Business Events Africa - Vol 40 No 02

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Voice of the Business Events Industry in Africa

Vol 40 No 2 February 2020

CELEBRATING

20 YEARS

SANDTON

CONVENTION CENTRE

JOHANNESBURG | SOUTH AFRICA

OPEN FOR

B

U

S

I N

E

S

S

businesseventsafrica.com

Business Events Africa has been the voice of the business events industry in southern Africa

for the past 39 years. This trusted source of information keeps readers up-to-date with the most

relevant news, trends, interviews, destination features, venue showcases and local association

news and resources. Business Events Africa is also known for having the most comprehensive

directory of venues, service providers, speakers and conference organisers in Africa.

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Voice of the Business Events Industry in Africa

KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW | CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH PEOPLE

Business Events Africa: Serving the business events industry for 40 years

CONTENTS

VOL

40 NO 2

FEBRUARY 2020

14

Special Features

About the cover

Sandton Convention

Centre embraces evolving

trends with optimism

Sandton Convention Centre,

which this year celebrates

its 20th anniversary, is heading

into 2020 with optimism, despite the

depressed economic environment,

said Shaun Bird, general manager of

Sandton Convention Centre.

14 PARADISE ORGANISED ON THE KZN SOUTH COAST

Known as the Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom, the KwaZulu-Natal South

Coast boasts green and lush coastal and hinterland vegetation due to

its subtropical climate. The sunny weather and warm Indian Ocean add

to the South Coast’s emerging popularity as a business and incentive

tourism destination with its diverse team building opportunities in scenic

surroundings.

18 DESTINATION FEATURE | RWANDA: A RISING STAR

Rwanda is shaping up as one of East Africa’s premier business tourism

destinations, following efforts by the government and its partners to

help strengthen and grow the private sector in the meetings, incentives,

conferences, and events market.

20 SCAN DISPLAY RWANDA DELIVERS

SEAMLESS SOLUTIONS AT AIDS CONFERENCE

The 20th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted

Infections in Africa (ICASA) was held at the Kigali Convention Centre

in Kigali, Rwanda, from 2-7 December 2019. It attracted over 10 000

delegates from around the world, and featured a 3 500m² exhibition, for

which Scan Display Rwanda was contracted to supply shell scheme and

custom package stands.

18

The authority on meetings,

exhibitions, special events and

incentives management

27

Features

4 Editor’s comment

The juggling act.

5 News

Ruben Gooranah holds the reins

at Time Square.

8 A local perspective

Tourism trends for 2020 Africa to

dominate the landscape.

16 Undiscovered gems

Conference gems at the CTICC.

22 Personality profile

Neo Mohlatlole the ‘serial

entrepreneur’.

23 Best practice

BOUNCE: Happy staff, happy

company.

24 Market news

Springbok Culinary Team aims for

gold at Olympics in Germany.

26 Market news

Hospitality Zone: The value of

experience dedicated to results.

27 Venue news

Host with the most at the

Johannesburg Expo Centre.

28 Premier Hotels & Resorts: All set

for a year of plenty.

30 International report

SITE breaks attendance record at

its global conference in Vancouver.

31 Event Greening Forum news

How to be a sustainable exhibitor.

32 SAACI news

Time to keep our eyes on the ball.

33 EXSA news

2020: A year of new beginnings

and renewals.

34 AAXO news

Growing young professionals.

35 SITE news

Site Africa looks to the future.

36 Market news

South Africa’s first exclusive

procurement travel summit.

36 Index of advertisers.

37 Calendar.

38 Directory & associations

of interest to the industry.

40 Last word

The importance of environmental

sustainability.

Published by the proprietor

Contact Publications (Pty) Ltd

(Reg No. 1981/011920/07)

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MANAGING DIRECTOR: Malcolm King

malcolm@contactpub.co.za

EDITOR: Irene Costa

gomesi@iafrica.com

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN EDITOR:

Hayley Mendelow

hayley@contactpub.co.za

JUNIOR DESIGNER:

Elrisha du Plooy

elrisha@contactpub.co.za

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SALES REPRESENTATIVES:

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gomesi@iafrica.com

PUBLICATION DETAILS:

Volume 40 No 2

Business Events Africa has 12 issues a year

and is published monthly, with the Yearbook

in June.

52 Mahogany Road, Westmead

www.paarlmedia.co.za

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Africa can be obtained on application to

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9

publishers of Business Events Africa, is a member of:

South Africa National

Convention Bureau

Business Events Africa, in collaboration

with the South Africa National

Convention Bureau, continue to

run a series of supplements on the

importance and the far reaching impact

business events have on a destination.

Learning | Growth | collaboration

Official media partner

Official Journal of the Southern

Africa Chapter of the Society for

Incentive Travel Excellence

aax o

Official journal of the

Exhibition & Event Association

of Southern Africa



EDITOR’S COMMENT

The juggling act

The business events industry can at

times be compared to a worldclass

spectacular event, like they

used to have at Sun City many years ago.

The build-up to the event includes

planning and finding the right partners;

the roll out of a sequence of partners

making it happen; the performers and

the organisers making sure that all the

expectations are met; and the audience

– the delegates and visitors. The actual

event is the culmination of everything

that goes on behind the scenes.

I think in this scenario many of us take

on another role – the juggler. We keep

all the balls up in the air, and every now

and again a ball drops. What is important

is what we do when that ball drops.

Our industry members are resilient

and are always ready with plan b!

The start of 2020 is no different to

any other year. However, from chatting

to industry members there seems to be

an increase in ‘busyness’. Hopefully this

‘busyness’ will convert into good business.

For me, the beginning of the year always

means a countdown to Meetings Africa!

For months, the organisers and the

South Africa National Convention Bureau

team have been working day and night to

ensure the show has the right exhibitors,

hosted buyers and visitors all under one

roof. I have said this before and I will say

it again, it is my favourite trade show of

the year. It is a reunion of our industry

family and, best of all, it opens doors,

brings new opportunities and sees great

returns for all. A trade show like this

one has great value as its main role is

to facilitate business and close deals.

In this edition of Business Events

Africa we look at the exhibitions industry

in South Africa. Through research

conducted by the SANCB, we can see

the true value and the potential business

these shows have for our country.

South Africa continues to tackle

new challenges on a daily basis – the

return of loadshedding was certainly an

unwelcome challenge. But do you know

what? It has taught us to be even more

resilient. We continue, we rise to the

challenge every single time something

new comes our way. Our country certainly

keeps us humble. We really get to

appreciate power when we have none.

This is also why we are so

proficient in the business events

market. It is more than just our

professionalism – we have true grit.

The definition of grit in psychology is

a positive, non-cognitive trait based on

an individual’s perseverance of effort

combined with the passion for a particular

long-term goal or end state, a powerful

motivation to achieve an objective.

‘Grit‘ can also be a good word to

describe the business events sector

in South Africa. It’s definitely made

up of individuals who have lots of

grit. Perseverance and passion are

the two traits you need if you want

to be successful in this sector.

Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, who heads up

the SANCB, definitely has grit. I think it is

important that we acknowledge her for

her hard work in this sector and for always

keeping her eye on the prize – growing

the business events sector in South Africa.

Well done to the SANCB

team for their hard work!

Lastly, I look forward to seeing you

all at Meetings Africa 2020!

Irene

Email: gomesi@iafrica.com

Credit: Hein Liebetrau

NEWS

Ruben Gooranah holds the

reins at Time Square

Hospitality and gaming industry stalwart, Ruben Gooranah has taken the reigns as acting general

manager at Sun International’s Time Square in Menlyn Maine. Mr Gooranah brings a wealth of

knowledge and experience to the role, having started his career in the industry over 30 years ago.

Mr Gooranah lives in Tshwane

and is delighted to be stationed

at one of Gauteng’s most

exciting entertainment destinations in

his hometown, within a community

he knows and understands well.

“I am inspired by the people and Time

Square, undoubtedly the most captivating

places in Gauteng. The opening of

Time Square was exciting to me and for

everyone in Tshwane. We finally have our

own exhilarating entertainment venue

where we can wine and dine in some

of the most distinguished restaurants,

experience the thrill of state of the

art casino games, and enjoy fantastic

shows by local and international artists.

The corporate market and inward

travelers have access to exceptional

conference facilities and accommodation

at The Maslow Time Square.”

“I somehow feel at home at Time

Square, firstly with it being in Tshwane

where I have lived for a long time.

More importantly, I have reconnected

with many of my previous employees

who transferred here from Morula

where I was once the general manager

and thereafter, the regional general

manager, looking after various other

Sun International properties. Of course, I

have also met with many of our regular

guests whom I have known for years.”

Mr Gooranah started his career with

Sun International while studying towards

his BCom degree over 30 years ago. His

journey with Sun International has taken

him from Thohoyandou (Limpopo) to

Bisho (Eastern Cape) and from the Free

State to the Western Cape and back to

Gauteng. Initially, he was focused on

gaming as slots manager of Molopo Sun

(Mmabatho) and then at GrandWest. He

was then appointed as gaming manager

at Morula and thereafter general manager,

a position he held for five years.

In 2010, he moved to the Sun

International head office to the role of

business manager for gaming. He held the

position for three years and in 2013 was

promoted to regional general manager

of casino’s (SA) where he was responsible

for Meropa, Carousel, Windmill, Naledi,

Flamingo, Wild Coast and the Royal

Swazi. He held this position for over

six years before taking his new role of

acting general manager at Time Square.

Looking back on his career, Mr

Gooranah said it has been filled with

many memorable moments, making

many friends, meeting celebrities and

working with extraordinary people.

On his new appointment, he said: “My

vision is for Time Square to be a model

for delivering memorable experiences to

Sun International’s discerning guests.

“It is nearly three years since the

opening of the first phase of Time Square.

Brett Hoppé has done a tremendous

job in building a solid foundation in

every aspect of this spectacular complex

which is now entrenched as one of

the most exciting and encompassing

entertainment hubs in Gauteng. My

job is to take it to the next level.”

Brett Hoppé, who oversaw the opening

of Time Square as general manager of

the complex since 2017,

has assumed the role

of general manager at

Sun International’s iconic

Sun City in the North

West Province.

Ruben Gooranah,

acting general

manager at Sun

International’s

Time Square in Menlyn

Maine.

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Business Events Africa February 2020 5

COVER STORY | Sandton Convention Centre

Sandton Convention Centre

embraces evolving trends with optimism

Sandton Convention Centre, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, is heading

into 2020 with optimism, despite the depressed economic environment, said Shaun Bird,

general manager of Sandton Convention Centre.

The relationships we have established

with our clients place us in this

positive position, and while budgets

are tight, we understand the need

for creativity, flexibility and innovation

to provide value and return on

investment,” he added.

BizTrends2020 supports

this perspective with

a headline that

states, “A weak economic outlook for South

Africa won’t stifle business travel demand.”

Encouragingly for the MICE sector, the

article notes that while economic conditions

in 2020 will continue to be challenging,

“we can expect a traveller-centric and

value-driven corporate

travel year with new

technological

innovations.

The current

climate lends itself to people doing

things differently, exploring efficiencies,

leveraging strategic partnerships

and embracing new platforms, which

makes for an exciting year ahead.”

Sandton Convention Centre’s reputation

for customer-centric and creative service

delivery in line with evolving trends, was

highlighted at the end of 2019 when the

venue was the national five-star winner

in the Conference and Exhibition Venue

category of SA Tourism’s prestigious

2019 Lilizela Tourism Awards.

Bird attributed the award to team

dedication to ensuring that every event runs

6 Business Events Africa February 2020


COVER STORY | Sandton Convention Centre

The growing tendency

toward valuing experiences

over possessions, particularly

by millennials, will benefit the

hospitality industry in Africa.

– Shaun Bird, general manager of Sandton

Convention Centre.

smoothly. “We’re proud of this achievement

and delighted that our core strategy of

customer-centricity and to listening to what

our clients want taking us to the top.”

Another key trend in the industry

embraced by SCC is sustainability. A

BizTrends2020 article on waste management

in hospitality notes that, “While effective

waste management ties into the burgeoning

‘green travel’ market, the underlying

message is not about tapping into a

trend or trying to reduce operating costs,

but about seeing waste production as

a global problem.” It adds, “According to

World Bank, the world’s cities will generate

around 3.4 billion tons of waste by 2050”

– a 70 per cent increase from 2017.

Sandton Convention Centre is focused

on reducing the venue’s carbon footprint,

adhering strictly to its environmental

policy and integrating best practices

into its core business strategy.

Wide-ranging initiatives at SCC

are ensuring a constant increase in

environmental sustainability awareness

levels by staff, clients, visitors and suppliers.

Initiatives include recycling and waste

management, electricity and water usage

management throughout the building

to reduce consumption, ensuring reuse

of discarded furniture and furnishing,

bottled water in glass, and a full range

of practices in the kitchen that include

sustainability-focused purchasing and menu

development, biodegradable packaging,

reducing wastage, avoiding over-catering,

oil management, Bokashi system for organic

waste, power and water-saving measures

throughout the kitchens, and more.

Sandton Convention Centre is hosting the

15th Meetings Africa in February 2020, and

is proud to partner with this showcase of

Africa’s MICE industry, which is consistently

increasing its focus on the continent’s

environment and its people. This year the

event is again ensuring an environmentally

responsible approach that includes the

Green Stand Awards to recognise exhibitors

who go the extra mile in sustainability.

Other trending industry focus areas

were highlighted in Business Events

Africa December 2019 edition, where

Southern Africa Association for the

Conference Industry (SAACI) chief executive

officer, Glenton de Kock noted that the

organisation’s efforts to stay ahead in

this disruptive operating environment

will be anchored by its three key pillars –

learning, collaboration, and growth, which

are fully in line with Sandton Convention

Centre’s philosophy and practices.

