Business Events Africa August 2021

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Voice of the Business Events Industry in Africa

Vol 41 No 8 AUGUST 2021

_Radisson RED Johannesburg Rosebank

Business Events Africa: Serving the business events industry for 41 years

CONTENTS

The authority on meetings, exhibitions, special events and incentives management

VOL 41 NO 8 AUGUST 2021

About the cover RED Rosebank is an avant-garde statement for the contemporary African citizen.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL 39 Dedicated to creating fabulous experiences of food and wine at The Maslow Africans may travel even cheaper now.

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUNG KZN ENTREPRENEURS 40 The future is young for youth in tourism business.

PERSONALITY PROFILE 42 Peter Mwanja — Build trust and keep it.

Cover Feature _RADISSON RED JOHANNESBURG ROSEBANK 8 First look at Radisson RED Rosebank.

On the pages…

EDITOR’S COMMENT 2 Am I on a rollercoaster?

UFI BAROMETER REPORT 3 UFI Global Barometer delivers updates on Covid-19 impact.

NEWS 6 Africa’s Travel & Tourism Summit set to take off in September.

MARKET NEWS 7 What it takes to maintain a five-star hotel.

Women in industry 12 Women professionals lead the way.

MARKET NEWS 31 The dynamic women of Wild Coast Sun. DESTINATION: NORTHERN CAPE 32 Northern Cape – an extraordinary meeting and incentive destination.

CASE STUDY 34 SATC Virtual Conference.

LOCAL PERPECTIVE 37 Digital nomads key to reviving SA’s tourism industry.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS 38 SAACI launches youth competition.

Published by the proprietor Contact Publications (Pty) Ltd (Reg No. 1981/011920/07)

HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 414, Kloof 3640, South Africa TEL: +27 31 764 6977 FAX: 086 762 1867 MANAGING DIRECTOR: Malcolm King malcolm@contactpub.co.za EDITOR: Irene Costa gomesi@iafrica.com SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Vincent Goode vincent@contactpub.co.za

CHEF’S PROFILE 44 Clinton Bonhomme – feels strongly about developing the youth.

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER:

ASSOCIATIONS 46 Could Girl Guides all over Africa become beekeepers?

SALES REPRESENTATIVE:

Association news EVENT GREENING FORUM 48 Sustainability as an event priority.

SITE 50 Knowledge is power.

SAACI

Jackie Goosen jackie@contactpub.co.za Irene Costa +27 (0)82 558 7387 gomesi@iafrica.com PUBLICATION DETAILS: Volume 41 No 8 Business Events Africa has 12 issues a year and is published monthly. Due to Covid-19, the magazine is currently only available in digital format.

51 Planning in Covid-19 – what we need to consider.

AAXO 52 Time to break the chain of gender stereotypes.

publishers of Business Events Africa, is a member of:

SAEC 53 We need to remain resilient and focused.

EXSA 54 Rise up to rebuild South Africa.

Regulars MARKET NEWS 55 New general manager for City Lodge Hotel Maputo.

55 Index of advertisers.

Learning | Growth | collaboration

Official media partner

Official Journal of the Southern Africa Chapter of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence

Official journal of the Exhibition & Event Association of Southern Africa

56 Directory and associations of interest.

THE LAST WORD 58 The incentive industry state of play, trends and opportunities.

www.businesseventsafrica.com

EDITOR’S COMMENT

The world seems to be in a state of contradiction as the Covid-19 pandemic has knocked the world right out of equilibrium.

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s Europe opened its doors to tourists over the past few months, and began lifting restrictions, we South Africans were and are still experiencing our third wave. The only difference is that we are finally seeing vaccination numbers increase day by day.

The realisation that things will never quite be the same again is a sad one, but when I look at Europe and the US, even with their growing Covid cases, the vaccination programme certainly gives us hope, as hospital stays as well as the Covid-19 death rate has decreased phenomenally worldwide, due to the vaccine.

I am happy to report that I’ve had my first Pfizer vaccine and am due for my second in less than a week. There is a definite sense of relief, although I am aware that it doesn’t mean that I won’t contract Covid-19, but hopefully it will limit the severity of the symptoms.

The fact is that the sooner we all become vaccinated in South Africa, the sooner we may return to some form of normality. Personally, I’m most looking forward to the business events industry fully reopening again.

It has been a tough road for the sector, and yet the casualties continue. The latest being the Ticketpro Dome closure, which has had quite a severe impact on the industry. It had quite an impact on me too as I’ve always had a soft spot for this venue and its amazing team. It still feels unreal to think it will no longer host concerts, exhibitions, conferences and events.

I have so many wonderful memories from visiting this awesome venue. Its legacy will remain, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

The business events sector is by no means going anywhere.

Though we have been severly impacted, we have the most incredible, resilient leaders.

This month is Women’s Month in South Africa and, in this issue, we pay tribute to some incredible women who have led and continue to lead the sector. There are so many others. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all women of this sector for never giving up and for remaining steadfast over this period.

Our country has so many facets. This month we also feature a destination that is often overlooked — the Northern Cape. It really is an extraordinary province with so much to offer for incentives and meetings.

We have travelled a long road, but there is no doubt that we are going to return, stronger than before. How do I know? As a result of my association with people throughout this sector, I have witnessed their strong work ethic, innovation and resilience. These characteristics come most naturally to them.

Irene

Email: gomesi@iafrica.com

yolande@mjunxtion.co.za www.mjunxtion.co.za

Credit: Hein Liebetrau

Am I on a rollercoaster?

UFI BAROMETER PAGE REPORT STRAP

UFI Global Barometer delivers updates on Covid-19 impact • Globally, 51 per cent of companies reported a loss in 2020, and 57 per cent had to reduce their workforce.

• The situation is gradually improving, and 2021 revenues are expected to reach 47 per cent of 2019 levels.

• 78 per cent of companies are confident that Covid-19 has reinforced the value of face-to-face events, and that the sector will recover quickly.

• The complete Barometer provides dedicated profiles for 28 markets and regions.

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has released the latest edition of its flagship Global Barometer research, which takes the pulse of the industry.

W

hile the results highlight the strong impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the global exhibition industry in 2020, the situation is gradually improving, and there is a strong belief that the sector, primarily driven by physical exhibitions and business events, will bounce back quickly.

In terms of operations, the proportion www.businesseventsafrica.com

of companies globally expecting ‘no activity’ for the last quarter of 2021 has fallen from 53 per cent, in January, to less than 10 per cent, while the proportion of companies with ‘normal activity’ has increased from 12 per cent, to close to 50 per cent.

These results vary, depending on region, and are primarily driven by the currently confirmed or expected ‘reopening dates’ for exhibitions.

While several markets reportedly reopened in June 2021, the majority of companies in all regions expect both local and national exhibitions to open again in the coming 12 months, and international exhibitions to reopen in the first half of 2022.

When asked what element would most help towards the ‘bounce-back’ of exhibitions, the majority of companies rank ‘lifting of current travel restrictions’ Business Events Africa August 2021 3

PAGE UFI BAROMETER STRAP REPORT

(71 per cent of answers), ‘readiness of exhibiting companies and visitors to participate again’ (58 per cent of answers), and ‘lifting of current public policies that apply locally to exhibitions’ (55 per cent of answers) as the key drivers.

Overall: • 48 per cent of companies have benefitted from some level of public financial support; for the majority of these, this represented less than 10 per cent of their overall 2019 costs.

• 57 per cent of companies have had to reduce their workforce; over half of these have made reductions of more than 25 per cent.

• 10 per cent of companies state that they will have to permanently close if there is no business over the next six months.

In line with results from the last Barometer, six months ago, ‘impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the business’ and ‘state of the economy in home market’ are considered to be the two most important business issues, selected by 29 per cent and 19 per cent of 4 Business Events Africa August 2021

respondents. ‘Global economic developments’ (15 per cent of respondents) ‘impact of digitisation’ (10 per cent of respondents) and ‘internal management challenges’ (nine per cent of respondents) also remain high on the list of key business issues.

The digitisation of products and services gained momentum throughout the pandemic, and 58 per cent of respondents said they have added digital services/products (such as apps, digital advertising and digital signage) to their existing exhibition offerings. In addition, 40 per cent have developed a digital transformation strategy for individual exhibitions or products.

In terms of future exhibition formats, global results indicate that 78 per cent (up from 64 per cent six months ago, and 57 per cent 12 months ago) of respondents are confident that ‘Covid-19 confirms the value of face-to-face events’, anticipating that the sector will bounce back quickly.

Kai Hattendorf, UFI managing director and chief executive officer, said: “The Barometer results confirm the severe impact of the pandemic on our industry.

But, as most markets have reopened, or know when they most likely will reopen, the bounce-back is on its way, and the sector is confident that Covid-19 will have reinforced the value of physical events, while also pushing the development of new digital products and services.”

Size and scope This latest edition of UFI’s bi-annual industry survey was concluded in June 2021, and includes data from a record number of 474 companies in 64 countries and regions.

The study also includes outlooks and analysis for 23 countries and regions – Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US – as well as an additional five aggregated regional zones.

Operations in 2021 – reopening exhibitions Regional results indicate that the Middle East and Africa and Central and South www.businesseventsafrica.com

UFI BAROMETER PAGE REPORT STRAP

America regions are likely to be more affected than others, with a monthly average throughout 2021 of respectively 40 per cent and 34 per cent of ‘no activity’ (31 per cent in Europe, 25 per cent in North America and 23 per cent in Asia and Pacific) and only 22 per cent and 20 per cent of ‘normal activity’ (27 per cent in Asia and Pacific, 30 per cent in Europe and 35 per cent in North America).

Most regions agree that ‘lifting of current travel restrictions’, ‘readiness of exhibiting companies and visitors to participate again’ and ‘lifting of current public policies that apply locally to exhibitions’ are considered to be the ‘top three’ elements that would most help towards the ’bounce-back’ of exhibitions, except the Middle East and Africa, where ‘mid-term visibility in terms of public policies, including travel restrictions’ ranks third. North America and Central and South America rank ‘readiness of exhibiting companies and visitors to participate again’ as the most important of these three elements.

Turnover – operating profits Regional results indicate that: • The revenue drop anticipated for 2021 is highest in the Middle East and Africa and Central and South America (respectively only 35 per cent and 37 per cent of 2019 revenues), followed

by Europe (48 per cent), Asia and Pacific (50 per cent) and North America (55 per cent).

• In terms of profits, the percentage of companies who have seen a loss for 2020 is 41 per cent for North America, 44 per cent for Asia and Pacific, 51 per cent for the Middle East and Africa, 55 per cent in Europe, and 59 per cent for Central and South America.

Public financial support – workforce and perspectives Regional results indicate that: • The number of companies receiving public financial support is higher in Europe (65 per cent) and Asia and Pacific (49 per cent) than in North America (36 per cent), the Middle East and Africa (18 per cent) and Central and South America (eight per cent).

• There was a higher reduction in the workforce amongst companies in Central and South America (79 per cent), the Middle East and Africa (73 per cent) and North America (63 per www.businesseventsafrica.com

cent), than in Asia and Pacific (52 per cent ) and Europe (43 per cent).

• The proportion of companies believing that they will need to permanently close if business doesn’t resume within the next six months varies from five per cent in North America and Europe, to 10 per cent in Central and South America, 12 per cent in the Middle East and Africa and 16 per cent in Asia and Pacific.

Key business issues Compared to global results, ‘impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the business’ ranks higher in the Middle East and Africa (34 per cent), ‘state of the economy in home market’ ranks higher in Central and South America (26 per cent), and ‘global economic developments’ ranks higher in the Middle East and Africa (20 per cent).

Further insight by type of activity highlights that while ‘impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the business’ remains the main issue for all respondents, ‘internal management challenges’ and ‘competition from within the industry’ are the second and third main issues for service providers (respectively 18 per cent and 16 per cent of respondents).

Meanwhile, ‘internal management challenges’ ranks third for venues (18 per cent) and organisers (16 per cent).

Digitisation 58 per cent of survey participants globally reported that they have added digital services and products (such as apps, digital advertising and digital signage) to their existing exhibition offerings, and this is especially the case in Asia and Pacific (67 per cent).

In addition, while 40 per cent of respondents globally indicated that they have developed a digital transformation strategy for individual exhibitions and products, this number was higher in North America, at 57 per cent.

And, while 37 per cent of respondents globally stated that they have digitised internal processes and workflows, this number was – again – higher in North America, at 54 per cent .

Future exhibition formats – physical and digital events The results show no significant differences across regions as to possible trends regarding the format of exhibitions in the coming years.

Similarly, there are no strong regional differences with regard to the current and projected levels of activities related to hybrid or digital events in relation to physical events, although digital events have a stronger relevance in Central and South America, where 31 per cent of events organised in 2021 will be digital, and 53 per cent of companies believe that digital events will represent more than 10 per cent of their income for the next two years.

Background The 27th Global Barometer survey, conducted in June 2021, provides insights from 474 companies, covering 64 countries and regions. It was conducted in collaboration with twenty UFI member associations: AAXO (The Association of African Exhibition Organisers) and EXSA (Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa) in South Africa, AEO (Association of Event Organisers) in the UK, AFE (Spanish Trade Fairs Association) in Spain, AFEP (Asociación de Ferias del Perú) in Peru, AFIDA (Asociación Internacional de Ferias de América) representing Central and South America, AKEI (Association of Korean Exhibition Industry) in South Korea, AMPROFEC (Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales en Ferias, Exposiciones, Congresos y Convenciones) in Mexico, EEAA (Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia) in Australia, IECA (Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association) in Indonesia, IEIA (Indian Exhibition Industry Association) in India, JEXA (Japan Exhibition Association) in Japan, MACEOS (Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers), in Malaysia, MFTA (Macau Fair and Trade Association) in Macau, RUEF (Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs) in Russia, SECB (Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau) in Singapore, SISO (Society of Independent Show Organizers) in the US, TEA (Thai Exhibition Association) in Thailand, UBRAFE (União Brasileira dos Promotores Feiras) in Brazil and UNIMEV (French Meeting Industry Council) in France.

In line with UFI’s objective to provide vital data and best practices to the entire exhibition industry, the full results may be downloaded at www.ufi.org/research The next UFI Global Barometer survey will be conducted in December 2021.

Business Events Africa August 2021 5

NEWS

Africa’s Travel & Tourism Summit set to take off in September

The Department of Tourism and South African Tourism will host the first ever Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit, which is set to take place from 19-21 September 2021, coinciding with Tourism Month in South Africa.

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frica’s Travel and Tourism Summit aims to be a catalyst for engagement on the current state of tourism on the African continent. Taking into account challenges facing the global tourism industry, Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit will, through various engagement sessions, gather the tourism sector to share insights and ideas to explore collaborative efforts that may lead to recovery.

With an array of issues currently facing the sector, Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit aims to attract African community delegates, African tourism ministers, industry associations, tourism boards, destination marketing organisations as well as various partners across the tourism value chain.

Some of the major topics for discussion at the Summit include aviation, innovation, technology, the health and safety protocols currently in place, as well as the African continent’s positioning post the Covid-19 pandemic.

SA Tourism’s acting chief executive officer, Sthembiso Dlamini, highlighted that the African continent is resilient and that this summit is important as it will contribute towards picking up the momentum within the sector, as it works towards an inclusive recovery.

“The Covid-19 pandemic may have dealt tourism – both business and leisure tourism – a heavy blow, but we are now in the recovery phase, and a summit of this nature is critical in ensuring that we are aligned as a continent whilst reigniting the tourism industry,” Ms Dlamini said.

6 Business Events Africa August 2021

The summit will be hosted in a hybrid format, over a two-day period. Delegates will have the option of attending virtually, or at identified venues across South Africa, or at three additional locations on the rest of the African continent, pending Covid-19 lockdown regulations. All venues will have Covid-19 health and safety protocols in place.

“We have opted for the hybrid format in order for us, as a continent, to lead the way in demonstrating how tourism may be enjoyed safely whilst adhering to health protocols. It is important that we are diligent in reigniting the sector, as it contributes significantly to the African economy,” Ms Dlamini added.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Tourism as well as South African Tourism were unable to host the MICE-focused Meetings Africa and leisure-focused Africa’s Travel Indaba 2021 editions which usually take place in February and May annually.

While Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit should not be seen as a replacement, it does provide a platform to showcase the African continent’s leisure tourism offerings and business event capabilities.

“In the absence of Africa’s Travel Indaba in 2020 and 2021, Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit is an innovative initiative for promoting intra-Africa tourism as well as sharing insights into the ‘state of readiness’ for South Africa and the rest of Africa to welcome the world during and post-Covid-19 pandemic,” said Kwakye Donkor, chief executive officer, Africa

Ms Sthembiso Dlamini

Tourism Partners.

“I commend South African Tourism and the South African National Convention Bureau, for once again showing commitment and leadership in tourism promotion across the continent. It will be so great to meet traditional and emerging trade partners again during the Summit.

Well done to Team South Africa Tourism!

We look forward to a very fruitful summit,” Mr Donkor concluded.

Ms Dlamini also emphasised that Africa's Travel and Tourism Summit will act as a think tank for the continent, creating a platform for Africa’s tourism leaders to create solutions for Africa and contribute to global solutions for the industry.

Committed to ongoing transformation and development of the South African tourism industry, Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit will feature a dedicated day to empower SMMEs in the sector on 19 September 2021, as a precursor to the two-day conference which takes place on 20 and 21 September 2021.

Open to delegates from all countries, this summit is an invitation to the world to join in as the African continent not only gears itself for recovery, but also to share in the African story.

Registration for the summit has opened.

Stay tuned to our social pages for more information on registration details.

Click here: https://youtu.be/ t6g6DQZQX88 to view a message from the acting chief executive of South African Tourism, Sthembiso Dlamini. www.businesseventsafrica.com

MARKET NEWS

What it takes to maintain a five-star hotel

Hot on the heels of technology such as Wi-Fi, guest’s expectations when they visit a hotel include topnotch cleanliness, especially in the wake of Covid-19. This makes the role of any hotel’s most unseen staff, the housekeepers, extremely vital.

T

he cleaner may absolutely make or break a hotel, so they are really important, when you are a fivestar property like The Table Bay, at Cape Town’s best address. Everything has to be perfect from check-in to checkout and everything in-between,” said Melissa Hugo, who was promoted from executive housekeeper to rooms division manager at Sun International’s The Table Bay, in the V&A Waterfront, in May. The 35-year-old first experienced The Table Bay in 2006 while doing her internship for her hotel management studies at The International Hotel School.

She returned four years ago, after working as an executive housekeeper for numerous hotels, as well as in the destination management industry.

“I decided to go into housekeeping because I felt I could add value in employee relations and management www.businesseventsafrica.com

in this department, respect and care improves productivity and results in staff who are more empowered. At Sun International we have employee wellness programmes which also encourage increased engagement.”

Ms Hugo is responsible for housekeeping and front of house departments, managing close to 60 people, and said that she runs her departments by getting buy-in from her staff and allowing them to be heard.

“My management style is to allow people the space to be responsible for their own work. I give them the tools and leave them to it, but you need to own up to your mistakes thereafter!”

“My day starts at 7am and I leave when I am done. “As an operations manager, I balance managing daily operations and behind the scenes administration and management.

Guests are my focus as they need to come first, but you also need to balance this management and administrative tasks to keep the hotel going.

“I understand our responsibility in keeping our guests and staff safe.

Guests have been understanding in a post-Covid world, with the many changes for health and safety reasons.”

Ms Hugo said the word in the hospitality industry post-Covid is ‘agile’.

“With short lead bookings, you cannot plan on next week’s occupancies as things change. Our staff has had to learn to be flexible, and it is a balancing act between health and safety and luxury.”

Ms Hugo expected her first child in June 2021 but will be back at work in November in time for the anticipated busy season and “hopefully, lots of eager international guests to shower with our special Sun International hospitality.”

Business Events Africa August 2021 7

COVER STORY: RADISSON RED ROSEBANK

RED Rosebank is an avant-garde statement for the contemporary African citizen

First look at Radisson RED Rosebank

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n 2017, a new breed of hotel opened its doors on African soil. Bursting with exuberance and edgy art and boldly embracing technology with digital everything and keyless entry, Radisson RED Cape Town was as much the talk of the town as its equally new neighbour, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA). Fast forward four years and the RED has grown up.

And now the brand is ready to introduce Cape Town’s equally cool sister in Rosebank. Amid the pandemic, civil

8 Business Events Africa August 2021

Photographs: Patrick King

The second RED on African soil gets a sophisticated glow-up.

unrest and the ongoing challenges facing the hospitality industry, RED Rosebank opened its doors this month. The first RED opened ahead of the cacophony of its neighbour’s grand opening and kickstarted a precinct that has seen the addition of retail, business and food offerings. By comparison, the suburb of Rosebank has always been an area kicking and screaming with life. As the home to the famous Keyes Art Mile with its myriad galleries as well as a bustling shopping district, the area has only become more – dare we say it – hip. www.businesseventsafrica.com

COVER STORY: RADISSON RED ROSEBANK

This makes it the ideal location for a hotel such as RED, which is not just a carbon copy of its Capetonian counterpart.

Instead, the new RED is a product of its environment. Situated in Oxford Parks, a mixed-use precinct, its trendy neighbours include Sony Music. Guests are welcomed to the hotel by a majestic pair of wings – red, of course – by South African artist Usha Seejarim. The wings’ ‘gaze’, as Seejarim floated the concept to the hoteliers, would be towards the inner city of Johannesburg, alluding to Jozi’s power-play between promise, ambition and opportunity and its realities of labour and migration. Elsewhere, atop a canopy of lights, a glossy red Marlene Steyn sculpture takes in the view of the busy street that the hotel is located on.

Seejarim and Steyn’s are not the only artworks you may expect to find at the RED, though. Its rooms, foyer and even the ablution facilities hint at a sophisticated counter-narrative of the cityscape, both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Ghanian artist Prince Gyasi’s bold prints adorn the walls of the hotel’s shared spaces, each depicting its own story of the hopeful fragility of society’s marginalised individuals. You simultaneously want to take a peek inside their world, while still enjoying the creature comforts of the world within RED’s walls.

