www.saconference.co.za
NOV/DEC 2013 • Issue 52
Beware of the generation gap when planning events and incentives
SOUTHERN SUN ELANGENI & MAHARANI apps that will change the way you do business Cut the planning stress to shreds
TREND ALERT The future of conferencing
Camera, lights, action! All you need for a memorable event
Durban’s premier business destination 734 bedrooms 16 conference rooms 11 restaurants & bars 500 MB free Wi-Fi
HOT SPOT Gauteng’s top business restaurant R40.00 (VAT incl)
in this issue
ON THE
COVER
SOUTHERN SUN S N ELANGENI ELAN N & MAHARANI is Durban’s business hotel. The hotel has a venue to ppremier r your specific requirements, whether it’s aaccommodate c a special event, team building, sales meeting, major or formal dinner. cconferences o
FEATURES 16
Generation Gap John Fisher on the impact of the generation gap on the MICE industry.
32
COP 11 Clare Neall shares what it took to put on the biggest event in sub-Saharan Africa for 2013.
34
Conferencing Video conferencing is set to dominate the conferencing landscape, in 2014.
35
06
REGIONAL FOCUS
Free State
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CSI How the Protea Hospitality Group is giving back.
39
MEETING PLACES
IN THE KNOW
MICE speak
Hometown Productions takes pride in providing expert and reliable assistance to ensure your vision is recognised.
06
Regional Focus What the Free State has to offer the MICE industry.
REWARD AND DEVELOP
10
Global Village Zambia offers unforgettable conferences and incentives.
42 43
EASTERN CAPE 20 Hemingways Casino, Hotel and Entertainment offers a touch of charm to the business traveller and conference delegate.
22
MEETING PLACES
Gauteng venues
Johannesburg Expo Centre hosted a diverse range of events in 2013.
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Gwefey Redefined Asian Cuisine is the ideal venue for business meetings.
26
Sandton Convention Centre offers a platform where global ideas are born and nurtured.
28
Tshwane Events Centre has had an interesting year, hosting a wide and varied range of events, conferences and auctions.
LIMPOPO 29 Mabula Game Lodge offers delegates the opportunity to see the big five while attending their conference in the bush. WESTERN CAPE 30 Cape Milner Hotel is a venue where the discerning business traveller or conference delegate can mix business with pleasure.
Service Justin Cohen shares his top tips on how you can offer your clients the best possible service.
IN THE KNOW
GAUTENG 22 Gold Reef City spoils conference organisers with distinctive choices and thrilling experiences.
24
MICE Apps Six apps for event planning
FEATURE
COP 11 Namibia
37
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Team builders
32
18
MICE Speak Cut the planning stress to shreds
40
ABTA Column The high cost of too much choice
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AIPC Column The future of convention centres
REGULARS 03 12 13 14 15
Ed’s Letter What’s your story?
44
Miss Meet Dealing with clients 101
10
In the News Information you need to know CLA - Siemens 5Cs Award GL events Oasys - bauma Africa Sound Bite Townhouse Hotel & Conference Centre’s Chef Stefan
GLOBAL VILLAGE
Zambia
SERVICE PROVIDERS 37
Adventure Works has seen a clear indication that local business has climbed out of the slump of the past few years.
38
ConCept G Exhibitions & Events has positioned itself as a major player in the exhibition industry.
MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013 •
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ED'S LETTER
Creattiningg Expe perience i cess
What is your story?
Publisher Publisher Publis her Eli Elizabeth Elizab zabeth t Sh Shorten hort orten en Editor Martin Hiller (martin@3Sm (martin@3Smedia.co.za) Sm medi edia.c a.co.z o.za) Head of Design Frédérick Danton n Contributors Douglas Allen, Danny ny Bryer, Helen
naghy, Brewer, Justin Cohen, Geoff Donaghy, John Fisher, Clare Neall and Monique Swart Chief Sub-Editor Claire Nozaïc Sub-Editor Patience Gumbo Senior Designer Hayley Mendelow w Designer Kirsty Galloway
O
NE OF THE MANY things I love about my job is the people that I get to meet. Our industry is filled with vibrant personalities that inspire me. One such person is Gcina Mhlophe – an actor, storyteller, poet, playwright, p director and author. I met her at the 2013 South Africa Travel and Tourism Summit where she was tasked with showcasing the importance of storytelling. Her performance was captivating. According to Mhlope, travellers want authentic local experiences. “Our stories are unique selling points that reflect our intrinsic personality, values and culture.” One of the findin findings from the summit was that more destination management companies (DMCs) (DMCs are adopting first person storytelling marketing campaigns instead of traditio traditional one-way communication with uninspiring slogans and boring promotional texts. Event organisers need to follow suit. The city you are having your event in, the venue, catering and even the decor have a story attributed to them and delegates will appreciate knowing something about them. I look forward to hearing these stories and being able to share them with you in Meetings. In this issue, we share the stories that make the Free State a popular MICE destination and why Zambia is appealing to the business and incentive traveller. John Fisher, director of FMI STAR IN YOUR OWN COMIC Group based in the UK, shares his views on how the Want a comic different generations respond to their environment and l version of yourself?? Si Simply how this impacts professional conference organisers download Bitstrips from your and DMCs. app store, sign in via Facebook and start designing the COP 11 was held in Namibia and we take a look at the cartoon version of yourself. lessons event organisers can learn from holding an event When you are done, you can of this nature. We also shed light on conferencing trends choose from a number of and take a look at the popular venues and service providers different comic scenes or add a Facebook friend to co-star that stood out this year. in your comic strip. When As we prepare to say goodbye to 2013, I wish you all a you are done, you can post great festive season and look forward to hearing all your it on Facebook, stories in 2014. share it or save it on
Client Services & Production Manager ager
Antois-Leigh Botma
Production Coordinator Jacqueline ne Modise Financial Manager Andrew Lobban an Administration Tonya Hebenton Distribution Manager Nomsa Masina sina Distribution Coordinator Asha Pursotham ursotham Events Coordinator Neo Sithole Advertising Tazz Porter +27 (0)11 11 467 6224
tazz@connect.co.za | +27 (0)82 2 318 9308
PUBLISHED BY No. 4, 5th Avenue, Rivonia, Johannesburg PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117, South Africa Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/75 www.3smedia.co.za Meetings Nov/Dec 2013 © Copyright. All rights reserved 2013 www.saconference.co.za SUBSCRIPTION R290.00 per annum (incl. VAT) | subs@3smedia.co.za ISSN 1684-9264 NOTICE OF RIGHTS Meetings is published bi-monthly by 3S Media. This publication, its form and contents vests in 3S Media. All rights reserved. No part of this book, including cover and interior designs, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation and compilation of this publication, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, completeness or accuracy of its contents, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. While every effort has been taken to ensure that no copyright or copyright issues is/are infringed, 3S Media, its directors, publisher, officers and employees cannot be held responsible and consequently disclaim any liability for any loss, liability damage, direct or consequential of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising.
your phone.