Mr Bird said: “Over the past year or so we

have adopted a more proactive approach to

creatively meeting our clients’ needs, which

includes an increase in collaborating with

local authorities to offer innovative solutions

and ideas for our clients. These and other

approaches, including a consistent focus

on learning at all levels, have delivered a

better-than-anticipated volume of business.”

TourismReview’s take on upcoming trends

that are impacting MICE tourism – and which

Sandton Convention Centre is mindful of in

the development of its offerings – include

greater customisation. PwC’s Hotels Outlook:

2019–2023 states, “The growing tendency

toward valuing experiences over possessions,

particularly by millennials, will benefit the

hospitality industry in Africa.” Added to

that, MICE travellers tend to value a service

experience that is specially designed for

them. Another trend that has the potential to

benefit South Africa is the global shift from

hosting MICE events in top cities to secondary

destinations which can offer the novelty

factor as well as better value-for-money.

It’s another challenging year for the

industry and for the country as a whole,

but it has potential for businesses that stay

in tune with clients’ needs and their own

practices. The 20th anniversary adds an

extra element of optimism for the venue as

it offers the chance to reflect on successes,

growth, and achievements of the past.

“As for 2020, We will continue to work

together with our clients, committed to

exceeding their expectations and to walking

the path to success with them,” Mr Bird said.

Maude Street Sandown 2196

T: +27 11 779 0000

E: SCC.reservations@tsogosun.com

www.saconvention.co.za

www.businesseventsafrica.com Business Events Africa February 2020 7

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

Tourism trends for 2020

Africa to dominate the landscape

The global tourism industry has continued its exceptional growth, accounting for over 1 billion

travellers in 2018. According to Guy Stehlik, chief executive officer of pan-African hospitality group

BON Hotels, Africa will remain the world’s top performer when it comes to where travellers want to

spend their holidays in 2020 and beyond.

In the past, most international

travellers to Africa were brought

to the continent for business

purposes but, for the last few years,

there has been a global shift.

Suiting all tastes and budgets

Mr Stehlik predicts a similar, if not better,

performance for 2020 and the years

after. “Africa offers holiday options for

all types of travellers, suiting any budget.

Whether you are after an ultra-luxurious

tropical island beach holiday, a 4-by-

4 off-road adventure in the Namibian

desert or an exciting safari expedition in

the Kruger National Park, Africa has it all

and travellers know it,” he explained.

Besides traditional destinations such

as Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania,

Botswana, and Namibia, other countries

are opening up. Ethiopia, for instance.

“Between 2017 and 2018, the size

of the Ethiopian tourism sector grew

by 48.6 per cent. This makes it the

fastest-growing tourism market in

the world,” Mr Stehlik said, referring

to the World Travel & Tourism

Council’s (WTTC) 2019 review.

The data adds that travel and tourism

activities poured $7.4 billion into

Ethiopia’s economy in 2018, an increase

of $2.2 billion (42 per cent) since 2017.

Minimal visa stress

Besides a plethora of attractions that suit

all tastes and budgets, the ease of crossborder

travel in Africa is a major drawcard,

amongst African Union citizens in

particular. “Travelling to Europe and the

United States is great but getting a tourist

visa is expensive and time-consuming,

requiring one to jump through many

administrative hoops,” Mr Stehlik said.

As a result, more and more

African travellers opt for holiday

destinations closer to home.

“Namibia and Botswana are popular

choices amongst South Africans, and so

is Reunion Island. For neither of these

does one need a visa,” he says, adding

that Nigeria is also gaining in popularity.

“Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari

has pledged visas on arrival for all African

visitors. This is expected to happen this

year and, if it does, it will help grow

their tourism sector, too. The country has

plenty to offer, from various national parks

and game reserves to a range of intriguing

world heritage and historical sites.”

President Buhari made his promise

not long after South Africa and

Ethiopia signed a memorandum

to ease the movement of officials

travelling between the two countries.

“Eventually, this will likely have positive

results for travellers too, allowing even

more people to visit the birthplace

of coffee,” Mr Stehlik added.

Hotel sector growing strong

In terms of hospitality trends in Africa,

Mr Stehlik said the demand for hotels

will remain robust. “A recent hospitality

outlook by PwC shows a 3.4 per cent

increase in the number of four-star

hotel rooms built across Africa between

2017 and 2018,” he explained.

This is driven by a strong demand:

despite the availability of various

alternative accommodation options, many

travellers continue to prefer to stay in

hotels, he said, noting that BON Hotels

proves this. “Our group comprises 16

hotels in countries like Ethiopia, Namibia,

South Africa, and Nigeria. This number has

been growing over the past five years.”

BON Hotels’ footprint and performance

was the prime reason why the pan-African

hospitality group ONOMO acquired

the company late last year. Mr Stehlik

expects the take-over to do nothing but

strengthen BON Hotel’s position and

reputation as a hospitality leader in Africa.

“The acquisition made us part of one

of the continent’s biggest hospitality

groups. It means nothing but good

news for us and our guests.”

Who is Guy Stehlik?

Guy Stehlik is the chief executive officer

of BON Hotels. He started working in the

hospitality industry in 1995 when he joined

Park Hyatt in Johannesburg. He then joined

Protea and got his first general manager

position in 1999 at the Protea Hotel Strand

Beach in Gordon’s Bay, a challenging position

as the hotel required an urgent turn-around.

Here a profound relationship was formed

with John Saliba, who was the regional

manager at the time and is now a founding

member of the BON Hotels team.

With a lifetime in hotels and wanting

to broaden his knowledge, Guy accepted

an offer at Avis Rent a Car, where his

entrepreneurial skills came to the fore and

in the five years at Avis, he was responsible

for the implementation of many successful

business development projects.

In 2009, he acquired the Protea Hotel

Durbanville and began his plans of creating a

hospitality brand that own and manage hotels

with a difference. Having vast experience in

all aspects of hotel management, Guy wanted

to create an “owner-, staff- and guest-centric”

company that would define a new era in

hotel management. And so began the search

for GOOD people, GOOD thinking and GOOD

feeling, which is the cornerstone of the BON

Hotels culture.



THE POWER OF

EXHIBITIONS

The South Africa National Convention Bureau, in

conjunction with Business Events Africa, takes a closer

look at this the SA Tourism exhibition research results.

SANCB | The power of exhibitions

An overview of the

SA exhibitions industry

THE

EXHIBITION

INDUSTRY

constituted ~7% of the

MICE industry’s global

revenue that was

USD 752 billion

in 2016.

The South African National Convention

Bureau (SANCB), a business unit of

South African Tourism believes that the

exhibition industry is one of the sectors

with enormous sustainable growth

potential for the country. Business

Events Africa takes a closer look at

the outcomes of the recent research

study focusing on South Africa’s

exhibition industry.

The global MICE industry was

valued at $752 billion

in 2016, and is projected to

reach $1.245 bn in 2023

Total revenue generated by

business events in 2017

was R71.2 bn ($5,3 bn)

approximately 0.7% of the

global total

Annually the industry supports

218 990 direct and indirect

jobs (2016)

Meetings 56% followed by

conferences 41% account for

majority of the events in SA

(2017)

The total number of venues in

SA is 2 620 (2017)

“Exhibitions and specifically trade exhibitions are

a vital segment of the business events industry,

and it plays an important role in developing

global economies. The SANCB use trade

exhibitions as a catalyst for economic growth

and for growing the number of business events

arrivals to South Africa”.

Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer

of the South Africa National Convention Bureau.

SA Tourism conducted research that

was released in 2019 with the aim to

profile the local exhibition market in all

aspects, which include:

• Providing better support to local professional

exhibition organisers (PEOs), and

• Promoting South Africa as a preferred

destination to host exhibitions.

The exhibition industry in South Africa is

gaining traction from different sectors due

to the increased number of exhibitions and

expansion of venue spaces.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

Business Events

Destination

To compete internationally as a business

events destination, key decision makers

use the following elements to decide on

the suitability of hosting their meetings,

incentive, conference or exhibition in the

bidding city or country.

• Size of local market

• State of the economy

• Ease of doing business

• Trade relations

• Exhibit space

• Overall cost

The events industry contributes R108 billion

to GDP annually in SA (2016)



SANCB | The power of exhibitions

The three provinces add up to

98% exhibitions in the country

2

1

3

Top sectors

% share by exhibitions

32%

Consumer goods &

personal services

10%

Building &

construction

10%

Industrial engineering

9%

Tourism & hospitality

10%

FInancial & business

services

29%

Others

1 GAUTENG 35% 2 WESTERN CAPE 14% 3 KWAZULU-NATAL

% share of exhibitions (2019E)

Key Areas Key sector

Johannesburg, Consumer goods & services Key Areas

Pretoria Industrial engineering Cape Town

GDP contribution by province (2016)

FInancial & business services

65% 20% 13% 16%

Key sector

Consumer goods & services


Agriculture

Key Areas

Durban

Infrastructure

is one of the key

requirements of hosting

an exhibition. These

three provinces have

the infrastructure

available.

Key sector


Exhibition sector by province

While Gauteng is the most visited province by exhibition delegates, its average length of

stay is among the lowest across all provinces.

21 7 7 8 6

20

5%

14.3%

28.6% 14.3%

16.7%

50.0%

20%

23.8%

61.9%

Consumer goods

& services

28.6%

42.9%

Building &

construction

85.7%

Industrial

engineering

12.5%

37.5%

Tourism &

hospitality

Arrivals by exhibition delegates from top markets

(‘000s), 2013-17

The UK, US, Germany and India are the only overseas markets that feature in the list of top

ten source markets; while the top five spots are occupied by regional markets

Spend by exhibitions delegates in South Africa,

ZAR mm (%), 2013-2017

During 2013-17, the share of spend on shopping, accommodation and transport by delegates

declined; while their share of spend on food and leisure increased in the same period.

83.3%

Financial &

business services

75.0%

Others

100%

Mpumalanga

Western Cape

KwaZulu-Natal

Gauteng

Gauteng is the main destination for

exhibitions in South Africa,

followed by the Western Cape

Western Cape is expected to host

the majority of tourism-related

exhibitions in 2019

CHOICE OF

DESTINATION

Exhibitors and PEOs take various

factors into consideration for

selecting a destination for their

exhibition, some of which include

economic and political stability,

infrastructure, and health

and safety/crime rate.

EXHIBITIONS

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

2017 Global Exhibition

Statistics

• Number of exhibitions: 31 000

• Number of exhibitors:

4.4 million exhibiting

companies

• Visitors: 260 Million

• Venues: 1 212

• Jobs: 680k

Average spend per trip per

Average spend per trip per delegate (ZAR)

delegate (ZAR)

8,600

8,100

9,800

17 (3%)

71 (11%)

30 (5%)

144

(23%)

80 (13%)

283

(45%)

25 (5%)

64 (12%)

32 (6%)

163

(30%)

101 (18%)

161

(30%)

133 (31%)

25 (6%)

29 (7%)

68

(16%)

68 (16%)

105

(25%)

220 (7%)

291 (10%)

183 (6%)

753

(25%)

515 (17%)

999

(34%)

2013 (n=744)

2015 (n=863)

2017 (n=413)

2013 - 17 (n=4, 161)

Shopping Food Accommodation Leisure Transport Others

2013 (n=744)

2015 (n=863)

2017 (n=413)


12

10

8

6

4

2

0

SA exhibition sectors by month, 2019

Exhibitions with a focus on consumer goods are the most prevalent throughout the

year, while May and June depict most sectors exhibiting.

9

9

12

25%

Others

Industrial engineering

Financial & business services



Building & construction

7

17%

56% 14%

33%

7 7

6

29%

14%

5

11% 33% 43%

5

11%

14% 20%

50%

3 11% 57%

3

33%

33% 8%

29%

60%

57%

17% 33%

33% 33%

17%

14%

17% 33% 1

33%

14% 11%

14%

20% 17% 33%

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

The peak period for exhibitions is during the months of May and June, accounting for almost

one-third of all exhibitions held in South Africa in 2018 and 2019.

Role of

niche/emerging

sectors

Niche and emerging sectors leverage

trade shows and exhibitions to

showcase their products and services

to get a wider audience reach at once.

Industry drivers and enablers

Emerging sectors, big data analytics and digitisation are among the key growth

drivers of the exhibitions market.

Integration with

Big Data

Analytics

The integration of big data analytics enables

PEOs to formulate effective market’s

growth. Predictive analytics is used to

evaluate several parameters such as

capacity requirements and delegate turnout

Rise of

digitisation

With the advent of digitisation, PEOs

have incorporates digital elements

such as event/product apps, large

screens, online feedback, for driving

execution and marketing excellence.

Importance of industry

associations

Associations, such as AAXO and EXSA,

are expected to govern and regulate the

industry, share knowledge and provide

relevant training to members and promote

interaction between different stakeholders.

• Governance and regulation.

• Knowledge sharing and training.

• Networking.

Challenges faced

by PEOs

PEOs face challenges, such as lack of

funding to meet capital requirements,

difficulty in attracting quality buyers and

hiring skilled personnel.

Challenges faced

by exhibitors

Lack of stability in the economy, less

conducive business environment and low

ROI in South Africa make the country less

attractive for exhibitors.

Challenges faced

by suppliers

Suppliers feel that stand build-up time

and cost are the key challenges they face.

Work overload and time pressure during

peak season are also key concerns.

Economic impact of exhibitions

The Association for African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) released

ground-breaking industry-first research into the economic impact of

the exhibition industry in South Africa on 5 April 2017.

AAXO commissioned the study to

assess the impact of the exhibition

industry on the South African

economy and on the tourism industry.

The study, conducted by Grant Thornton

between August 2015 and February

2016, undertook to fully understand the

exhibition industry, the opportunities it

presents for business and its economic

impact. The results demonstrate the

undeniable power of exhibitions in

promoting trade.

As a

benchmark, in

purchasing power

parity terms, in 2016,

European exhibitions created

an approximate impact of

R168,000 per exhibitor

and R3,200 per

visitor.

