Business Events Africa Dec16 Jan17 vol 36 no 12

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Voice of the Business Events Industry in Africa

Vol 36 No 12 2016/2017

MAROPENG

Discover what you don’t know...

The Official Visitor Centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

A DEMANDING YEAR

Because we know that for you, holidays are hard work.

Landscaping maintenance

Tasting room renovated

Discount on wine glasses secured

Roof repaired and renewed

New staff uniforms designed and ordered

Extra sommeliers hired and trained

As a hospitality establishment, we understand that the phrase “summer holidays” has a very different meaning for you. Instead of being the season of relaxation, it is the busiest and often the most stressful time of your year. And that’s why we’re here to help.

The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa offers you a variety of services and benefits that can help equip you for the peak season. These offerings include funding, exclusive discounts, legal and labour advice, access to our Market Place as well as a network of quality CVs – ultimately helping you enjoy the summer as much as your guests will.

Get graded today, and let us be your travel companion on your journey to success.

Visit www.tourismgrading.co.za or contact us on feedback@tourismgrading.co.za

10021520JB/E

turning business into pleasure The Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau is an independent body dedicated to promoting and marketing the region’s many business tourism facilities, capabilities and assets, both nationally and internationally. As such, we are perfectly equipped to help plan delegates’ itineraries and provide marketing collateral while offering relevant on-site event support and assisting meeting planners to create a unique experience. Committed to transforming Durban and KwaZulu-Natal into South Africa’s premier meetings,

incentives, conventions and exhibitions destination, we can provide organisers, planners and business tourists with the latest information and unbiased advice.

Whether you require assistance with planning and organising your conference in Durban or anywhere in KwaZulu-Natal, information on accommodation and places of interest or simply want to provide feedback on your experience to an independent source, the Durban KwaZuluNatal Convention Bureau is your first port of call.

PO Box 2516, Durban, 4000, South Africa Tel: +27 31 366 7577/80 Email: conventions@durbankzncb.co.za www.durbankzncb.co.za

Integrity | Intelligence | Innovation | Sustainability

CONTENTS

VOL 36 NO 12 2016/17

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34

africa.com

vents www.businesse

Voice of the

40

nts Industry

Business Eve

in Africa

Special Features

2016/2017

Vol 36 No 12

G MAROPEN hat Discover w now... you don’t k

10 PREDICTIONS 2017

Business events industry leaders take a look into what 2017 may bring...

28 FINANCIAL REPORT: DURBAN ICC Roger Antonsen, in his January 2015 Ted Talk titled “Math is the hidden secret to understanding the world” proposes that the essence of understanding is directly related to our ability to change our perspective. This is the first of a series written by Malcolm King, managing director of Contact Publications.

33 SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH WEST PROVINCE age Site

tre for the

l Visitor Cen

The Officia

rld Herit mankind Wo

Cradle of Hu

About the cover

Maropeng... where life began

The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site has global significance and is located about 50 kilometres north-west of Johannesburg, and occupies 53 000 hectares of land.

ica South Aibfrit io n An exh

FOCUS

ced by lement produ Events Supp Business s Pty Ltd Publication ts Africa Contact ess Even of Busin Publishers

42 VENUE OF THE MONTH Where better to have a conference, workshop or seminar than at the Sierra Burgers Park Hotel in Pretoria. With its relaxed, yet professional ambiance, it provides an ideal venue for business and relaxation.

Supplement on Limpopo province Situated between pages 32 and 33 is an 8-page supplement on Limpopo, a favourite destination for business, leisure and adventure travellers worldwide.

South Africa: An Exhibition Focus

frica.net

ts.southa

esseven

www.busin

In this issue, Business Events Africa looks at venues in the North West province and what they have to offer the business person, conference delegate or leisure traveller.

In this final supplement, produced by the South Africa National Convention Bureau in conjunction with Business Events Africa, we take a closer look at the local and global exhibition industry.

Limpopo

A favourite des tination for bus iness, leisure and adventure travellers wo rldwide

Limpopo Suppl ement produ ced by Contact Public ations Pty Ltd Publishers of Business Even ts Africa

www.golim

popo.com

A Guide to Prof

ession al Resour

SOUTHERN

2017 Guide to Professional Resources in the Southern African Business Events Industry

ces in the

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

AFRICAN

Business Ev ents I

ndustry

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

HEAD OFFICE PHYSICAL ADDRESS:

Situated towards the back of this issue is the 2017 Guide to Professional Resources in the Southern African Business Events Industry.

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2017

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Editor’s Comment News A Local Perspective Personality Profile Executive Chef

61 Calendar 62 Directory & Associations of interest to the industry 64 The Last Word

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Market News 44

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Stay connected and optimistic in 2017 Credit: Hein Liebetrau

4

Every year seems to happen just that little faster. This year was no different. As I write this comment, I am still in denial that the year is at its end. It has certainly been one of the most challenging years for the business events industry.

I

t goes without saying, budgets are tight but expectations are still very high. More for less seems to be the order of the day. The question is “how low can you go?” Honestly, you can’t.

In this publication, as we have done for more than a decade, we have asked industry leaders to reflect on the year that was and give us a look at what they predict 2017 will be like for the sector.

It is certainly a mixed bag of emotions.

One thing most agree on is that 2016 was one of the most challenging years with the economic landscape still taking strain. Interestingly, the incentive sector seems to have fared the best over 2016. Looking ahead, according to some of the predictions, it will probably still remain challenging, but there seems to be a renewed positiveness in the sector.

I suppose we have to be cautiously optimistic. It is, after all, as some say,

“all in the mind”. Our mindset is the difference.

We can only continue to work with integrity, deliver what we promise and have to trust that the relationships we have will see us through the good and the bad times.

Keeping connected in 2017 will be fundamental and Business Events Africa will continue to play a significant role in assisting industry to do so.

Another way to stay connected is participate in the upcoming Meetings Africa as an exhibitor, buyer or visitor.

Meetings Africa is taking place in February 2017. Meetings Africa offers exhibitors from across our continent a professional platform to meet quality buyers. It offers buyers the cream of our continent under one roof.

This remains my favourite show of the year as I get to see all my industry

I suppose we have to be cautiously optimistic. It is, after all, as some say, “all in the mind”. Our mindset is the difference. colleagues, clients and acquaintances over a short time. Meetings Africa 2017 takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 28 February – 1 March 2017.

As I sign off, I wish you all a prosperous 2017 and look forward to partnering and connecting with each and every one of you in 2017.

Irene

Email: gomesi@iafrica.com

2017

BACK TO BUSINESS

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6

NEWS

23 000 rooms in Africa An accelerated African growth strategy for Carlson Rezidor, one of the world’s largest hotel groups, is on track to achieve its target of more than 23 000 rooms open or under development in Africa by the end of 2020.

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ezidor’s president and chief executive officer, Wolfgang M. Neumann, who was a speaker at the Africa Hotel Investment Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, said the hotel group launched its accelerated African growth strategy in 2014 with ambitions to double its portfolio in Africa by the end of 2020.

“Africa has always been close to our hearts. We were the early movers on the continent in 2000 when we established our dedicated business development base in Cape Town.

“Today, Africa is our biggest growth market with a fully functional Area Support Office in Cape Town since 2016. We also converted our joint venture company with the four Nordic Government Development agencies, AfriNord, from a mezzanine debt funding facility to a minority equity investment vehicle to support our strategy and owners.”

Rezidor first entered Africa in 2000 when it opened its first Radisson Blu in Cape Town. Today, Carlson Rezidor’s footprint in Africa has grown to include 69 hotels open and under development in 28 countries, incorporating more than 15 000 rooms.

Mr Neumann said in the past 24 months Carlson Rezidor has signed a new hotel deal in Africa every 37 days.

“We are aware that it is not just about signing. It’s really about delivering the pipeline. We have opened a new hotel in Africa every 60 days over the past two years.

“This year, we have already opened six Radisson Blu hotels and expect to open a Park Inn by Radisson in South Africa in the next six months. We intend to keep up this momentum of signings followed by successful openings.”

Wolfgang M. Neumann, Rezidor’s president and chief executive officer.

The six hotels opened in 2016 include Radisson Blu hotels in Nairobi, Kenya; Marrakech, Morocco; Maputo, Mozambique (first residence in Africa); Abidjan, Ivory Coast (first airport hotel),

of Kenya and Tanzania and the Cape Verde Islands.

He added that the challenges experienced in Africa are no different to those experienced in other emerging markets.

Lomé, Togo; and the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, East Africa’s largest convention centre and host to the 2016 Africa Hotel Investment Forum.

Carlson Rezidor senior vice-president, business development Africa & Indian Ocean, Andrew McLachlan, said Radisson Blu leads the way with more hotel rooms under development than any of the other 85-plus hotel brands active in Africa today, according to the W-Hospitality Report.

“Our ambition is to be the leading player in the travel and tourism sector across the continent.”

Exciting new developments on the cards for Carlson Rezidor in Africa include the signing of the first Radisson RED, which is expected to open in Cape Town in the course of 2017, as well as the signing of the first Quorvus Collection to be built in Lagos, Nigeria, expected to open in 2019.

Carlson Rezidor aims to open 15 or more hotels in South Africa and Nigeria alone by the end of 2020, incorporating its full brand portfolio, ranging from the Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, and Park Inn by Radisson.

Mr McLachlan said Africa presents an opportunity for Carlson Rezidor to grow its resort portfolio under Radisson Blu and Quorvus Collection in locations such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar, East Coast

“Generally-speaking, the owner class in Africa today is typically a local, first-time owner and local professional team with limited or no hotel development experience.

This means the learning curve is high and expensive.

In addition, there is a high demand for imported products and equipment in many of the markets. To mitigate these risks, we offer hotel turnkey design and build contractors to ensure the owners and their teams have significant support when it comes to delivering each hotel.

“Water and electricity are the two most expensive running costs in African hotels today and we are constantly looking at ways to design and operate our hotels with a view to saving costs and improving results, as part of our responsible business strategy,” Mr McLachlan said.

77 per cent of Carlson Rezidor’s hotels worldwide have been eco-labelled. The hotel group has recorded a 22 per cent energy saving since 2011, and a 29 per cent water saving since 2007 across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. The hotel group is particularly focused on conserving the planet’s scarce water resources and its Blu Planet initiative is aimed at providing safe drinking water for children in disadvantaged areas in partnership with international water aid charity, Just a Drop.

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

The benefits of using an outside AV provider Using a hotel or conference centre’s in-house audio-visual equipment and team may seem like a quick and easy solution. But, by working with an outside provider, meeting planners and event organiser can consistently save on costs and expect excellent service.

By Glenn van Eck, Magnetic Storm

H

ere are the top reasons to consider using an outside audio-visual (AV) provider for your event needs.

Because you can!

An in-house AV team is not the only option. Some venues make a commission when booking AV services through a contracted provider, and that’s why those facilities recommend preferred suppliers. Your venue cannot prevent you from bringing in your AV partner, and negotiating any restrictive clauses out of the contract is easy to do.

Access to the latest technology and experience External AV providers consistently purchase new equipment and phase out older or worn-out products. You’re much more likely to get the better and latest equipment, and access to professional AV technicians when choosing an AV partner.

Even if you don’t need the newest projector or laptop, an outside AV company will have many options so you can choose the solution that fits your needs.

And if you do need a high-tech solution because your brand is high-tech, venue equipment tends not to be designed for plug and play presentations, thus not suitable for the brand experience you want to create for your guests.

As equipment isn’t a venue’s core service or focus, if no maintenance is carried out on projectors say, their brightness could be dull due to high lamp hours and need replacing. Plus, if the projector is ceilingmounted and out of reach and hasn’t been correctly lined or bumped, you can’t adjust it. Professionalism isn’t conveyed because your venue’s AV has let you down.

The right solution for your event Each event has its individual needs, and in-house AV equipment tends to be less

flexible. And as an event organiser, you’re unable to tailor the AV to your event or design the sound for the room.

Venues tend to utilise ceiling speakers.

These have advantages, but they tend to be unable to handle the high volume or impactful video audio for a staged event.

Often sound in a venue is limited, only allowing for very basic EQ and volume adjustments. This is suitable for speech, but comes with the risk of feedback as you can’t make proper adjustments.

In a small space, it is often better to project your voice than to use a mic as the quality can be impaired. And if you play music, it sounds tinny and distorted.

And how many time have you had a background buzz or noise on the installed system because no one on-site knows how to troubleshoot the problem?

External suppliers also don’t just do AV. Many offer solutions that can give an event a premium edge: such as sets, lighting design and advanced video playback options such as blended screens or video mapping. The right partner will supply what is required and has the professional insight to make suggestions and enhancements for your event.

as the cable from the laptop goes direct into the projector. In this situation having a scaler would help to adjust these settings.

Last minute additions are easy to accommodate No matter how carefully planned the event, sometimes last-minute additions become necessary. While in-house providers may have an on-site store, the specific gear you need may not be there or may already be in use at another of the venue’s events.

More equipment and service options An outside AV company will have many AV equipment and service options. This allows you to select different price options to stay within your budget.

Dedicated, on-site technicians In-house AV companies are often responsible for multiple events happening at the same venue. By bringing in an outside provider of your choice, you pay for dedicated, on-demand support.

As an example, imagine a conference where there is an array of laptop brands and models with just as many default resolutions which don’t always match the projector. By having an on-site technician you don’t need to worry about this. The Magnetic Storm IT crew, knowing the laptop settings and that of the projection equipment, will get it right every time.

You’ll often find as well; some venue equipment doesn’t allow for adjustment

WHO IS

Glenn van Eck? Glenn van Eck is the chief executive officer of Magnetic Storm and is the national treasurer for SAACI, and SAACI Eastern Cape and he is on the SAACI National Board. Glenn is also involved in forming CEP Africa, and was elected the national chairman in December 2014. Glenn is a Certified Meetings Professional.

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COVER STORY

Experience a whole lot of living

where life began…

The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS) was listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1999.

T

his site of global significance located about 50 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg, occupies 53 000 hectares of land.

Its complex of fossil-bearing caves contains a superbly preserved record of the various stages in the evolution of humankind within the past 3.5 million years which have yielded some of the most iconic fossils of extinct ancient human ancestors and relatives, and associated fauna.

These include “Mrs Ples”, “Little Foot”, Australopithecus sediba, and the latest ground-breaking discovery – Homo naledi.

The COH WHS is an area of outstanding universal value. As Gauteng’s only World Heritage Site, and a premier tourism destination, the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site is based on the conservation, exploration and interpretation of the story of humanity and its brand value encompasses ancient

history, human beginnings, adventure, discovery and a whole lot more.

The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, however, has more than history to offer. Escape the trappings of city life and visit this World Heritage Site and its surrounds which offer an array of wonderful experiences.

This picturesque countryside is a mere 45 to 90-minute drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria and is closely located to the Magaliesberg, Hartbeespoort dam; Muldersdrift and other tourism hotspots.

There are more than 400 diverse tourism offerings, ranging across eight visitor experience categories throughout the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, which includes various adrenaline filled activities; culinary and craft offerings as well as various accommodation suitable for any budget.

Come to the Cradle of Humankind and unlock a world of things to do and see from wild and wonderful encounters with

nature, animals and fossils, signature events, conferencing and exquisite fine dining, pulsating adventure activities, romantic escapes, breathtaking views and a whole lot more living, where life began.

Explore the Official Visitor Centres for The Cradle of Humankind Sterkfontein Caves showcases a tour; a scientific exhibition; exploring cave formations and geology; early-life forms; mammals and hominin fossils – including specific finds such as “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”.

The caves are open daily from 09h00 to 16h00. The Swartkrans walking tour allows a rare opportunity to observe an active paleontological dig and also a glimpse of the site where the best evidence exists of the first controlled use of fire.

Also available is an extraordinary astronomical journey at scheduled stargazing evenings.

Image by Francois van Jaarsveld

COVER STORY

A short distance from Sterkfontein Caves is Maropeng. Together, the visitor centres at Sterkfontein and Maropeng showcase cutting-edge educational exhibits on evolution and human evolution.

Evolution covers the broader issue of the evolution of life from more than three billion years ago, whereas the human evolutionary history can be told from roughly seven million years ago, when modern humans and primates shared a common ancestor, and the split between apes and hominins (early human ancestors) occurred.

The interactive, informative and funfilled exhibition is a hit with adults and children alike, and allows for edutainment for the entire family, in one destination.

Also available is an extraordinary astronomical journey on scheduled stargazing evenings.

With its panoramic surroundings and breathtaking views of the Magaliesberg

and Witwatersberg mountain ranges, Maropeng boasts a world-class visitor centre which includes four-star conference facilities and a four-star boutique hotel.

Maropeng also caters to all tastes, with a food outlet in the marketplace which offers a light menu. The larger Tumulus Restaurant is open seven days a week and serves a creative a la carte menu and hosts sumptuous buffet lunches on Sundays.

The Maropeng Boutique Hotel restaurant serves fine dining from the kitchen of gastronomy trained executive chef, Peter Langa.

This year Maropeng started its festive season with the opening of a new fossil display “Dinosaurs in the Veld: Meet the ruling reptiles of South Africa” on 8 December 2016. The exhibition showcases fabulous South African dinosaurs.

Kids, young and old, love dinosaurs, so what better way to meet some of the creatures that ruled South Africa 200 million years ago?

The opening of this exhibition serves as the perfect lead-up to Maropeng’s African Christmas Festival, which runs from 16 to 26 December 2016.

With a magical Santa’s kiddies cave; family entertainment; craft stations; live entertainment; craft beer and food stalls there will be plenty to keep the entire family busy.

If you are in Gauteng over December, then come and celebrate Christmas in the Cradle at Maropeng. www.maropeng.co.za Tel: (014) 577 9000 Facebook: Maropeng – Cradle of Humankind Twitter: @MaropengSA

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PREDICTIONS 2017

Business events industry leaders

take a look into what 2017 may bring…

NINA FREYSENPRETORIUS – ICCA president and managing director of The Conference Company IT ALWAYS TAKES ME BY SURPRISE – the end of a year. The one thing I can predict with complete certainty is that we are all getting older and hopefully wiser. The association conferencing environment will continue to be a challenging one with slow economic growth predicted.

Sponsorship revenue and delegate attendance numbers will remain strained, with everyone extremely cautious regarding any form of financial commitment.

This will necessitate the entire industry all re-evaluating our approach and the product and or service offering to our clients. The key will be to offer services that are being sourced without compromising service and standards, at an affordable price.

Getting the business or booking at all costs comes at a cost and this should be taken into account. Nothing worth having is ever for free. So my suggestion is to be cautious of a short term gain that may cost us dearly in the long term.

On the association side, it is also imperative that we work closely as an industry to ensure our “hospitality” and eagerness to get the business does not blind us to clients that present an inflated picture of their meeting or conference.

Proper research and evaluation is necessary to avoid financial liability for all parties involved.

An area that needs some attention in the future is identifying, nurturing new young talent and attracting them into our industry. It is very difficult to find young

graduates who have an appreciation and understanding of the association market and are immediately employable at a graduate level. Too often the entry level matriculant or graduate does not begin to understand the bigger picture.

This weakness most definitely puts us at a disadvantage internationally. Young, capable and eager young people are essentially to our sector and something we must encourage. How I am not entirely sure.

AMANDA KOTZENHLAPO, chief convention bureau officer, South Africa National Convention Bureau GLOBALLY THE WORLD is slowly starting to realise the reality of having to make ends meet with less. Less resources, that needs to be utilised in a sustainable manner, to ensure less impact on the environment, that benefits communities and still enables corporations to be profitable.

Companies and suppliers that are able to demonstrate that they can offer more value, with less resources in a sustainable manner, will be able to thrive in this business environment.

In the business events industry, suppliers that can demonstrate to clients that they can offer this unique selling proposition, will create a differentiating factor for themselves.

The current geo-political environment that the world is heading toward is seeing a much stronger focus of national interest and priorities. Brexit, the Trump election victory in the US and the recent Italy referendum are all examples of how national priorities are driving global agendas and economies. Is this the beginning of the end of globalisation and the global marketplace? This trend will impact on the context and content,

international conferences and conventions offer delegates.

International associations will needs to take these factors into consideration and will need to create national context to their content when hosting conferences around the world.

Risk management will become a top priority for the business events industry.

Suppliers throughout the business events value chain will have to prioritise risk management and destinations will needs to demonstrate they will mitigate event management risks.

Bringing together delegates from countries all over the world is probably one of the greatest risks in terms of security today. Risk management will become a key decision making factor for clients, considering host destinations for business events. Destinations who are able to clearly outline their risk management plans throughout the value chain, will create a competitive advantage over their competitors.

LINDIWE RAKHAREBE, chief executive officer, Durban International Convention Centre WITH ANOTHER BUSY YEAR drawing to a close, I can look back and reflect on the undertakings and endeavours of the past 12 months and admit a sense of accomplishment at all that has been achieved. Despite challenging economic conditions in both the local and international markets, the Durban ICC has once again managed to produce solid financial results growing both its revenue and net profit figures in the past year.

When I consider the strides we have taken in the areas of economic impact, job creation, and meaningful transformation, I am proud of what has been accomplished

PREDICTIONS 2017

this year. When I review the fruits of our efforts in social investment and skills development, I am re-energised to build on these accomplishments in the year ahead.

What will 2017 hold in store for the industry? The most honest answer I can give to that question is that no one really knows. The business environment in which we operate seems to be accelerating at a faster rate with every passing year.

The current political and economic environments experience massive shifts almost on a daily basis, resulting in levels of volatility and complexity we couldn’t even imagine only a few years ago.

The demands placed on organisations today call for greater levels of effectiveness, efficiency and passionate contribution than ever before. In order to thrive in this VUCA environment, we need to embrace these rapidly evolving changes with innovative solutions, creative synergies, lateral thinking and, most of all, a renewed commitment to unleashing the potential of our people.

