Business Events Africa Vol 35 No 01

Vol 35 No 1

2015

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Business Events Africa

Voice Of The Business Events Industry In Africa

Formerly the Southern Africa Conference, Exhibition & Events Guide and incorporating incentiveworld.com

Contents

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

about the cover 6

Meetings Africa, Africa’s business events lekgotla, synonymous with the development of the industry, follows hot on the heels of a year of firsts for Sandton Convention Centre.

Regular Features

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Comment

25 Executive Chef

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News

40 The Last Word

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Future Focus

Special Features

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meetings africa preview The South African National Convention Bureau has announced the Meetings Africa 2015 event programme which has been designed to deliver a strategically-focused and informative show that will meet exhibitor, buyer and visitor expectations.

20 VENUE OF THE MONTH

Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention and

Entertainment Resort, located alongside O.R. Tambo

International Airport in Johannesburg, combines the

timeless classical elegance of a bygone era with the sheer

excitement of a modern casino resort. www.businesseventsafrica.com

Business Events Africa

Voice Of The Business Events Industry In Africa

Official Journal of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry

Business Events Africa

Head Office physical address: Suite 1, Fields Shopping Centre, Old Main Road, Kloof 3610.

Head Office postal address: P.O. Box 414, Kloof 3640, South Africa.

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

Editor: Irene Costa e-mail: gomesi@iafrica.com

Formerly the Southern Africa Conference, Exhibition & Events Guide and incorporating incentiveworld.com

is published by the proprietors, Contact Publications (Pty) Ltd. (Reg No. 81/11920/07)

Official journal of the Exhibition & Event Association of Southern Africa

Publisher: Godfrey King e-mail: gk@contactpub.co.za

Circulation: Jackie Goosen e-mail: jackie@contactpub.co.za Production Leader: Colleen McCann e-mail: colleen@contactpub.co.za Design & Layout: Beth Marchand e-mail: beth@contactpub.co.za

Tel: +27 31 764-6977 Fax: +27 31 764-6974 e-mail: contact@contactpub.co.za https://twitter.com/bizeventsafrica

Vol 35 no 1 2015 Special Features 26

incentive destination The Kingdom of Swaziland is a home away from home for all South Africans and the ideal incentive destination for the adventure seekers, the sports enthusiasts and the outdoor explorers.

Venue News 22 Johannesburg Expo Centre – into a new decade.

23 The Table Bay ranked in top 25.

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24 • Protea Hotel Mowbray all set to open.

• Ten Bompas invites you to visits its new Space.

Market News 28 Be inspired at Hostex with Host-ED. 29 Quest to keep its chefs tops.

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30 Charmain Brough takes a bow.

31 Selby’s SA gives in the season of giving.

32 SAACI News

37 Calendar

34 EXSA News

38 Directory + aSSOCIATIONS OF INTEREST

35 SITE News 36 Index of advertisers

Publication details: Business Events Africa is published monthly.

There is a Yearbook in June with magazines from January to May and July to December.

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Advertising enquiries:

Printed by: Paarl Media KZN, 52 Mahogany Road, Westmead, Pinetown, 3610. www.paarlmedia.co.za Annual subscription rate: R525 which includes postage, packaging and VAT. Rates for addresses outside South Africa can be obtained on application to the Subscription Department, Contact Publications.

publishers of Business Events Africa, is a member of:

Gina Lorenzi (KwaZulu-Natal) Jean Ramsay (Western Cape) Cell: +27 (0)79 508-0428 Cell: +27 72 015-7038 e-mail: j.ramsay@telkomsa.net e-mail: gina@contactpub.co.za

Bernadette Fenton (Gauteng) Cell: +27 (0)82 443-8931 e-mail: bernadette@contactpub.co.za

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Editor’s Comment

Loadshedding –

it’s time to make a change

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oadshedding ... a term we have all come to dread. Unfortunately, 2015 has started with this challenge.

I call it a challenge as it really does not have to be the end all. Yes, it will make operating in 2015 a lot more challenging,

but we will all have to look for new ways of operating. While I write this, I’m due to be loadshedded in the next 15 minutes, but it doesn’t mean I have to stop working.

I have a laptop that if charged sufficiently, should continue operating through the loadshedding period. I myself have a Wi-Fi set-up so the only thing that does get impacted is my Internet connection. The solution? Maybe a 3G card or an alternative device?

What I am trying to say is loadshedding can be beaten. Yes, it really isn’t ideal, but if we can work smartly, this is just a little pothole in our work day.

For venues and suppliers, it does cause other issues that can be “solved” by a generator. However, generators are not cheap to run. Therefore, we will probably see an increase in tariffs to cover these new costs.

I know morale is low at the moment, but we as South Africans are resilient, and really need to start thinking out the box. Maybe we all need to become less dependent on our power grid? What are the alternatives? Solar? Maybe this should be seen as an initiative to become a more green destination?

Greening is a big drawcard for big congresses looking for host destinations.

How can we, as a country, and as the business events industry, start becoming

greener?

Meetings Africa is taking place in a few weeks. Besides being the business events trade show in South Africa, I could be bold in saying the best business events trade show in Africa. This show has, over the years, proven to be one of the greenest exhibitions in South Africa.

In conjunction with Meetings Africa, the Event Greening Forum also run their annual conference. Maybe it is time for our industry to become serious about greening? The Event Greening Forum may be the place to begin.

I have never considered myself as being a “greenie beanie”, but for the first time I think I need to start educating myself on what it means.

My new year’s resolution is “never assume” – so to start the year I am open to educating myself to new ideas, including how I, as an individual, can start making some changes to my lifestyle by becoming more open to a greener way of life.

As an industry, let’s make loadshedding a positive by “getting out of the dark” and finding the light.

Irene

Email: gomesi@iafrica.com

News

The Conference Company to organise IFUW Conference

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he Conference Company has been appointed as professional conference organiser (PCO) of the 32nd Triennial Conference of the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), based in Geneva, Switzerland, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 21-27 August, 2016.

Nina Freysen-Pretorius, chief executive officer of The Conference Company, said she and her team are very honoured by this appointment. “This is not only a major achievement for us, but as an all-women team, we believe we are perfectly suited for the job. It is important for a PCO to not only deliver a seamless event, but to understand the dynamics and the content thereof.”

She said The Conference Company, which has offices in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, has been researching the IFUW and its conference for more than four years and eventually participated in the PCO election process that was managed by Wesgro, the destination marketing, investment and trade promotion agency for the Western Cape.

“This international conference will bring together opinion leaders and grassroots community leaders on the theme of education, looking at topical subjects ranging from current challenges in education to new technologies, access to education and human rights education,” said IFUW president Catherine Bell.

The IFUW conference is expected to draw approximately 800 delegates from the Federation’s affiliates in 62 countries and individual members in more than 40 others.

Founded in 1919, the IFUW is the leading girls’ and women’s global organisation advocating for women’s rights, equality and empowerment through access to quality education and training up to the highest levels. The Federation is in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is maintaining official relations with the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The Conference Company specialises in the association market. Major conferences managed by the company include the COP17 climate change conference held in Durban in 2011, the International

From left: Natalie Kensley, The Conference Company; Hélène Queyrane, IFUW programme officer; Aneshree Pillay, The Conference Company; Catherine Bell, IFUW president; Lorraine Mangwiro, IFUW administrative assistant; Danièle Castle, IFUW executive director and Nina Freysen-Pretorius, The Conference Company.

Confederation of Midwives in the same year, and the Zambian leg of the UN World Tourism Organisation’s world congress at Victoria Falls in 2013.

Ms Freysen-Pretorius is president of

the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) and former national chairperson of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI). n

Hilton Sandton welcomes new hotel manager Hilton Sandton has a new hotel manager, Gert Venter, who has been at the reins since the beginning of 2015.

Mr Venter steps into the role of Hilton Sandton’s hotel manager after leading the team at Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa in South Africa. He is an accomplished hotelier who has worked with various global and local brands since 1993 when he entered the hospitality industry.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to continue growing within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands and Hilton Sandton is yet another layer I am adding to my professional career as a hotelier.

I am looking forward to pushing limits and continuing to assert our hotel as a leading global brand through offering our guests the stage to make and tell their stories,” Mr Venter said.

The Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in South Africa and Africa has won numerous awards including a prestigious World Travel Awards in 2014 for being the leading global brand in the continent.

This is testament to the exceptional levels of service guests have come to expect from Hilton.

Hilton Sandton, over and above

contributing to these awards has had a tremendous contribution to the Johannesburg community through partnerships with various stakeholders that target youth empowerment in the country. Through these relationships and various activities, the hotel has shared the message of Travel With Purpose® and contributed immensely to the objective of impacting the lives of one million people by 2019. n

Gert Venter

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Cover Story

Meetings Africa thrives at Sandton Convention Centre as Africa’s leading confex Meetings Africa, Africa’s business events lekgotla, synonymous with the development of the industry, follows hot on the heels of a year of firsts for Sandton Convention Centre (SCC), having hosted the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz and the longest-running exhibition ever in South Africa – Days of the Dinosaur, as well as significant events such as C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Mayors Summit and 20 Years of Economic Transformation Summit.

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he year ahead looks set to be a bumper year at southern Africa’s leading and most prestigious, multipurpose exhibition and convention centre, celebrating growth and diversification in the industry.

SCC’s calendar reveals a myriad of possibilities with Breakbulk Africa, Totally Concrete, Coatings for Africa, FNB Joburg Art Fair, Power, Water Africa Solutions Conference, International Women’s Forum World, Cornerstone Conference, SA Fine Brandy Fusion, Water Africa Solutions, ISS

World, Enactus World Cup and International Radar Conference.

One of the first events on SCC’s calendar and undoubtedly the most significant from a business tourism perspective is the iconic industry event, Meetings Africa, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary and is expected to attract 186 international hosted buyers, 50 African associations and 500 corporate travel buyers. The event showcases Africa’s steady climb in the world rankings as a preferred business destination, with South Africa now ranked 34th most popular

destination globally on the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) global rankings, having hosted 118 international recognised association conferences during 2013, up from its 2012 ranking of 37th and in sharp contrast to the 12 global events held in 1994.

Dr Mati Nyazema, executive director of the SCC, said: “This milestone marks a decade of growth, innovation and the positive economic impact that Meetings Africa has driven for the African continent.”

As a “confex” event – a combined conference and exhibition – Meetings Africa is perfectly accommodated within the SCC’s 22 000 square metres space, which is capable of providing venues to suit the event’s requirements for exhibition space, small meetings rooms, a gala venue and smaller cocktail venues, along with internal catering. Ideally located in Sandton, the purpose-built 12-storey structure is designed to hold an array of events concurrently, accommodating up to 10 000 guests at any one time while still being capable of hosting the intimate meetings and events that are a

Cover Story core component of Meetings Africa and other confex events.

All shows at the SCC are supported by a strong team of individuals and renowned chefs at the SCC, with years of experience in their respective fields. “This year, our culinary team will be providing the catering for the three day show and the chefs have taken an inspired look at current food movements and created trendy food truck style and gourmet street food menus which will be available during the day, while speciality menus have been created for the gala dinner and an array of cocktail specialities for the smaller events,” Dr Nyazema said.

“The SCC is always looking for innovative trends and sustainable practices to support and grow the industry, and the kitchen is no different. Over the years the SCC kitchen has committed to locally sourced ingredients, fair trade and sustainable produce. This practice ensures synergy between show, venue and culinary experience as many shows, including Meetings Africa, are opting for a ‘greener show’ in all aspects,” said James Khoza, executive chef at the SCC.