Impact of exhibitions on SA Economy, 2015

Note: As reported by AAXO based on research by Grant Thornton International

ZAR 11.1 bn

Direct spend by

exhibitors

ZAR 13.2 bn

Direct spend by visitors

ZAR 3.3 bn

Tax collection

ZAR 75 bn

Estimated total contribution

of direct, indirect and

induced income

~110 K

#Exhibitors

153 K

Total jobs sustained

annually by exhibitors

across sectors

~277 K | 4.9 million

Foreign | Total visitors

Exhibition industry

helped sustain 47 000

jobs in tourism sector

in 2015

Impact of exhibitions on

tourism

Not only do exhibitions have an impact

on local business but the study revealed

its contribution to tourism while visitors

to the country also confirmed the value of

exhibitions on their businesses.

• Financial contributions were in excess

of R23 billion through the 1 million

visitors attracted into the country and this

accounted for a third of the industry’s total

contribution to GDP.

• Tourism from exhibitions also helped sustain

an estimated a notable 47 000 jobs.



NEWS

a destination for

events,

CONFERENCES, incentives & ...

BOARD MEETINGS

It’s for change makers, thought leaders,

trailblazers, team building, networking,

think tanks, brainstorming,

motivating, inspiring,

creative ideas,

and change.

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Please call us on 039 682 7944 or visit our website for

more information on our events and great destinations!


SPECIAL FEATURE | Golf conferencing

Paradise organised on the

KZN South Coast

Known as the Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom, the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast boasts green and lush

coastal and hinterland vegetation due to its subtropical climate. The sunny weather and warm Indian

Ocean add to the South Coast’s emerging popularity as a business and incentive tourism destination with

its diverse team building opportunities in scenic surroundings.

It’s ideal for small conferences,

meetings, special events,

rewarding incentives and ecoactive,

adventurous team building.

Phelisa Mangcu, chief executive officer

of Ugu South Coast Tourism, said: “Ugu

South Coast Tourism is using local and

international marketing initiatives to

elevate the profile of this region for key

conferencing and business events. The

KwaZulu-Natal South Coast boasts a

quality variety of well-resourced venues,

providing international-level service to

ensure really productive engagement.”

“Outside of the quality venues

and accommodation, the region

provides delegates with an inspired

number of recreational activities,

perfect for networking, team

building or just relaxation. With 11

top golfing sites, the ‘golf coast’ has

something for every handicap.

“We offer award-winning

accommodation and conference venues

providing business visitors world-class

service. For those who prefer to conclude

business on the greens, there are 11

courses on the ‘golf coast’ as well as

a variety of outdoor team-building

activities. The area also boasts 58

beaches, including the highest number

of Blue Flag Beaches in Africa; hinterland

excursions; extreme sports activities; as

well as quality dining experiences. From

the hinterland tours and ocean-based

activities, to white-water rafting and

extreme swinging, there’s so much for

visitors to experience,” Ms Mangcu added.

Conferences, meetings and

special events

The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast lends

itself to small and intimate conferences

and special events that can accommodate

a maximum of 300 delegates seated

cinema style in a conference, and up

to 400 delegates for a banquet. Local

establishments have up to 900 rooms.

Here are some of the

conferencing offerings

Pumula Beach Hotel is a beach

resort where the sea views are all

encompassing, and work and play are

effortlessly combined. Pumula Beach

Hotel is surrounded by indigenous coastal

vegetation and offers a spectacular

view of the warm Indian Ocean.

With direct access to a secure ‘blueflag’

beach, accommodation options

to suit all needs, superb leisure and

conference facilities, world-class cuisine,

the highest levels of personal service,

and countless local activities make this

one of the best places to book any

event. It is ideal for conferencing, team

building and any corporate event.

Umthunzi Hotel and Conference’s

breathtaking panoramic ocean

view is the first thing that stands

out – it is definitely the venue with

the best on the South Coast.

This upmarket hotel is one of the

leading conference venues on the South

Coast, for good reason. Umthunzi offers

four different function rooms, from an

intimate 12-seater boardroom to a large

100-seater venue, and each can be set up

to the client’s needs. All come standard

with free Wi-Fi, different equipment per

room and the option to have breakaway

rooms depending on availability.

San Lameer is an old-time favourite

location in the

South Coast. It

is a tropical

paradise

and was



Golf conferencing | SPECIAL FEATURE

Selborne Golf Estate, Hotel & Spa. ANEW Resort Ingeli Forest. San Lameer Country Club.

the first developed golf estate in South

Africa. It has direct access to two blue

flag beaches. Conferencing isn’t its

primary focus but it does have conference

facilities at the hotel. The facilities on

the estate make for great team-building

events and corporate getaways.

Umtamvuna River Lodge is a

rustic lodge with breathtaking views

of Umtamvuna Gorge – it is a great

place for team building, with countless

adventure activities on the water. The

family run lodge is intimate and the

staff are very warm and friendly and

will go the extra mile to make you

feel at home. The lodge is able to

accommodate conference day delegates

and will customise the conference

packages to suit the groups’ needs.

The Estuary Hotel and Spa has oldworld

charm and is in a most beautiful

setting. From Silver beach to the Estuary

with amazing views of the ocean

accompanied by rolling lawn, the Cape

Dutch style property takes your breath

away. It is a beautiful spot to conference.

St Michaels Sands Hotel is a wellknown

landmark for anyone who

has travelled the South Coast. It has

beautiful sea views and great facilities

for conferences and outdoor events.

This hotel remains one of KZN’s

favourite seaside breaks and is

growing much traction as the

place to have cocktail events

with its Malibu setting.

Ingeli Forest Lodge is quite a drive

inland but worth every moment. This

forest lodge is nestled below the Ingeli

Mountain range near Kokstad. It is

intimate and away from the hustle

and bustle of city life. Surrounded

by breath-taking indigenous forests,

this is the perfect place for delegates

to conference and after, chill and

unwind at their own pace.

Lake Eland Game Reserve is perfect

for team building with a number of

activities to choose from – self game

drive, viewing the abundant wild life and

flora to be seen from the comfort of your

car. In addition guests can walk across

our 80m suspension bridge, as well as

our fabulous Zip Line Tour. Horse rides,

walking and single track mountain bike

trails, paint ball, fishing, picnic sites and

specific 4×4 tracks are also available.

Gorge Private Game Reserve and

Spa is an upmarket property and has

the most spectacular views of the Oribi

Gorge throughout the property. The lodge

offers ultra-luxurious accommodation,

a conference/meeting room and a wine

cellar ideal for private functions.

Oribi Gorge Hotel, featuring the Wild

5 extreme adventure company, offers

the unique combination of comfortable

country three-star accommodation

and heart-pounding adventure right

on the property. Activities offered on

site include the world’s highest gorge

swing (33 storeys), abseiling, and a wild

slide across the gorge at 160m above

the gorge floor, a suspension bridge

walk, white water rafting, and more.

Selborne Golf Estate, Hotel and Spa

is a sophisticated haven of relaxation,

nestled in the heart of the lush and

tranquil South Coast. The beautifullyrestored

Selborne Golf Estate, Hotel and

Golfing

The region is also known as the ‘golf

coast’. The distinguished golf courses

on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast

has long been a favourite golfing

destination for South African and

international golfers.

The golf courses are:

• Selborne Park Golf Estate

• Umdoni Country Club

• Southbroom Country Club

• San Lameer Country Club

• Umkomaas Golf Club

• Scottburgh Golf Club

• Port Shepstone Country Club

• Harding Country Club

• Margate Country Club

• Port Edward Country Club

The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa.

Accessibility

The South Coast is just over an hour’s

flight from Johannesburg or two hours’

flight from Cape Town. Unless flying

directly into Margate with CemAir,

the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast starts

approximately a 30–minute drive

south from Durban, at Scottburgh, and

follows the stunning coastline until

Port Edward, counting 39

unique beaches in total

and going as far as Harding

and the Ingeli Forest inland.

Spa offers a championship golf course,

fine dining, world-class spa, conferencing

and premium accommodation.

Top honours at 2019 Lilizela

Tourism Awards

“The recent wins at the Lilizela Tourism

Awards serve as confirmation that the

combined efforts of both government and

the private sector to elevate the region

are being correctly implemented and well

received. We, at Ugu South Coast Tourism,

will continue to provide the necessary

support and exposure to encourage this

upward trajectory,” Ms Mangcu said.

For the 2019 edition, the KwaZulu-

Natal South Coast celebrated The

Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa

being named as winner in the Fivestar

Lodge Category. In addition to the

first-place spot, the KZN South Coast

had two finalists; Wild 5 Adventures in

the Action and Adventure Category; as

well as Days at Sea Beach Lodge in the

Five-star Country House Category.


UNDISCOVERED CONFERENCE GEMS | CTICC

Conference gems at the CTICC

The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has hosted some of the most significant events

on the business tourism calendar and annually attracts some of the top gatherings in Africa.

During the 2018/19 financial

year, the CTICC hosted 560

events, welcoming almost

420 000 delegates and generating a

total of 877 129 delegate and visitor

days. Since opening in 2003, the centre

has successfully hosted 7 992 events.

Thanks to the addition of CTICC 2,

the centre was able to attract new

events and continues to accommodate

numerous large-scale events, including

the annual Board of Healthcare Funders

(BHF) of Southern Africa conference,

the Property Buyer Show Cape Town,

AfricaCom, African Utility Week, and

the 23rd South African Council of

Shopping Centres’ Annual Congress.

The new facility has significantly

strengthened the CTICC’s and

Cape Town’s reputation as a global

business events destination.

Importantly, many of the centre’s

events are aligned with the trade and

industry sectors identified by the Western

Cape as priority future growth sectors

and further augmented by the City of

Cape Town’s catalytic sectors which

include Oil and Gas, Tourism as well

as Agro-processing among others.

Over the past financial year, the

CTICC successfully hosted 45 national

conferences, drawing 22 161 attendees,

covering a wide range of important

industries, including pharmaceuticals, law,

agriculture, optometry, education, finance

and investment, as well as technology.

One of these national conferences

included the BHF of Southern Africa

conference which took place in July 2019

and explored a future-focused approach to

healthcare. Over 350 organisations from

25 countries were represented at the BHF

of Southern Africa conference, making

full use of the CTICC’s conference and

boardroom spaces over a four day period.

The Property Buyer Show Cape Town

boasts the biggest real estate brands

under one roof including financial service

providers, estate agents, developers,

conveyancers and additional services.

This year’s two day programme is

packed with 50 plus talks by 24 property

experts, across the centre’s four theatres.

The schedule included inspiring talks

which covered everything from getting

started in property to how technology

will change the industry in the future.

The CTICC offers the ideal platform

and space to bring any event to life.

The centre boasts over 141 000m² of

meeting, conferencing, exhibition and

auditoria space allowing people to

converge and collaborate, share ideas,

knowledge and products. It is these

meetings which facilitate and culminate

in interconnected trading and capital

injections that have the ability to move the

Western Cape and South Africa forward.

As such, it seems only natural that

the CTICC would host the largest

technology event in Africa, AfricaCom.

The 2019 event brought together over

15 000 attendees, 450 speakers and 500

exhibitors from across the continent.

AfricaCom presented a brand-new

zone, AfricaTech, where innovators

and architects at the forefront of Africa’s

journey towards the 4IR engaged to

enhance their knowledge of enterprise

transformation and the digital future.

African Utility Week was the leading

exhibition and conference for the African

power, energy and water industry. It

serves as the premier meeting place

for people in the sector, connecting

over 10 000 industry professionals

from over 80 countries.

Attendees discover new products and

services with over 360 exhibitors and

learn from over 350 renowned experts

in a strategic conference and free-toattend

Knowledge Hub seminars.

As Cape Town’s premier conferencing

and events venue, the CTICC maintains

a steady stream of coveted national and

international conferences and meetings.

Most recently, the centre has been

awarded nine international conferences,

which includes the World Dairy Summit in

2020, and the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation

Global Leadership Conference 2020.

The leadership conference will be

hosted for the first time in Africa and

brings together 188 member chapters

from 58 countries, and 2 000 participants

are expected for the intense training

and information-sharing sessions.

Effectively it is the CTICC’s ability to host

events seamlessly that allows the centre

to make significant contributions to the

knowledge economy and the tourism

industry of Cape Town, the Western

Cape and South Africa as a whole.

During the 2018/19 financial year, this

commitment has resulted in the CTICC

contributing a total of R4.5 billion to

the Western Cape Gross Geographical

Product (GGP) and R6.5 billion to South

Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In

addition, it is estimated 566 057 room

nights were generated in the Western

Cape and 575 898 in South Africa by

the CTICC’s events in 2018/19.



It’s been said that the best way to predict

the future is to create it. The CTICC

offers the ideal platform to do just that.

Every aspect of the centre’s offering has

been considered – from the more than

140 000m² of flexible space across two

state-of-the-art buildings to world-class

technology, delicious cuisine, and servicedriven

staff. Turn your knowledge and

vision into potential with events that

shape your future at the CTICC.

Call +27 21 410 5000, email sales@cticc.co.za or visit www.cticc.co.za and connect to possibilities.

DESTINATION FEATURE | Rwanda

Rwanda

A rising star

Rwanda is shaping up as one of East Africa’s premier business tourism destinations, following efforts

by the government and its partners to help strengthen and grow the private sector in the meetings,

incentives, conferences, and events market.

Rwanda is among the first

countries in East Africa to

establish a convention bureau,

which has quickly shaped the market.

The tourism sector in Rwanda is the

largest foreign exchange earner in the

country, and sees a steady increase in

visitor numbers each year. The growth

of the industry is widely attributed to

the security, stability and infrastructure

investment that has been a priority in the

country for more than a decade now.