If we are to succeed in the future, our leadership style should release the expertise and the creative power residing in our experienced team members. Our systems should streamline the planning process, making it easy and enjoyable for our clients to do business with us. Our partnerships should open doors to new opportunities for socio-economic benefits to flow to our communities.

Our future success will be built upon a new organisational culture where our staff are empowered, not just employed, our facilities are future-fit, not just functional, and our clients are partners, not just patrons.

BRONWEN CADLE DE PONTE, general manager of CSIR ICC THE NEED FOR PEOPLE to meet professionally appears to be growing. As we live in an increasingly disconnected world brought on by flexible working environments and technology, the opportunity for professionals to discuss, debate and share knowledge with each other face-to-face is becoming more and more valued.

If our venues are "universities" for

continuing education, and our PCOs are conveners of "professional forums with clear strategic objectives", and we continue to professionalise our industry our industry has a very bright future indeed.

Changes in government spending and new legislation all bring with them their challenges. However, these factors also present unique opportunities.

It is up to us to identify the opportunities in our rapidly changing environment, work positively through the challenges and the South African business events industry will be stronger and more robust than ever before.

CORNÉ KOCH, head: Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau a division of Wesgro FOR 2016, THE MANTRA was certainly how to do more with less. This mantra is a global phenomenon and although the business event sector is steadily being recognised by economies as a contributor to the Gross Development Product, competition remains fierce across the globe, and was so again for the past year.

Authorities responsible for economic growth have a tough job in splitting their budget pie among other growth sectors and this challenge remains on my prediction list for 2017.

Meeting planners were forced to become even more creative as their clients asked for better and more impactful events, with more attendees, but with less budget.

On the positive side, private sector has also recognised this growth and investment within this sector is growing, particular so in Cape Town and the Western Cape with the addition of almost 2 000 room inventory being added to the city, not to mention expansion of the Cape Town International Convention Centre which will all be operational during 2017.

On the prediction list and fact of life is that we still live in the post-recession world and suppliers, in particular hotels, are flexing their muscles to remain competitive. New rooms are being added across the world (according to the GBTA

Global Travel Price Outlook 2015, 100 000 new rooms were added) that adds to the rate of supply, which means that room rates which affects the daily cost per attendee will continue to grow, almost 4.5 per cent according to the 2016 outlook.

This mean that planners will find themselves in the strengthening seller’s market, and are going to have to work harder to convince their meeting owners to commit to events farther ahead.

Flexibility will be key in planning ahead.

During 2016, the average lead time (according to the Amex forecast) would have been 18 weeks in North America, far ahead of Europe (seven weeks), Asia (eight weeks) and Central and South America (six weeks). On average, global hoteliers and even in Africa, predict just over four weeks. Working quickly and far in advance to secure properties will be even more significant in 2017.

Forecasting for the fluid, complex world of incentive travel will be impacted again by external factors such as the world economy, terrorist actions and the political landscape. For 2017, incentive travel however, shows positive signs. The past year incentive travel to the Western Cape saw an increase, from particular countries like China, Singapore and India.

Predictions according for this sector show positive signs in the next 12 months.

The SITE Index 2017 predicts that 60 per cent of buyers plan to increase incentive eligibility and 49 per,cent of buyers plan to increase incentive travel budgets, which is up 46 per,cent in 2016.

Incentive travel too, will focus more on personal experiences and the itinerary itself to include discussion of business challenges, team-working and businessrelated activity, as well as encouraging winners to build long-term relationships with peers.

NABINTU PETSANA, head of Joburg Tourism THE PAST HAS ONCE AGAIN borne positive results for the Joburg Convention Bureau. Year on year, we’ve managed to keep abreast of developments on the international scene by participating in relevant roadshows and exhibitions, while

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PREDICTIONS 2017

also increasing our bid output to bring more convention business to our city.

It’s all hands on deck, utilising the ICCA database, networking and partnering with industry players, while also following up on leads generated at various tourism platforms.

In the case of secured meetings, we’ve hosted numerous site inspections and we’re also working with local committees in an effort to offer on-site services.

While I’m happy to report that we have a number of bids in progress for meetings to be held between now and 2021, I’d like to remind our stakeholders that our doors are always open to partnerships that can help increase the number of events we bring to Joburg.

This past year we hosted Conference of the Parties (CoP17), International Association of Professional Conference Organisers (IAPCO) Council Meeting and DEMO Africa, among others.

Things are going from strength to strength. I’m extremely positive, believe that the trend is set to continue and that 2017 will be a great year for business events in Johannesburg, South Africa and indeed, the entire African continent.

Some of the growing number of business events confirmed for Johannesburg in 2017 via the Convention Bureau include: • Global Entrepreneurship Congress • 84th UFI Global Congress • Family Centred Early Intervention – Africa (FCEI) Conference and African Social Business

CRAIG NEWMAN, chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Expo Centre IN 2016, THE SOUTH AFRICAN exhibitions and events industry encountered several challenges with regards to our accessibility to foreign stakeholders. Those people participating in conferences and exhibitions from abroad have had difficulty acquiring visas to enter South Africa, preventing necessary foreign investment into our country. For the MICE industry to flourish and become one of the main economic contributors of this country, we will need ease of access and greater communication between the public sector, exhibition organisers

and venues. South Africa has excelled at delivering on true economic sector exhibitions that contribute to the industry but we can still improve on the perception that is created in the marketplace on the value of exhibitions, eventing and conferencing.

I believe 2017 will be a difficult year for the industry due to a tough economic environment. The investment in exhibitions and events will shrink from a participation perspective, so that an exhibition that would have attracted 100 exhibitors in the past may now only secure 60 and an event that would have had 10 000 attendees may now only attract 8 000. We will all have to raise the bar and look at ways to expand and grow the industry in these tight economic conditions.

On a positive note, the UFI International Congress takes place in South Africa in 2017 which will be a major attraction for the entire exhibitions and events industry. It will bring large corporate organisations from North America, South America, Europe, the UK, and Asia that invest in exhibitions and events worldwide; to our shores. This will create many opportunities for people in our country who are ready to work with these organisations to grow our international footprint.

Working together as venues, organisers and service providers will be critical to create confidence that as an industry, we are capable, experienced and we have the eagerness and attitude to grow by creating successful and sustainable events.

As an UFI Board member, I would like to draw more attention to the role that Africa can play in this global industry. I believe this continent represents the next frontier for growth and development for UFI and a number of our partners have been working together to grow the continent’s share of regional, continental and global business events. There is great potential for growth as Africa does not host as many international exhibitions and conferences or events as the UK, Europe or North America.

The biggest challenge will be creating stability both economically and politically.

It is critical that our governments are involved in the industry and realise its importance so that we have credibility and the market can expand as a result.

If South Africa and Africa can do this successfully, then we will attract foreign investment and the sector will grow as it should.

ESMARÉ STEINHÖFEL, regional director (Africa), ICCA FOR 2017 I SEE convention bureaux being established, especially in countries outside South Africa, with governments realising the economic impact of the local and international meetings industry market.

Africa is still a key focus area for international association conferences as a lot of the events have not yet been hosted on the continent.

I see a growth of dedicated meeting industry tradeshows on the continent to promote destinations and services of suppliers to both the African and international market.

The African association market is getting stronger, the African Society of Association Executives that was established in 2015 now serve as the professional society for those within the Association Management Profession within the African Continent and will have their second educational conference for African Association Executives as part of the Meetings Africa BON Day in February 2017.

There are a lot of developments taking place in East Africa as a focus area in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

In 2017 there will be even tougher competition on the African continent between venues that focus on the African and international association market. Infrastructure developments and upgrades are taking place in a lot of countries with new convention centres and hotels being built, and a key focus on airport and road upgrades.

For the ICCA Africa regional office, the focus in 2017 will be to help all our current members to be as competitive as possible in this market, using all rather than just some of ICCA’s many business opportunities and research and marketing tools, while providing strategic advice to emerging countries where we don’t currently have good member representation, to help them understand how the association market works, and to take the first strategically important steps.

PREDICTIONS 2017

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JULIE-MAY ELLINGSON, chief executive officer of Cape Town International Convention Centre WE KNEW THAT 2016 would be a tough year due to the unstable local and global economic conditions. Happily, the year has also had many highlights for the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The Centre hosted some high calibre international conferences in 2016, notably the 35th International Geological Congress which brought together approximately 4 000 experts and the 60th Global Summit of the Consumer Goods Forum which was hosted in Africa for the first time.

We were delighted to see strong attendance at consumer exhibitions such as Decorex, Cape Homemakers Expo and Cape Town Art Fair.

We also won some major academic and scientific conferences ensuring a sustainable pipeline of business. We are particularly excited about the International Congress of Immunology to be hosted in 2022.

We ended the year on a high; announcing record revenues and profits for our 2015/16 financial year in October and with the various events we will be hosting, more than 11 000 people will walk through our doors during December.

Going into 2017, we will see the continuation of some interesting trends.

Constrained economic conditions and government austerity measures have meant that marketing budgets are becoming tighter across the public and private sector. With rising food prices in South Africa, due to the drought, there will definitely be fierce competition between the food and beverage offerings in the hospitality sector. Catering is often the area to be cut first when budgets are tight. However, by removing important cocktail functions, dinners or even tea/coffee breaks from the delegate package, one also removes opportunities for face-to-face networking which are as important for the delegates as the conference programme.

Social media has really gone mainstream in the events industry and will remain an exciting trend for some time to come. All parties – organisers, visitors, exhibitors, media, suppliers – are all using social media channels throughout the event lifecycle and as a result events extend well after the conference or event days. Organisers and their clients should therefore be prepared for continuous engagement and longerterm communication plans – beyond the physical event.

Africa remains the market to watch among organisers and associations. Cape Town and South Africa is often seen as a launch pad into Africa. We are seeing increasing interest from our association and corporate clients, who want to access the African market, by hosting their conferences or exhibitions in Cape Town.

The CTICC is committed to sharing knowledge and building capacity in business and society to drive the knowledge economy and contribute to promoting and realising Africa’s amazing growth potential. In this respect, conferences hosted on the continent have a great potential to build exciting and meaningful legacy programmes – an aspect that will also satisfy delegates’ growing desire to support impactful events.

CTICC Expands!

New doors open early 2017 With 10 000 m² additional multi-purpose exhibition space, 3 000 m² additional meeting space, a reduced environmental footprint and a significantly increased socio-economic contribution, we are ready for bigger and more concurrent events.

For more information about the even bigger and better CTICC visit www.cticc.co.za or email us at sales@cticc.co.za.

www.cticc.co.za Cape Town International Convention Centre

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PREDICTIONS 2017

The rise of the smartphone and increasing mobile connectivity has placed a lot of demands on venues’ ICT infrastructure, especially its Wi-Fi capabilities. One of the many upgrades we undertook during the last year has been the upgrade of our wireless connectivity infrastructure to provide additional capacity and enhance user experience. Our wireless offering now allows us to host 15 680 devices all at one time and our public Wi-Fi service is still free of charge.

Finally, we remain on track to open our expansion facility, CTICC East, in 2017. The facility will feature a number of exciting and beautiful venues, including six exhibition and conference halls, five meeting pod rooms, four meeting suites and two terrace rooms that will really grow the value of our offering. We look forward to welcoming the world to CTICC East next year.

TES PROOS, president of Site Southern Africa

impact. We need to wait and see where domestic and global events will steer economic and incentive travel decisions.

Overall, we remain positive and trust sense and sensibility will prevail.

CAROL WEAVING, chairperson of AAXO IN AN INDUSTRY WHICH ADVANCED, adapted and developed significantly over the past five years, AAXO will continue to provide targeted research of global trends and provide our members with pertinent information in digestible formats, such as our training events. It remains critical for us to forge ahead with our vision to introduce credibility, responsibility, accountability and professionalism to the industry.

In 2017, we believe we will see the challenges set for the emerging world conquered by out-of-the-box thinking and the ingenious use of available technology such as the “Move to Mobile” by the estimated one billion mobile phone users in the emerging markets. The UFI Global Exhibitions Day in June 2017 will provide an excellent opportunity for AAXO to represent Africa and integrate knowledge from a substantial share of the global exhibitions community at the forefront of the industry.

As an organisation dedicated to raising awareness around event greening, we will

THE PILLARS THAT GUIDE US THE WORK WE DO IS GUIDED BY FOUR KEY PRINCIPLE PILLARS:

SAACI

2016 PROVED TO BE A very positive year for incentive travel into South and Southern Africa. Numbers are up and so are group sizes, budgets and enquiries.

By all accounts, Cape Town hotels have done really well and the general feeling is that 2017 is going to be even better.

SITE Foundation research predicts the TP.pdf 1 3/16/2016 8:33:47 AM following based on recent research: “It is increasingly becoming the

norm to incorporate a corporate social responsibility (CSR) component, with approximately seven in 10 programmes including at least one CSR activity.

“Another aspect of incentive travel programmes that has become the norm is including a meeting component as part of the overall experience. While budgets are increasing a bit, nearly three-fourths of incentive buyers are managing costs through a variety of approaches, the most common being planning shorter programmes (34 per cent), having fewer inclusions (29 per cent), and having less expensive destinations (29 per cent).

There is a bit more optimism on the seller side regarding the magnitude of budget increases than might be warranted.

“Another finding of the study is that the incentive travel industry in all likelihood is going to become even more competitive.

Among those who sell incentive travel services to the industry, seven in 10 are currently developing newer and more creative ways to add value for their customers.”

Globally, the incentive industry appears to be quite healthy. While the industry appears to be buoyant, there are a few things that could tip the scales either way.

We face political challenges on a domestic, regional and global scale. The ongoing local political scandals could potentially reduce confidence in the destination. The economic situation in Zimbabwe is not helping, while global events such as BREXIT and the US elections cause a fair amount of uncertainty.

The weakening rand may have an effect but, for now, it has not had any real

1) SAACI Community 2) SAACI Intelligence 3) SAACI Academy 4) SAACI Into Africa

FOUR KEY TRIBUTARY PILLARS SUPPORT THEM: 5) Branding & Communication 6) Stakeholder Engagement 7) Sustainability 8) Future Focus Association Hub 158 Jan Smuts Avenue 4th Floor, East Wing Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196

@SAACIOfficial

Tel: Fax: Email: Web:

SAACI Head Office P.O. Box 381 Parklands, 2121

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SAACI Official

in

SAACI Official

www

+27 (0) 11 880 5883 +27 (0)86 218 6817 info@saaci.co.za www.saaci.co.za

www.saaci.co.za

Integrity | Intelligence | Innovation | Sustainability

PREDICTIONS 2017

continue to pool our expertise with that of the Event Greening Forum (EGF) to advance sustainability causes in the industry.

We also aim to further educate industry professionals about lead generation and sales and move away from the “business card in a glass bowl” approach.

Global trends in technology will have a pronounced effect on our industry, with the need for AAXO to help exhibitors and organisers navigate the practicality and ROI of the varied avenues of technology.

According to UFI, the targeted use of social media in the exhibition industry is largely under-utilised and User Generated Content (UGC) and live streaming is set to become paramount in the next year as companies learn to successfully reach their target audience. ends TAUBIE MOTLHABANE,

executive director: Tshwane Convention & Visitors Bureau CONVENTION TOURISM has been around for a long time in areas like North America and Europe, while it is a relatively new concept in Africa. South Africa has been the leader in this field on the continent and more countries and cities in Africa are following suit.

The ripple effects of convention tourism on the local economy are undeniable.

The 2011 Global Report on the Meetings Industry published by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) states: “Meetings are big business in their own right, and play an important role in supporting other businesses … [they] promote investment, trade, communications, and technology … bring education and professional development to the local community, creating jobs and retaining work forces.”

This means that destinations must consider the future of conventions and their positive impact on the local economy.

Meetings and Conventions 2030, a study by the German Convention Bureau, highlights megatrends that are shaping the conventions industry, with technological development being cited as the most important megatrend in the development of convention and event tourism.

According to the study, technology will enable more people to have virtual access to conventions and experience destinations from their desktops and mobile devices.

While this will greatly improve the immediacy of knowledge exchange, expedite decisionmaking and ease networking, fewer delegates will travel to farflung destinations for conventions.

Destinations will then see smaller numbers of delegates, calling for more focus on domestic conventions to increase numbers. Domestic tourism might become more important because of this.

The study also mentions other

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megatrends that are influencing the business events industry, namely globalisation, mobility, sustainability and demography. These will have a huge impact on this industry during the next 20 years or so.

More and more destinations are also making greater efforts to have more environmentally conscious and sustainable meetings industries. The UNWTO recognises that the conventions industry “is a ‘clean’ industry and promotes environmental quality”.

We believe this is a growing global trend that will see greater demand on meetings and events planners to be more environmentally conscious in conducting their business.

The City of Tshwane has adopted a global outlook, as it believes that the current global trends will also impact Tshwane. We are excited about the potential for great economic and knowledge benefits that convention tourism will bring.

JAMES SEYMOUR, chief convention bureau officer of Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau 2017 WILL BE A REASONABLE YEAR for the business events Industry in KwaZuluNatal. However, we do not expect delegate figures to be as high

THE POWER OF EXHIBITIONS: Face-to-Face is Simply Better We are the go-to people for exhibitions and events.

Our members comprise of Venues, Organisers, Service Providers, Suppliers and Associate Organisations. Formed in 1980, EXSA is recognised internationally as the voice of the exhibition industry in South Africa, and is always available with help and advice.

T: +27 11 805 7272 F: +27 11 805 7273 E: exsa@exsa.co.za www.exsa.co.za Patrons: Platinum:

Gold:

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PREDICTIONS 2017

as 2016, when the International AIDS Congress was hosted in Durban.

Some of the major events that will be hosted include: • March 2017 – SAFHE/CEASA 2017 • June 2017 – World News Media Congress • August 2017 – Loeries Creative Week • October 2017 – IFCC Worldlab 2017 – 23rd International Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

SHAUN BIRD, general manager of Sandton Convention Centre BASICALLY THIS IS AN INDUSTRY that hasn’t changed much over the two or so decades since I started out in 1994. What I have witnessed is a move towards a resort-type industry, where more businesses are offering a one-stop-shop type of service to their customers. This is helping to take the hassle out of travel, particularly for the business traveller who can now have an all-inclusive business, conference, and leisure trip organised.

Industry players are working together to make this happen.

At the moment, the business events industry is extremely strong as the trend of connecting face-to-face grows around the world. We went through a stage when people thought they could connect remotely, with technology, but we are moving past that and people are realising that nothing can replace one-onone interaction.

This is good for the industry, but it does need constant focus. Technology is making it easier for people to connect remotely and the industry needs to highlight the value of face-to-face meetings. There’s a limit to the emotion and passion one can impart in an email – and we need to make this a strong selling point for our industry. This business is all about passion and it’s something we can harness.

ADRIAAN LIEBETRAU, chief executive officer of SAACI 2016 ITSELF WAS A VERY DIFFERENT trading year to what we were used to. In last year’s predictions I warned that

industry needs to re-invent their businesses and how they operate if they want to remain sustainable. Looking back I find it intriguing when asking companies how their business is doing as one is almost guaranteed to get totally different views.

Those who are struggling and those who are doing exceptionally well to the middle man who says business is good, but could be better.

I suspect 2017 will be another difficult trading year, and I don’t think we will see much improvement from 2016. The local and global economy is under pressure with corporate and government procurements tightening their belts. A global trend we’ve been seeing is that event days have shortened to two to three days and less delegates attending per single company.

A big change I predict we will continue seeing is the move away from lavish gala dinners to more cost-effective pop-up events. Still a fairly new concept in South Africa, pop-up meetings and events are very trendy elsewhere in the world.

In recent years we saw business disruptors such as Uber and AirBnB and general event apps coming into the market.

As we sit here we probably don’t even know what the next big disruptor is going to be. My final forecast as CEO of SAACI for 2017 is more a request to the industry to be resilient and ready for change, and when change is taking place to move with it and not lag behind.

WAYNE JOHNSON, chairman of SAACI THE PAST YEAR SAW many global phenomena such as Brexit and a Trump presidency.

Locally, we had many economical threats and challenges. As we enter a new year there is always excitement in the air, a promise of a better tomorrow. For 2017 although we all like to be optimistic, we need to be realistic that we are still under pressure and that it may still take some time to fully recover both economically and settling of business practices.

The consolidation of hotel chain giants Marriott and Starwood will really start taking effect in 2017 and locally Tsogo Sun now owning the Hospitality Property Fund, although it will not impact any of the operations

it is still interesting to see and one can just imagine what other mergers will take place in the coming months.

Business needs to prepare for a future that we are not sure of nor how it will look.

This is never an easy task. As the SAACI 2017 theme suggest innovation@work, preparing for multiple future, 2017 will see the continued trends of tight budgets but new innovation coming into play. The local industry has also been on a path of renewal and re-invention. Many venues have undergone extensive refurbishments or extensions with a few new venues entering the marketplace.

PHUMULANI HLATSHWAYO, general manager at EXSA AT EXSA, WE HAVE long realised that exhibitions and events are a serious engine to drive job creation and economic impact. As an industry body, we have a wide brief that is focused on sustainability and relevance.

We are tasked with foreseeing potential challenges and developing solutions that will enable our members to proactively overcome these challenges.

As business owners, our members in the form of suppliers, organisers and designers are up to date on trends that fall within the look and feel at shows hence the below is an attempt at driving the trends conversation around the value of strategy in our space.

The overall importance and impact of our industry on the economy still needs to be well-documented. A stronger case still needs to be made for the need to track, measure and report on how we contribute and serve as a catalyst of economic development in a broader sense.