The evolution of the ‘confex’

The confex concept has been around for some time, with the first conference at SCC being National Conference on Racism in September 2000, which included an

exhibition component. Since then, the “confex” is more commonly being adopted by organisers in the global events arena.

In many industries, organisers want to go beyond exhibitions into the arena of knowledge-sharing, while conversely, annual meetings are diversifying their offering by running an exhibition alongside it. This has increased the profitability of the events for the organisers as it brings a new revenue stream into the equation, or it is simply viewed as value add for the exhibition visitor to offer free seminar content.

Dr Nyazema said: “Driving footfall, increasing profitability, and adding value is the aim of every event held at SCC – and the confex is proving to be an ideal platform for achieving this for organisers, exhibitors,

delegates and visitors.”

In recent years, the EXSA conference has reflected a higher than normal attendance by international exhibitions and all parties expressed an increased confidence in the African product and a desire to explore partnerships in which to invest or review.

There is excellent growth opportunity in this arena as these organisations are not looking at South Africa just as a country in its own right, but as a launch pad into the rest of Africa, with a specific interest in exhibitions where the captive market is broader than just South Africa. This presents one avenue or opportunity for the future of exhibitions in South Africa – for local exhibitions to align with international exhibitors – for the benefit of international marketing and product. It

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Cover Story

increases the captive market.

Dr Nyazema said: “The SCC is intrinsically in the business of conventions, exhibitions and meetings that are linked to economic development. Our business is critical to the promotion of professional and business development, academic and research exchange, technical and medical advancement as well as cultural evolution.

The SCC’s ability to host Meetings Africa as well as the growth of the event is a testament to the advance of business tourism in South Africa and the emergence of the African continent as a major role player in the international arena.”

Size counts

The confex relies on the ability of a venue to provide both small and large multi-purpose spaces for conferences,

meetings, breakaways and the exhibition component, as in the case of Meetings Africa.

The size and the stature of events hosted regularly within the SCC’s walls conjure up an image of large-scale events, but this is just the tip of iceberg of the convention centre’s capabilities.

Nestled within the four main levels of the SCC are a number of venues that cater for smaller, more intimate business events.

Approximately 13 smaller, multipurpose venues offer endless possibilities, providing the a prestigious space that can accommodate anything from two to 350 guests for private cocktail functions, intimate dinners, meetings of various sizes, executive brainstorms, AGM’s, breakaway rooms

and interview rooms.

The variety of options available at SCC extends from its venues to its suppliers, accommodation and food and beverage. Customised packages are tailor-made for each client to accommodate the specific requirements of the event and the SCC prides itself on its ability to provide both the venue and expertise to ensure that everything from the décor, to the menu and entertainment are seamlessly coordinated.

Many companies whose events have started out in the smaller rooms at the SCC have grown to become far larger events within this prestigious address, with the SCC remaining the venue of choice as it proudly supports the growth of these businesses. n

For more information on Sandton Convention Centre, log on to www.saconvention.co.za, join the Facebook page on http://www. facebook.com/SandtonConventionCentre or follow on Twitter at @SandtonEvents.

Passionate

Future Focus

Natalie Kensley is goal-orientated Thirty-five-year-old Natalie Kensley, is research sales and marketing manager of The Conference Company, and looks after the Cape Town branch and, on occasion, manages key projects.

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he Conference Company consists of a team of professional conference organisers dedicated to solving the conference needs of the association industry.

Natalie was awarded the 2012 SAACI Personality of the Year award and the EXSA 2014 award for the Best Supplier Project Management Employee.

When did you realise you wanted to be in the business events industry?

Well, I didn’t at first. I have been a hotelier most of my career – it was serendipitous by offer of Nina Freysen-Pretorius to test the waters to see If I would be interested in working with the team at The Conference Company. I think I realised two years into working at Confco.

Were you discouraged from pursuing a career in conferencing?

No – my mentors supported my decision to join the conference industry suggesting it would benefit my career. That said, as an hotelier, I worked with many conference and event planners. It all seemed so glamorous. Until you do the work does one realise the strength, courage and tenacity required.

far more experience and qualifications, but word to the wise, surround yourself with people you like and aspire to be like (a mentor). Thereafter, just immerse yourself confidently.

What does your job entail?

Do you ever have a typical day?

character, confidence, team player, flexibility, balance work / life, humility, good communicator and organised.

What advice would you offer young people who are reluctant to explore the conference industry?

Before you form an opinion, spend some time getting to know the industry and the amazing people. Once you made the decision to join the industry my advice – don’t allow yourself to be suppressed and intimidated. Do what you need to do, speak your mind and remain kind, immerse yourself and be confident. n

There is never a typical day, but it helps that I’m quite structured with planning my week setting myself goals. That said, structure provides a good context to achieving those goals.

Researching, identifying, contacting new and existing association leads and following through with sales calls. Oversee the marketing for The Conference Company and Nina FreysenPretorius. Upon request, I project manage too.

Which personal traits do you need for this position?

My top traits: passion for the industry, strong

How long have you been in the industry?

16 years.

What challenges do you face as a young person in this industry?

It’s easy to be intimidated by those with

Natalie Kensley

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Meetings Africa Preview

Meetings Africa Preview

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All plans on track to stage Africa’s biggest business events trade show The South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) has announced the Meetings Africa 2015 event programme which has been designed to deliver a strategically-focused and informative show that will meet exhibitor, buyer and visitor expectations.

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eetings Africa has earned its place as Africa’s premier business events trade show. The show, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, attracts quality buyers from around the world, and superior business events products and services from across the continent.

“Last year was an exciting and busy time for the industry. Not only did we celebrate 20 years of democracy and the phenomenal growth of the industry during this period, we also celebrated South Africa’s global business events ranking, big meeting wins and the appointment of two leaders to prominent positions on the ICCA Board.

“Nina Freysen-Pretorius’ leadership abilities were recognised internationally when she was elected president of the International Congress & Convention

Association (ICCA).

“Our very own Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer of the South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB), a business unit of South African Tourism, was also elected geographical member for Africa to the ICCA Board,” said Thulani Nzima, chief executive officer of South African Tourism.

“In among all of this, we as the organisers, were hard at work with preparations for our own business event trade show, Meetings Africa, which will celebrate a momentous milestone this year,” he says.

Meetings Africa has grown significantly since its inception in 2005. It has become the preferred meeting place for the industry, offering exhibitors from across Africa the single best platform to meet quality buyers from around the world, all under one roof.

“Meetings Africa 2015 will be a celebration and recognition of our achievements as a show and of the people who have impacted and contributed to the show and the industry’s growth. We can say with certainty that the show is going to be valuable, exciting and vibrant without compromising on its primary purpose or on our strategic objectives,” Mr Nzima said.

Delegates attending the show will be treated to a robust event programme catering to buyers and exhibitors.

Informed, in part, by the feedback from various stakeholders, certain Continued on page 12

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Meetings Africa Preview

Continued from page 11 classic elements of the Meetings Africa programme will be retained in 2015, while other aspects will be done away with completely or refined to make the show better and more impactful.

For instance, the annual Meetings Africa Golf Day will be held on Wednesday, 4 February at the Wanderers Golf Club, in Sandton. The Golf Day will end off with the Meetings Africa guild dinner, honouring the show’s most loyal exhibitors.

Players, partners and sponsors are all invited to join this gala dinner which will kick off the official events programme and the month of Meetings Africa 2015.

There is an exciting and informative event programme lined up that organisers of the show are certain will cater to all in attendance. An exciting new feature includes the first ever AIPC – the International Association of Convention Centres – Africa Summit taking place on BOND day (Business Opportunity Networking Day) on Monday, 23 February.

The AIPC Africa Summit is a one-day forum targeted at all industry members and stakeholders who are keen on gaining insights into this industry from a global perspective which will enable them to help their business thrive. This will be addressed by global and local industry experts, including highly-renowned industry expert, Rod Cameron who is also the executive director of AIPC. The speakers will address delegates on

a range of enlightening topics pertaining to business events trends and Africa’s potential in relation to the global market.

Some of the other speakers for the various APIC Africa Summit sessions include, but not limited to, Rick Taylor, from the Business Tourism Company, Paul Flackett who is managing director of the IMEX Group, and Thebe Ikalafeng,

founder and managing director of the Brand Leadership Group. The moderator for the various discussions will be James Latham, who is the executive producer of the International Meetings Review.

The CEO panel discussion will be addressed by the CEOs of the top three convention bureau in South Africa – Durban ICC, Sandton ICC and the Cape Continued on page 14

Thulani Nzima

We believe in inspiring and memorable events.

We believe in meetings created with passion.

We believe in experiences our guests really enjoy.

NH The Lord Charles Hotel is situated amid the breath taking surroundings of the famous Cape winelands, 20 minutes from the airport, 30 minutes from Cape Town and houses the 2nd largest conference venue in The Western Cape, renowned for its conferencing capabilities.

At NH you will always receive more than you expect.

NH THE LORD CHARLES 021 855 1040 | sales@nh-hotels.co.za www.nh-hotels.co.za

Visit us at stand #41; Meetings Africa 2015 from 23 – 25 February 2015

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Meetings Africa Preview Continued from page 12 Town ICC BOND day will also feature the third edition of the very successful IMEX MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum, African Association Day to be held in conjunction with ICCA, and the first edition of CEP (Continuing Education Programme) Africa, as well as the very popular Event Greening Forum.

The second day of Meetings Africa – 24 February – marks the official opening of the exhibition.

A key highlight on this day is Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, who will officiate over his first-ever Meetings Africa since his appointment last year.

Later on the same day, the Global Media Face-Off, under the theme “Business Events: Gearing a Continent Up for Growth”, will examine the state and the contribution of business events industry on the African continent, as well as the growth of South Africa’s business events industry over the last decade and how collaboration across the continent will benefit Africa as a whole.

All media and industry members are encouraged to attend this event where distinguished industry leaders, an Africa socio-economic expert, and a professional conference organiser from the continent, will be on hand to address delegates and take questions.

In line with one of the key strategic objectives of Meetings Africa, to create a platform to do business, the partnership with The Unique Speaker Bureau corporate hosted buyers programme has made a new exciting turn in the form of the inaugural VIP Local corporate “B2B” speed marketing event.

This is a platform that will assist exhibitors to do more business, 50 exhibitors have the opportunity to meet 50 of the top regional corporate companies.

Continued on page 18

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Meetings Africa Preview

Continued from page 14

“

We are very excited about this year’s Meetings Africa show, and are very confident it will exceed expectations in terms of visitor experience, and quality of exhibitors and hosted buyers.

”

This event will take place over the two days of Meetings Africa, 24-25 February 2015.

On the last day of Meetings Africa, the Unique Speakers Bureau (USB) will host the Corporate Buyers showcase. This is the second time the event is being hosted at Meetings Africa – following phenomenal feedback from event planners last year.

This showcase brings together more than 40 professional speakers, including international and local speakers, and other leading providers to the conferencing industry including venues, travel and

destinations throughout Southern Africa.

If you are in the business of planning corporate events and meetings, this show is a must attend.

“We are very excited about this year’s Meetings Africa show, and are very confident it will exceed expectations in terms of visitor experience, and quality of exhibitors and hosted buyers,” Mr Nzima concluded. n Meetings Africa 2015 takes place 23 -25 February at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

Meetings Africa Preview

International conferences

bolster the knowledge economy With nearly 30 international conferences on the books for 2015, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is gearing up for a bumper conference year once again.

