Umhlanga Ridge

caters to guests wanting an

elegant three-star hotel

experience:

• 168 rooms (queen or twin beds)

• Rooms with sleeper-sofa available

• Boardroom (12 pax)

• #Cafe restaurant (full breakfast, lunch

and dinner daily)

• Sundowner bar

• Swimming pool

• Fitness room

Tel: 031 580 7000

Email: clumhlanga.resv@clhg.com

www.clhg.com

Town Lodge Umhlanga is a

modern, vibrant property that

caters to those wanting a stylish

hotel at a more affordable rate:

• 154 rooms (double or twin beds)

• Interleading rooms available

• 2 boardrooms (14 and 16 pax)

• Full English and Continental breakfast

daily

• Eat-in lunch and dinner daily

• Sundowner bar

• Swimming pool

• Complimentary shuttle to Gateway

Theatre of Shopping

Tel: 031 020 2200

Email: tlumhlanga.resv@clhg.com

www.clhg.com

Road Lodge Umhlanga Ridge is the

ideal budget hotel in the region,

popular with travellers keen to

make their travel rands stretch

further:

• 125 rooms (double or twin beds)

• Rooms with sleeper-sofa available

• Light breakfast daily

• Eat-in lunch and dinner daily

• Swimming pool

Tel: 031 580 7200

Email: rlumhlanga.dm@clhg.com

www.clhg.com


COMPANY PAGE PROFILE STRAP

Leo Melano Events —

delivering stellar events

Leo Melano Events understands that every guest wants to share in the unique experience that is

your corporate event.

From your employees, customers,

industry colleagues and other

stakeholders, they all want to bear

witness to the spectacle, rather than

carrying the logistical burden of

delivering the spectacle.

What do we do?

At Leo Melano Events, we pride

ourselves in taking on the administration

of your events, by providing

distinguished and quintessential event

hosting and ceremonial directing

experiences to make your event a truly

chic affair.

Unlike other event planning companies,

Leo Melano Events understands

the importance of providing workappropriate

entertainment for guests.

We know that you would like your

guests to have fun, but we also know

that corporate events need to adhere

to a certain professional standard and

decorum. Let us help you provide

high quality, positive and engaging

entertainment for your guests.

Based in Gaborone, Botswana

we have also facilitated corporate

events in Africa and Asia. We have

just returned from a very successful

facilitation of a panel facilitation with

some of the world’s top companies

(including Liberty2Degrees, Unilever and

Huhtamaki) at the conclusion of the

Power and Electricity World Africa 2022

Conference, hosted by Terrapinn and

held at the Sandton Convention Centre

in South Africa; while simultaneously

working on planning for the Innovation

Summit to be held in Cape Town, the

US-Africa Bizmatch Forum billed for

Washington D.C., United States in

December 2022 and Africa Rail 2023.

As we approach the peak season of

end-of-year corporate events, look

to us for all your event facilitation

needs, so that everyone that matters

gets to enjoy the occasion in the

comfort of a guest’s seat. We also offer

other value-add services, including

ushering and protocol advisory.

We aim to deliver a stellar event

befitting your organisation’s brand

and stature, and our mark will be

conspicuous by the smooth flow of

proceedings. That is our promise.

Contact details:

Email: leomelano@outlook.com

Website: www.leomelano.co.bw

Telephone: (00267) 71915680


PAGE EXHIBITION STRAP OUTLOOK

Bruce Whitfield, keynote speaker.

African Exhibition Industry Outlook:

Unlocking untapped opportunities in Africa

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, in partnership with GL events South

Africa, and in collaboration with the African Association of Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) and

Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) organised the recent Africa Exhibition

Industry Outlook.

Africa, today, accounts for around 17

per cent of the world’s population. The

world’s youngest and fastesturbanising

continent, Africa will have

24 million more people, on average, living in its

cities each year between 2015 and 2045

— more than India and China combined. [1]

These figures reinforce the importance

of investing in Africa as a sustainable

corporate strategy for foreign investors, due

to the countless opportunities available

across sectors — especially the exhibitions

industry, which facilitates and drives

inter-continental collaboration between

Africa and the rest of the world.

The one-day workshop and seminar for the

African Exhibition Industry Outlook featured

expert speakers from across Africa and the

Middle East, including the multi-award-winning

journalist and author Bruce Whitfield, whose

keynote drew on fascinating, truth-defying,

Adeline Vancauwelaert, chief operation

officer of UFI.

Zinhle Nzama, general manager: strategic

events, South African Tourism and Devi

Paulsen, chairperson of AAXO.

Naji El Haddad, regional director MEA at

UFI.



EXHIBITION PAGE OUTLOOK STRAP

Gary Corin, managing director of the Montgomery Group Specialised Exhibitions; Matt Denton, president of dmg Events and Craig

Newman, group chief executive officer of GL events SA.

and inspiring case studies of people and

businesses that succeed against the odds.

Other industry panellists presented business

opportunities in key African markets, business

outlooks, incentive schemes for new entrants,

and bilateral cross-border collaboration.

Topics of discussion included how convention

bureaux support the industry in South Africa,

the economic impact of exhibitions both

globally and in Africa, a multi-national view

on investing in Africa and a presentation of

the findings of UFI’s Global Barometer Study

with a focus on Africa and the Middle East.

Naji El Haddad, regional director MEA at UFI,

said: “Africa represents the next frontier for

growth and development for the exhibitions

industry. There is great potential for investing

in, developing and bringing global events

to Africa. It’s particularly interesting to note

the launch of geo-adapted events that are

being brought to Africa, which is a testament

to the ever-increasing confidence and

opportunities available on the continent.”

Whilst the pandemic directly affected the

events industry, interesting mergers and

acquisitions noted in the past two years include

RX Global’s acquisition of two specialised

exhibitions; the Media 10 Design Joburg

and the Coffee and Chocolate Expo ® .

Additionally, dmg Events, with a footprint

spanning twenty-five countries, acquired

Addis Build at the height of the Covid-19

pandemic, with the goal to support growth

across multiple industries in Ethiopia.

Further, the African arm of Clarion Events

announced a full rebrand under the name

Vuka Group earlier this year to form an

independent B-BBEE compliant company,

Sibusiso Mncwabe, chair of EXSA; Winnie Muchanyuka, chief executive of The Zimbabwe

Tourism Authority and Ishmail Atanasi, chief executive officer live division, GL events SA.

adapted to the unique conditions of Africa.

Craig Newman, group chief executive

officer at GL events SA, added: “We are

delighted to have hosted this UFI event at

the Johannesburg Expo Centre to showcase

the commercial opportunities that South

Africa, with the rest of Africa, have to offer.

Our nation is well positioned, from all

aspects, to be a hub for global events.”

The workshop was hosted on 13 September

at the Johannesburg Expo Centre and is

organised by UFI in collaboration with

AAXO and EXSA, hosted by GL events, and

supported by Johannesburg Tourism.

“South Africa remains the ideal ‘gateway

to Africa’ and is an appropriate base of

operations from which economic connection

to the rest of the continent can be formed,

and business developed, thanks to its strong

financial sector, sound infrastructure and

competitive talent-pool,” concluded Devi

Paulsen-Abbott, chairperson of AAXO.

[1] https://www.mckinsey.com/

featured-insights/middle-east-andafrica/lions-on-the-move-realizing-thepotential-of-africas-economies


PAGE SPECIAL HOTEL STRAP GROUP FEATURE UPDATE

City Lodge Hotel Group

reports strong recovery

City Lodge Hotel Group has announced its annual results for the year ended 30 June 2022, and

the numbers point to a strong recovery and ‘a promising position for future all-round wellness’.

Andrew Widegger, chief executive

officer of City Lodge Hotel

Group, said: “While the Covid-19

pandemic still lingers, the burden

on the hospitality, travel and tourism sector

lightened significantly during the year

under review. The year has been a tale of

two halves. We began this financial year

in Lockdown Level 4 and in the midst of

devastating riots and insurrection in South

Africa, which was a stark reminder of how

the last few years of state capture and

the fresh struggles of the pandemic have

affected livelihoods and the economy.”

He explained: “The last two years of

strategic innovation has enabled us to

capitalise on the changing travel trends

and needs of the post-Covid traveller.

CLHG launched the new ‘Eat-In’ offer at all

Town Lodges and Road Lodges during the

year, which now offers a bespoke lunch

and dinner menu, in addition to our muchloved,

value-for-money breakfast. The

enhanced food and beverage offering at

all hotels across all CLHG brands, has made

us more appealing to travellers who prefer

hotels with complete accommodation

and meal offerings, for the safety and

convenience provided under one roof.

“The complementary new Best Available

Rates (BAR) methodology, which provides

dynamic pricing, has made us more

competitive across all markets, and

especially appealing to leisure travellers,

who have benefited from weekend

specials, resulting in improved occupancies

over the weekends. Shifts in leisure travel

behaviour to include staycations, has also

seen similar shifts in occupancies at our

inland hotels. The new blend of business

and leisure (bleisure) traveller, makes our

hotels the perfect option, as we offer

complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and

good value-for-money accommodation

for individuals and families. This

evolution has resulted in a change in

our customer-base, with the leisure

market now comprising a much larger

proportion of our total guests,” he says.

“After several years of operating in East

Africa, we completed the sale of our three

hotels in Nairobi, Kenya (Fairview Hotel,

Town Lodge Upper Hill and City Lodge

Hotel at Two Rivers Mall) and City Lodge

Hotel Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to their new

owners on 30 June 2022. From

1 July 2022, these four hotels no longer

form part of the group. We now have 7,534

(2021: 8,070) rooms across 59 (2021: 63)

hotels in four southern African countries.”

Financial review

Occupancy levels have tracked the easing

of lockdown levels and seen a steady

recovery to almost pre-Covid occupancies

in the last quarter of the financial year as

travel returns and the hospitality sector

enjoys renewed activity from all sectors.

Dhanisha Nathoo, chief financial officer

at City Lodge Hotel Group, noted: “The

steady improvement in occupancies

and demand for hospitality services

over the last few months has led to

average group occupancies, based on

total rooms inventory, of 38 per cent

for the year ended 30 June 2022 (2021:

19 per cent) and 40 per cent (2021:

26 per cent) based on the open hotels.

Occupancies for the SA hotels averaged

40 per cent (2021: 21 per cent) and 42

per cent (2021: 28 per cent) for open

hotels, respectively. The group began the

financial year with 89 per cent of its 63

hotels open and by February 2022 opened

all of its hotels except one in Nairobi.

“Total revenue for the year increased

by 117 per cent to R1,104-million (2021:



HOTEL SPECIAL GROUP PAGE FEATURE UPDATE STRAP

Andrew Widegger.

R508-million), Ms Nathoo highlighted.

“This included the 150 per cent increase

in food and beverage revenue spurred by

our enhanced offering. The East African

operations made up six per cent of total

group revenue. The improved occupancy,

and the opening of all hotels, enabled

the group to ease some of the costcontainment

measures put in place during

the pandemic, with full salaries reinstated

with effect from May 2022, resulting in

a 32 per cent increase compared to prior

year. The normalisation of trading and the

associated increase in variable expenses

as more hotels opened and occupancy

increased, led to a 26 per cent increase

in ‘total operating costs’, which includes

salaries and wages, property costs and

other operating costs. However, total

operating costs, excluding unrealised

foreign exchange gains and losses on

intercompany loans, increased by 47 per

cent. Total operating costs per room sold,

excluding unrealised foreign exchanges

gains and losses, reduced by 27 per cent.”

The group generated EBITDAR for the

year of R303.2 million (2021: loss of

R136.7 million), and an EBITDAR margin

of 27 per cent (2021: EBITDAR loss

margin 27 per cent). EBITDAR margin

for the group, excluding unrealised

foreign exchange gains and losses, was

20 per cent (2021: margin loss of 20

per cent) The EBITDAR contribution for

the East African operations, excluding

unrealised foreign exchange gains and

losses, was R9.9 million for the year.

The group recognised exceptional

transactions during the year, which

included an accounting profit on

disposal of its East African operations of

R88.3-million, representing a recovery

of accumulated losses in the prior

years and net impairment reversals of

R57.2-million on property, plant and

equipment and right-of-use assets.

The improved performance following

the easing of lockdown restrictions

Dhanisha Nathoo.

resulted in a profit after tax for the year

of R81.7-million (2021: net loss of R804.6

million), and earnings per share of 14.3

cents (2021: loss per share 160.6).

The headline loss improved to R49.5

million (2021: R455.2 million) and

excludes the profit on disposal of the

East African operations, but includes an

impairment of the deferred tax asset held

in Namibia (R20.0 million). Undiluted

headline loss per share improved by 90

per cent, from a loss of 90.9 cents in

2021, to 8.7 cents in 2022. Excluding

the effect of unrealised foreign exchange

gains and losses together with the

deferred tax impairment on headline

earnings, headline loss per share improved

from 17.9c in 1H2022 to 1.1c in 2H2022.

The group generated positive

cash flows from operating activities

of R265.8 million, compared to a

utilisation of cash from operations

of R97.3 million in the prior year.

The group settled R720 million

outstanding interest-bearing borrowings

and subsequently entered into new

R600 million interest-bearing debt

facilities which mature between three

and five years, and which are at more

favourable financial terms and covenants.

All of the original debt covenants

continue to be waived for measurement

periods up to and including September

2022. The loan-to-value covenant

has been met for all measurement

periods during the reporting period.

Directorate

The group welcomed Mathukana

Mokoka as an independent nonexecutive

member of the board

and audit committee following her

appointment on 1 June 2022.

Outlook

There are still many challenges ahead,

from the state of our economy, to load

shedding, petrol price increases, global

Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo.

inflation trends, supply constraints and

geo-political tensions.

“However, we feel confident that

the financial and operational decisions

taken over the past 27 months, and

the response by all members and

stakeholders of the CLHG family in

the face of such adversity, has helped

us grow and establish ourselves as

a sustainable, agile and innovative

hospitality group,” Mr Widegger said.

“Occupancies and room rates continue

to edge toward achieving 2019 pre-

Covid levels. The South African hotels

recorded occupancies of 53 per cent in

July 2022, 52 per cent in August 2022,

and 56 per cent up, to 18 September

2022,” Ms Nathoo reported.

The sale of the East African operations

has curtailed the losses and boosted cash

resources required to sustain operations

and has provided sufficient liquidity

to reinstate the capital refurbishment

programme. The capital investment

programme over the next 12 months

includes the completion of the fit-out of

the remaining four floors at Courtyard

Hotel Waterfall City, and refurbishments

at City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront

and Road Lodge Richards Bay.

In July 2022, following receipt of the

East African operations disposal and

loan settlement net proceeds of R468.6

million, the group repaid R300 million of

its existing debt facilities. As at the end

of July 2022, the group had R300 million

in available, undrawn debt facilities, plus

R115 million of overdraft facilities, which

together with the improved operational

performance stands us in a promising

position for future all-round wellness.

“The CLHG family remains committed

to providing outstanding accommodation

services, a warm welcome to our

guests and to tantalise their tastebuds

with our enhanced food and beverage

offerings,” concluded Sangweni-

Siddo, chief operating officer.