MY FAV
VENUE Copperhouse Manor is a newly Manor is a newly established chic and flexible eventing venue and guest house in the west of Johannesburg. The house was built in 1956 and lovingly restored after years of neglect to a modern, glamorous venue, surrounded by three acres of sweeping lawn – just right for your exclusive tented event.
ENDORSED BY
FINDS
MEMBER OF
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS Copperhouse Manor as it offers its clientele exclusivity, glamour, personal attention and budget flexibility. copperhousemanor.co.za images: Jesse Kate Kramer
In each issue, Meetings offers advertisers the opportunity to promote their company’s products and services to an appropriate audience by booking the prime position of the front cover, which includes a twopage feature article. The magazine offers advertisers an ideal platform to ensure maximum exposure for their brand. Please contact Tazz Porter on t +27 (0)11 467 6224 | tazz@connect.co.za c +27 (0)82 318 9308 to secure your booking.
FREE FREE
ENTERTAINMENT The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town presents Richard O’Brien’s iconic rock musical The Rocky Horror Show features a stunning all South African cast. This saucy, racy musical features hits such as “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit, Janet!”, “Sweet Transvestite” and the infamous “The Time Warp” and “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me”. Joburg fans don't despair, the show will be coming to Montecasino in January 2014. MEETINGS RECOMMENDS The Rocky Horror Show for a year-end function. Nothing beats dinner and a show. thefugard.com
MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013 •
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FREE STATE
Melting pot of culture Clarens
6 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
In December 2012, all roads led to Mangaung for the ANC’s 53rd National Conference. Nearly a year later, Meetings takes a look at why the Free State has maintained its status as a popular MICE destination.
REGIONAL FOCUS • Free State
Golden Gate provides the perfect backdrop for any conference
images: southafrica.net and supplied
There's always something to do in the City of Roses, Bloemfontein
CONFERENCING IN THE EASTERN CAPE?
TRY
F
ROM STATE-OF-THE-ART conference facilities to nature reserves and mountains, The Free State has a lot to offer the MICE industry. Bloemfontein is the economic hub of the province and is perfect for large conferences and sporting and cultural events. Tertiary institutions, hotels, game lodges and casino complexes in the city are popular venue choices for holding MICE activities. However, if you are looking for something away from the big city, you are in luck as the Free State is peppered with small towns capable of hosting your next event.
THE REGION
B Being the third largest province iin South Africa, the Free State has a lot to offer the business traveller and the conference delegate. Nature reserves and beautiful mountain ranges provide the perfect backdrop for any meeting, conference or team building activity.
SPRINGBOK ROUTE • Gariep Dam Gariep offers three conference facilities that can accommodate between 12 and 300 delegates. All rooms are equipped with modern conference equipment and a variety of accommodation to ensure that delegates have a comfortable stay. forevergariep.co.za
EAGLE ROUTE • Harrismith Conveniently situated half way between Durban and Johannesburg on the N3 Highway, makes La La Nathi Country Guesthouse a perfect getaway venue for your next business conference or romantic wedding. lalanathi.co.za
The Free State has been divided into five subregions, namely the Eagle Route in the east, the Springbok Route in the south, the Flamingo Route in the west, the Lion Route in the north and the Cheetah Route in the south-east. Each route has its own unique theme and activities, which you can incorporate into your conference theme. freestatetourism.org
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REGIONAL FOCUS • Free State
CONFERENCING IN THE EASTERN CAPE?
TRY
FLAMINGO ROUTE • Brandfort
7
Stone Safaris will make your next outdoor adventure an unforgettable experience. It offers log cabins and chalets for accommodation. Sixty people can be accommodated per conference with a maximum of 35 people staying overnight. stonesafaris.co.za
REASONS TO CHOOSE THE FREE STATE
Basotho Cultural Village
1 CULTURE Experience first-hand the amazing CHEETAH ROUTE • Bloemfontein Woodlands Conference and Function Venue prides itself on offering quality services to its clients. Its staff and suppliers bring together a wealth of experience and creativity to any function. All food services are supplied by Olive Chef School. wfv.co.za
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Sotho culture. Let your delegates visit Basotho Cultural Village as part of conference excursions. MOUNTAIN RANGES Golden Gate and the Drakensburg ranges provide a perfect setting for any MICE activity.
3 HISTORY The Free State is filled with untouched Anglo Boer battle sites. Exploring these sites will be a welcomed addition to any conference programme.
4 GOLF COURSES Home to many top-notch golf
courses, the Free State is a haven for any golfer.
LION ROUTE • Parys SunWa River Lodge has gone to great lengths to utilise the beautiful environment of the Vaal River and to create a conferencing venue, with accommodation and in-house run team building, where tranquillity and hospitality are paramount. Team building activities are an important part of the SunWa experience. Qualified SunWa facilitators focus on elements of teamwork and interpersonal dynamic. sunwa.co.za
5 NEED FOR SPEED Phakisa Freeway, a motor
racing circuit is located in Welkom. Conferences can be organised around races.
6 FESTIVALS Numerous festivals are held during
the year and delegates can attend them while on conference. Macufe Art Festival, held in October in Bloemfontein, is a firm favourite.
7 OUT OF THIS WORLD Vredefort Dome is the
largest verified impact crater on Earth, more than 300 km wide. A visit to the site is sure to delight delegates.
8 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
Lala Nathi
La La Nathi is ideally situated for conferences – its location between Durban, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein makes it a convenient meeting place. Set in magnificent country surroundings, this thatched homestead is a haven of peace for the business traveller. The Pool Room and Khumbula Hall are ideal venues for conferences, product launches, intimate business meetings and cocktail parties. Delegates can visit the Basotho Cultural Village, which is a short drive from the guest house.
BOOK YOUR NEXT CONFERENCE at La La Nathi UPEBZ t www.lalanathi.co.za t U
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Visit Zambia in March to witness the Kuomboka
ZAMBIA
The heart of Africa Blessed with natural attractions, an abundance of wildlife, vast open spaces and massive water bodies, Zambia offers unforgettable conferences and incentives.
Shiwa Ng'andu will transport you back to the Edwardian era
K
NOWN FOR ITS unspoilt beauty, Zambia has long been a country of choice for incentive travel and is now slowly gaining popularity as a conference destination.