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Business Events Africa August 2021 9

COVER STORY: RADISSON RED ROSEBANK And what a world it is. In contrast to its sister, RED Rosebank exudes modern luxury without over-grandeur. Everything seems ultra high-gloss – from its marble-covered reception desk and its lush furnishings in rich deep tones to its foyer-come-exhibition gallery where artworks will be rotated every six months. Where RED Cape Town is as fresh and bubbly as the Mother City it calls home, RED Rosebank is an avantgarde statement for the contemporary African citizen. As with all REDs, the hotel is digitised, built for the modern traveller, with a digiwall where you may take a selfie before you tap on a screen for a guide to the neighbourhood. In your room, your smartphone becomes a television remote, while the mirror in the bathroom is perfectly lit for your latest TikTok or Instagram Story.

As Curator (RED-speak for general manager) Carly de Jong puts it, “the hotel is built on culture and its spaces proffer a vibrant blend of relaxation, social interaction and work.” In fact, guests may expect more than just a trendy stay.

In the RED kitchen, Chef Genghis San – referred to as Chef G in these parts – pulls together an exciting combination of flavours to keep your palate guessing, while the Rooftop Bar + Terrace will soon play host to live music sets and cocktails around a red-tiled lap pool beckoning you to take a dip. It’s no wonder insiders are tapping it to become the new playground and meeting place of Joburg’s elite and travellers looking for a one-of-a-kind stay.

“This hotel has been designed for an interactive, immersive experience, whether guests are staying overnight or popping in for a meal or drink,” adds de Jong. “It plays off the thriving energy of the city and truly is a reflection of the real urban culture of Rosebank.”

Meetings and events Say no to RED tape. Whether you’re looking to host a professional conference, fashion show or strategy brainstorm, our flexible spaces promise to inspire you.

Kitted out with modern technology, experienced event planners, and multiple fantastic food options fresh from our kitchen, you really are in the best hands.

Radisson RED features six meeting studios ranging from 20 to 120 in capacity as well as a reading room workspace for remote workers. All meeting studios have natural light and street views.

Our passionate, multilingual team understand the importance of delivering unique and unforgettable events.

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www.businesseventsafrica.com

COVER STORY: RADISSON RED ROSEBANK

Contact details info.rosebank@radissonred.com

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Business Events Africa August 2021 11

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Women professionals lead the way Women are gradually making their leadership presence felt. Women are now resolved to break the traditional glass ceiling that barred them from entering leadership positions, even if they possessed the requisite skills and talent to occupy them. Business Events Industry has asked some of our business events women leaders for their insights and experiences on being a women leader today.

Organisers Carol Weaving has drive and determination

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arol Weaving, managing director of RX Africa, has over 33 years of experience across several diverse industry sectors. Her expertise spans across marketing, exhibition management, events, conferences and venue and facility management. She was the first female chairperson of the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa [EXSA] and former founder and chairperson of the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO). Thanks to Ms Weaving’s continued passion, dedication and management, RX Africa is one of the largest and most successful exhibition management companies in Africa.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I have always had a passion for developing a concept and seeing that concept come to life in the form of a live event, whether it is a trade event and seeing real business being conducted or a consumer event and seeing the joy on the faces of the consumers. I worked my way up from the bottom, so I understand every component of what is required in our industry which I think really helps when leading a team.

The most important element for a leader is to not only believe in yourself and have the drive and determination to make it happen but believe in your team and help them grow and succeed.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Times are changing which is fantastic.

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www.businesseventsafrica.com

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Although there is still a way to go, there definitely is a strong focus on transformation, and equal pay for women is becoming the norm.

In my career, I have been told, “Because you are a woman you will never go any further in this organisation.” So, I left and started my own business. I was also told, “You need to stay home and have babies as you will ever amount to anything,” by my guidance councillor at school. The fact was that I had an entrepreneurial spirit. No one would get away with saying this now, thank goodness.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

My way of destressing is to travel. I have been ticking off items on my bucket list for years and then to do something extreme such as skydiving, scuba diving, riding a motorbike, bungee and so on.

You name it, I have done it. A trip to space would be nice. It is critical that you allow for ‘you’ time — whatever that is.

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

I have so many, but establishing a business of strong, competent women will always be something I am proud of. I will go to war for my team and they, in turn, never let me down. From a business perspective, turning the Ticketpro Dome – which was a white elephant when I took it over 23 years ago – and establishing it into an extremely successful, well known and profitable venue… until Covid, of course.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

Now that equal rights and equal pay are becoming the norm and not the exception, women need to continue to prove themselves against their male counterparts. No excuses, just do what you do best, and you will be successful.

Balancing work and family may be difficult, especially during a pandemic, but making sure that your partner shares in all home/children responsibilities is critical for all women.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Be brave, be bold, be determined. Do not let the prophets of doom make you second-guess yourself. Surround yourself with talent. www.businesseventsafrica.com

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

This industry is not for the faint-hearted.

Do not be afraid of late nights and having to work on weekends — then equally, work hard and play hard. Our industry is fun but very hard work. It’s one of the most stressful industries, but also the most rewarding.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Stigma from the past and some of the older generation that have not progressed with the times. This may be overcome, and you need to prove yourself, which may be exhausting. Then there is the work/life balance which may be overcome with the right partner.

Nina Freysen-Pretorius is excited about reinventing

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Do not give up. Even when times are tough, look forward. Don’t look back unless there is a lesson to be found in looking back.

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ina Freysen-Pretorius has 25 years’ experience in the conference industry and established her own company, The Conference Company, in 1997 organising corporate events and conferences, which has evolved to specialise in national and international association conferences as well as association management.

Nina has had a long association with the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), firstly as a member then as patron member. Nina is also a board member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and is the immediate past-president of ICCA. Nina is also a member of the WPCO Alliance.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have never really had a mentor, to be honest. I have learnt what I know on the job and through blood, sweat and tears. I had to fight against a male dominated system, so that taught me resilience, confidence and that good, old fashioned hard work will help me succeed.

What has you most excited about the future?

Change. I love change and it’s the only constant. We need to adapt to change and embrace it. Some people hate change, but it may be exciting, new and fresh. I am looking forward to live events again, post the pandemic. Not that the pandemic is going away, but we will learn to live with it.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

We would like to assist companies build their business via our trade platforms as well as offering our consumers a great experience via our live events and consumer shows. In essence, bring back face-to-face contact with some fun.

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

By nature, I am not a patient person and like things to happen and be arranged in advance and precisely. It is also important to me that things are done professionally, ethically and are not a last-minute rush or randomly thrown together, but that considerable thought and planning has been done in advance.

Working with associations who have volunteer leaders and a chairperson – that are professionals operating within the specific association sector of expertise – the time that they may contribute towards the association work is normally after hours and on weekends. With the demand on specific skills across all sectors ever

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increasing, this makes it challenging from the association, individual and our perspective as the consulting entity.

I have had to learn to be patient, be prepared and always anticipate to plan accordingly. It has also taught me to truly value the wonderful clients we have and to assist them in making contributions in their respective sectors. Over the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown period, I have also learnt how blessed we are to have such a dedicated, committed, and skilled team.

They have managed to migrate from doing in-person to virtual conferencing, at times making it seem easy!

I have also learnt to be grateful and appreciate the opportunities we have had, the incredible clients, suppliers, and staff that I work with every day.

you are doing either one justice! However, as children become less dependent on you as a parent, the systems and procedures put into place for your business, allow you to appreciate that the stress and hard work is worth it.

Being elected as the ICCA president was also one of the highlights of my career, whilst a tremendous challenge due to the management changes within ICCA which also had to be addressed. It taught me that one must believe in yourself and keep pushing, as that is the only way in which you will release what you may achieve.

Having the right people and support at your side, taking people into your confidence to address challenges and to collaboratively find solutions and a way forward, has been a valuable lesson learnt.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Whilst many women have taken up incredible leadership positions around the world in many different organisations, with different skills and abilities, my sense is that we are still faced with the same prejudices that woman before us have had. We are always judged by our outer appearances first and not the contribution that we may make with the abilities and skillsets that we have.

The success of any project is also not about one person but rather about a team of people adding their talents to ensure a well-rounded final product is achieved.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

What work/life balance?

As a mother, wife and employer or consultant – I think that woman just get on with the job at hand. How and when it gets done – has become immaterial. The work-from-home scenario, in many ways, has proven to be beneficial to many women who need to take care of their children whilst earning a living.

It has really become an act of juggling many responsibilities. The unfortunate part is that – compared to our male counterparts – there is very little time left for woman to have me-time. This is a concern, as one must recharge those batteries and feed the soul! My one non-negotiable is reading the Sunday papers with a coffee – sometime on Sunday!

What are the highlights and challenges in your career?

Becoming a mom whilst having to run a business. I am sure that many working moms will relate to how challenging these two roles are at times. One never feels as if

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Personally, I don’t consider myself a ‘leader’ per se. I am just me, Nina. You don’t get up in the morning and say, “Today, I am going to become a leader!” It simply does not work like that. To me it is more that others may potentially perceive you as a leader due to your actions, engagements, dedication, and the support that you offer.

Also, there are different leaders for different situations and times. You cannot lead on a matter or group if you are not qualified and speak from an informed position. People are quick to percieve if you are insincere and taking on a matter for personal reasons only.

To be a leader, it does not mean that you must be the loudest or the most informed, but rather a combination of the ability to listen, understand and appreciate the challenge at hand and find a solution which is reasonable and fair to all parties.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

My suggestion to young women who would like to become involved in the hospitality sector, is to consider completing some sort of tertiary education qualification. Whilst the ‘final product’

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– after many months or years of work looks very attractive – the reality is that one must have good financial management and understanding, and good legal appreciation as contracting and statutory regulations are part and parcel of managing events and working with suppliers and clients.

Furthermore, a strong administrative skillset is non-negotiable, whatever sector of the supply chain of hospitality, tourism, and business events you fall into. You have to be well organised, able to work according to a project plan and have the ability to adjust and adapt as the project evolves.

The success of any project is also not about one person but rather about a team of people adding their talents to ensure a well-rounded final product is achieved.

Interpersonal skills, staff management and general human resource knowledge will also be valuable to have. I would even suggest that psychology is a subject which may come in handy!

The better equipped you are with any of the aforementioned educational courses or degrees, the better you will be prepared for project management work.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned, to date, in your career?

“Just when you think you have all the answers – they change all the questions.”

You are never too old to learn, you have to be adaptable and be prepared to learn from those younger and older – as knowledge and skills come in all shapes and sizes!

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I don’t have any one individual woman whom I admire – but rather many different women who have made different contributions, based on their circumstances and abilities. Many of the associations that I work with have woman as the chairperson or president of the association. They have, over the years, all taught me many valuable lessons. There is always some special skill or quality that they have that one may learn from.

When one thinks of iconic leaders over the ages, such as Lady Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, Mother Theresa, Thuli Madonsela – I shudder to think of all the prejudice and challenges that they would have faced being leaders. www.businesseventsafrica.com

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What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

The world has been turned upside down by the Covid-19 pandemic. My hope is that after all the loss, sadness, and hardship many people around the world have had to face, that perhaps there is some sort of silver lining. My wish is that we are able to do things in a more environmentally friendly manner, spend more time with our families, appreciate our blessings and what we do have and make the most of that.

I am excited about reinventing how we do business and host conferences and meetings. Having the opportunity to do things better, more cost effectively and inclusively is a positive, whilst at the same time saving our planet.

Denise Kemp is excited about the future of the industry

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enise Kemp, owner of Eastern Sun Events, established the company in 1997. Its core focus is medical association conferences, national and international.

How has your life experience moulded you in to the leader that you are today?

I was let down by someone I was in business with once and that has made me a much stronger person. I stopped worrying what other people thought and I found this to be very liberating.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

In some cultures in our country the

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women play a subservient role to men and I think that they battle to overcome this in the workplace, especially in instances where they have male staff underneath them.

and do everything that will take you along that path. Ask yourself: “Will this next step take me towards my goal?” and, if it doesn’t, then don’t do it.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I battle with this. Even when I’m on holiday with my family, I still attend client Zoom meetings and answer emails. So this might answer your question — not very well!

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

My involvement in SAACI over many years, from branch chair to national chair has been a highlight. Travelling overseas for international conference bids and winning them against strong competition from other countries has been another highlight.

Probably Covid has been our biggest challenge as we had all conferences for an 18 month period cancelled in one week.

But, within six weeks, we were ready to carry out full online conferences, including exhibitions — not only Zoom meetings or webinars. There continues to be challenges persuading delegates to attend international conferences in SA, with crime and corruption. And now, with Covid and the slow vaccine rollout, this has compounded it.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Being taken seriously and not allowing themselves to be talked down to.

Fortunately there is very little of this in our industry.

What is the most important lesson, to date, that you’ve learned in your career?

Surround yourself with staff members who have the same principles as you do and then give them the freedom to do the job their way. Your way is not necessarily the best way.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Angela Merkel: I believe she has done so much for Germany and she is regarded as the de facto leader of the EU and the most influential women in the world.

When she first came to power, she was known as the new Margaret Thatcher, who was another great leader I admire.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

I think that the world has changed so much with respect to Covid that it has been mentioned that jobs will open which we never knew existed before.

How do women prepare for this future? What do they study? And will they feel like they are on the right path?

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have always had specific people with whom I discuss business and/or personal issues. They play different roles in my life and some of these people are: my external accountant, my financial adviser, my GM at work and two specific friends.

At one stage I had a professional business coach, but we parted ways when I realised that we were no longer on the same path.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Believe in yourself. You will achieve whatever you want to with determination, guts and by hanging in there and not giving up. A can-do attitude. Always be scrupulously honest so that you may sleep at night.

What has you most excited about the future?

I am very excited about the future of our industry. It is so different and no one knows exactly what will end up being the norm. It is scary, financially, for most of us, but it also challenges us to do things differently.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

It is a tough, demanding, but a very exciting and addictive industry to be part of. Determine what you want to achieve

What what would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I would like to change the financial model of my business to meet the needs of our clients and ourselves in the new world we find ourselves in.

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up their space’. Building your ‘worthiness muscle’ is so important, but it takes flexing and finessing.

Finding your work life blend

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evi Paulsen-Abbott, vice president of dmg events, has a career of over twenty years in media and events. “It includes a tenure at Spintelligent, where I was lucky enough to be part of the executive team who concluded the acquisition of Spintelligent by Clarion Events. Five years after co-founding Hypenica, I drove the sale of its transport and built environment portfolios to dmg events, where I now serve as vice president.”

Devi currently serves on the 2021/22 board of AAXO as vice chair.

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

I so appreciate the amazing opportunities which I have been afforded over the years, which has allowed me to visit 39 countries, (27 of these in Africa). Travelling has taught me several lessons and skills that have certainly influenced my leadership approach. For example, being resilient, not sweating the small stuff, staying humble, the importance of planning and time management, taking risks, being curious, flexible and communicating clearly all the time.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

To be honest, most of my challenges are in my own head. So many of the obstacles early on in my career were brought on by my self-doubt and I think that women often don’t have the confidence to believe that their voice is valid so they don’t ‘take

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

In my opinion, both men and women are continuously challenged with balancing their career and personal life – our lives and jobs have become incredibly demanding.

I stopped putting pressure on myself to achieve this mystical goal, after reading a study and article by Ariana Huffington, suggesting that if we were to change the terminology from ‘work-life balance’ to ‘work-life blend’ — we will ease the juggling act of work and family time.

Work-life blend means that all the things you have to do matter; it means that you may simultaneously meet the obligations of your ‘professional-self’ and ‘personalself’ without sacrificing one side for the other. Being able to blend work and home life moves the focus to outcomes and achievement rather than the time that we do something.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

Highlight: My very first event hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1999. It was such an amazing experience, and the memories remain with me.

Challenge: Covid-19 has been my biggest challenge to date. Not only have 2020 and 2021 been physically and financially tough, but managing the emotional toll of watching so many industry peers lose jobs, or their businesses has been extremely emotionally taxing.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

I believe the two challenges that Gen-Z or Gen-Alpha are going to face are: • Intergenerational inclusivity and collaboration: with so many different generations in a business these days, it’s very easy to stereotype various age groups, all of whom have a lot to offer, but different drivers and ways of working. Being able to embrace, recognise and then collaborate all norms and inclusivity is a vital skill for future leaders.

• Not having career-patience. We all have to put in our time and learn the lessons which we need for success.

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What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

The first thing to remember about leadership is that it is not about rank or title. It’s about action and responsibility.

This means that anyone and everyone may be a leader, as a result of the actions that you take and the example that you make.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

• Progress is better than perfection: The world has changed so much, and exhibitions and events are going to look a little different. This means that your prescribed career ambitions may not take the exact path you had envisaged. Be open to this and know that not every job needs to address all your passions. Use every job as an opportunity to learn something new and keep an open mind.

• Drive your own goals: You don’t have to beat out all your peers to win.

• Champion other women: As the ‘shine theory’ suggests, when you help another woman rise, we all shine. We are lucky in South Africa to have so many fantastic and inspiring female role-models in our industry, who are incredibly supportive of each other.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

The fear of failure overshadows the motivation to take risks: The wisdom of learning from failure is irrefutable. It fosters innovation and creativity, drives resilience and reveals who you may trust. Nobody likes to fail but I find that women (myself included), tend to judge their mistakes and failure particularly harshly.

This not only discourages them, but puts them under immense pressure. In this new world we are entering, we should embrace failure a lot more, given the very unchartered waters we are navigating through — we are bound to be making a lot of mistakes!

What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career, to date?

In chaos, there is opportunity: Most of my opportunities have come from moments where I was able to make a difference in a difficult situation and find opportunities from the challenges.

Be confident, yet humble: remain humble, and always accept that you will not always be the one who knows the most. www.businesseventsafrica.com

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

• Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand: She epitomises the concept of work/life blending. Ms Ardern may present herself to be a strong leader, yet remains positive and kind.

• Graca Machel: I admire that she has used her profile to make a difference and to be an agent of change, particularly through the Graca Machel Trust, which promotes peace, justice and human rights.

• Phuti Mahanyele, chief executive officer, NASPERS: I admire her motivation and she is a testimony that all women should be fearless leaders. I appreciate her lessons on how we should never take time for granted, but be more deliberate with the little moments which we have, particularly with those you love.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have been very lucky to have had phenomenal mentors. These men and women served as a support system and have provided me with encouragement to take risks. They have also been the biggest cheerleaders who have believed in me.

I have found that having mentors from outside the industry has also been very valuable. Learning from other experiences has been a big driver of innovation in the businesses that I have been involved in.

What has you most excited about the future?

• Exhibition evolution: as a result of this pandemic, our industry has been turned on its head and, although there were many tragic casualties, the disruption has also created space for entrepreneurs in the exhibitions business globally and in Africa. I am excited to see the emergence of several new and interesting ways in which exhibitions are going to be hosted, skillsets that will arise to fulfil these and the new businesses and offerings that will materialise as a result. As Plato said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

• Harnessing the power of Africa’s youth: 65 per cent of the total population of Africa is between the ages of 18 and 35, with a median age of 20, Africa is the most youthful continent on the planet. In addition, more than half www.businesseventsafrica.com

of the world’s top-10 growing economies are in Africa. The seeds of great prosperity for the continent lie in the passion, talent and skillsets of our youth who have grown up in an era of innovation and disruption. This tremendous asset will influence innovations that will, without a doubt, have significant political, social, and economic global influence.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

Besides hosting an in person/live exhibition? 2021 has been a year of transition and, for many, 2020 felt like we were just continuously grinding through the present. As we rebound and reopen, I want to ensure that the hard lessons learned, work which our team did in 2020 to support our customers and some of our reimagined and developed offerings continue to shape the future for dmg events South Africa and, of course, our local industry. The marketplaces we create are key economic enablers and will continue to play a key role in the recovery of our sectorial and macro economies.

Associations The world is your oyster

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What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Definitely work/life balance and not believing in your capabilities.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Luckily, I switch off easily when needed and believe in working smarter and not harder. I love my to-do and reminder lists, and have one next to my bed, on my desk and in the car.

What have the highlights and challenges been in your career?

Having worked in Cape Town throughout my career, the first highlight that comes to mind is the opening of the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Following that, when Cape Town hosted the International Diabetes Federation Conference in 2006 with over 11,000 delegates and Cape Town’s first city-wide conference. The buzz in the City was amazing. A challenge at the beginning of my career was to learn to speak English, as my home language is Afrikaans and I grew up in Beaufort West where, even in the English class, we spoke Afrikaans.

smaré Steinhöfel, regional director: Africa of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) studied tourism at the – then – Cape Technikon, and her first appointment was at Cape Town Tourism. “When the Cape Town International Convention Centre was being constructed, the Cape Town Convention Bureau was established and that was my first position in the business events industry. Following that, I moved to The Westin in Cape Town, the Cape Town International Convention Centre and am currently at ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association. I love working in sales and the feeling of closing a deal.”

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I had very strict, but supportive parents and they instilled values like honesty and integrity. I also believe in staying true to myself — I am who I am. Ask for help and guidance when needed, that is how I learned and gained experience.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

The business events Industry, like many other industries, is always evolving and changing. Stay on top of what is happening in the industry and be open to change. We all had to, for example, adapt to the current virtual environment and learn new skills at the same time. I

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also believe that there is always a positive in something negative.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

The world is your oyster. If you want to make a difference, it is up to you. Make things happen and look for opportunities.

And always stay true to yourself and who you are.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Surround yourself with positive people and give more than you take. Find your niche and know what your strengths and weaknesses are. We do not work in a normal 8-5 working hour industry. The working days may be long at times but, in the end, if you love your job it is also very rewarding.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Focus on what you have to do and get the job done to the best of your ability.

Ask for advice when help is needed and believe in yourself.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

I do believe in the saying, “Never burn your bridges, you may need to cross them again,” and, if I have made a mistake, I own it. By not doing so, the problem is only going to get bigger. I also try to stay on top of industry trends and what is happening globally. Be kind to people and treat them the way you want to be treated.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

This is not an easy question, as over the years so many females have had an impact on my life. As a student, Margi Biggs, who was my lecturer when I attended the Cape Technikon, gave me the foundation required to work in the industry. My sister, Thalana, always reminds me that every cloud has a silver lining.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have really had amazing bosses, throughout my career, exposing me to opportunities, but it was also up to me to

take the opportunities presented. As leaders, we have to share our experience with younger people who are beginning to work in the industry. I also have friends – in and out of the industry – who have made a big impact on my personal life.