PAGE A LOCAL STRAP PERSPECTIVE

ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe.

ANEW Hotel Hilton.

Honouring our heritage through

truly South African experiences

September heralded Heritage Month; a month set aside to celebrate our nation’s diverse culture

and extraordinary heritage. This was also the month where South Africans celebrated tourism,

an industry that was severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As a brand, ANEW Hotels &

Resorts celebrates its heritage, culture fusion, and brand unity by honouring the environment of

each of its unique properties.

ANEW Hotels & Resorts recently

celebrated its fifth birthday. The

brand launched from a family

business originating in 1952 and

is known for having a culture driven

around its solid values and its heritage

deeply rooted in South Africa. ANEW’s

social media manager, Madri Mostert

shares some of the extraordinary

cultural facts about the brand’s

properties and how each one truly

honours its environment and history.

The history of ANEW

Within one hour from Port Shepstone

and two-and-a-half hours from Durban,

lies ANEW Hotels & Resorts’ first property,

ANEW Resort Ingeli Forest. This amazing

venue offers comfortable accommodation

at the foot of the Ingeli Mountain range,

near Kokstad. From hiking through the

serene forest to indulging in the rich

scenic setting, endangered species and

lush vegetation await in this beautiful

stretch of nature. It has a rich and

enticing history.

Ingeli Forest began as a roadside motel,

built by Len Louwe in 1973. He owned

vast timberlands and a sawmill in the

nearby area. “In its early days, Ingeli

Forest built up a good reputation with

commercial travellers through excellent

management and the promotion of the

Kingdom of Ingeli with its very own

passport. The passports of each visitor

were stamped at each visit, and once

fully stamped, visitors and their partners

would receive a free weekend at Ingeli,”

Ms Mostert said.

“The Armour family, who own

timberland and treatment plants in the

area, purchased the motel in September

1992 after it became apparent that it

had significant potential. In recent years,

the motel was renovated and

refurbished, adding new rooms,

restaurants, a conference centre, and a

chapel, which transformed it from a

motel to a lodge and subsequently, a

resort. By adding trails for walking,

running, and mountain biking, ANEW

Resort Ingeli Forest now attracts more

families and promotes the use of its

various trails through the indigenous

forest. Oprah Winfrey has also been a

guest at Ingeli in the past,” continued

Ms Mostert, “It is the proverbial jewel in

ANEWs crown.”

Hluhluwe Resort, rich in culture

ANEW Hotel & Resorts’ second property,

ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe (The Old Lady),

includes a five-star safari lodge that used

to be the family home of current partners,

the Eliot family. It guarantees a true

cultural experience of the area and

heritage for guests. Here the group

employs residents from the area, who may

truly amplify their guests’ experience, such

as the completely self-taught safari team.

For example, Cela Manyanga, includes

interesting historic facts and tales to

enlighten the trip and gives a unique take

on the area and its unique heritage. In

addition to the game drives, ANEW Hotel

Hluhluwe celebrates the rich heritage of

Zululand by giving local youths from the

community a platform to do Zulu



A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

PAGE STRAP

dancing,” says Ms Mostert. “Here we

honour our environment, by including

people from the area to share with guests

their heritage in a beautiful setting.”

The Hluhluwe property also features a

tree of life, expected to be about 100

years old, situated close to the

swimming pool. Ms Mostert continues:

“Every day during the lockdown, Sadira

Nayager (General Manager) went to

switch on a light at the bottom of the

tree to signify life and that life is still in

abundance. The hotel is more than just a

hotel, it’s a home for its employees, too

— and truly such an immersive

experience.”

The tale of Hunters Rest

With its perfect balance of comfort and

adventure, ANEW Resort Hunters Rest is

situated at the foothills of the majestic

Magaliesberg Mountains in Rustenburg, in

the North West. “Hunters Rest is an

experience that embodies what a resort is

all about. Family-oriented and great for

couples, it has everything you need on the

property, and the service is outstanding,”

Ms Mostert said. “What is amazing about

Hunter's heritage is the location of the

resort. This stunning property is based

close to The Cradle of Humankind,” she

added.

Adding a bit of history, Ms Mostert

continued: “In 1929, a dam was

established in the Hex River near

Rustenburg for irrigation. Olifantsnek

Dam may be viewed from the viewing

deck at ANEW Resort Hunters Rest.”

The grand old dame, ANEW Hotel

Hilton

The ANEW Hotel Hilton is an

ANEW Hotel Hunters Rest.

architectural jewel built in 1936 in the

heart of the historical Hilton village. The

property’s signature Tudor-style facade

has become a beacon of connection

(and celebration) for many local and

foreign travellers who frequent the KZN

Midlands Meander. The corridors of this

renowned property have many stories to

tell, and the walls are adorned with

thousands of pictures peeking into the

lives of guests who have enjoyed

holidays, family visits, conferences,

wedding receptions and all kinds of

celebratory parties there. The signature

timbered lines have become the

personification of professionalism, and

to this day, this unique property exudes a

sophisticated old-English feel.

The hotel is currently undergoing

extensive refurbishments and

the restaurant on the property

will be renamed to its original,

The Copper Kitchen.

ANEW Hotel Green Point

One of the latest additions to ANEW’s

list of properties is most definitely one of

the group’s most modern properties.

ANEW Hotel Green Point gives you the

experience you would like when visiting

Cape Town. Completely different in

look-and-feel to the other properties in

ANEW’s portfolio, the hotel is within

walking distance from the V&A

Waterfront and many famous local

landmarks such as the Green Point

Urban Park, Sea Point Promenade, and a

host of other experiences. The rooftop

deck offers visitors magnificent views,

and the expertly designed modern rooms

are environmentally friendly. With its

close proximity to the Green Point

Who is

Madri Mostert?

Driven by the power of shared

experience and their ability to inspire,

Ms Mostert brings a unique

perspective to her position as group

social media manager at ANEW Hotels

& Resorts. A lateral thinker, she

focuses on curating a personalised

approach to brand story telling. Her

drive and passion stems from a strong

love for the zeitgeist and its ability to

establish cultural movement. Prior to

taking on this role, she drove key

marketing strategies as a content and

HR specialist at a boutique marketing

firm in Cape Town. Ms Mostert also

pioneered and headed the firm's

all-encompassing internship

programme. Ms Mostert believes that

knowledge is one of the most

powerful weapons one may possess,

holding both an undergraduate degree

in BCom Industrial Psychology and

Marketing from the University of

Stellenbosch, as well as a BCom

Honours degree in Human Resource

Management.

stadium, it is a must-stay for any

domestic or foreign traveller looking to

explore Cape Town.

The ANEW legacy continues

ANEW Hotels & Resorts added its

fifteenth property to its portfolio this

year with ANEW Resort Vulintaba

Newscastle, and the group is continuing

its upward growth trajectory. The brand’s

continued growth is a testament to its

respect and appreciation for its various

properties’ culture and history. The team

aims to continue to innovate and leave

an impression both in South Africa and

beyond, by honouring each environment

they are established in.


PAGE MARKET CASE STUDY STRAP NEWS — ELECTRA MINING AFRICA

Almost 700,000 visitors have attended

Electra Mining Africa since 1972!

Electra Mining Africa celebrates 50 years

Celebrating 50 years this year, Electra Mining Africa saw thousands of buyers and sellers coming

together at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg from 5-9 September 2022, to meet in-person and

see the latest innovation and new products, services and technologies that were on display at the show.

During the five days of the event

over 30,000 thousand people

connected across industries,

thousands of products were

on display and thousands of

face-to-face interactions took

place. Live demonstrations and competitions

also kept visitors enthralled. Buyers were

able to get up close to the products, see

and feel the quality and speak to technical

experts. The show also offered visitors

the opportunity to compare products

and brands together under one roof.

The confidence

that exhibitors have

in Electra Mining Africa is

reflected in how many of

them already signed to

exhibit at the next edition of

the show, even before the one

they are at has ended!


57 free-to-attend

seminar topics

2

Electra Mining 2022

top speakers

60 (SAIMechE and

SAIMC seminar theatres)

plus additional speakers

at the LEEASA Conference

and WiMSA Workshop

industry

conferences/

workshops

VIP

1,244

premier

visitors

Just under

30,000 m² net

exhibition space

57 countries

represented

(visitors)

142 media

representatives

attended

30,196 visitors


CASE STUDY — ELECTRA MINING VENUE PAGE AFRICA STRAP NEWS

VISITORS BY REGION

Gauteng 78%

Mpumalanga 6%

NW Province 5%

Rest of SA 8%

International 3%

TOP 10 AFRICAN COUNTRIES

VISITORS TRAVELLED FROM

Botswana • Zimbabwe • Zambia

DRC • Namibia • Angola • Lesotho

Mozambique • Ghana • Eswatini

VISITORS BY JOB FUNCTION

Director/Owner 19%

Engineer 14%

General Manager 9%

Buyer/Purchasing/Procurement 8%

Sales 6%

Technician 5%

Foreman 4%

Project Manager 3%

Analyst 2%

Production Manager 2%

Quality Control/Safety/SHEQ 2%

Plant/Mine Manager/Supervisor 2%

Research and Development 1%

Other* 23%

*Other including:

Admin, CAD Manager, Electrician, Finance, Government Official, Machinist,

Marketing, Metallurgist, Press/Media, Programmer, Student, Tool & Die Maker,

Training Manager/Officer; other.

History of Electra Mining

Specialised Exhibitions is a division of

the Montgomery Group, an independent

exhibitions and events company at the

forefront of trade and consumer shows and

specialist events in Europe, Asia, Africa and

the Middle East. Over fifty events are run in

over fifteen countries. Montgomery is a family

business that dates back over 100 years.

Following the resounding success of its building

trade exhibition in the UK, the family began to

expand the business abroad. In 1967, Bryan

Montgomery and his mother, Molly, founded

Specialised Exhibitions (Pty) Ltd in South Africa.

The company began operating in 1968 with the

launch of its first building trade show on the

continent. Following the success of the building

show, strategic planning continued around

the development of additional shows to build

its trade exhibition portfolio in South Africa.

One of these shows was Electra Mining

Africa. Specialised Exhibitions has always kept

close to market needs and has always listened

to what industry wants from a show and

this was the case for Electra Mining Africa.

At the end of the 1960s, South Africa ranked

as one of the major sources of strategic

minerals including iron ore, copper and

platinum, amongst others. Although also

known for its gold, uranium and diamonds,

it was the coal industry that drew attention

in the seventies. Production expanded

rapidly to meet the escalating demand

from ESKOM power stations (reference).

The importance of mining in South Africa

at that time and the growth potential of the

industry led to Specialised Exhibitions having

many conversations with leading companies,

suppliers and associations. The discussions

were around the opportunity of having a trade

exhibition focused on mining and its related

industries. With support from industry, it was

then that Electra Mining Africa was born. It

was a show that was developed for industry

by Specialised Exhibitions, and by industry

(through the input they gave). Its name, Electra

Mining Africa, encapsulated both the mining

and electrical aspects of the show at that time.

It set out to be the definitive meeting and

marketplace for all stakeholders involved in

the related industries it represented then,

and all related industries it still represents

today. From the outset, Electra Mining Africa

has had the support of leading related

industry associations and organisations.

At the 1972 inaugural show, 50 exhibitors,

lost in the vastness of the Hall of Industries

at Milner Park, occupied some 1,500 square

metres of floor space. This was its first home.

Exhibitor, Multotec, first exhibited at Electra

Mining Africa with a 9 square metre stand

and has since grown into one of the biggest

exhibitors at the show, having exhibited at

every Electra Mining Africa exhibition since

the show was launched in 1972. Many

other companies also began their journey

with Electra Mining back in the 1970s!


PAGE MARKET CASE STUDY STRAP NEWS — ELECTRA MINING AFRICA

Gary Corin, managing director of

Specialised Exhibitions

“Electra Mining Africa provides a much-needed

platform for buyers and sellers across the

mining, electrical, automation, manufacturing,

power and transport industries to connect

face-to-face again at a live, in-person

exhibition and presents a unique opportunity to

develop beneficial business connections,” says

Gary Corin, Managing Director at Specialised

Exhibitions, a division of the Montgomery

Group. “It presents an opportunity for industry

networking to take place, to build business

partnerships and new connections, and for new

products and services to be launched.

“Exhibitions in the modern world remain

incredibly relevant and their importance

cannot be underestimated in their ability

to drive the recovery and reconnection

of industries, sectors and economies.

Exhibitors at Electra Mining Africa over the

years have consistently reported excellent

sales and sales leads, and the ability to

build business partnerships and important

industry connections. The show has also

consistently succeeded in attracting a high

number of international visitors, including

major buyers of capital equipment.

“It is the success that exhibitors achieve

at Electra Mining Africa – whether the

sales, sales leads, brand awareness or

successful product launches – that sees

the show achieve continued success and

why exhibitors return, year after year.”

Charlene Hefer, portfolio

director of Specialised

Exhibitions

“Electra Mining Africa is a trade show that

provides the ideal platform for buyers and

sellers to connect, for industries to come

together, and ultimately, for our country’s

economy to receive the boost it needs,” says

Charlene Hefer, portfolio director at

Specialised Exhibitions, a division of

Montgomery Group.

“Face-to-face interaction was greatly

missed in the exhibitions and events

industry during the pandemic. Although

online events and virtual exhibitions filled

the void and created an environment where

buyers and sellers could engage remotely,

these fell short of the in-person, face-to-face

experience. Even with the growth of the

digital age, human beings are gregarious

and social by nature, they need personal

contact. Face-to-face interaction facilitates

the building of relationships and trust; live

demonstrations engage the senses; and

networking and collaboration between

industry professionals can take place.”



CASE STUDY — ELECTRA MINING MARKET PAGE AFRICA STRAP NEWS

Electra Mining Africa’s growth

The inaugural show was a great success and

subsequent editions of the biennial show

continued to grow exhibition space and the

number of exhibitors and visitors. It was beginning

to outgrow the Milner Park Showgrounds. During

this time a new multi-purpose showground and

exhibition venue was being developed and in 1984

the National Exhibition Centre at Crown Mines

was opened (now the Johannesburg Expo Centre

in Nasrec) and became the new home for Electra

Mining Africa. The new venue was tailor-made for the

task ahead: to further expand Electra Mining Africa. It

was a much bigger venue with a floor load capacity

that could take the weight of huge machinery both

inside the halls and outside exhibit areas which

enabled the show to grow to the size it is today.

The show has grown dramatically from its early

beginnings fifty years ago. Today it’s recognised as

the largest mining, electrical, automation,

manufacturing, power and transport trade

exhibition in Southern Africa and consistently

ranks among the three largest mining shows in

the world. It stretches across 5 exhibition halls

and large outside exhibit areas, with a combined

floor space of just under 30,000 square metres.

This year, over 650 exhibitors were showcasing a

collective millions of Rands worth of equipment.

A memorable moment in its history was in

1996 when then President Nelson Mandela

opened Electra Mining Africa. He described

the show as one of the most significant

exhibitions in the history of our Country.