The first large-scale international association conference kicks off in March with the World Congress of Nephrology 2015, which is expected to attract in excess of 3 000 delegates.

Cape Town and the CTICC have successfully reinforced its appeal as both a leisure and business destination. According to Julie-May Ellingson, chief executive officer: “The increased delegate attendance numbers experienced at two international association conferences hosted last year, the International Congress of Infectious Diseases 2014 and the Third Global Symposium on Health Systems Research 2014, bears testament to this”.

The ability of the CTICC and Cape Town to secure major international conferences is a significant component of its success.

During 2014, the Centre secured 24 bids until the year 2022.

This year, CTICC will continue to take the conference industry to new heights. Some of the international event highlights on the cards for 2015 include the World Library and Information Congress, IFLA General Conference and Assembly 2015 – forecast to draw 3 000 delegates; the World Congress of the International Federation of Aesthetic Dentistry 2015, and the 46th Union World

Conference on Lung Health 2015, expected to attract 1 500 and 2 500 delegates respectively.

Cape Town has become renowned for its medical and scientific fraternities, which is an appealing value proposition for international conferences. “These conferences remain one of the pivotal drivers of the knowledge economy, which contribute to knowledge exchange and skills transfer in key sectors”, concludes Ms Ellingson.

Other key sectors which have been identified to help bolster the knowledge economy include agro processing, the green economy, ICT, property, mining and medical. n

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Venue of the month

Emperors Palace for the full conference experience Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention and Entertainment Resort, located alongside O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, combines the timeless classical elegance of a bygone era with the sheer excitement of a modern casino resort to offer luxurious accommodation in four unique hotels, a glorious health and beauty spa, a magnificent casino with unparalleled gaming enjoyment, the finest in dining options, spectacular entertainment choices and a state-of-the-art cinema complex, world-class conference facilities, and impeccable service.

Conference and Events The Emperors Palace Convention Centre is the embodiment of the perfect event venue. No matter how big or small the event, Emperors Palace excels in the three essential ingredients of successful conferences and entertaining – superb cuisine, impeccable service, and an elegant atmosphere. The talented team at the convention centre work tirelessly to ensure their client’s event is a success, and that guests feel the personal touch and attention to detail that epitomises their events.

Catering for groups of eight to 3 000 in a diverse range of multi-purpose venues and small executive breakaway rooms, Emperors Palace has extensive technical resources and is equipped with state-of-

the-art facilities. Having recently completed a R30-million investment in expanded conference and meeting facilities, the convention centre now offers 29 wellappointed venues with superior technology – including free Wi-Fi up to 500MB per day, per device for guests and delegates.

The Hotels The mega-entertainment resort boasts four award-winning hotels ranging from three, four and five-star. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available at any one of the hotels and throughout the entire entertainment complex.

Peermont D’oreale Grande Unsurpassed luxury, coupled with stateof-the-art facilities makes the five-star

Peermont D’oreale Grande hotel the perfect choice for guests looking for supreme comfort and lavish indulgence.

The award-winning D’oreale Grande offers a matchless regal experience enhanced by superior levels of service and comfort.

Guests can dine at the elegant Aurelia’s restaurant, indulge their senses at Octavia’s Sensorium Day Spa, or simply sip on a cocktail at Neptune’s Pool Bar. Corporate and business travellers can experience a new standard of luxury at the Club Floor and Lounge.

Located on the top floor at the D’oreale Grande, the Club Floor and Lounge provides for exclusive access and offers a full bouquet of personal and concierge services, and a private check-in that will make any business excursion extraordinary. Club Floor guests will be able to conduct business while enjoying complimentary refreshments, working stations (equipped with PCs and Apple products), a meeting room, relaxing lounge, boutique library, local and international newspapers and access to a Club Floor services manager willing to assist with secretarial services such as typing, scanning, photocopying or faxing. The design of the Club Lounge and Business Centre elegantly mirrors the inspirational classic Roman décor that defines Emperors Palace and offers the ultimate in corporate luxury.

Additional Club Floor benefits include

Venue of the month early check-in and late check-out options, 24-hour refreshment in rooms, comfortable robes and slippers, selected complimentary food and beverage offerings, shoe polishing services, complimentary pressing/ laundry and casino play vouchers on arrival.

In addition, the Club Floor services manager and team will be on hand to assist with all entertainment and forward travel arrangements. Accommodation on the Club Floor will be made available to executive guests at a surcharge.

Octavia’s Sensorium Day Spa Located in the opulent Peermont D’oreale Grande hotel, Octavia’s Sensorium Day Spa is a magnificent, world-class facility that indulges guests beyond all expectations.

Elegantly themed in the style that epitomised ancient Rome, a tranquil and welcoming atmosphere ensures that guests are overcome with sheer indulgence. The spa facilities are of the highest standard and quality, ensuring pure sensory enjoyment guaranteed to revitalise body and mind.

Peermont Mondior hotel African fusion meets elegance at the four-star Peermont Mondior Hotel which surpasses all expectations in worldclass business, conference and leisure accommodation. Watch the sunrise over breakfast, enjoy a sociable luncheon at the chic Oriana restaurant and finish off the day with a relaxing cocktail at The Silver Moon bar.

Leisure and business travellers alike can rest comfortably in one of the hotel’s 150 spacious rooms and suites. Cutting-edge technology is fitted throughout the hotel for guest convenience.

Peermont Metcourt Suites Featuring 80 spacious contemporary suites, the three-star select services Peermont Metcourt Suites at Emperors Palace offers guests a home away from home. With friendly service that is unrivalled and extensive access to all that Emperors Palace has to offer – including casinos and venues – the Metcourt Suites is truly an experience not to be missed.

This select-services hotel offers extensive modern convenience suited to the international and conference guest – including a large reception area that can comfortably accommodate large tours and convention groups. Guests can start their

day with breakfast at the stylish Primavera restaurant and from there embark on an exciting journey to relish in all The Palace of Dreams has to offer.

Peermont Metcourt Escape to the Peermont Metcourt at Emperors Palace, and experience the contemporary convenience this three-star gem has to offer. The hotel’s modern façade is complemented by a private pool terrace, set in a beautifully manicured garden.

Guests can enjoy an early morning swim followed by breakfast at the F.L.A.G. Café, or enjoy sundowners at the 21 Degrees cocktail bar. Even business guests will feel at home with a boardroom and business centre available for their exclusive use.

With 248 stylish and comfortable rooms, the Peermont Metcourt is ideal for corporate, convention and leisure guests, as well as groups.

Entertainment Emperors Palace also offers facilities that include theatrical venues such as the Theatre of Marcellus, the Odeon Showbar and the Barnyard Theatre.

The Theatre of Marcellus is the ideal venue for presentations, stage productions and award ceremonies, while the Barnyard Theatre remains the favourite venue for group buy-outs and corporate events. Both venues offer the very best in sound and lighting gadgetry, a big screen and built in-stage.

Just off the main casino floor, Emperors Palace guests and visitors will find The Odeon Showbar. Beautifully decorated with a regal Roman flair, the Odeon Showbar features an elegant bar and vibrant ambience – the perfect venue for a night out on the town.

Transport Emperors Palace provides a complimentary shuttle service every 20 minutes between the resort and the O.R Tambo International Airport. Access to Emperors Palace has now become even easier with the Gautrain having added it to its existing bus schedule. The latest route starts just one stop away from O.R Tambo International station at the Rhodesfield station, and ends at Emperors Palace. The Gautrain bus service operates weekdays from 05h30 – 20h30, with guests being able to park their cars securely at the train station. n

Contact information: For further information visit www.emperorspalace.com or call +27 (0)11 928 1000 Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @emperorspalace

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Venue News

Johannesburg Expo Centre – into a new decade

A

Craig Newman

fter celebrating 30 successful years in 2014, the Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) is ready to embark on the next chapter of its history this new year, and is ready to target more global events as it proves that it can meet international standards.

This is according to Craig Newman, chief executive officer of the JEC, who said that the previous year marked a turning point for one of the biggest exhibitions, conferences and events venues in South Africa.

“We know that 2015 will be another exciting year at the JEC,” Mr Newman said.

“There are many international events being brought to our halls, some for the first time, and we hope this will enhance our status as a world-class venue.”

International flavour The JEC kicks off its calendar of events with the second rendition of Ultra Fest SA, one of the largest electronic music festivals ever held on African soil.

In 2014 this event welcomed no less than 40 000 fans and, with the organisers promising an even bigger line-up of artists and greater thrills, this number looks set to increase significantly on 14 February 2015.

Russell Faibisch, founder, executive producer and chief executive officer of Ultra Music Festival and Ultra Worldwide, said that while Ultra has expanded to all the corners of the globe, he believes that South Africa provides a venue unlike any other.

“The inaugural show was an enormous success and in February we are raising the bar,” Mr Faibisch said.

“We plan to grow the event in South Africa for many years to come, so that Ultra South Africa becomes a music destination that music lovers simply cannot afford to miss,” he said.

According to Adam Russakoff, executive producer, talent booker and director of

business affairs for Ultra Music Festival and Ultra Worldwide, first-time shows are often notorious for their glitches. “However, Ultra Fest South Africa was hailed as a seamless event in 2014,” he said.

“Ultra South Africa turned out to be a very special show for our team, the artists and the fans who were lucky enough to witness history in the making. We expect no less from our second edition,” he added.

Last year, the JEC was delighted to announce itself as the new host venue for BAUMA CONEXPO AFRICA 2015. The International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines and Construction Vehicles comes to the Expo Centre from 15-18 September 2015.

Elaine Crewe, chief executive officer of BAUMA CONEXPO AFRICA, believes the Expo Centre will provide the perfect platform for this large-scale event. “The JEC is one of the largest trade fair venues in Africa,” she says. “If required, there are more than 50 000 square metres of fullyequipped hall space and more than 100 000 square metres of outdoor exhibition space available. Therefore, BAUMA CONEXPO AFRICA has the potential to grow in future,” she added.

This year the JEC also welcomes back a biennial favourite, the Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS). The show organisers say that this year, motor enthusiasts can expect greater opportunities to interact with their favourite brands at the 2015 show, scheduled to take place at the JEC from 14-25 October 2015.

JIMS is a 12-day automotive exhibition and automotive lifestyle show. Running in conjunction with two additional events, the Johannesburg Truck and Bus Show and Auto Shop, the shows collectively offer a complete representation of the motor industry, serving sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa as host country.

JIMS has evolved from being a simple information exchange to an immersive, experiential consumer engagement platform. The organisers of this event will set up a dedicated website inviting public interaction and providing the public with an opportunity to share their favourite brands and what they would like to see on show.

Local Favourites South Africa’s favourite consumer event

returns in 2015 as the Rand Show delivers a 10-day extravaganza from 3-12 April 2015.

With a rich heritage dating back well over 120 years, this iconic consumer show continues to grow in popularity. The largest show of its kind on the African continent, the Rand Show enjoys the support of some of South Africa’s largest and most prestigious companies. These organisations make the Rand Show an essential part of their marketing and communication strategies because it consistently provides valuable exposure, creative promotional opportunities and direct engagement with the largest audience at any event in the country.

This year, the Rand Show will showcase products from home furnishings, fashion and wellness to gardening, sport and outdoor adventure.

On the trade front, Automechanika, South Africa’s leading international trade fair for the automotive industry targeting trade visitors from the sub-Saharan region also returns to the JEC from 2-5 May 2015.