Also reading: Robin Sharma is a big favourite of mine for a bit of inspiration.

What has you most excited about the future?

Growing Africa as a business events continent. Africa still has very few countries focusing on promoting meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, and there is also a need for more convention bureaux. Secondly, wishing that our industry would resume to normalcy, with travelling and hosting conferences in our beautiful destinations.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

I would like to stay happy. On a personal front, I began to crochet a month ago and would like to master that. At the moment, ICCA only has members in southern and east Africa, therefore, growing our membership in other regions on the continent will be a key focus, and supporting our membership as things get back to normal, hopefully in 2022.

Africa still has very few countries focusing on promoting meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, and there is also a need for more convention bureaux.

Go the extra mile

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llen Oosthuizen, owner and event manager of Bebe’s Events & Promotions and outgoing chairperson of the SA Events Council established her company in 1996, after leaving the SABC after 14 years of service.

“My first conference took place in Namibia. The SABC contacted me to assist Namibian Broadcasting with the Union of Radio & Television Nationals of Africa’s conference, which I organised for the SABC, whilst being in their employ. I loved working in Namibia. This new venture in my life was so overwhelming!

After the conference in Namibia I was approached by the Commercial Radion

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Association to organise their AGM at Lake Malawi. So, off we went to Malawi to do a site inspection. On the plane, we got chatting to the passenger sitting next to us and he was a training coach. My husband told him about my involvement with the National Secretaries Conventions. He immediately asked me to send a quote when I arrive at Lake Malawi. Well, he accepted the quote, and two months later, I organised a National Secretaries Convention for him in Blantyre. From there on it was word-ofmouth – working with African countries, delegates travelling in from abroad, dealing with visas, travel arrangements, venues (even Robben Island) etc. Today, I am blessed to still be operating under these challenging times in our industry.”

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

By being humble, professional, and going the extra mile for my clients. My passion for the industry and the fact that I love what I do has brought me where I am today.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

There are many women in leadership roles today. I think the challenges are juggling your personal life and your career, especially for women who are mothers and leaders. We, as women, want to give 100 per cent to both worlds. www.businesseventsafrica.com

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If not, we feel guilty for not being able to be a good mother and a professional in our field.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I try to discipline myself to close my home office at 17h00 — not that it happens, especially when we are on a deadline with an event. As a family, I insist that we have dinner around the table so that we have quality time together. On weekends I try to avoid going into the office – we spend time with family and friends.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

My highlight was when I received the Top 40 Women in Mice Award in 2017, chosen as chairperson of the PCO Alliance Network in 2018, chairperson of the SA Events Council in 2020 (six months term) and again, now in 2021 (six months term). Challenges, I would say the last 16 months topped all charts.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

To persevere in what is still perceived to be a male dominated world and building up our industry to what it was before Covid.

Financial challenges and to motivate your staff to be proud of your product again.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Be honest, humble, and professional in what you do. Go the extra mile. Hard work will pay off at the end.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

In the world we are in today, I would say, “Do you really want to go into this industry?” Women must make sure this is really what they want to do – it is not a glamorous career. It is hard work, long hours and you must have the right temperament.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Backstabbing, especially when a group of women are working together. Being a mother and seeing to your children when they are sick. Some companies do not have empathy when it comes to mothers with children. www.businesseventsafrica.com

What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career, to date?

I have learned that you must always be prepared for any changes which your client might throw at you when working on events. You accept the changes with a smile, and then you pull the rabbit out of the hat. My clients would normally say something like, “I know you would be able to do that.”

Over the past year I have learned to collaborate with my fellow colleagues in the industry. I have learned such a lot from representing the PCO Alliance Network on the SA Events Council.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Probably Queen Esther from the bible.

We do not talk about her much these days as there are so many inspirational women leaders now. Esther’s story is immensely powerful, and she showed real courage in a very challenging time.

With the power of prayer and bravery, she saved her people and a kingdom. For me, the kingdom and people are everyone in our industry and I pray and fight daily to bring our industry back to where it once was.

The opportunities are endless

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How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

My mentor was my boss at the SABC. He motivated me to always take on challenges and I learned so much from him. He never closed a door on me and I just grew in my career as a PA. This was the spinoff for me to launch my own events company. In the PCO industry I worked myself up to where I am today.

Jacqueline Stumke, Founder of the PCO Alliance Network also motivated me and I also learned from her.

What has you most excited about the future?

I pray that the Lord will bring us through this pandemic and that we may rebuild the industry together again.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

I really pray for our industry to be revived once again and that my business and all the other thousands of businesses may return to normality and that we may do what we do best – and love to do – again.

assionate Tes Proos, 53, president of Site Africa and founder of Crystal Events Africa, has been in this industry for over 38 years.

“My career began as holiday and weekend jobs in hotels and restaurants in Bloemfontein. Before I knew it, I ended up in the Holiday Inn/Southern Sun Hotel Management programme and was transferred to Johannesburg. There, I worked at the Milpark Holiday , before moving to the Sandton from 1987 until 1992. I had a short stint working fulltime at the Pappas group of restaurants before joining the opening team of Gallagher Estate Convention Centre in 1993. In 1996 I joined the banqueting team at Sun City and transferred to Swaziland as regional marketing manager for Sun International hotels. In July 2000, I was headhunted by a Cape Town tour operator and so my life as a DMC began. Following that, I worked for two major South African DMCs before launching up my own business in 2009.”

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I have been fortunate having been surrounded by role models from an early age, beginning with my parents, who taught me respect – no matter what your station in life; teachers who taught me how to deal with conflict resolution; bosses who recognised the leadership potential in me and steered me onto the path to where I am today. In addition, I had clients that I

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really looked up to as a young proferssional and they helped to form my opinions on world and business matters, through our interactions.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Whilst there has been an improvement regarding equal opportunities in some sectors, it is still very much a ‘man’s world’ out there. We constantly have to battle the ‘boys’ club’ brigades in our industry to advance. As women, we often have to work twice as hard, to prove ourselves worthy of leadership positions and equal pay. That being said, I absolutely commend the men who enable leadership for women. I have encountered some of these heroes in all walks of life, including men in my family, former bosses, but also in national leadership positions, such as President Paul Kagame from Rwanda.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Maintaining a balance is an extremely difficult thing to do in our industry, as time knows no boundaries. I am extremely fortunate to have a highly supportive partner who takes on the bulk of the domestic chores, allowing me to crunch through weekends and late nights.

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

Initially, my career promotions at the Sandton Sun hotel will always stand out to me. I am also happy to say that it was men who recognised my potential and provided the opportunities for me to grow. That said, the female managers I reported to were absolute heroes and role models. As I was growing and learning the ropes, I wanted to excel in food and beverage operations.

Later in my career, I ran into brick walls as ‘the boys’ simply did not want ladies within their inner circle. I ended up moving back to a marketing position, where I earned a fraction of what my fellow executive male counterparts earned. It was a catalyst to leaving the hotel industry, but I have absolutely no regrets. My new path on the DMC road opened many more doors to exciting opportunities, such as becoming a SITE member and, subsequently, president of the Africa chapter.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

I believe that Covid-19 has changed

leadership paradigms forever. We now have men working from home, having to take the full brunt of raising and homeschooling children. It is no longer a gimmick to see a dad with a baby strapped to his chest, delivering a keynote address. I am confident that Covid-19 may have levelled the playing field, so rather than seeing a challenge, women should take advantage of the opportunities that this crisis may be presenting us with.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Self-respect, first and foremost.

Compassion – women should never lose that – it is what makes us strong. Equally important is integrity. You may only lose your good name once. Find role models and mentors, women you look up to — but do select them carefully as not everyone’s style may match your own.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Do your homework before you jump into a career that you don’t know much about.

The hospitality and events sector has always looked very glamorous from the outside, but people only realise how tough it is once they are committed. The great thing about our sector is that there are many more career options today than there were 20 years ago. The industry has evolved globally, and the opportunities are endless.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

The work/life balancing act is probably one of the biggest challenges, especially for women with young families. One of the positives of Covid-19 is that we had no choice but to work from home and bosses simply had to trust that things would get done. Therefore, I would encourage business owners to allow women to work from home, wherever possible, instead of being forced to apply for leave every time there is a crisis.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career, to date?

I have learned how to not treat people. I found myself in several situations where the boss took absolute pleasure in humiliating staff – myself included. Respect is earned, not demanded. Always treat people with respect and dignity. It is incredible how much one may achieve through that.

20 Business Events Africa August 2021

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Oh boy…that is not a fair question! I cannot list all my lady heroes but here are a few: 1. Linda Pereira, CPL Events, Portugal – they say that dynamite comes in small packages, but Linda is a nuclear bomb!

I absolutely admire her tenacity and everything she does to promote Women Power. Her annual event ‘Women of Wisdom’ had over 4,000 global attendees in June 2021!

2. Prof. Nellie Swart, UNISA, South Africa – her passion for our industry is contagious and her compassion for her fellow human beings is tangible. She is one of the greatest mentors our industry could ask for.

3. Adefunke Adeyemi, IATA, Nigeria – I have yet to meet Adefunke in person, but she stands out to me as one of Africa’s greatest influencers and a highly respected female leader in a very male dominated industry.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

Everyone needs a mentor and I have been very fortunate to have amazing people who motivated me, especially when I doubted myself.

What has you most excited about the future?

Africa, without question. There is so much excitement and enthusiasm across the continent when it comes to the MICE industry, and I am inspired to see the efforts being made in various destinations to upskill and educate as well as develop infrastructure to deliver world class products and services. It bodes well for job creation and skills transfer across borders, not to mention great potential for economic development. The supply chain for business tourism runs deep into almost all sectors.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I would like to play an active role in getting new African destinations onto the map for MICE business and, of course, for incentive travel. The climate is right and the willpower is there.

Activating all the ingredients will be the key to unlocking opportunities for many amazing African destinations to thrive and prosper in the future. www.businesseventsafrica.com

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balance – though there are times that, even when in a routine, it may be rocked.

Many women in business are faced with the family vs career question. In fact, you may have both and balance is the key.

Thankfully it is improving.

For me it is about routine. Getting up and walking the dogs is one of those things I do each day. It keeps me sane.

Surround yourself with people who inspire you

K

im Roberts, director of Mise-en-place Hospitality Solutions and SAACI national chairperson, began as a chef and travelled extensively. She has a worldwise approach to life.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

The challenges, changes and wins have shaped who I am. It is hard, sometimes, to take those on as your own, but so worth it to grow in your career. In an industry that has recently seen larger numbers of women in roles as leaders, celebrating and supporting each other is of great value to us all.

I encourage each woman working in the business events environment, and beyond, to find a mentor. Sometimes you may even need more then one at a specific time, to bounce and share thoughts and ideas with. As women, we need to seize and explore every opportunity. At times, having a sounding board may assist and process the challenges we find ourselves facing.

Personally, this is where I have observed the success of others.

Taking time for self-assessment is critical. It is also important to recognise when you have grown and are ready to tackle new things.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Working predominantly from home – even prior to the national lockdown – gave me a chance to work on finding the right

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Things that have worked for me in maintaining balance: • I walk away from the office at the end of the day and don’t walk my phone or laptop around like a pet in the evening – being present in every activity.

• Cook a healthy meal and sit at a table for dinner.

• Plan something for the weekend or maybe a future holiday.

• Celebrate work wins with colleagues (and personal wins with loved ones, of course).

• Keep planning and working towards those goals.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

Highlights – seeing the people you have worked with and mentored grow into leaders themselves.

Challenges – our immediate space, keeping the confidence and morale up with colleagues in the industry, considering the current challenges we are facing.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

To be relevant and respected in a way that totally negates the gender question. To be so effective and inspirational that men and women aspire to your success.

What advice would you give to women who want to be leaders?

Surround yourself with people, particularly other women who inspire you. Read and read more, be aware of your surroundings, and use them as building blocks. Give time to people and hear them – change what you may for the better, regardless of the position you hold within a company, it will be remembered. Work alongside your colleagues.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Learn as much as possible about the sector at large. Go to events, network and make

the effort to meet new people each time you attend (online or in person). The businesses and contacts are so interconnected and will stand you in good stead as you grow and may need advice or assistance.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

I think that the workplace is starting to become reasonable. It is about whether you may perform in the role or not.

Women should not worry about being women – rather about what value they may bring, as a woman, to an organisation.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Patience, is the lesson that is the hardest to learn, for me. To achieve success, you have to put in the hard yards, it is not an overnight thing.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Brende Sisane – Art of Sunday Kaya FM (passion and advocate for music and education) Holly Duckworth – Leadership International (Mindfulness facilitator and focus on Stress free leadership).

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

A massive difference – in all aspects of my life. I believe that everyone needs a mentor and often, more than one. Some just for a short time and others for longer.

As you develop as a leader you will realise the need for different personalities and experts as leaders. Do not be afraid to go out there and find the right one and ask them to assist you. Most will be honoured to share their experience. You don’t have anything to lose.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

Implementation of an adapted strategy for SAACI, in conjunction with the board, to move into our ‘New World’. The last 15 months have challenged the ability to be creative – I am focused now to push the creative brain again. I have always enjoyed doing research and am committed to implementing opportunities to entice youth into the tourism business space, post the pandemic.

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How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

I was witness to the rise and success of my parents – both extremely resilient – with a strong work ethic and clear direction.

Striving for excellence is in our DNA. So too are values, principles and convictions.

My family faced various challenges during my childhood, all of which have instilled in me the ability to flex, apply agility, embrace change and to keep forwardfocused — underpinned by my strong faith.

Change is the new constant

G

ill Gibbs is the chief executive officer of bluCube International (Pty) Ltd, chairperson of EXSA and incoming chairperson of the SA Events Council.

After graduating, Ms Gibbs worked and saved to travel overseas. “I lived in London and Scotland for five years and, after working in hospitality, I started out in the optometric industry, working for Boots Opticians. I returned to South Africa in 1992.”

“After returning to work, I returned to the optometric industry in Durban and then moved to Mtubatuba, where my fiancé ran a hardware business. There, I was involved in the church in the Women’s League and with the local primary school, assisting with speech, drama and choreography.”

“We moved to Johannesburg in 1997 and I bought a training franchise, servicing the corporate industry and student market.

Two years later, I became involved in the organiser’s side of the industry, working for International Fairs & Exhibitions. I then joined Z Displays on the contracting side of the industry. Shell Systems and Z Displays amalgamated to form Oasys Innovations, which was bought in 2010 by GL Events.

“In April 2010, my husband Andrew and I started ConCept G Exhibitions & Events. bluCube was founded in 2012 and CG Retail Solutions, in 2015. I began serving on the EXSA board in 2017, became vice chairperson and I am currently serving my two-year term as chairperson. I was recently nominated as chairperson of the SA Events Council, which is a six-month term.”

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

I have attended one too many webinars during the varying stages of Covid-19 lockdown, where what has become quite clear is that recognition of female leaders globally requires change, embrace and attention.

In South Africa, when I first started in the industry, it was quite male-dominated and this had its challenges and frustrations. As females, we had to fight that much harder than that of our male counterparts to achieve recognition and respect.

Being strong, consistent, driven and focused stood me in good stead. I am proud to be part of an Industry where female entrepreneurship is respected and admired – this has been my experience as a female entrepreneur.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

This has always been a tricky scenario in our industry, which may be quite engulfing at its peak times. The Coronavirus pandemic has forced us to slow down, take stock and review our perspective.

Work/life balance could always be better, which is an ongoing syndrome for entrepreneurs, especially in trying and stressful times such as these. Working from home has shown that you may lose sight of time quickly and, having a structured day with significant breaks in this environment, is key.

What are the highlights and challenges in your career?

Highlights and challenges include serving on the EXSA board and the new opportunity on the board of the SAEC, working towards a phased approach to the reopening of the industry, juggling and applying agility across many platforms in this 17-month stretch in which we find

22 Business Events Africa August 2021

ourselves. Campaigns such as LightSARed, evoked such passion and emotion amongst our community, further reinforcing our commitment to excellence, dedication to our sector and our ongoing resilience and professionalism, despite all the odds stacked against us.

Challenges include hanging on by the skin of our teeth, forging and pushing on to expedite the green light from the Government to operate at 50 per cent venue capacity, to give our sector some chance of revival, if possible. Knowing that some of our renowned skillset and experienced stalwarts have left the industry and may never return poses a whole set of challenges. And the mortality in our community due to Covid-19, is extremely difficult and devastating.

Career highlights include our execution of very special, memorable and exceptional projects that we have conceptualised, designed and realised, such as the Robertson’s Reinvention Kitchen at Melrose Arch for THB, the South African Tourism international exhibition stands for CWDi, large exhibition stands for Siemens and Voith at Electra Mining, Africa Rail, Africa Automation Fair, semi-permanent installations and environments for our clients, to name a few.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

Globally, industries have to start looking beyond gender and rather focus on merit, capabilities, experience, credentials and credibility. That’s how I would want to be measured and gauged. Personally, it’s about what you may contribute, enhance and improve and in that, consistently learn. So, the challenge lies in consistently changing the narrative and perspective around gender.

As females, we may have to juggle various roles and responsibilities that have to be fulfilled, aside from our careers.

Having an approach of partnership in our relationships or good, reliable support – as in the case of single parenting – is key, which speaks to nurturing a financial portfolio that enables the required support.

What advice would you give to women who would like to be leaders?

To work on themselves first and foremost.

To be honest with themselves and identify aspects that require work and/or change; www.businesseventsafrica.com

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

to work on their wellbeing and to achieve consistent learning, knowledge and improvement. To work on their financial portfolio and provide for their future. To be proud of their achievements and to consistently push themselves forward.

Having a solid foundation and emotional intelligence opens up a whole new world of opportunity and will give credence to their hard work and efforts and in this, they will continue to grow, develop and succeed. To support and collaborate with fellow female leaders and like-minded professionals. To congratulate, uplift and encourage one another. To follow successful female leaders with sound principles and good work ethic and to identify a mentor to whom they feel positively aligned. Be fearless – you have to want it more than you fear it. Finally, to be able to look inward with confidence and clarity and to be able to answer who they are to their circle and how they show up – in the workplace and in their homelife.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Be braced for change and hard work – in today’s new normal era, it is a constant. Be open to new opportunities and adopt an agile approach. Learn. Grow. Educate yourself. Be informed. Consistently maintain a professional approach. Stay humble and care – about the environment, clientele, the industry, peers and colleagues. Own your mistakes and your successes. To be advocates and change agents to enhance themselves, the industry, the workplace environment and to uphold wellbeing.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Confidence. Managing often-varied roles and responsibilities. Balance and wellbeing — the belief that they have to perhaps be everything to everyone in their circle.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Commitment, consistency, resilience, focus and drive.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Thuli Madonsela, advocate and professor www.businesseventsafrica.com

of law. She is indomitable. Fearless.

Courageous. Strong and steadfast in her convictions, her approach and beliefs.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

As an advocate of change and passionate about the industry, the people and companies that I have worked with and had the opportunity to serve, offering my experience, ideas and input to uplift them, to enhance and develop them, makes me very content. If I am able to make even a small difference, it matters.

What has you most excited about the future?

New chapters and journeys. New landscapes. Awareness, enhancements and improvements. Awareness and change.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

Due to the group areas act of the apartheid regime, I lived in an Indian only community and went to an Indian School and predominantly Indian University. I was well aware of the inequalities of life and was determined to have the opportunity to succeed and help young people like myself to grow, find their purpose, and be allowed to achieve their goals.

My parents were always very calm, despite the challenges my three siblings and I brought their way. There was never a moment of raised voices to express their discontent. Their example has laid my foundation to provide a nurturing yet motivating environment for teamwork.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

The phased and safe reopening of our industry, to begin its revival. Recognition for our industry sector, equal opportunity and no fear, no favour – that no matter what gender, race or creed, fair opportunity is available to all.

Be braced for change and hard work – in today’s new normal era, it is a constant.

Be open to new opportunities and adopt an agile approach.

Believe in yourself

P

rojeni Pather, managing director of Exposure Marketing and chairperson of AAXO, has been in the exhibition industry for the past 16 years. “Having been in the advertising and communications industry before that, I organised numerous exhibition activations, conferences and events for many of my clients. I enjoy the dynamic nature of the industry. You must be open to change, or you will get left behind. It gives me great pleasure to be able to think of a concept and then make it happen, and I have an amazing team who all help to put it together.”

She founded Exposure Marketing in 2004 and launched MamaMagic in 2005 and hosts four exhibitions annually.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Sadly, according to the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report, only one-third of leadership positions are occupied by women.

Women are stereotyped because they are often the primary caregivers of families with children. Once women have children, they are perceived as less productive and unable to prioritise work projects.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I ensure that my calendar is filled with my family activities as well as work-related activities. But, besides family and work life, I make time for myself. I ensure that I fill my calendar with time bands in the day that I dedicate to exercise, meditation, research, and connecting with friends and family,

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and even catching up on a Netflix series. I find that scheduling these activities, no matter how big or small they are, ensures that they are not forgotten. Each of these activities adds meaning to my life. My daily entries in my gratitude journal keep me grounded and appreciative of all I have.

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

My career in advertising, marketing, and communication, shaped my career. But after I had both my children in the space of less than two years of each other, I felt displaced due to my newfound status as a young mother. But every challenge leads you to find a new purpose. It led me to establish Exposure Marketing in 2004 to launch South Africa’s first baby exhibition, MamaMagic, at the then-Coca-Cola Dome.

My exceptional work ethic and reputation resulted in Exposure Marketing being awarded the license for Live Events in Africa for Barney, the world’s most loved dinosaur.

We created a platform and demand for Barney for the past 16 years. Despite other characters taking centre stage currently, Barney has become iconic because of the MamaMagic brand.

In 2007, we set the first-ever Guinness World Record for the Largest Gathering of Pregnant Women under one roof. This historic record afforded us worldwide exposure and established the MamaMagic Baby Expo as a leader in the parenting industry.

Despite the small team, we pride ourselves on service delivery, marketing excellence, and teamwork. MamaMagic Baby Expo has won several EXSA and AAXO awards for best exhibition in its category over consecutive years.