For 2017, through strategic partnerships between industry and various stakeholders research and more thought leadership will thrive. In order for our industry to grow and remain relevant – a need to dig deep and curate content that goes beyond the actual event. There is a strong call for more visibility of management and decision makers in our industry. A thread can be established and documented where the evidence is provided as to how events and exhibitions help in generating

PREDICTIONS 2017

jobs, tax revenues, sustaining of various sectors such as the travel industry, hotel and accommodation, activities and more.

This will, in addition, help provide proof points that co-ordinated the efforts of exhibition and events better positioned to compete for new investments and build a more talented workforce.

In making a case for associations/ industry bodies to thrive, we need to always grow our member base. As a non-profit organisation, membership fees drive our existence.

However, if the environment isn’t friendly to new business ventures, it means our pool source stagnates and potential for new members is limited. This presents an opportunity for diversification of our industry. By this we mean, proactively targeting and tapping into the industry value chain. Are there other services that play a role within exhibition and events that can add value to our member base? Are we, as an association, being open-minded in our approach and acknowledging new industries? Are we fully embracing new (and existing) elements to eventing such as partnering with speaker bureaux, chef associations, non-traditional accommodation platforms and fleet management (such as Airbnb and Uber). Most importantly, are we recognising economies within the underserved areas such as townships and rural areas? In our role as a responsible association, going off the beaten track and opening new markets is part of our growth strategy.

NEIL NAGOOROO, chairman of EXSA DESPITE A NUMBER OF ECONOMIC, political and social challenges this year, I still believe that overall it has been a positive year for the industry with some positive outcomes through increased local exhibitions and international attention.

We recently hosted the IFES conference in Cape Town, and look forward to the UFI Congress, and Meetings Africa in Johannesburg in 2017, where we will continue to hear industry buzzwords such as experience and disruptive dominate trends conversations. However, a focused effort on practical application has not been fully developed.

All industries that rely on attracting visitors or audience participation need to focus on end-user experience – and one would rightfully think that this has been happening. As an association, this is exciting for us and will continue to engage in various conversations within our community in developing a robust definition around experience.

Can experience be seen as a new way to create targeted messaging and separate audiences? Or perhaps experience is probing the merits for the industry to introduce – every new innovation that is presented – as the saying goes why

fix what’s not broken? Does experience mean that we need to head into the app development space, and if so, what kind of app? Information hub or paypoint on site? In unpacking and seeking deeper knowledge definition we can segment and decide where innovation and experience is necessary and where it isn’t – this is about better allocation of resourcing that is more suitable for each business.

With the new year, we are better able to tackle ongoing debates more energised, and with perspective from the previous year. We need to be honest with ourselves when it comes to what worked and what didn’t work for us an industry.

The meetings industry leaders also need to make legislators and regulators aware of the considerable impacts of meetings and events on the economy. Education about value of meetings must take centre stage.

Potential challenges facing our industry should be seen as an opportunity for truly strategic discussions between the people who plan meetings and the senior executives of public and private organisations who sponsor them. Now, more than ever, the topic of meetings and events has great relevance in the eyes of powerful stakeholders.

Meeting professionals need to present a clear, comprehensive business case to key stakeholders about how to achieve strategic value. It is for this reason that EXSA will continue to encourage collaboration, the transfer of skills and continue developing the exhibition industry.

What we’re all about ... motivational experiences Why we do it? ... business results SITE ORGANISATIONAL MISSION •

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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 Contact Tes Proos make personal connections that sustain professional growth Office: + 27 (0)21 555 3617 Fax: 086 698 7792 Only one organisation sits at the critical intersection between those who E-mail: tes@crystalevents.co.za seek the benefits of motivational tools and those who can provide these www.crystalevents.co.za extraordinary experiences. That organisation is Site ...

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PERSONALITY PROFILE

Loselo dreams of a united tourism sector Newly-appointed Loselo Segwe, 47, chief executive officer of North West Tourism Board, is a humble, focused and self-driven individual who is goal-oriented but at the same time able to take his team members along the journey of self-realisation, goal achievement and team success.

I

am new to the tourism sector.

However, I believe I bring to the sector a wealth of leadership skills, management experience, and the ability to learn. I enjoy the meaningful and rich interactions with diverse stakeholders within the tourism sector,” he added.

positively anticipating the biggest change in the sector to come from ICT as a platform whereupon tourists will interface with their destinations even before their departures.

places visited are the Potholes/God’s Window in Mpumalanga and Kasane in Northern Botswana.

shopping holiday.

Where did you grow up? I

What role does family play in your life? I am married to Nareadi Segwe and we have three energetic, wellgrounded and lively boys. Family plays a crucial supportive role with my demanding and challenging schedule.

What is your favourite city?

What would you change in your life if you could when looking back? To be more focused on issues of sustainability and selfdevelopment.

Three books stands out among many.

These are The West and the Rest of Us (Chinweizu Ibekwe), Decolonising the Mind (Ngugi wa Thiongo) and Rethinking Leadership (Kurt April).

Do you have any hobbies? My

How do you relax? I find reading

hobbies include reading, research and exploring new fields and studies.

very relaxing.

Do you play any sport? As a

have various personalities as role models depending on the character. Amongst those, Thabo Mbeki (leadership), Bernard Swanepoel and Izak Marais (business leadership) as well as Richard Branson.

grew up in Mahikeng and Botswana. I attended primary and secondary schools in Mahikeng, Botswana and Mahikeng again where I completed my high school studies and further attended technical college (Mmabatho Manpower Centre/Taletso) where I completed a three-year course in diesel mechanics.

Where did you start your career? While working as a diesel mechanic, I developed an interest in human resources management and therefore started studying towards a National Diploma in the field of HRM. During my tenure within the human resources management field, I started to be active in youth development and left the public service to work full time on youth development programmes nationally under the auspices of National Co-operative Association of South Africa, Umsobomvu Youth Fund and International Labour Organisation.

In the mining sector, I successfully drove to conclusion programmes such as supplier and enterprise development, social and labour plans, stakeholder engagement processes, preferential procurement, community development etc.

I also furthered my studies and completed various courses, as well as my masters in development studies.

What do you think will be the biggest change to the sector over the next few years? With the brief exposure into the sector, I am

child, I participated in Kung Fu and Jiu Jitsu sports, as well as the boy scouts movement. Like any other boy growing up, I also played soccer (casually), which I now consider my favourite sport.

What do you do for leisure? I enjoy reading, gardening and travelling.

What is your secret to success? The ability to listen, learn and adapt, as well as a focused approach to the self-vision.

What is the biggest challenge you anticipate in this sector?

Transformation, as the barriers to entry by emerging players remain steep due to capital investment requirements.

What is the most memorable place you have ever been to? The two most memorable

What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs? A

Bloemfontein due to its hospitality, diversity of culture and rich history.

What is your favourite book?

Who is your role model? I

What advice do you have for anyone starting out in this industry and hoping to follow in your footsteps? The advice for anyone new in the tourism industry is to ensure that one learns from the diversity of stakeholders, to be open minded, read and travel to experience tourism facilities and to constantly look beyond the immediate.

What is your dream for the future? To bring together various sectoral players, beneficiaries, tourists and researchers into a synergic relationship in order to realise the huge potential of tourism’s contribution in the national economy.

South Africa An exhibition

FOCUS

Business Events Supplement produced by Contact Publications Pty Ltd Publishers of Business Events Africa

www.businessevents.southafrica.net

SOUTH AFRICA

An exhibition focus This is the last business events supplement of the 2016 series produced by the South Africa National Convention Bureau in conjunction with Business Events Africa. In this supplement Business Events Africa takes a closer look at the local and global exhibition industry.

Exhibitions are the most powerful, versatile and cost-effective marketing tool available, and on average according to The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI’s) 17th Global Exhibition Barometer, the industry expects continued growth in turnover for the coming year.

The state of the exhibition industry Global perspective Kai Hattendorf, UFI managing director said: “It is a beacon in changing times. Perhaps like no other industry globally, the exhibition industry is linked to the development of regional, national and global commerce. It is therefore pleasing to say that, despite a slowdown in the global economic growth, exhibitions are faring well.

“Although a significant level of uncertainty is forecast for the first half of 2017 in Asia, Middle East and Africa, on average, the exhibition industry expects continued growth in turn-over for the coming year.

“Data presented at UFI’s Global Congress last November even suggests that in 2017 the growth of the exhibition industry may actually exceed the global economic growth – underlining the importance of well operated exhibitions as market platforms in changing times.

“At the same time, in recent months, we have seen the UK vote on Brexit, a failed coup in Turkey, growing tensions between Russia and the West, and a US presidential election that shows a deeply divided country.

“All these amount to a growing level of uncertainty around politics and business. Are trade agreements to be scrapped? Will travel to vital markets remain easy (and safe)? How will markets adapt to changing currency levels? There are numerous questions being addressed in corporate boardrooms all around the world.

“And they will impact on how companies choose to participate in exhibitions in a more protectionist environment.

“How this will play out exactly for our industry is impossible to predict.

However, let’s not forget to note that especially in difficult times, exhibitions are always used by whole industries to meet and to take stock themselves.

“As market places for goods, ideas, and innovations, exhibitions are becoming even more important – providing the personal ‘face-to-face’ dialogue and trust that no other marketing channel can offer!”

Local association perspective Phumulani Hlatshwayo, general manager of the Exhibition & Events Association of Southern Africa (EXSA), said: “The exhibition industry has been fairly resilient in difficult economic conditions. But, as with all marketing forms, it has forced the industry, including organisers, venues and service providers to become increasingly creative, innovative and resourceful in finding new and efficient ways for companies to communicate and market their products through exhibitions and keep enticing visitors.

“Going into 2017, we will see an increase in joint ventures and partnerships with international exhibition companies as South Africa becomes an attractive market for

Tourism from exhibitions also helped sustain an estimated a notable

47 000 jobs per annum

(From a study AAXO commissioned from Grant Thornton)

international markets to host their events. Exhibitions and trade shows will also move more and more towards complete sustainability in 2017.”

Neil Nagooroo, chairman of EXSA said: “The exhibition industry and business in general is changing rapidly, and 2017 will be an exciting year full of promise and opportunities where we aim to help our members GROW, LEARN, ENGAGE and CONNECT.” Carol Weaving, Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) said: “On the back of a highly successful 2016, 2017 promises to be another eventful year.

“In the face of a tough economy, marketing and communication professionals and management alike are increasingly starting to witness the value of exhibitions as a marketing tool.

“More than ever, customers want an experience and it is precisely due to the experiential nature of exhibitions that drives sales unlike any other marketing channel. This is why we need to be more innovative and ensure a 365 customer experience by incorporating digital technology.

“It is by maximising the potential of the exhibition industry that we see the biggest impact.

“Not only do exhibitions have a significant impact on local business but a study AAXO commissioned from Grant Thornton revealed its vital contribution to the economy and business tourism as a whole.

“Visitors to the country also confirmed the value of business they placed at an exhibition, which is phenomenal.”

In total, i.e. the total direct, indirect and induced economic impact of the exhibition industry is estimated at

R75-billion South Africa as a whole.

for

The State of the global exhibition industry The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) Global Exhibition Barometer Survey: 17th edition (July 2016)

T

his study is based on a global survey, conducted in June 2016. It represents up-to-date information on the development and the outlook of the global exhibition industry, as well as on 16 specific countries and zones.

UFI began assessing the impact of the global economic conditions on the exhibition industry twice a year in 2009, based on perceptions of UFI members around the world.

In 2010, this bi-annual survey became the “UFI Global Exhibition

Barometer“. For the United States, this survey includes SISO Members (Society of Independent Show Organisers) and the scope of the research has since been broadened to include members of AFIDA (Asociación Internacional de Ferias de América), AMPROFEC (Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales de Ferias y Exposiciones Y Convenciones) and UBRAFE (União Brasileira dos Promotores Feiras) in Central and South America and of EXSA (Exhibition & Events Association of Southern Africa) in South Africa. In this 17th edition, Members from AEO (Association of Event Organisers, UK) and TEA (Thai Exhibition Association) have been included for the first time.

Most important issues: detail by region and type of activity for the five top issues identified globally 28% 29% 27%

Americas 25%

23%

Europe

Middle East & Africa

Asia & Pacific

27% 20%

22%

21%

19% 19% 13%

12% 12%

15%

14% 8%

11%

9% 2%

State of the economy in home market 31% 28% 25%

Global economic developments

Competition from within the industry

Internal challenges

Organiser 22%21%22%

21% 19% 15%

15%15% 13%

Venue only

10%

9% 2%

State of the economy in home market

Global economic developments

Competition from Internal challenges within the industry

Impact of digitalisation

Impact of digitalisation

4%

Service provider only

2%

4%

Competition with other media

4%

7% 6%

Regulatory / Stakeholders issues

Detailed results for SOUTH AFRICA (23 answers) How do you expect your turnover to change when compared to the same period the previous year?

5%

28%

38%

I don’t know

Increase

63%

38%

50% 21%

28%

12%

11%

H1 2016

H2 2016

6% H1 2017

31%

50%

12%

Decrease: 10% or more

Reduced by more than 50% Reduced by 11-50%

44%

6% 2015

I don’t know Loss

44%

2016

31%

27%

: global)

24% 19%

15%

17%

14% 13% 8%

Decrease: less than 10%

Operating profits compared to the previous year 13%

Top issues (

Stable (between -10% and +10%)

3% State of the Global Competition economy in economic from within home market developments the industry

10% 5% 4%

4%

Internal Impact of Competition Regulatory / challenges digitalisation with other Stakeholders media issues

3% 3% Other

Have you expanded security measures around your exhibitions / your venues in recent months?

Additional screening at entrances FOR VISITORS

0%

Additional controls on site during the event

11%

Additional information for attendees

0%

Additional screening at entrances FOR EXHIBITORS

0%

Checking lists of pre-registered participants in liaison with the police/defence authorities

Increase of more than 10%

Other measures No additional measures

SURVEY RESULTS REVEAL A NUMBER OF KEY REGIONAL TRENDS FOR THE EXHIBITION INDUSTRY: In North America, the outlook is very positive: more than eight companies out of 10 expect increase in turnover for 2016 and the first half of 2017 and more than 50 per cent of those polled declare an increase of more than 10 per cent in annual profits for 2015 and 2016.

In Europe, UK - at the time of the survey, before the EU referendum was expecting to perform in a positive way similar to North America, whereas good perspectives also appeared in several European markets. In Germany however, less than 50 per cent of the survey participants anticipate a growth for the first half of 2017 compared to a cyclically strong 2016. In Turkey, the levels of companies declaring a profit increase of more than 10 per cent decreases sharply between 2015 and 2016. The situation in Russia remains flat.

In Central and South America, a majority of companies anticipate turnover decreases in 2016, but are more confident for the first half of 2017. Profits there are also expected to rise, with the notable exception of Brazil.

In Asia as well as in the Middle East and Africa, three to five companies out of 10 declare an increase of more than 10 per cent in annual profits for 2015 and 2016. The level is lower in China, where two to three do but three to four companies out of 10 report uncertainty regarding their turnover for the first half of 2017.

In each region, the most important business issues remain related to the general economic situation with the state of the economy in home market, the global economic development uncertainty, the competition from within the industry, and internal challenges.

Security is also high on the agenda with a large majority of companies declaring having implemented additional measures in the recent months, varying from additional screening for visitors and exhibitors to additional information for attendees, controls on site during the event and also, sometimes, checking the lists of pre-registered participants in liaison with government institutions.

5% 0%

89%

84th UFI Global Congress 2017 heads for South Africa C raig Newman, chief executive office of Johannesburg Expo Centre and vice chair of the Middle East Africa chapter, UFI, said: “As a UFI board member, I would like to draw more attention to the role that Africa can play in this global industry.

When? 1-4 November 2017 Where? Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa Delegates expected: +/- 400 Who does it attract?

It will bring large corporate organisations from North America, South America, Europe, the UK, and Asia that invest in exhibitions and events worldwide; to our shores. This will create many opportunities for people in our country who are ready to work with these organisations to grow our international footprint.

What is the UFI? UFI is the leading global association of the world’s tradeshow organisers and exhibition centre operators, as well as the major national and international exhibition associations, and selected partners of the exhibition industry.

UFI’s main goal is to represent, promote and support the business interests of its members and the exhibition industry. UFI directly represents around 50 000 exhibition industry employees globally, and also works closely with its 55 national and regional association’s members.

UFI members continue to provide the international business community with a unique marketing media aimed at developing outstanding face-to-face business opportunities.

conferences or events as the UK, Europe or North America.

“The biggest challenge will be creating stability both economically and politically. It is critical that our governments are involved in the industry and realise its importance so that we have credibility and the market can expand as a result. If South Africa and Africa can do this successfully then we will attract foreign investment and the sector will grow as it should.”

“I believe that this continent represents the next frontier for growth and development for the exhibitions industry and a number of our partners have been working together to grow the continent’s share of regional, continental and global business events.

“There is great potential for growth as Africa does not host as many international exhibitions and

700

Over member organisations

84 countries 900 international

trade fairs proudly bear the UFI approved label, (a quality guarantee for visitors and exhibitors alike).

21African members 8 South African members

Past Congress UFI’s 83rd Global Congress took place in Shanghai from 9-12 November 2016. The congress titled, “The Exhibition Industry in Transformation”, attracted more than 600 event professionals from more than 50 countries.

The local UFI committee took a delegation to Shanghai to demonstrate what the UFI members could expect when they arrive in South Africa.

There was an exhibition booth as well as a presentation which was well received.

ONE ON ONE WITH KAI HATTENDORF, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF UFI How important is Africa to UFI? With Africa being among the world’s fastest growing economies rich in business opportunity, the exhibition industry offers a platform to link Africa with the rest of the world, specifically for those seeking new, exciting opportunities in emerging markets.

As a stimulating emerging market, Africa ultimately offers opportunity for growth and development across all platforms.

The greater the opportunity for investment in Africa, the greater the demand for face-to-face networking and business links, which exhibitions efficiently facilitate.

Why South Africa?

The question should not be “why” we have chosen Africa for the annual congress, but rather “why not”. With Africa, specifically South Africa, hosting a number of successful

African UFI members

Overall, there are 21 UFI members in Africa, with the highest membership in South Africa. There are eight South African members: 1. Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) 2. Cape Town International Convention Centre Company SOC Ltd (CTICC) 3. Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) 4. Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) 5. Johannesburg Expo Centre 6. Sandton Convention Centre 7. Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery 8. Thebe Reed Exhibitions.

international events, such as the FIFA World Cup in 2010, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP17) in 2011 and with the Africa World Economic Forum scheduled to take place in 2017, the timing to host the annual UFI Congress complements the business calendar now more than ever.

With UFI being a global association, servicing the exhibition industry across the world, including Africa, the opportunity to promote Africa, to create greater awareness of the business opportunities plays into UFI’s agenda of encouraging greater participation from our members by offering them new platforms and opportunities to grow their businesses and the industry as a whole.

As a global association, it is also important for UFI to represent all the actors within the industry, and UFI purposely rotates the global congress from one continent to another, one country to another.

In 2016, the congress was in Shanghai, China, in 2018, it will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia. A total number of participants of around 400 is expected, in line with how the congress has been evolving over the last few years.

What could the financial contribution be to SA? As with other international events, with the majority of attendees travelling from outside the country, hosting the congress in South Africa will no doubt have a positive effect on the economic impact of the region and country.

Apart from confirming their attendance at the congress, many of our members have already expressed interest in including their spouse and/ or family members and extending their stay in South Africa.

Kai Hattendorf, UFI managing director Extended stays will increase the spend per delegate and, in turn, result in a greater economic contribution.

In addition, many of the major players from the global exhibition industry will be attending the congress, and with them comes the promise of possible future new business for the South African market.

The benefits of hosting the UFI congress?

Our members benefit in that the congress offers a platform that opens doors to new business opportunities through the sharing of information and creating a link between Africa and the rest of the exhibition world.

For UFI as an Association, we hope that our presence in Africa will spur on greater awareness and interest in the exhibition industry and encourage more Africans to become part of the association and integrate to a far greater extent into the global market of exhibitions.

For the region and country, many of the attendees will be first time visitors to South Africa, with many already intrigued by what the country has to offer.

For more information on the UFI Global Congress visit http://www.ufi.org/ ufievent/84th-ufi-congress/

The future of exhibitions in South Africa Exhibitions are in a very exciting space at this time. We are seeing a lot more interest from the international markets in hosting their events in South Africa and it seems that Africa is beginning to establish itself as an attractive option for many of the global exhibition organisers.”

Lindiwe Rakharebe, chief executive officer of Durban ICC

From my perspective, the exhibitions industry in South Africa is reaching a point where innovation has become critical to keep the interest of attendees on both a B2B and B2C show level.

Exhibitors have to continuously innovate to keep enticing the customer to want a face to face interaction on this level.

Consumers in general has become accustom to instant gratification and can satisfied most of their information and purchasing needs via online platforms which can pose a risk to the Exhibition industry in general. All of us as suppliers in this industry needs to think of innovative ways to stay ahead of trends and assist our customers in understanding, attracting and retaining their ‘visitors/customers’.

Adele von Well, PR and marketing manager GL events South Africa I believe that our industry has a real potential to collaborate with business and government and support economic growth within South Africa.

Our industry is very competitive; it is made up of primarily small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs that play a fundamental role in the country’s economic development and employment rates. The economic climate internationally has created an opportunity for us to support international exhibitors and conference organisers; there is a keen interest in holding events and meetings on our shores.

The industry is tough. GDP in SA is slowing, the currency is under pressure, and unemployment is at record highs. Industries like mining have been in decline in excess of 18 per cent year on year. The SA exhibition industry naturally reflects many of these trends, by implication making trading conditions very tough.

Increased competition in the business events sector including multinational events has also had an impact.