New records were set in 2002 with 450 exhibitors,

25,000m² of exhibition floor space, four halls and

outside exhibit areas. The show attracted just on

30,000 visitors. There were 500 exhibitors in 2004.

These numbers have remained relatively

consistent with over 25,000m² of exhibition floor

space, 600+ exhibitors and just over 29,000

visitors in 2016 and 2018. Exhibitor numbers at

the 2018 show were slightly higher compared to

this year due to more internationals exhibiting;

they are expected to return to the 2024 show.

The numbers of visitors from neighbouring African

countries grew over the years and Specialised

Exhibitions designed targeted campaigns to achieve

this. The show also consistently attracted a significant

number of international visitors from other parts of

the world which included major buyers of capital

equipment. The first Inward Buying Mission was

organised by the South African Capital Equipment

Export Council (SACEEC) in 2006, with groups of

buyers from mines in South America and other

countries visiting the show. The success of the

Inward Buying Mission saw SACEEC continuing to

organise the Inward Buying Missions at subsequent

shows. Although not at Electra Mining Africa

this year (early days post-Covid), it is expected

to be a part of Electra Mining Africa 2024.

Keeping abreast of market needs and trends, and

by having conversations with exhibitors, visitors,

industry associations and other stakeholders,

Specialised Exhibitions sees further opportunities

to expand the show. New initiatives are planned

for the next show, which is taking place at the

Expo Centre, Nasrec, from 2-6 September 2024.

Target market

The mining, electrical, manufacturing and

industry-related transport industries have always

been at the core of Electra Mining Africa.

Electra Mining has reflected the change of

industry over its five decades. Fifty years ago, there

was no automation and certainly not in the sense

that was seen at this year’s show. So, it really has

afforded the opportunity to really give focus to new

industry sectors as they emerge in the economy,

including automation, power/renewables.

Influential decision makers from these industries

are regular visitors to Electra Mining Africa, travelling

from within South Africa, neighbouring African

countries and a large footprint from across the globe.

This includes those involved in various

business activities such as: engineering, mining,

manufacturing, automotive, professional services,

iron and steel, communications, machine tools,

environment, armaments, emergency services,

foundries, government parastatal, occupational

health, oil/gas supplies, parts and accessories –

construction equipment, petro-chemical, plant

contracting, power generation, processing, public

works, safety, training and education, and transport.

Electra Mining Africa offered visitors the

opportunity to compare products and

brands across the five halls and outside

exhibit areas.

Buyers and sellers happy to be back at a

live in-person event.

Thousands of products were on display and

thousands of face-to-face interactions took

place.

Delegates at WiMSA Workshop

Over thirty thousand visitors came to

Electra Mining Africa to make connections

that matter.


PAGE CASE STUDY STRAP — ELECTRA MINING AFRICA

The African market

The African market is important to Electra Mining

Africa. In 2018, roadshows were added to the

marketing campaign prior to the event and

roadshows were again incorporated this year. The

Electra Mining Africa team travelled to different

industry-relevant visitor focus areas in South

Africa and southern Africa to promote the show

and share the benefits of visiting.

Visitor numbers from African countries have

grown with exhibitors giving feedback this year

that many sales leads had been generated.

An initiative for Electra Mining Africa 2024 will

be to host International Pavilions from

neighbouring African countries and to look at

Inward Buying Missions from the African

continent.

Economic benefit

The positive economic benefit of a show such as

Electra Mining Africa is the contribution they make

to the national economy, either directly or indirectly.

This is through venue expenses, expenditure on

products and services, advertising and promotion,

logistics, travel, accommodation, meals and drinks;

the spend of exhibitors on exhibiting; and the

additional local spend of visitors and exhibitors

whilst at the trade show. The exhibition also

contributes to part-time job creation during the

show and add-on tourism for those visiting South

Africa. According to UFI’s (Union of International

Fairs) Global Economic Impact of Exhibitions

(Africa) report, the average total impact per m 2 of

exhibition space is $3,800 — this means over

R1,702-million into the economy.

What is the purpose of the show?

Electra Mining Africa is a biennial show (taking

place every other year) and is a brand that is

proudly made in Africa and proudly African.

For the past five decades, Electra Mining

Africa has built a strong reputation for its ability

to effectively connect people and industries,

buyers and sellers. It provides business and trade

opportunities in a face-to-face environment.

Hundreds of exhibitors showcase their

latest innovations, technology, products and

services at southern Africa’s biggest mining,

electrical, automation, manufacturing,

power and transport trade exhibition.

It’s an event that’s eagerly awaited every

two years by the collective industries.

It’s the place where old and new faces continue

to meet, to engage, to sell, to buy and to build

partnerships and make connections that matter.

Challenges

As a solution-orientated company, where they do

encounter any challenges, Specialised Exhibitions

‘think on their feet’ and create solutions to

resolve the problems.

This year, with many suppliers having closed

their doors due to the impact that Covid-19 had

on the exhibitions industry, an important skills

set has been lost. This has resulted in a reduced

number of contractors and suppliers available

to service the exhibitions and events industry.

This was seen first-hand at Electra Mining Africa,

where some aspects of the exhibition buildup

were delayed due to a strain on resources.

But, everyone pulled together and put in extra

effort and the job was done and they were

fully ready before the opening of the show.

What happened to Electra Mining Africa

during Covid-19?

Electra Mining Africa 2020 was cancelled. Moving

into the virtual realm is not possible for a show of

this nature, with its sheer volume of size, massive

equipment on display and many live demonstrations.

However, in celebration of the week that would

have been Electra Mining Africa, industry players

participated in a live industry webinar series and

product showcase.

To maintain the spirit of the show, from

7-11 September 2020, Electra Mining Africa

hosted Electra Mining Africa 2020 Connect.

“In the face of devastating consequences for

industries across the board and the economy as a

Jacaranda FM’s Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp at

Electra Mining live broadcast.

whole, we felt that it was more important than ever

to find ways to continue to support and unite our

industries, however we could, which is why we

decided to host Electra Mining Africa 2020

Connect,” MD Gary Corin said.

“The Electra Mining Africa Connect week enabled

exhibitors to promote their products and services,

free of charge, alongside industry-related

informative webinars, media activations and product

showcase opportunities,” Portfolio Director Charlene

Hefer said. “Whilst we were not trying to replace

the live event with a digital version, through the

Electra Mining Africa Connect week, we could

continue to create value for both exhibitors and

visitor groups during a time when innovation was

needed most.

“Current global trends tell us that people are

hungry for human interaction, as exhibitions

re-emerge following the pandemic. People want to

engage all their senses at exhibitions — as the

latest industry events and stats have proved.

“Exhibitions are adopting more technology

and there is a move to hybrid events.

Whereas exhibitions remain a face-to-face,

in-person event, technology can make the

exhibition experience even more enjoyable,

driving many aspects of the exhibition from

registration to live streaming of events.”



CASE STUDY — ELECTRA MINING PAGE AFRICA STRAP

Overall winners of the Electra Mining Africa Innovation and New Products Awards:

ABC Ventilation Systems. The award was presented by Eric Bruggeman, CEO, SACEEC

(3 rd from right).

Feedback from Exhibitors

Lyndall Farrer, marketing manager,

Dromex

“It’s been a good show. This is our fourth or fifth

appearance at the show, and this year there’s

been a lot more foot traffic and a lot more

interest. People are happy to be back and to have

personal interactions. The show not only allows

people to talk to our experts but to also touch

and feel our products.”

Desmond Tilly, regional sales manager,

BBF Safety

“We’ve had a favourable response from visitors.

People are hungry for an expo of this size. We’re

very happy with the results and had some great

interactions with key decision makers and end

users. Electra Mining is a highlight for us in terms

of the exhibitions that we do, and our ROI is

always good.”

Rhodes Nelson, managing director,

Multotec Manufacturing

“It’s nearly four years since the last Electra

Mining, so we saw many people we have not

seen for a very long time. We experienced great

interaction on the stand, it’s been very busy. We

have had people from the continent coming to

our stand and we have received several

opportunities from that.”

Marcio Sicchiero, head of export,

Sew-Eurodrive SA

“We have gathered very good quality leads from

the visitors who have come through. This includes

overseas visitors, which has been great for me as

the export head. These include visitors from

Zimbabwe, Zambia, Madagascar, and Mauritius.

It’s been high-quality engagement, with a lot of

interest in our stand.”

Vanessa Deggins, product marketing

specialist. Sandvik

“I’m based in our Finland office, and I came out

for the show and the launch of some of our

products. The show is the biggest show I’ve ever

been to, and it has been eye-opening in terms of

what the industry has to offer. We’ve had good

feet and customer interest. We have made a lot of

good connections.”

Mufaro Muzvondiwa, process and

products director AME Region, Weir

Minerals Africa

“The show has been great. A lot of good

interactions with customers; there have been lots

of visitors. We met a lot of industry players, caught

up with them and made some very important

contacts, so for us, it was successful. We have sold

some products directly on the stand as well.”

Corné de Jager, diamond segment

manager, TOMRA Mining

“The show has been outstanding. It’s been the

busiest Electra Mining I have ever attended. It

exceeded all my expectations. All my customers

came to the show, and extra customers surprised

us. It’s a tactile platform and our diamond sorter

drew so many people to the stand. This allowed our

customers to see and experience it and then

purchase it.”

Emel Fleischmann, commercial manager,

RGM Cranes

“The amount of foot traffic has been phenomenal

and the leads we are getting have been excellent.

Big companies and blue-chip companies have come

through. It’s our third Electra Mining, and each year

it just gets better. It’s a very worthwhile investment.

We’ve already signed up for the next show.”

Sandvick new product launch.

As testament to the

success of the show,

almost 50 per cent of

exhibitors had already

rebooked their stands

for the 2024 show, even

before the gates had

closed on the

2022 show.

Specialiased Exhibitions would like

to thank all our sponsors,

associations and media partners for

their support at this year’s show. We

appreciate and value their

contribution.

Platinum Sponsor: Dromex

Gold Sponsor: BBF Safety Group

Sponsor: Pinnacle Welding & Safety

Sponsor: Syspro

Sponsor: Schneider Electric

Electra Mining Africa was supported

by the following Associations:

SAIMM, SAIMechE, SAIMC, SACEEC, MEMSA,

SAMPEC, LEEASA, WIMSA, SAFPA

SAIOSH and Safety First Association.

For further information, contact:

Keraysha Pillay | Senior Marketing Manager

Electra Mining Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 10 003 3057

Email:

Keraysha.Pillay@montgomerygroup.com


CONNECT

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FUTURE

In the areas of Mining,

Electrical, Automation,

Manufacturing, Power

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mining • electrical • automation • manufacturing

2 - 6 SEPTEMBER

Expo Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa

There’s simply nothing like it for building

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CONTACT OUR TEAM

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Exhibition Manager

Tel: +27 (0)11 835 1565

Cell: +27 (0)72 251 0911

Email: cwood@Specialised.com

Shalane Vorster

Exhibition Manager

Tel: +27 (0)10 003 3074

Cell: +27 (0)82 554 6674

Email: shalanev@Specialised.com

#EMA24

#electraminingafrica24

Organised by:

www.electramining.co.za

CHEF’S PAGE PROFILE STRAP

Claudia van Eyk — ‘food

has always played a big

part in my life’

Food has always played a big role in Claudia van Eyk’s life, and

it was of little surprise to her family when her career path led

her into the kitchen. Claudia, 42, is the new head chef at Sun

International’s Meropa Casino in Limpopo.

My family was always involved in catering,

cooking or entertaining — if we were

not hosting rugby club parties, it was

catering for the church or the community or

for a guesthouse. Food has always played

a big part in my life,” Claudia said.

Claudia’s goal is to create a menu and ambience

at Meropa’s newly branded Marima Restaurant

which will tempt its customers to make repeat

visits. “We hope to take our patrons on a

food journey,” she said. “I work with a great

team, and we are creating dishes and flavours

which puts smiles on faces. I believe food and

cooking has everything to do with emotions.”

She added: “Not one day is the same as

the day before. I feel I have accomplished my

mission if I take a guest on a taste journey.”

Born in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, Claudia

spent her formative years in a small town, called

Löhr a Main, in Germany and after matriculating

in South Africa, studied culinary arts and obtained

her Grande Diploma in Cordon Bleu qualification

from Silwood Kitchen. In 2019, she achieved her

national trade test qualification as an artisan chef.

“My first job opportunity was at a restaurant

called Five Flies in Cape Town which ranked in the

top 10 restaurants in South Africa from 2003-

2005. I worked there with the most amazing

team. I have always said that everything I know,

I learned in that kitchen,” Claudia added.

In her 23 years in the industry, the mother of three

– Nicholas, 17; Isabella, 11, and Sebastian, 9, – has

earned her stripes in kitchens around the country,

from the legendary Linger Longer in Johannesburg

to fine dining, the Palace of the Lost City at Sun

City and even lecturing at the Prue Leith Academy.

“I really enjoyed my time at Sun City, where I

also spent five years as Executive Chef at Cabanas

Hotel until our family relocated to Polokwane and

I joined the Limpopo Chefs Academy as centre

manager and head lecturer.” Ironically, Claudia is

married to Riaan, the previous executive chef at

Meropa. They have been married for 12 years.

The past 20 years have seen trends come and

go, from the early 2000’s when food was ’overcomplicated

and fussy‘. “These days, everything

is fresh, somewhat deconstructed, and simpler

— more focused on the natural flavours of the

few components needing to do the talking on a

plate.” Other noticeable trends include experiential

dining, meal kits and cooking with sustainable

ingredients which are low on salt and sugar.

“I believe food should be simple and not

too overcomplicated,” Claudia said.

In terms of challenges facing the industry, she

said: “The younger generation who are entering

kitchens are expecting to walk into high ranking

chefs’ positions. This is an industry that you need to

start at the bottom. You need to gain the experience

from chefs/cooks who have been in the industry. You

need to learn from the previous generation of chefs.

Secondly, the price of produce has shot through

the roof, which makes it difficult for the average

South African to dine in restaurants these days.”

In her spare time, Claudia enjoys reading and

spending time with her family, but said cheffing

was a career, not a job. “It is a lifestyle.”

For the young chefs entering the industry, my

advice is to work hard, learn everything possible from

chefs that you are in contact with. You cannot think

you know everything when you have completed

your culinary studies. In this career you never stop

learning. That’s what makes it such an exciting job

— every day is different. If you want to become a

chef, you need to realise very early that this career is

not a job. It is a lifestyle. You need to be dedicated to

your passion, your guests, your food and your staff.”

What is your signature dish?

Penne pasta tossed with smoked chicken,

caramelised peanuts, crispy bacon bits, blue

cheese and camembert cream reduction, finished

with avocado and rocket. Served with a Haute

Cabriere chardonnay pinot noir.

What food trends are emerging

in the conference industry?

Fresh and healthy dishes.

What has remained constant

in this industry?

Pressure and fun.

What is your favourite beverage?

Gin and tonic when I am having fun, but after a

long, hard day, it is a stiff brandy and coke.

What is your favourite food?