Over the years, Automechanika Johannesburg has built a reputation as the leading meeting place for the automobile sector in Southern Africa. The show offers a unique spectrum of products from the fields of automotive parts, car washing, workshop and filling-station equipment, IT products and services, accessories and tuning.

Looking Ahead Mr Newman believes South Africa’s business events industry is a success story of how a local industry sector is now competing on an international scale.

“Over the past few years, the industry has seen a series of new joint ventures, purchases and investments from Europe, the United Kingdom and the Middle East,” Mr Newman said. “On a global front, this is a very mature business sector, driven largely by cross-border trade and globalisation.”

He believes companies from all over the world are recognising the power of the African economy, not just purchasing its products and services, but selling to an increasingly global marketplace.

“South Africa is still the obvious choice as a gateway into Africa – and as a leading exhibitions, conferences and events venue, we’re ready to prove we can seize the new opportunities presented to us,” he concluded. n

Venue News

The Table Bay ranked in top 25 SUN International’s The Table Bay at the iconic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town has received a prestigious 2015 Traveller’s Choice Award. This elite honour is awarded to the top one per cent of all hotels on TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website.

The accolade, which acknowledges hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.

The Table Bay is ranked 12th in the top 25 hotels in South Africa, representing the upper echelon of local hotels on the TripAdvisor website.

“Receiving a 2015 Traveller’s Choice Award is a significant source of pride for The Table Bay, especially since the award is based on feedback from our guests. There is certainly no greater stamp of approval than a vote of confidence from a customer.

“We would like to thank all our customers who took the time to complete reviews on TripAdvisor.

“Importantly, the award bears testimony

to our employees’ commitment to service excellence, quality, professionalism, and innovation. It is a reflection of their contribution to the hotel.

“As ambassadors, living out the values of Sun International, our employees are at the heart of delivering the quintessential South African experience for which The Table Bay is renowned. We are privileged to have a truly exceptional team of passionate professionals

at The Table Bay,” said Sherwin Banda, the hotel’s general manager.

The Table Bay offers convenient proximity to Cape Town’s business centre and dazzling array of tourist attractions.

It boasts 329 opulent rooms offering panoramic views of the ocean or waterfront; a world-class spa; five beautiful function venues, and a spectacular pooldeck. n

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Venue News

Protea Hotel Mowbray all set to open

An historic Cape Dutch manor house on a green estate that borders the Liesbeek river will open its doors as Protea Hotel Mowbray on 1 February 2015, the first Protea Hotel ever to be situated in Cape Town’s bustling southern suburbs.

The hotel’s 70 elegant rooms and suites are spread through the manor house and the adjacent thatched building that used to serve as the manor’s barn, now houses six luxury loft suites.

“Protea Hotels has, for several years, been seeking an opportunity to create a brand presence in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, but none of the previous prospects were exactly right.

The signing of this new hotel under the Protea Hotels brand reinforces our focus on continuing to grow the footprint of the brand in South Africa and other strategic growth areas within Africa,” said Mark Satterfield, Marriott International business

leader in South Africa.

“We knew it was the right place and the right time when the opportunity arose to take over this magnificent property, which is within walking distance of Black River Park, a vast commercial office complex that houses numerous national and multi-national companies.”

Mr Satterfield said the natural growth trajectory for the brand in Cape Town has been in the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard – which attract extensive corporate, leisure and business events business – as well as the northern suburbs where numerous large companies are headquartered.

More recently, it has moved into the Century City lifestyle precinct with Cape Town’s premier five-star conferencing hotel, African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa. “But we’re incredibly excited to have our first crack at the southern suburbs, which is as busy commercially as it is residentially, and this presents a wealth of opportunities from a hospitality point of view.”

Mr Satterfield said Protea Hotel Mowbray’s main target markets will be corporate travellers, the business events industry, domestic leisure travellers with a particular focus on families and the sports groups which play at the many surrounding fields and clubs.

The hotel will comprise 46 standard studio rooms (20 with twin beds and the remaining 26 with king-size beds), 12 one-bedroom suites with lounges and the option of king-size or twin beds, six two-bedroom suites with lounges and the option of king-size or twin-beds and six barn lofts with lounges on the ground level and queen-size beds on the mezzanine.

And, while the current manor house dates back to approximately 1880, records indicate that the site has been settled since the 1660s.

The hotel will offer guests a comfortable, period-sensitive lounge in which to socialise or hold meetings, as well as breakfast and a swimming pool at which to relax. n

Ten Bompas invites you to visit its new Space TEN Bompas, located in Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, now offers a sleek, chic contemporary conference venue, Space.

Space offers two primary function areas, Big Space and Small Space, which can be easily opened to create one area which can comfortably accommodate 100 people for a cocktail function.

There is also a breakaway lounge, which leads on to a covered terrace overlooking the lawn and organically-grown vegetable garden, from which produce is also used in the kitchen by the chefs to prepare delectable dishes, essential to the philosophy of quality products and sourcing the best available fresh produce.

Ten Bompas invites all organisers, event planners, corporates, incentive planners to visit Space on its Open Day taking place on 27 February from 8:00 until 16:30. Reserve your time with Amanda Murray on space@mix.co.za, or 011-324 2442, for catering purposes. n

Executive Chef

Jocelyn Myers-Adams keeps it simple and authentic Jocelyn Myers-Adams, 39, executive chef of the Table Bay Hotel, at the V&A Waterfront, has been with the Sun International group since 2009. Her cooking philosophy is to keep it simple and to use great products.

J

ocelyn said: “I like to keep things authentic and not mix different cuisines. I use beautiful products and showcase them. I play with molecular gastronomy but only to enhance the experience, not to overwhelm. Going forward, my focus will be on highlighting South African cuisine by sourcing local products and incorporating local dishes into our menus.”

Jocelyn believes culinary trends are moving towards traceable, recognisable and unassuming cuisine. “I think people

What is your signature dish? In Camissa, we serve Carpaccio’s that change every season and use local ingredients.

Currently, it is black pepper and Natal macadamia crusted springbok Carpaccio with nasturtium seeds and pickled pelargonium and fynbos vinegar reduction.

A Carpaccio is a very simple representation of the product.

What trends are emerging in the conference industry in regards to food? There are more requests for “green” conferencing.

What has remained constant in this industry? People are interested in good value.

What is your favourite beverage?

I love cold Craft beer on a hot day, but also have a weakness for pink bubbles ...

What is your favourite food?

This always changes. At the moment it is Kohlrahbi (German turnip or turnip cabbage).

What is your pet hate?

Uncleanliness and emptying a bin, but not replacing the liner.

What is your great love? family and cooking.

I love my

are taking a more holistic approach to eating.”

Currently, her favourite ingredients to cook with are agave shoots, local salmon trout and organic quinoa. “These will change as I continue to explore and discover what is available locally. My favourite South African products are Waterblommetjies and peppadews.”

She has worked for several celebrity chefs, including Conrad Gallagher and from 2006 to 2007, she was executive chef at Food Fanatics, a catering firm in Cape Town.

Jocelyn began her culinary affair in 1995, as a student at Conestoga College in Canada, where she studied for two years.

Her first restaurant position was as a junior sous chef working for Oliver-Bonancini Restaurants for two years and as patissiere for Jamie Kennedy at the ROM for a year.

It was during this period that she received a certificate of qualification from the Stratford Chefs School Apprenticeship training programme in 2001 where she distinguished herself as the recipient of both a bursary and a scholarship.

“Chef Jamie Kennedy had a major influence initially on my culinary career as he was a pioneer in the organic food movement in Toronto. He had enormous respect for food and was a great leader. I learnt a great deal from him.”

Jocelyn also did a two-month stint working for Gordon Ramsey at his restaurant in Chelsea, London.

“I wanted to experience a three-star Michelin restaurant and to work for a celebrity chef. It provided a completely different experience in that the restaurant had a set amount of patrons daily, the kitchen was orderly and synchronised and the fare traditionally classic. There was very little room for experimentation. However, I enjoyed cooking alongside such a talented bunch of cooks as Gordon surrounds himself with the best.”

She spent from March 2001 to 2003 in Australia working for a host of restaurants including Dominic’s in New South Wales, The Beach House in Queensland and South

Long Island Nature Lodge in Whitsunday Islands.

From mid-2003 to 2005 she was head chef aboard numerous island vessels in the Bahamas, Cote d’Azur, Corsica, Sardinia and Monaco.

“I also trained and worked as a sommelier. I was an honourable assistant instructor in Advanced Wine at George Brown College in 2001 and a sommelier at Zuma Restaurant in Knightsbridge in London.”

Her goal for the next five years is to focus on being a responsible and conscientious chef, creating sustaining and local experiences for all clients.

Jocelyn’s advice for PCOs organising a conference or event: “Start with a clear plan.

Decide what you want and make sure you ask for everything you want. And, always specify dietary requirements.”

For leisure, Jocelyn loves spending time with her family. “I am married to a magnificent man, Zaid Adams. We have two beautiful girls, Adina (3) and Rania (1).

Her hobbies include gardening, yoga, reading, hiking and jogging.

Jocelyn’s advice to newcomers is: ‘Make a five-year plan and stick to it. Don’t forget to make another one around year three or four. Be true to yourself.

“The industry is a tough one, but rewarding when you succeed at delivering efficiency without compromising quality and create a wonderful experience.” n

Jocelyn Myers-Adams

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Incentive Destination

Swaziland –

the kingdom of adventure The Kingdom of Swaziland is a home away from home for all South Africans and the ideal incentive destination for the adventure seekers, the sports enthusiasts and the outdoor explorers.

Incentive Destination

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S

waziland’s mountains, valleys, rivers and other natural wonders make it the ideal choice for those South Africans seeking adventure on their doorstep. Despite being the smallest country in the southern hemisphere, Swaziland more than makes up for its lack of size with a hugely diverse range of attractions and activities to explore and participate in.

Those who want to get beneath the surface of Swaziland can try caving as an innovative activity.

Being “indoors” however, is not on everybody’s itinerary and visitors can rather experience Swaziland a few feet off the ground.

Malolotaja Nature Reserve is home to Swaziland’s first and only Tree Top Canopy Tour. This is located in the Sihlotswane Gorge, where one 50m suspension bridge and 11 wooden platforms have been ingeniously affixed to the steep sides, bringing visitors to Swaziland, a world of adventure.

The kingdom’s highlands, mountains and gorges also offer opportunities to both climb and descend a number of rock faces.

A wonderful way to experience a remote area of Swaziland’s real beauty and spectacular scenery is to either try tubing or white river rafting. Trips are run by Swazi Trails on the Bulungapoort section of the Usutu River, between Sidvokodvo and Siphofaneni, in the centre of Swaziland. This is a secluded and inspiring stretch of river.

Swaziland is a popular destination for golfing and has two championship-standard 18-hole courses: the Royal Swazi Spa Golf Club and the Nkonyeni Golf Estate.

This beautiful country is also an ideal destination for fishing lovers, as the sport is available at a number of dams/reservoirs and rivers around the country.

What better way to explore Swaziland’s many and varied highlands, forests, and reserves than on foot. There are paths and trails in many locations across the country allowing for hikes from a couple of hours to many days in duration, and give access to places and views that are inaccessible by vehicle.

Another great way to explore Swaziland’s stunning landscapes is by mountain bike. The kingdom offers visitors spectacular mountain bike trails in a number of locations, including Mhlambanyatsi, Hawane, Hlane, Malolotja, Mbuluzi and Shewula.