CONFERENCE VENUES Most of the conference venues in Zambia are found in the city. The venues range from intimate rooms for a meeting to fully equipped conference venues. Venues have beautiful gardens that provide the perfect backdrop for product launches, parties and weddings.
INCENTIVES The Zambia safari experience is rich and rewarding, with excellent wildlife populations. Zambia has 19 national parks in which you can experience what is probably the best wildlife viewing in the world – by foot on the famous Zambia walking safari, on horseback or in opentopped vehicles. When it comes to safaris in Zambia, you are really spoilt for choice.
GETTING TO ZAMBIA The best option to get to Zambia is air travel. It is a two-hour flight from Johannesburg to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, or Livingstone. From Lusaka, Zambia-based Proflight serves the Mfuwe Airport (for South Luangwa) and Royal Airstrip (for Lower Zambezi). Your lodge or safari outfitter will arrange transfers from either airport.
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GLOBAL VILLAGE • Zambia
Victoria Falls
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MUST-USE VENUES
Protea Hotels in Zambia off ers a variety of conferencing facilities, offers va together with air conditioning, free wireless Internet and a conferencing team to help ensure every event is a success. With seven different venues, each with its own unique ambience, you can choose whichever best suits your needs, and be confident in the consistent Protea brand. proteahotels.com
REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE ZAMBIA
WALKING SAFARIS Experience the raw beauty that Zambia has to offer on foot. You never know what you may come across, but do not worry, the game rangers are well-equipped to protect you and they will tell you all you need to know about the surrounding fauna and flora. GLAMPING No need to rough it in the wild, Zambia’s national parks offer luxury accommodation for the traveller. A candlelit dinner under the African sky while listening to a symphony of night sounds is truly an unforgettable experience.
The Chrismar Livingstone offers three venues with a combined seating capacity for up to 500 delegates cinema style and up to 380 persons for banquet meals. This is a quality hotel conferencing facility in Livingstone. chrismarhotels.com
Palmwood Lodge provides an
VICTORIA FALLS A trip to Zambia would not be complete without a stop at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall on earth.
excellent flexible conferencing service, with a choice of seven conference rooms of various sizes for corporate functions and events in Lusaka, Zambia. Restaurant facilities and accommodation are available on-site for guests’ convenience. Landscaped gardens create an ideal backdrop for this quality conference venue. palmwoodlodge.co.zm
RARE ANIMAL SIGHTINGS Visit Kasanka National Park in November and December and see the sky darken when eight million fruit bats take flight. You will also have the chance to see rare antelope and wild dogs.
5 TRADITION The Kuomboka, a traditional ceremony,
6
takes place at the end of the rainy season, when the upper Zambezi River floods the plains of the Western Province. The festival celebrates the move of the Litunga, king of the Lozi people, from his compound at Lealui in floodplain to Limulunga on higher ground. This ceremony takes place in late March/early April.
INCENTIVES
EXPERIENCE THE EDWARIAN ERA Shiwa Ng’andu is a grand English-style country house and estate in the Northern Province. It was the lifelong project of English aristocrat Sir Stewart Gore-Browne, who fell in love with the country. Guests are treated to a tour of the estate and are able to stay overnight.
Royal Zambezi Lodge is a luxury safari lodge on the Zambezi River. Winner of the World Luxury Boutique Hotel Award in 2011 and twice winner of the World Luxury Hotel Award, this is Zambian safari accommodation at its best. The lodge offers the ultimate in comfort and luxury, with unrivalled game viewing accompanied by professional guides, a luxury spa and world-class fishing and fly-fishing. royalzambezilodge.com
FLASH STATS Wild dog
ENTERING ZAMBIA South African citizens don’t need a Zambian visa. All travellers from South Africa to Zambia and from Zambia to South Africa require proof of yellow fever vaccination. If you plan on driving, you will have to pay R90 for insurance and R15 for road tax. Make sure that you have red hazard triangles, as there are spot checks and fines are given if you aren’t equipped with them. A R200 departure tax per person is payable when leaving any airport.
Deep in Zambia, on the banks of the Kafue River, lies the second largest game park in the world. A place where hippos rule the waters, lions roam the land and fish eagles soar through the sky. Here you will experience true wildlife by game viewing, birding and fishing at Kafue National Park. In this pristine wilderness lies Puku Pan, a rustic yet comfortable safari lodge designed to blend in with its extraordinary natural surroundings. pukupansafarilodge.com
LANGUAGE ANGUAGE English h CURRENCY URRENCY Kwacha CAPITAL Lusaka BEST TIME TO GO May to August. Rainy season is from December to April
thebestofzambia.com
MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013 •
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IN THE NEWS
New look for Sandton’s grand dame T
he elegant Protea Hotel Balalaika in the heart of Sandton’s business district has completed the refurbishment of its public areas. The hotel’s elegant new public spaces are reminiscent of a stylish gentlemen’s club – with a modern twist. The lounge and lobby areas have been refurbished in soft greys, blues and greens, with rich texture incorporated into the design through embossed wallpaper, opulent silk cushions and sweeping high-backed chairs. Lord’s retains the feeling of a stylish private saloon with dark wood panelling, button-back seats and touches of deep red to finish the design. The banqueting and conferencing level has also been given a facelift with new wallpaper, carpets, light fittings, furniture and crystal chandeliers in the Oxford Room. The Crown Court pool has been completely redone and changes have been made to the Balalaika pool as well. Danny Bryer, director of sales, marketing and revenue at the Protea Hospitality Group, says the Protea Hotel Balalaika has a long and rich history in Sandton and is a Johannesburg institution. “The ambience is upmarket, refined and elegant, which is perfectly suited to service the plethora of multinational companies that are headquartered in the Sandton area.” The hotel has been open for 64 years and is one of the elegant mainstays of the Sandton area. With 330 rooms and conferencing facilities for 300 people, the hotel is in high demand, servicing thousands of companies that are based in the immediate vicinity and in the broader Johannesburg area.
An awardwinning culinary feast SAACI ELECTS NEW BOARD
Z
SAACI’s new executive committee (from left): Glenn van Eck, Zelda Coetzee and Kim Gibbens
elda Coetzee, owner of Imfunzelelo Conference and Event Management, takes over from Nina FreysenPretorius as SAACI’s national chairperson. Coetzee is a professional conference organiser with extensive local and international experience. She has held numerous positions in SAACI since 2003, most recently as deputy national chairperson and chairperson of the Western Cape branch. Kim Gibbens, Springbok Altas’s Durban branch manager, has been appointed vice chairperson and Glenn van Eck, CEO of Magnetic Storm, the national treasurer. Coetzee says she is taking over the reins of the association at a time when a number of solid building blocks have already been put in place. “We have an effective head office and secretariat, as well as seven functioning specialist forums within the business events industry. “In addition, the new board has just completed its first strategic meeting and we are now hard at work formulating a new business plan for SAACI, with the aim of managing it more like a business, as opposed to a traditional association.” She adds that the new board is very aware that membership benefits are crucial. “Members expect a return on their investment and we plan to give them exactly that. SAACI is already at the forefront of the business events industry in South Africa – a position that we intend to strengthen even more.”