Cheese, especially Italian Gorgonzola from the

Lombardie region. It goes with everything.

What is your pet hate?

People that cannot communicate information.

What is your great love?

My career now.

Are you adventurous?

I must admit that I am a little boring,

but I did once drive my husband’s

car at 204km/h on the N1.


PAGE PERSONALITY STRAP PROFILE

Angela Lorimer —

‘own your brand’

Resilient Angela Lorimer, 52, sales manager of Hotel Sky and SAACI Western Cape chairperson, has

been in the hospitality industry for 32 years.

During this strange pandemic

period, I was fortunate

enough to stay employed even

though I moved positions a

few times. I have recently joined the

Hotel Sky family and am so enjoying the

unique African chic offering. Hotel Sky

Sandton and Hotel Sky Cape Town both

opened during this surreal time. I have

never felt so welcome and appreciated,

and so look forward to introducing this

brand to the world,” Ms Lorimer said.

She began her career as the first intake

at The Granger Bay Hotel School.

“There were 500 applicants, fifty

where selected to enter the first year,

only eleven graduated and there are

only four of us still in the industry. My

first introduction to the hospitality

industry was as an intern at The Beacon

Isle Hotel and then The Vineyard Hotel

as a trainee. I have worked in all the

areas of the hotel from F&B controller,

housekeeper to banqueting and sales.

“I have also been fortunate enough

to work internationally, at The Hilton

in London and The Royal Livingston

in Zambia. I am passionate about my

industry and believe in collaboration.”

Where do you see the business

events industry in Africa?

Africa is the hub of knowledge. Africa

is a force to be reckoned with, as

we are stronger together. Through

collaboration we are able to attract more

business events to our continent. We are

growing from strength to strength.

Where were you born and raised?

I grew up in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and

we moved to Cape Town when I was 13. My

Dad was in the building trade, so we moved

around a lot, hence I attended seven schools.

I matriculated from Pinelands High School. I

was the first intake at the Granger Bay Hotel

School and graduated with a national

diploma in hotel management.

Where did your career begin?

The Vineyard Hotel, as cost controller and

then I moved to Constantia Uitsig as

assistant manager.

How long have you been in the

business events sector?

I have been in the hospitality industry for

32 years, but directly involved in the



PERSONALITY PAGE PROFILE STRAP

business sector for almost 20 years. NH The

Lord Charles Hotel was my introduction to

the business events world. My experience

grew through the years as I worked at Spier

Hotel & Conference Centre, Century City

Conference Centre and the Cape Town

International Convention Centre. I must say

that what I have loved most has been

connecting people and identifying a

strength within a team member and

growing that person accordingly.

What has been the biggest change

you’ve seen in this sector?

The biggest change I have seen is that

the world has become so much more

accessible to business travel. The business

traveller is spoilt for choice and the

unique selling points that were the focus

years ago, for example, complimentary

Wi-Fi is now a given. Technology is key

and organisers have to be more

innovative in attracting delegates to

attend events in person, as the hybrid

element is here to stay. Bleisure tourism

has also become extremely popular as

travellers are staying on after the

conference to explore and have family

members join them.

Were you always involved in this

sector?

I have always been involved in hospitality.

After I matriculated, I took a gap year,

then studied hotel management.

What role does your family play in

your life?

I am married to Gordon. Family is

particularly important to me as they

ground me. It is vital to have a healthy

balance between work and family, for if

you are not kind to yourself, you are of

no use to anyone else. It is a difficult

game, for when you are as enthusiastic as

I am, you tend to put in the extra hours

and your family life may suffer.

What would you change in your

life, if you could, when looking

back?

Not a single thing!

Do you have any hobbies?

I love walking my dogs on

the beach and reading.

Do you play any sports?

I have never enjoyed sport, but

get my exercise through dancing

and walking in nature.

What is your favourite sport?

I get to enjoy watching rugby, as my

husband is a Western Province referee.

Through him I have got to know of Aimee

Barret-Theron, a very dynamic female ref

who has accomplished so much. I truly

admire all she has achieved.

What do you do for leisure?

We love going to the theatre. Kalk Bay

Theatre at The Brass Bell, is our favourite,

as we enjoy local talent. Exploring our

own country is also fantastic, as we enjoy

going away for weekends and discovering

hidden gems.

What is your secret to success?

Treat everyone the way you want to be

treated, never burn bridges and focus on

the positive.

What has been the most

embarrassing moment in the

industry?

I must say that there have not been many

at all. I think, when I was a trainee in

housekeeping at The Vineyard Hotel and I

walked in on a couple that were not

expecting to see me. The room was

supposed to have been vacant and clearly,

it wasn’t. Very embarrassing indeed.

What has been your biggest

challenge in this sector?

Staying relevant and positive during Covid.

What is your pet hate?

Negative people and people that complain

about their circumstances, but don’t try to

do anything about changing them. Life is

too short!

What is the most memorable place

you have ever been to, and why?

Living and working in Zambia, through

Sun International. I was based at The

Royal Livingstone and Zambezi Falls for

three years. Having the Victoria Falls on

my doorstep was a dream come true. The

Zambian people where such a pleasure to

work with and it was an experience I will

never forget.

If you could be anyone for the day,

who would you be and why?

I really gave this question a great deal of

thought and truthfully, I would just like to

be a healthier version of myself.

What is your favourite city?

Barcelona, I love the energy, art and food.

What is your favourite book, film,

TV programme?

Book – The Girl of The Limberlost. The first

time I read it, I was probably 12 years old

and have read it at least five times since.

Film – Under the Tuscan Sky and Mamma

Mia.

TV Programme – Outlander.

How do you relax?

I love the sea air so swimming in the sea,

reading and gardening.

What is your favourite food?

Food for me represents occasion and

celebration. There is nothing more

delicious than nibbling on a plate of sushi

on a hot summer’s day, overlooking the

twinkling sea. On a cold winter night, a

heart-warming stew hits the spot.

Who is your favourite movie star?

Brad Pitt.

What is the most impulsive thing

you have ever done?

Packed up everything and moved to

Zambia.

Who is your role model?

My mom was my role model. She was a

dynamic, positive and intelligent woman.

She had the ability to make you feel as if

you were the only person in the room

when she engaged with you. She was

witty and had a naughty twinkle in her

eye. There was not a problem that could

not be solved with a cup of tea made

with love by my mom and a chat.

What advice do you have for

anyone starting out in this

industry and hoping to follow in

your footsteps?

Make sure that you are doing this for the

passion and not for the money. Start at

the bottom and work your way up. Know

that you are not going to walk into a

management position, as this needs to be

earned. Learn from your great managers

what to do, but also from those that are

not as great, as to what NOT to do.

Remember, you are your own brand!

What is your dream for the

future?

My dream is to share as much knowledge

as possible with those that are entering

our industry. I also want to be a positive

influence on all who I work with and

encounter along the way.


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amenities for guests’ total

comfort and rejuvenation, with unique

views over the V&A Waterfront, Table

Mountain and the whole of Table Bay.

Awaken refreshed in your luxury

Westin Heavenly ® Bed. Begin your

day with an invigorating scrub under

the signature Heavenly ® Shower

or relax in your separate bathtub,

using our aromatic bath amenities.

To enrich your Cape Town stay,

our rooms and suites are furnished

with thoughtful touches. Our 24-

hour room service awaits your call

for all of your dining needs. Stroll

downstairs at your leisure for a

complimentary breakfast at our hotel

restaurant, Thirty7 Showkitchen.

You will find all your dining

experiences located on the ground floor,

where our team of culinary masters

and beverage custodians have curated

flavourful menus especially for you.

We pride ourselves in the absolute

freshness of our food, which speaks

to our promise of locally and ethically

sourced ingredients, inspired through

innovation. Our team has taken utmost

care in crafting delectable experiences,

which will leave all our guests

wishing for more. Relax and enjoy.

Overlooking the Convention Square,

the terrace area off our Louis B’s bar

is set in a tranquil, outdoor space

with plenty of fresh air. It is the

perfect place to begin the day by

enjoying an early morning coffee,

invigorating the mind, body and soul

or a peaceful pre-dinner drink.

The Westin is an unmatched meeting,

conference and banqueting venue

with nineteen unique spaces. It

offers some of the largest and most

sophisticated hotel conference and

banqueting facilities in the city. Directly

linked to the Cape Town International

Convention Centre (CTICC), our hotel

is able to host conferences for up to

600 guests in the Grand Ballroom,

with an additional ten meeting

rooms, between two floors, that can



VENUE OF MARKET THE PAGE MONTH STRAP NEWS

seat from eight to sixty delegates.

Meetings are an opportunity to

connect with colleagues and explore

new ideas. When you hold your

meetings at The Westin Cape Town,

we remove the distractions so that

your group can focus on the business

at hand for an effective and successful

session. Westin Clutter-Free Meetings

help planners and guests stay organised

and productive with an open room

design, socially appropriate amenities

and delicious menu choices to keep

minds sharp and well nourished.

Streamlined stations provide paper,

pens and beverages to keep everyone’s

individual work area neat and clear.

You can feel good about Westin

meetings with thoughtful ‘green’

features, such as energy-efficient

light bulbs, double-sided meeting

pads and refillable glass water

bottles to reduce waste. Designed

with the meeting planner in mind,

our personalised services make it

effortless to provide a memorable

experience for each and every invitee.

Contact information

To begin planning your next Westin

event, please contact

Email: wh.cptwi.GroupReservations@

marriott.com

Tel: 021 412 9999


THE WESTIN CAPE TOWN WESTINCPT WESTINCPT

VENUE PAGE STRAP NEWS

Well-known hotel executive takes

on new role at Kruger Gate Hotel

Few people in the South African tourism sector are better positioned than Danny Bryer to assist

the newly independent Kruger Gate Hotel move into a new era, post its separation from the

Protea by Marriott brand. Known for his innovative ways of optimising revenue, Mr Bryer is a

strong asset for the Kruger Gate team.

With effect from 1 September,

The Kruger Gate Hotel assumed

management of its own operations

under the stewardship of chief executive

officer, Anton Gillis. Mr Bryer has seen the

growth of both the hotel and of Mr Gillis

during his more than 30 years as the head

of Protea’s sales and marketing and is the

logical choice to serve as consultant for

the hotel as it works through its transition.

After leaving Protea, Mr Bryer launched

his own project management company,

Hospitality Intelligence, and over the past

two years has worked with a variety of

properties from large hotels to boutique

accommodation, as well as lodges

and airlines. He is now set to share his

expertise with the management team

of the Kruger Gate Hotel to ensure its

visibility in global markets and to leverage

its unique selling proposition and take

advantage of the greater domestic

demand for experiential holidays and

of increased airline capacity into SA.

“The Kruger Gate Hotel leaves

Marriott with world-class systems and

the entire management team and staff

complement intact, so operationally the

move to an independent hotel will be

seamless,” Mr Bryer said. “My focus will

be on the rebranding objective for a new

clientele, pricing models and revenue

optimisation,” he added. “Most critical

is the hotel’s accessibility through online

reservation and distribution systems,

with a user-friendly website that provides

an exceptional user experience even

before the guest arrives at the hotel.”

Contracts with new and existing

service providers are currently being

signed, including more sourcing from

the local community in the area of the

hotel’s location, and a sales team with

a new focus will be out on the road in

domestic and international markets.

“With 145 rooms and two unique

venues in the conference space and

executive suites, the hotel has a

competitive edge in the meetings and

incentive market, as well as offering

an intimate lodge experience for

independent travellers. Its location on

the border of the world-renowned

Kruger National Park means that game

viewing is possible without leaving the

property — although, of course, game

drive options are always available.”

A shift in the demographic of world

travellers post-Covid-19 means that

the Kruger Gate Hotel is anticipating a

younger, more affluent guest profile as

well as more families. Mr Bryer expressed

his optimism for incoming tourism

figures, as a number of airlines recommit

to routes into Africa and South Africa,

including British Airways, Singapore

Airlines, Delta and United from the USA.

America is currently the largest revenue

generator for the sector in South Africa,

and the Kruger Gate Hotel will work hard

for its share of this lucrative market.

Mr Bryer’s biggest concern for the sector

is the current cost of travel. “Whilst

the Kruger Gate Hotel offers excellent

value, the cost for overseas visitors to

make a long-haul trip given existing oil

and fuel prices is potentially damaging

for us as a destination.” he said.

“However, supply and demand for

airline seats has the potential to drive

the cost of air tickets down, and so I

remain optimistic for inbound tourism.”

Mr Bryer asserted that South Africa has

world-class standards when it comes to

accommodation and, as a destination

that provides great value as well as a

vast range of experiences from which to

choose, it has the potential to enjoy repeat

business as travellers are drawn back to

the country’s unique value proposition.

“The Kruger Gate Hotel has an amazing

offering, with a brand new spa, boma,

rim-flow pool and rooms that are being

refurbished to meet the demands of

discerning guests, and so we are confident

that, once visitors have experienced

Danny Bryer.

the hotel for themselves, they will be

ambassadors for the property when

they return home,” Mr Bryer said.

Guest loyalty, however, is never a

given and Mr Bryer and the Kruger

Gate Hotel team will be working hard

to ensure the longevity of the hotel’s

success. This includes leveraging datadriven

relationship marketing, greater

personalisation of communications with

specific market segments, and listening to

the ever-changing needs of its customers.

“The massive shift in behaviour and

attitudes post-Covid, coupled with the

rapid adoption of technology, means

we must always be learning and moving

forward,” Mr Bryer said. “This means not

only keeping up with the times but being

ahead of them. It is essential that we are

forward thinking, constantly aware of new

platforms and channels on which the hotel

needs to be visible to the world,” he said.

With Anton Gillis at the helm and Mr

Bryer project managing the move to

full independence, the Kruger Gate is

a hotel for now and for the future.


PAGE VENUE STRAP NEWS

Grande Roche Hotel celebrates

landmark anniversary

This year marks the 30 th anniversary of the opening of the Grande Roche Hotel; a remarkable milestone

for this celebrated address in the Paarl winelands. And with the town first named for the ‘pearls’ of

granite which shimmer on the mountain slopes above, it’s by happy coincidence that the ‘pearl’ is also

widely celebrated as the symbol for 30 years of marriage.

It’s certainly been an eventful three

decades and, after the two turbulent

years of the Covid-19 pandemic, owners

Hansie and Theresa Britz – Paarl residents

who bought the property in 2019 – are

thrilled to once again welcome guests and

locals to a re-energised Grande Roche Hotel.

Perhaps the most exciting new

development comes with the appointment

of Kevin Grobler as head chef of

The Grande Roche Restaurant. The

hotel has long enjoyed a reputation

as a destination for gourmands, and

Grobler’s arrival in the kitchen marks

a pivotal moment in that journey.



VENUE NEWS

The Grande Roche Restaurant

The talented chef’s illustrious career

includes leading the kitchens of Michelinstarred

restaurant JAN in Nice, as well as

the acclaimed Delaire Graff Restaurant in

Stellenbosch. At Grande Roche, the

refreshed restaurant space offers a sense

of heritage grandeur with contemporary

touches, and a menu built on both

seasonality, experience and innovation.