Join the adventure movement on social media and keep up-to-date with the latest Kingdom of Swaziland news on the recently launched Facebook and Twitter pages dedicated to South Africans interested in visiting this gem. n

10 Reasons to have your next incentive in 10

Swaziland

1 Location, location, location!

6 Affordable!

2 No visas!

7 Climate control!

3 Land of Kings!

8 Size isn’t everything!

4 Space to work!

9 There’s room at the Inn!

5 Space to play!

10 Friendly people!

Facebook – My Swaziland South Africa: www.facebook.com/MySwazilandSA Twitter – @ILoveSwaziland #IloveSwaziland For all enquiries Chantal Nieuwenhuizen - General Manager Tel: +27 11 702 9602 Email: chantal@lloydorr.com www.thekingdomofswaziland.com

Market News

28

Be inspired at Hostex with Host-ED

I

n the digital age, opportunities for connecting face-to-face have become far more limited, yet all the more important as a means to engage, share knowledge and ensure that you are at the coalface new trends and technologies.

Exhibitions such as Hostex offer an annual opportunity to do so and, coupled with the chance to gain insights and advice, tap into new trends, learn from captains of industry and be inspired by the innovators within the field, Hostex – and the free seminars offered at the Host-ED Theatre – make the expo in March an event not to be missed.

After months of planning a seminar programme that will deliver hard-hitting, informative and educational content to a broad cross-section of the hospitality and foodservice industry, Hostex has announced the agenda for its three-day Host-ED Theatre.

The Who’s Who of the industry have been secured to present talks on topics that get to the heart of the burning issues facing the industry today.

Kicking off on the second day of Hostex, Monday 16 March, Host-ED

presents an opening and keynote address by the Department of Trade & Industry on the DTI’s efforts to support the industry, what the DTI has in store for 2015 and how these operations will benefit the South African food & hospitality industry.

Other presentations on the Monday include “South African purchasing trends: factors influencing SA consumer demand”; “The rise and success of trendy pop-up markets”; “2015 trends in food & drink”

by Chef Arnold Tanzer; “Sustainable tourism for SMMEs” by Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) and the Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP); and “Technology for the Future” by Samsung.

The line-up on Tuesday 17 March is similarly topical, starting with “The magic of food on the move: a fabulous pop-up street food experience” taking a look at the phenomenon of food trucks. This is followed by “The SA foodie revolution: purity at its best”.

Thereafter, the line-up includes presentations on “Social media with a smile”; “Funding for food and hospitality SMEs: accessing working capital that is flexible and convenient” by Saska Nel, of

Retail Capital; and “Distinguishing SA’s top 10 restaurants”.

On Wednesday, 18 March, the final day of the expo, the programme begins with a presentation on “The South African hospitality industry outlook for 2014 to 2018”; followed by presentations on “The Real Meal Revolution: the Banting phenomenon”; “Raising the bar menu – mixology trends”; “Catering for kids: the Holiday Inn case study”; “Local is lekker: stimulating domestic travel”; and a SASSI update on “Trends surrounding consumer awareness and sustainability”.

Seats are available in the Host-ED theatre on a first-come-first-served basis, so go to www.hostex.co.za for the full programme and make sure you get there early to secure your spot.

Hostex takes place at Sandton Convention Centre from Sunday, 15 to Wednesday, 18 March, with the HostED programme available from Monday to Wednesday. Hostex is a trade expo and no under-18s, babies, toddlers or prams are permitted. For easy access and no entrance fee, pre-register on www. hostex.co.za. n

Market News

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Quest to keep its chefs

tops WITH a robust history of in-house training and development in the food and beverage sector, Tsogo Sun last year embarked on a series of training programmes for chefs and food and beverage managers through its Tsogo Sun Academy to ensure they uphold and improve on the group’s world-class standards in delivering excellence in its extensive food and beverage offering.

Kevin Page, group development and food and beverage (F&B) director for Tsogo Sun, said the group’s vision is to bring food and beverage to the forefront of its gaming, hotel and entertainment delivery. “Our food and beverage must be memorable, which means it needs to conform with all the aspects of food that we expect today, from being delicious and wholesome, to the quality of the ingredients and how ethically we source them, through to honest, good delivery.”

The ground-breaking new course called “Innovating F&B” was run in Cape Town for Tsogo Sun employees and was designed for executive chefs and their colleagues in the front-of-house, the F&B managers. “The idea is for executive chefs and their F&B managers to develop new thinking to meet the demands and challenges they each face, gain insight into how they can work together effectively, build stronger relationships, and be innovative together,” explained Karen Borain, training and development manager for the Tsogo Sun Academy.

The programme lasts five days and includes lectures by experts in different fields, experiential training, field visits to restaurants, demonstrations, and more. Between 10 and 15 teams consisting of executive chefs and F&B managers undertook the training in five-day blocks. Plans are in place to roll out further programmes this year.

“Many of the new training initiatives we’re embarking on are aimed at recognising people through the Tsogo Sun Academy.

One of our core philosophies is the training and development of people. I believe in the principle of employing people who want to work for us and all we need to do is align them in the correct direction and use their skills in the right places,” Ms Borain said.

Tsogo Sun is a leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, with 14 casinos and more than 90 hotels in South Africa, Africa, and the Seychelles. n

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Market News

Charmaine Brough takes a bow IF you are part of the exhibitions or home improvement industry, chances are that you have either crossed paths or heard of Charmaine Brough.

Ms Brough’s name is synonymous with HOMEMAKERS Expo, South Africa’s largest consumer home lifestyle show.

An exhibition that over the past 21 years flourished under her skilful hands, and grew to the major industry role-player it is today.

Its success is evidenced by the thousands of visitors every year, loyal base of market leading exhibitors and industry peer recognition.

The Johannesburg HOMEMAKERS Expo has, for six years consistently, won EXSA’s

Charmaine Brough

Best Large Consumer Exhibition. If you ask Charmaine about this feat, her humble response will be that it is a team effort and it is. But, great teams are created by great leaders, and Charmaine is such a leader.

Her co-workers describe her as driven, relentless, pedantic, hard-working, consistent, fair, committed, wise, insightful – a perfectionist with her sense of humour firmly intact.

“Charmaine is one of those rare people who can see the bigger picture and has the ability to break that picture down and communicate it to the team, in a way that puts everything in perspective,” said one colleagues.

Another added: “Charmaine has a great way with people, not only team members but also clients. Her cool calm and collected demeanour has defused many a potentially explosive moment.

“I am constantly amazed and impressed with her wisdom, and how she can turn a highly-charged situation down a notch.”

Just a few moments in her company and you know why she dedicated two-and-ahalf decades of her life to this multi-award winning brand.

Ms Brough’s love and passion for the industry is almost tangible. Her enthusiasm is infectious and it is easy to see how she can inspire a team to do more and strive for perfection.

She explained: “My career path has been very organic, with one position growing into the next. I would never have dreamt that in addition to running the publishing side

of the Johannesburg region, it would end up in exhibitions! But I would not change a thing, I can honestly say that I have not had one dull day at work. I know it sounds cliché, but I honestly love my job.”

Ms Brough fondly remembers her first exhibition, with no relevant training or experience, she embarked on the exciting and nerve-racking journey to present the first HOMEMAKERS Expo at the then Kyalami racetracks.

“We were so green, but committed.

Everybody in the company from the managing director to the sales staff were very hands-on. We did what we had to, to make it happen. And we did.”

That first show really set the stage for 60 national HOMEMAKERS Expos that followed and the can-do attitude became the company mantra, a mantra that Charmaine personifies.

What she lacked in initial training and experience was made up for with passion, commitment and an uncanny drive to make a success of everything she touched.

From newbie to seasoned exhibition manager, her path is strewn with successful projects and industry firsts.

Ms Brough’s contribution to the industry is unquestionable and she deserves the accolade as one of the industry doyens, who set the pace for those who followed.

She will complete her career at HOMEMAKERS right after the 2015 Johannesburg Expo, taking place 26 February – 1 March at The dome, Northgate. n

Market News

Selbys SA gives in the season of giving

Handover to Lorin Edgar (Starfish Greathearts Foundation) by Roger Mcfall (Selby’s Midrand).

The year 2014 was, without a doubt, a tough year for most, with business and domestic budgets being closely watched throughout the year.

With the effect of tough economic times following through on to those less fortunate even more so, Selby’s SA took some time to contribute to the Starfish Greathearts Foundation during the latter part of 2014.

In August 2014, Selby’s South Africa pledged a significant portion of their sales to the Starfish Greathearts Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the fight against

HIV/AIDS and its effect on the lives of children with the disease.

This culminated in the three Selby’s SA branches (Midrand, Durban and Cape Town) donating almost R50 000 to this very special charity, a figure arising from a percentage of Selby’s sales over the 31 days of August.

The August contribution was donated during Aids Month (December 2014), helping the Foundation provide for their young beneficiaries over the festive season, a time special for children everywhere.

The Selby’s South Africa team was

especially happy to hand over a check of R49 131,08, given here to Lorin Edgar (Starfish Greathearts Foundation) by Selbys Midrand’s Roger Mcfall, who originally initiated the relationship with this charitable organisation.

The Selby’s head office has also been heavily involved in initiatives for the furry kind, helping out at the Kloof & Highway SPCA in 2014, as well as the Durban Drum Day which creates awareness and raises funds for the Monkey Hotline in January 2015. n

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SAACI News

Message from the

SAACI CEO

The year of

re-invention, re-defining and re-positioning

By Adriaan Liebetrau, chief executive officer of SAACI

S

AACI’s theme for 2015 “it’s business – it’s personal” is also the 29th congress theme. SAACI’s aim for the next year is to create a new DNA to reaffirm the Association’s core values to ensure our members act with integrity by sharing intelligence with the industry with an innovative approach to ensuring the sustainability of the business events sector in Southern Africa.

As we all settle back into our day-to-day routine, SAACI and the business event sector is getting ready to celebrate the 10th Meetings Africa trade show at the Sandton Convention Centre from 23-25 February.

Together with EXSA, IFEA Africa and SITE, the first joint Bond Day will be hosted on 23 February in the afternoon under the Meetings Africa theme “Advancing Africa Together”. As promised, SAACI is looking at various way to collaborate with other associations in our sector to better serve our members and the industry at large.

The SAACI business events services pavilion will also play host to 30 members ranging from professional conference organisers and event companies to audiovisual and technology companies ensuring that buyers not only meet potential venues but are also able to make new contacts with service suppliers in our sector.

The highlight of the first quarter of this year is the launch of our new website www.saaci.org which will coincide with the opening of registration for the 29th Congress set to take place 2-4 August in Cape Town.

SAACI recently joined forces with OneZone Digital Commerce to bring the YourMembership web solution directly to our members. YourMembership is used by more than 600 professional associations across the globe, such as Fortune 500.

The new website will see advance features such as online membership registration, company and representative profiles, certification / CPD management, multi-media capabilities, integrated communication platforms, google-strength site search capabilities, calendars and events, news and announcements, online voting and membership surveys, a career

centre and online store with many other services that will advance membership benefits to an entire new level.

We have many exciting new developments and projects planned for this year, and we are expanding our staff resources at head office and would like to welcome our new public relations co-ordinator Farzanah Caster and accountant Yaseen Ismail to our family. We are sure this will make a very big difference in serving our members as we also add two interns to our fold to assist with database management, administration, trend research and member research.

Here is a quick overview of what is planned for the rest of the year. In March, our new team members will embark on a back-to-the-floor initiative so that we can meet with members from our various forums.