A blueprint for success in SUN1
T
SOGO SUN will be rebranding the Hotel Formula 1 chain of budget hotels under its own brand, to be known as SUN1. The rebranding of Hotel Formula 1 to SUN1 cements Tsogo Sun’s position as the leading hotel group in Southern Africa, with a full portfolio of hotels ranging from budget to luxury. In addition to changing the signage and livery of the hotel brand, Tsogo Sun will be investing over R135 million over the next
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African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel’s executive chef, Hanroe Erasmus, and his team won the coveted Best Dish award at the 2013 Taste of Joburg. This is the second year running that they have won this prestigious award, this year beating off impressive competition from 13 other chefs. Erasmus’ winning dish comprised Rooibos-smoked springbok loin, risottostyle truffle samp, pea shoots, port jus and garlic foam. He says of the dish: “I really enjoyed the challenge of taking a number of simple, local ingredients to a whole new level, and it fits in well with the luxurious African theme of the hotel.” Having overseen five distinct food outlets in the African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel for the past three years, Erasmus has an invaluable understanding Chef Hanroe of what 5-star Erasmus really means, a skill that was readily apparent in his team’s performance at the 7th edition of the event. This award follows Erasmus’s appointment as a director of the South African Chef’s Association. African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel’s general manager Jean-Claude McMenamin says he is incredibly proud of Erasmus and his team but expected nothing less. Experience the culinary delights from African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel at your next business meeting.
three years to upgrade and refresh the SUN1 offering. There are currently 21 SUN1 hotels spread across the major metropolitan areas of South Africa offering a total of 1 530 rooms. SUN1 is represented in seven provinces and is aimed at both business and leisure travellers in the budget sector, offering the most convenient locations. Room rates range from R419 to a maximum of R449 and can accommodate up to three people. SUN1 offers en-suite rooms with showers, TV, air conditioning and an ecofriendly lighting system.
Events to remember CLA Event Engineering believe in building relationships with its clients in order to execute successful events.
CLA Event Engineering … giving creative and bespoke ideas down to the finest detail For the most unique, exciting, platinum standard events CLA Event Engineering brings 15 years of experience and expertise to coordinating all types of event planning, from large-scale conferencing to top awards evenings. Our success lies in delivering exceptional quality while simultaneously ensuring the best possible value for money. Our aim is to cultivate solid relationships based on trust, customer focused communication and creativity and to continuously raise the bar in event management.
NNU UAL L EVEN NTS are very important
CLA provided worldclass entertainment at the Siemens 5Cs Awards. A highlight was the pixel mapping onto the Siemens building
for corporate clients; it’s their opportunity to come together as a company and communicate milestones achieved as well as their vision for the future. With this in mind, it’s vital that an eventing company understands the corporate culture of the client and the objectives of the event. CLA Brand and Event Engineering understands the importance of working closely with client to manifest their vision. “In the interest of executing the brief well and exceeding expectations, we ensure that we immerse ourselves in the corporate culture of our clients,” notes Michael Collyer, COO of CLA. The recent Siemens 5Cs Awards evening executed by CLA highlights the fact that a long-term relationship and mutual trust is key to producing great results. “We ensured a continuous line of communication with the head of Corporate Communications, José Machado, and his team,” says Collyer. “Working with them is a wonderful experience as they are able to give clear guidelines while being creative and broad-minded in their approach. This means we can push the boundaries, implement innovative executions and produce a truly worldclass event.” claeventing.com
Our services include … • Launches • Domestic and International Conferences • Seminars and Road Shows • Festivals • Gala Dinners, Award Nights and ceremonies • Press Events • Corporate Day Out • Team Building • Corporate parties • Mail Activations • Incentives • Corporate Gifting • Exhibitions • Special events, Theatre Productions and Industrial Theatre Thanks to our experienced management team our tailor-made 360° service offering, includes all aspects of event planning including an in-depth understanding of technology. Our technical expertise puts us a notch above our competitors, as we are able to oversee a project in its entirety. We are a South African Based company with Pan African operations and international affiliations. We have created many memorable local and international events ensuring every detail from the venue, to crowd participation are vigilantly supervised recognizing the importance of running a successful event and building your brand.
“Every moment is an experience” Jake Roberts Tel: +27 11 399 5600, Fax: +27 11 399 5618, info@claeventing.com, www.claeventing.com
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FOLLOW US ON:
IN THE NEWS
Turnkey solutions prove successful
B
auma Africa 2013, which took place at the Gallagher Convention Centre in September, was brought to South Africa by global exhibition organiser Messe München International (MMI), with all infrastructure supplied and produced by GL events Oasys, the South African division of the GL events Group – the biggest events company in the world. Bauma Africa was originally expected to attract around 200 exhibitors but exceeded all expectations with 754 exhibitors from 38 countries, occupying over 60 000 m2 of space . Over 14 000 industry-related visitors from over 110 countries attended bauma Africa. “Bauma Africa 2013 allowed for a new dimension in the industry. The erection of bauma Africa took us 15 months of hard work and we were honoured to be a role player in
14 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
GL EVENTS OASYS making the first ever bauma Africa possible,” said GL events Oasys’ CEO, Mark Strydom. Exhibiting companies included Bell, Doka, Doosan, ELB Equipment, Form-Scaff, Hyundai, Kleemann Gmbh, Kormann Rockster, LiuGong, Normet, Pilot Crushtec International, Recycler, Sandvik Mining and Construction, Sany, Shantui and Wacker Neuson. Elaine Crewe, CEO for MMI South Africa and for bauma Africa, said: “The exhibition strongly supported the South African announcements of major investments in infrastructure projects amounting to several hundred billion rand over the next 10 years. Bauma Africa 2013 attracted more than 15 000 sub-Saharan African and international visitors.” oasys.co.za
ABOUT GL events Oasys has consistently evolved over the course of the past 35 years, to become South Africa's largest and leading infrastructure supplier to the exhibitions and events industry, staging over 200 events annually. Our proficiency accommodates projects from both the public and private sectors. The GL events Oasys team consists of 250 professional full-time employees - ranging from designers and dedicated customer key account managers, to project managers and installation teams. Integrated services are established in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The company is part of the international GL events Group, and with a worldwide footprint and offices in all major cities across the globe, the company is well positioned to supply and manage projects of any dimension anywhere in the world.