What’s more, through the Rwanda

Development Board, the Rwandan

Government has set an ambitious, but

not unrealistic, target of growing the

country’s tourism revenue to more than

US$800 million annually by 2024. A

number of strategies have been put in

place to aid in achieving this goal, such as

improving tourism infrastructure, helping

to equip the private sector to improve

service levels, and positioning the country

as a foremost ecotourism destination.

Clare Akamanzi, chief executive officer

of Rwanda Development Board, said:

“Governments all over the world are

increasingly targeting and investing in

MICE – meetings, incentives, conferences

and exhibitions. These inbound channels

are undoubtedly the most lucrative,

beneficial and sustainable niches

within tourism, generating revenues

at a multiple of those generated by

leisure visitors, fostering knowledge

exchange between local and overseas

meeting/conference attendees and,

overall, leaving less of a trace as these

discerning, educated visitors are highly

sensitive to social responsibility.

“The reality of over-tourism in

leading global destinations is a lesson

to emerging countries around the

unintended consequences that can

be unleashed, like a Pandora’s box,

when countries seek indiscriminately

to attract visitors at all costs.

“Short term gains cause mid to long

term woes and a nation brand and

reputation is easily damaged, sometimes

beyond repair. In Rwanda we are

determined not to make these mistakes.

“Conferences and incentives are

key pillars for Rwanda in a tourism

strategy that takes the long-term view

and seeks to build on solid foundations.

“For a country that upholds tourism

as a strong contributing factor

for its economic transformation,

rebuilt on a strong foundation

of reconciliation, and powered

by the determination to succeed,

Rwanda will continue to invest in its

conference and incentive offerings.

“The Travel & Tourism economy of

Rwanda grew by 13.8 per cent last

year. Tourism has been noted as one

of the fastest growth sectors in the

world, according to the World Travel

& Tourism Council’s (WTTC) annual

review of the economic impact and

social importance of the sector.

“As a development board, we

acknowledge the outstanding impact

the MICE sector has on economic

growth, and hence Rwanda is committed

to grow this significant sector for

our economies,” she concluded.




ICCA rankings

Rwanda’s capital Kigali has been ranked

second most popular conference

destination for international meetings

and events, trailing only Cape Town

of South Africa. Rwanda’s Kigali

has been ranked the second most

popular destination in Africa for

international meetings and events by

International Congress and Convention

Association (ICCA). Cape Town in

South Africa is ranked first in Africa.

In 2018, Kigali was ranked third behind

Cape Town and Marrakesh in Morocco.

ICCA represents the world’s

leading suppliers in handling,

transporting and accommodating

international meetings and events.

The rankings, which were released

by ICCA, are based on the number

of association meetings taking place

regularly (annually, biannually), rotating

between at least three different countries

and with at least 50 participants.

In 2018, Kigali hosted 26 association

meetings. The association meetings

organised by Rwanda included several

high-level conferences such the 4th

Gender Summit that was held in March,

the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend,

the GSMA Mobile 360 Series Africa,

the meeting of the African Society

of Human Genetics, the Africa Smart

Grid Forum, and the International

Conference on Family Planning.

Rwanda is currently hosting over

4,000 delegates who are attending

the Transform Africa Summit 2019,

as well as the Africa Public Relations

Association Annual General Meeting.

Nelly Mukazayire the Chief Executive

Officer of Rwanda Convention

Bureau, said the country is aiming

at even better ICCA rankings.

“We believe that identifying and

working with our local associations will

help Rwanda perform better in ICCA

rankings in the years to come. Rwanda

recorded 38,745 delegates in 2018, up

from 28,308 delegates in 2017. Tourism

is the country’s largest foreign exchange

earner and MICE is playing a significant

role in its growth, bringing in 20 per cent

of all tourism revenues. MICE tourism

contributed $56 million in 2018, and

this year, we intend to increase it to

$88 million,” Ms Mukazayire said.

Commenting on the ICCA report,

said that the ranking is proof that

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences

and Exhibitions (MICE) strategy is

generating value to Rwanda.

Emmanuel Hategeka, deputy chief

executive of the Rwanda Development

Board, said: “Rwanda has been able

to establish itself as a safe, secure

MICE destination of choice due to

the presence of world-class MICE

venues, accommodation facilities,

connectivity options and ease of

service due to RCB support.”

Rwanda is a preferred MICE destination

due to its simplified visa regime that

allows citizens of any country in the

world to get a visa on arrival in addition

to its easy accessibility due to several

flight options offering connectivity to

Kigali and the rest of Africa, including

through the national carrier Rwandair.

The presence of range of world-class

venues such as the Kigali Convention

Centre, the Kigali Conference and

Exhibition Village, and Intare Conference

Arena, as well as the Kigali Arena are

key drivers of MICE tourism in Kigali.

Rwanda has the second-best

business environment in Africa

According to the World Bank’s operating

environment scoring, the country has more

than doubled the efficiency of its business

environment in less than a decade. The

government has also invested heavily

into its domestic industries, while FDI has

increased over the same period, pushing

Rwanda to being one of the five fastestgrowing

economies on the continent.



Scan Display Rwanda

delivers seamless solutions

at AIDS conference

The 20th International

Conference on AIDS and

Sexually Transmitted Infections

in Africa (ICASA) was held at

the Kigali Convention Centre

in Kigali, Rwanda, from

2-7 December 2019.

It attracted over 10 000 delegates

from around the world, and featured

a 3 500m² exhibition, for which

Scan Display Rwanda was contracted to

supply shell scheme and custom package

stands. Scan Display Rwanda is South

African exhibition and events supplier, Scan

Display’s Rwandan branch. This branch

was established in 2018 and is part of

Scan Display’s network of branches and

distributors on the African continent.

The branch allows Scan Display to offer

exhibition products and technology that

are new to the Rwandan market.

One such new product which Scan

Display Rwanda provided for ICASA

2019 is the Tension Fabric System (TFS)

– printed graphics which are stretched

into frames to create walls and exhibition

structures. It is a flexible system as the

frames create modular structures. The

decision to use TFS proved a wise one, as

it allowed for last-minute modifications,

said Alastair Stead, Scan Display’s African

business development manager.

“A number of our clients also commented

about how cost-effective it was to use our

TFS package solution, compared to bringing

in items from the UK, Canada or the US,” Mr

Stead added. Again, this is because of the

compact, lightweight nature of TFS, which

means its transport-related costs are minimal.

The system’s fabric graphics pack small

and are lightweight, making them easy

to transport. They can also be washed

and reused. Freight delays can sometimes

cut into the available build-up time, but

because assembling TFS is quick and easy,

all the stands can be completed on time.

Mr Stead said: “The clients on the

Justin Hawes, managing director, Scan Display and Alastair Stead, African business

development manager Scan Display and shareholder Scan Display Rwanda, with

representatives from the Rwanda Convention Bureau at an event in Johannesburg to

promote Rwanda as a business and tourist destination.

ICASA show were thrilled with the

quality of their stands and commented

on the professional look and feel of the

show.” He continued: “Having Tension

Fabric System for ICASA 2019 has added

a new dimension to the exhibition

industry in Rwanda. The ICASA stands

looked fantastic and we have had a

number of enquires for other events.”

Scan Display Rwanda now has

TFS stock for 100 3x 3 fabric shell

scheme booths, for future projects.

Stand for Laurus Labs at ICASA 2019.

Stand for Sysmex at ICASA 2019.




The Scan Display Rwanda team at ICASA 2019.

Rwanda is a growing economy with a

business-friendly environment and first

world eventing facilities. Justin Hawes,

Scan Display’s managing director, said:

“People want to do more business

in Africa, but South Africa is a longhaul

destination. So we see a lot of

opportunity for exhibition industry

growth in East Central Africa, which is

only half a day’s travel from Europe.”

Scan Display has branches in

Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port

Elizabeth, Botswana and Rwanda. It has

distributors in Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya,

Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria,

Zambia and Zimbabwe This, combined

with its extensive experience working

across the continent, has positioned it as a

leader in the African exhibition industry.

Mr Hawes said: “Although we have a

lot of experience working cross-border,

we also recognise the many benefits

of working from within a country,

such as being able to make our stock

more widely accessible, quickly, and

being able to reduce costs for our

clients. We also want to have a local

presence so that we can actively help

to grow and develop the exhibition

industries in these markets.”

Exhibition stands | Event Infrastructure | Display Solutions | Retail Products

Scan Display Rwanda offers cost-effective fabric shell scheme and fabric pop-up stands

*Fabric Pop-up System

*Fabric Shell Scheme

// Our Fabric Pop-up System and fabric shell scheme are cost-effective solutions for exhibitions and events, creating

eye-catching displays with vibrant, re-usable fabric graphics. These fabric solutions provide excellent value for money,

while ensuring you maximise your brand visibility.

// Scan Display Rwanda has stock of 100 3m x 3m fabric shell scheme booths.

www.businesseventsafrica.com // www.scandisplay.co.za Business Events Africa February 2020 21

PERSONALITY PROFILE

Neo Mohlatlole

The ‘serial entrepreneur’

Dynamic Neo Mohlatlole, 32, is

director business development at

Seven Colors Communications.

Mr Mohlatlole runs 7 Colors

Communications with his partner

Eugene Mametse. Together they

implement marketing strategies through

events, exhibition and public relations.

“After seven years of running 7

Colors I have realised that I am a serial

entrepreneur. I recently launched Know

Names Mentioned, a concierge service

working with wealthy individuals

and some corporates. I have also

just reinstated Waiters on Call, a

waitering services company I ran when

I was in varsity, getting in different

sides of the sector to create more job

opportunities for our youth,” he said.

He currently serves as vice chairman of

the Event Greening Forum. In 2017 he

was awarded the prestigious UFI Next

Generation Leader award. He was one

of the 2019 Lillizela Awards judges.

Where do you see the

business events industry in

South Africa at present and

where do you see it heading

in the future? I find the South African

business events sector to be ahead in terms

of our offerings. I have attended a few

international events where the approach is

different, and our infrastructure and system

allow us to compete with the best in the

world. There were some programmes that

we implement locally that are still being

trailed abroad. I have found that we look

for inspiration from the west, and they

draw inspiration from us. Just think about

all the awards that the CTICC scoop every

year. The sector will continue to soar, we

just need to make it more inclusive by

introducing SMMEs into the value chain. I

have found the sustainability village to be

one of the best mediums for this.

Where did you grow up? I had

an outsourced upbringing across Limpopo,

was in boarding school from primary

level at Marken Primary school. I went

to Waterberg High School in Mokopane

and moved to Pretoria for my varsity

years, where I studied Travel and Tourism

operations at the Boston Arcadia campus.

How long have you been in

the sector? I have been in the sector

for 10 years. In 2008 I went on a bus to

Indaba, submitting my CV to exhibitors

looking for an internship opportunity.

Tourvest took my CV and invited me for

interviews to be part of their hospitality

programmes. This is where I got the

opportunity to work under the leadership

of Carol Weaving at Thebe, and learned so

much across the business.

How did you start? I got an

opportunity to work on the event team

which managed a few blue-chip companies

including Discovery. I went on to the

exhibition side and worked on titles such as

Decorex and the Retirement Expo.

When did you decide to start

your own company? After three

years at Thebe I decided to start my

business with my partner Eugene Mametse.

We launched 7 Colors Communications in

2014, using our combined skills to create

a company that could build sustainable

brands and access to markets for

underserved spaces. We launched Stokvelex

which empowers stokvel members and

cooperatives in the rural communities on

creating a sustainable economy in their

regions. We have hosted numerous events

and exhibitions on behalf of clients across

the world, with key clients such as South

African Tourism, the NYDA, Limpopo

Tourism, and SAB INBEV.

What do you do for leisure? I

travel, I love exploring new spaces.

What is your secret to success?

I think the tenacity in which we approach

our projects and the team that helps with

the rollout of services.

What has been your biggest

challenge in this sector? The

access to opportunities, we bid a lot of

projects where you are told that you don’t

have the required experience, we create our

own concept to build up the experience.

It seems though, the closer you get to the

‘requirements’ the further the goal posts

move again.

What has been the biggest

change you’ve seen in this

sector? I love watching the transition to

conscious and sustainable events.

What is your pet hate? Clients

that string you along even though they

know they already have a supplier in mind.

What is your favourite city? I

love Polokwane, the city has a soft appeal

to it, the people are friendly and they

still greet you on the streets. It’s easy to

navigate and the small museums have a

certain quaintness to them. The city came

in the top 10 most visited cities by the

Mastercard Global Cities Index.

How do you relax? I do a lot of spa

days, when the bank says no, I swim a lot.

Water calms me down.

What is your favourite food? I

love Italian, I frequent Tortellini d’ Oro and

Gemelli a lot. Also love my pap and milk, it

calms me down when I go through things.

What advice do you have for

anyone starting out in this

industry and hoping to follow

in your footsteps? Learn as much

as you can, listen to the leaders in your

space. No one is bigger than the show,

humble yourself and learn from those that

have been in the field longer. Treasure and

nurture your relationships.

What is your dream for the

future? I would really like to reach

my goals in the growth of our business.

Build a sustainable business that is able to

empower and grow the communities that

we operate in. Our work in communication

whether in exhibitions, PR or events

should make a difference in the lives of

ordinary citizens globally. Our flagship expo

Stokvelex (estimated value at R49 billion)

to reach more outlying areas. I want

to complete my degree in exhibition

management through UFI and hopefully

become a board member in the next 10

years or so.



BEST PRACTICE | BOUNCE

Happy staff, happy company

We all know that thriving workplace culture is important in a business’s success, and one of the most

effective ways of fostering a healthy culture are with engaging work-place get-togethers and events.

Events are an important part of a

larger strategy to help engage

employees more in the workplace

and make their jobs and the places they work

a more interesting place to be,” said Damon

Guidry, global event strategist at Adobe.