But not all new exhibitions or business ideas work, and I have had a few failed attempts, which I don’t regret. I learnt from my mistakes and have let them guide my future decisions.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

According to the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2020, it will take another 99.5 years before the gender gap is closed. From the latest 2021 report, influenced by the pandemic, it has now increased to 135.6 years. So, the challenges we currently face will sadly remain for a few generations ahead. There has been slow progress on the Economic Participation and Opportunity Gap, with

only 27 per cent of women in management positions. It is therefore important that current leaders get actively involved to ensure that we close the gender gap sooner.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Get out of your comfort zone; you have so much to offer the world. It is your responsibility to grow the next generation of leaders. Always strive to be the best and to do your best.

Speak up and speak out! We want to hear your voice because your opinion matters. I believe that silence is a sign of disrespect. So, speak up and share your thoughts; they might be what we all need to hear to help us get over the hurdles we face.

Believe in yourself! Humility is graceful but learn to sell your strengths and your area of authority. If you have confidence in yourself, you will be comfortable sharing your ideas and taking on risks.

Don’t stop learning! Remember, leaders, are learners. Whenever you feel a lack of confidence in any area, equip yourself with the necessary knowledge to fill the gap.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

There are so many opportunities available in this sector. But you have to actively participate to be seen and heard. Ensure that you are at the right place to take advantage of those opportunities. Get involved in your association, share your views, lend a hand to those around you, and showcase your expertise, values, and what defines you. Don’t fall into the stereotyped roles expected of you; you know your strengths.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Women are not being recognised for their contribution to the company and therefore not being given opportunities to rise to management level. Sadly, many companies still see family responsibilities as the baggage that women are saddled with, hence steering away from elevating their careers.

What is the most important lesson that you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Build your personal brand consistently across all facets of life and business.

24 Business Events Africa August 2021

Reinforce your values and principles through your actions because your actions will speak louder than any of the speeches you will ever make. Nurture the relationships which you form with your co-workers, suppliers and clients; these relationships will stand you in good stead for many years, even when you change jobs.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Michelle Obama. She could have sat back and been the pretty face next to her husband, but she skilfully used her position to improve the lives of others. She is authentic in her approach to life and business. I admire her strength, sincerity and devotion to uplifting others. Kamala Harris – As the first woman of colour in the US Presidency, I think that is a marvellous feat. She is highly educated, knowledgeable, ethical and sincerely wishes to create a better life for everyone. At the same time, she is a devoted mother who is a guiding light to her family. She is a perfect example of embracing motherhood and leadership across the bounds of cultural diversity.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

I have had many indirect mentors through the positions I have held, and despite none of them being perfect, I embraced every moment with them and learnt from their strengths and weaknesses. Having a mentor is the ideal opportunity to listen, learn, and discover your path.

What has you most excited about the future?

I want to make a difference in the lives of others by transforming my business and the exhibition industry. We need to provide opportunities to the many young women like me who want to be part of this industry; we need to allow them to learn and lead.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I want to reopen the exhibition industry with urgency so that we may do business irrespective of the varying levels of lockdown. We need to teach our sector to embrace the changes the pandemic has brought about and not be bogged down by outdated traits of the business environment. www.businesseventsafrica.com

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

Venues

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

One of the biggest challenges which I observe in female leadership is for women to genuinely support and empower each other, be it their superiors or subordinates.

We need to rapidly move beyond the old ways of competitive behaviour and create a new culture where we actively build up other women and support their journey to success. At the same time, women have to learn to trust their voice and deal with negative feedback without it affecting their self-confidence, women who have already reached this goal need to be open to guiding other women who are facing similar challenges.

Adele Hartdegen is passionate about people

A

dele Hartdegen, chief executive officer of Johannesburg Expo Centre started as a project manager within the ICT industry, then moved into telecommunications where she was later promoted to a divisional executive managing three technical divisions including engineering, patents, production, and roll-out. Adele then moved into a head of department position in sales and marketing initially in telecoms, then electronic warfare and defence. Adele’s career commenced in the business events industry when she joined the GL events group in 2014 as head of department business development and marketing. After a recommendation from Craig Newman to the GL events Group, she was appointed as the chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Expo Centre. In mid-2020, in addition to her position at the JEC, she was asked to take on board the management of Dogan Exhibitions and Events, organisers of the Rand Show.

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

I have always been passionate about helping people, and for me leadership has always been about what I can do for others, to see them grow and flourish. I take my life lessons, learned through good and bad experiences – and through my mentors – and share them with others in an attempt to guide them to avoid the same pitfalls.

www.businesseventsafrica.com

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I switch off – literally doing any activities that don’t involve something with a screen. We have become so obsessed with our devices constantly feeding us information that our senses become overloaded, and we feel out of balance.

Just by going back to basics and taking time out from emails and WhatsApp groups, etc. makes a world of difference.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

Establishing myself in a male-dominated industry, filled with engineers, my biggest challenge was being surrounded by, and managing people who were 20 years my senior and technically more qualified than me. I had to find a way to establish my credibility and authority without being emotional about it and getting into power struggles. I quickly learned that industry knowledge and understanding every aspect of the business was my best option and I was able to establish a leadership position in my organisation by having expert power and being honest with people even when telling them what they didn’t want to hear. Being appointed as the chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Expo Centre has been the highlight of my career so far, having initiated the feasibility study more than two years prior to the acquisition by the GL events group, it was a dream come true to be able to take the project full circle and have the opportunity to head up such a prominent entity in the industry.

What advice would you give to women aspire to be leaders?

Ensure that you know exactly why you

would like to be a leader and what kind of leader you aspire to be. If you want to lead in the corporate space, ensure that you have a good comprehension of the concept of leadership versus management. It is also important to understand that being a leader takes great sacrifice in both your personal and professional capacity. Being a leader in your space might seem all glamour and accolades, but the truth is it takes blood, sweat, and tears if you really want to make a lasting positive impact in the lives of those you are leading.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Accept that change is the only constant and be prepared to be flexible, keep adapting, and innovating. Nothing amazing ever comes from a comfort zone.

If anything, the last couple of months have shown that complacency within the business events sector may be detrimental.

For those who would like to enter our sector, events is not a fun job — ­ it is a complicated, demanding industry that requires diverse skills and the ability to think on your feet and respond rapidly. It is not for the faint-hearted or those looking for a nine-to-five job.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

I’m answering this question, not based on the circumstances in my organisation, but more on the challenges faced by friends and family, as I am very fortunate to belong to a group that is pro-female empowerment and equality. Many women are still not being promoted and recognised for what they have to offer an organisation, simply because they are female. They are still given fewer opportunities than their male counterparts, are often paid less, and must put in a lot more effort to make it to the top. Added to that, there are still too many pre-conceived notions in the workplace of how women should behave and should present themselves. Over-react just a little and you quickly receive a nasty little label, as opposed to male colleagues doing the same which is generally acceptable behaviour.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

Speak your truth, treat others as you

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would like to be treated, and admit when you need help. Although it may be hard to have certain conversations, always be honest and transparent with your team.

Never forget that you were once an employee who may have had a ‘horrible boss’. Remember how that made you feel? Ensure that you never repeat these actions to others Nobody is perfect, nobody knows everything, and you don’t have to be a hero, be open to learn from your superiors, equals, and subordinates and ask them when you really need support.

What has you most excited about the future?

Seeing the resilience of our industry, the passion of the players within our industry, and the willingness to collaborate during the toughest challenge we have ever faced, makes me excited about a new way of working together within the industry. I hope that this newly formed dynamic will remain post-pandemic as it presents us with an opportunity to go further together and really put South Africa on the map as a leading destination for Business and Consumer Events.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I believe every woman can be a leader in her own way and on her own terms, and sometimes this can simply mean a woman being the leader in her family, and therefore the woman leader I admire most would be my mother. My mother has been a housewife for most of her life, and even though she could not teach me the corporate ropes, her character, kindness, and perseverance have taught me invaluable life lessons and shaped me into the person I am today. She is and has always been my biggest cheerleader and I look up to her as she has won battles in her life without ever compromising her kind nature and staying true to herself even when faced with the worst situations.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

I would like to focus more on giving back to the community and become more involved with NPO’s and projects focused on orphans and children in need, not only focusing on financially supporting these initiatives but being actively involved and dedicating my time and energy to those less fortunate.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

Mentorship has made a significant impact in both my professional and personal life and I am fortunate enough to have the same mentor in both instances. I originally worked for my mentor as a personal assistant/project manager and, due to his guidance and constant effort to develop my strongest attributes, I am able to lead an organisation today whilst maintaining a fulfilling personal life. My mentor has always been my sounding board, the person who is not scared to give me a straightforward answer and correct me when I am going down the wrong path. I have always admired the great success he has achieved, by retiring as a millionaire in his early forties, and at the same time being the humblest person you will ever meet; I am blessed to have crossed paths with him and I attribute much of my success to the years spent working with him.

Lindiwe Rakharebe leads with love and respect

L

indiwe Rakharebe took the reins at the Durban International Convention Centre as chief executive officer at the beginning of April 2015. “I was blessed with a good formative education at Montebello, which is a Catholic Girls Boarding School. I hold a bachelor’s degree in management leadership from the University of the Free State, a diploma in management development and have undertaken a number of professional development programmes during my career, including the financial services

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training programme.”

“Prior to assuming my position as chief executive officer at the Durban ICC, I served as the regional executive for Absa KwaZulu-Natal where I oversaw the strategic leadership of the organisation and facilitated the growth of Absa/Barclays Africa Group’s footprint in the province. I have served in a management capacity for all four of South Africa’s major banking institutions. I am the African representative on the ICCA Board, which is the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry. My areas of expertise include strategic planning, research, marketing, community liaison, policy development and the principles of good corporate governance.”

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

I hold a personal view that leading with love and respect is the key to bringing out the best in people and this has carried me throughout my leadership roles. I believe in principle-centred leadership. The Durban ICC embraces five core values and I do my best to live out these values every day and influence the corporate culture by the way I treat every member of the team. Our five core values are Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Passion and Commitment and finally, one team, one vision, united in diversity.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

During my career I was often underestimated and found that I needed to over-achieve to secure opportunities for development and advancement. As women, we always have to work twice as hard as our male counterparts to demonstrate our capabilities and we are often underestimated. However, I believe that if we work hard and use the gifts which God has given us, we may overcome those challenges. I have seen that success is ultimately the result of diligent management, strong collaborative relationships and an attitude of perpetual learning.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I love spending quality time with my family, reading, playing tennis and going for walks on the Durban beachfront. To achieve this: www.businesseventsafrica.com

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

• I make sure that my love for people does not lead me to try and be all things to all people.

• Prioritise my time and what needs to be done.

• I try to schedule some personal time.

• As hard as it may be, I try to have set work hours and to stick to them as much as possible.

What have been the highlights and challenges in your career?

Highlights: • People, people, people – employees, suppliers, clients, heads of state, celebrities, royalty, sports luminaries – I am blessed to meet, engage and learn daily from people of all walks of life.

• I am lucky enough to have over 30 years of experience in the corporate environment. I have had the privilege of holding management positions in all four of South Africa’s major banking institutions.

• Since taking the reins at the Durban ICC I am pleased to say that we have seen a consistent year-on-year increase in the number of international events secured at the Durban ICC. This has translated into significantly higher economic impact and job creation contributions since that time. In fact, we have never contributed less than R4-billion annually to South Africa’s GDP since I joined the company in 2015 except for when the pandemic struck in 2020.

Challenges: • I have a very open and approachable style, but some people incorrectly assume that I am a pushover. I know how to be tough when I need to be and when to crack the whip to obtain results.

• As we all know the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown triggered a sharp drop in economic activity in the market. When conferences and events resumed, they were severely restricted in the number of attendees permitted, resulting in a reduced number of events being held than in the past and those that did occur were on a smaller scale than on previous occasions. I am, however, proud of the fact that when our core business hit a roadblock we did not just sit down and accept that as our lot in life. We recognised that the difficulty was being faced by ourselves, our clients and our communities. Our team went into overdrive to find www.businesseventsafrica.com

opportunities and we developed new ways of doing business. We have been focusing on opening new revenue streams for the company and the development of our high-tech Virtual Event solutions. We have reinvented the way we organise events. By investing in our online event technology, and retraining our event coordinators to become online event producers, we now have a range of virtual event offerings such as live-streaming and hybrid events. We continue to explore other revenue streams as the conference and events industry continues to be impacted by the pandemic.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

One of the biggest challenges we currently face and which we will continue to face is generating revenue. Many businesses have had to repurpose due to the pandemic. My advice is to find ideas to generate revenue and then focus on those.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

• Believe in yourself.

• Invest in yourself through education.

• Show respect in all you do, which includes your speaking, dressing and mannerisms.

• Love what you do every day.

• Be like a sponge; constantly learning from those who have been around longer than you, regardless of their position. I believe that when we stop learning we start dying.

What advice do you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

As a woman, you are gifted; you are a natural life-giver and whatever you give life to will increase and grow. The sector is currently one of the most challenged due to the pandemic. However, whatever challenges you are faced with – as a woman – you know how to manoeuvre, whether it’s leading a company or propelling a cause. I believe a woman influences everything she touches. I would say, do your research, be prepared, keeping an open mind that to make it and sustain the industry, we will need to leverage one another’s strengths for the greater good of our industry and society at large.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

A change in our mind-set, as women, is critical. Despite societal norms, women have changed the course of history. For example, look at the 20,000 women (across all races) that marched to the union buildings on 9 August 1956 to deliver petitions to the then-Prime Minister JG Strijdom, against the carrying of passes by black women. Women are nation builders and the pillars of our society. We have the ability to hold our families together despite the challenges that we face daily. We are leaders in society and role models to many.

Therefore, we need to empower one another.

Women need to negotiate confidently and convincingly. Your ability to negotiate in today’s competitive business climate may determine your success in whatever field of business you decide to work in.

The following tips may help improve negotiation skills and possibly make all the difference in your next negotiation: • Be confident and assertive • Be prepared • Know when to compromise • Follow up What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

I believe it was Albert Einstein who said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” If you want to recognise opportunity, look for the areas of greatest difficulty, because that is where the greatest opportunities are. Address these to unlock your next level of success. We have all been affected by this pandemic in several ways, and we would all agree that this may certainly be described as ‘difficulty’. But this is also a time of great innovation and the opportunity to reinvent ourselves and the chance to do business in new ways.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I am inspired by other great women leaders like Sheryl Sandberg and Michelle Obama who are making an impact in their own unique ways.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

As a young girl, I spent time at Montebello,

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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

which is a Catholic Girls Boarding School.

Although the nuns at the school were extremely strict, they instilled a solid foundation of discipline and respect in me, which has served me well throughout my life. They taught me to take my studies seriously and the real value of education to open doors for me throughout my career.

My late grandmother – A strong woman, disciplined, compassionate and she inspired me to be the best I could be.

My mother – I lost my father at the age of five, so my mother had to raise me on her own, working day and night shifts as a nurse, to provide for me and my sister.

She made sure we had the best education and she taught me resilience and what it means to be an independent woman, even though it was not by her choice. To this day she remains a pillar and a source of strength.

In my personal capacity I try to make a difference through the people I mentor and coach and through giving my time and financial resources to the projects I support for the upliftment and development of our communities.

What has you most excited about the future?

I really enjoy travelling and there are still many places in the world I would love to visit.

What do you want to accomplish in the next year?

Whilst the Durban ICC celebrates all the good strides that have been made, I am mindful that there is still a lot more that needs to be done. Once the vaccination process, which most countries around the world have embarked on – including South Africa – has been completed, we are hoping to yet again welcome people to the centre in numbers. We are ready to give our delegates an unforgettable experience, once again, in our world-class facility and encourage them to explore Durban as we have an array of entertainment attractions on offer. As the Durban ICC, we need to continue to strive to exceed our clients’ expectations and provide an exceptional experience for each and every event we host in future.

Personally, I would like to continue to develop people, giving back to those in need and improving the lives of others. I strive to do it in both my professional and personal capacity, and it is an ongoing journey.

Supplier

Alexia Swart – marketing and events go hand in hand

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lexia Swart, managing director of Barmotion worked in the hospitality sector from the age of 16 and the events industry from the age of 21. The Barmotion journey began in 2010 and here we are, 11 years later! I continued studying and completed my marketing degree. I believe marketing and events go hand-in-hand. A successful marketing strategy needs to encompass events – events are the perfect way to promote your company or message.

How has your life experience moulded you into the leader you are today?

I was raised to believe the world was my oyster and I have always been encouraged to spread my wings. I was encouraged to follow my own path — I believe that this encouragement and freedom has assisted me to become open minded towards people and situations and I don’t really feel that anyone’s abilities are limited; I have faith in people.

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

Often, when women assert themselves, they tend to be classed as ‘bossy’ yet,

28 Business Events Africa August 2021

when men behave in the same manner it’s classified as leadership. Overcoming this generalised perception of how assertive women are viewed needs to change. For some women this may be internally challenging due to the stigma attached. Women who know what they want and how they would like things done shouldn’t be labelled as nags and bossy. Stats show that women are twice as likely as men to be concerned that, in a leadership role, they will be viewed as bossy. The only way this stigma will change is if we change the narrative. We need to educate the youth of today, the future generation, to exchange the term bossy for leadership. Sheryl Sandberg – the chief operating officer of Facebook – hits the nail on the head, “I want every little girl who’s been told she’s bossy, to be told instead that she has leadership skills.”

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

It’s a work in progress, at times the balance is good, and at times its nonexistent, and this is okay – it’s called life!

The most important lesson I have learnt is to be flexible. If I don’t get everything done in my set workday, I reshuffle — I will nevertheless go for my run or spend a couple of hours with my children and then continue what I need to attend to later in the day.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

It’s been amazing to see the continuous growth of Barmotion from inception as well as witnessing the special touch and energy of each team member who has come on board. Our expansion into our regional branches, due to local demand, has also been a highlight.

My biggest challenge, without a doubt, was having to restructure and retrench staff due to the current climate and the fallout of Covid-19. It was heart-breaking.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

Proving that we are both capable and equal as leaders without pushing ourselves to burnout. I think redefining what we currently perceive as success — and then trying to find the balance.

More companies need to adopt the idea of work flexibility more openly. www.businesseventsafrica.com

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Listen to understand, not to answer. Own your feminine strengths — we view things differently and have good communication skills amongst other proficiencies which come naturally to us. These attributes are important in the business world. Share your vulnerabilities and challenges, we all have them.

industry, and right now, I am cautiously optimistic as to when things may return to some sense of normality. The constant fluctuations are beginning to cause some weariness – BUT – I know things are going to revert back to how we knew them, and boy, am I ready and excited for this return!

We are also in the process of setting up the UK division of the company, so this is very exciting for us.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Buckle up baby, it’s a hell of a ride! It’s intense, it’s a go-go kind of environmentbut it’s brilliant and full of adrenaline.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

To return to what we love doing most as a company, plenty of events and expos and getting the UK division off the ground.

What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Finding the work/life balance, especially when it comes to raising children and your career. One should not suffer because of the other. Self-doubt is a big issue amongst us females, try not to suffer from imposter syndrome. Learning to embrace that we are successful because of our feminine traits – these are why we lead and work together in a completely different manner to men.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career to date?

Listen to people. They need to be heard.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

I have been mulling over this one for a few days. I kept on trying to pin it down to a celebrity or a well-known, famous woman and it dawned on me — all the women around me are strong and are leaders. I have had the privilege of being surrounded by some of the strongest women I have known throughout my entire life. From my teenage friends, lifelong friends, to their older sister, to their mother, my mother, my gran, my amazing team of ladies at Barmotion — each of these women have taught me something along the way which has formed part of me and contributed to my character. I am stronger as a result of having them in my life and am grateful that I have had them as my mentors along the way.

What has you most excited about the future?

It’s been a tough year for all of us in this www.businesseventsafrica.com

D.M.C. Representation Company Heidi Angell-Schau walks to the beat of her own drum

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representation. Soneva Resorts approached us in 2018 and I became their country director of sales representing Africa. Currently, I wear two hats which compliment one another and it certainly keeps me on my toes.”

eidi Angell-Schau, managing director of Worldview Portfolio and country director of sales for Africa, Soneva Resorts, always knew what she wanted to do.

“I knew what I wanted to do since I was 10 years old, and I never deviated from my passion to work within the MICE industry. I kicked off my travel career working for Wedgewood South Africa in 1997 and then moved on to Dragonfly, two very smart inbound DMCs. I found my strength in sales and worked for a representation company for 10 years, representing DMC’s from around the globe, to the outbound MICE segment. I took a leap of faith and my own representation company, Worldview, was established in September 2013, and I have never looked back.”

“At that point in time I had already established a sound reputation on the international circuit and I was fortunate to be in a position where I could handpick my principals and managed to establish a very strong portfolio of shining star DMCs. Worldview took off like a rocket and my husband joined me in 2014. With his incredible people skills and my business sense, Worldview very soon became the front leader in DMC

How has your life experience moulded you into the the leader you are today?

I have had the best training from my A type personality client base over the past 24 years, the best university ever! It’s the truth, my clients are my best teachers and they have moulded me into the professional I am today. They are perfectionists, they are highly demanding, very service orientated, they all come with exceptionally strong personalities and require high standards.

I am very proud to be a preferred service provider for these super agents, it’s an achievement!

What are some of the challenges facing women in leadership?

I still encounter the odd ‘boys club’, which exists more so in the more mature generation. To a degree I have to empathise with these boys’ clubs, they simply have to watch out for each other because the ladies are showing up and trailblazing out there. Barriers for women in business are much less today than 10 years ago. You set the tone by being a competent professional, so you establish yourself as someone qualified to get the job done and let that speak for itself. I truly believe women are natural leaders and entrepreneurs. So, grow your business based on your skillsets and your intellect!

As women, we have a lot of both!

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WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Personally, I manage this by having a very firm line between the two. When I am at work, it is only work and when it’s time for home and family it’s exclusively their time. I ensure that I feature too, I don’t feel guilty taking time for myself and do what makes my soul dance, that is comparable to fuel for my being, it’s a definite essential. So, when I dedicate time to work or dedicate time for family, there is no need for resentment because I very definitely feature in there too.

What have the highlights and challenges in your career been?

I have many highlights, too many to mention. Every confirmation is a highlight for sure as well as travelling to all corners of the globe and experiencing the most incredible things. Meeting various people from different backgrounds and cultures, I just love my job! Challenges, every job has them – the volatile rand, the various flare ups globally… let’s see, the world pandemic is huge.