Conferencing

The conference venue sits on the upper

slopes of the estates, in the midst of

vineyards, with a backdrop of Paarl Rock.

Whether it’s an international conference, a

board meeting, cutting-edge product

launch or high-profile company summit,

The Grande Roche Hotel has a number of

venues available that can be used for just

about any kind of event.

PAGE VENUE STRAP NEWS

From left: Sun City’s general manager, Brett Hoppé (seated) with the resort’s executive team: Ntsako Mpenyana, resort HR manager;

Kegomodiswe Monegi, resort IT manager; Kagiso Motsisi VIP gaming manager; Nombuso Buthelezi, convention centre manager; Khumo

Magano, former SED & community engagement manager; Ugen Govender, resort financial manager; Ken Payet, general manager sports/

recreation; Julius Ramotse, general manager: hospitality; Thapelo Modise, resort marketing manager; Hendrik Strauss, resort security

manager; Khensani Mailula, gaming manager; Maleago Mahlatjie, executive secretary; and Josiah Montsho, general manager, The Palace

Hotel. (Lwazi Mswelanto, resort sustainability manager was not available for the photograph).

Sun City leads the way in hospitality transformation

Sun City first opened its doors in 1979 with a primarily male staff contingent, but fast-forward four

decades and the gender revolution has marched on — today, more women work at the resort than men.

Sun City, a R2-billion business,

is leading the way in women

transformation within hospitality

and setting the pace for other corporates

within the industry. “Today 58 per cent

of our staff are women, 95 per cent of

which are African, with many firsts with

its leadership, among these including

the first female gaming manager and

the first female IT manager,” said Brett

Hoppé, Sun City Resort general manager.

Traditional glass ceilings have long

been broken and today, 53 per cent

of these women are in leadership

and senior management roles.

“With a focus on supporting the

development of our female staff, there

has been rapid transformation of the

executive team over the past two

years,” Mr Hoppé said. “This began

after we analysed the employment

equity gender split and saw that women

were underrepresented in senior,

middle and junior management across

the resort, compared with their male

counterparts. The Women Leadership

Development Programme (WLDP) aims

to address this, and we are making great

strides over a short period of time.”

Of the Resort’s 13-strong executive

committee, six are now women,

namely Thapelo Modise, resort

marketing manager; Nombuso

Buthelezi, convention centre manager;

Kegomoditswe Monegi, IT manager;

Kagiso Motsisi, VIP manager; Maleago

Mahlatjie, executive secretary and

Khensani Mailula, gaming manager.

The WLDP has enabled career

progression for Sun City women,

developing suitably qualified and

potential leaders, to build sustainable

capabilities which will provide a

platform to successfully compete for

future leadership positions within

Sun International. Eleven women are

currently completing the programme’s

basic level, while 12 are on the advanced

level which results in them holding an

Advanced Diploma in Management

Practices NQF Level 7 from the Henley

Business School programme.

“The programme focuses on

equipping generalist business leaders

with management skills to discover

and retain raw talent, providing overall

rigorous development to promote the

readiness for the next leadership level,

and building our women within the

leadership pipeline,” Mr Hoppé said.

Some of the many success stories

include, Kegomoditswe Monegi,

who began in 2019 as the IT service

desk manager at Sun City and

was promoted to IT manager and

currently sits on the executive board,

in a male dominated industry.

“We are happy to have more

women around our table as they

have strengths which men can lack,

including empathy and attention

to detail,” Mr Hoppé said.



VENUE PAGE STRAP NEWS

Home Suite Hotels

launches Station House

The needs of modern travellers have changed, which has triggered a change in the traditional

hotel model, making way for hotels of the future. Today, travellers are looking for more, and

opening this October, Home Suite Hotels Station House is set to revamp the hotel experience.

Bleisure travel as a concept means

the hospitality industry is now

placing greater focus on the needs

of the corporate traveller who is also

looking to enjoy some leisure time

during their trip. Whether this involves

extending a stay to add some fun at the

end of a work trip, arriving earlier or

combining the two, this kind of traveller

will fully appreciate the flexibility Home

Suite Hotels Station House offers to

explore the beautiful city of Cape

Town, while working from anywhere.

Situated in Sea Point alongside the

Atlantic Seaboard is Home Suite Hotels’

newest offering; Home Suite Hotels

Station House. With only a threeminute

walk from the beach and iconic

Sea Point Promenade, this boutique

hotel is undoubtedly located in one of

Africa’s most sought-after locations.

Station House is a new, mixed-use

development offering luxury apartments

and hotel rooms, all under one roof.

This one-of-a-kind development will

offer first class living, taking

convenience and comfort to the next

level. “The really interesting thing about

this property is that the apartments and

hotel rooms will share the same

amenities, which makes for a very

interesting mix of residents from

different walks of life, coming together

to share all the amazing spaces this

property has to offer, while still

maintaining the privacy of their own

rooms,” said Jonathon Meyer, chief

executive officer of Home Suite Hotels.

Home Suite Hotels Station House is

changing the face of hotels in South

Africa, moving away from the traditional

hotel blueprint, which traditionally

dictated options to guests but is instead

offering guests the opportunity to

choose how they want to manage

their stay. From where they eat to

where they choose to work and play.

“Guests have the option of stepping

out of the building and really

experiencing what Sea Point has to

offer, such as the 20 top tier coffee

shops and restaurants that are less

than a seven minute walk away. But

you also have the option to stay-in and

experience the restaurant, cocktail bar,

coffee shop, deli & patisserie run by The

Kove Collection in the same building

if you so choose,” Mr Meyer added.

Station House offers a number of

amenities to guests such as a gym,

biokinetics, yoga studio and a business

centre fitted with meeting pods as

well as a stunning rooftop cocktail

bar and pool so that guests can work

just as hard as they play without ever

having to step outside the building.

“Understanding the way that people

travel is very important in anticipating

their needs and blending this new

style of offering with authentic

hospitality is really where the sweet

spot is. Experiencing a home-awayfrom-home

is something that speaks

to all of us,” Mr Meyer added.

Long Term guests

One of Home Suite Hotels’ more unique

offerings are its long-term stays. Since

the hotel offers suites, many guests stay

for longer periods — months – or in rare

cases – a year or more. This offers the

perfect home-away-from-home

experience for the likes of an overseas

traveller on a longer work trip, or an

easy solution for those who are

renovating a home. And, if anything

changes and a guest chooses to cancel,

they can rest easy because any changes

or cancellations up to 24 hours prior to

arrival are free.


PAGE MARKET STRAP NEWS

Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo

drives the renewable energy agenda

Bridging the gap between transport and energy sectors by reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and

investing in cleaner modes of transport is critical for the creation of safer and more sustainable cities in

Africa. This is according to private and public stakeholders from the continent and beyond who gathered

at industry event Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo in Durban recently to explore opportunities

to connect Africa’s transport system through sustainable infrastructure.

Celebrating its 10 th year, the trade show has

established itself as Africa’s largest

transport event, hosting the region’s port,

rail and road authorities all under one roof.

The Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo

2022 was opened by Fikile Sithole, deputy

director general: Transportation Services, KZN

provincial government, and attracted big industry

game changers, like Transnet, Export Credit

Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC),

Briggeman International, Afreximbank and Dube

Tradeport. The event welcomed over 2,350

people over the two-day period and included

over 100 exhibitors who showcased innovative

solutions across the transport industry.

Co-located with The Big 5 Construct KZN, as well

as several other events, including the Women in

Transport Awards and The Transport CEO Forum, it

successfully gave visitors access to the entire

African Transport Infrastructure value chain. In

addition, the strategic transport forum tackled

African Continental Free Trade Area

implementation, infrastructure, investments and

cross border policies head on, while the B2B

networking platform and exhibition gave solution

providers the opportunity to showcase their global

innovations and products.

Highlighting the transport sector’s contribution

of almost one quarter to total global greenhouse

gas emissions, Yaa Agyare-Dwomoh, Consultant at

Frost & Sullivan Africa said that in South Africa,

over 60 per cent of South Africa’s 1.2 million

vehicles on the road are diesel-powered, with the

remaining powered by petrol. To achieve the

energy transformation required for

decarbonisation, she suggested the sector would

need to rely increasingly on renewable energy

sources, such as biofuels, natural gas, ethanol,

propane, hydrogen and electricity.

Continuing the conversation of coordinating the

transformation of the energy and transport sectors

was Dr Marcelo Blumenfeld, an Assistant Professor

in Future Transport Systems from the University of

Birmingham, United Kingdom, and an industrial

fellow for Introducing Innovation at the

Birmingham Centre for Railroad Research and

Education (BCRRE).

While Dr Blumenfeld admitted that many

low-income countries may struggle to

economically justify the implementation of electric

powered railways, he said that alternative options

such as battery and hydrogen were readily

available, that provide viable and cost-effective

ways to decarbonise railways, by upscaling existing

assets without the need for fossil fuels. Using a

case study carried out by BCRRE in Tanzania as an

example, he illustrated how hydrogen-powered

trains could reduce carbon emissions by as much

as 10,000 tonnes every year.

Le-Ann Hare, portfolio director at leading

global events company dmg events and host of

Transport Evolution African Forum & Expo, said

that overall, the trade show was a categorical

success. “We were very pleased to have brought

leading industry players from across the world to

South Africa after a two-year hiatus and are

confident that many valuable connections were

made while bringing together like-minded people

to learn and share their experiences in

developing a sustainable way forward for the

transport industry.”

Next year’s Transport Evolution Africa Forum &

Expo will be held from 20-21 September 2023 at

Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC Complex, Durban, South

Africa.



MARKET PAGE STRAP NEWS

Images: Supplied by SCTIE)

Cape Vultures at the Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide.

The Mzamba Fossils and Petrified Forest.

The KZN South Coast to host

The Conservation Symposium

Home to rich biodiversity across land and sea, the KZN South Coast has been chosen for

The Conservation Symposium which welcomes environmentally focused delegates from

31 October to 5 November. This is the first time that the KZN South Coast has hosted the event,

entrenching the region as a top business events destination.

We’re thrilled to announce the venues

for this year’s Conservation Symposium;

Premier Resort Cutty Sark and Dream

Hotel Blue Marlin in Scottburgh. Located just

1.4km from each other, these venues will be the

centre of our Conservation Symposium, allowing

our attendees to enjoy a slice of beautiful

KZN South Coast before, during or after the

symposium,” said event organiser, Freyni du Toit.

The Conservation Symposium is hosted

by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in partnership

with the University of KwaZulu-Natal,

WildOceans, WildTrust, Endangered Wildlife

Trust (EWT), CapeNature, Nature Environment

and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) and the

Environmental Law Association (ELA).

“We are so excited to be welcoming some

250 delegates to The Conservation Symposium

which will be held at The Premier Resort Cutty

Sark and Blue Marlin Hotel,” commented Phelisa

Mangcu, chief executive officer of South Coast

Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE). “This

serves the dual purpose of highlighting the KZN

South Coast as a key events destination, while

celebrating the amazing conservation efforts

and environmental significance of the region.”

Some of the KZN South Coast’s ecologically

significant sites and events include:

• Three Marine Protected Areas at Aliwal Shoal,

Protea Banks and Trafalgar, supporting a variety

of marine species with Aliwal Shoal home to a

number of the highly-endangered shortfin

devil-rays;

• Six Blue Flag beaches – the highest number in

the province – with two honoured for 20 and

10 years of care;

• Several nature reserves and game reserves,

home to diverse wildlife and birdlife;

• Two gorges – Oribi Gorge and Umtamvuna

Gorge – that create an expansive biome,

supporting sensitive natural life;

• The Red Desert, the world’s smallest desert;

• The Mzamba Fossils and Petrified Forest

— trees which were washed downriver and

deposited in the area millions of years ago, with

marine fossil beds exposed along reefs near the

Mzamba River;

• The annual Sardine Run, which is the planet’s

greatest biomass migration; and

• The annual migration of Humpback whales.

SCTIE, which is the tourism and investment

arm of Ugu District Municipality in the KZN

South Coast, is dedicated to promoting economic

growth through innovation, investments and

tourism. By hosting such high-profile events,

SCTIE is welcoming new visitors to the area

while also attracting new investment.

To facilitate business events, SCTIE launched

the innovative Meeting Planner Guide at the

Meetings Africa exhibition in Johannesburg earlier

this year. This comprehensive guide is a one-stop

directory for all business conferences, meetings,

team building and accommodation requirements.

It consists of a detailed list of existing business

events’ venues, teambuilding activities on

offer, and relevant contact information.

The Conservation Symposium, which is a

platform to facilitate the sharing of ideas and

solutions to contemporary conservation issues in

Africa, will open with a welcome ceremony at

the Blue Marlin Hotel on Sunday, 30 October. In

between networking and talks, delegates will

also be hosted on various tours that showcase

the KZN South Coast’s many eco-friendly and

sustainable initiatives.

This will include a frogging tour of the wetlands

from Crocworld Conservation Centre and

guided walks in nature reserves including TC

Robertson Nature Reserve and Vernon Crookes;

snorkelling in a Marine Protected Area; a hike

along part of the Umzumbe River Trail, a Green

Flag Trail and viewing wild Cape Vultures at

the Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide as well as a

visit to Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre.



New Sandton restaurant arrives with a roar

A fresh addition to Jozi’s gastronomic scene, ROAR Bistro & Bar, opened its doors on 23 September,

promising to deliver a delectable melting pot of global flavours served tapas-style.

Located in the heart of Joburg’s

business district – directly opposite

the Sandton Convention Centre

and at the foot of the Michelangelo

Towers – ROAR’s offering was

conceptualised based on its proximity

to the thousands of residents, tourists,

and conference delegates who live,

work, stay and play in the area.

Owned by the Legacy Group, ROAR

Bistro & Bar is staking its claim as

Sandton’s unique dining spot; with its

Parisian street-side setup and tapasstyle

menu offering an eclectic mix

of global cuisines. There is even a

deli for a passerby needing to grab

something quick and delicious on the

go, including a selection of freshly

crafted coffees brewed by ROAR’s

highly trained barrista and a plethora

of home-baked pastries, patisseries,

and handcrafted sandwiches, all made

on-site and with love by the chef team.

“We wanted to create a dining

experience that would be a one-of-its-kind

in Sandton. By taking full advantage of

our street-side location and creating a

small plate menu with a fusion of African,

European, Middle Eastern and Mauritian

flavours, we have certainly achieved this,”

said Robert Hodson, chief operating

officer of Legacy Hotels & Resorts.

According to executive chef, Atma

Mahadea and restauranteur consultant,

Larry Steenkamp, small plates tie into

the international trend of being able to

taste a little of everything and fits into

the Joburg culture of dining to socialise.

“Unlike Capetonians who dine purely

for the gastronomic experience, Joburgers

go out to spend time with friends and

family over good food and drinks. With

the restaurant also being in the tourism

hub, we decided to create a variety

of small dishes representing a host of

global cuisines we are inspired by,”

says Larry Steenkamp who codesigned

the menu with executive chef Atma.