In the current tough economic climate,

one of the very first things to be scrapped

from the budget is the expensive annual

office party. But company events can be so

much more than a costly HR headache.

APCO Insight and MMB surveyed 400

business owners and found that that 96

per cent of employee-centric events yield

a positive ROI. So, much like marketing or

recruiting, workplace events can really be

an investment for your business. BOUNCE

can help create an experience that best

resonates with your company culture with

a selection of bespoke event experiences.

Reinvigorate your employees

with a dedicated conference,

strategy session or brainstorming

Don’t let your employees stagnate in their

cubicles. Taking a team outside their normal

surroundings and putting them into a new

environment where they collaborate with their

colleagues will force them to expand their

mental horizons. And sometimes the best way

to think outside the box is by jumping out of

it. Forget those yawn-inducing meeting rooms,

BOUNCE offers a unique and creative space to

let loose and get those brain juices flowing.

From reimagined and colourful conference

rooms, relaxed breakaway spaces,

invigorating games and activities to fresh,

delicious catering options – BOUNCE

offers a comprehensive one-stop-shop

for events from 10-300 delegates.

Take a day out for team building

For many, “team building”is just another

corporate buzzword that invokes memories

of awkward ice-breakers and office-wide

groans, but it can be one of the most

effective investments you can make for

your employees if done right. “The most

successful, memorable team-building events

are ones that don’t feel like a day at the

office,” said Brian Scudamore from Forbes.

An effective team-building event can

be vital in validating your employees,

breaking down workplace and social

barriers, boosting morale and creating

a cohesive, more productive team.

BOUNCE’s team-building workshops are

designed to be pressure-free, engaging

and all inclusive, whilst pushing boundaries

with a unique and exciting experience

your team will buzz about for weeks.

Introduce wellness-focused

events into the office routine

There’s an undeniable connection between

wellness and productivity. The US Department

of Health and Human Services states that

companies that offer dedicated wellness

days and programs can reduce their shortterm

sick-leave by up to 32 per cent.

BOUNCE’s approach to progression within

movement and physical activity will mean

that your employees can experience a

taste of freestyle within a safe and exciting

environment. Developed by a team of

rebound specialists, BOUNCE’s structured

BOUNCE-FIT classes can introduce exercise

and wellness in the most fun way possible.

Contact

Jordan Freeman, Groups & Events

+27 (0) 11 517 2500

events@bounceinc.co.za

www.bounceinc.co.za

GROUPS

+EVENTS

DON’T SETTLE FOR

A ‘NORMAL’ VENUE

BESPOKE CONFERENCING

| TEAM BUILDING WORKSHOPS


| WELLNESS EVENTS + SO MUCH MORE

Business Events Africa February 2020 23

MARKET NEWS

Springbok Culinary Team

aims for gold at Olympics in Germany

South Africa’s hope for Olympic gold in 2020

is proudly carried by the South African Culinary

Olympic team (Team SA) as they head for the 25 th

IKA Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart, Germany, from

14 to 19 February, under the auspices of the SA

Chefs Association.

Team SA is headed by Trevor Boyd, Team Manager and

Executive Chef of The Michelangelo Hotel; with team

members: Dion Vengatass, Chef de Cuisine, Belmond

Mount Nelson Hotel (Team Captain); and Kirstin Hellemann,

Junior Sous Chef, Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, both of

whom have past Culinary Olympic experience – and Olympic

newcomers, Adrian Vigus-Brown, Executive Chef, African Pride

Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection; Chanté Rabie, Pastry Chef,

Saxton Hotel, Villas & Spa; Bradley van Niekerk, Senior Chef de

Partie, Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia; Oscar Baard, Pastry

Chef, NH Cape Town The Lord Charles; and Sifiso Chiziane

(commis chef, African Pride Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection

& National Youth Chef Training Programme 3rd year student).

The 2020 IKA Culinary Olympics attracts over 70

countries and 2 000 chefs competing in the oldest

and biggest international culinary arts competition,

first held in 1900 with four participating nations.

The Springbok squad will compete in two categories; the

Chef’s Table, entailing seven different dishes for twelve people

on 16 February, and the Restaurant of Nations, a three-course

menu for 110 people on 18 February. In both instances, visitors

to the IKA Olympics will be able to pay to enjoy the dishes.

Zuki Jantjies, divisional director of sales and marketing

at City Lodge Hotel Group, accommodation sponsor of

Team SA, said the group was excited to host the farewell

function at City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International

Airport, 9 February, before the chefs flew to Germany.

She added, “The squad is like family. They are carrying our

nation’s Olympic hopes and dreams of success on the culinary

world stage and we are proud of their achievements to date.”

James Khoza, president of SA Chefs Association, wished the

team well in their quest for gold, and said, “All the training these

chefs have had and the preparation they have put in will pay off

– and young juniors in the industry will see what is possible.”

He also thanked the team’s proud sponsors whose involvement

ensured South Africa’s participation in this globally acclaimed

culinary event. “The cost of providing the necessary training and

practice sessions for the chefs, the logistics and the entries into

the competitions is extremely high, and as an NPO, SA Chefs

depends on the support of sponsors to make it all possible.”

The official partners to the team are HTA School of Culinary

Art, Avanti, SiChef (SiClothing), Sir Fruit fresh fruit juice,

Ecolab, Rich’s, Turn and Slice, F. Dick, MacBrothers, Fidelity

Services Group, Snappy Chef, Callebaut, TrenStar, ScanBox, Kee

Ingredients, Savannah, Midway Liquor Wholesalers, South African

Airways, Distell, JLBranding, Sun International and CR Brands,

Legacy Hotel Group and the official accommodation partner for

the National Culinary Olympic Team – City Lodge Hotel Group.

Stephen Billingham, former President of the SA Chefs

Association and owner of the HTA School of Culinary Art,

concludes, “This team represents all of us – our people,

cultures, hospitality, business, and the diversity and

quality of our food from our country and our seas.”



PERSONALITY PROFILE

The Chefs Table menu that the team will

present include:

• Butter and dip: Biltong-flavoured Butter and Chakalaka Dip.

• Cold finger food: Pea and Ham Soup Truffle, Goat’s

Milk Cheese, Bacon Crumb, Pea Salad; Cauliflower

Panna Cotta, Red Onion and Currant Vinaigrette, Pine

Nut Crumble; Prawn and Beetroot Cheesecake; Venison

Tartare, Panisse Croute, Radish, Caper Berries.

• Hot finger food: Sesame Glazed Barbeque Quail,

Egg Yolk Emulsion, Mushroom Aioli; Reuben’s

Flavoured Croquette, Russian Dressing, Emmenthaler

Cheese Crisp, Gherkins, Paprika Hollandaise.

• Seafood platter: Tomato and Olive Crusted Tuna

Loin, ‘Nicoise’ themed Salad, Citrus Cured Salmon,

Sago and Rice Cracker Crust, Salmon Tartare Encased

Cucumber and Daikon Pickled Jelly, Prawn and Crayfish

Roulade, Crayfish and Prawn Curry Leaf Custard,

Ocean Green Salad, Saffron Aioli, Salsa Verde.

• Mushroom porridge: Oats and Quinoa Porridge, Puffed

Rice, Seaweed Rice Cracker, Lime Mushroom Caviar,

Pistacchio Nut Paste, Mustard and Sorrel, Smoked Dill

Oil, Pickled Shiitake, Porcini Mushroom Powder.

• Lamb: Pancetta style Cured Lamb Belly, Encased

Lamb Loin, Lamb Shoulder Polenta Roulade, Corn

Composition; Corn Custard Bake, Purée, Sorghum

Popcorn, Beer Braised Onion, Braised Pulses, Lamb Jus.

• Passion fruit and guava: Guavadilla Mousse with

Guava Coconut Saffron Sago Pearls, Pumpkin Citrus

Sponge, Guava and Passion Fruit Roulade, Guava,

Lime and Saffron Ice Cream, Compressed Nastergal,

Peanut and Pumpkin Seed Biscotti, Passion Fruit

Marshmallow, Passion Fruit Curd, Passion Fruit Diplomat

Cream, Passion Fruit Jelly, Poached Butternut.

• Petit fours: Tonka Bean and Hazelnut Dark Chocolate

Mousse, Crispy Hazelnut Paste, Hazelnut Nougatine; White

Chocolate Bon Bon with Blackcurrant Paste and Cream

Cheese Ganache, Ruby Chocolate Biscuit; Honeycomb

Mousse, Fennel Pear and Sherry Liquid, Pecan Shortbread.

WE HAVE

20/20

Vision

FOR ALL YOUR

EXHIBITION

NEEDS IN

2020

The team’s three-course Restaurant of the

Nations menu:

• Exploration of Sea Trout: Pan fried Sea Trout,

Smoked Sea Trout Cheesecake, Tomato and Sea Trout

Terrine, Radish Relish, Smoked Yam Purée, Tomato

Panna Cotta Slaw Salad, Malay Tomato Ketchup,

Lime and Dill Vinaigrette, Spicy Rice Cracker.

• Lamb: Sous Vide Lamb Loin, Lamb Shank and

Sweet Potato Roulade, Limpopo Inspired Curry

Leaf Poached Butternut, Butternut Purée, Pickled

Butternut, Braised Beans, Cauliflower and Bacon

Flan, Crisp Lamb Belly Bacon, Lamb Jus.

• Raspberry and passion fruit: Passion Fruit White

Chocolate Torte, Lemon Verbena Cape Malva Pudding,

Raspberry Crémeux with Passion Fruit Coulis, Raspberry

Marshmallow, Passion Fruit and Pink Peppercorn Ice Cream,

Vanilla Diplomat Cream, Honey Bourbon Crystalised Liqueur.


MARKET NEWS

Hospitality Zone:

the value of experience dedicated to results

In tough economic times and when sales are hard to come by, it

is reassuring to know that there is a company that can help you

see sales results.

Hospitality Zone is a full-service

sales representation company

that focuses on independent

small to medium size venues, hotels

and lodges that offer accommodation,

conferences, events and team building.

Industry stalwart, Jeana Turner started

the company a year ago when she saw a

need in the market. “I have always had

a passion for people and I was at a stage

in my professional life where I needed a

new challenge. More importantly there

was a definite need in the market for

someone to assist existing venues with

direct sales that have tangible results. The

timing was right and it was as if I had

been training and growing my contact

list over the years for this. I love that I

am able to assist clients and add value

to their company. Making a difference is

important to me and I really do feel that

in my new role I am achieving this.”

Hospitality Zone is dedicated to

promote venues, hotels and event services

through dynamic sales and networking

endeavours. “Our direct sales efforts

target the corporate sector including

travel agents, PCO’s, government

departments and incentive houses.”

Jeana has been actively involved

in the business events and tourism

industries since 1998. She has a

diploma in marketing management

and has worked in multiple facets of

the hospitality industry including sales

and marketing, team building and

event management, hotel management

and event technology systems.

She is well known in the industry and has

served on the South African Association

of the Conference Industry (SAACI)

Advisory Board, the Event Greening

Forum and on the SAACI Tshwane Branch

Committee. She is passionate about sales,

hospitality, events, team building and

sustainability and believes in giving back

to the industry. She was voted as one of

the Top 40 Women in MICE for 2016.

Jeana Turner, managing member at

Hospitality Zone.

Services offered by

Hospitality Zone:

• Direct Sales calls to a combination of

travel agents and corporate clients,

government departments, NGOs

and PCOs.

• Helping convert leads to

actual business.

• Representation at travel exhibitions

and workshops.

• Networking at industry events.

• Event and hospitality consulting.

• Identification of sales and

marketing opportunities.

• Educationals and site visits.

• Rate negotiations where necessary.

• Monthly sales reports.

• Brochure distribution.

VENUE NEWS

Host with the most at the

Johannesburg Expo Centre

Whether you’re planning a big conference or a small seminar, the end goal is to have a successful event.

Hosting a successful event benefits not only the organisers, but the region it is being hosted at as well.

Big events attract a great deal of

attention to the host and create

positive economic advantages.

One of the biggest profits that a hosting

community will get is permanent

facilities created for the event and usually

used by residents after the event.

Increasing the profile of a city can

lead to lasting economic benefits,

such as attracting tourists and

business investment. Events are an

important motivation for tourists to

travel. According to research, the

purpose of festivals is typically to

generate or build the local economy

through attracting inward investment,

new businesses or expenditure, and

increased tourist visitation. Economic

benefits may also accrue through, for

example, improved economic stability

in the area and improved infrastructure

and amenities, which are important

for developing destinations.

The important things to look into when

searching for your perfect venue, is the

location; consider how far your guests

are coming from and how close is it to

popular landmarks. As part of contributing

to the surrounding communities and

the economy, look into getting suppliers

or local businesses to supply your event

with equipment, products or services.

Another thing to also look into is hiring

people from the neighbouring community

to work on the day of your event,

depending on the size and scale of it.

Now that you’ve considered all these

things, where do you start looking for that

perfect venue & location for your event?

When choosing your venue, think

“JEC”. Operating under new ownership

for nearly a year, the Johannesburg

Expo Centre (JEC) is working harder

than ever before. Below we’ve

compiled a list of facts we thought you

should know about the JEC, enough

to make it your venue of choice.

Situated in the south of Johannesburg,

the JEC is easily accessible for travelling

delegations; the venue is located

30 minutes away from Gauteng’s

international airports and a short

distance from main and national

highways. Its wide-spread premises

provide a vast range of offerings that

not only make it Africa’s largest, fully

contained, multipurpose venue but a

sought-after space for an assortment

of activations and experiences. It is also

one of the only venues in South Africa

to have its own registered helipad.

Facts about the JEC:

• Is South Africa’s largest purpose-built

exhibition, conference, convention

and events venue.

• JEC has won the PMR.africa Award

9 times.

• Affiliated to all major industry

associations.

• Hosted over 1 000 events since the

year 2000.

• Has had over 1 000 000 visitors

since 2000.