What will be the biggest challenge for the next generation of female leaders?

I believe that education and mentorship within our industry is lacking. We have large generational gaps within the travel industry, a lack of new blood, and the older generation is skipping ship, especially with Covid destroying sustainable livelihoods within the travel industry. The new generation will need guidance and mentors to show them the ropes, so I feel this will be the biggest challenge.

What advice would you give to women who aspire to be leaders?

Love yourself, embrace your flaws as much as your strengths, you are a full package and no one sees just one part of you. Own your womanhood and be immensely proud of it. It’s fabulous being a woman and know your self-worth and never put yourself in a position where you allow someone else to determine that for you.

People treat you based on your behaviour, so behave as a lady if you would like to be treated as a lady. Lead by example first, and never assume that respect is a given.

What advice would you offer to women who would like a career in your sector?

Whatever you do, be so good at it that

they can’t ignore you. Perseverance! It is a career, first and foremost, driven by sheer passion and love for the industry. All the good stuff only comes much later and only after a lot of blood, sweat and tears, so stick it out, it’s well worth it at the end.

What do you believe is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Boundaries and self-respect are lacking in general. We, as women, should never accept anyone addressing us with less than a certain level of courtesy, from one professional to the other. Less than that should not be okay with anyone.

Boundaries are not always an easy thing to implement in a relationship, however it is essential to have in place if you desire respect.

It is a career, first and foremost, driven by sheer passion and love for the industry. All the good stuff only comes much later and only after a lot of blood, sweat and tears, so stick it out, it’s well worth it at the end.

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in your career, to date?

Walk to the beat of your own drum, listen to your intuition, and always follow through. Its normal to be human and have feelings and that is okay. Don’t say anything negative about another person in writing. Find your passion, establish that as your career and then take charge of it. Your success is your own responsibility. You will fail more than you will succeed and it is better to view it as a learning curve. Continuous learning leads to continuous improvement. The business environment is evolving rapidly, and your adaptability and leading practices will assist you in managing better results. I’ve learned not to worry about making mistakes — everyone makes them!

Women are perfectionists and find it difficult to leave certain things in the past, but it’s best to learn from it and

30 Business Events Africa August 2021

move on! Be a graceful opportunist, be classy and don’t forget to forgive yourself often.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

My first boss, Helen Wilson. She provided my first opportunity: employed me fresh out of college and took me under her wing in 1997. After all these years, Helen knows me very well and she has been an incredible role model to me. Why? I guess we have the type of relationship where she may be critically honest with me and still have my best interests at heart. She has always been my biggest cheerleader, always supportive and there to listen.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

When you run and manage your own business, the buck stops with you. It is vitally important to have a mentor to bounce things off and get a professional perspective from someone you trust.

When you become clouded with emotion or there’s too much dust in the air, you need something to help you cut through the emotion and get clear vision on something that will dictate a solid path forward.

What has you most excited about the future?

What excites me is the day we are able to get rid of these masks! In all seriousness, I am cautious about getting excited about the future because everything changes so rapidly. I’ve learnt to be excited in the moment. I think what most of us us have missed most is something to look forward to. Setting small rewards along my journey is what has helped me put one foot in front of the other and is driving my ambition at this point.

What would you like to accomplish in the next year?

What I have accomplished in the past year was not something I could have made up or dreamt of in my wildest dreams! So, who knows what I will manage to accomplish in the next year.

What I may say is that I have learnt incredible lessons these past 18 months, such as save, save and then save some more! What I would like to accomplish in the next year is to have enough resources saved to carry me through for at least three years of loss of income. www.businesseventsafrica.com

MARKET NEWS

The dynamic women of Wild Coast Sun It’s an oasis of natural beauty filled with activities to keep the whole family occupied, so it’s no surprise that it takes an army of staff to run the Wild Coast Sun Resort in Port Edward, but it takes girl power to give it the edge.

Left to right: Busisiwi Zhondi, Cynthia Nene, Topi Mkhonza, Peter Tshidi, Rosemary Cele and Zanele Mnguni.

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he demanding hospitality environment requires passion and motivation at each level of the organisation, and female staff are known to support and guide their colleagues as well as nurture guests. This Women’s Month, we chatted to some of the female staff who keep the cogs of Sun International’s massive beachfront resort running smoothly — and who have collectively worked at the property for close to 40 years, which is, coincidentally, the number of years the resort has been operational — celebrating its 40th birthday this year.

Cynthia Nene was recently promoted to Wild Coast Sun marketing manager, after handling various roles on and off at Sun International for the past 15 years — most recently customer relations manager at Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World. Dedicated to improving herself through ongoing study, Ms Nene holds a bachelor of commerce in business management and marketing from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a national certificate, level three, in leadership, communications, financial operations and business operations from QDC. She is responsible for the leadership and management of the marketing function for the business unit, including achieving brand awareness, customer acquisition and business growth.

Her advice to others in the hospitality industry is to “be passionate about your job and thrive to exceed guests’ expectations all the time”.

Investigation’s manager Rosemary Cele has been with the resort since 1998, initially as a cashier and working her way www.businesseventsafrica.com

up to her current position. Rosemary is responsible for quality assurance investigation and audit processes and taking ownership of investigation outcome decisions, such as opening criminal cases or lodging disciplinary action. Ms Cele holds, among others, a secondary teacher’s diploma as well as a UNISA qualification in forensic and investigative auditing.

“I achieved a distinction with respect to my UNISA studies in forensic and investigative auditing, which I accomplished during our first lockdown, while working and balancing a home life as a mother of three,” Ms Cele said.

Always willing to work overtime, her advice to others in hospitality is that it is “always important to practice accuracy and precision in the hospitality industry in order to maintain an excellent rapport”.

Busisiwe Zondi began her career as a SHE Clerk in 2007 holding various safety, health and environmental development courses and qualifications and has been with Wild Coast Sun as a Health and Safety Officer since 2015 and was promoted to a safety, health and environmental manager two years later. The 36-year-old is married, with four children and in her spare time enjoys teaching, be it singing, dancing, gardening or baking. The self-motivated go-getter is always looking for ‘innovative ideas to change the environment for the better’. “Over and above my normal duties as a Safety, Health and Environmental Manager during the pandemic I have been appointed as a Covid-19 compliance officer and a case manager for my entire unit and have been proud to be at the forefront of implementation of

protocols and compliance submission in order for our unit to reopen its doors again after the lockdowns.”

Ms Zondi was also in charge of establishing the second hospitality unit in South Africa to open a Covid-19 vaccination site.

“Teamwork is essential in the hospitality industry in order to achieve and be successful in a task, move forward together as a team, thereafter success takes care of itself,” is her advice to others.

Ensuring that the Wild Coast Sun keeps guests happy and upholds its four-star grading is front office manager Topi Mkhonza. With a national diploma in hospitality management, she began working in the hospitality industry as a guest service attendant in 2003, and has worked her way up, using her passion for working with people. A mother of three and a dedicated wife, Topi and her team aim to provide the best customer service while ensuring the most seamless yet safe check-in and out.

Her advice to aspiring hospitality industry workers is to follow a career they are passionate about. Topi said: “If you do something you love, you will naturally succeed and stand out.”

Responsible for overseeing and directing all cleaning activities for the Wild Coast Sun is Zanele Mnguni, executive housekeeper, who has worked her way up from a room attendant to receptionist and front office manager. Zanele has been in her current role at the Resort since 2018 and is driven to be a hard worker by her desire to be a provider to her daughter. “I always get my hands dirty, accepting challenges without complaining.” Covid-19 brought about new protocols and procedures for cleaning hotel rooms and Ms Mnguni had to ensure these were implemented.

“Being a team player is an essential quality to develop as an individual in the hospitality industry,” she said. “You need to work constructively with your colleagues.”

Women, with their excellent interpersonal skills, determination and patience are essential stakeholders in the hospitality chain, said Peter Tshidi, General Manager of Wild Coast Sun. “Wild Coast Sun appreciates our many female staff and what they bring to our business.”

Business Events Africa August 2021 31

VENUE NEWS NORTHERN CAPE DESTINATION:

Northern Cape – an extraordinary meeting and incentive destination Welcome to the Northern Cape, one of Southern Africa’s fastest growing business events destinations.

This province, the largest within South Africa, is a modern, growing region with a choice of meeting venues with sophisticated technology and accommodation to meet every price point. It further features a landscape brimming with dramatic beauty, a rich culture and history with ancient wisdoms, warm hospitality, and some of the world’s greatest ‘bucket list’ experiences on offer.

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he Northern Cape, South Africa has the proven capacity and world-class infrastructure to successfully host major international business events and meetings.

Our strength relies on the diversity of our destination, not only in terms of our welcoming people and rich culture, but also in our ability to deliver the dynamic, flexible and value-for-money attributes of a major global business events destination.

We deliver world-class infrastructure, without compromising on the authentic,

distinctly ‘African’ business and leisure environment.

The Northern Cape Tourism Authority acts as a 'one stop solution' for independent information and assistance, giving neutral advice on all aspects of hosting and organising any business event in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

Meeting, event and incentive planners will have ease of access to all information they require on the destination, simplifying their processes and making turnaround time significantly quicker.

32 Business Events Africa August 2021

Conferences and Meetings Superior venues are located throughout the province with excellent accessibility by road from major national highways as well as easy transfers from the centrally located airports at Kimberley and Upington.

Anchoring Kimberley’s meeting industry is the impressive Mittah Seperepere International Convention Centre. The MSICC is a flexible venue that accommodates a wide variety of functions, with the capacity to host

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DESTINATION: NORTHERN VENUE NEWS CAPE

virtually any convention, exhibition, product launch, or gala dinners. It is able to accommodate up to 1,000 delegates.

Many of the Northern Cape’s hotels offer meeting venues as well. These are versatile and fully equipped, accommodating up to 600 guests in Kimberley, 250 in Upington and 200 in Springbok. The multipurpose venues provide the ideal location for corporate conferences, meetings, product launches to gala dinners and more.

The varied tourism offerings and leisure experiences make the Northern Cape especially attractive for pre and post tours and the incentive travel market with team building activities such as fly fishing, river rafting, sandboarding and 4x4 challenges available in abundance. The astonishing array of outdoor adventures and nature experiences further add to the unique tourism diversity of the province.

The three main conferencing towns offer a large choice of accommodation for varying budgets ranging from luxury five-star breakaways to four-star hotels, guest lodges and guest houses.

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Incentives – unique, memorable and inspirational Travel incentives are highly desired rewards.

In comparison to cash, travel rewards are experiences those incentive delegates will remember for a lifetime. There really is no better way to reward your incentive groups than an unforgettable, life-enriching trip to the Northern Cape.

Splendid natural beauty, diverse and iconic cultures, warm hospitably, awardwinning food and wine, luxury accommodation, natural wonders, spirit of ubuntu, fascinating wildlife and a select range of products and services within the province combined with an efficient infrastructure makes the Northern Cape an excellent choice for your incentive and meetings programs.

Events We offer a full spectrum of event support services to ensure a successful and memorable event. As a local expert, we work closely with hand-picked suppliers to provide innovative and professional services.

Our services The Northern Cape Tourism Authority’s expert local knowledge will ensure that you have the best conference, meeting or event in Southern Africa. We assist planners with finding the most appropriate venues, service providers and provide destination information that will be suitable based on event profiles.

• Bid support for national and international events/conferences/meetings.

• Current databases of Northern Cape products.

• Negotiating rates with, hotels, tour operators etc.

• Airport welcome and departure desk.

• Delegate boosting, hosting and site visits.

• Pre and post tours and accompanied person’s programme.

• Assisting with local logistical arrangements.

Contact us Tel. +27 (0)53 833 1434 Email: mpho@experiencenortherncape.com

Business Events Africa August 2021 33

CASE STUDY

SATC Virtual Conference

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bout the Southern African Transport Conference The Southern African Transport Conference is the longestrunning transport conference in the Southern African region. Besides the presentation of research and technology transfer papers, capacity building – in the form of workshops – is also an important focus.

The SATC has always served as a forum to share experiences and exchange ideas on current transport-related issues. In the past, sessions were included to discuss provincial and municipal transport issues, such as ‘Transport infrastructure provision’, ‘Establishment of transport authorities’ and ‘Transport performance indicators’.

During discussions with the thenMinister Mac Maharaj, the importance of the SATC in the transport debate was appreciated and, in recognition of this fact, the Minister agreed to become the Patron of the SATC. Subsequently, Ministers of Transport from Jeff Radebe to the current Minister Fikile Mbalula have also also fulfilled the role of Patron, which has no financial responsibility.

In conclusion, the SATC is recognised as the premier forum for the debate of current transport-related issues.

History A forerunner to the SATC was an annual transport research conference organised by the National Institute for Transport and Road Research (NITRR) of the CSIR, where papers were presented, revealing the progress of research in South Africa.

The first conference was held in 1981

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Dates: 5-7 July 2021 Conference organiser: We Are Virtual Delegates: 85 institutions represented by delegates Live event dates platform analytics:

Day 1 Day 2 Platform log ins 2,178 2,072 260 269 Unique attendees

Day 3 1,723 235

Total 5,973 764

The virtual conference noted an overall unique visitor attendance of 764 over the three days collectively. These visitor/attendee figures are further broken down per day as follows: Event statistics Registered Delegates 468 Streams/Tracks 7 Plenary Talks 5 Sessions/Talks 131 84 Student Essays 5 Speakers Exhibitors 8 Country split of registered delegates: Countries Represented South Africa 436 Botswana 1 China 10 Chile 1 Canada 1 Germany 3 India 1 Mozambique 1 Namibia 2 Netherlands 2 Nigeria 2 Sudan 1 Uganda 1 UK 2 USA 1 Zimbabwe 1 N/A 2 TOTAL 468 www.businesseventsafrica.com

CASE STUDY

Early in 1980, a few representatives from the leading professional institutions in transport in South Africa and the Secretary for Transport, Adriaan Eksteen, agreed to setup an Annual Transport Convention (ATC).

The ATC is now called the Southern African Transport Conference (SATC).

Objectives To provide a platform for national and international dialogue on transport as a socio-economic development priority.

To serve as a forum for discussion and information exchange on the implementation of transport policy, strategy and technology applications for all aspects

and modes of transportation.

To foster better cooperation between and engagement of all public and private sector stakeholders so that solutions may be sought, and action plans formulated.

SATC is co-supported by the International Road Federation (IRF) and the South African Minister of Transport is the patron.

Website: www.satc.org.za

Virtual exhibition P

rof James Maina; chairman, SATC Organising Committee shared some of their insights.

During the time of Covid-19, what was the biggest challenge SATC Congress faced?

As a forerunner in the transport industry, it was/is important for SATC to remain visible and to report on current issues the transport industry is currently facing. Due to strict lockdown in 2020, the decision was made to offer a series of webinars on various topics pertinent to matters the industry was facing. The success of the webinars proved that there was nevertheless a huge demand for industry representatives to interact and exchange ideas and current information. The decision was then made to go ahead with an entirely virtual event in 2021, which we successfully concluded last month, with close to 500 delegates registered. www.businesseventsafrica.com

As the organiser, what were the benefits of running this as a virtual event for this specific congress?

With the series of webinars offered last year, as well as this year’s event, we were able to reach more delegates across the globe with this year’s congress. The conference had international delegates register from over 22 countries.

The conference also provided a platform for national and international dialogue on transport as an enabler of socio-economic development and served as a forum for discussion and information exchange on the implementation of transport policy, strategy and technology applications for all aspects and modes of transportation.

Better cooperation between and engagement of all public and private sector stakeholders was one of the key

issues debated and for which solutions are to be sought and action plans formulated.

A report with key issues and solutions is presented to the Minister of Transport after each conference.

• Eight exhibitors • 1,022 stand visits The event saw an average of 128 visits per exhibition stand with a total figure of 1,022 cumulative exhibition stand visits.

Exhibitors had an average of 65 documents and/or videos downloaded per exhibition stand.

Business Events Africa August 2021 35

CASE STUDY

Rudi van der Vyver, chief executive officer, We Are Virtual offered some insights into the virtual congress.

What were the challenges experienced?

With a virtual event it’s a risk mitigation element to have all speaker sessions available as pre-recordings to avoid connectivity issues and low quality of the presentation should the speaker’s bandwidth not be adequate on the day of the live event.

Unfortunately, this is still an element which speakers don’t fully understand and buy into, but with SATC 2021 we had the majority of our speakers as pre-recordings (whether they were played out as prerecordings or executing a live presentation).

With speakers that were pre-recorded this also allowed them to address audience questions more affectively, as they could focus on questions while their presentation was played out.

The biggest challenges were with senior officials and, specifically, governmental representatives who are not available for dry runs and testing nor willing to set time aside for pre-recordings even if done and coordinated by the events team. This is, however, not unique to virtual events, and we experience the same challenges with in-person events. Further to this, the only other notable challenge was, again, not exclusive to virtual events (but much more pertinent in the virtual space). We noted that delegates don’t read the pre-event communications which guides them on platform details and requirements. With virtual events we are at the mercy of the individual delegates’ PCs (personal computers) and the features available.

These challenges were, however, expected and managed as well as possible, but we also had a dedicated support team available via phone and email to assist delegates with any challenges.

Prof James Maina; chairman, SATC Organising Committee shared some more insights.

Was there a CSI/Legacy programme linked to SATC 2021?

SATC offers two prestigious post-grad bursaries each year to fulltime M or D students (South African and SADC) in transportation working on their research component at a South African university.

The Board has also instituted a bursary for a deserving South African or SADC

SATC is an annual conference held each year in July in Pretoria at the CSIR ICC. Next year will be the 40th annual conference. The conference is scheduled for 4-7 July 2022 with the theme, ‘Addressing the new normal and the future of transport’.

“Congratulations on a very successful and well-run virtual SATC 2021. As a delegate and presenter, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thank you for all your sterling work to organise and manage the keynote speakers, presenters, auditoriums, and exhibitions in such an innovative and pioneering manner. All done very professionally, with calm efficiency.” Dev Oberholzer, Hatch “I am really impressed with the virtual interface. Being able to interact via polls, acquire business cards, live moderators and have the Q&A integrated highlights — some of the advantages of going virtual.” Lee-Thomas Smith, Student Essay Winner student studying for an undergraduate qualification involving transport to cover books, tuition and accommodation according to the University’s cost structure.

Each year, SATC has an essay competition which is open to all registered students (undergraduate as well as post-graduate) at tertiary institutions. The competition is held within the institutions and each institution selects its two winners.

Students are to prepare a five-page essay providing innovative solutions for the conference theme. Winning students and their lecturer receive a complimentary registration for the conference. Transport and accommodation are also sponsored by SATC. The conference also offers the following each year: • The SATC Award for the ‘Best paper presented at the Conference’. The winner/s receive R16,000 plus a certificate.

• The SATC Award for the ‘Best Practical Paper’. The winner/s receive R16,000 plus a certificate.

• The SAICE Transportation Division’s Award for the ‘Best Paper by a Young Professional’.

• The ‘Distinguished SATC Fellow’ Award, in recognition of many years of meritorious service to the SATC and the transportation industry in South Africa.

SATC also has a list of retired Honorary Members who receive free invitations to the conference each year.

36 Business Events Africa August 2021

Feedback from SATC Jacqui Oosthuyzen, secretariat of SATC, said: “Presenting the conference virtually had its challenges but was a great way to embrace technology available to ensure that we remained relevant and at the forefront of the transport industry.

Therefore, it was important for us to go ahead but it must be mentioned that feedback received from delegates was that they missed the personal interaction. Even with that said, I believe it is a remarkable achievement to have replicated an in-person conference experience. We were able to offer delegates and exhibitors high level interaction, with offerings such as our presenter live Q and A and networking rooms.”

Phil Hendricks, ATC board chair, said: “The successful running of the southern African Annual Transport Conference 2021 through total virtual means enabled the directors to continue to meet the annual needs of their many stakeholders in the industry and provide clear technological options for future annual conferences.”

Prof James Maina; chairman, SATC Organising Committee, said: “Over the last 39 years, SATC has become the go-to platform for the southern African transportation fraternity to meet once a year to share experiences and exchange ideas. It is a role that SATC will continue to play in the future, making use of technological innovations whenever challenging situations arise, as we demonstrated in 2021.” www.businesseventsafrica.com

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

Digital nomads key to reviving SA’s tourism industry

Who is Niels Verspui?

The tourism industry has been one of the hardest hit by Covid-19.

In 2019, the sector contributed seven per cent to GDP — now, as a result of the pandemic, it contributes a mere four per cent. As such, it is vital to find new ways to revive tourism, such as the recent rise of digital nomads and ‘workations’.

T

his is according to Niels Verspui, country manager at RoomRaccoon South Africa, who supports the call for government to extend the length of the remote working visa beyond 90 days, introduced by the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member, James Vos. This follows the release of a report by Nestpick, which names Cape Town as one of the top destinations for digital nomads.

“Covid-19 has shown us that remote work is possible, as long as there is decent internet connection,” said Mr Verspui.

“Because of this, Airbnb reported an increase in long-term stays globally in the first half of 2021 and it’s something that local accommodation companies may take advantage of.”

Mr Verspui said that vacation rental properties or properties that have a kitchenette in their rooms are well positioned to accommodate long-term stays. “These businesses should aim to include incentives to attract digital nomads, such as special prices for long-term stays. Hotels could also take advantage of this trend, as travellers may wish to stay in rooms with housekeeping and breakfast included.” www.businesseventsafrica.com

Attracting these types of tourists will have a positive impact on the GDP and job creation in South Africa, Mr Verspui explained. The tourism industry is one of the most important sectors in the country as it contributes to direct and indirect job creation and provides an environment for local entrepreneurs to start small and medium enterprises (SMEs) — the lifeblood and growth engine of the country.

“This is because the purchasing power parity (PPP) for travellers from other countries is generally favourable, as such digital nomads will be able to go out for dinner, go shopping and explore local attractions which will benefit local businesses and the country’s GDP.” Additionally, many people who are in jobs that allow them to work remotely are well paid. This is reflected in recent research by the US Census Bureau, which shows that those who were able to work remotely during the pandemic were in 73 per cent of the highest-earning households, with annual incomes of over $200,000 (R2,9-million).

“However, when it comes to benefits the country has to offer digital nomads, it is undeniable that South Africa is also one of

Niels Verspui is the country manager for RoomRaccoon South Africa. His understanding of hospitality industry challenges is boosted by his experience working at hotels and guest houses both locally, and in the Netherlands.