Some of the signature dishes on the

menu include curried coconut mussels,

deep-fried whole fish, Mauritian

chicken curry and the Asador lamb

with pomegranate & yoghurt.

The restaurant’s design and layout were

dreamed into reality by the creative flair of

Varoom Interiors. The designers chose a

colour pallet of teal, tomato red and brass,

which were inspired by the bistro’s vibrant

focal point — a graffitied art piece of a

male lion created by Nick Kerr of Dekor1.

With seating for up to 120 guests, the

space features a large bar overlooking

a comfortable lounge area where

guests can sit back, relax and order

wines off a bespoke wine list or choose

from a selection of cocktails crafted

by ROAR’s mixologist extraordinaire.

The conservatory area of the

restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling glass

featuring lots of natural light and

plants. Guests also have the choice

of two outdoor seating areas, both

shielded by foliage-filled planter

boxes and overlooking the bustling

walkway of Maude Street, Sandton.



MARKET PAGE STRAP NEWS

Large-DTCM, Bluewaters Island, Ain Dubai.

Stella Kalanne Fubara-Obinwa from the

Dubai Tourism.

Dubai Tourism successfully

showcases offering in SA

With the event industry finally opening up again after a Covid-induced hiatus, Dubai’s Department

for Economy and Tourism (DET), brought their first roadshow in two years to South Africa.

In what was a display of their

ongoing activities on the African

continent, the multi-city roadshow

which commenced in Cape Town,

moving on to Durban and culminating

in Johannesburg, demonstrated Dubai’s

renewed commitment to South Africa.

Following the hugely successful three-city

tour in South Africa, DET headed east in

continuation of its ongoing activities in

sub–Saharan Africa with Ethiopia, Uganda,

and Kenya on the roadshow itinerary.

The intention was to showcase Dubai’s

affordable experiences and the diversity of

the city’s offerings to key travel partners

as well as SA Tourism and Brand SA in

South Africa. Noteworthy highlights

during the roadshow included travel,

hospitality, entertainment and Dubai’s

citywide events, with a focus on leisure,

family travel, education and medical

tourism. Breakout network sessions, partner

presentations, one-on-one meetings, and

medical facility updates were key elements

which enhanced the programme.

Dubai, renowned for its continuous

drive to establish, maintain and show its

safe, open, and accessible sides, has been

ranked the No.1 global destination in the

TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2022.

The new tourism figures from DET show that

overall, Dubai hotels maintained an average

occupancy level of 76 per cent from January

to May 2022. According to data from hotel

management analytics firm STR, Dubai

ranked No.1 globally in hotel occupancy,

ahead of other international destinations

including New York (61 per cent), London

(60 per cent) and Paris (57 per cent), for

the January-April 2022 period. These are

impressive stats in a post-Covid marketplace.

Individual presentations made by the

roadshow delegates shone a new spotlight

on experiences in their city. Travel to

Dubai is not only for the privileged few

with its dazzling night life and worldclass

restaurants. There is a plethora of

experiences to be enjoyed, ranging from

visiting art galleries and exploring museums

at the waterfront souk, to drives in the desert

and lazy days at the beach, swimming in the

tranquil ocean with beautiful views. Click

on this link to find out more about Dubai

experiences that won’t break the bank.

Feedback from attendees at the roadshow

offered positive feedback. Nomafrench

Mbombo, provincial minister of health for

the Western Cape commented that she had

never thought of Dubai as a ‘must-see’ place

to visit but was ‘now seriously considering

a trip there’ after seeing what Dubai as

a city has to offer to South Africans. She

said she was particularly interested in what

the medical facilities have to offer and

would review possibilities that may exist

around ‘health exchange programmes’.

Melody Williams said: “I was pleasantly

surprised at how affordable Dubai is

and I am impressed by the number

of new attractions that have arisen in

recent years, the Museum of the Future,

the Aura Pool and the Frame.”

Tareq Binbrek, assistant manager,

International Relations (Africa) for Dubai

Tourism (DET), commented: “Africa is a

significant market for Dubai Tourism. This is

our first roadshow post pandemic, and we

are happy to be back. We were delighted

to work closely with our trade partners and

speak directly to our audience. A lot of new

and exciting things have come up in Dubai

since our last visit to this region and so we

savoured the opportunity to share the good

news with all of our African travellers.”



Guy Stehlik named among 100 Most

Powerful People in Africa Hospitality

Guy Stehlik, chief executive officer and founder of the BON Hotels group, has been named among the

100 Most Powerful People in Africa Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute (IHI).

The global advocacy, training,

and standards organisation

headquartered in Dallas, Texas,

is committed to fostering excellence

in the global hospitality industry, and,

with its top 100, says it is “thrilled to

recognise these change-makers and

influencers for their work in promoting

Africa’s hospitality industry.”

The names of the nominees have

now been published in the Hospitality

Power Index ® for Africa and will also

be featured in the December edition

of the Global Hospitality Magazine.

Mr Stehlik said: “I am honoured

by the IHI nomination and to be

alongside many of my local peers

and other hospitality leaders on the

continent. Africa remains a sought-after

destination, and, as BON Hospitality

is an African hotel group by Africans,

it is our job to continue ensuring a

world-class African experience for

our guests and hotel owners.”

A lifelong hotelier

Mr Stehlik developed a passion for the

industry at an early age, having grown

up in the hotels that his father

managed in Cape Town. He went on to

study at Stellenbosch University, Wits

Hotel School in Johannesburg and

Cornell University in New York state.

After graduating and returning home,

he was employed by South Africa’s

first international hotel group, the

Hyatt Group, to be part of the team to

launch the Park Hyatt in Johannesburg

in 1995. His career journey became

one of opening and re-opening

hotels, leading to his appointment

by the Protea Hotel Group, where he

became an integral part of the teams

launching the Victoria Junction Hotel

and President Hotels in Cape Town.

Mr Stehlik went on to carve a niche

for himself by taking on problematic

or underperforming hotels and turning

them around. This led to a string

of successful reinventions of ailing

establishments, where he employed a

combination of aggressive marketing,

a back-to-basics operational approach

and excellent guest service.

In 2012, he set about building his

own hotel company, BON Hotels, and

today, the same strategic approach is

used at all their establishments, coupled

with owner, staff and guest centricity.

The 100 Most Powerful People

in Africa Hospitality nomination

represents a culmination of Mr

Stehlik’s lifelong commitment to,

and passion for the industry. It is

also an acknowledgement of his

pioneering, entrepreneurial spirit.



MARKET PAGE SAEC STRAP

NEWS

Open Day for The IIE of Hospitality & Service Management

There is a great need in Africa for academically trained hospitality professionals, particularly when

one considers that many executive positions in the African hospitality industry are not filled by those

from the continent.

The IIE School of Hospitality & Service

Management – which has campuses in

Rosebank, Johannesburg and in Newlands,

in Cape Town – seeks to address the rapidly

expanding need for service, hospitality and

customer-centric education, spanning entry-level

through to management-level qualifications.

When most people think of the hospitality

and service industry, they often think of

hotels and restaurants and little else. But the

truth is hospitality and, especially service, is

present in every company and business that

has customers and is focused on meeting and

fulfilling those customers’ needs satisfactorily.

Courses offered include the IIE Higher Certificate

in Hospitality Management, the IIE Bachelor

of Hospitality Management, the IIE Advanced

Diploma in Hospitality Leadership and the IIE

Advanced Certificate in Hospitality Management.

The IIE Higher Certificate in Hospitality

Management is a full-time one-year course

which also creates a pathway to enrol for

the IIE degree. The IIE Bachelor of Hospitality

Management is a three-year degree course.

Both qualifications meet international standards

and are available via distance learning.

There will be an Open Day at both campuses on

Saturday, 29 October, from 08h00-12h30.

• The IIE School of Hospitality & Service

Management, 3 Keyes Ave, Rosebank,

Johannesburg, Gauteng.

• The IIE School of Hospitality & Service

Management, The Quadrant, 146

Campground Road, Newlands, Cape Town,

Western Cape.

Building back Exhibitions and Events together!

The founding Associations of the SA Events Council have consistently provided essential information and support on event

safety, business relief and venue capacity. Ensure you are ready for business by engaging with your association today.

hello@saeventscouncil.org


PAGE EVENT STRAP GREENING FORUM

Your green venue checklist

Selecting a ‘green venue’ is one of the simplest and most effective steps you can take to make your

events more sustainable. To help you do this, the Event Greening Forum (EGF) has developed this

green venue checklist of questions to ask before you decide on where to host your next event.

GENERAL

Does the venue have a sustainability Vision Statement/ Policy Statement? Is it accessible or

visible to everyone?

If yes, ask for a copy.

Can the staff answer your questions about the sustainability vision statement? Is there

general awareness among everyone?

Ask to see what they are doing on a site visit. For example, ask to see how they separate waste into

recyclables and non-recyclables. Ask to see the results of their efforts. Ideally they should be

measuring this.

PROCUREMENT

Do you have an eco-procurement* policy?

If yes, ask for a copy.

* Eco-procurement means giving preference to products and services that have a positive impact on

the environment (think energy, water, waste and carbon footprint) and the local community.

Can the person responsible for procurement answer your questions about the venue’s

procurement policy?

Again, once you receive the document, ask lots of questions. Examples of eco-procurement could

include: Prioritising working with hyper-local companies and companies that have a strong social

investment policy.

SOCIAL

Is the venue taking steps to work with, and uplift, the local community?

If yes, ask questions to better understand this.

Examples could include: Offering training and employment opportunities to disadvantaged youth;

working with an NGO that is helping entrepreneurs to establish a small business; sourcing products

and services from local businesses; or ongoing support of a nearby school.

ENERGY

Are steps being taken to reduce energy consumption at the venue?

If yes, can the staff explain what is being done and what the results are?

Examples could include: The venue is using energy-efficient technology such as LED light bulbs and

energy-efficient computers; there is a system to ensure unneeded lights, aircon and heating are

switched off; the building is insulated; supplementary renewable energy is produced onsite.

WATER

Are steps being taken to conserve water at the venue?


Examples could include: The venue has water-efficient technology such as low-flow taps and showers,

dual-flush toilets, and water-saving dishwashers and washing machines; there is a water-wise garden

and rainwater is collected; grey water is collected and recycled.

WASTE

Are steps being taken to reduce the venue’s waste-to-landfill?


Examples could include: The venue has a procurement policy that limits single-use and non-recyclable

packaging; there is an effective multi-bin system for the different types of waste; the food waste is

diverted into a composting system; the different types of waste are weighed so that the waste

management systems can be improved in an ongoing manner.

TRANSPORT

Is the venue accessible to public transport and or eco-mobility?

An example could be having good access to and from major transport hubs where public transports

modes are available such as buses, taxis, trains, etc.

FOOD

Does the venue have a sustainable approach in its food and beverage?

If yes, can the staff explain what is being done in this regard?

Examples could include: Prioritising the use of in-season local produce on their menus; using only

sustainable sourced seafood; serving sustainably certified wines; or developing menus using locally

sourced and seasonal food products with an emphasis on reducing any food waste.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Morwesi Ramonyai, chairperson of the

Event Greening Forum, said: “It is critical

that a venue can adequately answer all your

questions and prove their greening claims. If

not, they could be guilty of greenwashing.

With many venues going the extra mile to

improve their sustainable credentials, you

really can afford to be picky.”

If you’re looking for a green venue –

or are a green venue – visit the EGF’s

greendatabase.co.za. It’s a one-stopshop

for green solutions for events, and

it doesn’t cost anything to be listed.

The Save the date:

Green Venue Workshop

Please save the date for our upcoming hybrid event

where we will unpack what a ‘green’ venue is, how

to identify one, and the value of using them for your

events.

The format will be a panel discussion with ample

opportunity for questions and answers. Grace Stead,

a sustainability consultant and founder of Steadfast

Greening, as well as the co-founder of the Event

Greening Forum, will facilitate the discussion.

Date: Thursday, 10 November

Time: 09:00 to 11:00

Venue: CTICC, Cape Town and online

More details coming soon.

About the EGF

The Event Greening Forum (EGF) is a non-profit

organisation that promotes sustainability within

the business events sector. It does this by hosting

educational sessions for industry and lobbying

government in an effort to implement sustainability

principles into the daily operations of the events

industry.

The EGF was established through dedication and

support of eight industry associations who are

recognised as founding members. The founding

members are key industry associations working

together to promote South Africa as a destination

for various types of events.

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about

event greening, visit

www.eventgreening.co.za where you

can browse the free resources, sign up to

the monthly newsletter, or contact them

directly with any queries.

Contact:

Lynn Mcleod

T: 082 891 5883

E: lynn@eventgreening.co.za



SAACI PAGE STRAP NEWS

Staying event-fit

As the calendar year of 2022 starts raising its chequered flag, there is still so much we all need to do.

While we have seen some good green shoots of recovery within our industry, we understand this is off

the back of some intensive work by many an event professional.

By Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI.

We must, however, agree that the

business events industry needs to

be aware, when it comes to our

contribution to the global climate.

Being ‘event-fit’, both mentally and

physically has been a ‘tongue in cheek

conversation held in passing’, these past

few months. Many of us agree that we

need to fit that ‘zone’, as a professional

athlete would call it, where body, mind

and soul are in sync, and we are pushing

in unison with our clients and teams. At

times, we have understated what the

impact and the return to operations will

be and what it will have on our mental

state of mind. The pressure of pitching up

for work, the wait for the decision, the

delayed decisions and then the rush to

deliver. Coupled with the demands of not

compromising quality, while doing this all

with limited staff and teams.

In some instances, the demands have

increased, and we must deliver with less,

either less budgets or less staff or both,

against a very tight deadline.

So, with two-thirds of 2022 done, and

some work still to be completed, we turn

some of our thoughts to 2023 with the

experience we have now, to ready

ourselves both mentally but – even more

so – physically. With all things being

equal, we would be able to deliver a copy

of 2022 with slight changes which

enhance the client and delegate

experience.

A little more attention is required by all

when managing the above, and with

recovery showing good signs, we all want

to ensure that it is sustainable. However, it

may only be so, if we find that ‘zone’ and

take care of ourselves, our staff, and the

clients we serve. Recovery should not be

the only focus, and yes, we have all

suffered, but let us not make too many

compromises, resulting in us losing sight

of the reason why we do what we do,

which is making long-lasting memories

while sharing knowledge that enhances

the communities we serve.

Keep safe and stay event-fit.

THE ASSOCIATION

FOR CONFERENCE

INDUSTRY LEADERS

CONNECT SAACI unites , supports and educates the business

events industry in southern Africa by creating sustainable environment

for business growth

THRIVE Join SAACI and enjoy access to an inspiring

network of industry professionals, while giving your business the

professional status it needs to attract the attention of business leaders.

GROW Become the business events professional you’ve always

wanted to be. Access the SAACI Academy and enter a world of inspiration,

connections and world-class skills development.

Visit our online community: +27(0)11 880 5883

www.saaci.org

info@saaci.org


www.saacicongress.org

www.saaci-academy.org

Business Events Africa Learning October | Growth 2022 2020 | collaboration

49

PAGE SITE VENUE NEWS STRAP NEWS

Aerial image of Blind Channel, West Thurlow Island, Desolation Sound, British Columbia, Canada.