All these seemingly negative indicators however do not underscore how robust and resilient our industry is. Most of SA's top events remain relevant and vibrant trading, marketing platforms. Buyers and sellers endorse these platforms by attending, engaging and stimulating commercial activities. We remain upbeat about our sector's role and relevance within both the SA and African economies. People do business with people and our industry is and remains the place to achieve that end.

Gary Corin, managing director Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery

Dean Gunningham, director of Compex “I believe the industry is still incredibly relevant and should hold a significant place in the marketing mix of any company. Research shows that exhibitions are one of the most cost effective methods of generating direct sales leads and getting face to face with your target market. I do feel that locally the industry is perceived as expensive and boring and it is up to us as industry members to not only revitalise, revamp and reenergise the local market but also to educate our clients and exhibitors about the power and benefits that face to face marketing offers.

Cara Nortman, managing director of SSQ Exhibitons

TECH WATCH

Event Apps Not just for attendees You’ve probably read enough and answers and use these to help plan speakers, sessions and topics for your about event apps by now to next event. understand the benefits they Did the advertising hit can bring to your events, the spot? especially for attendees.

Sponsorship can be crucial for events and

I

ncreased audience engagement, more networking opportunities, gamification.

With so much to offer your delegates, an event app is a must. But what about the benefits event apps bring to you, the organiser?

Most event apps these days are packed with enough information and insight that even if your event doesn’t go exactly to plan, your next one will be a blockbuster.

Were they interested?

Put simply - understand what people liked and do more of it next time. Event apps allow you to see all sorts of data about your event. By looking at which parts people were most engaged with, you’ll be able to take the best bits and make your next event even better.

Seeing a significant spike in people viewing a speaker profile or content after their session? Then make sure you book them again. Take a look at attendance to see which sessions were the most popular and consider more of the same for your next event.

If your event app has a Q&A function, take a look at some of the questions

conferences. Event apps offer loads of opportunities for sponsors to advertise and the best ones allow you to feedback on the data collected, providing advertisers with all important ROI. But, as well as demonstrating the worth of your event to sponsors, these numbers are another source of useful information when you’re planning your next event. Was there a stand-out banner ad and what was it for? How many leads did exhibitors and sponsor generate via the app?

All this data can be used to not only help with marketing activities during the event (if one sponsor is proving popular, maybe sell them some push notification spots?) but also give you a much clearer picture of your typical attendee for next time.

What are they saying?

For event profs, feedback from delegates is invaluable and can play a vital role in planning your next event. Back in the day, you’d send a follow-up email asking attendees to complete a survey about the event. All the usual question about sessions, venues, etc. would be in there, but as we’ve already seen, an event app

Transform events forever Lumi transforms conferences and events, improving the experience for presenters, participants and organisers.

Contact us to discover how Lumi can transform your next conference or event. www.lumiglobal.com Gauteng: + 27 87 806 4284 Western Cape: + 27 21 554 4964

By Karmen Vladar, Lumi

provides you with enough real feedback and data that there isn’t such a need for this.

The feedback doesn’t end there. Social media integration and discussion boards within the event app makes it really easy for organisers to monitor what attendees are saying about the event.

Monitoring this will help you make adjustments for your next event, as well as giving you an insight into the topics and subjects that attendees have found interesting and plan more of the same.

And if you’re really not ready to abandon the traditional post-event questionnaire just yet, most event apps now include some kind of survey function, which makes the whole process much easier.

Supercharge your communications It’s not just your next event that will benefit. All this feedback and information will help you build a better picture of what your attendees typically engage with.

Use this information when you’re putting together content for your newsletters, blogs and social media posts to make sure you’re giving your audiences what they really want to see.

At Lumi, we talk a lot about how event apps can transform the experience for attendees, but the benefits for organisers are just as great and can go a long way to making your next event your best one yet.

27

28

FINANCIAL REPORT

Durban ICC

The Annual Report

By Malcolm King, managing director of Contact Publications

Roger Antonsen, in his January 2015 Ted Talk titled “Math is the hidden secret to understanding the world” proposes that the essence of understanding is directly related to our ability to change our perspective. Looking at the same subject from a variety of different angles is fundamental to understanding the subject. Empathy.

A

company annual report presents the story from one perspective: managements. They are not the only stakeholder though. One can add to the list of stakeholders: shareholders, employees, investors, suppliers, customers, competitors – both locally and internationally – and, in the case of a business events venue like the Durban ICC, the City of Durban at large.

Sibusiso Sithole, the city manager of eThekwini Municipality, in his foreword to the 2015 Annual Report, said: “The Durban ICC is truly an asset to the City of Durban, one that consistently delivers solid returns on investment, numerous socioeconomic impacts and helps to raise the international profile of our destination.”

In financial terms, an asset is an economic resource from which future economic benefits are expected to flow.

A building such as an ICC does not only generate future economic benefits for just the owner of the ICC, but for all the stakeholders in the ICCs success within a given geographic location.

There are three sets of numbers within the 2015 Annual Report of the Durban ICC: 1. A nnual Financial Statements (included in the Annual Report) 2. E vent & Delegate Days (included in the Economic Impact Report) 3. E conomic Impact of the Durban ICC (included in the Economic Impact Report)

In my November 2016 article in this publication, I touched on Ratio Analysis and Du Pont Analysis, which both take key numbers from the Statement of Financial Performance (Income Statement) and the Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) and inputs them in to formulas to derive ratio and percentage results.

These ratios indicate the profitability, efficiency, leverage, and liquidity of a company – which are the drivers of the business.

On their own, they’re benign, but in comparison to previous years and to other similar businesses, they can yield perspective and insight.

FINANCIAL REPORT TABLE 1 Statement Source

Line Item

2013 FY

2014 % +/-

2015 % +/-

37 053 054

36 010 065

33 915 334

-2,90%

-6,18%

Gross Profit

119 944 142

115 517 614

122 864 056

-3,83%

5,98%

826

556

30 932

-48,56%

98,20%

7 725 869

10 041 868

14 006 716

23,06%

28,31%

Net Operating Profit Before Tax

44 666 630

29 028 360

38 838 355

-53,87%

25,26%

Net Profit

35 587 854

23 841 432

31 529 450

-49,27%

24,38%

Operating Profit

36 941 587

18 987 048

24 862 571

-94,56%

23,63%

156 997 196

151 527 679

156 779 390

-3,61%

3,35%

16 013 534

19 336 695

21 793 469

17,19%

11,27%

4 807 793

9 018 163

8 906 489

46,69%

-1,25%

Current Assets

180 384 077

209 908 421

222 488 957

14,07%

5,65%

Current Liabilities

261 536 513

268 434 430

267 987 054

2,57%

-0,17%

1 344 090

652 839

1 021 543

-105,88%

36,09%

Total Assets

372 260 156

402 999 505

434 081 580

7,63%

7,16%

Total Debt

261 536 513

268 434 430

267 987 054

2,57%

-0,17%

Total Equity

110 723 643

134 565 075

166 094 526

17,72%

18,98%

Interest Received

Revenue Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable

Statement of Financial Position

2015 FY

Cost of Sales

Interest Expense Statement of Financial Performance

2014 FY

Inventory

Audited Annual Financial Statements Below (Table 1) is a big scary table of numbers and percentages.

You can skip it if you want. It’s really just here to show you the source of where the numbers come from, that I’m using in the second table of scary percentages and ratios.

To explain the columns, the first column is where the numbers have been sourced from. The second column is the line item from that financial statement. The

third, fourth and fifth columns display the figures in South African Rands and the second to last column indicates the percentage increase or decrease of the 2014 financial year (FY) as compared to the 2013 FY. The last column is also indicating the percentage increase or decrease of the 2015 FY as compared to the 2014 FY. The 2015 Annual Report is available at http://icc.co.za/press/ annual-reports/ I once heard that 80 per cent of finance is vocabulary. This is evident in

the financial statements included in this annual report, which confirms to GRAP accounting standards. GRAP stands for Generally Recognised Accounting Practices. The South African government’s Municipal Finance Management Act requires municipal entities, such as the Durban ICC to prepare financial statements in this manner. IFRS is another standard that is more internationally used and is the International Financial Reporting Standards – aimed at providing a common reporting language.

TABLE 2 Ratio Name

Business Driver

Formula

Gross Margin

Profitability

Gross Profit / Revenue X 100

76,40%

76,24%

Net Margin / Net Profit Margin

Profitability

Net Profit / Revenue X 100

22,67%

Operating Margin

Profitability

Operating Profit / Revenue X 100

Return on Equity

Profitability

Net Profit / Total Equity x 100

Collection Period

Efficiency

Accounts Receivable / Revenue X 365

Settlement Period

Efficiency

Accounts Payable / Cost of Sales X 365

Total Asset Turnover

Efficiency

Revenue / Total Assets

Debt Ratio / Debt to Assets Ratio

Leverage

Total Debt / Total Assets X 100

Equity Multiplier

Leverage

Acid-Test Ratio / Quick Ratio Interest Cover

2013

2014

2015

2014 % +/-

2015 % +/-

78,37%

-0,21%

2,72%

15,73%

20,11%

-44,07%

21,76%

23,53%

12,53%

15,86%

-87,78%

20,99%

32,14%

17,72%

18,98%

-81,41%

6,67%

11,18

21,72

20,74

48,54%

-4,76%

157,75

196,00

234,54

19,52%

16,43%

0,42

0,38

0,36

-12,17%

-4,10%

70,26%

66,61%

61,74%

-5,48%

-7,89%

Total Assets / Total Equity

3,36

2,99

2,61

-12,26%

-14,59%

Liquidity

Current Assets - Inventory / Current Liabilities

0,68

0,78

0,83

12,18%

5,67%

Liquidity

Operating Profit / Interest Expense

44 723,47

34 149,37

803,78

-30,96%

-4148,59%

29

FINANCIAL REPORT

30

TABLE 3

Return on Equity

Efficiency

Profitability

Leverage

Net Profit ÷ Total Equity x 100

=

Revenue ÷ Total Assets

×

Net Profit ÷ Revenue x 100

×

Total Assets ÷ Total Equity

18,98%

=

0,36

×

20,11%

×

2,61

So, with IFRS, we’ll see gross profit and with GRAP, the same line item will be gross surplus. Net operating profit before tax with IFRS will be surplus before taxation under GRAP. Subtle naming differences but ultimately the same thing.

Moving on to the second scary table, the ratios can be seen in Table 2.

To explain further, using operating margin as an example, we see that it’s a ratio that shows profitability and that the formula is operating profit divided by revenue then multiplied by 100 to yield a percentage. So, for the 2015 operating margin, we divide 24 862 571 by 156 779 390 to find 0,1586 and after multiplying by 100, we see 15,86 per cent, which increased from the 2014 FY by 20,99 per cent to the 2015 FY. There’s a lot of numbers and ratios and percentages here. Are they all necessary?

What’s relevant? What’s the signal in all this noise? Return on Equity (RoE) is an important formula as it indicates how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested. eThekwini Municipality is the only shareholder in the Durban ICC. Their RoE is shown in the Table 3.

Total Asset Turnover (or Return on Assets) shows the ability of a business to employ its assets to turn a net profit. Generally, the higher the ratio, the better performing the business is. Now we can see above that the ratio has been decreasing from

0,42 through 0,38 to 0,36. Is that a lot? Is it important?

The tables above are presented for their completeness but this doesn’t necessarily mean that all the numbers or ratios are important from a big picture, macro perspective.

They’re important from a micro economic view of Durban ICC, to gain an insight as to how well the business is performing.

Even then, perhaps only Return on Equity and Return on Assets is relevant.

The comforting aspect here is that these numbers are audited by the Auditor General of South Africa. While the auditing authority will differ for every business entity – they may be private and not government – businesses of the size of the Durban ICC are going to be audited. This is going to be consistent While the relevance of the numbers towards determining the health of the business events industry can be debated, they are reliable numbers and will consistently be found across the board, with the caveat of the IFRS and GRAP element.

If the Durban ICC were a publicly traded entity on the JSE, institutional or retail investors would be looking at audited financials in great depth. Suppliers too might find them useful. Competitors certainly, yes. Shareholders? Of course, since eThekwini is the only shareholder.

Their mandate(s) are being fulfilled.

Specifically, they are: 1. Generating positive socio economic impact 2. Operating in a responsible and profitable manner Would these mandates be consistent from ICC to ICC? Again, if the Durban ICC were publicly traded, what would the mandate be? Is it better for ICCs to be government owned? Would the Durban ICC be viewed as an asset to the City of Durban in the same way by management, if it were publicly owned?

Would it be worthwhile to compare audited financial numbers, ratios and mandates of ICCs in Africa or better to aggregate them and compare them from continent to continent? What about business life cycles? The Durban ICC is now closing in on 20 years of operating. The Calabar ICC in Nigeria opened this year.

Is it fair to compare them on an audited financial basis?

Event and Delegate Day Numbers The Annual Report yields the following replicated table (Table 4).

The table sources numbers from the economic impact studies researched by independent economic firms. The 2014/15 year yielded 37 international and 312 national events. This was sourced from the 2015 Economic Impact Study. The 2014 Annual Report combines the international and national numbers and presents totals of 292 for 2013/2014 and 355 for 2012/2013.

On face value, jumping from 75 288 congress delegates from KwaZulu-Natal in 2014 to 426 216 in 2015 is great but there’s a decline of exhibition and other event delegates from 2014 to 2015 of 1 337 396 to 1 060 270. Does the fact that different economic firms measure the numbers in 2014 compared to 2015 play a part? Is it possible that independent economic company A in 2014, interpreted/ allocated the numbers differently to independent economic company B in 2015? Does it matter, given that the trend of the all event total increased from 1 412 684 in 2014 to 1 486 486 in 2015?

It’s important to note that the source of

FINANCIAL REPORT TABLE 4: EVENT AND DELEGATE DAY NUMBERS Total Days Generated By:

Financial Years 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

CONGRESSES KwaZulu-Natal

16 204

28 143

20 569

13 223

85 435

Rest of South Africa

39 966

49 899

47 991

33 259

180 588

International Total Days

22 856

216 351

34 892

28 806

160 193

79 026

294 393

103 452

75 288

426 216

EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER EVENTS KwaZulu-Natal

360 118

348 021

341 628

382 035

732 357

Rest of South Africa

492 268

425 906

392 898

469 022

185 231

International

501 454

447 888

413 435

486 339

142 682

1 353 840

1 221 815

1 147 961

1 337 396

1 060 270

Total Days

TOTAL ALL EVENTS KwaZulu-Natal

376 322

376 164

362 197

395 258

817 793

Rest of South Africa

532 234

475 805

440 889

502 282

365 819

International

524 310

664 239

448 327

515 144

302 875

1 432 886

1 516 208

1 251 413

1 412 684

1 486 486

Total Days

the numbers is the Durban ICC, while the allocation is done by the independent economic firm.

These numbers are very important.

Without the financial efficiency and performance of management, employees, suppliers, etc – there won’t be delegate and visitor day numbers. So, one set of numbers leads to the next set. The first set lays the foundation. Should the events and delegate day numbers not be held to the same standard as the financials?

Would the words “clean, unqualified audit” make a difference if it could be applied to event and delegate day numbers? Which stakeholder(s) would benefit the most from this, or is the current collection methodology and presentation fine?

Economic Impact of the Durban ICC R 4,6 billion. That’s the contribution to the national gross domestic product of South Africa – as projected in the economic impact study.

That’s a very large number. How does revenue of R156 779 390 become R4,6 billion? The economic impact study talks about assumptions and multipliers.

“In the case of employment, we estimate that for example, in 2011, for every R1 million of direct expenditure in South Africa, around 5.95 annual jobs are sustained in the country and 5.83 jobs in KwaZulu-Natal.

“It is projected that the ICC contributed R986,1 million to indirect household income

in 2014/15 and around R468,8 million flowed to low income households.”

The word “projected” appears 17 times in the economic impact study. “Estimate” and “estimated” appear a combined 11 times. Is that good? Or good enough?

Herbert A. Simon introduced the term “satisficing” – a combination of the words satisfy and suffice – to explain decision making behaviour when complete information is not available.

Is it possible to determine with increased certainty, the actual, real numbers or do the projections “satisfice” our requirements?

Is the methodology used in assessing these numbers in this economic impact study, the best approach?

Which other ICCs do the same? Is this a consistent thought process throughout Africa or the whole world?

A range of numbers are determined: gross domestic product, gross geographic product, foreign exchange earnings, indirect household income, government taxes, etc. Perhaps the following two numbers: total number of jobs created/ sustained and total labour remuneration, mean the most.

10 874 national (10 662 based in KwaZulu-Natal) direct and indirect jobs were created. That was a 40 per cent year on year increase. The projected payroll for these jobs was R830,6 million.

We need to know these numbers, right?

They prove the value of this industry. Our relevance and importance.

Another number tucked away in Lindiwe Rakharebe’s chief executive officer

overview was that the Durban ICC ended 2015 with an overall customer satisfaction rating of 94 per cent. The customers in this case are event organisers and delegates.

The information was collected using the Xcalibre Feedback System and audited and verified independently by the Ethekwini Performance and Monitoring Unit.

Summary While all the numbers above are interesting and inferences can be gleaned from them – the methodology employed to collect them is probably the more important perspective to have.

So, what numbers are important? What methodologies used to collect them, will be consistent among all ICCs in Africa? Can we compare ICC vs ICC or country vs country, or is it better to aggregate all of them?

Shareholder (or company board) mandates instruct and inform objectives to the management team of a company. The effectiveness of that management team leads to economic benefits to the wider stakeholder group of suppliers, employees and their families.

Within this annual report, we can see what is being measured (from audited numbers to projected numbers) and that there are methodologies in place to measure those numbers.

Would a uniform, consistent set of measurement methodologies be helpful, realistic and add value? Or are most venues operated too differently to make progress in this direction, worthwhile? Stay tuned for the next article in the series.

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EXECUTIVE CHEF

OZZY OSMAN

Cooking nostalgically Ozzy Osman, head chef and co-owner at Ozzy’s Kitchen, has trained in some of South Africa’s top kitchens – including the prestigious Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town and The Saxon under world-renowned chef, David Higg.

What is your signature dish? I don’t think I’ll ever have a

signature dish. I love food too much and I would hate to limit myself as a chef.

What trends are emerging in the events industry in regards to food? Chefs are taking it back to the basics.

What has remained constant in this industry?

There’s always going to be that hierarchy in the kitchen that mimics a military regime and this should never change because it works.

O

zzy brings unique perspectives to fine dining and believes wholeheartedly in the value of “honest” cooking, spiced up with his signature flair for the outlandish.

Born in Johannesburg to a downto-earth family, he went to school in Johannesburg and studied toward an accounting degree through UJ before realising that cooking was his true passion.

“I think it’s fair to say my love affair with this industry and being a chef started in the MasterChef kitchen.”

Ozzy’s Kitchen is a casual fine-dining halaal eatery located at international fashion house and experimental hub, BLU, in the industrial and rustic commercial hub of Wynberg. This restaurant is open to events.

Ozzy said: “My food is about honesty, and each menu has been designed with every type of palate in mind and contains only the finest locally-sourced ingredients.”

His goal is to make Ozzy’s Kitchen one of the top 10 restaurants in South Africa. He dreams of opening a few more branches of Ozzy’s Kitchen across the country.

Ozzy said: “It’s not only that I love food, but also that I enjoy hospitality and hosting and entertaining people. I know what I would expect in a restaurant and I’ve always felt there was something lacking in my visits to culinary institutions. So what I enjoy is the chance to create the ideal culinary experience for guests from my own perspective, to blow them away and astound them with presentation, flavour and the overall experience of dining with me.”

In terms of food trends, he said: “I’d say there has been a major trend toward reviving classic dishes – grandma’s Sunday

What is your favourite beverage? Coca-Cola is my poison.

roast and the like. Chefs are bringing home-style dishes to life and putting their own twist on it, by adding fresh greens and refreshing flavours.

“The food truck trend was huge just a year or two ago, but I think they were largely in a trial phase in South Africa and people didn’t quite grasp the concept that street food made with simple flavours could be delicious in its own right.

“Most events that I’ve seen or experienced recently have focused on stripping concepts down to their simplest forms and giving people culinary experiences that appeal to the nostalgia you feel when you eat a homecooked meal.

“They’re keeping things small and intimate, making it a priority to perfect the art of simplistic food. Chefs are cooking nostalgically.”

On the subject of challenges, Ozzy said the drought has been an obvious threat to the food industry. “I think it’s devastating to our market, and affects the quality of produce, and that’s from a chef’s point of view.

From a business perspective, he said: “Our economy is taking a beating and the rand is at its weakest, which in turn makes running a business in the food industry particularly expensive. Because there’s such a high demand for fruit, vegetable and meat, and the supply is so low, there’s been a dramatic increase in price. So, the margins have dropped and it’s become tougher to reach the same bottom-line

What is your favourite food? This is a difficult question,

but a boerewors roll with caramelised onions and tomato sauce will always hit the spot for me.

What is your pet hate? I

dislike when people have a sense of entitlement in life, I think you have to work towards your own goals and take advantage of opportunities as they come.

What is your great love?

Aside from food, cars and travel are my biggest loves.

Are you adventurous? Yes, I’m extremely adventurous. I jumped off a 30-metre cliff in the Philippines earlier this year. I love extreme sports.

goals as you did maybe three or more years ago.”

Ozzy is married to Ayesha. They married in September 2016.

For leisure he enjoys spend time outdoors. “It centres and calms me.”

His advice to newcomers is: “Keep your head down and keep working. You can never doubt yourself, you need to be positive. When you enter the kitchen, walk in with the attitude of someone who knows their stuff and who is there to be taken seriously.