• Surrounded by choice 4/5 star hotels.

• 30 mins away from ALL major airports.

• Can accommodate over

100 000 people.


VENUE NEWS

Premier Hotels & Resorts

All set for a year of plenty

2020 is set to be a year of plenty

for Premier Hotels & Resorts,

and the hospitality group and

business partners have launched

into the new year with a strong

growth strategy. Their focus,

as a group, will continue to be

pushing their capabilities to

offer value-for-money, flexible

conferencing or event facilities

across South Africa.

Their conference rooms serve as

the perfect place to begin the

year with a strategic conference

or business meeting. With state-of-theart

equipment, excellent standards and

warm hospitality, the Premier team is

dedicated to ensure that any corporate

event goes off without a hitch. Further to

this, they have several major developments

or upgrades nearing completion.

Premier Splendid Inn

Hotel opens first phase in

Bloemfontein

Located on Zastron Street, the newly

built R95 million Premier Splendid

Inn Bloemfontein offers three-star

accommodation within walking distance

from all major tourist attractions,

government offices, business destinations

and the Free State Rugby Stadium.

It’s new and cutting edge, and has

a team of talented staff prepped and

ready to service locals and visitors to

the city. The property will offer five

floors, modern accommodation and

a state-of-the-art conference facilities

and meeting standards to meet all the

demands of the growing city. Phase 2 of

this development will open this month.

Premier Hotels & Resorts to

open in Umhlanga soon

Premier are nearly there with the very

exciting R380 million development of two

brand new hotels on the same precinct,



VENUE NEWS

perfectly situated in Umhlanga on the

Ridge and close to Gateway Shopping

Centre, private hospital and various

business parks. The Premier Hotel, a

beautiful four-star hotel, and the threestar

Premier Splendid Inn Hotel both have

access to the on-site conference centre

that accommodates up to 400 delegates.

The Premier Hotel will be equipped

with 130 bedrooms, a restaurant,

swimming pool and gym, while the

Premier Splendid Inn will feature 64

bedrooms and its own eatery. Guests at

both hotels will be treated to sea views

from every bedroom. This project is

scheduled for completion in May 2020.

Meet The

Premier Way

Premier Hotels and Resorts offers a wonderful collection, and new properties, in fantastic locations throughout South Africa - and is renowned for warm hospitality,

excellent standards and kind staff. We welcome Mapungubwe, Quatermain, Falstaff and Roodevalley hotels to our family.

Book your conference at any Premier Hotel or Resort and be spoilt with special rates, great value-for-money and a customised menu of your favourite

homemade meals to enjoy with lunch and tea/coffee breaks. Premier Splendid Inn Bloemfontein now open!

WWW.PREMIERHOTELS.CO.ZA | 086 111 5555 | INFO@PREMIERHOTELS.CO.ZA

WWW.FAIRCITY.CO.ZA | 010 001 9495

Eastern Cape: East London | Free State: Bloemfontein | Gauteng: Johannesburg, Sandton, OR Tambo, Midrand, Pretoria

KZN: Drakensberg, Durban, Himeville, Port Edward, Richards Bay, Scottburgh (under renovation) | Mpumalanga: White River | Western Cape: Cape Town


INTERNATIONAL REPORT

SITE breaks attendance record at

its global conference in Vancouver

A record-breaking 640 incentive travel professionals from 42 countries came together for the Society for

Incentive & Travel Excellence (SITE) Global Conference at the JW Parq & DOUGLAS Autograph Collection in

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, January 24-27, 2020

SITE’s 2020 president Jenn

Glynn, CIS, CITP, managing

partner of Meeting Encore, was

delighted with the success of the first

SITE meeting under her leadership:

“Limitless was the theme of this

year’s conference and I couldn’t be

prouder of the limits we pushed with

the event design. Tahira Endean, SITE’s

head of events, had a vision to create a

festival experience, which allowed for

a higher level of engagement for our

attendees. The energy and emotion

that was felt from the main stage to

the dialogue dens and through our

immersive destination experiences all

helped to create lasting memories.”

First time attendees to seasoned

veterans of SITE were impressed

by the education and networking

opportunities this conference afforded:

“As a first-time attendee to the SITE

Global Conference I was so impressed

by the varied topics of education. From

the keynote speakers to the informative

breakouts, there was something for

everyone. Time to collaborate with

fellow chapter leaders was priceless. I

also loved the focus on overall health

and mental well-being. Education,

experiences and most of all connections

and reconnections with those in the

Incentive industry was the return on the

time invested,” said Mary Clare Darland,

CIS, CITP, director, sourcing, Maritz Travel

– A Maritz Global Events Company.

Legacy SITE member Joost de Meyer,

CIS, CITP, chairman and chief executive

officer, First Incentive Travel, added: “This

is the best SITE conference I’ve attended

in my 20 years of SITE. Everything was so

well organised and there was so much

energy in every educational session.”

Educational input ranged from highly

personal sessions on self-care with

tips for weight loss and support for

depression and loss to more traditional

career building sessions on Designing

and Innovating Incentive Travel Programs

and 7 Deadly Sins of a Proposal.

During the conference attendees

could avail of mental health breaks at

the Restoration Lounge sponsored by

InHouse Physicians and participate in

morning five kilometre runs, yoga and

SoulCycle classes. Cultural breaks included

a tour of the murals of the city and a

visit to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical

Chinese Garden, among other tours.

Keynotes included a talk by Joost Rigter,

who became blind in his 20s. He had

the entire audience don blindfolds to

experience life out of their comfort zone.

New York Times best-selling author

Ben Nemtin, challenged everyone with

the question (also the title of his book)

“What Do You Want to Do Before You

Die”, tying into the “Limitless” theme.

The Crystal Awards, sponsored by

IMEX Group, were presented during

a festive lunch at the conference.

Considered the highest honor in the

incentive travel industry, the awards

recognise creative, practical and truly

memorable incentive programmes.

Technology was front and

center as more than 7,000 people

watched SITE’s Facebook live

programming this week, as well.

“SITE Global Conference in Vancouver

has been record-setting across so many

metrics most notably attendance at

640 attendees, our biggest ever event

by far. We also delivered 40 distinct

educational sessions across four different

stages, creating a truly festival feel.

Following on from last year’s Bangkok

Manifesto we developed the Vancouver

Manifesto, moving from aspiration to

action and setting out an agreed set of

deliverables for 2020,” said Didier Scaillet,

CIS, CITP, SITE’s chief excellence officer.

Paul Mockler, head of Meet in Ireland

and Convention Bureaux of Ireland, host

of the final lunch of smoked salmon and

Irish lamb stew, made the big reveal:

Dublin will be the host of the SITE Global

Conference February 3-7, 2021.



EVENT GREENING FORUM

How to be a

sustainable exhibitor

From 17 to 21 January 2020, the Event Greening Forum hosted free event greening training in Johannesburg,

Cape Town and Durban, in association with Meetings Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba exhibitor briefings.

The training was sponsored by

South Africa National Convention

Bureau as part of their strategy

to promote sustainable event practices

within the local MICE industry.

One of the training modules unpacked

was what Meetings Africa exhibitors can

do to improve their chances of winning a

Green Stand Award at the show. Meetings

Africa is unique in that it only gives Green

Stand Awards, instead of the typical Best

Stand Awards, in a bold effort to motivate

exhibitors to be more sustainable.

The presentation was delivered by

Morwesi Ramonyai, who is an impact

entrepreneur with 9 years’ experience

in the green economy, and who has

carried out eco-audits for Meetings

Africa, and assisted with the judging

of the show’s Green Stand Awards.

While her advice was specific to

winning an award, it is fair to say that

the principles and practices she shared

apply to all exhibitors who would like to

be more sustainable. Here they are.

Design a green stand

Ask your stand builder

to design a re-usable

stand, incorporating, for example:

• Robust structure;

• Modular design to adapt to

different exhibition spaces;

• Easy to pack and assemble;

• Easy to transport. (Less is more – fewer

walls or components helps with this.)

Following on from this – ensure that

you do reuse it. Look after it. You may

require occasional touch-ups, but the aim

is to get the maximum use out of it.

Use sustainable

materials

Build your stand out of materials

that are sustainable, such as:

• Locally sourced;

• Made from renewable resources

(e.g. bamboo, wood, paper);

• Free of harmful chemicals

(e.g. eco-friendly paints);

• Can be easily re-purposed when the

stand is no longer needed (e.g. raw

wood) or recycled (e.g. Xanita board)

or upcycled (e.g. fabric or vinyl graphics

can be used to make shopping bags).

Green your operations

Reduce the amount of

energy your stand requires:

• Use energy efficient lighting and

appliances (such as screens, fridges, etc.);

• Avoid heavy energy-use appliances

such as coffee machines.

• Reduce the amount of waste

your stand will produce:

• Skip visitor gifts;

• Don’t purchase anything with singleuse

plastics (such as bottled water);

• Avoid having printed brochures

and marketing materials and go

digital. If you have to print – go

smaller, and opt for recyclable

paper and vegetable based inks.

Manage your

transport

Have an efficient logistical plan:

• Ensure your stand is compact,

lightweight, and easy to transport;

• Make arrangements for staff to lift

share or use public transport;

Travel is usually the biggest contributor

to an event’s carbon footprint, so you

consider offsetting your travel-related

greenhouse gas emissions. There are

many organisations that can help you

calculate your carbon footprint and offset

it through the projects they work with.

Communicate your

efforts

Make people aware

of your sustainable efforts:

• Teach your staff about what you

are doing and why – this is critical

to getting their buy-in for things

like lift sharing, but also means they

can tell your clients about it too;

• Have accessible information on your

stand, highlighting your company’s

sustainability policy and what you are

doing to live these principles.

Have a positive social

legacy

Look for opportunities to have a

positive social impact, throughout

the exhibition process:

• Prioritise local procurement;

• Find a local charity to partner with – for

example, to donate goods to or to make

the benefactor of your

carbon offset project.

Be innovative

Find other, unusual ways to

be more sustainable. Offset your carbon

footprint by purchasing Renewable Energy

Certificates and planting trees, for example.

Look at the sustainability problems and

challenges you keep coming across at

exhibitions, and find a way to solve them.

Explore the benefits of new technology.

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 NEWS

Time to keep our

eyes on the ball

By Glenton de Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI

With all indications that 2020 will be another economically challenging year, it is imperative

that we do not lose our focus and maximise return on investment, across the board.

SAACI membership, for instance,

holds numerous tangible benefits

that can make a real difference

in any events business. Apart from the

valuable networking opportunities in the

regions and nationally, benefits include

cutting edge training opportunities

through the SAACI Online Academy,

access to the member database to

promote a business and a number of

members-only industry discounts.

Moreover, knowledge is power and

SAACI is a source of industry research and

statistics that is useful to make informed

business decisions. This year we will roll

out the first phase of what will become

overtime, a comprehensive industry study

to determine the socio-economic value of

business events in South Africa. We will

also continue to work with our members

and relevant industry bodies on key

research areas and communicate about

future trends in the business events sector.

In addition, our annual congress is

revered as the gold standard of knowledge

sharing and thought leadership in the

business events industry. This year’s theme,

‘Welcome the Unknown’, encapsulates

the current business environment and the

approach we should take in business.

Through robust engagement we are

likely to find some of the solutions we are

looking for. This is will most certainly be

an event not to be missed – in fact, diarise

it now – 26 to 28 July in Johannesburg.

Registration for the congress will open

at Meetings Africa later this month,

so do make use of this opportunity

and visit us at the SAACI stand for an

early-bird discount. If you are not an

exhibitor, be sure to visit the show as a

delegate. It showcases Africa’s diverse

offering of services and products,

with lots of business and partnerships

on offer for every sub-sector of the

business events industry. Meetings

Africa also offers top networking

opportunities, workshops and seminars.

I wish to assure the industry that the

SAACI board and staff fully understand

the current business environment and

the numerous challenges faced by our

members and the industry at large.

Based on our drivers – learning,

growth and collaboration – we have

a focused and measurable strategy

in place aimed at making a real

difference in members’ businesses.

Let us all join hands and keep our eyes

on the ball, for the sake of our businesses,

our association, the industry at large

and the South African economy.

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:

www.saaci.org

www.saacicongress.org

www.saaci-academy.org

+27(0)11 880 5883

info@saaci.org


EXSA NEWS

2020: A year of new

beginnings and renewals

By Gill Gibbs, executive committee member of EXSA

2020 is the year of the Metal Rat in Chinese astrology, a year for founding and evolving.

Prosperity and strength will be enjoyed by most of the Chinese zodiac signs, provided that

careful planning is implemented.

Goals, aspirations and hobbies

will be tackled with steely

determination in this year. The

metal element creates water, which when

interpreted, means that metal industries

will see productivity – in industries such

as automotive, machinery, technology

& IT, high tech, cosmetics and health.

Of course, there will be failures,

challenges and disappointments across

all industries, which is par for the course,

however we cannot allow ourselves

to become discouraged. Instead, we

surge forward with resilience and

strength. In true South African spirit

and style – it is about how we rise.

The second half of the year will see

us assessing, reviewing and filtering our

relationships to ensure trust, reciprocity,

mutual respect, transparency and honesty.

What is also going to be abundant

in 2020, is creative energy and that

is food for the exhibition and events

industry. Across all supplier and services

sectors, from those that supply waste

management & cleaning, to that of

health, safety and security, to logistics

& drayage, to furniture, to carpeting,

to rigging and audio visual, to food &

beverage services, to design services and

activations, to name a few and finally

to those that supply system and shell

scheme, custom and sustainable exhibition

design stands, components, signage,

elements and branding, prospective clients

will be looking for the best of the best,

the top exhibition suppliers in the game.