SOUND BITE
Showcasing unique SA flavours H
ow has the food and beverage industry changed over the past five years? There’s been a definite shift to healthier food options, with an emphasis on the use of local, organic and sustainable produce. There’s also a broader awareness of, and interest in, the farms and places where food was produced, from which animal certain products came and how the animals were raised. Generally, the trend is towards awareness of the whole food cycle and not just the end product. Thanks to television and the Internet, there’s been an upsurge in kitchen professionalism and everyone has their opinion about what constitutes a “masterchef” – it can be a bit annoying!
What are some of the trends you see in the food and beverage industry? It seems that
Driven by inspiration, Stefan Schmidt, executive chef at Cape Town’s Townhouse Hotel & Conference Centre, has always strived to become the best chef he can be.
professional foodies, we do this on a daily basis, so we’re best placed to advise you.
What are some of the challenges that you have experienced? Smaller budgets for conferencing, but expectations are growing. Also, turnaround times are getting very short, tomorrow's conference might only get booked today. This leads to another
How do you present ‘plain’ food in a way that makes it look appealing to delegates? The golden rule
about food presentation is that it must be fresh, fresh and fresh, with a sprout of greenery. Simple is usually the best.
What dish are you asked to make most often? For conferencing events a hot favourite is our neck of lamb slowly braised with tomatoes, cooked so tenderly that it is almost falling off the bone. At our Trees Restaurant at the Townhouse Hotel it’s the seafood gratin. It’s made with a variety of local fish – mussels, calamari, prawns and hake fillet – all fried individually and topped with white wine sauce with beaten liaison (egg and whipped cream) and then placed under the top heat to gratinate until slightly brown.
The golden rule about food presentation is that it must be fresh, fresh and fresh”
vegetables are the big thing of the moment. It’s nice to see since they’re healthy and nutritious. There are so many wonderful combinations and variations to be made when preparing them. I think there’s also a trend back towards the basics of cooking: homey, comfort food that we prepare at home when time isn’t a factor and we can savour the moment. Slow cooking will always have its followers, I feel.
What are your catering top tips? Please feel free to ask for our advice because that’s what we’re here for. We’re
challenge: conferences don’t always stick to the proposed agenda, which means they do not adhere to the allocated time slots.
What would you say is the number one mistake people make when it comes to catering for conferences? Conference organisers or the big boss of some organisation who dictates what the catering should entail. I find this is a recurring problem. The catering needs to be tailored for the majority of the delegates – not around the one person who calls the shots.
What is your signature dish? Sadly – or luckily – I don’t have one! There are so many amazing ingredients available and my cooking tends to be seasonal according to what’s available and when.
How did you decide you wanted to become a chef? My brother is also a chef and I had the good fortune and great pleasure to be exposed to his
CHEF STEFAN Born in Dresden, Germany, Stefan went to Oberkirch in BadenWürttemberg where he started his three-year apprenticeship at the Win Gasthof/Hotel Lamm. After successfully completing his apprenticeship in 1995, he moved to Freiburg where he joined the one-Michelin-star Colombi Hotel as a commis de cuisine. Stefan left Germany in 1998 to join the team at the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl, South Africa, where he worked until 2004 and left the position of sous chef to become head chef at the Barouche restaurant on Blaauwklippen wine estate in Stellenbosch, where he stayed until October 2008. Since then he has been in charge of the kitchen at the Townhouse Hotel & Conference influence and skills whenever he cooked at home for the family. I wanted to be able to create the same stunning food as he did – and that’s how it all began. townhouse.co.za
MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013 •
15
Talking ‘bout my generation Most event planners are in their thirties. Most successful incentive participants are in their 50s. Most event programmes are written for 18-year-old attendees, it would appear. John Fisher wonders whatever happened to thinking about the participants’ profile.
on ATM machines and training retail staff to speak more slowly and in the deeper register to customers. Of course, the reason why commercial organisations are interested in Baby Boomers is that they are wealthy, have time on their hands and their own property. But how will all this affect the events industry and does anyone care if delegates are getting older? Well, yes, if they are working longer.
LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING.
S
OMETHING STRANGE is happening in the world of
demographics. The generation gaps are getting bigger. According to Dick Stroud and Kim Walker, who wrote Marketing to the Ageing Consumer, the Baby Boomer bubble is about to burst all over everyone. The Boston Consulting Group examined the demographics of China, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, taken as a whole: “The enormity of change... is a resulting increase in the numbers of older people in the population. In 2010 there were 375 million over-sixties. In the next 20 years, by the end of 2030, this number will be 695 million.” Marketing people are responding by redesigning packaging with bigger type, making the peeps louder
16 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
Before the Second World War, consumer ages were distributed across the population in a very predictable way. That made the planning of product development and sales across the generations relatively easy. But from 1946 onwards, better health, economic prosperity and improved transport links created a boom in many businesses and in the birth rate. What’s a Baby Boomer? It’s anyone born during the post-war baby boom, between 1946 and 1964. In the UK, this group of consumers benefit from a perfect economic combination of circumstances: an unprecedented residential property boom, state-funded university education and generous pensions. People generally had a job for life and were, in the main, happy to be told what
FEATURE • Generation Gap
to do. They would be aged between 49 and 65 today. At the end of the age spectrum is Generation Y, the Internet/mobile phone generation, born between 1981 and 2000. They are highly socially aware and own multiple digital communication devices, resulting in work and home life becoming somewhat blurred. They prefer not to work in a rigid chain of command and collaboration rather than hierarchy in organisations is how they work best. Social media is how they communicate. They find spelling difficult. They actually believe what is written in Wikipedia. They would be 13 to 32 now.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The implications for the events industry of these two generations being in the workplace at the same time are significant. Let’s take the issue of physical ability. Baby Boomers have declining physical abilities (it’s inevitable and universal). Eight or even 10 point script is difficult to read, colours close to each other in the spectrum become less easy to distinguish, sensitivity to taste diminishes and short-term memory is impaired. A further decline is the ability to sense pressure through the fingertips in hearing sensitivity. Clearly, not everyone declined in the same way but the average physiological trends are obvious. For the thirtysomething event planner, event communication needs to be thought through if delegates are mostly Baby Boomers. They need documentation in 10 to 12 point size. Website design should be stripped down to the bare minimum in terms of ‘things going on’. As many are not Internet comfortable, don’t assume they know how to ‘sign-up’, link documents, ‘add a friend’ or reformat attachments. White type on colour backgrounds is difficult for them to read. Lack of tact and sensitivity means touch screen technology needs to be adjusted to the ‘heaviest’ setting. Text on room drops need to be in 12-point type with clear, short instructions as to what they have to do. Don’t rely on text messages if the instruction is logistically important as many often switch their cellphones off.