During his internship for a bachelor’s degree – which researched the customer journey – he recognised the need for more innovative, automated hotel and hospitality systems to reduce manual work and deliver cost-savings to businesses. He introduced RoomRaccoon to the South African market in November 2017. the most beautiful countries in the world,” he added. “Travellers will have the ability to take advantage of a great climate, worldclass attractions and natural phenomena, with no time difference for travellers from Europe.”

Although the call to extend the remote working visa is being spearheaded by the City of Cape Town, it is something that Mr Verspui believes tourism businesses across the country may take advantage of. “Big cities will be the most popular destination for digital nomads,” he said. “However, the remoter areas will be perfect for digital nomads to enjoy leisure travel and experience other parts of the country.”

Mr Verspui encouraged accommodation providers to begin planning for when the country is removed from red lists across the globe and for when South Africans have been vaccinated. “Tourism has taken a massive knock,” he said, “so we need to adapt and seek out new opportunities to turn the industry around.”

Business Events Africa August 2021 37

PAGE STRAP YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

SAACI launches youth competition The national board of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) has undertaken to create a youth platform within SAACI; specifically targeted to young students studying towards a career in the broader business events and tourism industry.

T

his platform will aim to empower students and new entrants into the industry and bridge the knowledge and skills gap between academia and industry. The vision is to enhance relevant skills and employment opportunities in the industry. SAACI is challenging students to come up with a brand name inclusive of an identity (logo, vision, mission and tagline) for the SAACI Youth Initiative.

Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI, said: “Many professionals in the business events industry acknowledge the challenges we are facing due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As SAACI, we are concerned about the students and graduates that will be entering the world of work soon. We all agree that there is no substitute for learning about the world of work, than being in the world of work. As an association, we view this competition as a building block for young professionals and students within our industry to understand the current ecosystem of the business events industry.”

Criteria: Students from the same institution will be allowed to work in groups of four to six

– or individually – in order to develop a SAACI Youth brand name, logo, vision statement, mission statement and tagline as part of this initiative to drive youth participation in the association.

Students would need to submit a written document in PDF format. The top three per institution are to be submitted to the SAACI Board on the contact details provided below.

The SAACI Board/Youth Sub Committee will evaluate the submissions received based on the following: • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of what SAACI entails, including its mandate and objectives and how the SAACI Youth Brand will align to this.

• Design a SAACI Youth Brand identity with a suitable brand name, brand logo and tagline aligned to the SAACI main brand.

• Provide reasons for the way the brand identity was designed and explain how it fits into the main SAACI brand identity.

• Propose a purpose for the SAACI Youth Brand with relevant objectives, recommendations and possible strategies to reinforce the brand identity.

38 Business Events Africa August 2021

Who may enter?

Entry is only available to students who are registered with a tertiary institution in South Africa.

Entry is not available to: • Members of the SAACI board or any of their family members.

• Students who are not registered with a tertiary institution in South Africa.

How to enter 1. Entrants must have attended the virtual SAACI Congress 2021, that took place in May 2021.

2. Proposal Submissions will be due on 17 September 2021, and be submitted to the SAACI Board/Sub Committee.

Submissions to be sent to members@saaci.org in pdf format, inclusive of proof of studentship at a registered tertiary institution in South Africa.

3. Proposals will be evaluated from 20 September to 1 October 2021.

4. Winners will be selected and contacted by 8 October 2021.

Link to the full brief: https://www.saaci.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/07/SAACI-YouthInitiative_final_date-extended.pdf www.businesseventsafrica.com

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL PAGE STRAP

Dedicated to creating fabulous experiences of food and wine at The Maslow Lloyd Livingstone-Blevins, 33, assistant food and beverage manager, The Maslow, Sandton has worked in three of South Africa’s major cities. His nomadic childhood – as the son of a mining executive – prepared him for a career in the hospitality industry.

F

or the past three years he has held the role of assistant food and beverage manager at Sun International’s The Maslow, Sandton in Johannesburg.

“I love cooking, I’ve been in the kitchen since I was three, helping my mother, and initially thought I wanted to be a chef,” Mr Livingstone-Blevins said. He studied hospitality management at the University of Johannesburg, before heading to the Cape to do his internship. “I then tried my hand at front office, but found that monotonous and moved over to the restaurant industry.”

What he found there was long hours, but enough excitement to make him fall in love with food and beverage management. “I was the restaurant manager at Forrester’s Arms for 18 months, and there I learnt the critical skills on how to plan and manage an exceptionally busy operation, doing everything from stock takes to handling big events.”

In 2013, Mr Livingstone-Blevins returned to Johannesburg and began what would be his first foray at Sandton’s The Maslow, as bar manager. “I was promoted to beverage manager a year later, an ideal role for someone like myself who is passionate about fine wine and spirits.”

He has completed his Wine and Spirits Education Trust level two.

In 2017, the opportunity arose for Mr Livingstone-Blevins to assist Time Square Casino in Pretoria as part of the opening team responsible for four restaurants including Guy Fieri Kitchen and Bar restaurant.

“It was stressful but really exciting working with Fieri’s team, who came from the United States to train us on their standards. I opened the Maslow Time

Square Hotel’s F&B operations before later rejoining The Maslow as assistant F&B manager in 2019.”

As The Maslow has always focused on meetings, seminars and conferences, Covid-19 has had a big impact on the hotel’s business. “I have been focused on finding other ways of getting revenue into the F&B department, ideas and events which create hype and excitement.”

The Maslow’s Veuve Cliquot picnics, held on the hotel’s beautiful lawns in an idyllic garden setting, have been exceptionally popular.

Mr Livingstone-Blevins’ workday begins at 06h15 with emails, before heading for the Lacuna Bistro to ensure that breakfast is running smoothly, from both a staff and guest perspective.

“With Covid-19 there are many protocols which need to be followed, so I check that these are being done. Once satisfied, I check the bar area and that the meeting spaces are set up to spec, banqueting is on track and everyone is ready for their clients.”

He oversees 55 staff members with five direct reports. “I have many meetings throughout the day, but chatting to guests and finding out how their stay is going is also important, to pick up potential problems.” Depending on if there is a big event happening, Livingstone-Blevins leaves between 16h00 and 18h00.

“At the moment, people are looking for value for money — they don’t mind spending money, but they want to feel like they are getting their money’s worth.

Move aside bits of garnish and give people a decent plate of food.” Mr LivingstoneBlevins works closely with Omar Menhouk, the hotel’s executive chef.

“Since joining The Maslow late last year, Omar has introduced some old-school

I am not a fancy food person. I want something delicious and wholesome which is perfectly cooked. www.businesseventsafrica.com

changes and new suppliers which has influenced the quality of food, and the meals – especially our buffet breakfast at the Lacuna Bistro – are now truly exceptional.”

As someone who does plenty of his own cooking, Mr Livingstone-Blevins should know a good plate of food. “I’m not a fancy food person. I want something delicious and wholesome which is perfectly cooked. It must be the best burger or the best pizza, paired with a good bottle of red.”

To counterbalance the long working hours and good food, Mr LivingstoneBlevins also enjoys running in his spare time.

Business Events Africa August 2021 39

PAGE STRAPON YOUNG KZN ENTREPRENEURS SPOTLIGHT

The future is young for youth in tourism business The month of June commemorated South African Youth Tourism. KwaZulu-Natal thought it best to celebrate the success of young entrepreneurs in the tourism business.

M

ore and more young people are leaving their cookie-cutter nine-to-five jobs to venture into entrepreneurship.

Nkosiyazi Makhanya was born and raised in Izingolweni, a small village on KZN’s south coast, began his business – KXC Adventures – in 2016, which focuses on tour operations, branding and marketing.

“My passion for entrepreneurship ignited when I joined the work environment as a sales and marketing representative, allowing me to work with diverse people. The experience in the fast-moving consumer goods industry gave me confidence to start my own business,” he said.

Mr Makhanya had faced many challenges in terms of financial capacity and how to establish a business.

However, he overcame this by having worked in the sales industry for nine years and attending a variety of business workshops, networking and analysing

business trends in South Africa.

KXC Adventures now manages KwaXolo Caves Adventures, which has three permanent and two contract staff.

Mr Makhanya envisions KwaXolo Caves Adventures will offer more activities to locals and tourists with a zipline, a suspension bridge and even a restaurant and coffee shop in the future.

“Tourism KZN has been a critical part of our progress and success today. With the help of their Growth and Development Unit, our staff have been trained to become professional tour guides and have received accredited certificates.”

His advice to young people is to work tirelessly to turn dreams into reality.

Philile Nzimande, is the founder of Traveling Cheapskates, a travel company that creates group travel experiences for millennials in KZN. Philile manages a team of two freelancers, multiple drivers and a few accommodation establishments.

“My passion for travel and giving young people the gift of

40 Business Events Africa August 2021

travel is what inspired me to start my own business," she said.

Her love for making travel accessible to her counterparts pushed her towards entrepreneurship. She lives by the motto “Travel first, think later!”.

Ms Nzimande said that even in a liberal and democratic society, establishing a business as a young black woman in the travel industry was the hardest time for her.

“Lack of finances is not the end of your business; start with what you have and build from there,” she said.

Her advice to young people moving forward in the tourism industry is collaboration — it is important to collaborate with as many likeminded companies as possible.

Ms Nzimande sees a promising future for Traveling Cheapskates. Her five-year vision board includes being a leader in South African black travel, attracting clients from the UK and the USA and also owning a transport business to create more authentic travel experiences for her clientele.

Another remarkable success story is Lungelo Phakathi, founder of Tuscany by the Sea, located in Port Edward. He opened the guest house in 2016 and www.businesseventsafrica.com

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUNG KZN ENTREPRENEURS PAGE STRAP

employs five permanent staff.

“My love for service delivery, becoming a tourist destination and growing tourism in KZN pushed me to establish my own business,” he said.

The greatest challenge he faced as an entrepreneur was to gain exposure for his business.

However, he overcame this challenge through strategic alliances with organisations such as bookings.com and Airbnb.

Mr Phakathi said that the pandemic posed challenges for the business.

However, adherence to healthcare guidelines and expert advice has proven beneficial.

His advice to youth who are looking to venture into the tourism industry is to prioritise service delivery. Always think about what is best for the client.

He plans to open a second B&B in Leisure Bay in Port Edward and hopes to work with Tourism KZN on future projects.

Nelisiwe Nzimakwe, owner of The Homestead in Munster, on the KZN south coast, specialises in the renovation of old furniture into new pieces, manufactures clothing and transforms recyclable waste into decorative items. She also co-owns WOWZulu, which offers sustainable community tourism to KZN. Ms Nzimakwe experienced many challenges such as marketing and receiving support from the older generation in her community.

“We received assistance from Ugu South Coast Tourism who advertised www.businesseventsafrica.com

WOWZulu in their magazines and on their website. We are very lucky and thankful for the continued support of Tourism KZN as well.

She plans to further grow WOWZulu, employ more people such as storytellers, craftsmen and tour guides as well as open a shop where she may sell her own crafts in the near future.

the heart of Ballito area, which will serve traditional African cuisine in a very fine dining experience in the future. I also see myself as a brand ambassador and cookbook author,” she said.

Founder of Taste KZN, Mbali Khumalo began her culinary business in 2015, following a diagnosis of Keratoconus, a condition in which the clear tissue on the cornea bulges outward into a cone shape.

Ms Khumalo said that she began baking and cooking as a means of therapy which turned into natural talent. She employs four staff on a full-time basis.

“Raising enough capital to open my own café in an up-market area or mall was a challenge, but I soon realised rental space was extremely expensive for a startup business,” she said.

Ms Khumalo later decided to operate as a pop-up café, using an old food truck.

She said the idea was to keep moving from location to location offering delicious meals to locals and tourists.

Being the first in her family to take up entrepreneurship was no stroll in the park. Resilience and passion helped her get through the tough times. She won the iLembe Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Entrepreneurship competition in 2019.

“I plan to run my own establishment, in

Joshiah Da Silva, owner of Evolva Games in Salt Rock, north of Durban, offers mysterious outdoor and cryptic puzzle games and unique and real-life adventures for locals and tourists.

“Evolva Games is an escape room meets scavenger hunt where I adapt the best elements from each game into one exclusive experience that has an original storyline to complete,” he said.

A lover of outdoor activities, entertainment and games prompted Mr Da Silva to launch his own business to share with the world.

A continuing challenge he faces today is to attract the attention of people to be aware of Evolva Games and what we have to offer. It is a new concept and different from other KZN operations.

Mr Da Silva thinks that word-of-mouth has been better. Talking with the locals about his business and collaborating with other businesses, where possible, will further grow Evolva Games in the near future.

His advice to young people in the tourism industry is to learn from other people in business.

“Most importantly, prepare yourself at any moment to triple your efforts and focus on a specific goal or task and keep doing that,” he said.

Business Events Africa August 2021 41

PERSONALITY PROFILE

Build trust and keep it Peter Mwanja, 49, managing director of Uganda Safari Chapter (a DMC) and Lasta Events (MICE), Uganda, is a travel enthusiast with three passions: incentive travel, people and writing.

P

eter is a Site Africa board member and is head of the Site Africa Young Leaders.

He also sits on the Uganda Association of Conference and Incentive Industry (UACII) board.

Mr Mwanja, said: “I have a passion for people. I am curious, an avid reader and a life-long student. My life and work are guided by my personal values: trust, love, warmth, respect, and integrity. It is my fundamental belief that all people are naturally creative, resourceful and whole; it is from this perspective that I coach, train, consult and facilitate,” he said.

Where do you see the incentives industry in Africa at present and where do you see it heading in the future?

Today, the incentive industry is still untouched in my part of the world. There are a small number of major incentive companies dominating the field, the majority of whom are DMC outfits and not full incentive houses. We must emphasise training and specialisation in incentives as we head into the future.

That is on the supplier side.

On the buyer’s side, hundreds of companies’ reward staff and customers with a wide variety of incentive products.

The focus is on much more than just the sales programmes due to the number of studies that show the power of incentives to drive employee engagement and customer loyalty. The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility has also emerged as a significant element for many programmes. Competition and the economy have added significantly towards the quality of incentive programmes awarded.

With Covid-19, there has been astounding growth in all things virtual.

Today, we have virtual money, virtual employees, and virtual meetings. As we see it today, virtual meetings could replace up to 70 per cent of internal travel (to and from an organisation’s own facilities) and 10 per cent of external

travel (trips to visit customers). This could lead to an aggregate reduction of 21 per cent in corporate travel spending.

Accommodating virtual products and solutions into incentive plans will be an important part of programmes moving forward. The industry remains cautiously optimistic and primed for rebound.

What role do you see the African young leaders playing in the incentives industry?

Young leaders are the future of the incentive industry. I have had the chance to work with the SITE Africa Young Leaders. I am so impressed by the energy and potential. They totally understand the next generation trends, are technologically smart and are quick learners.

SITE Africa is empowering and giving the right opportunities to young leaders so that they will be effective drivers of change. The board encourages participation from the young leaders in decisions affecting them and offering platforms to enhance their skills through networking and education. From this there will come employment opportunities, knowledge transfer and development of strategies for the future, as well as cross-pollination of lessons learnt between the African countries.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Uganda. After school, I graduated with a bachelors degree in marketing. Due to my love for accounting, I took on ACCA and on completion, practiced in the hospitality industry, until my passion for travel took over. I dumped my accounting career to venture into tourism. I did my masters in hospitality management and later an MBA in leadership and sustainability. On the incentive side, I am a CIS and looking forward to my CITP. Where did you begin your career?

While on college vacation, I enrolled as a trainee at a government hotel – The Nile

42 Business Events Africa August 2021

Hotel and International Conference Center (now Kampala Serena), and fortunately I was on the room service desk. I was asked to deliver 12 one 1 litre mineral water bottles to the suite where two top officials of East Africa were about to hold a meeting. The president of Kenya – His Excellency Daniel Arap Moi (RIP) was on a state visit to his counterpart, President Museveni.

Here I was, with a tray in my hand, and standing at the executive lift when it opened, and there befor me were two presidents that I had never dreamt that I would meet face-to-face. Anxiety and shock hit in. But with courtesy, I was invited to take a ride with my heroes, the two presidents. Not knowing what to do, www.businesseventsafrica.com

PERSONALITY PROFILE

the lift doors began to close. I made a dash for the door while holding the tray of bottles, but unfortunately lost my balance and the water bottles fell and there was water everywhere. I just saw wet suits and shoes. All I remember is a M7 security member say: “Young man, the lift was too fast. You must soldier on and become the best. Go get us some more water”.

President Moi added, “I like your courage. Soldier on.” When I got to the service floor, there was dead silence. I should have been fired but a phone call had come through with the instruction, “Please give the young man another tray of water and let him be the one to serve us.” I got a second chance, which I executed very well and so, my tourism journey started.

How long have you been in the sector?

Over fifteen years. In 2005, I joined a group of companies now called Wild Places, it included a safari outfit, a game lodge and a city boutique hotel. I grew with them as group finance manager while studying my masters in hospitality until 2013, when I moved to Tourvest as group financial manager (accommodation and activities division), a South African group that was entering Uganda.

While working as a group financial manager I felt like I was on a treadmill all the time. I knew something had to change.

I had always loved travel and hospitality.

Creating hot travel plans gave me pleasure.

It was creative and allowed me to express ideas and yet keep my friends and those around me happy.

Now I own two travel companies. I get to be with my family for as long as I want and get to travel at least ten times a year. Oh well, that was before the pandemic. I have a workday which allows time for me, time for my kids and time for rewarding work. I even have time to offer voluntary service on boards including associations, charities and businesses. It is what I wanted to be and only wish I had moved earlier.

What has been the biggest change you’ve seen in this sector?

Growth in demand for sustainable tourism products and activities. Tourism is now playing a key role in driving the transition to a low-carbon and resourceefficient economy.

Are you married?

Yes, I am married to Gorreti and have four www.businesseventsafrica.com

beautiful daughters. Most days I find that sweet spot — a wonderful work/life balance.

Do you have any hobbies?

Besides my career, I love a dip in the pool and fancy a fun family day out. I now, also consider myself an unofficial inspirational speaker… and an adrenaline junkie! I am a Rotarian too.

What is your favourite city?

Barcelona. It’s not too fast-paced, and I love the culture of the Catalonians.

Besides, it is a beautiful city with a beach.

What is your favourite book, film and TV programme?

Book: Don’t sweat the small stuff. And it’s all small stuff by Richard Carlson. This book teaches us the simple ways to keep the little things from taking over your life.

Read it and your approach to life changes forever.

Favourite film: The Godfather (1972) TV programme: Nat Geo Wild (National Geographic TV shows).

What is your favourite sport and sportsman?

My favourite sport is golf, it brings great business minds together on a non-physical arena. My favourite sportsman is Tiger Woods.

Along the way, I have learnt: fall nine times, and get up ten.

What is your favourite food?

Rolex. This is a popular food item in Uganda, which combines an egg omelette and veggies rolled up together, in a Chapatti (a bread similar to Indian naan).

Who is your favourite movie star?

Denzel Washington.

What is your secret to success?

Trust is key and goes both ways. Trusting myself to get things done the way that I planned them, regardless of what others say. But also, in tourism, people who supply you with business lines must trust you for continuity. They must trust you with their lives, clients and offers. The minute that anyone in this industry loses trust in you personally or your brand, especially those that supply you with business, success will elude you.

I take full responsibility of my own life. I have learnt to accept that I will be in a certain position because of my own choices. Once one accepts this, it is very difficult to have a repeat of the same failures. Along the way, I have learnt{ fall nine times, and get up ten.

Who is your role model?

Industry stalwart, Rick Taylor is my role model. Many in this industry refer to him as the father of the MICE industry. He is smart, wise, patient and always happy to teach and hold a hand. Rick and his wife, Colette, introduced me to the sector. They encouraged and mentored me. Starting my company, Lasta Events was their inspiration. Rick still continues to check in with me and follow up on my progress — he is my hero!

What is the most memorable place you have ever been to, and why?

Egypt. I went to the pyramids, took a fiveday cruise on the Nile and saw the Luxor temple. Egypt is truly about the history of ancient civilization. The memories of Egypt will forever be embalmed in my heart.

How do you relax?

I often practice mindful meditation. The goal of mindful meditation is to focus my

attention on things that are happening right now, in the present moment. This relaxes me immensely. But otherwise, country music does it for me on a long road trip.

What advice do you have for anyone starting out in this industry and hoping to follow in your footsteps?

To those aspiring to follow in my footsteps: 1. Build trust and keep it. This industry is very delicate and built on trust.

2. Relationships, networks and memberships matter. Be a part of the relevant institutions.

3. This industry is very dynamic. Things change as there is constant innovation.

Continuously keep abreast of developments and trends. Study and read all new material that matters in the industry.

Business Events Africa August 2021 43

CHEF’S PROFILE

Clinton Bonhomme – feels strongly about developing the youth Clinton Bonhomme, 48, acting executive chef of Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC), has been in the hospitality industry for 27 years, having begun as an intern in 1994.

H

is goal for the next five years is to become Durban ICC’s executive chef. Clinton has plans to further advance himself by studying project management.

Another goal, which he feels strongly about, is to help train and develop younger staff. During this five-year period, I would like to partner with a chef school, to develop the youth, through learnership.”

My introduction to hospitality began at the Christina Martin School of Food and Wine in Florida Road, where I was an in-house trainee for three and a half years. I was one of the last people to be taught by the pastry legend chef Christina herself.

“I then moved to Singita Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sands, a Relais and Chateaux property, to enhance my career as a pastry chef. I worked there for a period of two years.

Thereafter, I relocated to Cape Town and worked there for nine years. During my time in Cape Town, I had the opportunity to work for Sun International at The Table Bay Hotel, the CellarsHohenhort – another Relais and Chateaux property – which was part of the Liz McGrath Collection, and as a lecturer at the Cape Town Hotel School, which is part of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.”

He added, “In addition, I also lectured at the Institute for Hospitality Education (SA) on a part-time basis. Thereafter, I made my return to sunny Durban.”

“Upon my return to Durban, I accepted the position of pastry chef lecturer at the Christina Martin School of Food and Wine, which had become part of the International Hotel School. After a year, I was introduced to Tsogo Sun and worked at the Elangeni Hotel, where I perfected my craft as a pastry chef.