As top exhibition suppliers, we are

all critical to the success of the project,

above the average in experience, quality

and deliverables, knowledgeable in our

products, services and technicalities

involved, providing excellent handson

service and attention to detail with

effective and prompt communication,

with our experienced, on the ground

personnel, supervised by experienced

project managers. We embrace flexibility

and are well-versed in contingency

plans. We hold good quality stock

and we understand what to do and

how to do our scope of work, along

with the required support to the

organiser/client – on and off site.

In true South African spirit

and style – it is about how

we rise

We salute all champions of our industry,

whom we respect and regard highly as

the professionals with exemplary skills that

add unparalleled value to their chosen

profession. We are not the ‘’weekend

warriors’’ – we understand the nuances of

our industry and we continue to rise.

E: info@exsa.co.za

T: +27 10 300 7907

www.exsa.co.za

AAXO NEWS

Growing young professionals

By Projeni Pather, chairperson of AAXO

In order to grow the exhibition and events industry, AAXO believes that our members

need employees with the right skills to provide service excellence. In answer to this need,

we are proud to launch the AAXO Young Professionals membership.

In alignment with our efforts to ensure

more opportunities for development,

this is the perfect opportunity for

young individuals whose companies are

not members of AAXO to be part of the

association and have access to mentorship,

resources, training and education grants.

In alignment with the AAXO Young

Professional membership, a key

component of our objectives as an

association to grow young talent is

the AAXO Education Outreach Fund.

This fund will provide grants to young

professionals who want to uplift their

career in the exhibition and event industry

but lack the financial means to do so.

These grants will allow young individuals

the opportunity to further their growth

and uplift their skills by funding their

journey in the industry. All grants awarded

will be based on merit and will require

a detailed application for review.

In support of the AAXO training and

development mission, grants provided

will allow individuals access to two

new programmes the internationally

recognised IAEE Certified in Exhibition

Management (CEM) programme,

the AAXO Exhibition and Event

Masterclass and any other supporting

activities or programmes that are

consistent with the aim of the AAXO

Young Professionals Programme.

AAXO Young Professionals membership

is open to individuals who are eager

to develop their skills in the exhibition

and events space. As part of our

mission to invest in the exhibition and

events industry, we are committed

to recognising deserving individuals

who will be assets to the industry.

Register for the AAXO newsletter or

follow @AAXOSA on social media to

keep up to date with all the details our

education programmes, membership,

grants and more. For more information

contact Molebogeng Masote on

mole@aaxo.co.za.

aaxo@aaxo.co.za | www.aaxo.co.za | 011 465 8955

SITE NEWS

Site Africa looks to the future

At the end of 2019, the Society of Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Southern Africa chapter rebranded to

Site Africa, the decision was made at the Site International Board of Directors member meeting held at IMEX

America in Las Vegas. The motivation to rebrand was put forward by the SITE Southern Africa chapter.

By rebranding to SITE Africa,

it no longer excludes current

and potential members

from other African countries.

Business Events Africa chatted to

some of the SITE Africa board members

to hear what the new chapter means

to them and how it is going to benefit

the industry moving forward.

Tes Proos, president of the

new SITE Africa chapter and

founder of Crystal DMC

Africa, said the news was

very well received and SITE

Africa is positive that renewed energy

will follow and may forge cross-border

relationships around the continent which

will bring about better understanding of

the business events traveller demands

and collaboration among countries

to enhance their experience.

Ms Proos stated that SITE has

already engaged with leaders in key

African regions and have identified

highly motivated personalities who

are keen to take incentive travel

to the next level. “It is a long-term

project and we are super-excited by

the enthusiasm we have experienced

from players around the continent.”

“2020 is going to be an exciting year

for Africa, especially now that we have

a fully inclusive SITE Africa chapter.

We look forward to sharing skills and

knowledge with our counterparts across

the continent. I believe we will see a rise

in leadership and mentorship which will

soon place Africa on top of the list when it

comes to executive destination selection.”

Peter-John Mitrovich,

chief executive officer of

Grosvenor Tours, said:

“Serving on the SITE

board provides me with

the opportunity to collaborate with

likeminded professionals to identify

shortcomings within our specific regions,

and impart with our mutual knowledge to

our trade partners, and fellow members

for the greater growth and improvement

of our regions understanding and delivery

within the world of incentive travel,

and meeting planning.”

Brad Glenn, managing

director of The Inside

Edge, said: “For me the

best thing about being on the SITE

Board is collaborating and working

together with respected industry

colleagues to improve our industry

for the benefit of future incentive

professionals and their organisations

on the African continent.”

Clinton Els, director

of Incentives & Travel

of Dragonfly Africa,

said: “Working on the

board ensures I remain

at the coalface of events and trends

in our industry whilst networking

with like-minded professionals.

“Further to this, I get great

pleasure in not only assisting, but

also witnessing, the growth and

development of the youth from our

amazing continent.”

Chris Munyao, CIS,

general manager of

Business Events East

Africa, said: “Learning

through SITE Education and training

(especially being a CIS and targeting

CITP), as well as business opportunities

presented by being a SITE member.”

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

MARKET NEWS

South Africa’s first exclusive

procurement travel summit

Africa’s first independently owned and peer-led event for South

African procurement professionals is on track and scheduled to take

place in Cape Town on 27 August at The Vineyard Hotel.

The event is expected to

attract some of the country’s

most influential procurement

leaders who will lead relevant and

significant discussion topics, including

best practices and insights around

their approach to travel sourcing.

Riana Fouché, summit director, said

these are companies who have a

consolidated annual travel expenditure

of approximately R1 billion making this

one day event the largest and most

significant of its kind on the continent.

The event will allow robust

conversations, facilitate interactive panel

discussions and learnings from peers which

will equip buyers with the tools and tactics

to take them beyond just cost savings.

2019 was a year of innovation and

dynamic change in the business travel

sector with technology continuing

to disrupt and reshape how business

travellers plan and book their trips.

Sarie Homan, head of the Chartered

Institute for Procurement and Supply

(CIPS SA), said: “The event will provide

a valuable platform in an African

context to encourage collaboration

and sharing between procurement

practitioners and solution providers.”

In the face of more stringent

corporate financial controls, travel still

remains one of the largest and most

controllable corporate expenses.

“As buyers we need to look at

information differently and make

more informed choices around our

operations and suppliers,” said Wally

Bouland, Clicks Group Limited’s

head of procurement & facilities.

Riana Fouché, summit director.

Ms Fouché agrees it is time to rethink

the way we purchase business travel. “As

new technologies and business models

emerge, sustainability in procurement

interactions is now seen as both a

challenge and an opportunity. Taking a

progressive approach by creating value

through the empowerment and support of

buyers and redesigning processes therefore

becomes imperative,” she concluded.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

February 2020 Vol 40 No 2

ADVERTISER PAGE EMAIL WEBSITE

AAXO 34 aaxo@aaxo.co.za www.aaxo.co.za

Barmotion 1 info@barmotion.co.za www.barmotion.co.za

Bounce 23 events@bounceinc.co.za www.bounceinc.co.za

CTICC 16-17 sales@cticc.co.za www.cticc.co.za

Expo Centre OBC info@expocentre.co.za www.expocentre.co.za

Expo Guys 25 info@expoguys.co.za www.expoguys.co.za

EXSA 33 exsa@exsa.co.za www.exsa.co.za

Hospitality Zone 26 info@hospitalityzone.co.za www.hospitalityzone.co.za

MJunxion 4 yolande@mjunxion.co.za www.mjunxion.co.za

Plaslope 37 plaslope@plaslope.com www.plaslope.com

Premier Hotels 28-29 info@premierhotels.co.za www.premierhotels.co.za

Protea Hotel Cape Town Tyger Valley 24 protea.tygervalley@marriott.com www.marriott.com/cptla

SAACI 32 info@saaci.org www.saaci.org

SA Tourism 9-12 convention@southafrica.net www.businessevents.southafrica.net

Sandton Convention Centre OFC, 6-7 SCC.reservations@tsogosun.com www.saconvention.co.za

Scan Display 20-21 justin@scandisplay.co.za www.scandisplay.co.za

SITE 35 info@sitesouthernafrica.com www.sitesouthernafrica.com

UGU South Coast Tourism 13-15 info@tourismsouthcoast.co.za www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za

Westin 5 wh.cptwi.groupreservations@marriott.com www.westincapetown.com



CALENDAR

Conferences, workshops and exhibitions of

interest to the conference, exhibition and special

events market

For free entries in this calendar, please supply information to editorial@businesseventsafrica.com

LOCAL: 2020

24-26 FEB 2020

Meetings Africa

Venue: Sandton Convention Centre,

Johannesburg

Tel: +27 11 895 3000

Email: convention@southafrica.net

www.meetingsafrica.co.za

1-3 MARCH 2020

Hostex 2020: Africa’s Food, Drink &

Hospitality Trade Expo

Venue: Sandton Convention Centre

Organiser: Specialised Exhibitions

Montgomery

Tel: +27 (0)11 835 1565

www.hostex.co.za

2-4 APRIL 2020

ILTM Africa

Venue: Moyo, Kirstenbosch National

Botanical Garden, Rhodes Dr, Newlands,

Tel: +44 (0)20 82712129

Email: iltm.helpline@reedexpo.co.uk

www.iltm.com/africa/

6 APRIL 2020

World Travel Market Africa

Venue: Cape Town International Convention

Centre

Tel: +44 (0)20 82712120

www.africa.wtm.com

6 APRIL 2020

ibtm AFRICA

Venue: Cape Town International

Convention Centre

Tel: +44 (0)20 8271 2180

www.ibtmafrica.com

7-8 APRIL 2020

African Tourism Investment Summit (ATIS)

Venue: Cape Town International

Convention Centre

Tel: +27(0)11 549 8300

Email: megan.oberholzer@

reedexpoafrica.co.za

https://africa.wtm.com/en/Sessions/76207/

African-Tourism-Investment-Summit-

Registration

11 MAY 2020

Africa’s Travel Indaba Bonday

Venue: Durban ICC, Durban, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0)11 476 5104

Email: exhibitor@indaba-southafrica.co.za

www.indaba-southafrica.co.za

12-14 MAY 2020

Africa’s Travel Indaba

Venue: Durban ICC, Durban, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0)11 476 5104

Email: exhibitor@indaba-southafrica.co.za

www.indaba-southafrica.co.za

21-22 JULY 2020

The Promo Product Expo

Venue: Sandton Convention Centre,

Johannesburg, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0)11 835 1565

www.thepromoproductexpo.co.za

INTERNATIONAL: 2020

18-26 MARCH 2020

Eventex Awards and Creative Week

Online ceremony

Email: hey@eventex.co

www.eventex.co

19-22 APRIL 2020

World Travel Market Dubai

Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre

Tel: +44 (0)20 8271 2158

www. arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com

15-17 SEPTEMBER 2020

IMEX AMERICA

Venue: Sands Expo, Las Vegas, USA

Tel: +44 1273 227311

www.imexamerica.com

TAMPER EVIDENT SECURITY BAGS

• Debasafe® Tamper Evident Security Bags are used whenever tamper-evident

movement is critical.

• We manufacture to order and assist in tailor-made solutions to suit your security

needs.

• A comprehensive range of security features are standard on the bags and additional

features can be added.

• The sealing strip is used for exacting demands with a heat indicator displaying

attempts to tamper.

• Tampering by means of cold, heat, solvents, liquids & manipulation is clearly visible.

• Bags can be customised according to customer’s requirements with exclusive

numbering & bar-coding.

• Bags are manufactured in either transparent or opaque LDPE film, in various grades

to meet specific requirements.

CHERYL

TEL:

MUHLENBERG

+27 11 452 1115

FAX:

TEL:

+27

+27

11 452

11 452

3609

1115

WEBSITE: www.plaslope.com

FAX: +27 11 452 3609

EMAIL: glenda.aereboe@plaslope.com

WEBSITE: www.plaslope.com

EMAIL: plaslope@plaslope.com

The bags are used for the safe movement of:

• Government Departments

• Foreign Exchange

• Confidential Documents (Examinations, Elections,

Passports, Visas etc.)