Because Generation Y’s watchword is ‘collaboration’, the first instinct is to ask the delegates what they would like to do...wrong
THI HIGH LIFE Because of their generally higher level of education and wealth than the generations that follow them, on-site programmes for Baby Boomers need to be carefully balanced. They will welcome gourmet restaurants, fourstar plus hotels, free time to ‘enjoy’ the facilities and short walking options. Hills are a no-no. Because of their wealth, they would have been to whatever destination you are visiting before, possibly several times, you need to seek out unusual things to see and do. Local culture is good, and meeting and talking with local people would be highly prized. ‘Dangerous’ sports and arduous journeys
are simply asking for trouble. The chance to ‘opt out’ would be welcomed as energy levels may drop as the programme runs through to its conclusion. That all sounds very sensible, so surely all planners do that? Not really. Because Generation Y’s watchword is ‘collaboration’, the first instinct is to ask the delegates what they would like to do. Wrong. Baby Boomers like hierarchy and being told what to do and when... Woe betide you if you change timings or do not deliver what you said you would.
THE DIGITAL WORLD Generation Y communicates digitally so the default way to bring the group together is to set up a social media group on Whatsapp or some similar SMS tool to receive new instructions. Wrong. Many Baby Boomers have only just got the hang of websites and they don’t trust them, so there’s still a place for print. Generation Y loves new experiences, so they pack their overseas programmes. No hour is left unscheduled. Baby Boomers just want to relax. I’m not saying anyone over 50 is completely gaga. It’s just a question of appreciating that we are not all the same and that if your main delegate profile is 20 years older than you, please think what they would like rather than what you and your DMC (destination management company) want to sell them. This article is reproduced by kind permission of Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine (copyright CAT Publications July 2013)
JOHN FISHER is a director of FMI Group. He has 30 years’ business experience, as both client and consultant. He has also written a number of business books, speaks French and German, and spends most of his leisure time in Italy. “I am grateful to Dick Stroud for his help with this article. More details can be found in Marketing to the Ageing Consumer by Dick Stroud and Kim Walker, published by Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.”
MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013 •
17
IN THE KNOW • MICE Speak
Cut the
planning stress to shreds CareerCast.com, in 2012, ranked event h planning as the sixth most stressful job to have. The MICE Academy shares its ts top tips to beat stress. esss.
H
HELEN BREWER is a director of the MICE Academy. She has been involved in the MICE industry for over 35 years and has immense knowledge and experience to assist with best practice
LEAD TIMES There are very few events (if any) – irrespective of capacity or type – that do not require a serious thinking-through of all the elements as per the reasons for the event in the first place. If the lead time to the date of the actual event is so short as to spell disaster before even commencing, then it is best to express reservations at the outset. Others will forget the short lead time, yet making it clear at the outset,, and better still in written format, ensures that thou it’s the green light, your concerns have been th even though recorde In this way, while others stress levels may rise, recorded. you urs will w remain relatively low while still giving the yours arrrang arrangements your best shot.
LACK LA ACK OF INFORMATION With W ith details coming through in bits and pieces, there is lim mited opportunity to stay calm. Planning with only half limited the details det or as details are decided on the spur of the mom ment is a further sure way of those stress levels going moment, sky-h high It’s always unwise to plan on a shaky foundation sky-high. a adding poor communications is merely a recipe and fo for a flop. Hazy planning does sometimes strike it l lucky, but it is not prudent to bet on it.
GOALPOST SHIFTING G O Once the objectives have been set, it is im imperative that all parties work towards the sa me objectives. Check the ‘temperature of the same targeteed water’ w targeted every now and then to ensure other stakeho olde have not suddenly decided on a different set stakeholders objecctiv One road leading to Rome was not just for of objectives. Roman the Rom Romans.
YPERVENTILATION SAYS it all. It means the rapid QUESTIONABLE SUBCONTRACTORS continuous intake of oxygen, which is close to a Another high stress level is having to plan with panic attack. The result of hyperventilation is usually subcontractors that have been selected independently by a shortness of temper, followed by a temporary paralysis another department or senior manager. Even with a precise of the brain, leading swiftly to poor decisions and ultimately brief, there are many instances that have proved worlds an event outcome of such negative proportions that does apart between the written understanding and that which not bear thinking about. The word ‘temporary’ is relative actually materialises. Being at a venue, chosen because the to the circumstances at a given time. Yet the bottom line boss liked the view, with questionable facilities, accessibility to hyperventilation, better known as stress, is it should be and operational personnel that only recently discovered avoided at all costs during any phase of the planning process. what an event is can be quite scary. Same applies to an Not all stress is bad news. There is good stress and there audiovisual company that has difficulty remembering the is not-so-good stress and the differences have been clearly day and/or time of set-up and look highly perplexed when defined by a number of pundits in the stress management they see a sophisticated data-projector pointed at them. industry. Good stress emanates from the highs and lows of a Stress under these circumstances is indeed guaranteed. plan coming together, which leads to a feeling of satisfaction The secret is to pre-plan down to the smallest detail and exhilaration. Not-so-good stress is when the normally and constantly pose the reasonable mind turns to mush and leads to question ‘What if?’ despair and despondency. In a nutshell, good Once a proactive attitude stress has constructive outcomes while not-sois applied and a reactive good stress has destructive outcomes. stance is disallowed, stress In the MICE world, unpreparedness in any should go straight out of phase of the planning process leads to anxiety Take the online Q&A Test and start the window. bordering on a total panic attack. Once that accumulating credits as shown in the Enjoy the year-end recess. stage is reached the outcome is beyond bottom right-hand corner of the red CPD box. Wherever the red CPD sign is shown, Unwind, relax and have a being a positive one and could be called the the opportunity for recognition & reward is truly stress-free break. prime public enemy of the MICE industry. The available. Go to miceacademy.co.za and follow remedies for this number one cause of poor the requirements. saconference.co.za\cpd miceacademy.co.za mi event outcomes should be well heeded.
18 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
Rise with our ability to deliver. Don’t miss your chance to attend the highly anticipated Meetings Africa 2014, a showcase of Africa’s diverse offering of services and products. We invite African associations and African meetings industry professionals to come together and join Africa’s rise, and play a part in transforming our continent.