In April, we will start educating the industry on the new membership categories and benefits that will roll out on 1 July. May will see nominations open for the various Members Choice and SAACI awards. June is election month for the eight advisory members for the various pillar champions. From 7-9 July, each branch will host its local AGM, and in August, we expect more than 400 delegates to attend the Dongress.

SAACI’s 29th Congress is co-hosted by African Pride 15 on Orange Hotel and the Westin Hotel with the welcome function “re-connect” taking place at the Cape Town City Hall and gala dinner “an eve of celebration” at ArtsCape Crystal Foyer. Delegates can look forward to being addressed by two keynote speakers, former personal assistant to the late Nelson Mandela and author of “Good Morning Mr. Mandela” Zelda La Grange, along with sales and marketing

guru and author of “Mama I Sold You” Thaamir Moerat, to bring home the theme of it’s business, it’s personal.

Following the welcome addresses and keynotes speakers, the programme will be structured into three key streams, namely Conferencing and Events Organisers, Venues and Support Services, with a separate limited seat Tech Zone where delegates will receive first-hand training on social media, events apps and software solutions for our sector.

In September, we will draw inspiration from tourism month, an annual celebration led by the South African Department of Tourism, with the focus on the importance of tourism to the economy, with the last quarter of the year leaving us with a few more surprises.

Let us connect and inspire in 2015. n

Adriaan Liebetrau

SAACI News

SAACI appoints new public officer DENISE Kemp, of Eastern Sun Events, has been appointed as the new public officer of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI).

She succeeds Godfrey King, who has

Denise Kemp

stepped down from the position after 13 years.

Ms Kemp, a previous national chairperson of SAACI and winner of the Association’s 2014 Fellowship award, said she is truly honoured by this

Godfrey King

“I look forward to being pro-actively involved in SAACI again and to making a contribution to its management.” appointment.

SAACI’s public officer has a permanent seat on the board and serves on the executive committee with the chief executive officer, chairperson, vicechairperson and treasurer. He/she does not have any voting rights, but is there to guide, caution and advise the board.

The public officer announces the Annual General Meeting and items for voting and oversees the meeting process. He/she is also the custodian of the Memorandum on Incorporation.

Zelda Coetzee, national chairperson of SAACI, said Ms Kemp, who entered the Association’s Hall of Honour this year, is an industry stalwart and her experience in, and knowledge of, SAACI makes her the most suitable person for the position. “We look forward to working with Denise and to her input and guidance.”

Ms Kemp took up her responsibilities as public officer on 1 January 2015. n

33

EXSA News

34

What is the value of exhibitions?

I

n the fast-paced exhibition industry, EXSA, the Exhibition & Events Association of Southern Africa, strives to increase the significance of exhibitions and events as part of the marketing mix.

So, let’s re-look at what exhibitions can do for you and the value of exhibitions in your communications/marketing budget. Often, for less than a page of advertising online or in print, marketers can take a stand at an exhibition and “face-to-face” showcase their brand/product in a highly innovative and interactive way with potential clients, suppliers and customers, all at the same time and under the same roof.

Here are a few reasons why exhibiting gets you the best value for your advertising buck.

Exhibitions are the most measurable media The problem with media such as print advertising, direct mail and websites is that it is hard to measure the return on investment. A company could advertise in a magazine or online, but is not guaranteed that their audience will see it. It could take weeks, or even months, for a possible customer, if any, to contact the company. A lot of money is spent on chance, while at an exhibition companies are face-to-face with more potential customers than they could meet in a year. Exhibitions allow exhibitors to emotionally connect with their customers creating lasting business relationships. Faceto-face is simply better.

Exhibitions provide more than one marketing opportunity A major driver for exhibitions is that visitors want to keep up-to-date with all things new.

This includes products, trends and ideas, as well as being able to interact with the products and experts in the field, all at the same time. According to the report “What Attendees want from Trade Exhibitions,” released by the Centre for Exhibition Industry Research in 2013, one of the top reasons that visitors attend exhibitions is to have their questions answered on the spot.

Exhibitions give exhibitors the opportunity to interact with their customers, while advertising a product or company at the show. Exhibitions, however, should not be thought of as a once-off three-day marketing show, but rather an opportunity to advertise throughout the year. Marketers should consider pre-marketing, lead generation during the show and postmarketing, which includes following up on the leads. Companies can also link their website to an organiser’s show and exhibition catalogue, which can generate enquires long after the exhibition has ended.

It’s an experience Not only do you get an opportunity to meet potential customers face-to-face and form a business relationships, but exhibitions engage all your senses. Possible clients can see, touch, smell and feel the products that are sold. The product can also be seen in

a possible real-life setting, enabling visitors to picture the product in their own lives.

Furthermore, a number of exhibitions also offer seminars with expert speakers, and the opportunity to meet possible new clients.

Exhibitions can expand your marketing Not only do exhibitions enable exhibitors to target clients who they would not initially think of, or could not get access to without an appointment, but they are a highly costeffective way to conduct market research, launch new products and services, grow client bases, enter new export markets and generate new leads which might have otherwise taken months.

Companies also needs to remember that organisers advertise directly to their audience. This makes each visitor a possible potential client.

Exhibitions will continue to be a valuable part of the marketing mix and, if executed well, they can provide a great return on investment and help grow a business.

This year sees two of the biggest shows in the country taking place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre: Bauma Conexpo Africa (15-18 September) and the Johannesburg International Motor Show (14-25 October). The year kicked off with Mining Indaba in Cape Town.

For a full calendar of exhibitions taking place this year, visit the EXSA website: www.exsa.co.za. n

Site news

Site SA –

looking forward to a great 2015

By Tes Proos, Immediate Past President, Site SA

S

ite South Africa has had a jam-packed 2014. While we had fewer events, those we had were high impact.

We kicked off 2014 with an invigorating Summit with powerhouse presenters, Daniel Silke and Michael Jackson.

All indications were that Africa was on the rise. There certainly was great confidence as some local operators opened offices in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.

Further excitement came about with the opening of new convention centres in Rwanda and Nigeria. In addition, all indications were that China was on the rise as far as travel goes, and that one really should tap into that market, in spite of obvious challenges such as language.

Who could have predicted the implementation of biometric visas or the advent of Ebola? Both situations are continuously impacting upon inbound business around the continent. How does one deal with these unexpected events?

To that end, Michael Jackson was invited back to facilitate an industry workshop at the Fire & Ice in Cape Town on 27 January 2015.

At this event, we explored how to best prepare ourselves for when the unexpected happens with the theme being, “The Choices We Make”.

The Cape Town team hosted a number of educational sessions at hotel schools and colleges during July, to give students a taste of incentive travel and events and hopefully encourage a few of them to consider joining our industry.

During September, Johannesburg hosted another Site Summit which focused more on outbound incentive travel and was very well attended.

Finally, we had a very relaxed year-end event at a new Cape Town venue where we also had the opportunity to raise funds for Bridges for Music – a brilliant charity

that helps underprivileged kids learn to play musical instruments.

Looking ahead into the new year, Site South Africa is planning to reach out to the rest of Africa by promoting membership to the developing the business events industry around the continent, offering training programmes and sharing business experience where needed.

We are looking forward to a great year with more events and education workshops around the country. Watch this space and wishing you all a stunning year ahead. n

What we’re all about ... motivational experiences Why we do it? ... business results Site Organisational Mission • Site is the only global network of travel and event professionals committed to motivational experiences that deliver business results • Site provides insights and connections that inspire the utilisation of this powerful tool across diverse industries, regions and cultures • Site serves as a source of knowledge and best practices where members can make personal connections that sustain professional growth Only one organisation sits at the critical intersection between those who seek the benefits of motivational tools and those who can provide these extraordinary experiences. That organisation is Site ...

Contact Debbie de Villiers Office + 27 (0)21 448 9965 Fax: +27 (0)21 448 7244 E-mail: debbie@terra-nova.co.za www.terra-nova.co.za

35

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Local and international 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: (031) 764-6974. E-mail: colleen@contactpub.co.za local: 2015 FEBRUARY 23-25: MEETINGS AFRICA 2015 – Advancing Africa Together.

Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. More information: Scan on Show. Tel: (011) 431-4126. Fax: 086 601-0504. E-mail: meetingsafrica@ meetings-africa.co.za

International: 2015 MARCH 23-25: GIBTM 2015. Venue: Abu Dhabi International Exhbition Centre (ADIEC), Abu Dhabi. United Arab Emirates. More information: Reed Exhibitions. Tel: +44 20 8271-2134. Website: http://www.reedexpo.com/

april 13-15: IBTM AFRICA 2015. Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre. More information: Marketing Manager. Tel: +44 (0)20 8910 8911. E-mail: jessica.vogel@reedexpo.co.uk. Website: www.ibtmevents.com

APRIL 14-16: IT&CM CHINA + CTW CHINA 2015. Venue: Shanghai Exhibition & Convention Centre, China. More information: Olivia Ng, Event Executive, TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd. Tel: (65) 6395 7575. Fax: (65) 6536 0896.

E-mail: olivia.ng@ttgasia.com

april 13-15: ILTM 2015. Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre.

More information: Marketing Manager. Tel: +44 (0)20 8910 7804. E-mail: jen. barratt@reedexpo.co.uk. Website: www.iltm.com

MAY 19-21: IMEX Frankfurt. Venue: Frankfurt, Germany. More information: Tel: +44 1273 227311. Website: www.imex-frankfurt.com

april 15-17: WTM AFRICA 2015. Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre. More information: Marketing Manager. Tel: (011) 549-8300.

E-mail: Chardonnay@ThebeReed.co.za. Website: www.wtmafrica.com

JUNE: AIBTM 2015. Venue: Chicago, United States of America. More information: IBTM America. Tel: +1 203-840-5636. E-mail: AIBTM@reedexpo. com

may 9-11: INDABA 2015. Venue: Durban International Convention Centre, KwaZulu-Natal. More information: Tel: (011) 467-5011. Fax: (011) 467-5350.

E-mail: indaba@indaba-southafrica.co.za

october 1-3: Site 2015. Venue: Mlimani City Conference Complex, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. More information: Tel: +27 (0)11 467-5011. Fax: +27 (0)11 467-5350. E-mail: info@site.co.za. Website: www.site.co.tz

AUGUST 2-4: 29TH SAACI CONGRESS. Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town. More information: SAACI Secretariat. Tel: (011) 880-5883. E-mail: wcbranch@saaci.co.za. Website: www.saaci.co.za

october 13-15: IMEX America. Venue: Las Vegas, United States. More information: Tel: +44 1273 227311. Website: www.imexamerica.com

International: 2015 FEBRUARY 24-25: AIME 2015 – Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo. Venue: Melbourne Convention + Exhibition Centre, Australia. More information: Reed Exhibitions Australia. E-mail: inquiry@reedexhibitions.com.

Website: www.reedexpo.com.au

OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 4: 54th ICCA Congress. Venue: Buenos Aires, Argentina. More information: Mieke van Loenen. Tel: +31203981902. Website: www.iccaworld.com NOVEMBER 17-19: EIBTM 2015. Venue: Fira Gran Via, Montjuic 2 Exhibition Centre, Barcelona, Spain. More information: Erica Keogan. Tel: +44 208 910 701. Website: www.eibtm.com

International: 2016

International: 2017

APRIL 19-21: IMEX frankfurt. IMEX Frankfurt. Venue: Frankfurt, Germany.