“Amateur chefs are, of course, given a certain amount of flak at the outset of their careers and that’s natural, but my advice is to soldier through that process, because the rewards at the end are so worth it.”

Limpopo

A favourite destination for business, leisure and adventure travellers worldwide

Limpopo Supplement produced by Contact Publications Pty Ltd Publishers of Business Events Africa

www.golimpopo.com

2

Limpopo

The province consists of living cultures, ancient places, nature reserves and national parks, trees, myths and legends, things to do and things to experience

Limpopo

Message from the CEO Ndumiso Matlala,

chief executive officer of Limpopo Tourism Agency

Limpopo is new to the business events sector. In terms of conferencing, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town have excelled. All three cities have done significantly well in bidding for and hosting mega events.

Limpopo doesn’t have a convention centre, but it has an abundance of other business event offerings.

As the Agency, we are now focusing on creating awareness on what the province has to offer in this sector.

Business events is more than just conferencing.

Limpopo will over the next few months continue to undertake research to determine the best fit for business events in the province. From what we have already unearthed, incentives are probably the best fit, as well as corporate teambuilding and meetings.

Limpopo Tourism Agency already has a business events strategy in place, that guide it on what needs to be done in the marketing space and from an infrastructural perspective.

The Waterberg District boasts the best facilities in the province. However, transformation still needs to occur given the number of previously disadvantaged enterprises in the area.

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Limpopo

A mosaic of landscapes

Limpopo is the land of myths, legends, beautiful scenery and landscape, as well as majestic Baobab trees. Limpopo offers a mosaic of exceptional scenic landscape, a fascinating cultural heritage, an abundance of wildlife species and many nature-based tourism opportunities.

T

he province consists of living cultures, ancient places, nature reserves and national parks, trees, myths and legends, things to do and things to experience but all of them will leave the visitor with a greater insight into what makes the Limpopo the Great North.

Limpopo offers a wealth of conference facilities, including facilities at hotels and game lodges

Situated in the far north of the country, Limpopo borders Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

It is a prime wildlife destination with a host of game and nature reserves, including the northern Kruger National Park, as well as the Mapungubwe National Park.

It is a very different area which encompasses the northern section of the Kruger National Park, with the main camps offering a range of facilities for visitors, including conference venues, and licensed restaurants.

Limpopo offers a wealth of

conference facilities, including facilities at hotels and game lodges, ranging from intimate bush lodges to larger conference centres in an "out of Africa" environment. There are also many privately-owned reserves in the province offering luxurious accommodation, excellent game viewing opportunities and some also offer conference facilities.

There is spectacular game viewing and birding in the province, as well as a mix of African cultures, intriguing folklore and legend and prehistoric treasures.

It is home to the Mapungubwe World

Limpopo

Heritage Site, as well as Modjadji, the fabled Rain Queen, and the age-old relics of the Makapansgat Valley. It is here that the Venda artists live and thrive, and where places like Lake Fundudzi and the Vondo Forest are considered to be sacred.

The birding at Nylsvley RAMSAR Wetland is a magnet for nature-lovers and many golf enthusiasts have the extreme 19th hole at Legend Golf and

Safari Resort on their bucket list.

The City of Polokwane is at the heart of the province – a growing urban hub with its sights set on the future, yet with a heart and soul steeped in traditional values.

Limpopo is a fascinating province and delegates will enjoy the wild beauty of the area combined with incredible cultural insights and numerous adventure attractions that will keep

them coming back for more.

Limpopo is divided into five tourism regions, each offering a unique and memorable experience, namely: Capricorn Region, Waterberg Region, Vhembe Region and Mopani Region and Sekhukhune Region.

The province is endowed with bountiful natural resources, including 54 provincial reserves and many private game reserves.

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Limpopo MEROPA CASINO

An array of experiences

Meropa Casino and Entertainment World is a vibrant entertainment hub at the heart of Polokwane in the Limpopo province. An encompassing leisure destination, the beautiful, Moroccan styled Meropa offers an exciting array of entertainment experiences for young and old.

T

he upmarket Harvest Grill & Wine is friendly and has a diverse menu of succulent steaks and grills.

Wine enthusiasts have an extensive selection of premium wines to choose from an enhanced wine list.

The contemporary Jembe Tavern, which hosts regular live entertainment such as comedy shows, bands, DJs, cabarets and jazz sessions, offers a trendy, yet sophisticated setting for friends and colleagues to meet, connect

and socialise. The venue features a variety of subtly different areas.

Guests can choose to socialise at the crisp new bar, sit at tables, or recline in comfortable lounge chairs on the enclosed patio.

In addition to spectacular live entertainment, Jembe Tavern screens all the major sports games on large LCD screens.

Outside, there are activities to enjoy including thrilling sprints on

the go kart track, miniature golf, the wildlife park that features educational exhibits, and light meals at the laidback WildThingz Café.

Meropa is also renowned for bringing a myriad of quality shows and events to Polokwane, with artists such as Mi Casa, The Parlotones and Loyiso Gola among the well known entertainers that have graced its stage.

The casino itself boasts more than 400 slot machines and 17 tables,

Limpopo

7

CAPACITY – 600 pax Banquet buffet 300 Banquet served 400 Boardroom 20 Cinema 600 Cocktail 400 Schoolroom 400

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including classics like Roulette, Blackjack, Poker and Baccarat with perfect pairs.

Owned by Sun International, southern Africa’s premier gaming, hospitality and entertainment groups, Meropa offers guests the assurance of quality entertainment experiences, premium facilities, and the unparalleled high standard of service for which the company is renowned.

Members of Sun International’s Most Valued Guest programme can access a host of benefits and rewards such as discounts on food and entertainment, and exclusive access to promotions.

Meropa is a preferred destination for conferences and events, with a wide choice of meeting and conference venues.

Get it all at Meropa For more information contact us on 015 290 5400

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3/2/16 2:45 PM

Limpopo

Limpopo hosts more than 3.6 million hectares of national parks, nature reserves and game farms, making up 70% of South Africa's protected land.

Limpopo province is the “Bread and Fruit Basket” of South Africa, producing up to 60% of all fruit, vegetables, maize meal, wheat & cotton.

The Mapangubwe World Heritage Site, one of the bestknown Iron-Age sites in South Africa, harbours evidence of the first signs of a class distinctive society in the country.

Limpopo is the gateway to the rest of Africa. It is favourably situated for economic co-operation with other parts of southern Africa as it shares borders with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Facts courtesy of www.golimpopo.com

SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH WEST

ADVERTORIAL: LEGACY

Committed to personal service Due to their excellent locations and commitment to personal service, Legacy Hotels & Resorts’ Pilanesberg properties are popular choices for all guests, individually meeting the needs of business executives and experienced travellers alike.

A

mere two hour drive from Johannesburg will lead you to our luxurious lodges in the heart of the Pilanesberg National Park.

Bakubung Bush Lodge, meaning “Place of the Hippo” is a place of breathtaking beauty and serenity.

Offering 100 rooms and suites, Bakubung Bush Lodge is the largest of three Legacy lodges in the Pilanesberg National Park.

Bakubung is able to accommodate bigger groups, or guests just wanting an authentic luxurious bush experience.

The larger of two conference rooms can accommodate up to 120 delegates for any event.

The Bakubung spa is located on the side of a hill, surrounded by the Pilanesberg bushveld, offering the ultimate spa experience.

Built on the slopes of an ancient volcano, Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge provides the perfect backdrop for a memorable stay. For the energetic, begin your day with a bush, bird or tree walk before returning to the lodge for a sumptuous breakfast, while watching the animals a few metres away.

Enjoy conferencing in one of four fully-equipped venues, accommodating groups of up to 400 people – as well as two boma sites for group or private dinners, and romantic bush weddings.

Teambuilding activities can also be arranged on or off-site to make your event one to remember.

So, whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, our properties are committed to excellence and attention to detail to ensure your every need is catered for in perfect abundance.

Where the Big 5 Roam A mere two-hour drive from the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg, lies two places of breathtaking beauty and serenity; Bakubung Bush Lodge, and Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge which offer the most intimate bush experience.

•

Luxury Accommodation Conference facilities available • Onsite restaurants • Legacy Balance Spas • Junior Rangers Programme for children • Daily game drives and guided game walks •

Central Reservations Tel: +27 11 8066888 | Fax: +27 11 8066899 Email: hotels@legacyhotels.com

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SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH WEST

ADVERTORIAL: SUN CITY

Sun City delivers

conferencing with a twist

Since it was established in December 1979, Sun International’s Sun City resort in South Africa’s North West province, has long been a preferred destination for conferencing, which attracts roughly 20 per cent of the resort’s more than one million annual visitors.

I

t is not difficult to understand why. Sun City combines quality conferencing venues, first class accommodation, restaurants and leisure activities, all in an idyllic setting that is only an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Pretoria, and two hours’ drive from Johannesburg.

The resort has recently undergone an extensive R1-billion upgrade that has enhanced Sun City’s business travel offering with contemporary facilities, technology and services.

By focusing on providing a consolidated conference experience with ample team building activities, Sun City can provide “Conferencing with a Difference”.

In addition to a range of wellequipped meeting rooms in conference venues, auditoriums and various multipurpose venues, companies can also tailor conference packages to address their specific requirements such as

teambuilding and leisure activities.

All conference needs are catered for, from state-of-the-art technologies and facilities through to sporting and leisure activities.

Sun City activities include two worldclass golf courses to thrilling activities such as Drift Trikes, Hovercrafts and a 4x4 quad challenge at the new Adrenalin Extreme, to water sports at Waterworld, gaming at the casino, rejuvenating treatments at the spa, nightlife activities at Encore and Vibes, water rides at the Valley of Waves and viewing the “Big Five” at the nearby Pilanesberg National Park.

“We offer the opportunity to companies to build bespoke packages which combine any of the entertainment activities available at Sun City. This means that companies have access to exciting morale-building activities that will complement their conference. This effectively gives

companies the opportunity to plan round the clock conferences, all in one destination, making Sun City ‘A world within a City,” said Raul de Lima, Sun City resort general manager.

As part of the ambitious R1-billion upgrade of Sun City, which commenced in 2013 and will be complete in 2017, the iconic entertainment centre was rebuilt.

The new centre, now called Sun Central, comprises the conference hub and a varied entertainment offering.

Located on the upper level of Sun Central is the innovative Sun City Convention Centre capable of hosting a meeting for eight, all the way through to a cocktail function for 3 000. It offers an exceptional variety of meeting, banqueting and conference rooms combined with entertainment for a large number of delegates.

The Sun City Convention Centre boasts a selection of boardrooms, breakaway rooms and fully-equipped venues,

SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH WEST

complemented by Splice, a dedicated slow lounge and the Stir coffee shop.

Every conference room within the Sun City Convention Centre pays tribute to the legend of the Sun King and the Sun Stone discovery, with each room bearing a name that has significance.

Companies have a choice of contemporary accommodation from four quality hotels, namely the Cabanas hotel, the always-on Soho hotel (previously the Sun City Hotel), the Cascades hotel and The Palace.

Upgrades have been completed, or are soon to be completed, at all of the hotels.

“The Sun City refurbishment gives guests and delegates a variety of new

and memorable experiences, with the new and revitalised Sun City ready to cement its position as not only a premier conference destination, but one of the finest resorts worldwide,” Mr de Lima concluded.

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SPOTLIGHT ON NORTH WEST

Eco-conscious conferencing at Tau Game Lodge Tau Game Lodge opened its five-star safari doors in 1995 in Madikwe, the fourth largest game reserve in southern Africa.

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ince then, Tau has been recognised

by South African and international tourism decision makers, including TripAdvisor, the Automobile Association and World Luxury Hotel Awards for its authentic hospitality and an ability to constantly update and improve the lodge to ensure guests’ most discerning safari vacation and conferencing needs become wonderful memories.

The state-of-the-art Tau Game Lodge Convention Centre seats up to 150 delegates. The main hall can be subdivided into three sub-halls for smaller groups, each equipped to operate independently or together through a touch-screen control system. The three breakaway rooms accommodate 10 delegates per unit.

An added advantage is the Centre’s own kitchen, bar, lapa, standard as well as wheelchair-friendly toilet facilities.

The Tau Tree Fund offers visitors the opportunity to plant protected tree species and learn about their conservation benefits, while further sustainable tourism initiatives include the local Rhino Conservation Fund to preserve its animal kingdom and the environment for generations to come. Tau does not support nor condone hunting in any form.

The non-profit Tau Foundation provides guests with an opportunity to visit the Supingstad schools and some traditional historical sites.

The private room decks overlook the large waterhole, which is a major attraction for the game and prolific birdlife, a natural extravaganza.

The family-friendly lodge accommodates 60 guests in luxury chalets, all with ensuite bathrooms and open-air showers.

Malaria-free Big Five Madikwe Game Reserve boasts year-round game viewing of the Big Five, small game and a bird population of over 300 different species, and is one of the few reserves where one can view a wide variety of fauna, from breeding herds of elephant to the endangered wild dog and cheetah.

VENUE NEWS

Exotic culinary tastes An eclectic array of exotic culinary world tastes and smells have made their way to awe-inspiring Zambia, set to enchant even the most refined palate.

B

eing appointed as the first ever young Indian sous-chef at The Royal Livingstone Hotel Sun International Zambia, Anuj Ovaleker set his sights higher.

The impeccable combination of his extensive international cultural and hospitality industry experience led to him being promoted to the Chef De Cuisine.

Chef Ovaleker honed his dexterous skill at distinguished institutions in Mumbai with its rich taste, fieriness and impressive flavours, as well as in Paris, known as the home of haute cuisine.

Leaving “the culinary capital of the world’”he returned to South Africa where he started his professional career as a pastry chef under Chef Alexandre Coupy and refined his French culinary skills.

Through Chef Coupys’ guidance he got promoted to a sous chef at the restaurant

Au Jardin at the Vineyard Hotel and Spa. While at this establishment, he had an opportunity to work very closely with Chef Mike Bassett, one of the top 10 culinary award winners of the South African Chefs who introduced the flavours of South East Asia to him.

With his 13 years of extensive hospitality industry experience, Anuj describes his food as simple dishes with different arts of sous vide cooking and with lots of fusion style.

Anuj's main objective is to continue working hard in simplifying lunches with lots of interesting flavours and making the dinner menu more interesting, yet simple, which will provide the guests a flavoursome variety of cuisines.

With his attention to detail and undeniable love for food and the art of creating delicious dishes, guests are able to join him on his culinary journey with

BIG 5 SAFARI

every bite. “I will also make the David Livingstone kitchen more interesting and unforgettable for the guests than before,” said Chef Anuj.

He is able to prepare traditional Indian food and Jain meals (prepared without onion, garlic or root vegetables) to the guests at the lodge.

Preferring to prepare home-style Indian food for his Indian guests, he said “when they ask me to prepare Indian food they expect that I will cook like restaurants in India but get completely blown away when they see that I have prepared something that they prepare at home. To to page 38

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VENUE NEWS

Marriott International debuts first hotel in West Africa Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc. recently announced the debut of Sheraton Grand in Africa with the opening of Sheraton Grand Conakry, welcoming it to the brand’s premier tier of hotels recognised for their exciting destinations, distinguished designs, and excellence in service and guest experiences.

T

he newly built hotel marks Marriott International’s entry into Guinea, West Africa and joins a portfolio of more than 35 Sheraton Grand properties worldwide, with destinations spanning Istanbul, Dubai, Bangalore, Beijing and beyond.

“Sheraton has a strong heritage in Africa that dates back to 1971,” said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Over the last four decades, the brand has maintained its first mover advantage through strategic pipeline development and growth plans, giving global travellers access to more destinations in every corner of the globe.

Sheraton Grand Conakry not only marks our entry into a new country, but will also create a halo effect for the brand

and serve as a great example of our transformation efforts.”

Within easy reach from the international airport, Sheraton Grand Conakry is conveniently situated in Conakry’s upand-coming trendy Kipe district. With an enviable ocean-front location, the hotel introduces modern, elegant design, signature brand programing and an elevated guest experience for business and leisure travellers in the heart of West Africa.

All 269 well-appointed guestrooms boast breathtaking ocean views, offering unmatched comfort and the Sheraton Signature Sleep Experience. Contemporary design and local touches blend to create a distinct and vibrant aesthetic.

The 49 Sheraton Club rooms and suites offer exclusive access to the Sheraton Club

from page 37

see them smiling at the end of their meal, means a lot to me.”

His international experience has helped him to broaden his professional horizons by indulging the exquisite tastes of guests from around the world by serving Indian, European, Mediterranean and African cuisines ensuring they feel right

at home despite being far away from their homeland.

Not only is he a master in the kitchen, this chef par excellence also has a knack for languages. His home language is Marathi and he’s also fluent in English, Hindi, and French and he understands Afrikaans.

Lounge, a private space where guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast, drinks and snacks during the day.

Leisure facilities include an extensive 300 square metre fitness centre with cuttingedge equipment available 24 hours a day, a luxurious infinity pool and an invigorating Shine Spa. The hotel’s distinctive dining venues create an eclectic culinary voyage. The all-day dining restaurant, Feast, features Mediterranean flavours, Asian influences as well as modern interpretations of traditional Guinean cuisine.

Guests can also indulge in homemade French pastries, freshly brewed coffee and juices at La Parisienne coffee shop and bakery.

Overlooking the sea, Hot & Blue offers relaxed tapas and cocktails by the poolside.

Sheraton’s inventive lobby bar menu concept, Paired, combines artisanal small plates with unexpected pairings served alongside suggested premium wines at the O2 Lounge.

With more than 1 300 square metres of dedicated and unparalleled meeting space, Sheraton Grand Conakry features a lavishly appointed Grand Ballroom with state-ofthe-art facilities and endless connectivity through high-speed Wi-Fi, along with 15 meeting rooms and a fully equipped business centre.

The hotel provides both choice and flexibility, making it an exclusive option for large scale business meetings, social events, weddings or even smaller intimate gatherings.

“We are proud to be the first Sheraton Grand in Africa and Indian Ocean, and to join the existing roster of esteemed hotels and resorts worldwide,” said Helga Deboeck, general manager of Sheraton Grand Conakry. “We have worked diligently to ensure the hotel goes above and beyond to deliver a fresh, modern and memorable experience to our guests setting a new benchmark of service within West Africa.”

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VENUE NEWS

JOHANNESBURG EXPO CENTRE

That’s a wrap After a successful year of exhibitions, conferences and events, the team at the Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) would like to thank all the 2016 show organisers for choosing JEC as their host venue.

W

e’ve had a busy year here at the Expo Centre,” reflects JEC chief executive officer, Craig Newman. “We have been very lucky with the calibre of shows we’ve hosted in 2016, but I think that next year will be a difficult one for the industry in general.”

Mr Newman believes the investment in exhibitions and events will shrink with regards to participation.

“An exhibition that would have attracted 100 exhibitors in the past may now only secure 60 and an event that would have had 10 000 attendees may now only attract 8 000,” he says.

“As a result, we will all have to raise the bar next year so we can continue to grow in tight economic conditions.”

With this in mind, the team at the Expo Centre are taking a moment to thank all their show organisers for their support. “There are a number of organisers and events that we would like to thank for choosing us as their host in 2016,” Mr Newman said. “Whether

large or small, each event has contributed to a successful year and we appreciate your support. Thank you very much.”

To all our customers: Classic Cars, Major League Garden, Jehovah’s Witness Convention, Fun and Biz Africa Expo, Johannesburg Boat Show, National Taxi Expo, Jaguar Launch, Gap Factor - Shield Trade Day, SAACI Breakfast, Propak Africa, Bidvest Display, Global Exhibition Day, Cardinal Family Fun Day, SOJO AGM, PMR.africa Awards Breakfast, Essential Hardware, Carol Xaba, Visual Energy for Roche Family Day, University of Johannesburg, Star Schools, SAPS Career Day, Unity Fellowship, Soweto Festival, Engen, and Multichoice YEF, to mention a few.

“Thank you for working with us, for trusting us with your events and we wish you all the best for the new year. We look forward to hosting your events in 2017,” Mr Newman concluded.

GAUTENG YOUTH PROGRAMME

“The Expo Centre is a one-stop shop for every event. The support staff were not only professional, but they were more than prepared to go the extra mile.” – Samantha Ngindi, director of ICT Sector Skills and Partnerships from the Gauteng Department of e-Government

RAND SHOW

“There is no venue more suitable to host this iconic event than the Expo Centre.”

- Pula Dippenaar, South African Shows Messe Frankfurt (Pty) Ltd.

VENUE NEWS

ULTRA SOUTH AFRICA

“The inaugural show was a great success and each year since then, we’ve raised the bar. We plan to grow the event in South Africa for many years to come so that Ultra South Africa becomes a destination festival that music fans should experience at least once. As Ultra expands to other parts of the globe, there may not be a more appropriate location in South Africa than the JEC.” – Russell Faibisch, founder; producer and chief executive officer of Ultra Music Festival and Ultra Worldwide

SEXPO

“This was the 10th anniversary of the show so we were determined to make it the biggest yet and the Expo Centre was the perfect venue to deliver a memorable performance. There’s ample parking, easy access to and from the venue and large exhibition halls that satisfy every possible show requirement.” – Sean Newman, chief executive officer of Sexpo SA

POLYOAK PACKAGING

“In 2016, we presented the Expo Centre with an award for 10 Years of Service Excellence. Polyoak Packaging, a one-stop shop for all packaging requirements, is the Expo Centre’s biggest warehousing client. The award was presented to the Expo Centre team at our annual awards function in recognition of their dedication to their customers, and for their loyalty and excellent service to Polyoak.” - Polyoak Packaging Group

INTERBUILD AFRICA

“The service we received from the Expo Centre was excellent and the precinct was well kept, tidy and conducive to a fantastic event. We were also very happy with the quality of food served, and the cleanliness of the ablution facilities, not to mention the special touch of sending us a memento to wish us luck. Thank you Expo Centre!” – Gary Corin, managing director of Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery

ELECTRA MINING AFRICA

“We participate in a number of international mining exhibitions worldwide and have been supporting the Electra Mining brand for a number of years. The venue has always been remarkable from an accessibility point of view, considering the size of the equipment we bring in.” – Cindy Bailing, marketing services representative of Joy Global

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NEWS VENUE OF THE MONTH

Sierra Burgers Park Hotel keeps evolving The Sierra Burgers Park Hotel is a preferred hotel situated in the capital city Pretoria and has 237 standard rooms, six suites, five executive studios, two presidential suites and one disabled room. All the rooms are fully air-conditioned, have en-suite bathrooms, television with several DStv channels, direct dial telephone with free Wi-Fi.