During my time there, I was given the opportunity to cross over into kitchen management to work as an executive sous chef. I spent nine years at the Elangeni Hotel, during which time I entered multiple competitions, winning many or becoming a finalist. I also had the opportunity to be invited to participate in the development Culinary Olympic Team for the South Africa Chefs Association (SACA) for a year.”

He said: “As part of my career development, whilst with Tsogo Sun, I was identified in the leadership pipeline and was given

44 Business Events Africa August 2021

“At Durban ICC we have to think out of the box, we are always faced with interesting requests from our clients.” www.businesseventsafrica.com

CHEF’S PROFILE

the opportunity to fulfil the role of head chef at Garden Court, Umhlanga. This flagship was the hub and pride of Tsogo Sun for hosting international and national sportsmen and women.

“Working for a small hotel, I missed the large numbers and conferencing, and later joined the Durban ICC as an executive sous chef. I was later given the position of acting executive chef.”

Clinton said: “Being a chef for more than 23 years has given me the opportunity to work overseas in countries which included China, Singapore, England and Kenya.”

Clinton was born and raised in Durban.

“I have four brothers and two sisters - I come from a large family. I was the one who was always willing to help my mom in the kitchen.”

When asked about food trends, he said: “Food presentation has effectively become landscaping on plating. Other trends encompass all the dietary requirements such as vegan, gluten free, lactose intolerant, pescatarian diet, fruitarians’ diet, Shembe meals and Jain meals.

“At the moment we are all experiencing the global pandemic, so most global trends have not surfaced fully.

Deconstruction of food, mock on one sense using smoke guns to flavour one’s dishes and liquid nitrogen chill the taste of food items. The use of beautiful and funky plates and platters. We are faced with costs across the board; pricing has increased, generally affecting costing and margin of profit.”

In terms of challenges, Clinton said: “There is not enough on-the-job-training or internships taking place for young chefs. A classroom does not portray the correct perception of being a chef. www.businesseventsafrica.com

Therefore, on-the-job training is so crucial.

“Many junior chefs qualify, and when they enter the industry, they cannot cope with the reality of their choice of career.”

Clinton has been happily married for 24 years and has a beautiful daughter who is 11. “When I have a chance, we love camping, a family drive and enjoy an overnight stay at a guesthouse.”

In his free time, he enjoys boxing, swimming and, most of all, road cycling.

His advice to newcomers who would like to become an executive chef: “Always be aware of what is what is in your fridges and freezers. Have a good understanding of costing and listen to the team when they speak to you. Most importantly, your staff are more important than your guests.

Treat them in the manner that you would like to be respected and spoken to, regardless of their level or position.

Together, you and your team will move mountains.

“Lastly, bear in mind how that trainee may be the next best chef of their generation. How you behave in a position of authority may make or break their career,” he concluded.

Q&A What is your signature dish?

Duo of chicken terrine, smoked chicken breast served with sautéed carrot florets, pickled broccoli and avocado mousse.

This humble, yet beautiful dish may easily serve 3,000 people; it has great texture, saltiness from the pickled carrots, the smokiness of the smoked chicken as well as the creaminess from the avocado mousse.

A sauvignon blanc would do well paired with this dish.

What trends are emerging in the conference industry, regarding food?

There is a definite trend towards healthier meals and uncluttered plating. There is also a growing trend of farm-to-table sourcing.

What is your favourite beverage?

Hot drink: hot chocolate infused with cinnamon.

Cold: Base lemonade sugar syrup – lemons from my garden, fresh spearmint and flavoured sparkling strawberry water. Mix all together with crushed ice. I do not consume alcohol.

What is your favourite food?

Homemade butter chicken with homemade garlic naan bread off the griddle — the best!

What is your pet hate?

A person tasting food – without a fork – using their fingers.

What is your great love?

Developing and mentoring junior staff. I would also love to find a way to break the circle of unemployment, by way of creating one job at a time. This would be followed by creating beautiful plated meals — thinking out of the box.

Are you adventurous?

Yes, I am! I once cycled from Johannesburg to Durban and I have also walked in the Kruger National Park, on foot, at 1am in the morning while tracking pangolins with the Endangered Wildlife Society.

Business Events Africa August 2021 45

PAGE STRAP ASSOCIATIONS

Pascaline Umulisa, Executive Secretary for Rwanda Girl Guides Association (centre) with girl guides.

Could Girl Guides all over Africa become beekeepers?

When people who have never met are brought together for some common purpose, sometimes magic happens in unexpected ways. After all, so much of the world’s innovation is spawned by chance meetings, people making connections and new enterprises emerging. A case in point was a recent meeting of the membership committee for the African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE.)

By Gary Grimmer, executive chairman, GainingEdge.

W

e were there to discuss growing the association. The goal is to strengthen association management professionalism and to advance civil society in Africa. AfSAE requires more African associations to be aware that it exists and to understand that becoming a member has benefits – for the member association leaders and for Africa.

While we were waiting for everyone to join our Zoom call, we were chatting. One person on the call was David Mukomana, from Zimbabwe who is the President of

the Apimondia Regional Commission for Africa — Apimondia is the global organisation representing and promoting beekeeping and honey-related issues.

While waiting to discuss AfSAE membership, a few of us began speaking about bees. Bees are fascinating creatures so we had much to talk about, especially regarding human wellness through use of hive products and environmental conservation.

Then Pascaline Umulisa joined the call.

Pascaline is the Executive Secretary for the Rwanda Girl Guides Association. While we

46 Business Events Africa August 2021

David Mukomana, President of the Apimondia Regional Commission for Africa.

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ASSOCIATIONS PAGE STRAP

Girl Guides World Thinking Day 2020.

were waiting for others to join, we explained to Pascaline that we were discussing beekeeping.

Then one of us said, “Hey, Pascaline, maybe beekeeping would be a good activity for girl guides to learn about!” And Pascaline said, “It’s interesting you would say that, because last week, in a meeting, we were discussing possible activities for the girls and one of the suggestions was beekeeping.” That’s when David said, “Well, one of Apimondia’s goals is to empower women and girls in remote villages through beekeeping, to develop small enterprises that create employment opportunities and help them earn livelihoods from their environment.”

So here were two African association leaders who barely knew each other until they met through their connection to AfSAE’s Membership Committee, who realised they had a shared interest. Because of a chance conversation, they figured out that they could work together.

As a follow-up to the conversation a formal virtual meeting was held where the possibilities were explored with AfSAE. That discussion has led to the creation of a legacy project for AfSAE, the Girl Guides in Rwanda and the Apimondia Regional Commission for Africa which may be rolled www.businesseventsafrica.com

out to other countries in Africa. It was agreed that Apimondia and the Girl Guides could partner to set up a pilot project assisting girls to engage in beekeeping as an income-generating activity. If it works, the Girl Guides may develop a program which empowers girls to learn a fun and useful skill — keeping bees, collecting honey and well, who knows where all that could lead? Maybe Girl Guides all over Africa will become beekeepers.

This is often how change happens.

Chance meetings, interesting discussions, new revelations, new connections, new directions.

The goal of AfSAE is to strengthen Africa’s association community. But, its greatest value to members may be in helping them make connections with each other. Making connections that lead to new ideas and new undertakings which bring real benefits through collaboration. There are endless possibilities of African associations connecting and innovating to their mutual benefit and to Africa’s benefit. But, not if they never connect and have a conversation. Maybe this is the ultimate power that AfSAE will bring to African associations so they contribute towards building the Africa we would like. But, only if African associations choose to connect.

Who is Gary Grimmer?

Gary Grimmer is executive chairman of GainingEdge a global convention and association industry consulting firm. Mr Grimmer is one of the original founders of AfSAE and GainingEdge provides ongoing pro bono strategic support to the organisation.

Business Events Africa August 2021 47

EVENT GREENING FORUM

Sustainability as an event priority Despite the pandemic this past year, climate change remains a serious challenge to mankind, and as we prepare our industry to restart and hopefully regain the lost ground of 2020, perhaps we should stop for a moment and consider how we will reduce our contribution to climate change – even under trying conditions.

R

ecently, we have been reading of extraordinary climatic conditions in Canada, the United States and other parts of the northern hemisphere. Record temperatures, floods, fires and other natural anomalies have been grabbing the headlines. In a recent article published on EventMB titled The Heat Is On: How to Bake a Climate Strategy into Your Event, Shawna McKinley explored what is needed to maintain sustainability as an event priority and to step-up your event sustainability strategy as a business.

Firstly, perhaps it is important to understand that sustainability is no longer a sideshow and irrelevant corporate issue.

As of June 2021, 733 cities, 31 regions, 3,067 businesses, 173 big investors, and

By Greg MacManus, chairperson of the Event Greening Forum.

622 higher education institutions have committed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 through the Race to Zero Campaign. This is a major achievement by the global business base, and one that is going to have long-lasting impacts on how meetings, events and exhibitions are going to change in the next few years.

Ms McKinley said that climate change is a serious issue, but as the event industry comes out of the pandemic crisis, it is tempting to get back to planning familiar in-person events at all costs. However, with hybrid formats emerging and new business models being explored, now is the perfect time to bake sustainability into your larger event strategy. She suggests a four-step plan.

48 Business Events Africa August 2021

1. Start measuring Whether we recognise it or not, every event impacts and affects the environment in several ways. From the selection of venue to the number of delegates; the menu selection; lighting and sound systems; staffing and transport, your event has an impact. To understand the severity of your impacts, you need to start recording and measuring each so that you have a better idea of how to manage them.

Consider that the average conference or congress delegate today creates a half tonne of carbon emissions just by being there. This includes emissions related to travel, accommodation, food preparation and service, waste and the transport of goods and services. The old adage of www.businesseventsafrica.com

EVENT GREENING PAGEFORUM STRAP

‘you can’t manage what you don’t measure’ is perhaps truer today than in past years. Start measuring each aspect of your events so that you are able to put in place measures and mitigations designed to reduce and minimise their environmental, social and financial impacts. Create a pie chart of total emissions showing the relative impact of different logistics. The largest portions of the event ‘carbon pie’ (typically transportation) should be addressed first.

2. Set a target (carbon reduction) Now that you have a better idea of the extent of each impact, establish targets for reducing each of them in much the same way as you set targets to improve sales; increase turnover or grow your business in general.

Globally, governments and environmental think-tanks suggest that by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions should be half of what we have today and by 2050, the target is to have zero net emissions across the world. This obviously translates to everything we do individually and nationally and creates sizeable challenges for even the most developed countries. To achieve this in your own business, you will need to identify better ways of doing each of the activities associated with your events. This could be as simple as changing menus and reducing over-production of food by better understanding your client. It could involve a strict energy policy that ensures lighting is only used when needed and cooling systems are switched-off until just before your guests arrive. Or how about selecting a venue that reduced the need for extensive travel or transport. Every element in your recipe for an event may be fine-tuned to ensure that its impacts are minimised.

3. Maximize more sustainable formats One thing that we have learned this past year is how effective virtual meetings have proven – almost to the detriment of the face-to-face events of the past. But, while we continue to meet virtually and encourage people to ‘socially distance’, there is going to be a time when we may get together again, and this is where maximising sustainable formats will play a role. Gone are the days of massive corporate jamborees where hundreds of delegates travel vast distances to attend a weekend ‘rah-rah’ session at some exotic www.businesseventsafrica.com

resort. Primarily, this is because companies are more sensitive to the costs of these get-togethers, but the need to travel and gather has become redundant because of virtual platforms such as Zoom and others.

So, we believe hybrid events are going to become a large part of the future of meetings in general. From an environmental point of view, this will reduce travel and its myriad of impacts, but at the same time, help with elements such as food waste, accommodation and even sustainable and responsible procurement. It is estimated that a hybrid event may reduce emissions by 60-80%, so let that be a guide to your own choices.

Rather than holding single, large gatherings that will require extensive transport and logistics, future meetings will take place simultaneously in separate venues catering for local staff and guests.

As an example, this year UNISA will be holding its annual Research and Innovation Awards virtually — saving on the cost of bringing people together in a single venue, while at the same time saving on food, energy, staffing and other costs. For the first time, their international speakers from across the globe will be delivering their address virtually. And this is just the start!

4. Tackle Transport Transportation of delegates, material and staff remains one of the largest costs of any event. And it ranks up there with the highest emitters and causes of CO2 emissions as well. Unless you are able to ‘get a handle’ on this element of an event, you aren’t doing well. Perhaps the best thing to come out of the pandemic has been the virtual meeting, and more and more companies now understand that going virtual makes good sense. Hybrid events will remain — as will purely brown event practices, but over the next ten years, the old eye-to-eye meeting and event will take on a whole new meaning.

In the meantime, you may plan your events with transport impacts uppermost in your mind. While alternate travel and transport arrangements may be found – such as rail – by working towards the lowest possible impacts associated with transport, you ensure that you not only achieve a better and less environmentally impactful event, but that you start talking the language that is now being spoken around boardroom tables across the globe.

Who is Shawna McKinley?

Shawna McKinley is an accomplished sustainability consultant, event planner, author, and instructor who helps event professionals take practical, smart steps to improve their events through zero waste and carbon-conscious choices. She spoke at the Event Greening Forum’s Master Class in November 2020.

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 wwweventgreening.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

Business Events Africa August 2021 49

SITE NEWS

Knowledge is power Knowledge equals power and access to learning is more important than ever before.

For that reason, we are very happy that SITE is offering a once-off, highly discounted certification for entry level incentive consultants and suppliers to the industry across Africa.

By Tes Proos, president of Site Africa.

T

his is the entry-level certification which is ideal for tour operators and professional conference organisers who would like to enter the world of incentive travel specialists.

Incentive travel is unique and it is critical to understand the demands of our clients in order to deliver world-class programmes. The CIS will set you up to get the basics right.

Our CIS facilitators are offering a never-to-be-repeated offer of $375 per person for a three day virtual course which will be followed by the exam on

the final day.

CIS Cost Members: $750 USD$375 (Africa 2021 Special) Non-Members: $895 USD$395 (Africa 2021 Special) Dates: 26-28 October 2021 Time: 10h00-13h00 CAT (Central African Time) daily +1 hour on 28 October for the exam Place: Virtual (link to be provided upon registration) The big advantage of doing this course

virtually, rather than online, is that you will have the benefit of having immediate and personal support from the originator of this certification.

Facilitators: • Fernando Compean (originator and former president of SITE Mexico) • Tes Proos (President, SITE Africa) Further information and registration www.sitecis.com/CIS2021/AFRICA/ Enquiries: marketing@sitecis.com

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...

50 Business Events Africa August 2021

Contact

Email: info@sitesouthernafrica.com www.sitesouthernafrica.com www.siteglobal.com

www.businesseventsafrica.com

SAACI NEWS

Planning in Covid-19 – what we need to consider Many in the business events industry will know how to plan for any scenario. It is what we do.

However, Covid-19 has changed one important element – we are no longer just planning internally, we are needing to communicate externally.

T

his is part of how we do business now. Pre-Covid-19, the scenarios, the tabletop planning exercises, the ‘what ifs’, were all managed behind closed doors. If the key operational stakeholders and decision makers were involved, we were fine. This pandemic has, however, put our audiences, guests, and delegates at the forefront – and we owe it to them to share our scenario planning.

Our recently held regional Annual General Meetings were a testament to this. The SAACI branch committees knew that our planning not only needed to assure our members, guests, and venues that we would be running the event in a safe manner, but that we were also prepared for any eventuality.

By Glenton de Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI.

We needed – and wanted – to build confidence. We knew that there could be a hesitancy in running in-person because “what if it gets cancelled?”

Operationally, we knew that we needed to plan two versions of the event − a) if it ran live and in-person and b) if we faced short term restrictions due the rise in the infection rate.

After all, we were in a third wave of infections and understood that this was a very real likelihood. We asked ourselves, “if we suddenly moved to an alert level that prohibits in-person meetings, how will we re-imagine the event?” Naturally, we would go online. However, we needed to consider the online experience as well.

Importantly, we needed to ensure that

we did return to the venue which we had allowed to honour our commitment. We intended to do so and continued to show confidence in in-person business meetings.

When planning, consider who needs to know what the progress is and where the planning currently stands along with what the potential scenarios are. Consider the power of communication in strengthening your engagement with your audience as they continue to face uncertainty. Building confidence and providing certainty could be the difference between them attending inperson, booking a ticket, or passing it up.

THE ASSOCIATION What we’re all about: motivational experiences FOR results!

CONFERENCE Why we do it? Business INDUSTRY LEADERS Site is the only global network of travel and event professionals committed to motivational experiences that deliver business results.

CONNECT

SAACI unites , supports and educates the business Site provides insights and connections that inspire the utilisation of this powerful tool events industry in southern Africa by creating sustainable environment across diverse industries, regions and cultures. formake business growth Site serves as a source of knowledge and best practices where members can personal connections that sustain professional growth.

THRIVE

Contact

Join SAACI andEmail: enjoy info@sitesouthernafrica.com access to an inspiring Only one organisation sits at the critical intersection between those who seek network of industry professionals, while giving your business the www.sitesouthernafrica.com the benefits of motivational tools and those who can provide these extraordinary professional status it needs to attract the attentionwww.siteglobal.com of business leaders. experiences. That organisation is Site...

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.

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Visit our online community: www.saaci.org www.saacicongress.org www.saaci-academy.org

+27(0)11 880 5883 info@saaci.org

Business BusinessEvents EventsAfrica Africa October August 2021 2020 51 Learning | Growth | collaboration

AAXO NEWS

Time to break the chain of gender stereotypes According to the World Economic Forum, gender inequalities force women to be the primary caregivers to children, the sick and the elderly; the pandemic has therefore created an even larger burden on women than men.

L

ack of public childcare, online schooling, additional care for the elderly, and families incapacitated due to Covid-19 are the primary reasons why more women have lost their jobs than men, according to Mckinsey Global Institute Report 2020. Interestingly, women make up only two-fifths of the global workforce, but more than half of the jobs lost are women.

By Projeni Pather, chairperson of AAXO. It is time to create an environment where women feel confident to step out of their comfort zones. Sadly, businesses the world over, particularly the exhibition industry, have been dominated by males. This year, AAXO has committed to including women empowerment on our industry’s agenda. It is our responsibility to empower both men and women in the industry to destroy the stereotypes that have existed for years.

The gender gap has always existed, and sadly the pandemic has widened the gap.

Understandably we have to focus on rebuilding the exhibition industry, emphasising re-establishing confidence in exhibitions as a platform. But, as we rebuild, let us realign our efforts, let us empower the women in our sector to take a seat at the head of the table and guide us in our endeavours to grow exhibitions, build confidence, and reignite business.

We live in a world rife with gender stereotypes, and the exhibition industry is certainly no different. Hence, we need to make a conscious effort as individuals, as companies and as an industry, to open the conversation and lead by example. By breaking gender stereotypes, we have the opportunity to reap the benefit and grow our companies by including women in all departments, in all management roles, and in all our decision making. Let us be more inclusive in our decisions, our discussions, and our demeanour. Let women know that women empowerment is an essential priority on your company agenda.

SAEC NEWS

We need to remain resilient and focused The business events industry's collective focus on building an understanding of the sector’s immediate objectives and keeping a close eye on how we recover is complex. This complexity is against the backdrop of dealing with business interruption due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

By Glenton De Kock, SAACI, on behalf of SAEC.

T

here is an agreement that we need to reimagine the delegate economy for South Africa’s convention bureaux, convention centres, organisers, meetings, exhibition and events communities and all who form part of the entire ecosystem and benefit from the business events industry.

We are in consensus that a strong united voice to government, on behalf of stakeholders, will ensure consistent and impactful advocacy. Some of this we have slowly been able to achieve over this past year.

The short to medium-term objectives of

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the industry to enable recovery and future growth are to: • Build confidence to meet by promoting what is possible (increase certainty for planning and reducing financial risk).

• Address immediate workforce shortages and skills gaps.

• Secure government support for attracting and fulfilling the potential of business events; and • Build a future-ready workforce.

A more focused approach on the recovery of the business events industry is required. With clarity on the work we do as an industry, we need to work

collectively on a clear reopening roadmap for the business events industry, in conjunction with our government.

We owe it to the many professionals in our industry to provide a clearer and more workable guideline on how we may operate sustainably in the latter part of 2021. e: hello@saeventscouncil.org

Business Events Africa August 2021 53

EXSA PAGE NEWS STRAP

Rise up to rebuild South Africa Once upon a time, we knew how it felt to operate in and be an integral part of the vibrant, exciting and ever-changing exhibition industry.

By Gill Gibbs, chairperson of EXSA.

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owadays, we have been starkly reminded of how it feels to go through exceptionally trying times in our country, notwithstanding the peaks and troughs of a pandemic. The impact is widespread and there have been waves of fear and trepidation and it has touched the spirits, lives and livelihoods

54 Business Events Africa August 2021

of everyone in some way, shape or form.

As an industry association that has served its industry community for 41 years, the recent events have left us feeling upset and devastated and yet there is hope – seen in the agility, rapid mobilisation and response from nationwide communities – that has spurred us on to rise up through what we are best known for throughout the world — our resilience, adaptability and our gees (spirit).

Despite an industry decimated, we continue to give, sacrifice and assist where we are able to and our industry is standing proud; to know and be associated with such selfless individuals — we salute all of you and we are grateful for you.

So too, have various communities and seemingly unlikely heroes rallied to jump in and assist, especially in the worst affected areas.

With such destruction as could be seen in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng, Operation Cleanup was a huge task.

Now, it is imperative that Operation Rebuild is initiated.

Our effective decisions and actions now, will impact and contribute towards rebuilding South Africa and rebirth is certainly what is required.

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MARKET NEWS

New general manager for City Lodge Hotel Maputo

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City Lodge Hotel Group (CLHG) has appointed Anneke Pienaar as general manager of City Lodge Hotel Maputo in Mozambique. She was most recently general manager of City Lodge Hotel Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

s Pienaar commenced her career in the hotel industry as a receptionist at the Southern Sun Holiday Inn Garden Court Airport in 1999, having earned a national diploma in Hospitality Management the year prior. She joined CLHG as junior assistant manager of Town Lodge Nelspruit (now Mbombela) in 2006.