More information: Tel: +44 1273 227311. Website: www.imex-frankfurt.com

MAY 16-18: IMEX Frankfurt. Venue: Frankfurt, Germany. More information: Tel: +44 1273 227311. Website: www.imex-frankfurt.com

NOVEMBER 12-16: 55th ICCA Congress. Venue: Kuching, Malaysia. More information: Mathijs Vleeming, marketing project manager, ICCA, Toren A, De Entree 57 1101 BH Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 398 1962. E-mail: mathijs@icca.nl. Website: www.iccaworld.com

DATE TBA: 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. E-mail: mathijs@icca.nl. Website: www.iccaworld.com

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38

Directory

Kim Gibbens: Aqua Mice. Tel: (086) 100-2782. Cell: 079 693 9530. E-mail: kim@aquamice.co.za Glenn van Eck CMP: Magnetic Storm. Tel: (041) 3934800. Fax: (041) 393-4899. Cell: 082 800-2616. E-mail: glenn@magnetic.co.za

OFFICE BEARERS National Chairperson: Zelda Coetzee Vice Chairperson: Kim Gibbens Treasurer: Glenn van Eck Chief Executive Officer: Adriaan Liebetrau Physical Address: Association Hub, 158 Jan Smuts Avenue, 4th Floor East Wing, Rosebank 2196; Box 381, Parklands 2121. Tel: (011) 880-5883

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Zelda Coetzee: Imfunzelelo Tourism & Event Specialists. Tel: (021) 674-0013. Cell: 084 657-5476.

E-mail: zelda@imfunzelelo.co.za

EASTERN CAPE Chairperson: Andrew Stewart Vice-Chairperson: David Limbert Treasurer: Glenn van Eck Secretariat: Wendy Knott-Craig Committee: Natalie de Lange; Gill Dickie; Rachel Greensmith; Sadie Isaacs; Cheryl Kietzmann; Leigh Myles-Rohroft; Toni Payne; Alastair Stead; Patsi van Zyl. Eastern Cape Secretariat: Wendy Knott-Craig.

Tel: (041) 360-4415. Cell: 073 201-8699. E-mail: ecbranch@saaci.co.za Natalie de Lange: Bojangles Caterers. Tel: (041) 586-3700. Cell: 083 469-7259. E-mail: bojangle@ global.co.za Gill Dickie: Budget Car Hire. Tel: (041) 581-4242.

Cell: 079 527-7619. E-mail: gilld@budget.co.za Rachel Greensmith: The Boardwalk. Tel: (041) 507-7777. Cell: 082 290-4617. E-mail: rachel. greensmith@za.suninternational.com Sadie Isaacs: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. Tel: (041) 582-2575. Cell: 082 9907652. E-mail: conference@nmbt.co.za Cheryl Kietzmann: The Function Warehouse. Tel: (041) 581-0454. Cell: 083 593-7239. E-mail: cheryl@ thefunctionwarehouse.com David Limbert: Magnetic Storm. Tel: (041) 3934800. E-mail: david@magnetic.co.za Leigh Myles-Rohroft: Hotel Savoy (JH Group). Tel: (041) 368-8343. Cell: 083 228-3928. E-mail: leigh@ jhgroup.co.za Toni Payne: Access Management. Tel: (041) 408-8958. Cell: 084 421-2623. E-mail: toni@ accessmanagement.co.za Alastair Stead: Scan Display. Cell: 073 236-6618.

E-mail: alastair@scandisplayec.co.za Andrew Stewart: PeriExpo. Tel: (041) 578-5987.

Cell: 082 581-3733. E-mail: andrew@periexpo.co.za Glenn van Eck CMP: Magnetic Storm, Box 27427, Greenacres 6057. Tel: (041) 393-4800. E-mail: glenn@magnetic.co.za Patsi van Zyl: The Green Room Design Company.

Tel: (041) 581-8903. E-mail: patsi@greenroom.co.za

KWAZULU-NATAL Chairperson: Nick Papadopolous Vice-Chairperson: Imrah Ahmed Treasurer: Dawn Holmwood Secretariat: Carol Macnab Committee Members: Kim Gibbens; James Seymour; Zelda Robertson; Denver Manickum; Keith Bentley; Scott Langley;

Denise Kemp (Public Officer): Eastern Sun Events.

Tel: (041) 374-5654. Cell: 082 654-9755 E-mail: denise@ easternsun.co.za Adriaan Liebetrau: Tel: (011) 880-5883. Cell: 082 8636302 E-mail: adriaan@saaci.co.za Keith Burton (Chair: Conference & Events): African Agenda. Tel: (021) 683 2934. Cell: 083 415 4111.

Email: keith@africanagenda.com Wayne Johnson (NTB Chair): Fancourt. Tel: (012) 653 8711. Cell: 083 448-1324. E-mail: waynej@fancourt.co.za Crystal Kasselman (WC Chair): Centeq Events. Tel: (021) 948-9549. Cell: 082 414-4471. E-mail: crystal@ centeqevents.co.za Nick Papadopoulos (KZN Chair): Eat Greek.

Tel: (031) 563-3877. Cell: 084 450 5011. E-mail: eatgreek@telkomsa.net

KwaZulu-Natal Secretariat: Carol Macnab. Cell: 079 072-0133.

Imran Ahmed: Aqua Tours & Transfers. Tel: (086) 100-2782. E-mail: imran@aquatours.co.za Keith Bentley: The Gateway Hotel. Tel: (031) 536-9200. Cell: 083 779-3567. E-mail: gm@ thegatewayhotel.co.zaa Kim Gibbens: Aqua Mice. Tel: 086 100-2782. Cell: 082 318-1671. E-mail: kim@aquamice.co.za.

Marlene Govender: Durban ICC. Tel: (031) 3601000. E-mail: marleneg@icc.co.za Dawn Holmwood: Tel: (031) 765-7494. Email: dawnholmwood@outlook.com Scott Langley: Durban ICC. Tel: (031) 360-1000.

Cell: 082 805-8794. E-mail: scottl@icc.co.za Denver Manickum: I-Cube Alternative Advertising.

Tel: (031) 701-0474. Cell: 083 482-8525. E-mail: denver@icube.co.za Nick Papadopoulos: Eat Greek. Tel: (031) 5633877. E-mail: eatgreek@telkomsa.net Zelda Robertson: Tsogo Sun. Tel: (031) 362-1360.

E-mail: zelda.robertson@tsogosun.com James Seymour: Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau. Tel: 031 366-7575. Cell: 082 925-5508. E-mail: james@durbankzncb.co.za NORTHERN TERRITORIES Chairperson: Wayne Johnson Vice-Chairperson: Estelle Lötter CMP Treasurer: Joe Hattingh Secretariat: Heather Heskes Committee: Aidan Koen, Chris Prieto CMP, Brian Prowling, Bronwen Shaw, Gabi Babinszky, Yolande van den Berg NTB Secretariat: Heather Heskes. Tel: (011) 787-4672.

Cell: 076 321-6111. E-mail: ntbbranch@saaci.co.za Gabi Babinszky: Compex. Tel: (011) 262-2490. Cell: 086 658-5059. E-mail: gabi@compex.co.za Joe Hattingh: Lumi Mobile. Tel: (012) 345-5161.

Cell: 082 329-6569. E-mail: joe@lumimobile.com Wayne Johnson: Fancourt. Tel: (012) 653 8711 Cell: 083 448-1324. E-mail: waynej@fancourt.co.za Aidan Koen: Scan Display Solutions Pty Ltd. Tel: (011) 447-4777. Cell: 082 561-3188. E-mail: aidan@ scandisplay.co.za Estelle Lötter CMP: Ripcord Promotions. Tel: (011) 482-2835. Cell: 082 651-4556. E-mail: estelle@ ripcord.za.com Chris Prieto CMP: Tel: (011) 973-5138. Cell: 083 778-2644. E-mail: saaci.chrisprieto@gmail.com Brian Prowling: IEBE. Tel: (011) 463-1767. Cell: 083 379-3154. E-mail: brian@iebe.co.za

Esmare Steinhöfel (Chair: Venue Forum): CTICC. Tel: (021) 410-5000. Cell: 071 888 2624. E-mail: esmare@ cticc.co.za Andrew Stewart (EC Chair): PeriExpo. Tel: (041) 581 3733. Cell: 082 578 5987. E-mail: andrew@periexpo. co.za

ADVISORY BOARD: Bruce Dorrofield (Chair: Technical Forum): ImproVision. Tel: (031) 564-4217. Cell: 084 714 8888. E-mail: bruce@impro-vision.co.za Denver Manickum (Chair: Services Forum): I-Cube Advertising. Tel: (031) 701-0474. Fax: 086 559-9105.

Cell: 083 482 8525. E-mail: denver@icube.co.za James Seymour (Chair: Destination Marketing): Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau. Cell: 082 925-5508. E-mail: james@durbankzncb.co.za Bronwen Shaw (Chair: Transport Forum): Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – The Rosebank. Tel: (011) 448-3600. Cell: 083 646-8778. E-mail: bronwens@ therosebank.co.za

Bronwen Shaw: Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – The Rosebank. Tel: (011) 448-3600. Cell: 083 646-8778.

E-mail: bronwens@therosebank.co.za Yolandé Van Den Berg: Selah Productions. Tel: (011) 913-0326. Cell: 083 323-3910. E-mail: info@ selahproductions.co.za WESTERN CAPE Chairperson: Crystal Kasselman Vice-Chairperson: Desireé Smits van Waesberghe Treasurer: Jaques Fouche Secretariat: Lara van Zyl Committee: Jaco du Plooy, Kurt Johnson, Janine Abrahams, Esti Venske, Lerisha Mudaliar, Liezel Short; Thiru Naidoo, Zeenat Parker.

Western Cape Secretariat: Lara van Zyl. Cell: 082 223-4684. E-mail: wcbranch@saaci.co.za Janine Abrahams: Tourvest. Tel: (021) 5252500. Cell: 083 440-06806. E-mail: jabrahams@ tourvestdm.com Angelique Isaacs: Impact Incentives & Events.

Tel: (021)712-5358. E-mail: angelique@impactincentives.co.za Jaco du Plooy: NH Lord Charles Hotel. Tel: (021) 855-1040. E-mail: j.duplooy@nh-hotels.co.za Jaques Fouche: Gearhouse SA (Pty) Ltd. Tel: (021) 929-7200. Cell: 083 607-2046. E-mail: jfouche@ gearhouse.co.za Kurt Johnson: AV Alliance. Tel: (021) 469-1420.

Cell: 082 822-8867. E-mail: kurt@avalliance.co.za Crystal Kasselman: Centeq Events. Tel: (021) 948-9549. Cell: 082 414-4471. E-mail: crystal@ centeqevents.co.za Lerisha Mudaliar: Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau (Wesgro). Tel: (021) 487-8694.

Cell: 072 631-7674. E-mail: lerisha@wesgro.co.za Thiru Naidoo: Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau (Wesgro). Tel: (021) 487-8600.

E-mail: thiru@wesgro.co.za Zeenat Parker: HWB Communications. Tel: (021) 421-0430. Cell: 081 248 2801. Email zeenat@hwb. co.za, Liezel Short: Red Hot Events. Tel: (021) 510-05478.

Cell: 083 283-2330. E-mail: liezel@redhotevents. co.za Desireé Smits van Waesberghe: Capemotion.