W

here better to have a conference, workshop or seminar than in one of our 12 conference venues that can accommodate any seating arrangement.

Two of the 12 venues, Serengeti and Etosha, have been restored and date back to the late 1800s.

All the conference rooms are fullyequipped venues designed to provide a relaxed, yet professional ambiance.

The hotel also boasts a beautiful garden, a sparkling swimming pool, Koi ponds, lounges and our Diplomat bar, where

people meet to have a few drinks, a nightcap and a chat – a perfect way to unwind and relax.

The Sierra Burgers Park Hotel overlooks the attractive, historic Burgers Park and Melrose House. There are many historical places and attractions in and around Pretoria, some of which are within walking distance.

The variety of meeting rooms within the hotel allows greater flexibility to host a range of different events and break away groups. Intimate boardrooms suitable for small meetings are also available.

Sierra Burgers Park Hotel is also a leading provider of video conferencing.

Conference Facilities

• Afrika House, consisting of Serengeti and Etosha venues accommodate up to 400 delegates combined.

Sierra Burgers Park Hotel has one of the leading and most sophisticated conference venues in Pretoria.

The 12 conference rooms are:

NEWS VENUE OFVENUE THE MONTH

What do you love most about this hotel?

Our business is constantly changing.

I’ve learned to appreciate working with different people and gained some strength along the way. I’ve learned the reality of hotel operations. It doesn’t just happen. It takes people to make it happen.

I really enjoy events. You can evolve and you can change your style and create what people love.

– Linda Stoltz, banqueting manager

• Mandela I, II, III can accommodate up to 380 delegates and have separate reception and bar facilities.

• Tshwane 1-6 can accommodate up to 240 delegates.

• The Ambassador accommodates up to 100 delegates.

Sierra Burgers Park Hotel has specialised menus for gala dinners, banquets, cocktails and private functions.

Dining Facilities The Garden Grill Restaurant offers two menu options of buffet breakfast, lunch

and dinner with dishes changing daily as well as an a la carte menu.

The Diplomat Bar offers a wide variety of beverages and cocktails. One may enjoy a cosy winter next to the fireplace and cool summers in a fully air-conditioned bar. An a la carte menu is available, which includes a selection of light snacks, salads, soup, grills, curry and desserts.

Other Facilities These include a fully equipped business centre with free Internet connectivity, swimming pool and professionallyequipped fitness centre, as well as an ATM. The hotel is situated two kilometres from the Pretoria Gautrain station.

Guaranteed Power: Generator 680KVA capacity.

What makes this hotel ideal for conferencing?

The hotel is situated close to all major business centres. Conference guests favour the Sierra Hotel Group – Burgers Park Pretoria as a refreshing location, central in the CBD, for important conferences and business meetings. We have a perfect setting for corporate lunches, private conferencing and banquet events.

Furthermore, our events team will help you with your arrangements whether your function is a launch, presentation, banquet or an industry seminar. Once your event is confirmed, you’ll be allocated a banqueting coordinator who will be your point of contact through the planning stages until the day of your function.

Nearby Attractions The hotel overlooks the historic Burgers Park. The Union Buildings, Freedom Park and Ditsong Museum make fascinating places to visit, with many other attractions within walking distance of the hotel.

If you prefer to explore the surrounding area, day tours can be arranged through our Guest Services Desk.

HOTEL GROUP

BURGERS PARK Tel: 012 322 7500 Email: burgerspark@sierrahotels.co.za www.sierrahotels.co.za/sierra-burgers-park

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MARKET NEWS

EXSA Academy’s new events technical stream job profiles

Joy Donovan

The newly-established EXSA Academy (EA) is well on the way to developing job profiles for the exhibition and events industry from entry-level right up to graduates and is currently busy with the technical stream.

J

oy Donovan, director of EA, explained that it became apparent that there were established qualifications in event management, creating a clear career path for the “organising” side of the industry, but there was very little recognition for event technical skills, which represent the bulk of the operational side of the industry in the suppliers sector.

The EA, working with exhibition and event experts, have drafted “Event Industry Standards” for all permanent and/ or temporary technical entry-level jobs including event porters, event carpet tilers,

shell scheme erectors, stand construction assistants and shell scheme team leaders/ supervisors.

These job profiles describe the minimum skills, training and experience required to meet event industry standards. As these standards are for the events industry, by the events industry, it is important they are open for inspection and comment and they can be found at www.exsaacademy.co.za and all comments can be addressed to: info@exsaacademy.co.za Apart from those currently employed throughout the supplier sector, there are thousands of unqualified temporary workers who are employed each year for entry-level jobs at events. Without these vital workers being drafted into the various events and expos, the industry would not survive.

“We create jobs and need to formalise these temporary staff by certifying them through the EA. Our current Occupational Health and Safety laws state that all people working at events must be ‘experienced, trained and qualified. City emergency

management services, safety officers and event venues are demanding proof of experience and competence from suppliers,” Ms Donovan said.

Event managers and exhibition organisers are now legally responsible for the competence of the suppliers they appoint.

“Therefore,” said Sue Gannon, director of EA, “the industry has to formally recognise and put in place standards for these important technical staff proving their skill and experience. The EA has been mandated by EXSA to push forward with various skills development programmes and to professionalise the industry. We will also work with the entire events industry to push these standards through – and ensure a career path at all levels.”

The events industry has always trained and assessed the competence of their own staff in-house within their companies and this will remain unchanged with the implementation of event industry standards.

Once a supplier has ensured that their staff has met the requirements

Unpacking the star grading What exactly does “star grading” mean and what is the significance of such a rating for guests?

I

n a nutshell, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) has a set grading criteria and minimum standards by which accommodation establishments are rated from one-star to five-star. These guidelines ensure local establishments uphold their allure as international travel destinations,” explained Richard Bray, group operations manager for Premier Hotels & Resorts.

Contrary to what it may seem, a onestar rating for instance does not mean a hotel is of a lesser quality. It simply means that there are additional requirements needed to progress to a rating of two-star and upwards.

Mina Monare, consumer feedback liaison officer for TGCSA, shared that a grading can be changed at a later stage, depending on circumstances. This could either be in the form of a downgrade in star grading level or an upgrade whereby an establishment is reconfigured

(through renovations) to meet minimum requirements and standards for a higher star grading level.

She added: “Star grading in South Africa is voluntary. There are just on 5 300 star graded establishments in the country, a true testament of the star grading system’s value to both tourism operators and travellers.”

Hotels that are eligible for grading are, according to the TGCSA website, establishments that provide “formal accommodation with full or limited service to the travelling public”.

In addition, they have a reception area and offer a dining facility. They must have a minimum of four rooms as well.

The entry requirements for all star ratings by the TGCSA include that an on-site representative must be contactable seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The website further stipulates that where applicable, any meal(s) and beverages must be provided from outlets within the

boundary walls of the property, which may or may not be operated by the property.

Servicing of rooms seven days a week must be included and a formal reception area must be provided. Bathroom facilities must be en-suite.

Additional requirements for four-star and five-star ratings include on-site parking with security for guests, a valet service, room service, a concierge, porterage and luggage handling, as well as other services such as baby and child minding message passing, and newspaper delivery. Full housekeeping and laundry services must also be provided.

Ms Monare concluded: “Graded establishments enjoy access to business from the government as only graded establishments can be used by government officials.

“They have exclusive rights to display the globally-recognised plaque – giving establishments an immediate quality identity.”

MARKET NEWS for any of the current job profiles, then that staff member can be registered individually with the EA, who will issue them with a membership certificate and their own identity card, to be worn at all expos and events.

The EA is also developing Event Industry Standards to recognise the skills and experience required for more senior

jobs, like “technical events co-ordinator” at NQF level 5 and “technical events manager” at NQF level 6, which is at degree level, and which will later form the foundation of qualifications to be developed for SAQA-registration.

Skills development is a priority pillar on the latest BBBEE score-card legislation, and provides a meaningful incentive

for the events industry to participate in the development and use of Event Industry Standards for the new event technical stream.

Transformation within companies; succession-planning for staff; and creating a pool of skilled labour for the industry are vital for the on-going development of the events industry.

Medeo Restaurant’s

new seasonal menu All the fresh flavours of summer have been captured in the new seasonal menu at Medeo Restaurant in the Palazzo Montecasino Hotel. The new menu was developed by executive chef, Gerard Vingerling, and reflects Medeo’s Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

R

obert Jasper, general manager of Palazzo, said: “The new additions to our refreshed menu are bringing greater variety and seasonal freshness to our line-up of favourite dishes, served in true Medeo style with generous portions and rich, earthy flavours.”

New starters include two vegetarian dishes, Modern Caprese (buffalo mozzarella, tomato textures, fortified olive, pickled onion and basil oil) and Mushroom Crème Brûlée (forest of mushrooms with citrus goat’s cheese). On the seafood front are Salmon Carpaccio (with crème fraîche, lemon and pepper pearls, crispy onions and wild rocket) and Sriracha Prawns Salad (with watermelon gel, feta, avocado and chilli dressing).

Innovative additions to the pasta menu include vegetarian-friendly Beetroot Ravioli (beetroot and apple relish, candied walnuts, goat’s cheese sauce and citrus foam) and the hearty Agnolotti Pasta (braised beef short rib, parmesan cream, roasted pine nuts and buffalo mozzarella).

For meat-eaters the mains menu now offers Grilled Lamb Cutlets (with smoked aubergine purée, pea, green bean and pine nut salad); Veal Piccata (with white wine and lemon reduction, capers and

croquettes); Pan-seared Duck Breast and Duck Leg Confit (with radicchio and fennel); and Grilled Wagyu Chuck Steak (with rosemary polenta croquette; and horseradish flan). All main dishes are served with a choice of ratatouille, creamed spinach, mixed vegetables or potato gratin.

Signature main dishes that the restaurant is renowned for are still on the menu and include Lemon and Thyme Sous Vide Chicken; Braised Lamb Shank with roasted root vegetables and a red wine infused broth; Pork Belly with corn caramel, apple and red onion salsa, coriander, and apple jus; Scottish Salmon, puttanesca style; and Grilled Sole with rocket salad and caper butter sauce.

The all-new dessert line-up is the menu’s crowning glory: • Vanilla and Ginger Panna Cotta (candied popcorn, ginger crumble and passion sorbet) • Deconstructed Black Forest (chocolate mousse, Chantilly, cherry compote and white chocolate sorbet) • Lemon and Lime Semifreddo (basil meringue, raspberry jelly and lime sorbet) • Pliable Chocolate Ganache (mini chocolate macaroons, pear coulis,

Vectorsoft POS Solutions focuses on the needs of the hospitality & wholesale/retail markets. Our hardware and software product range is the result of proven successful implementations in diverse environments, and we actively take part in the whole project cycle, from consulting through to physical implementation and ongoing support.

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Gerard Vingerling

poached pears with pear sorbet) • Beetroot Parfait (pistachio sponge, beetroot coulis, crème fraîche and coconut ice cream) • Coffee Caramel Panna Cotta (coconut chocolate, caramel sauce, Bounty coconut and mint) • Homemade Ice Cream (a daily selection of homemade ice cream flavours) Mr Jasper said: “Guests of the Palazzo Montecasino and Medeo will find much to tease their taste buds on the new menu.

We like to celebrate the change of season with exciting new dishes that make Medeo memorable and always in season.”

Medeo Restaurant has an extensive wine menu featuring carefully selected South African and international, as well as Auction wines. It offers elegant indoor seating, as well as a large terrace and two wooden decks where guests can enjoy a cocktail while taking in the glorious views of the gardens.

vectorsoft POS SOLUTIONS

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C O N S U LT I N G

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MARKET NEWS

Smiles all round at GrandWest’s Santa’s Workshop Party Grandwest’s Social Economic Development Department spread festive season love and cheer among some 600 children from underprivileged backgrounds on 13 December 2016.

T

he young children, aged between five and 10 years of age, were treated to a grand-scale Santa’s Workshop Party at GrandWest’s Sun Exhibits, which was transformed into a wonderland for the occasion.

The venue was divided into different experiential zones where the children engaged in a host of exciting activities.

Thanks to GrandWest and participating outlets such as Burger King, the children were spoiled with scrumptious treats.

Among the children’s charities that were hosted at the event were Christine Revell Children’s Home, the SHAWCO Little Star Programme, which includes children from areas such as Kensington, Khayelitsha

Tsogo Sun wins four global website awards Since launching less than a year ago, the Tsogo Sun website – tsogosun.com – has won four global website awards for excellence in a highly competitive sector – establishing it as one of the best hotel websites in the world.

A

lison Mills, eCommerce manager for Tsogo Sun, said: “Tsogo Sun strives to ensure that every guest experience is memorable, not only in all of our hotel, gaming and entertainment properties in South Africa and further afield, but also at every point of guest interaction, whether by phone, social media, or on our website.

Tremendous effort was put into developing the website to meet the standards of excellence that the group has set for itself – and we are proud and delighted that these efforts have been recognised by prestigious international award organisations.”

The new tsogosun.com website was launched on 16 December 2015. Tsogo Sun partnered with New York-based HeBS Digital, a full-service Digital Agency that specialises in the hospitality industry.

The website consists of a single domain incorporating a total of more than 150 individual property desktop, tablet and

mobile sites – which include one corporate website, over 95 hotel sites, 14 casinos, Sandton Convention Centre, and as well as select restaurant and bar properties.

With more than 800 000 visitors per month, the objectives for the new website included the need to ensure a seamless user experience, online bookings for hotels and events, search engine optimisation, a content management system that is accessible to individual properties, allowing content to be shared across multiple properties, cross browser compatibility, and much more.

In April 2016, the website was selected as an Official Honoree in the 20th Annual Webby Awards in the Advertising: Tourism & Leisure category. The Webby Awards is the leading international awards programme, honouring excellence on the Internet, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) nominates, selects and presents the awards. Websites that win Official

and Manenberg, Christel House, Broken Chain, Blue Downs, Thandanani, Saartjie Baartman Centre and Solomons Haven.

“It is a great privilege to host a Christmas party for young and disadvantaged children from our local communities.

“It gives these children a chance to feel the love, joy and merriment that should surround them at this time of year. It is tremendously heartening to see them playing and enjoying the fun. GrandWest is enormously appreciative of the support and sponsorships that helped make the event possible,” says GrandWest’s group social economic development manager, Heidi Edson.

Honouree Awards are in the top 20 per cent of close on 13 000 entries received annually.

In September 2016, the website won a Gold Travel Weekly Magellan Award, which Ms Mills acknowledges as “a tremendous achievement” as they honour the best in design, marketing and services in the travel industry, and salute the outstanding travel professionals behind it all.

Also in September, tsogosun.com won the Webawards 2016 for Best Hotel and Lodging Website. Entries were judged on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology.

The most recent award for tsogosun. com came in the form of a Best-in-Class in the Interactive Media Awards (IMA) in the Hotel/Resort category in October 2016. These awards recognise the highest standards of excellence in website design and development and honour individuals and organisations for their outstanding achievement.

“Although strategically we will always put the customer experience first, winning awards, especially such coveted international ones, is certainly a highlight for us as they reflect the tremendous effort we put into ensuring excellence in all we do. We are honoured by the global recognition and we look forward to setting and achieving higher standards for Tsogo Sun in the future,” said Noëleen Bruton, director of marketing for the Tsogo Sun Group.

A Guide to Professional Resources in the

SOUTHERN AFRICAN

Business Events

Industry

2017 Endorsed by

Integrity | Intelligence | Innovation | Sustainability

Produced and published by

Irma Day - Conference Co-ordinator 014 736 9800 | irmad@atkv.org.za

FO R EWO RD FROM TH E ASSO CI ATI O NS

By Adriaan Liebetrau, chief executive officer of SAACI SAACI is the recognised umbrella body of the Conference and Meetings Industry in Southern Africa.

Since 1987 we have been dedicated to efficiency and professionalism in the industry. In fact, SAACI membership is a vital recognition of professionalism practice.

SAACI has a national board and five regional branches being Gauteng Johannesburg and Gauteng Tshwane, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Each branch is made up of specialist forums that represent specific industry sectors- Conferences & Events, Destination Marketing, Exhibitions, Services, Technical, Transport and Venues.

SAACI vision is to be the globally recognised professional association of the business events industry in Southern Africa. To be the strategic link for the public and private sector.

The Resource Guide brings together an array of different services suppliers from across the Business Events Industry making it a very useful tool for organisers.

By Phumulani Hlatshwayo, general manager of EXSA EXSA, the Exhibitions and Events Association of Southern Africa, is South Africa’s premier association within the events and exhibition industry – with over 100 active members and it’s own Academy aimed at accelerating growth and development for its members.

Well into its 36 year, and still the largest association for exhibitions and events in South Africa, the association recently underwent a face lift! Boasting a new logo that celebrates EXSA’s innovative spirit and sense of community, EXSA demonstrated its ongoing commitment to constantly update, upgrade and create new and better services and experience for its members. Our core strategy is to actively grow and develop the exhibition and events industry within Southern Africa. This is achieved through promoting the unique benefits offered by exhibitions and events, and raising the profile of our members.

Member companies include Venues, Organisers, Services and Suppliers in events and exhibitions from a broad spectrum of small, medium to large local and international companies. These include long established and globally recognised names such as Sandton Convention Centre, Octanorm, Scan Display, Durban ICC and 3d Design.

EXSA is proud of its continued international affiliation with The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UfI), International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and Event Greening Forum - and continues to strive in global excellence and providing local member organisations with first and best international collaboration opportunities.

The 2017 Association Resource Guide is vital to promote the industry and EXSA members to a wider audience ensuring the success of exhibitions as a key player in the marketing mix.

By Tes Proos, president of SITE Southern Africa Southern Africa is one of the most exciting destinations on the planet, with so much diversity to offer – from incredible panoramic beauty such as Table Mountain, Victoria Falls and the magical landscapes of Namibia – to emotional cultural experiences within the various regions. Events range from highly sophisticated soirees to adrenaline adventures and soul-searching CSR interactions.

That is what incentive travel is all about…life-changing and ultimately, performance enhancing experiences and Southern Africa offers exactly that.

SITE membership is all about integrity, quality and professionalism to ensure our industry delivers above and beyond expections.

TA B LE O F CO NTENTS Foreword Conferences, exhibitions & events Destination marketing

49 50, 51, 52 52

Services Technical Transport Venues

52, 53, 54 55 56 56

This Resource Guide was produced by Contact Publications (Pty) Ltd, publishers of Business Events Africa.

PO Box 414, Kloof 3640, South Africa | Tel: +27 (31) 764 6977 | e-mail: contact@contactpub.co.za | www.businesseventsafrica.com Resources Guide 2016

49

CO NFE RE NCE S, EXHI BI TI O NS & EVENTS ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN EXHIBITION ORGANISERS

aaxo

Reed Place,Culross On Main Office Park, 34 Culross Road, Bryanston Tel: +27 (0) 11 549 8300 Email: admin@aaxo.co.za Website: www.aaxo.co.za

aaxo

APPROVED

THE VOICE OF CREDIBILITY & PROFESSIONALISM AAXO Approved Exhibition FOR EXHIBITION ORGANISERS

Agri-Expo is a professional promotion and marketing organisation for the agricultural sector, focussing on exhibitions and other public relations initiatives.

PO Box 988, Durbanville, 7551 TEL 021 975 4440/1/2/3 FAX 021 975 4446 EMAIL admin@agriexpo.co.za WWW.AGRIEXPO.CO.ZA Twitter: @AgriExpo1

Your specialists in event management and online registration systems PO Box 337, Sanlamhof, 7532 276 Durban Road, Golden Manor Bdg, 2nd Floor, Bellville, 7530 Tel: +27 (0)21 910 1913 1 Fax: 021 910 0471 Cell: +27 (0)82 414 4471 1 www.centeqevents.co.za

Crystal Events and Incentives are all about creating unique experiences. Be it an international conference, your dream vacation, strategic planning meeting or a corporate incentive programme – it will always be an event worth talking about for years to come.

Experiences are what it’s all about, and Crystal Events & Incentives will ensure that your clients, management and staff alike, depart with a sense of achievement from each of our programmes.