Her career trajectory included positions as senior assistant manager of Town Lodge Menlo Park in 2008, general manager of Road Lodge Germiston in 2009 and general manager of Road Lodge Mbombela in 2011.

Ms Pienaar set off on her East African adventure as general manager of City Lodge Hotel Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania in 2018. During her time in Tanzania, she broadened her horizons and experience through her exposure to operating out of the norms of South Africa and capably grasped the nuances of working in a foreign country, such as compliance and local culture. Anneke joins the Maputo team with the confidence and ability to fly the CLHG flag high and blend the flavours of Mozambique with the group’s South African heritage.

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

August 2021 Volume 41 Number 8 ADVERTISER

PAGE

EMAIL

WEBSITE

AAXO

52

aaxo@aaxo.co.za

www.aaxo.co.za

Event Greening Forum

48

info@eventgreening.co.za

www.eventgreening.co.za

EXSA

55

exsa@exsa.co.za

www.exsa.co.za

MJunxion

2

yolande@mjunxion.co.za

www.mjunxion.co.za

businessevents@experiencenortherncape.com

www.experiencenortherncape.com

info.rosebank@radissonred.com

www.radissonhotels.com

Northern Cape

IFC, 32

Radisson RED Johannesburg Rosebank

FC, 8

SAACI

51

info@saaci.org

www.saaci.org

SA Events Council

53

hello@saeventscouncil.org

www.saeventscouncil.org

SITE

55

info@sitesouthernafrica.com

www.sitesouthernafrica.com

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Business Events Africa August 2021 55

DIRECTORY

SOUTHERN AFRICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE CONFERENCE INDUSTRY

Learning | Growth | collaboration EXCO AND HEAD OFFICE Chairperson: Kim Roberts e: info@mise-en-placesolutions.com t: +27 (0)82 652 2008 Vice-chairperson: Jaques Fouche e: jaques@formative.co.za c: +27 (0)60 993 7542 Treasurer: Glenn van Eck e: glenn@magnetic.co.za c: +27 (0)82 800 2612 Public officer: Denise Kemp e: denise@easternsun.co.za c: +27 (0)82 654 9755 Chief executive officer: Glenton De Kock e: ceo@saaci.org c: +27 (0)82 575 7565 Membership services consultant: Alshanthé Smith t: +27 (0)71 299 0601 e: members@saaci.org BOARD MEMBERS Chairperson: Kim Roberts e: info@mise-en-placesolutions.com t: +27 (0)82 652 2008 Vice-chairperson: Jaques Fouche e: jaques@formative.co.za c: +27 (0)60 993 7542 Treasurer: Glenn van Eck e: glenn@magnetic.co.za c: +27 (0)82 800 2612 Public officer: Denise Kemp e: denise@easternsun.co.za c: +27 (0)82 654 9755 Eastern Cape Chairperson: Alistair Stead e: alastair@scandisplay.africa c: +27 (0)73 236 6618 KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson: Irene Vallihu c: +27 (0)79 692 4604 e: irenev@icc.co.za Johannesburg Chairperson: John Arvanitakis t: +27 (0)83 415 2774 e: john@chatr.co.za Western Cape Chairperson: Angela Lorimer c: +27 (0)74 550 1000 e: angelajacobson862@yahoo.co.za Tshwane Chairperson: Corné Engelbrecht e: corne@savetcon.co.za c: +27 (0)82 925 9241 Co-opted Youth Ambassador: Minister Kganyango e: mkganyago@csir.co.za c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Co-opted Learning Ambassador: Lorin Bowen e: lorin@lorinbowen.co.za c: +27 (0)82 433 8687 EASTERN CAPE Chairperson: Alistair Stead e: alastair@scandisplay.africa c: +27 (0)73 236 6618 Vice-chairperson: Melissa Palmer e: melissa@becbc.co.za c: +27 (0)82 437 7600 Treasurer: Andrew Stewart e: andrew@periexpo.co.za c: +27 (0)82 578 5987 COMMITTEE: David Limbert e: david@magnetic.co.za c: +27 (0)82 9064 198 Gill Dickie e: gilld@bidvestcarrental.co.za c: +27 (0)79 527 7619 Wanda Fourie e: registration@easternsun.co.za c: +27 (0)72 608 1641 Claire Kivedo e: claire@overallevents.co.za c: +27 (0)82 464 1504 Nabeelah Sharmar e: nabeela@greenroom.co.za c: +27 (0)83 661 4140 Hayley Pretorius e: ec.za@saaci.org c: +27 (0)62 758 7933 JOHANNESBURG Chairperson: John Arvanitakis Chat'r Xperience t: +27 (0)83 415 2774 e: john@chatr.co.za Vice Chairperson: Emma Kumalo Potters Hand Activations t: +27 (0)84 250 6850 e: emma@pottershand.co.za Treasurer: Chris de Lancey Multi-Media t: +27 (0)82 854 2230 e: chris@multi-media.co.za COMMITTEE: Angelique Smith SAACI Johannesburg c: +27 (0)60 970 7653 e: angie@eventsynthesis.co.za Leigh Anne Luis, Upatone t: +27 (0)82 409 3680 e: leighanne@upatone.co.za Rendani Khorommbi Joburg Tourism t: +27 (0)11 883 3525 c: +27 (0)82 773 2999 e: rendanik@joburgtourism.com KWAZULU-NATAL Chairperson: Irene Vallihu c: +27 (0)79 692 4604 e: irenev@icc.co.za Vice-chairperson: Gill Slaughter c: +27 (0)83 269 0279 e: gills@turnersconferences.co.za Treasurer: Sibusiso Mncwabe c: +27 (0)83 477 5536 e: sibusiso@marketingwell.co.za COMMITTEE: Tarannum Banatwalla c: +27 (0)83 254 9462 e: tarannum@jellyfishcatering.co.za

56 Business Events Africa August 2021

Kim Jackson c: +27 (0)82 378 2264 e: kimj@goldcircle.co.za Mabuyi Mosia c: +27 (0)71 117 7509 e: mabuyi@ikhono.co.za Denver Manickum c: +27 (0)83 482 8525 e: denver@icube.co.za Kavitha Dhawnath c: +27 (0)83 607 200 e: kavitha.dhawnath@gearhouse.co.za Wiseman Mnguni c: +27 (0)78 220 2162 e: mboniseni.events@gmail.com Sandile Dlamini c: +27 (0)79 104 5510 e: sandile@anzomode.co.za TSHWANE Chairperson: Corné Engelbrecht e: corne@savetcon.co.za c: +27 (0)82 925 9241 Treasurer: Refilwe Nchebisang t: +27 (0)76 055 1346 e: rnchebisang@csir.co.za COMMITTEE: Herkie du Preez c: +27 (0)82 839 3489 e: herkie@eventwizards.co.za Melanie Pretorius c: +27 (0)82 410 1202 e: melanie.pretorius@mweb.co.za Riaan Maritz c: +27 (0)82 899 7612 e: riaanm@atkv.org.za Tumi Tsatsi c: +27 (0)78 373 9790 e: tumi@eventwizards.co.za Heather Heskes c: +27 (0)76 321 6111 e: tsh.za@saaci.org Leon Pheiffer e: leon@ephproductions.co.za e: leon@montededios.co.za c: +27 (0)72 616 5390 WESTERN CAPE Chairperson: Angela Lorimer c: +27 (0)74 550 1000 e: angelajacobson862@yahoo.co.za e: salesmanager@ lagoonbeachhotel.co.za Vice-chairperson: Alex Wrottesley c: +27 (0)21 430 2060 e: alex@intoafrica.co.za Treasurer: Thiru Naidoo t: +27 (0)21 487 8600 e: thiru@wesgro.co.za COMMITTEE: Ansu Colditz c: +27 (0)82 457 8071 e: ansuc@millenniumtravel.co.za Esti Venske t: +27 (0)21 460 3518 e: estivenske@gmail.com Zimkitha Bavuma c: +27 (0)72 172 5746 e: zim@live.co.za Esmare Steinhofel c: +27 (0)84 056 5544 e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org Andrew Gibson t: +27 (0)860 111 625 e: Andrew@magnetic.co.za e: andrew.msct@gmail.com

Bianca van Niekerk t: +27 (0)21 410 5000 e: biancav@cticc.co.za Stefan Huggett c: +27 (0)83 740 8897 e: stefanh@spier.co.za Gheeta Payle t: +27 (0)86 123 7890 e: gheeta.payle@inhousevtm.com Lara Van Zyl c: +27 (0)82 223 4684 e: wc.za@saaci.org

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

EXSA OFFICE www.exsa.co.za Chairperson: Gill Gibbs BluCube t: +27 (0)83 260 8035 e: gill@blu3.co.za Vice chairperson: Sibusiso Mchwabe (KZN) Marketing Well t: +27 (0)83 477 5536 e: sibusiso@marketingwell.co.za Treasurer: Ishmail Antatasi GL - events t: +27 (0)83 212 7338 e: ishmael.atanasi@gl-events.com Past chairperson: Doug Rix DK Designs t: +27 (0)82 579 7071 e: dougrix@wol.co.za Directors: Sandile Dlamini Anzamode t: +27 (0)79 104 5510 e: sandile@anzomode.co.za Kerry-Lee Bester Brilliant Branding t: +27 (0)72 265 6600 e: kerry@brilliant-branding.co.za Jacqui Nel (EC) Exhibition Freighting G.S.M. t: +27 (0)21 552 7248 e: jacquinel@ef-gsm.co.za Liam Beattie Hott 3D : +27 (0)76 577 0989 e: liam@hott.co.za Chad Botha Inspire Furniture Rentals t: +27 (0)76 644 0271 e: info@inspirefurniture.co.za Beert Kuiken Octanorm t: +27 (0)82 387 5324 e: beert.kuiken@octanorm.co.za

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DIRECTORY

SOCIETY FOR INCENTIVE TRAVEL EXCELLENCE

President: Tes Proos c: +27 (0) 84 682 7676 e: tes@crystalevents.co.za Treasurer: Peter-John Mitrovich c: +27 (0)82 318 1889 e: peter-john.mitrovich@grosvenortours. com Sustainability: Daryl Keywood Southern Africa Development: Brad Glen East Africa Development: Chris Munyao Young Leader Programme: Peter Mwanja Africa Convention Bureaus: Rick Taylor North Africa Development: George Fawzi Board member at large: Rick Taylor East Africa (Rwanda): Chris Munyao North Africa: George Fawzi North Africa support: Brad Glen Secretariat & Events: Western Cape: Mariaan Burger c: +27 (0)82 557 8041 e: info@sitesouthernafrica.com

SA EVENTS COUNCIL

e: hello@saeventscouncil.org Chairperson: Ellen Oosthuizen, PCO Alliance Network Vice-chairperson: Glenton de Kock, CEO: SAACI Interim treasurer: Glenn van Eck, Chairperson: CEPA Spokesperson: Projeni Pather, Chairperson: AAXO Members: Kevan Jones, Executive Director SACIA Sharif Baker, Chairperson TPSA Tes Proos, SITE President Justin Hawes, Managing Director: Scan Display & Event Greening Forum Treasurer Gill Gibbs, Chairperson EXSA Justin van Wyk, Chairperson SALPA Mike Lord, Chairperson ESC Raylene Johnson, CEO: TEBCO-SA Arthur Goldstuck, PSASA Exco Member Esmare Steinhofel, Chairperson: ICCA Africa Chapter Advisory Members: Prof Nellie Swart, Associate Professor: Tourism Management Corne Koch, Head: Convention Bureau (WESGRO) Tiisetso Tau, AAXO member Daryl Keywood, SITE Member Sibusiso Mncwabe, EXSA Board member; EXSA KZN Forum Chair; SAACI KZN Committee member and Treasurer

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Bheki Twala, TEBCO-SA Executive Kim Roberts, SAACI Representative Western Cape Robyn D’Alessandro, Social Media – Vivo Visual Voice CC

ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN EXHIBITION ORGANISERS

46 Waterford Office Park, Waterford Drive, Fourways, Johannesburg t: +27 (0)11 465 8955 e: aaxo@aaxo.co.za Association coordinator: Molebegeng Masote e: mole@aaxo.co.za Chairperson: Projeni Pather, Exposure Marketing e: projeni@exposuremarketing.co.za Vice-chairperson: Devi Paulsen-Abbott, Dmg Events e: devipaulsen@dmgevents.com Venue Committee Chairperson: Charles Wilson, Gallagher Convention Centre e: charlesw@Gallagher.co.za Treasurer: Mark Anderson, Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery e: marka@specialised.com Board of directors: Adele Hartdegen, Dogan Exhibitions & Events e: adele@expocentre.co.za Chanelle Hingston, Clarion Events Africa e: chanelle.hingston@clarionevents.com Tiisetso Tau, Synergy Business Events e: ttau@synergybe.co.za

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS & CONVENTION ASSOCIATION

ICCA African Chapter Chairperson: Taubie Motlhabane Cape Town International Convention Centre t: +27 (0)21 410 5000 e: Taubiem@cticc.co.za Deputy chairperson: Jacinta Nzioka Kenya National Convention Bureau t: +254 722464221 e: jacinta@kncb.go.ke Secretariat: Esmaré Steinhöfel ICCA Africa Regional director c: +27 (0)84 056 5544 e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org www.iccaworld.com/dbs/africanchapter www.iccaworld.org

EVENT GREENING FORUM

179 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North, Private Bag X7000, Parklands 2121 t: +27 (0)11 447 4777 e: info@eventgreening.co.za www.eventgreening.co.za Chairperson: Greg McManus, Heritage Environmental Management Services Vice-chairperson: Morwesi Ramonyai, Borena Energy Treasurer: Justin Hawes, Scan Display Secretariat: Lynn McLeod e: lynn@eventgreening.co.za Marketing: Pippa Naudé e: pippa@eventgreening.co.za

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS OF INTEREST ABTA – African Business Travel Association Box 2594, Pinegowrie, 2123 t: +27 (0)11 888 8178 c: +27 (0)83 679 2110 e: monique@abta.co.za www.abta.co.za Founder: Monique Swart ASATA – Association of Southern African Travel Agents PO Box 650539, Benmore, 2010 t: +27 (0)11 293 0560/61 e: barbara@asata.co.za e: general@asata.co.za Office manager: Barbara Viljoen Council of Event Professionals Africa M16 Ticketpro Dome Cnr. Northumberland & Olievenhout Roads, Northriding Executive Director: Kevan Jones kevan@sacia.org.za t: +27 (0)11 083 6418 c: +27 (0)82 555 5556 Chairperson: Glenn van Eck Magnetic Storm c: +27 (0)82 800 2616 e: glenn@magnetic.co.za FEDHASA National Office – Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa PO Box 3853, The Reeds, 0157 c: +27 (0)82 552 9862 e: ceo@fedhasa.co.za www.fedhasa.co.za Chief executive: Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa PSASA – Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa t: +27 (0)11 462 9465 c: +27 (0)83 458 6114 e: admin@psasouthernafrica.co.za www.psasouthernafrica.co.za SABOA – Southern African Bus Operators Association Postnet Suite 393, Private Bag X033, Rivonia 2128 t: +27 (0)11 511 7641 e: saboa@saboa.co.za www.saboa.co.za

SACIA – Southern African Communications Industries Association M16 Ticketpro Dome Cnr. Northumberland & Olievenhout Roads, Northriding t: +27 (0)11 083 6418 c: +27 (0)82 555 5556 e: kevan@sacia.org.za Executive director: Kevan Jones SATI – South African Translators’ Institute Executive director: Marion Boers t: +27 (0)11 803 2681 e: office@translators.org.za www.translators.org.za SATSA – Southern Africa Tourism Services Association Box 900, Ferndale 2160 t: +27 (0)11 886 9996 e: pa@satsa.co.za www.satsa.com SKAL International South Africa Secretary: Anne Lamb t: +27 (0)21 434 7023 c: +27 (0)82 708 1836 e: anne@yebo.co.za www.skalsouthafrica.org STA – Sandton Tourism Association t: +27 (0)83 558 5445 e: secretariat@sandtontourism.com www.sandtontourism.com TBCSA – Tourism Business Council of South Africa Box 11655, Centurion 0046 t: +27 (0)12 664 0120 e: comms@tbcsa.travel www.tbcsa.travel www.tomsa.co.za Member relations manager: Boitumelo Moleleki TGCSA – Tourism Grading Council of South Africa Private Bag X10012, Sandton 2146 t: +27 (0)11 895 3000 f: +27 (0)11 895 3001 e: enquiries@tourismgrading.co.za TINSA – Interpreters/Translators Network of Southern Africa e: info@interpreter.org.za t/f: +27 (0)11 485 2511 c: +27 (0)83 249 0010 www.interpreter.org.za TPSA – Technical Production Services Association M16 Ticketpro Dome Cnr. Northumberland & Olievenhout Roads, Northriding t: +27 (0)11 083 6418 c: +27 (0)82 555 5556 e: kevan@sacia.org.za www.tpsa.co.za Executive director: Kevan Jones TTA – Tshwane Tourism Association Box 395, Pretoria 0001 t: +27 (0)12 841 4212 e: secretary@tshwanetourism.com www.tshwanetourism.com Chairperson: Bronwen Cadle de Ponte Secretary: Sithembile Nzimande Membership coordinator: Liz Oosthuysen e: membership@tshwanetourism.com

Business Events Africa August 2021 57

THE LAST WORD

The incentive industry state of play, trends and opportunities As I settle down to write this article it would be wrong of me not to pause and reflect on how the pandemic – locally and around the world – has wrecked so many businesses, careers and lives.

Eighteen months in and it is still far from over and the world of work has certainly changed.

By David Sand, chief executive officer and founder of Uwin Iwin.

P

eople have shown much grit and determination and some industries have grown in dynamic ways, while others have suffered and new ideas and businesses are being birthed all the time. The business of engaging people in work, rewarding, recognising and inspiring them is still very much at the forefront of this dynamic world we live in and the incentive industry has as much relevance as in any time before.

During the pandemic I have been very grateful to our three international incentive industry associations that have kept up research, global insights and membership engagement. Site (Society

for Incentive Travel Excellence), IRF (Incentive Research Foundation), and the IMA (Incentive Marketing Association).

Much of what I share is referenced to material created or jointly created by these fine organisations.

In South Africa, and in most countries around the world, incentive travel revenues – both inbound and outbound – have come to almost a complete standstill. But this does not mean that no work has been going on. Massive efforts have been put into campaigning for postponements rather than cancellations, sometimes as many as three new dates established and then shifted and, in some cases, finally cancelled. A rather grim,

58 Business Events Africa August 2021

frustrating, and economically unproductive process. Businesses that have survived have managed to shift some of the budget towards other reward options and are now only planning trips in 2022 that will possibly be smaller group sizes. Businesses that are only involved in travel fulfilment have been worst hit, whereas those who are involved in the full services of incentive reward design, launch, management, and fulfilment have been in a far better position to weather the storms.

Worldwide, there has been a significant shift and growth in digital rewards and merchandise catalogues — as much as 33 per cent reported by the IRF surveys. These www.businesseventsafrica.com

THE LAST WORD

rewards are individual and may be deployed quickly and effectively. The shift to a work-from-home virtual office norm has had leading organisations seeking new ways to recognise people in ways that still say your contribution has been seen and is appreciated.

Design of incentive programmes has also had to shift to accommodate the new work-from-home normal to be more inclusive and broader-based thoughout the organisation. Where traditionally travel programmes reward the top 10 per cent, designers are focused on reaching the vital 70 per cent, where performance shifts may have an even greater impact on the organisation’s culture and objectives. This, by no means, means that travel is no longer relevant — it certainly is. With the rollout of the vaccine programmes underway there is a huge pent-up demand for travel in general. Incentive travel will still be highly desirable and meet the face-to-face objectives that are still so important for relationship building through shared experiences.

More personalisation and greater choice are an ongoing trend that incentive designers are building into programmes, where reward mechanisms deliver value and allow the participant the choice of redemption. Key is to deliver with care, love and a special attention to the individuals receiving them. Hybrid programmes that offer shorter-term digital rewards available to the broader organisation and longer-term travelrelated offerings for the very top achievers, create a wholistic approach to design.

Digitisation of the incentive process from launch, day-to-day management, monthly reporting and participant engagement was trending long before the pandemic but has certainly accelerated with wider client adoption during this time. Incentive agencies who were ahead of this curve, and have expertise to offer its customer www.businesseventsafrica.com

base, have survived and will thrive.

Aligned to the digital trend has been the ongoing need for greater data security, compliance with POPIA in our world and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements in Europe. These requirements will be for all aspects of the incentive world and we keep our eyes open as to how the travel vaccine ‘passport’ may or may not impact the movement and options for incentive travel.

Contracting and contingency planning has never been this rigorously attended to.

Phenomenal efforts have been put into protecting both clients and providers alike.

Clarification of the force majeure clauses to include diseases and what the remedy will include — be it, postponement, cancellation, or reduced performance.

Contingency planning is here to stay and, with ongoing waves of Covid, we are all too familiar with the unexpected now being more expected than not.

Expect to see ongoing consolidation in the industry, and the ongoing adaptive new concepts that are being driven by innovation and matching opportunity with technology advances. There is also the ongoing but growing more effective voice of climate change being demanded by consumers and reacted to by big corporations. The green agenda is firmly on the table and there are several amazing organisations that deliver reforestation, biodiversity protection and carbon offsetting that we have already begun to partner with for the future.

Opportunity exists to help organisations rethink their incentive strategy and to embrace the benefits of a digital solutions set. Currently, estimates in the US is that only about 40 per cent of organisations that run incentives are doings so digitally, presenting a significant opportunity. In South Africa I would estimate the opportunity to be similar.

There are certainly hopeful signs that fully vaccinated travellers will have options to travel internationally in 2022 and the incentive travel industry will see a restart.

Our ability to recover economically and socially from the recent political unrest and the pandemic will be the task we all have to take up and overcome together.

Incentives have a huge role to play in all areas of our economy and my hope is that, in some significant way, this industry will play its part and have its place in the sun once again.

Who is David Sand?

David Sand is the chief executive officer and founder of Uwin Iwin, established in 1994. A global incentive expert, having travelled, worked and consulted to many destinations and global corporate accounts. He served as the global president of Site in 2013. Trustee of The President’s Award, South Africa, Advisory Board member for Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ uwiniwin/

Business Events Africa August 2021 59

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