24 FEBRUARY 2014: BOND DAY 25 – 26 FEBRUARY 2014: EXHIBITION SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA For details go to www.meetingsafrica.co.za or mail convention@southafrica.net
MEETING PLACES • Eastern Cape
HEMINGWAYS
A touch of charm Inspired by the luxurious home of the famous author Ernest Hemingway, Hemingways Casino, Hotel and Entertainment, is the ultimate MICE destination in East London.
The Hemingways lifestyle has it all, from great entertainment, leisure activities, retail stores, conference facilities, great restaurants, accommodation and 24-hour casino action
N
ESTLED IN HEART of East London, in close
proximity to miles of unspoilt beaches, Hemingways brings a touch of Key West charm to East London. The Hemingways lifestyle has it all – from great entertainment, leisure activities and retail stores to conference facilities, great restaurants, accommodation and 24-hour casino action.
four-star hotel is a great base to relax after a conference or from which to explore the gems of East London and surrounds. The architecture and decor of the hotel is inspired by the Key West home of Nobel Prize winner and author Ernest Hemingway, with the sub-tropical ambience of a relaxed, yet sophisticated island lifestyle. It offers guests firstclass accommodation in 108 luxurious rooms with
The beautifully appointed and luxurious four-star hotel is a great base to relax after a conference or from which to explore the gems of East London and surrounds
LOCATION Hemingways complex is conveniently situated close to the N2 highway, offering easy access to and from main roads, highways and East London Airport.
ACCOMMODATION AND CATERING The beautifully appointed and luxurious
20 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
en-suite bathrooms, as well as seven suites and a presidential suite, which has a circular lounge area looking down the valley towards the Nahoon River and the Indian Ocean. Business travellers can make use of the hotel’s workstation with internet. There is a choice of fine dining at the hotel restaurant Key Largo, with views of the beautiful gardens, and the grill buffet has variety of items to choose from. Alternately, Latitudes @ Hemingways offers the option of burgers, steaks and ribs, and also boosts a large variety of cocktails and beers.
Room name
Dimensions (in metres)
Dimensions (area in m2)
Dimensions (ceiling height)
Cocktail
Banquet
Schoolroom
Cinema
Boardroom
U-shape
The Venue
31.48 x 15.88
814
5.2 m
700
540
585
780
N/A
N/A
The Venue A
15.74 x 25.88
407
5.2 m
300
240
200
300
N/A
N/A
The Venue B
15.74 x 25.88
407
5.2 m
300
240
200
300
N/A
N/A
The Boadroom
16 x 13.36
106.88
3.09 m
60
40
32
50
32
32
Boardroom 1
8 x 6.68
53.44
3.09 m
60
20
16
25
16
16
Boardroom 2
6.77 x 5.88
39
3.09 m
50
20
16
25
16
16
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS
When on o business or attending endin a conference, Hemingways will Heming ensure that your every need d will ill be catered cate for.
CONFERENCE VENUE The Venue @ Hemingways is a multifunctional venue catering for a variety of conference and event options for groups of between 10 and 780, depending on the seating configuration required. Seating options include schoolroom, banqueting, cinema and U-shape styles. In addition, the venue also offers a state-of-theart sound and lighting system. The styles shown in the table above are applicable for wall-to-wall seating only. They do not include technical equipment, head table staging or dancer floor.
All functions are subject to health and safety approval. Hemingways Hotel offers direct access to Hemingways Mall, consisting of 150 retail outlets and cinemas (including 2D and 3D) and a fully equipped crèche in complex. The hotel swimming pool and fitness centre are ideal for delegates who wish to simply relax, or maintain their fitness programmes. t +27 (0)43 707 7603 • hemingways.co.za thevenue.hemingways@tsogosun.co.za
Standard conference equipment includes • screen • lectern and 1 microphone • 1 x laptop audio cable • 1 x PA system • 1 x data projector (for groups of 250 pax or more) • 1 x flipchart and pens • conference writing pads and pens • additional equipment required can be hired at an additional cost.
MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013 •
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MEETING PLACES • Gauteng
GOLD REEF CITY
Endless
conferencing opportunities Gold Reef City likes to mix work and play, which is why its state-of-the-art conferencing facilities are set to spoil any conference organiser with distinctive choice and thrilling experiences.
W
ITH CONFERENCE facilities located in the middle of a theme park, there is an endless list of possibilities: from breakfasts in the Winder House to informal street parties in the Town Square. There is a variety of different conferencing venues available, as well as a vast selection of unique experiences exclusive to Gold Reef City. No matter how big or small the venue required, the perfect one is waiting at Gold Reef City.
LOCATION Within easy access of the OR Tambo International Airport and all major highways in and out of Johannesburg, Johan Gold Reef
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS
ONCE AN EVENT concludes at Gold Reef City, conference goers can top off the day with a highly educational, real-life demonstration of a gold pour or be a part of the action with a thrilling casino experience. Now that's conferencing with a difference!
22 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
City has all of the essentials needed to host a successful and memorable conference.
CONFERENCE VENUES • The Crown Reef Hall is one of the largest rooms on offer, with a massive floor space of 646 m2, which can be broken down into smaller parts with sliding partitions for more intimate functions. • The Mint Room and the Reef Room both have a 232 m2 floor space and, depending on the preferred seating style, can accommodate anywhere from 160 to 250 people. • With a floor space of 45 m2, the Ruby Room comfortably seats up to 16 people around a boardroom table and is perfect for intimate business meetings. • The Barnato Venue has a floor space of 158 m2 and is able to accommodate anywhere from 60 to 100 people, depending on the seating style.
• The Lyric Theatre provides luxurious theatre-style seating and lavish foyers with several bars suitable for cocktail functions or tea breaks. This 1 100-seater classically styled and fully equipped venue is perfectly suited for a wide range of events such as shareholder meetings, launches and awards functions. • Located on the ground floor of The Lyric Theatre, the Crystal Room offers an intimate setting for low key events. It can accommodate anywhere from 60 to 120 guests. • With the ability to comfortably seat up to 900 guests, the Hippodrome, is ideal for shows, functions, award ceremonies and more. Gold Reef City offers various hospitality packages and these can be coupled with either a special event, concert or theatre entertainment to ensure the conference experience is memorable.
ACCOMMODATION A choice of two unique hotels offering a total of 113 rooms with a selection of room types. The Southern Sun Gold Reef City is located within the casino complex and will transport you back to a time of elegance and grandeur. Located within the Theme Park, the Gold Reef City Theme Park Hotel is reminiscent of an authentic turn-of-the-century mining town.