Mobile: +27 (0) 84 682 7676 | Office: +27 (0) 21 555 3617 | tes@crystalevents.co.za | www.crystalevents.co.za

www.easternsun.co.za Tel: +27 41 374 5654 Conference Management, Est 1997 Email: info@easternsun.co.za

GL events South Africa offers more than 30 years experience in the Exhibition, Events and Temporary Infrastructure Industry, we pride ourselves in delivering high quality, fullturnkey solutions that promises to exceed customer expectations

T: +27 (0)11 210 2500 info@gl-events.co.za

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Resources Guide 2016

Head office, 8 Harry Street, Robertsham, Johannesburg

www.gl-events.co.za www.gl-events.com

CO NFE RE NCE S, EXHI BI TI O NS & EVENTS Conference and exhibition consulting Project management Logistics and planning services Tel: (021) 836 8315 | Email: rjacobs@iliosconf.co.za | www.iliosconf.co.za

Meetings | Incentives | Conferences & Events Signature of Excellence, to you, our valued client. www.reynoldstravel.co.za | +27 11 812 6827

nferences co c fi ti n e ci s in e is rt Expe www.savetcon.co.za

Tel: 012 346 0687 Fax: 012 346 2929 petrie@savetcon.co.za

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3/2/2015 12:17:57 PM

Conference Management, Exhibition Management, Association Management, Destination Management and Consulting Services DURBAN

PO Box 47156, Greyville 4001 Tel: +27 (0)31 303 9852 Fax: +27 (0)31 303 9529 Email: nina@confco.co.za Web: www.confco.co.za

JOHANNESBURG

2nd Floor, East Wing, Longpoint Office Park 484 Bradfield Drive, Cnr. Montecasino Blvrd. & Witkoppen Rd, Fourways, Sandton 2055 Tel: +27 (0)11 465 0334 | Fax: +27 (0)86 664 9767 Email: natalie@confco.co.za

CAPE TOWN

Tyger Park 3, First Floor, Office No. 103, Willie van Schoor Avenue, Bellville 7530 Tel: +27 (0)21 914 2751 Fax: +27 (0)21 914 5493 Email: liza@confco.co.za

Resources Guide 2016

51

CO NFE RE NCE S, EXHI BI TI O NS & EVENTS www.thesourcepr.co.za T +27 (0) 87 805 6960 | F +27 (0) 86 693 6184 | C (0) 83 604 0157

DE STINATI O N MARKETI NG

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Infinite Conferences & Exhibitions Solutions

innovative creative flawless

+260 979 867 396 | +260 955 867 396 | mulemwa@mulemwaevents.com | events@confexpromotions.com | 6B Mungulube Road Northmead, Lusaka - Zambia

Conferences Events Roadshows Incentives Launches Corporate travel Leisure travel

Cape Town: +27 21 590 7900 | Johannesburg: +27 11 453 1401 www.xlmillennium.co.za | info@millenniumtravel.co.za

Your logistical event and travel partner in southern Africa A member of SAACI, IATA and ASATA

SERVI CES

Energise! Excite! Entertain!

Fun and exciting indoor and outdoor corporate team building activities, corporate social responsibility, & incentive programmes.

Tel: 021 790 9015 | Email: info@adventureworks.co.za www.adventureworks.co.za.

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Resources Guide 2016

SERVI CES

Contact Publications Voice of the Business Events Industry in Africa

Tel:+27 (0)31 764 6977 | www.businesseventsafrica.com

Contact Publications PO Box 414, Kloof 3640 KwaZulu-Natal Tel:+27 (0)31 764 6977 Website: www.businesseventsafrica.com

36 YEARS OF PUBLISHING EXCELLENCE Publishers of Business Events Africa, formerly the Southern Africa Conference, Exhibition & Events Guide and incorporating incentiveworld.com

We will design menus to suit your specific event, wherever it may be, and ensure our food contributes to its success.

We are now based at Greyville Convention Centre as the resident caterers.

Greyville Convention Centre, 150 Avondale Road, Greyville, Durban Tel: +27 (0)31 563 3877 | Email: nick@eatgreek.catering | www.eatgreek.catering

Tel: +27 (0)21 426 2727 • E-mail: pziets@folio-online.co.za / projects@foliotranslations.com Web: www.folio-online.co.za • Facebook: facebook.com/folioonline • Twitter: @Folio_Online Resources Guide 2016

53

SERVI CES

OFFICES JHB: 076 644 0271 Unit 18a, Freeway Centre, Cnr Louis Botha & Wynberg Avenue, Sandton, 2090

COME VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS

jhb@inspirefurniture.co.za

OFFICES CPT: 073 893 0315 Unit 11, 1 Koeberg Road, Brooklyn, 7405

cpt@inspirefurniture.co.za

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BEA SAACI Listing.pdf 1 2016/12/20 3:26:50 PM C

Transform events forever

M

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Live Polling and Event Apps that energise and connect your audiences

CM

MY

www.lumiglobal.com CY

Gauteng: + 27 87 806 4284

CMY

Western Cape: + 27 21 554 4964

K

KEY SERVICES

• Association Conferences • Conferences • Road Shows • Incentives • Teambuilding • Functions, Gala and Awards Dinners • Management Think Tanks

Tel: +27 11 482 2835 | Email: estelle@ripcord.za.com

www.ripcord.za.com

PURPOSE MADE CONFERENCE BAGS Integrity | Intelligence | Innovation | Sustainability

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Resources Guide 2016

TECHNI CAL GET THE BEST OF YOUR BUDGET With our Hands-on approuch and years of experience, our professional team will make your event, no matter how big or small, one to be remembered!

Tel: 021 761 8883/ Fax:021 761 8166/ E-mail: info@simplyav.co.za

MEMBERS OF SAACI AND TPSA

GEARHOUSE SA

is the country’s premier technical supplier to the live events industry.

JOHANNESBURG Tel: +27 (0)11 216 3000 Fax: +27 (0)11 216 3100 Email: jhb@gearhouse.co.za

DURBAN Tel: +27 (0)31 792 6200 Fax: +27 (0)31 792 6210 Email: dbn@gearhouse.co.za

CAPE TOWN Tel: +27 (0)21 929 7200 Fax: +27 (0)21 933 7844 Email: ctn@gearhouse.co.za

www.gearhouse.co.za

YOUR TECHNOLOGY PARTNER

INHOUSE VTM fulfils the daily technical requirements of conference and entertainment venues across the country.

INHOUSE VENUE TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT (PTY) LTD Tel: +27 (0)86 123 7890 Fax: +27 (0)86 123 7899 Email: info@inhousevtm.com Website: www.inhousevtm.com

LEDVISION (PTY) LTD

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55

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Resources Guide 2016

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PROPERTY REFURBISHMENT

59

Raul de Lima to guide Sun City into new era Hospitality industry stalwart, Raul de Lima, takes the reins as general manager at Sun International’s legendary Sun City Resort. With some 25 years in the food and hospitality industry, he is well positioned to guide Sun City, currently nearing completion of an extensive refurbishment, into a new era.

P

rior to joining Sun International, Mr de Lima worked for an international franchise company for 20 years during which he fulfilled executive obligations. Having been involved in and responsible for the establishment of franchise businesses in more than 25 countries over a period of 15 years, he has extensive international experience coupled with a comprehensive understanding of the many facets of the industry.

Mr de Lima joined Sun International at the beginning of 2014 with a mandate to insource and establish the company’s food and beverage business.

Over the past two years, he managed a team which insourced around 2 500 employees and developed various restaurant concepts. The newly insourced food and beverage business is well poised for growth.

During this period, he spent considerable time at Sun City, gaining intricate knowledge and understanding of the resort, with an emphasis on constantly improving hospitality at Sun City.

To firmly establish the resort as a destination for gastronomical adventure, various new signature restaurants have opened, while many others have been refurbished. Mr de Lima said: “The successes we are enjoying are due to the focus on engaging and building an effective and united food and beverage community, re-igniting passion, and ensuring that our people feel part of the business.”

Looking ahead, Mr de Lima’s aspiration is to apply this approach and ethos to the resort as a whole. “Sun City is an iconic property in the process of transformation; from a product, proposition, business and profitability point of view. Our vision is to surpass Sun City’s yesteryear, while still tapping into the nostalgia and never forgetting what made Sun City great.

“We are expanding on Sol Kerzner’s vision, when he first imagined the destination and the value it would bring to

South Africa. We are building on Sun City’s iconic positioning and everything it has to offer, and amplify it,” Mr de Lima said.

“Our people remain key to this vision.

We will continue investing in our people to ensure they understand the role they play in the strategy. It is important we create a culture that is connected to the brand, and that we deliver our brand promise, Creating Lasting Memories, to our guests.

“Sun City’s success and sustainability is inextricably linked with that of its surrounding communities and service providers. The resort is a significant asset to the North West province, both as a tourism destination and as a contributor to the local economy.

“Within our ranks, success will be buoyed by ordinary people making extraordinary contributions, through a

shared vision, mission and values, and an absolute commitment to delivering superior customer service.

Mr de Lima concluded: “Constantly delivering on our brand promise to guests will ensure that we can take pride in a world-class destination, with all the many attractions and facilities it offers. On a personal level, I thrive on challenges and I am excited about the prospect of taking something in its rebuilding phase, and growing it.”

Vol 36 No 12

ADVERTISERS INDEX

Advertiser

Page

Email

Website

AAOX

50

admin@aaxo.co.za

www.aaxo.co.za

Adventure Works

52

info@adventureworks.co.za

www.adventureworks.co.za

Agri Expo

50

admin@agriexpo.co.za

www.agriexpo.co.za

Aloha Pos t/a Vectorsoft

45

vinop@vectorsoft.co.za

www.vectorsoft.co.za

Aqua Tours

56

bookings@aquatours.co.za

www.aquatours.co.za

Aquila Private Game Reserve

37

res@aquilasafari.com

www.aquilasafari.com

ATKV Klein-Kariba

48

irmad@atkv.org.za

www.atkvresorts.co.za

AV and Beyond

55

info@avandbeyond.co.za

www.avandbeyond.co.za

Bohle Conference and Language Services

52

info@bohleonline.com

www.bohleonline.com

Cape Town International Convention Centre

13

sales@cticc.co.za

www.cticc.co.za

Centeq Events

50

crystal@centeqevents.co.za

www.centeqevents.co.za

Corporate Conference Gifting

53

sales@corpongifts.co.za

www.corpongifts.co.za

Crystal Events

50

tes@crystalevents.co.za

www.crystalevents.co.za

Durban KZN Convention Bureau

1

conventions@durbankzncb. co.za

www.durbankzncb.co.za

Eastern Sun Events

50

info@easternsun.co.za

www.easternsun.co.za

59

60

ADVERTISERS INDEX Eat Greek Caterers

53

nick@eatgreek.catering

EPNET cc

55

gordon@epnetstreaming.co.za www.epnetstreaming.co.za

Exhibition Freighting

53

ef-gsm@ef-gsm.co.za

www.ef-gsm.co.za

EXSA

15,39

exsa@exsa.co.za

www.exsa.co.za

FNB Conference Centre

56

bookings@fnb.co.za

www.fnbconferececentre.co.za

Folio Translations

53

pziets@folio-online.co.za

www.foliotranslations.com

Garona Communications & Projects

54

presley@garonacom.co.za

www.garonacom.co.za

Gearhouse GHSA

55

jhb@gearhouse.co.za

www.gearhouse.co.za

Gearhouse IVTM

55

info@inhousevtm.com

www.inhousevtm.com

Gearhouse LED

55

info@ledvision.co.za

www.ledvision.co.za

GL Events South Africa

50

info@gl-events.co.za

www.gl-events.co.za

Gooderson Leisure

4

conference@goodersons.co.za www.goodersonleisure.co.za

Ilios Conferences

51

rjacobs@iliosconf.co.z

Infinite Conferences

52

events@confexpromotions. com

Inspire Furniture

54

jhb@inspirefurniture.co.za

www.inspirefurniture.co.za/ www.furnituregallery.co.za

JHB Expo Centre

OBC, 56

info@expocentre.co.za

www.expocentre.co.za

p Yes, please, I would like to subscribe to Business Events Africa.

Legacy Hotels

33

hotels@legacyhotels.com

www.legacyconferencing.com

Legend Lodges

Insert p5

reservations@legendlodges. co.za

www.legendhopitality.co.za

Subscription options (please tick):

Limpopo Tourism Agency

Insert

info@golimpopo.com

www.golimpopo.com

Litha Communications

54

litha@lithacommunications. co.za

www.lithacommunications.co.za

Lumi Insight

SUBSCRIBE TO

Business Events Africa AN INDISPENSABLE PUBLICATION! A year’s subscription provides you with the Yearbook, 11 monthly magazines and a copy of the annual South Africa Conferences & Exhibitions Calendar.

SUBSCRIPTION FORM To: Business Events Africa,

PO Box 414, Kloof, 3640

Tel: (031) 764 6977 Fax: (031) 764 6974

E-mail: jackie@contactpub.co.za

p Guide (Yearbook, 11 monthly

magazines and annual calendar):

R600 All prices given above include postage, packaging and VAT (RSA only) p Enclosed please find cheque to the

amount of R.....................................

www.eatgreek.catering

www.iliosconf.co.za

27, 54

info-za@lumiinsight.com

www.lumiinsight.com

Magaliesberg Canopy Tours

36

info@magaliescanopytour. co.za

www.magaliescanopytour.co.za

Maropeng 'a Afrika

OFC, 8,9

website@maropeng.co.za

www.maropeng.co.za

On Show Solutions

51

ideas@onshowsolutions.co.za

www.onshowsolutions.co.za

events@orionhotels.co.za

www.orionhotels.co.za

Peermont Global

5,57

reservations@peermont.com

www.peermont.com

Reynold's MICE

51

customercare@reynolds.co.za

www.reynoldstravel.co.za

Ripcord

54

estelle@ripcord.za.com

www.ripcord.za.com

SAACI

14

info@saaci.co.za

www.saaci.co.za

SAB World of Beer

56

events.co-ordinator@ za.sabmiller.com

www.worldofbeer.co.za

Sandton Convention Centre

58

scc.info@tsogosun.com

www.sandtonconventioncentre. com

Savetcon

51

petrie@savetcon.co.za

www.savetcon.co.za

(If yes, one will be sent to you on receipt of your payment.)

Sierra Burgers Park Hotel

42,43

burgerspark@sierrahotels. co.za

www.sierrahotels.co.za/sierraburgers-park

Simply Audiovisual

55

info@simplyav.co.za

p Please start my subscription from the..........................................issue.

SITE

17

tes@crystalevents.co.za

www.crystalevents.co.za

South African Tourism

19-26

travel@southafrica.net

www.southafrica.net

Sun City Complex

34,35

scenq@suninternational.com

www.suninternational.com/ sun-city

Sun Meropa

Insert p6,7

hellomeropa@ suninternational.com

www.suninternational.com/ meropa

Tau Game Lodge

36

NB: Please make cheques payable to Contact Publications (Pty) Ltd Banking Details: First National Bank, Kloof Branch Code: 221526 Account Number: 50730106925 Account Name: Contact Publications Do you require a tax invoice p Yes p No

Name:........................................................

Position:....................................................

Orion Hotels

taugame@mweb.co.za

www.taugamelodge.co.za

The Conference Company 51

nina@confco.co.za

www.confco.co.za

Address:...................................................

The Source Event Management

52

vanessa@thesourcepr.co.za

www.thesourcepr.co.za

.................................................................

Tourism Grading Council

IFC

feedback@tourismgrading. co.za

www.tourismgrading.co.za

...................................Code:....................

Turners Conferences

51

info@turnersconferences.co.za www.turnersconferences.co.za

Vawdas Promotions

54

info@vawdas.co.za

www.vawdas.co.za

XL Millennium Travel

52

info@millenniumtravel.co.za

www.xlmillennium.co.za

Company:..................................................

Tel:..............................Fax:........................

CALENDAR

Conferences, workshops and exhibitions of interest to the conference, exhibition and special events market For free entries in this calendar, please supply information to: Contact Publications, PO Box 414, Kloof 3640.

Tel: (031) 764 6977 | Fax: 086 62 1867 | Email: colleen@contactpub.co.za LOCAL: 2017 26 FEBRUARY: 2nd Annual AfSAE Education Conference (held in conjunction with Meetings Africa) Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg More information: Natalie Kensley, The Conference Company Tel: +27 (0)11 465 0334 Email: natalie@confco.co.za 28 FEBRUARY - 1 MARCH: Meetings Africa 2017 Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg www.meetingsafrica.co.za 19-21 APRIL: WTM Africa 2017 Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town

LOCAL: 2017 More information: Thebe Reed Exhibitions Tel: +27 (0)11 549 8300 Email: info@ThebeReed.co.za 16-18 MAY 2017: Tourism Indaba 2017 Venue: ICC Durban and Durban Exhibition Centre Tel: +27 11 467 5011 www.indaba-southafrica.co.za 2-4 JUNE: SAACI 2017 Congress Venue: Tshwane (Gauteng) More information: Adriaan Liebetrau Tel: +27 (0)11 880 5883 E-mail: adriaan@saaci.org. www.saaci.org

INTERNATIONAL: 2017 FEBRUARY 7-9: IBTM Arabia. Venue: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. More information: Tel: +44 (0)20 8271 2143. www.ibtmarabia.com MAY 16-18: IMEX Frankfurt. Venue: Frankfurt, Germany. More information: Tel: +44 1273 227311. www.imex-frankfurt.com JUNE 14-16: IBTM America. Venue: South Florida, United States of America. E-mail: ibtmamerican@reedexpo.com AUGUST 23-24: IBTM China. Venue: Beijing, China. E-mail: cibtm. helpline@reedexpo.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 26-28: IT&CMA Asia 2017. Venue: Bangkok Convention Centre, CentralWorld Bangkok, Thailand. www.itcma.com OCTOBER 10-12: IMEX America. Venue: Las Vegas, United States of America. More information: Tel: +44 1273 227311. www.imex-america-2017.com NOVEMBER 12-15: 56th ICCA Congress. Venue: Prague, Czech Republic. More information: Mathijs Vleeming, marketing project manager, ICCA, Toren A, De Entree 57 1101 BH Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 398 1962.

Email: mathijs@icca.nl. www.iccaworld.com

TEL: +27 11 452 1115 FAX: +27 11 452 3609 WEBSITE: www.plaslope.com EMAIL: glenda.aereboe@plaslope.com

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61

62

DIRECTORY

Integrity | Intelligence | Innovation | Sustainability

OFFICE BEARERS National Chairperson: Wayne Johnson Vice Chairperson: Dorcas Dlamini Treasurer: Glenn van Eck CMP Immediate Past Chairperson: Zelda Coetzee Public Officer: Denise Kemp Chief Executive Officer: Adriaan Liebetrau Physical Address: Association Hub, 158 Jan Smuts Avenue, 4th Floor East Wing, Rosebank 2196; Box 381, Parklands 2121. t: (011) 880 5883 BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Gwynneth Arendse-Matthews: CMP (C&E Forum) Southern Cross Conferences t: (021) 683 5106 c: 082 414 4378 | gwyn@scconferences.com Keith Burton: African Agenda t: (021) 683 2934 c: 083 415 4111 | keith@africanagenda.com Zelda Coetzee: Imfunzelelo Tourism & Event Specialists t (021) 674 0013 | c: 084 657 5476 | zelda@imfunzelelo.co.za

EASTERN CAPE Chairperson: Andrew Stewart Vice-Chairperson: David Limbert Treasurer: Glenn van Eck Co-ordinator: Wendy Knott-Craig Committee: Natalie de Lange; Gill Dickie; Rachel Greensmith; Sadie Isaacs; Leigh Myles-Rohroft; Alastair Stead Eastern Cape Co-ordinator: Wendy Knott-Craig t: (041) 360 4415 | c: 073 201 8699 | ecbranch@saaci.org Gavin Chowles: Angelic Wonders | c: 082 807 7325 | gavin@angelicwonders.co.za Gill Dickie (Sustainability): Budget Car Hire t: (041) 581 4242 | c: 079 527 7619 | gilld@budget.co.za Rachel Greensmith (Future Focus): The Boardwalk | t: (041) 507 7777 | c: 082 290 4617 | rachel.greensmith@ za.suninternational.com Sadie Isaacs (Stakeholder Engagement): Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality | t: (041) 582 2575 | c: 082 990 7652 | conference@nmbt.co.za David Limbert (Community): Magnetic Storm t: (041) 393 4800 | david@magnetic.co.za Leigh Myles-Rohroft: Hotel Savoy (JH Group) t: (041) 368 8343 | c: 083 228 3928 | leigh@jhgroup.co.za Donna Peo: Fish River Sun | c: 082 941 6911 | donna.peop@suninternational.com Seka Skepe: Old Tramways Building | t: (041) 811 8200 | c: 079 996 2854 | vuyiseka.skepe@mbda.co.za Alastair Stead (Into Africa): Scan Display c: 073 236 6618 | alastair@scandisplayec.co.za Andrew Stewart: PeriExpo | t: (041) 581 3733 c: 082 578 5987 | andrew@periexpo.co.za Glenn van Eck CMP: Magnetic Storm t: (041) 393 4800 | glenn@magnetic.co.za KWAZULU-NATAL Chairperson: Nick Papadopoulos Vice-Chairperson: Scott Langley Treasurer: Dawn Holmwood Co-ordinator: Carol Macnab Committee: Imran Ahmed, Tarannum Banatwalla, Tracey Delport, Kim Gibbens, Terrilyn Goldman, Vicki Hooper, Denver Manickum, Liam Prince, James Seymour, Ayanda Shabangu KwaZulu-Natal Co-ordinator: Carol Macnab c: 079 072 0133 | kznbranch@saaci.org Imran Ahmed (Stakeholder Engagement): Aqua Tours & Transfers | t: (086) 100 2782 | c: 082 410 7116 | imran@aquatours.co.za Tarannum Banatwalla: Jellyfish Catering t: 031 564 8034/8132 | c: 083 254 9462 | tarannum@jellyfishcatering.co.za

Tracey Delport (Future Focus): Aha Hotels & Lodges t: 031 536 6520 | c: 083 293 5190 | traceyd@threecities.co.za.

Kim Gibbens: Aqua Mice t: 086 100 2782 | c: 079 693 9530 | kim@aquamice.co.za.