Tel: (021) 790-2190. Cell: 072 335-5282. E-mail: dsmitsvanwaesberghe@helmsbriscoe.com Esti Venske: Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Tel: (021) 460 3518. E-mail: venskee@ cput.ac.za

Directory

EXSA OFFICE National Chairperson: Brad Alder Immediate Past Chair: Nigel Walker Treasurer: Jason King General Manager: Sue Gannon, Box 2632, Halfway House 1685. Tel: (011) 805-7272.

Fax: (011) 805-7273. E-mail: exsa@exsa.co.za Website: www.exsa.co.za.

BOARD MEMBERS Brad Alder: Octanorm. Tel: (011) 433 2010.

Fax: (011) 433 1927. Cell: 082 445-2661.

E-mail: brad.alder@octanorm.co.za

Andrew Binning (Organiser Forum): Inkanyezi Event Organisers. Tel: (041) 363-0310. Cell: 082 372-9247. E-mail: andrew@inkanyezi.co.za Ann Dalton (Western Cape Forum Chair): Agri Expo. Tel: (021) 975-4440. Fax: (021) 975-4446. Cell: 082 550-4700. E-mail: ann@ agriexpo.co.za Lindy Geyer (Venue Forum): Cape Town International Convention Centre. Tel: (021) 410-5000. Cell: 071 888-2625. E-mail: lindy@ cticc.co.za Andrew Gibbs (Services Forum): Concept G. Tel: (011) 708 7991. Fax: (011) 708 3718. Cell: 083 260-8065. E-mail: andrew@conceptg. co.za Rachel Jowahir (Venue Forum): Gallagher Convention Centre. Tel: (011) 266-3000. Cell: 073 304-6692. E-mail: rachelj@gallagher.co.za Jason King: Hypenica. Tel: (021) 700-4300.

Cell: 072 386-7321. E-mail: jason.king@ hypenica.com Graeme Marshall (Suppliers Forum):

Gearhouse South Africa. Tel: (011) 2163000. Cell: 083 607-3036. E-mail: gmarshall@ gearhouse.co.za Elizabeth Morley (Organiser Forum): Expo Trends. Tel: (011) 478-3686. Fax: (011) 4783684. Cell: 083 675-0076. E-mail: elizabeth@ expotrends.co.za Cara Nortman (Young Professional Forum Chair): SSQ Exhibitions. Tel: (011) 7921241. Cell: 079 254-9572. E-mail: cara@ ssqexhibitions.co.za Natalie Naude (Organiser Forum): Three City Events. Tel: (021) 689-3262. Fax: (021) 689-3269. Cell: 083 680-8088. E-mail: natalie@ babaindaba.co.za Clive Shedlock (Venue Forum): JHB Expo Centre. Tel: (011) 494 1920. Fax: (011) 494 1005. Cell: 083 589-8422. E-mail: karabo@ expocentre.co.za Nigel Walker: Complete Exhibitions. Tel: (012) 667-2074. Fax: 086 653 2616. Cell: 082 5517604. E-mail: nigel@compex.co.za

National Events and Education & Immediate Past President: Tes Proos, Crystal Events, Box 50596, Waterfront 8002.

Tel: (021) 555 3617. Fax: 086 698 7792.

E-mail: tes@crystalevents.co.za

Barry Futter (CSR Projects): Adventure Works. Tel: (021) 790-9015. Fax: (021) 790-6245. E-mail: barry@ adventureworks.co.za

Committee Members Official Journal of the Southern Africa Chapter of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence OFFICE BEARERS: Chapter President: Debbie de Villiers, Terra Nova, Box 51170, Waterfront 8002.

Tel: (021) 448 9965. Fax: (021) 448 7244. e-mail: debbie@terra-nova.co.za

Nicole Smith (Membership): The 12 Apostles Hotel.

Tel: (021) 437-9000. Fax: (021) 437-9055. E-mail: nsmith@rch.co.za

Peter John Mitrovich (Treasurer-Elect): Grosvenor Tours. Tel: (021) 460-4700. Fax: (021) 448-0003.

E-mail: Peter-John.Mitrovich@grosvenortours.co.za

Geoff Saner (Treasurer): Leading Incentives (Pty) Ltd. Tel: (011) 022-9264. Fax: (086) 615-0110. E-mail: info@li.co.za

Robin McLeod (Cape Town Events and Education): Green Route. Tel: (021) 447-3607. Fax: (086) 6366942. E-mail: robin@greenroute.co.za

Henk Graaf (Gauteng Events): SW Africa Destination. Tel: (011) 880-0910. E-mail: henk@ swafrica.co.za

Adriaan Fourie (PR and Social Media): Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau. Tel: (021) 487-8600.

Fax: (021) 487-8700. E-mail: adriaan@wesgro.co.za

Daryl Keywood (Meetings Africa): Walthers DMC. Tel: (011) 467-8867. Fax: 086 654-6438. E-mail: daryl@walthers.co.za

Other ASSOCIATIONS OF INTEREST TO THE INDUSTRY ABTA – African Business Travel Association, Box 2594, Pinegowrie 2123. Tel: (011) 888-8178.

Fax: (011) 782-3814. Cell: 083 679-2110. E-mail: monique@abta.co.za. Website: www.abta.co.za.

Founder: Monique Swart.

PSASA – Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa. Tel: (011) 462-9465. Fax: 086 515-0906.

Cell: 083 458-6114. E-mail: nikki@psasouthernafrica. co.za Website: http://www.psasouthernafrica.co.za Executive Director: Nikki Bakker.

TBCSA – Tourism Business Council of South Africa, Box 11655, Centurion 0046. Tel: (012) 654-7525. Fax: (012) 654-7394. E-mail: tumi@tbcsa.travel. Website: www.tbcsa.travel. Events & Membership Coordinator: Boitumelo Moleleki

ANTOR – Association of National Tourist Office Representatives.

President: Hélène Bezuidenhoudt. Vice-president: Wendie White.

Treasurer/Secretary: TBC. Postal Address: Box 41022, Craighall 2024. Cell: 083 200 4444. Fax: (011) 523-8290. E-mail: helene.bezuidenhoudt@ franceguide.com

SABOA – Southern African Bus Operators Association, Postnet Suite 393, Private Bag X033, Rivonia 2128. Tel: (011) 011 9288 Fax: (011) 011 9296. E-mail: saboa@saboa.co.za President: Mr A Sefala. Executive Manager: Mr E Cornelius.

TGCSA – Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

Private Bag X10012, Sandton 2146. Tel: (011) 8953000. Fax: (011) 895-3001. E-mail: enquiries@ tourismgrading.co.za.

ASATA – Association of Southern African Travel Agents, P O Box 650539, Benmore 2010. Tel: (011) 293-0560/61. Fax: 086 504-9767. E-mail: barbara@asata.co.za. Chief Executive Officer: Otto de Vries. Cell: 076 140-7005. Fax: 086 5051590. Office Manager: Barbara Viljoen.

FEDHASA National Office – Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, Box 71517, Bryanston 2021. Tel: 0861 333 628. Fax: 0867 165 299. E-mail: fedhasa@fedhasa.co.za.

Website: www.fedhasa.co.za Manager – National Office: Lynda Bacon.

SATI – South African Translators’ Institute.

Executive Director: Marion Boers Tel: (011) 803 2681. E-mail: office@translators.org.za Website: www.translators.org.za SATSA – Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, Box 900, Ferndale 2160. Tel: (011) 886-9996. Fax: +27 866832082. E-mail: jennym@satsa.co.za. Website: www.satsa.com. Chief Executive Officer: David Frost. Chief Operations Officer: Jenny Mewett.

SKAL International South Africa. For full details go to www.skalsouthafrica.org or contact Skal International secretary Anne Lamb on tel/fax: (021) 434-7023. Cell: 082 708-1836. E-mail: anne@yebo.co.za.

TINSA: Interpreters Network of Southern Africa (TINSA). Co-ordinator – info@interpreter.org. za Tel/Fax: (011) 485-2511. Cell: 083 249 0010.

Website: www.interpreter.org.za Translators Network of Southern Africa (TINSA) Co-ordinator – info@interpreter.org.za Tel/Fax: (011) 485-2511. Cell: 083 249 0010. Website: www. interpreter.org.za TPSA – Technical Production Services Association, Box 2245, Pinegowrie 2123. Tel: 082 371 5900.

E-mail: admin@tpsa.co.za Website: www.tpsa.co.za – Administrator: Tiffany Reed.

39

40

The Last Word

Upcoming trends to look out for in 2015

By Keith Burton, managing director of African Agenda

M

uch is said and written about all the current technology trends out there – from mobile conference apps to hybrid events and geo-fencing – and how they are impacting on traditional conferences, but it is not all about technology.

Changes in human behaviour also affect how people interact with conferences and make decisions as to whether to attend or not.

Let’s focus on two areas addressed by Corbin Ball, of Corbin Ball Associates in his trends analysis for 2015 (www. corbinball.com/articles_future/index. cfm?fuseaction=cor_av&artID=9207):

Short attention spans and information overload mean new event architecture is required We know more and are getting told more all the time. With so much information available at our fingertips, and via the incredibly powerful computers that are our smartphones, we are able to take in more information than we can healthily process.

This easy access to all sorts of information may be increasing productivity, but it tests our multi-tasking skills. The result is ever-decreasing attention spans.

How does this affect conferences?

Corbin Ball identifies five results of our shorter attention spans: • Shorter presentations, TED-style.

• Interactive sessions.

• Audience engagement tools and technology.

• Pictures (worth a thousand words) convey an idea and get attention.

• Short video (worth a thousand pictures) is the most efficient way to get an idea across.

Who is Keith Burton?

A shift from the “delegate or attendee” to “participant” has happened An expert at the podium and “top down” formats that prioritise old-fashioned learning styles are out. “Bottom-up” is in with participants requiring and demanding a far bigger say in content, as well as delivery style and where active engagement is non-negotiable.

The whole meeting dynamic is changing and through the collaboration of the various mobile technologies and social media, attendee engagement options are now extensive. Corbin Ball identifies numerous ways in which this is playing out: • Participants are engaged before, during and after conferences via social media and apps.

• Live “social walls” are used to integrate all of the conference social media outlets.

• Gamification is used to increase participant engagement.

• Matchmaking and networking options are being built into many mobile event apps.

• Room set-up is part of the recipe as well, and passive cinema-style seating does not contribute to interaction.

• Participants expect personalised communication.

• Speakers are using participant engagement tools and apps.

• Conference apps include polling and other engagements tools.

Lastly, and this is not new, networking is the most important (perhaps intangible) element to the conference experience. Networking value is the differentiator for many conference goers.

Never to be replaced by technology, a conference that places special emphasis on delivering connection opportunities will do well. So, plan for connection and create ways to bring like-minded people into close proximity at the conference.

And these are not my ramblings, thoughts and ideas – the expert here is Corbin Ball, of Corbin Ball Associates! Ignore them and go the way of the dinosaur. n

Keith Burton is managing director of African Agenda, a privately-owned professional conference management firm that specialises in planning and hosting national and international conferences for local and international associations, societies and corporations.

Mr Burton graduated with a business degree from the University of Cape Town and started his career in financial management in the business world and then project management in the construction industry.

In 2000, Mr Burton embarked on his career in the conference industry.

Driven by his astute business savvy and entrepreneurial flair, he established African Agenda shortly thereafter in 2003.

As the head of African Agenda, Mr Burton manages a team of 10 and aligns their skillsets to the company’s numerous projects. Under Burton’s stewardship, the company has become the only Sub-Saharan member of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), an association that demands an arduous application process and holds its members to the highest standards of professionalism. He serves on the board of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) and the International Association for Professional Conference Organisers (IAPCO).