• High Value Items (Diamonds, Precious Metals,

Forensic Evidence, Cellphones, Computer Equipment)

• Cash (Banks & Cash-in-Transit companies)


DIRECTORY

ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN

EXHIBITION ORGANISERS

aaxo

46 Waterford Office Park

Waterford Drive

Fourways

Johannesburg

t: +27 (0)11 465 8955

e: aaxo@aaxo.co.za

Association coordinator:

Molebegeng Masote

Chairperson: Projeni Pather

Exposure Marketing

Vice-chairperson: Phetogo Kubheka

Synergy Business Events

Treasurer: Mark Anderson

Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery

Board members:

Chanelle Hingston, Spintelligent

Devi Paulson-Abbott, DMG Events

Dee Reuvers, SA Confex

Leatitia van Straten, Reed Exhibitions

COUNCIL OF EVENTS

PROFESSIONALS AFRICA

Secretariat Office

Melanie Sillince

e: melanie@cepa.co.za

t: +27 (0)83 653 2480

+27 (0)11 462 4014

www.cepa.co.za

EXCO

Chairperson: Glenn van Eck

Magnetic Storm

e: glenn@cepa.co.za

Vice-chairperson: Gift Luthuli

Gintan Luthuli Associates

e: gift@cepa.co.za

Treasurer: Sue Gannon

EXSA Academy

e: sue@cepa.co.za

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: Greg McManus

Vice-chairperson: Neo Mohlatlole

EXHIBITIONS AND

EVENTS ASSOCIATION OF

SOUTHERN AFRICA

EXSA OFFICE

www.exsa.co.za

Chairperson: Doug Rix

t: +27 (0)82 579 7071

e: dougrix@wol.co.za

Vice-chairperson: Gill Gibbs

t: +27 (0) 83 260 8035

e: gill@blu3.co.za

Treasurer: Moses Nefale

t: +27 (0)79 882 8616

e: moses@scandisplay.co.za

Association manager:

Lee-Ann Alder

t: +27 (0)82 550 0349

e: info@exsa.co.za

Board members

Chad Botha

t: +27 (0)61 497 2945

e: chad@inspirefurniture.co.za

Adele Hartdegen

t: +27 (0)82 464 8702

e: adele.hartdegen@gl-events.com

Gabi Babinszky

t: +27 (0)64 655 3323

e: gabi@brandexpro.co.za

Cara Nortman

t: +27 (0)79 254 9572

e: cara@ssqdesign.co.za

Kerry Brannigan

t: +27 (0)72 265 6600

e: kerry@brilliant-branding.co.za

Mike Mira

t: +27 (0)83 445 2261

e: mike@efam.co.za

Gary Van der Watt

t: +27 (0)76 339 5320

e: gary@resourcedesign.co.za

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS &

CONVENTION ASSOCIATION

ICCA African Chapter

Chairperson: Lindiwe Rakharebe,

Durban International Convention

Centre

t: +27 (0)31 360 1000

e: LindiweR@icc.co.za

Deputy chairperson: Nana Gecaga

Kenyatta International Convention

Centre

t: +254 20 326 1000

e: md@kicc.co.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.com

SOUTHERN AFRICAN

ASSOCIATION FOR THE

CONFERENCE INDUSTRY


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairperson:

Kim Roberts

Mise-en-place Solutions

e: info@mise-en-placesolutions.com

c: +27 (0)82 652 2008

Vice-chairperson:

Jaques Fouche

Formative

e: jaques@formative.co.za

c: +27 (0)60 993 7542

Treasurer:

Glenn van Eck

Magnetic Storm

e: glenn@magnetic.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 800 2616

Public officer:

Denise Kemp

Eastern Sun Events

e: denise@esternsun.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 654 9755

Chief executive officer:

Glenton De Kock

e: ceo@saaci.org

c: +27 (0)82 575 7565

DIRECTORS

EC chairperson: Andrew Stewart

PeriExpo

e: andrew@periexpo.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 578 5987

KZN chairperson: Tracey Delport

The Hospitality Experience

e: tracey@thehospitality

experience.co.za

c: +27 (0)83 293 5190

JHB chairperson: Lorin Bowen

Lorin Bowen Business Events

e: lorin@lorinbowen.co.za

c: + 27 (0)82 433 8687

WC acting chairperson:

Angela Lorimer

Century City Conference Centre

e: angela.l@ccconferencecentre.co.za

t: +27 (0)21 809 1101

Tshwane chairperson: Leon Pheiffer

EPH Productions

e: leon@ephproductions.co.za

c: + 27 (0)82 924 9046

Co-opted youth: Minister Kganyago

CSIR

MKganyago@csir.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Venue rep: Michelle Bingham


e: Michelle.Bingham@tsogosun.com

c: +27 (0)82 339 0342

EASTERN CAPE

Branch chairperson:

Andrew Stewart

PeriExpo

e: andrew@periexpo.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 578 5987

Branch vice-chairperson:

David Limbert

Magnetic Storm

e: david@magnetic.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 9064 198

Branch treasurer: Alistair Stead

Scan Display

e: alastair@scandisplay.africa

c: +27 (0)73 236 6618

COMMITTEE:

Learning: Caroline Morgan

EXBO

e: caro@exbo.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 553 6185

Communication: Gill Dickie

Bidvest Car Rental

e: gilld@bidvestcarrental.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 527 7619

Networking: Melissa Palmer

B & E Conference Centre

e: melissa@becbc.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 437 7600

Networking: Wanda Fourie

Eastern Sun Events

e: registration@easternsun.co.za

Branch coordinator:

Hayley Pretorius

e: ec.za@saaci.org

c: +27 (0)79 507 3607

c: +27 (0)62 758 7933

JOHANNESBURG

Branch chairperson:

Lorin Bowen

Lorin Bowen Business Events

c: +27 (0)82 433 8687

e: lorin@lorinbowen.co.za


Michelle Bingham


c: +27 (0)82 339 0342

e: michelle.bingham@tsogosun.com

Branch treasurer: Manuela Gomes

Cullinan Holding

c: +27 (0)81 359 6558

e: manuela@ikapacoaches.co.za

COMMITTEE:

Aidan Koen

Ogada Group

c: +27 (0)82 561 3188

e: aidan@ogada.co.za

Brad Montgomery

Ultimate Data Sciences

c: +27 (0)72 800 5857

e: brad@ultimatedata.co.za

Brendan Vogt

Guvon Hotels & Spas

c: +27 (0)83 709 0480

e: brendan@guvon.co.za

Carmen Rudd

Synergy Business Events

c: +27 (0)82 707 3977

e: carmen@synergybe.co.za

Chad Botha

Inspire Furniture Rentals

c: +27 (0)87 470 0670

e: chad@inspirefurniture.co.za

John Arvanitakis

Chatr’ Experiences

c: +27 (0)83 415 2774

e: john@chatr.co.za

Minister Kganyago

CSIR

c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

e: mkganyago@csir.co.za

Rendani Khorommbi

Joburg Tourism

c: +27 (0)82 773 2999



DIRECTORY

e: rendanik@joburgtourism.com

Branch coordinator:

Angelique Smith

c: +27 (0)60 970 7653

e: Jhb.za@saaci.org

TSHWANE

Branch chairperson: Leon Pheiffer

EPH & Monte de Dios

e: leon@ephproductions.co.za;

e: leon@montededios.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 924 9046


Corné Engelbrecht, Savetcon

e: corne@savetcon.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 925 9241

Branch treasurer:

Refilwe Nchebisang, CSIR ICC

e: rnchebisang@csir.co.za

c: +27 (0)12 841 3770

COMMITTEE:

Melanie Pretorius, At Zone

Hospitality Consulting

e: melanie.pretorius@mweb.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 410 1202

Herkie du Preez, Event Wizards

e: herkie@eventwizards.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 839 3489

Branch coordinator:

Heather Heskes, SAACI

e: tsh.za@saaci.org

c: +27 (0)76 321 6111

KWAZULU-NATAL

Branch chairperson: Tracey Delport

The Hospitality Experience

e: tracey@thehospitality

experience.co.za

c:+27 (0)83 293 5190


Tarannum Banatwalla

Jellyfish Catering & Event

Management

e: tarannum@jellyfishcatering.co.za

c: +27 (0)83 254 9462

Branch treasurer: Kim Jackson

Greyville Convention Centre

e: kimj@goldcircle.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 378 2264

COMMITTEE:

Irene Vallihu, Durban International

Convention Centre

e: irenev@icc.co.za

c: +27 79 692 4604

Lisa Lovegrove

Tsogo Sun

e: lisa.lovegrove@tsogosun.com

c: +27 74 047 4212

Mabuyi Mosia

Ikhono Communications

e: mabuyi@ikhono.co.za

c: +27 71 117 7509

Gill Slaughter

Turners Conferences

e: gills@turnersconferences.co.za

c: +27 31 368 8000

Denver Manickum

I-cube Alternative Advertising

e: denver@icube.co.za

c: +27 83 482 8525

Kavitha Dhawnath

Gearhouse SA

e: kavitha.dhawnath@gearhouse.co.za

c: +27 83 607 2006

Branch coordinator:

Kerry Potgieter

c: +27 (0)84 777 3452

e: kzn.za@saaci.org

WESTERN CAPE

Acting branch chairperson:

Angela Lorimer

Century City Conference Centre

e: angela.l@ccconferencecentre.co.za

t: +27 (0)21 809 1101

Branch treasurer:

Thiru Naidoo

Wesgro

e: thiru@wesgro.co.za

t: +27 (0)21 487 8600

COMMITTEE:

Jaques Fouche

Formative

e: jaques@formative.co.za

c: +27 (0)60 993 7542

Esmare Steinhofel, ICCA

e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org

c: +27 (0)84 056 5544

Esti Venske, CPUT

e: venskee@cput.ac.z

t: +27 (0)21 460 3518

Cindy Buser, Mirchee

e: cindy@mirchee.co.za

c: +27 (0)21 705 7338

Zimkitha Bavuma, CPUT

e: zim@live.co.za

Zandri Swartz

Century City Convention Centre

e: zandri.s@ccconferencecentre.co.za

c: +27 (0)21 204 8000

Andrew Gibson

Magnetic Storm

e: andrew@magnetic.co.za

t: 0860 111 625

Adele Martiz

CTICC

e: adele@cticc.co.za

t: +27 (0)21 410 5000

Ansu Colditz

XL Millennium

e: ansuc@millenniumtravel.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 457 8071

Alex Wrottesley

Into Africa

e: alex@intoafrica.co.za

t: +27 (0)21 430 2060

Branch coordinator:

Lara van Zyl

e: wc.za@saaci.org

c: +27 (0)82 223 4684

SOCIETY FOR INCENTIVE

TRAVEL EXCELLENCE

President: Tes Proos

e: tes@crystalevents.co.za

c: +27 (0) 84 682 7676

International board member: Daryl

Keywood

e: daryl@walthers.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 904 4967

Treasurer: Peter-John Mitrovich

e: peter-john.mitrovich@

grosvenortours.com

c: +27 (0)82 318 1889

Board member at large: Rick Taylor

East Africa (Rwanda): Chris Munyao

North Africa: George Fawzi

North Africa support: Brad Glen

Young Leadership: Clinton Els

Secretariat & Events:

Gauteng: Clare Neall

c: +27 76 898 0420

e: clare@eventstuff.co.za

Western Cape: Mariaan Burger

e: info@sitesouthernafrica.com

c: +27 (0)82 557 8041

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

FEDHASA National Office –

Federated Hospitality Association of

Southern Africa

PO Box 3853, The Reeds, 0157

t: +27 (0)12 771 5568

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

96 The Bridles, Douglas Crescent,

Sundowner, 2188

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

96 The Bridles, Douglas Crescent,

Sundowner, 2188

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


THE LAST WORD

The importance of

environmental sustainability

by Brett Hendricks, general manager of the Thebe Tourism Group

With sustainability being one of the most critical issues facing our world today, a green revolution within the

tourism and hospitality industry is vital to ensuring the growth of these sectors into the future.

It’s really quite simple: a tourism

product with an environmental

conscience just makes good

business sense. Extrapolate this idea

further: a country that has a tourism and

hospitality sector that both cares about

the sustainability of the environment

and honours its places of natural

beauty and wonder is going to lead

the pack to attract international and

local visitors alike to its destinations.

Consider the example of Rwanda, a

country once plagued by the ravages of

its past. Within the African continent,

Rwanda’s overall strategy to focus

on responsible high-end ecotourism

rather than mass tourism has helped

the country enormously to conquer

the negative perceptions of that

country left over from its thankfully

long-gone history of genocide.

Flowing out of the early work done by

the conservation efforts of Dian Fossey as

far back as the 1960s, Rwanda today has

the commitment its government made

to the protection of its gorillas – and the

growth of its Gorilla Tourism product that

grew out of that commitment – to thank.

Since 2010, Rwanda has been

considered to be one of the safest

destinations in East Africa, with tourists

now coming for much more than just the

country’s gorillas and its wide range of

well-marketed wildlife and biodiversity

options, but also the options it offers to

the business tourism MICE industry.

Environmental sustainability in fact

now dictates the itineraries of the

majority of travellers, proving to be

the consideration that appeals above

all others to tourists across the board,

from Gen Zers to Baby Boomers.

Numerous studies, such as those

conducted by global research operations

Nielsen and Cornell University’s Centre

for hospitality research, regularly

demonstrate numbers that support

this. It has been estimated that

75 per cent of Gen Z and Millennial

travellers would be willing to pay extra

for sustainable tourism and hospitality

products, including accommodation –

up from 66 per cent back in 2015.

Even Baby Boomers, the ultimate

consumer generation, are demonstrating

that more than 50 per cent of them

would also pay more for environmentally

responsible destinations.

The studies are also revealing that

economically, for operations within the

hospitality sector, the cost of going

green is no longer more expensive than

the way these operations were run in

the past. This is thanks to advances

in technology related to renewable

resources of energy. And of course public

awareness and education of globallysavvy

guests, who are becoming far

more conscious, and indeed demanding,

about a destination’s waste management

and social responsibility objectives.

Sustainable tourism must therefore

be at the heart of all hospitality and

accommodation options within our

own country, and for all businesses

involved in the industry.

From our own operations as Thebe

Tourism, from Cape Point in the

Western Cape to those soon to be

launched within the Kruger National

Park, environmental sustainability is

the reason we develop where we do.

The Kruger Station food and

entertainment precinct, which will

also be home to the Kruger Shalati

Train on a Bridge accommodation, will

deploy international best practice to

ensure that the venue enhances the

park, adding to its overall visitor appeal

but with zero impact on the park’s

environment, while at the same time

bringing much-needed job creation

and entrepreneurial opportunities

to the communities around it.

The same ethos lies behind our Chiefs

Tented Camps experience, wherever these

are temporarily set up in remote locations

across South Africa and into Namibia. The

criteria behind them is that the camps,

and their occupants, to coin a phrase,

touch the earth as lightly as possible,

leaving behind no more than footprints.

For every single business involved in

tourism and hospitality, in whatever

endeavour they deliver, environmental

sustainability is no longer just a catch

phrase to ensure one destination

triumphs over another from a marketing

point of view. It’s a responsibility we

need to carry collectively to ensure

the industry and the destinations we

promote survive in the first place.

Who is Brett Hendricks?

He is the general manager of Thebe

Tourism Group, has served the company

in an executive role since 2012. With

extensive experience in finance and

accounting, he worked in the company’s

finance division prior to taking on

the executive management position.

With many years of developing iconic

hospitality and tourism establishments

he is focused on transformation and

sustainability.



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Business Events Africa - Vol 40 No 02 - February 2020

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Business Events Africa - Vol 40 No 02 - February 2020

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