Terrilyn Goldman (Into Africa): Greyville Conference Centre t: 031 309 1430 | c: 082 820 9473 | terrilyn@greyville.co.za Dawn Holmwood (Intelligence): Retired | t: (031) 765 7494 c: 082 558 7383 | dawnholmwood@outlook.com Vicki Hooper: Venues for Conf. in Africa t: 031 764 0059 | c: 083 256 8120 | info@venues.co.za

Dorcas Dlamini: Protea Hotel Group t: (011) 275 1000 | c: 082 903 7204 | dorcas@proteahotels.com Wayne Johnson: Fancourt t: (012) 653 8711 | c: 083 448 1324 | waynej@fancourt.co.za Denise Kemp (Public Officer): Eastern Sun Events t: (041) 374 5654 | c: 082 654 9755 | denise@easternsun.co.za Aidan Koen (NTB Chair): Scan Display Solutions t: (011) 447 4777 | c: 082 561 3188 | aidan@scandisplay.co.za Nonnie Kubeka (Government Representative): Gauteng Convention Bureau t: (011) 085 2500 c: 083 571 7410 | nonnie@gauteng.net Adriaan Liebetrau: t: (011) 880 5883 | c: 082 863 6302 adriaan@saaci.org Nick Papadopoulos (KZN Chair): Eat Greek t: (031) 563 3877 | c: 084 450 5011 | eatgreek@telkomsa.net Kim Roberts (Advisory Board Representative): The Forum Company t: (011) 575 3750 | c: 082 652 2008 kim.roberts@theforum.co.za Andrew Stewart (EC Chair): PeriExpo t: (041) 581 3733 | c: 082 578 5987 | andrew@periexpo.co.za Glenn van Eck CMP: Magnetic Storm t: (041) 393 4800. c: 082 800 2616 | glenn@magnetic.co.za Desireé Smits van Waesberghe: Capemotion t: (021) 790 2190 | c: 072 335 5282 dsmitsvanwaesberghe@helmsbriscoe.com

ADVISORY BOARD: Helet Borchardt (Community): Sanlam t: (021) 947 4486 | c: 082 458 8211 helet.borchardt@sanlam.co.za Kim Roberts (Intelligence): The Forum Company t: (011) 575 3750 | c: 082 652 2008 kim.roberts@theforum.co.za Esti Venske (Academy): Cape Peninsula University of Technology t: (021) 460 3518 | venskee@cput.ac.za Jaques Fouche (Into Africa): Gearhouse SA t: (021) 929 7232 | c: 083 607 2046 jaques.fouche@gearhouse.co.za Liam Prince (Branding & Communication): Selbys Productions t: (031) 700 6697 | c: 072 589 8782 liam@selbys.co.za Lillian Hlabangane (Stakeholder Engagement): City of Tshwane t: (012) 358 8248 | c: 082 700 5172 LilianH@tshwane.gov.za Bronwen Shaw (Sustainability): Contemplating an Exciting Future | c: 074 892 3259 | bronwenshaw@outlook.com Moses Gontai (Future Focus): Namanje Event Solutions t: 011) 538 7262 | c: 073 407 9322 | moses@namanjevents.co.za

Scott Langley (Sustainability): Durban ICC t: (031) 360 1315 | c: 082 382 8563 | scottl@icc.co.za Denver Manickum (Community): I-Cube Alternative Advertising | t: (031) 701 0474 | c: 083 482 8525 | denver@icube.co.za Nick Papadopoulos: Eat Greek t: (031) 563 3877 | c: 084 505 0113 | eatgreek@telkomsa.net Liam Prince – co-opted (Branding & Communication): Gearhouse | t: 031 792 6200 | c: 083 602 0442 | Liam.prince@gearhouse.co.za James Seymour: Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau | t: 031 360 1171 | c: 082 925 5508 | james@ durbankzncb.co.za Ayanda Shabangu (Academy): Makulu Events t: 031 261 1136 | c: 079 473 3800 | ayanda@makuluevents.co.za

t: (012) 248 8820 | c: 082 787 6144 anette@casatoscana.co.za Marius Garbers: Baagisane t: (012) 362 6327 c: 082 789 7963 | mgwcom@mweb.co.za

NORTHERN TERRITORIES Chairperson: Aidan Koen Vice-Chairperson: Estelle Lötter CMP Treasurer: Vuyo Mzozoyana Branch Co-ordinator: Heather Heskes Committee: Chris Prieto CMP, Brian Prowling, Bronwen Shaw, Yolande van den Berg NTB Co-ordinator: Heather Heskes t: (011) 787 4672 | c: 076 321 6111 | gp.za@saaci.org Michelle Bingham (Intelligence): Sandton Convention Centre t: (011) 779 000 | michelle.bingham@tsogosun.com Zoe Broad (Branding & Communication): Scan Display Solutions | c: 083 5689819 | zoe@scandisplay.co.za Aidan Koen: Scan Display Solutions t: (011) 447 4777 | c: 082 561 3188 | aidan@scandisplay.co.za Tumi Longwe (Into Africa): The Forum Turbine Hall t: (011) 492 3888 | c: 071 049 8949 | tumi.longwe@theforum. co.za felicia.mokhehle@za.sabmiller.com Estelle Lötter CMP (Community): Ripcord Promotions t: (011) 482 2835 | c: 082 651 4556 | estelle@ripcord.za.com Felicia Mokhehle (Future Focus): SAB World of Beer c: 083 364 9000 | felicia.mokhehle@za.sabmiller.com Vuyo Mzozoyana (Stakeholder Engagement): Crowne Plaza Rosebank | c: 078 168 6489 | vuyom@therosebank.co.za Chris Prieto CMP (Academy): t: (011) 973 5138 | c: 083 778 2644 | saaci.chrisprieto@gmail.com Kim Roberts (Intelligence): The Forum t: (011) 487 3819 | c: 082 323 3910 | kim.oberts@theforum.co.za Bronwen Shaw (Sustainability): Inspire Furniture Hire t: (011) 287 2200 | c: 083 646 8778 | bronwenshaw@#outlook.com Brendan Vogt (Co-opted): Guvon Hotels & Spas t: (011) 791 1870 | c: 083 709 0489 | brendan@guvon.co.za TSHWANE Chairperson: Robert Walker Vice-Chairperson: Melanie Pretorius Treasurer: Marius Garbers Co-ordinator: Heather Heskes Committee: Anette Burden; Nellie Swart; Leon Pheiffer; Neliswa Nkani; Oscar Motsepe; Pieter Swart; Roz Prinsloo; Jeana Turner Gauteng/Tshwane Co-ordinator: Heather Heskes t: (011) 787 4672 | c: 076 321 6111 | gp.za@saaci.org Anette Burden (Future Focus): Casa Toscana Lodge

Lillian Hlabangane (Stakeholder Engagement): City of Tshwane | t: (012) 358 8048 | c: 082 700 5172 | lillianh@tshwane.gov.za Emily Naidoo (Community): CSIR ICC t: (012) 841 3435 | enaidoo@csir.co.za Leon Pheiffer (Stakeholder Engagement): EPH Productions | t: (011) 100 3305 | leon@montededios.co.za Melanie Pretorius (vice-chairperson): CSIR t: (012) 841 3825 | mpretorius1@csir.co.za Dr Nellie Swart (Academy): UNISA t: (012) 433 4678 | c: 082 771 0270 | swartmp@unisa.ac.za Pieter Swart (Intelligence): Conference Consultancy SA t: (012) 349 2301 | c: 083 230 0763 | pieter@confsa.co.za Jeana Turner (Sustainability and Into Africa): NFS Technology Group | t: (011) 394 9554 | c: 071 440 3617 | jeana@nfs.co.za Robert Walker (chairperson): Jukwaa Group t: (012) 667 2074 | c: 082 550 0162 | r.walker@jukwaa.net WESTERN CAPE Chairperson: Jaques Fouche Vice-Chairperson: Lerisha Mudaliar Treasurer: Jaco du Plooy Co-ordinator: Lara van Zyl Western Cape Co-ordinator: Lara van Zyl c: 082 223 4684 | wc.za@saaci.org Jaco du Plooy: NH Lord Charles Hotel c: 082 413 2135 | j.duplooy@nh-hotels.co.za Jaques Fouche: Gearhouse SA c: 083 607 2046 | jaques.fouche@gearhouse.co.za Jan-Hendrik Fourie (Branding & Communication): Prosperis | c: 083 245 5582 | jan-hendrik@prosperis.com Andrew Gibson (Intelligence): Magnetic Storm c: 074 588 3054 | andrew@magnetic-ct.co.za Angela Lorimer (Sustainability): Spier t: (021) 809 1101| AngelaL@spier.co.za Lerisha Mudaliar: Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau (Wesgro) c: 072 631 7674 | lerisha@wesgro.co.za Thiru Naidoo (Stakeholder Engagement): Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau (Wesgro) t: (021) 487 8600 | thiru@wesgro.co.za Cindy Pereira Buser (Intelligence): Michee c: 072 192 5656 | cindy@mirchee.co.za Alshante Smith (Future Focus): CTICC c: 071 299 0601 | alshanthe@cticc.co.za Esmare Steinhoffel (Into Africa): ICCA Africa c: 084 056 5544 | Esmare.S@iccaworld.org Zandri Swarts (Community): Century City Convention Centre and Hotel | t: (021) 204 8000 | zandri.s@ ccconferencecentre.co.za Esti Venske: Cape Peninsula University of Technology t: (021) 460 3518 | venskee@cput.ac.za

DIRECTORY Treasurer: Andrew Gibbs

Vice-Chairperson: Andrew Binning

Zaida Enver (Organisers Forum): Pure Grit t: (011) 467 5011 | c: 082 555 1049 | zaida@puregrit.co.za

Immediate Past Chair: Brad Alder

Andrew Gibbs (Suppliers Forum): Concept G

t: 086 122 2678 | c: 083 260 8065 | andrew@conceptg.co.za Katherine Gunningham (Young Professionals Forum): Compex t: (011) 234 0604 | c: 060 983 9273 katherine@compex.co.za Karen Healey (Western Cape Forum): Resource Design t: (021) 510 7776 | c: 082 893 6036 karen@resourcedesign.co.za Denver Manickum (KZN Forum Chair): iCube Advertising t: (031) 701 0474 | c: 083 482 8525 denver@icube.co.za Neil Nagooroo (Venue Forum): SCC t: (011) 779 0000 | c: 082 929 5241 Neil.Nagooroo@tsogosun.com Doug Rix (Suppliers Forum): DK Design c: 082 579 7071 | Dougrix@wol.co.za Clive Shedlock (Organisers Forum): Conker Exhibitions t: (031) 312 2990 | c: 083 784 6004 Clive.Shedlock@gmail.com

Secretariat: Mariaan Burger c: +27 (0)82 557 8041 | e: info@sitesouthernafrica.com

Tanya Angell-Schau c: +27 (0)82 559 9007 | e: tangellschau@tourvestdm.com

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Adriaan Fourie c: +27 (0)84 545 3355 | e: adriaan@wesgro.co.za Cindy Pereira Buser c: +27 (0)72 192 5656 | e: cindy@mirchee.co.za Justin Exner c: +27 (0)60 302 6018 | e: justin@vineyard.co.za Barry Futter: Adventure Works c: +27 (0)82 335 4090 | e: barry@adventureworks.co.za Daryl Keywood c: +27 (0)82 904 4967 | e: daryl@walthers.co.za.

Henk Graaf c: +27 (0)83 696 3307 | e: henk@swafrica.co.za

Nicholas Leonsis: c: +27 (0)82 564 6996 | e: nicholasl@travkor.co.za

ICCA AFRICAN CHAPTER: Chairperson: Ben Asoro Commercial Director, Calabar ICC, Calabar Nigeria t: +23 48173098930 | +254722493146 e: ben@conventioncentrecalabar.com

Secretariat: Esmare Steinhofel, CCA Africa Regional director c: 084 056 5544 e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org. www.iccaworld.com/dbs/africanchapter

Brad Alder (Suppliers Forum): Octanorm t: (011) 433 2010 | Fax: (011) 433 1927 | c: 082 445 2661 brad.alder@octanorm.co.za EXSA OFFICE General Manager: Phumulani Hlatshwayo | Box 2632, HalfwayHouse 1685 | t: (011) 805 7272 | Fax: (011) 805 7273 | phumulani@exsa.co.za | www.exsa.co.za.

Admin Manager: Thuli Ndlovu | info@exsa.co.za Communications Manager: Aimee Delagey aimee@exsa.co.za BOARD MEMBERS National Chairperson: Neil Nagooroo

Official Journal of the Southern Africa Chapter of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence OFFICE BEARERS: Chapter President: Tes Proos, Crystal Events, Box 50596, Waterfront 8002 | c: +27 (0)84 682 7676. e: president@sitesouthernafrica.com Treasurer: Peter-John Mitrovich c: +27 (0)82 318 1889 | e: peter-john.mitrovich@ grosvenortours.com

ICCA – International Congress & Convention Association

Andrew Binning (Organiser Forum): Inkanyezi Event Organisers t: (041) 363 0310 | c: 082 372 9247 andrew@inkanyezi.co.za Lorin Bowen (Organisers Forum): Synergy Business Events t: (011) 476 5108 | c: 082 433 8687 lorin@synergybe.co.za Lindy Cambouris (Venue Forum): CTICC t: (021) 410 5000 | c: 071 888 2625 | lindy@cticc.co.za Patrick Cronning (Suppliers Forum): Expo Guys t: (011) 433 3260 | c: 083 281 5584 | pat@expoguys.co.za

President: Nina Freysen-Pretorius The Conference Company t: (031) 303 9852 f: (031) 303 9529 e: nina@confco.co.za

SUB COMMITTEE (Business Africa Development): Nicholas Leonsis (Chair): c: +27 (0)82 564 6996 | e: nicholasl@travkor.co.za Bunny Boolah: c: +27 (0)83 632 2420 | e: bunny@africanlink.co.za SUB COMMITTEE (Young Leadership Development): Nonhlanhla Tsabalala: c: +27 (0)71 351 4458 | nonhlanhlaT@tshwane.gov.za.

ICCA AFRICAN REGIONAL OFFICE:

Regional Director Africa: Esmare Steinhofel c: 084 056 5544 e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org www.iccaworld.com

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS OF INTEREST TO THE INDUSTRY AAXO – Association of African Exhibition Organisers Box 1597, Kelvin 2054 | t: +27 11 549 8300 info@aaxo.co.za | www.aaxo.co.za Chairperson: Carol Weaving Secretariat: Cindy Wandrag ABTA – African Business Travel Association Box 2594, Pinegowrie 2123 | t: (011) 888-8178 f: (011) 782-3814 | c: 083 679-2110 | monique@abta.co.za www.abta.co.za Founder: Monique Swart ANTOR – Association of National Tourist Office Representatives President: Hélène Bezuidenhoudt Vice-president: Wendie White Treasurer/Secretary: TBC Box 41022, Craighall 2024 | c: 083 200 4444 f: (011) 523-8290 | helene.bezuidenhoudt@franceguide.com ASATA – Association of Southern African Travel Agents PO Box 650539, Benmore 2010 | t: (011) 293-0560/61 f: 086 504 9767 | barbara@asata.co.za Chief Executive Officer: Otto de Vries c: 076 140-7005 | f: 086 505-1590 Office Manager: Barbara Viljoen.

EGF – Event Greening Forum 179 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North, Private Bag X7000, Parklands 2121 | (011) 447-4777 | info@eventgreening.co.za | www.eventgreening.co.za

Chairman: Justin Hawes Vice-chairman: Greg McManus FEDHASA National Office – Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa | Box 71517, Bryanston 2021 | t: 0861 333 628 | f: 0867 165 299 fedhasa@fedhasa.co.za | www.fedhasa.co.za Manager – National Office: Lynda Bacon.

PSASA – Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa | t: (011) 462-9465 | f: 086 515-0906 c: 083 458-6114 | nikki@psasouthernafrica.co.za www.psasouthernafrica.co.za Executive Director: Nikki Bakker SABOA – Southern African Bus Operators Association Postnet Suite 393, Private Bag X033, Rivonia 2128 t: (011) 011 9288 | f: (011) 011 9296 | saboa@saboa.co.za President: Mr A Sefala Executive Manager: Mr E Cornelius SATI – South African Translators’ Institute Executive Director: Marion Boers t: (011) 803 2681 | office@translators.org.za www.translators.org.za SATSA – Southern Africa Tourism Services Association Box 900, Ferndale 2160 | t: (011) 886-9996 | f: +27 866832082. E-mail: jennym@satsa.co.za | www.satsa.com.

Chief Executive Officer: David Frost Chief Operations Officer: Jenny Mewett SKAL International South Africa International secretary: Anne Lamb

t/f: (021) 434 7023 | c: 082 708-1836 | anne@yebo.co.za. www.skalsouthafrica.org STA – Sandton Tourism Association t: 083 558-5445 | secretariat@sandtontourism.com www.sandtontourism.com.

TBCSA – Tourism Business Council of South Africa Box 11655, Centurion 0046 | t: (012) 664-0120 f: (012) 664-0103 | comms@tbcsa.travel | www.tbcsa.travel or www.tomsa.co.za Member Relations Manager: Boitumelo Moleleki TGCSA – Tourism Grading Council of South Africa Private Bag X10012, Sandton 2146 | t: (011) 895-3000 f: (011) 895-3001 | enquiries@tourismgrading.co.za.

TINSA – Interpreters/Translators Network of Southern Africa Co-ordinator: info@interpreter.org.za t/f: (011) 485-2511 | c: 083 249 0010 | www.interpreter.org.za TPSA – Technical Production Services Association Box 2245, Pinegowrie 2123 | t: 082 371 5900 admin@tpsa.co.za | www.tpsa.co.za Administrator: Tiffany Reed TTA – Tshwane Tourism Association Box 395, Pretoria 0001 | t: 012 841 4212 secretary@tshwanetourism.com | www.tshwanetourism.com.

Chairperson: Bronwen Cadle de Ponte Secretary: Sithembile Nzimande Membership Co-ordinator: Liz Oosthuysen | membership@tshwanetourism.com

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THE LAST WORD

A positive outlook for business events

By Mmatšatši Ramawela, chief executive officer of TBCSA

It is anyone’s guess what the crystal ball has in store for South Africa’s travel and tourism industry in 2017. Nonetheless, our own reading of political and socio-economic developments in the marketplace, points to the New Year being more of a continuance of 2016.

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ooming into the business events sector, we have good reason to be optimistic. According to SA Tourism’s 2015/16 annual report on the work of the SA National Conventions Bureau (SANCB), our last tally of international association conferences and meetings already secured for the five years starting in 2017 stood at 66. This is in terms of meetings which are already contracted for South Africa and guaranteed business for the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

It is estimated these events will contribute R1.4-billion in economic impact, attract 108 134 association professionals and generate 311 event days that will benefit all suppliers in the business events value chain.

In addition, bids are still pending for events planned to take place in the years to 2022.

What’s more, National Treasury has finally acceded to the industry’s call for the establishment of a bid fund. This vote of confidence in business events, comes with a R9-million commitment to the SANCB budget to help kick-start the bid fund.

Looking at business traveller trends, the buzzword “bleisure” comes to mind as the fine line between leisure and business travel is blurred.

WHO IS

Mmatšatši Ramawela?

Mmatšatši Ramawela’s career in South Africa’s travel and tourism industry spans over 20 years.

She is the chief executive officer of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

Booking.com’s 2017 predictions report shows that 49 per cent of business travellers already extend their business trips to further enjoy the destination, while 75 per cent intend to do so in the same or more in the coming year.

growth – especially with the recent reprieve provided by ratings agency not to further downgrade the country’s sovereign credit rating. Certainty boosts business confidence.

A tough operating environment

Looking at developments in regional Africa, travel facilitation again emerges as a major issue given Botswana’s recent stance to put in place more stringent measures to regulate the movement of minors under the age of 18. Whether this position is likely to have a domino effect on the rest of the region and/ or further complicate our own engagements with the South African government on the same issue remains to be seen.

The extent to which this expected “business tourism boom” will be achieved and sustained will depend on how quickly we are able to address some of the major regulatory challenges travellers are faced with, most notably the unintended consequences of the amended immigration regulations.

And then there is the on-going delays and congestion at our major airports, which in themselves have a massive impact on tourism, especially business travel.

Nonetheless, we are hopeful the Department of Home Affairs, together with National Treasury and the Department of Public Services and Administration will find a positive solution to the human resources challenges that are affecting our immigration services to boost our arrivals in 2017.

We anticipate a resolution being found to address issues relating to the movement of children under the age of 18 coming into the country from visaexempt countries. This will provide a level of certainty for those business travellers who will be travelling with their families and plan to extend their stay in the country for some leisure time – boosting our “bleisure” arrivals.

Broadening our focus to the broader economy, we will continue to track developments in the country’s political arena with keen interest, especially developments in the lead up to the ruling party’s 2017 national elective conference and, ultimately, the 2019 national elections.

We hope the intra and inter-political party jostling for position we are witnessing will not become a hindrance to current efforts (between business and government) to stimulate economic

Developments in the region

The world as we know it is changing When we factor in major shifts in the global environment such as Brexit in the UK and its unfolding impact on the EU; and the results of the US Presidential elections, it is quite clear the world as we know it, is changing.

While many commentators believe it may be too soon to tell the likely impact of these developments on South Africa, the key question is how will this impact on South Africa’s tourism receipts?

Moreover, how will South Africans travelling to these destinations be affected in the medium to long-term?

What is already clear is that these events have given rise to populism and protectionism – developments which are likely to shape our trade relations with the UK, the US and many other countries within the EU going forward.

All in all, we are likely to see a number of global, regional and local developments spill over and unravel further in 2017. How this will shape travel and tourism, is not clear.

However, we are hopeful these will unfold in a manner that we will be able to handle them and one that further reinforces our drive to grow our industry and move our economic contribution as a sector into double digits.

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