Three ways to deliver sustainable

incentives that motivate teams

Incentive travel has seen a massive resurgence over the past several months, with a spike in teams

that want to reconnect through transformative experiences. However, the key to delivering rewards

today, for top performers, is to focus on sustainable offerings.

While it may have once

been considered a trend

in the realm of business

events and incentive travel,

sustainability is no longer optional.

Its scope isn’t limited to protecting

the environment, either. Sustainability

also encompasses cultural and

socio-economic impacts. Last year,

Destination Canada Business Events

wrote an article for SITE Motivate on

sustainability, and a lot has happened

since then. Read on for the latest

on how the country is delivering

sustainable incentive rewards — along

with a glimpse into a powerful new

initiative that will raise the bar when it

comes to hosting sustainable events.

Preserving local cultures

A major trend shaping the incentive

industry is the desire to engage

authentically with diverse cultures when

visiting a destination. High achievers

want to see how locals live, eat and

work — and ultimately, return home

with a deeper understanding and

appreciation of different cultures.

In Canada, incentive groups have the

chance to connect with Indigenous

Peoples through a plethora of

transformative experiences. In fact,

there are some 1,800 Indigenousowned

businesses in the tourism

sector across the country, which

are playing an integral role in

preserving the cultures, languages and

traditions of Indigenous Peoples.

Take the ultra-secluded Klahoose

Wilderness Resort, for instance. The

luxury wilderness resort, which is

100 per cent owned by the Klahoose

First Nations, opened in June 2021

in British Columbia’s breathtaking

Desolation Sound. It offers incentive

groups seven rooms and cabins that

are available for a full buyout option,

all decorated with Indigenous artwork

from surrounding communities.

Upon arriving by boat or plane,

top performers are greeted with a

traditional Klahoose drumming and

welcome song on the veranda that

overlooks the Homfray Channel.

Once there, they can enjoy an array



PAGE SITE STRAP NEWS

A major trend shaping the incentive industry is the desire to engage

authentically with diverse cultures when visiting a destination.

of immersive cultural experiences with

their colleagues, including Indigenous

storytelling, songs, cedar weaving, and

nature excursions in one of the largest

temperature rainforests on Earth. No

matter what they choose, they will return

home feeling inspired and revitalised by

the cultural knowledge they’ve gained.

Protecting the environment

Home to 48 national parks, pristine lakes,

the northern lights and so much more,

Canada is a country that’s synonymous

with nature. So, it shouldn’t come as a

surprise that preserving its natural beauty

and wildlife has been a top priority for

destinations across the country. This aligns

with a growing incentive travel trend: high

achievers who strive to limit their impact

on the environment when celebrating

their successes.

Canada has a wealth of environmentally

friendly accommodations to help them

do just that, like 1 Hotel Toronto. The

newly opened hotel takes inspiration

from the beauty of Lake Ontario to

offer guests a sustainable urban retreat,

with furniture and decor created from

fallen local trees, 100 per cent organic

cotton bed linens and floor-to-ceiling

windows that let natural light in.

Its culinary initiatives also help incentive

groups travel sustainably. The hotel’s

restaurants are zero-waste operations,

which underscores the team’s commitment

to preserving the beauty and bounty of

nature. This includes an on-site composter

that can turn 12,000 pounds of waste

into under 1,000 pounds of compost

that’s used to feed over 2,500 plants

in the hotel and neighbouring parks.

Supporting the community

Today’s high achievers are also eager to

play a role in revitalising the places they

visit — with scores of organisations seeing

a rise in socio-economic-conscious travel

among their employees.

Organisations that host their incentives

in Montréal can help their teams achieve

that by supporting one of the city’s most

iconic companies: Cirque du Soleil. Known

for gravity-defying acrobatics, gymnastics

and synchronised choreography that

infuses wonder and awe in celebrations,

Cirque du Soleil is also committed to being

an agent for change in the community

that it was founded in. In particular,

it offers activities and programs that

benefit at-risk kids and youth — like

Cirque du Monde, which uses circus

acts as a means of intervention.

By rewarding your top performers with

an exclusive Cirque performance in the

cosmopolitan city, they’ll not only be

inspired like never before — they’ll also

feel good about supporting a company

that’s determined to give back.

A one-of-a-kind programme

This is only the beginning for sustainable

travel in Canada. In fact, Destination

Canada Business Events has recently

launched a first-of-its-kind national

programme aimed at improving the

economic, social and environmental

sustainability practices of business events

hosted in Canada — the Canadian

Business Events Sustainability Plan. Its

goal? As one of the world’s first national

sustainability plans for business events, it

aims to provide a national support arm

that will accelerate the industry’s progress

toward net-zero targets.

With the programme, the team will roll

out actionable programs tailored toward

the unique Sustainable Development

Goals of individual cities to global clients.

The plan will focus on clients across all

segments — international association

conferences, trade exhibitions, workshops

and seminars, as well as corporate

meetings and incentive group events.

Sustainability is a key component

of business events and incentive

travel. As a result, organisations are

increasingly looking to align with

destinations that are leading the

charge in delivering just that.

What we’re all about: motivational experiences

Why we do it? Business results!

Site is the only global network of travel and event professionals committed to motivational

experiences that deliver business results.

Site provides insights and connections that inspire the utilisation of this powerful tool

across diverse industries, regions and cultures.

Site serves as a source of knowledge and best practices where members can make

personal connections that sustain professional growth.

Only one organisation sits at the critical intersection between those who seek

the benefits of motivational tools and those who can provide these extraordinary

experiences. That organisation is Site...

Contact

Email: info@sitesouthernafrica.com

www.sitesouthernafrica.com

www.siteglobal.com


EXSA PAGE NEWS STRAP

Giving back to the community

Londocor Event Management initiated a new, eco-friendly way of

exhibiting. After organising hundreds of congresses over 27 years,

and seeing the wastage after each congress, Londocor decided to

introduce a new and novel way to give back to the community.

By Sonja du Plessis, managing director of Londocor Event Management (Pty) Ltd.

In 2021, the organising committee for the

National Psychiatry Congress proposed

a congress where they could drastically

reduce its carbon and plastic footprint.

Londocor suggested a novel idea of building

sustainable, environmentally friendly, nonplastic

stands, with the aim of reusing the

material towards a classroom building

project to support a local community.

All exhibition stands were built by an

accredited housing company that were then

assembled onsite, dressed, and branded by BB

Projects and handed over to each exhibitor.

The exhibition stands were disassembled after the

congress and transported to Amahlubi Secondary

School and were reused to build beautiful

classrooms for this very needy secondary school.

The classrooms were fitted with all the wooden

furniture from the exhibition stands, including

tables, chairs, bookshelves, counters, lights, etc. All

congress bags were also donated to the school.

The congress participants eagerly contributed

towards the needs of the community by donating

shoes, clothes, tinned food, toiletries, etc.

An additional amount of R185,000 was also

raised at the congress dinner, from participants,

to build bathrooms for the school.

Since 2021, most of their other congresses

have followed suit and are enthusiastically

supported by delegates, trade and most certainly

appreciated by the community to which these

structures are donated and have been used to

build clinics, shelters for abused women and

children, community halls and storerooms.



AAXO PAGE STRAP NEWS

Events of all kinds depend on teamwork

As an industry, we have an incredible ability to work at 200 per cent capacity for long periods of

time. This is generally done when we are busy with build-up, show days and during break-down of our

events. We push our minds and bodies to the limit to ensure a successful event, exhibition, conference,

or show. We are able to sustain this pressure and, once the event is concluded, we are able to revert

back to a ‘normal’ workday.

By Mark Anderson, project director at Specialised Exhibitions and AAXO treasurer.

This year, it has been an incredible

experience to observe how the

industry has reopened. There

were ‘teething problems’ and many of

us struggled to get into fifth gear. Some

of us had forgotten what it was like to

work at 200 per cent and almost had to

relearn how to go about our daily job.

So, as the year approaches the last few

months, we need to remember the

good things that happened. We need to

learn from our mistakes and, instead of

repeating them, let’s rather pioneer new

opportunities.

The industry will continue to grow into

2023. This will lead to new staff joining

the ranks. Companies that had originally

downsized will be looking to upskill

current staff, and everyone is on the

lookout for top talent.

As people change roles within

companies and new staff join the

ranks, it is vital that the culture

of the organisation remains the

same. Teams need to be able to

work together and trust each other.

Events of all kinds depend on

teamwork to ensure their success.

A project director cannot deliver an

event without a highly motivated and

competent team behind them. Teambuilding

has the ability to play a big role

in cultivating a positive culture within

any organisation. It also helps in

developing trust and promoting

teamwork. This all leads to better

communication and hopefully, a

smoother build-up, excellent show days

and a simple break-down.

Let’s grow the exhibition

industry by investing in our

young professionals.


DIRECTORY

SOUTHERN AFRICAN

ASSOCIATION FOR THE

CONFERENCE INDUSTRY

EXCO AND HEAD OFFICE

Chairperson:

Kim Roberts

e: info@mise-en-placesolutions.com

c: +27 (0)82 652 2008

Vice-chairperson:

Minister Kganyango

e: mkganyago@csir.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Treasurer:

Jaques Fouche

e: jaques@be-moved.co.za

c: +27 (0)60 993 7542

Public officer:

Alistair Stead

e: alastair@scandisplay.africa

c: +27 (0)73 236 6618

Chief executive officer:

Glenton De Kock

e: ceo@saaci.org

c: +27 (0)82 575 7565

Membership services consultant:

Alshanthé Smith

t: +27 (0)71 299 0601

e: members@saaci.org

BOARD MEMBERS

Chairperson:

Kim Roberts

e: info@mise-en-placesolutions.com

t: +27 (0)82 652 2008

Vice-chairperson:

Minister Kganyango


c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Treasurer:

Jaques Fouche

e: jaques@be-moved.co.za

c: +27 (0)60 993 7542

Public officer:

Alistair Stead

e: alastair@scandisplay.africa

c: +27 (0)73 236 6618

Eastern Cape Chairperson:

Melissa Palmer

e: melissa@becbc.co.za

t: +27 (0)82 437 7600

+27 (0)41 404 2431

KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson:

Irene Vallihu

c: +27 (0)79 692 4604

e: irenev@icc.co.za

Gauteng Chairperson:

Neil Nagooroo

c: +27 (0)82 929 5241

e: neil@nxlevel.co.za

Western Cape Chairperson:

Angela Lorimer

c: +27 (0)74 550 1000

e: angelajacobson862@yahoo.co.za

Coopted Youth Ambassador:

Minister Kganyango


c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Coopted Learning Ambassador:

Esti Venske

e: venskee@cput.ac.za

c: +27 (0)83 482 9276

EASTERN CAPE

Chairperson:

Melissa Palmer

e: melissa@becbc.co.za

t: +27 (0)82 437 7600

+27 (0)41 404 2431

Vice-chairperson:

Claire Kivedo

e: claire@overallevents.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 4641 504

COMMITTEE:

David Limbert

e: david@magnetic.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 9064 198

Gill Dickie

e: gilld@bidvestcarrental.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 527 7619

Wanda Fourie

e: registration@easternsun.co.za

c: +27 (0)72 608 1641

Claire Kivedo

e: claire@overallevents.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 464 1504

GAUTENG

Chairperson:

Neil Nagooroo

c: +27 (0)82 929 5241

e: neil@nxlevel.co.za

Vice Chairperson:

Mary Mahlangu

c: +27 (0) 81 574 9493

e: mary@flockplatform.com

COMMITTEE:

Rendani Khorommbi

Joburg Tourism

t: +27 (0)11 883 3525

c: +27 (0)82 773 2999

e: rendanik@joburgtourism.com

Zaida Enver

Pure Grit Events and Exhibitions

Management

t: +27 (0)82 555 1049

e: zaida@puregrit.co.za

KWAZULU-NATAL

Chairperson: Irene Vallihu

c: +27 (0)79 692 4604

e: irenev@icc.co.za

Vice-chairperson: Gill Slaughter

c: +27 (0)83 269 0279

e: gills@turnersconferences.co.za

Treasurer: Sibusiso Mncwabe

c: +27 (0)83 477 5536

e: sibusiso@marketingwell.co.za

COMMITTEE:

Tarannum Banatwalla

c: +27 (0)83 254 9462

e: tarannum@jellyfishcatering.co.za

Mabuyi Mosia

c: +27 (0)71 117 7509

e: mabuyi@ikhono.co.za

Kavitha Dhawnath

c: +27 (0)83 607 200

e: kavitha.dhawnath@gearhouse.co.za

Wiseman Mnguni

c: +27 (0)78 220 2162

e: mboniseni.events@gmail.com

Sandile Dlamini

c: +27 (0)79 104 5510

e: sandile@anzomode.co.za

WESTERN CAPE

Chairperson:

Angela Lorimer

c: +27 (0)74 550 1000

e: angelajacobson862@yahoo.co.za

e: salesmanager@ lagoonbeachhotel.co.za

Vice-chairperson:

Alex Wrottesley

c: +27 (0)21 430 2060

e: alex@intoafrica.co.za

COMMITTEE:

Ansu Colditz

c: +27 (0)82 457 8071

e: ansuc@millenniumtravel.co.za

Esti Venske

t: +27 (0)21 460 3518

e: estivenske@gmail.com

Zimkitha Bavuma

c: +27 (0)72 172 5746

e: zim@live.co.za

Esmare Steinhofel

c: +27 (0)84 056 5544

e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org

Andrew Gibson

t: +27 (0)860 111 625

e: Andrew@magnetic.co.za

e: andrew.msct@gmail.com

Gheeta Payle

t: +27 (0)86 123 7890

e: gheeta.payle@inhousevtm.com

Lara van Zyl

Paragon Africa

t: +27 (0)82 223 4684

e: lvanzyl@paragong.com

EXHIBITIONS AND

EVENTS ASSOCIATION OF

SOUTHERN AFRICA

EXSA OFFICE

www.exsa.co.za

EXSA Association Manager

Lee-Ann Alder

t: +27 (0)82 550 0349

e: info@exsa.co.za

EXSA Chairperson and KZN forum

head:

Sibusiso Mchwabe (KZN)

Marketing Well

t: +27 (0)83 477 5536

e: sibusiso@marketingwell.co.za

EXSA Deputy chairperson, Head of

WC forum:

Jacqui Nel (EC)

Exhibition Freighting G.S.M.

t: +27 (0)21 552 7248

e: jacquinel@ef-gsm.co.za

Deputy head KZN forum:

Sandile Dlamini

Anzamode

t: +27 (0)79 104 5510

e: sandile@anzomode.co.za

Deputy Head WC forum:

Liam Beattie

Hott 3D

t: +27 (0)76 577 0989

e: liam@hott.co.za

Immediate past Chairperson:

Doug Rix

DK Designs

t: +27 (0)82 579 7071

e: dougrix@wol.co.za

Directors:

Kerry-Lee Bester

Brilliant Branding

t: +27 (0)72 265 6600

e: kerry@brilliant-branding.co.za

Beert Kuiken

Octanorm

t: +27 (0)82 387 5324

e: beert.kuiken@octanorm.co.za



DIRECTORY

SOCIETY FOR INCENTIVE

TRAVEL EXCELLENCE

President: Tes Proos

c: +27 (0) 84 682 7676

e: tes@crystalevents.co.za

Treasurer: Peter-John Mitrovich

c: +27 (0)82 318 1889

e: peter-john.mitrovich@grosvenortours.

com

Sustainability: Daryl Keywood

Southern Africa Development:

Brad Glen

East Africa Development:

Chris Munyao

Young Leader Programme:

Peter Mwanja

Africa Convention Bureaus:

Rick Taylor

North Africa Development:

George Fawzi

Board member at large: Rick Taylor

East Africa (Rwanda): Chris Munyao

North Africa: George Fawzi

North Africa support: Brad Glen

Secretariat & Events: Mariaan Burger

c: +27 (0)82 557 8041

e: info@siteafrica.africa

SA EVENTS COUNCIL

e: hello@saeventscouncil.org

Chairperson:

Raylene Johnson, CEO: TEBCO-SA

Vice-chairperson: —

–

Interim treasurer:

Glenn van Eck, Chairperson: CEPA

Spokesperson:

Projeni Pather, Chairperson: AAXO

Members:

Kevan Jones, Executive Director SACIA

Sharif Baker, Chairperson TPSA

Tes Proos, SITE President

Justin Hawes, Managing Director: Scan

Display & Event Greening Forum Treasurer

Sibusiso Mncwabe, Chairperson EXSA

Justin van Wyk, Chairperson SALPA

Mike Lord, Chairperson ESC

Arthur Goldstuck, PSASA Exco Member

Esmare Steinhofel, Chairperson: ICCA

Africa Chapter

Advisory Members:

Prof Nellie Swart, Associate Professor:

Tourism Management

Corne Koch, Head: Convention Bureau

(WESGRO)

Tiisetso Tau, AAXO member

Daryl Keywood, SITE Member

Bheki Twala, TEBCO-SA Executive

Kim Roberts, SAACI Representative

Western Cape

Robyn D’Alessandro, PR/Social media, Vivo

Visual Voice CC

ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN

EXHIBITION ORGANISERS

46 Waterford Office Park, Waterford Drive,

Fourways, Johannesburg

t: +27 (0)87 265 5840

e: aaxo@aaxo.co.za

Association coordinator:

Anthea Buys

e: anthea@aaxo.co.za

Chairperson:

Devi Paulsen-Abbott, Dmg Events

e: devipaulsen@dmgevents.com

Vice-chairperson:

Tiisetso Tau, Synergy Business Events

e: ttau@synergybe.co.za

Venue Committee Chairperson:

Charles Wilson, Gallagher Convention

Centre

e: charlesw@Gallagher.co.za

Treasurer:

Mark Anderson, Specialised Exhibitions

Montgomery

e: marka@specialised.com

Board of directors:

Chanelle Hingston, Clarion Events Africa

e: chanelle.hingston@clarionevents.com

Sandra Barrow

e: sandra.barrow@rxglobal.com

Projeni Pather, Exposure Marketing

e: projeni@exposuremarketing.co.za

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS &

CONVENTION ASSOCIATION

ICCA African Chapter

Chairperson:

Taubie Motlhabane

Cape Town International Convention

Centre

t: +27 (0)21 410 5000

e: Taubiem@cticc.co.za

Deputy chairperson:

Jacinta Nzioka

Kenya National Convention Bureau

t: +254 722464221

e: jacinta@kncb.go.ke

Secretariat:

Esmaré Steinhöfel

ICCA Africa Regional director

c: +27 (0)84 056 5544

e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org

www.iccaworld.com/dbs/africanchapter

www.iccaworld.org

EVENT GREENING FORUM

179 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North,

Private Bag X7000, Parklands 2121

t: +27 (0)11 447 4777

e: info@eventgreening.co.za

www.eventgreening.co.za

Chairperson: Morwesi Ramonyai,

Borena Energy

Vice-chairperson: John Avanitakis,

Chat’r Xperience

Treasurer: Justin Hawes, Scan Display

Secretariat: Lynn McLeod

e: lynn@eventgreening.co.za

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

OF INTEREST

ABTA – African Business Travel

Association

Box 2594, Pinegowrie, 2123

t: +27 (0)11 888 8178

c: +27 (0)83 679 2110

e: monique@abta.co.za

www.abta.co.za

Founder: Monique Swart

ASATA – Association of Southern

African Travel Agents

PO Box 650539, Benmore, 2010

t: +27 (0)11 293 0560/61

e: barbara@asata.co.za

e: general@asata.co.za

Office manager: Barbara Viljoen

Council of Event Professionals Africa

M16 Ticketpro Dome

Cnr. Northumberland & Olievenhout Roads,

Northriding

Executive Director: Kevan Jones

kevan@sacia.org.za

t: +27 (0)11 083 6418

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

Chairperson: Glenn van Eck

Magnetic Storm

c: +27 (0)82 800 2616

e: glenn@magnetic.co.za

FEDHASA National Office –

Federated Hospitality Association of

Southern Africa

PO Box 3853, The Reeds, 0157

c: +27 (0)82 552 9862

e: ceo@fedhasa.co.za

www.fedhasa.co.za

Chief executive: Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa

PSASA – Professional Speakers

Association of Southern Africa

t: +27 (0)11 462 9465

c: +27 (0)83 458 6114

e: admin@psasouthernafrica.co.za

www.psasouthernafrica.co.za

SABOA – Southern African Bus

Operators Association

Postnet Suite 393, Private Bag X033,

Rivonia 2128

t: +27 (0)11 511 7641

e: saboa@saboa.co.za

www.saboa.co.za

SACIA – Southern African

Communications Industries

Association

M16 Ticketpro Dome


Northriding

t: +27 (0)11 083 6418

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

e: kevan@sacia.org.za

Executive director: Kevan Jones

SATI – South African Translators’

Institute

Executive director: Marion Boers

t: +27 (0)11 803 2681

e: office@translators.org.za

www.translators.org.za

SATSA – Southern Africa Tourism

Services Association

Box 900, Ferndale 2160

t: +27 (0)11 886 9996

e: pa@satsa.co.za

www.satsa.com

SKAL International South Africa

Secretary: Anne Lamb

t: +27 (0)21 434 7023

c: +27 (0)82 708 1836

e: anne@yebo.co.za

www.skalsouthafrica.org

STA – Sandton Tourism Association

t: +27 (0)83 558 5445

e: secretariat@sandtontourism.com

www.sandtontourism.com

TBCSA – Tourism Business

Council of South Africa

Box 11655, Centurion 0046

t: +27 (0)12 664 0120

e: comms@tbcsa.travel

www.tbcsa.travel

www.tomsa.co.za

Member relations manager:

Boitumelo Moleleki

TGCSA – Tourism Grading

Council of South Africa

Private Bag X10012, Sandton 2146

t: +27 (0)11 895 3000

f: +27 (0)11 895 3001

e: enquiries@tourismgrading.co.za

TINSA – Interpreters/Translators

Network of Southern Africa

e: info@interpreter.org.za

t/f: +27 (0)11 485 2511

c: +27 (0)83 249 0010

www.interpreter.org.za

TPSA – Technical Production Services

Association

M16 Ticketpro Dome


Northriding

t: +27 (0)11 083 6418

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

e: kevan@sacia.org.za

www.tpsa.co.za

Executive director: Kevan Jones

TTA – Tshwane Tourism Association

Box 395, Pretoria 0001

t: +27 (0)12 841 4212

e: secretary@tshwanetourism.com

www.tshwanetourism.com

Chairperson:

Bronwen Cadle de Ponte

Secretary: Sithembile Nzimande

Membership coordinator:

Liz Oosthuysen

e: membership@tshwanetourism.com



Brett Delport joins Hilton as regional director

Hilton has appointed Brett Delport as regional director of sales operations for Africa and Indian

Ocean (A&IO).

Mr Delport brings on board

over 10 years of hospitality

industry experience to Hilton.

He has worked across the hospitality

value chain, having held positions in

various functions, from guest and hotel

operations to sales and marketing.

In his new role, Mr Delport will be

responsible for leading the development and

implementation of strategic sales plans that

maximise profitability for owned and

franchised hotels, with an objective of

achieving budgeted revenue and market

share targets across the region.

Jan van der Putten, vice president,

operations A&IO, Hilton said: “It is a pleasure

to welcome Brett to the team. He

demonstrates a strong work ethic and ability

to work in diverse environments. I am

excited to see what the future holds for

Brett, and I am confident that he is going to

deliver exceptional results in growing our

business further in Africa & Indian Ocean.”

Mr Delport said: “I am honoured to

embrace the new challenge of leading our

sales operations strategy in 12 countries and

across 18 hotels in A&IO region. I look

forward to collaborating with the team to

deliver excellent performance for the

business.”

Mr Delport has held various positions

in various hospitality chains in sub-

Saharan Africa prior to joining Hilton on

1 September 2022 in his new role.

Index of advertisers and contributors

ADVERTISER PAGE EMAIL WEBSITE

AAXO 56 aaxo@aaxo.co.za www.aaxo.co.za

Barmotion 5 info@barmotion.co.za www.barmotion.co.za

City Lodge Hotel Group 14-15,16 www.citylodgehotels.com

Dragonfly Africa 39 www.dragonfly.co.za

Electra Mining Africa 24-29,30 Keraysha.Pillay@montgomerygroup.com www.electramining.co.za

Event Greening Forum 48 info@eventgreening.co.za www.eventgreening.co.za

EXSA 56 exsa@exsa.co.za www.exsa.co.za

Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch FC,IFC,8-12 DURGI reservations@hilton.com HGI.com

Leo Melano Events 17 leomelano@outlook.com www.leomelano.co.bw

Mjunxtion 4 yolande@mjunxtion.co.za www.mjunxtion.co.za

Premier Hotels 13 info@premierhotels.com www.premierhotels.com

SA Events Council 47 hello@saeventscouncil.org www.saeventscouncil.org

SAACI 49 info@saaci.org www.saaci.org

South African National Convention Bureau 7 https://sancb.southafrica.net/ sat_bidsupport microsite_1

Site Africa 50 info@sitesouthernafrica.com siteglobal.com/chapter/site-africa

The Westin 34-35,36 wh.cptwi.GroupReservations@marriott.com



THE PAGE LAST WORD STRAP

The future of conferencing

Virtual conferencing holds a great many benefits outside of the obvious, post-Covid-19 safety

factors. From a lower carbon footprint to cutting down on travel logistics and costs; more efficient

time-usage by speakers and better focus by breakaway groups.

By Samuel Nassimov, managing director of Premier Hotels & Resorts.

Premier Hotels & Resorts, has confirmed

that its business events business is

exceeding its late 2019 performance,

with the government sector proving stronger

than the corporate market — which is still

lagging. Although meaningful comparisons

are difficult, we have seen growth of

29 per cent in 2022 business events

performance, compared to the 2021 last

four months trading, as restrictions eased.

Overall, corporates largely remain cautious

of big events, conference gatherings and many

prefer the hybrid approach — with training

and meetings taking place online or at their

offices. This is expected to improve markedly in

the second half of the year — notwithstanding

the current energy crisis and their need to

rebuild and strengthen their teams, exchanging

ideas in person and building new networks.

That being said, out of all the feedback

we’ve received from returning conferencing

clients and from personal experience in

the space, we can safely say that faceto-face

conferencing is still superior.

Forward pipelines are still not as robust

as 2019, but we are extremely encouraged

by the demand for our flagship ELICC and

Premier Hotels in East London. We also

welcome an upsurge in sport, association

and NGO business, which is encouraging.

International incentives and groups continue

to lag due to restricted airline capacity and

other country Covid travel restrictions — with

the major nodes of Sandton, Durban and

Cape Town still to recover thoroughly.

Exactly when we will once again be able to

host ‘bigger’ face-to-face conferences in our

venues, remains to be seen. So here are a few

things to consider when it comes to conferencing

in the short- to medium-term future:

Innovation is key

If Covid has taught us one thing, it is to

innovate. Those entrepreneurs, brands and

businesses who are adaptable, dynamic and

innovative despite the past 18 months (or

because of it) are the ones that will thrive, now

and in the future.

Much like the live entertainment industry

(we’re not talking about ‘regular’ business

meetings here — a clear distinction needs to

be made between conferences and business

meetings) the conference sphere was forced

to go virtual — moving to video-chat

screens, with digital presentations and typed,

chat-style Q&A sessions. Those companies

that managed to do this in the most userfriendly

and engaging ways are the ones

that will (and have to date) garnered the

most engagement from their dignitaries.

Smart use of technology

There is a wealth of conferencing technology

and apps out there and the quality of the

voice and video imaging continues to improve.

Being able to follow crisp, clear presentations

in real-time is why conferencing is back

in demand. In addition to the face-to-face

sessions, there will be digital recordings so

that delegates can revisit the sessions post

event, and it offers the opportunity for experts

to dial in from all over the world. Venues

have geared up to meet all these factors. At

Premier Hotels & Resorts, we have various

conference-specific venues across the country

and all are well-equipped with the latest in

AV and streaming equipment to facilitate

both the in-person and the hybrid model.

Around the water cooler

One of the biggest benefits of ‘traditional’

(face-to-face) conferencing is the off-the-mic

time. The networking, team-building and

impromptu strategy sessions that occur away

from the structured sessions. This is simply not

possible in the virtual realm. Not on the same

level of depth, anyway.

Hybrid or bust

It is from the learnings of previous events in the

conferencing and entertainment space (and from

the current remote-working philosophy of

day-to-day business) that it is also likely we will

see a ‘hybrid’ model of sorts, going forward. A

model that incorporates both physical and virtual

aspects. The ‘best of both’ if you will.

We remain committed to our government

partners and believe that this sector will also

show good growth in the second half of 2022.

Our primary focus remains on growing our

market share in the corporate market and we

believe our national footprint, and properties in

the primary business nodes – including the newlyopened

Umhlanga properties and refurbished

Sandton hotels – positions us favourably to

compete head-on with the larger hotel groups.

Who is Samuel

Nassimov?

Samuel Nassimov is the managing

director of one of South Africa’s fastest

growing, independently owned hotel

groups, Premier Hotels & Resorts.

In 1990 he acquired the Carlton

Hotel in East London which was later

revamped and renamed as the King

David Suites & Conference Centre.

From a humble beginning of 40

bedrooms, Sam has grown the group’s

portfolio to encompass 25 hotels

and resorts, providing almost 2,000

bedrooms to discerning business and

leisure travellers and employing in excess

of 1,500 employees. Undoubtedly, the

jewel in the crown is the East London

International Convention Centre

and adjacent Premier Hotel EL ICC

which was developed in 1992.


DIGITAL

DIRECTORY

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BUSINESS EVENTS

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Call +27 (0)31 764 6977 for more information

Business Events Africa - Vol 42 No 10 - October 2022

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