TEAM BUILDING Enjoy a unique half-day team building activity, suitable for groups of 20 to 200 people. The Gold Rush Team Building package is fashioned along the concept of ‘The Amazing Race’ whereby teams must decode clues, explore, navigate and solve riddles found at various sites. goldreefcity.co.za
MEETING PLACES • Gauteng
JOHANNESBURG EXPO CENTRE
The Rand Show
Venue with variety This year, the Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) hosted a diverse range of events, from the iconic Rand Show to the SEXPO lifestyle show. Now the JEC team looks forward to an even fuller calendar of events in 2014.
F
ROM BUSINESS MEETINGS to themed events, we’re looking forward to working with our established clients and exploring some exciting new shows next year,” says CEO Craig Newman. Not only does it embody the spirit and energy of Johannesburg as a nerve centre of commerce on the continent, but the JEC is also South Africa’s biggest purpose-built exhibition, convention and events venue. The venue hosts a variety of excellent trade shows and consumer events. A highlight of the 2013 calendar was hosting an event for the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, as part of an inauguration ceremony for its new chief, Brigadier Zwelibanzi Nyanda. “It is always gratifying when you are seen as a landmark destination and a part of the wider Johannesburg community,” says Newman. “Whether it’s a careers day for local school children or a multiplatform international event, we can Craig Newman (left), JEC CEO, with Brigadier cater for any Zwelibanzi Nyanda sort of event – it doesn’t matter if it’s over 200,000 visitors, an event like the Rand Show attracts or 20 delegates for a business meeting.”
24 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
A BUMPER 2014 After a recent multimillion rand upgrade and refurbishment, JEC boasts multipurpose exhibition halls providing over 50 000 m² of space under roof, over 100 000 m² of outdoor exhibition space, conference rooms encompassing 4 000 m² and a multipurpose arena that can accommodate up to 20 000 people. The site features more than 20 000 parking bays, five-star catering facilities and diligent 24-hour security. Furthermore, it has developed a new partnership with BFree Events Group to provide safe and secure parking for patrons of major events at Soccer City. The venue also has a designated helicopter landing zone and is also conveniently located close to a range of hotels.
JIMS 2014
2014 ATTRACTIONS JANUARY • Ramfest FEBRURARY • Ultra Music Festival South Africa Other events • Shield Trade Day APRIL • Rand Show is still Johannesburg’s greatest day out, and has a stronger audience, invigorating entertainment and a seamless attention-grabbing show floor — we’re expecting the biggest show yet in 2014. MAY • Tyranno AUGUST • Interbuild Africa showcases the full spectrum of building and related industries — including residential, commercial and industrial developments — this expo features six exciting colocated events. Other events • African Farmers Workshop and Expo • Boat and Bike Show SEPTEMBER • Electra Mining With over 38 000 visitors in 2012, Electra Mining is a premier showcase of the latest in products, services, technologies and trends across the mining, construction, industrial, power generation and machine tools sectors. Other events • SEXPO
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS
The Johannesburg Expo Centre is able to meet the various demands of any event from exhibitions, business meetings and conferences to cocktail and other glamorous occasion, such as weddings and year-end parties.
EXCELLENT SERVICE Along with his dynamic team, Newman strives to keep the JEC’s position as one of the continent’s top exhibition, convention and events centres for both local and international exhibiting brands. “We always aim to use our professionalism, flexibility and hospitality to give every client the services and experience they demand. For us, the experience must always exceed any expectation,” he concludes. expocentrejhb.co.za
Accolades and Associations • Voted best exhibition and event venue in sub-Saharan Africa with the PMR Diamond Arrow Award (2007, 2011) • Member of SOJO (South of Joburg) Business and Tourism forum • Member of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry which is the world’s leading tradeshow organisers and fairground owners, as well as the major associations of the exhibition industry and its partners • Member of SAACI • Member of EXSA
MEETING PLACES • Gauteng
Business meetings redefined Located in the fashionable Morningside World Trade Centre, Gwefey Redefined Asian Cuisine offers high-end sophistication, panoramic views and Asian cuisine – the perfect combination for business meetings.
C
OMBINING STYLISH, theatrical decor and exotic Asian cuisine with professional waiters and culinary ninjas, Gwefey is bound to satisfy your every gastronomic whim.
THE MUSE Yang Guifei or Gwefey, one of the four beauties of ancient China, is the muse for this Asian restaurant. It is believed that Guifei’s beauty put the most beautiful flowers to shame. She was the beloved consort of Xuanzong, Emperor of Tang. The pair was often spotted strolling hand in hand among the foliage in the imperial garden. Tragically, the pair fell victim to a plot and the emperor was forced to put Guifei to death. This love story, culminating in its tragic end, has since become a legend.
THE VENUE In aligning his restaurant nt with the rich heritage of his country, owner Louis Liu has gone for a high-end sophisticated look and feel. Hundreds of origami birds irds aadorn dorn the beams of the conservatory atory and portraits of Chinese beauties cover ver the th he walls, but the mosaic of Gwefey is thee most striking feature of this restaurant. rant. With safe and ample parking, parking, air conditioning, access to o Wi-Fi, Wi-FFi, state-ofthe-art decor and modern dern audiovisual a equipment, Gwefey is ideal deal for f miniconferences, workshops, ps, informal infformal boardroom meetings, seminars semin nars and corporate lunches, creating ating a total different feeling from the normal n
conference set-up. There are three private dining rooms – Qing, Ming and Tang – which can be converted into one hall or any configuration required for clients. In total, 40 guests can be accommodated in the private dining rooms or 80 guests in the main dining area. Gwefey can be hired out for a full day or half day, and offers a selection of tailor-made packages to to accommodate any function and budget.
THE FOOD Rather than sticking to traditional fare, Chef Song (pictured) and his fabulous Chinese team of excellent culinary artists aim to redefine Asian cuisine. They work in an open-view kitchen so that guests can witness the artistry that is unfolding before them – whether it is the chilli chef firing up his dishes or the head chef filleting a fish before steaming it . All the menu items have been carefully created and tested with fine spices and sauces to create a taste sensation. For seafood lovers, the salty and chilli calamari, spring onion fish fillets, seafood spring rolls and Lobster Kung Po are a must. Poultry lovers will enjoy the Bang Bang Chicken and the Kung Pao Chicken. For those with carnivorous tendencies, the orange flavour beef, beef with black pepper sauce and lamb stir-fry with spring onion and ginger are firm favourites. gwefey.co.za
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS Bound to be a meeting with good food and good company, the Gwefey experience will be one to be remembered.
Awards 2013 has been a great year for Gwefey as it has received numerous accolades, including best Eastern restaurant, best business lunch restaurant and best romantic restaurant in the Best Of Joburg Readers’ Choice Awards.
MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013 •
25
MEETING PLACES • Gauteng
Bring your event Situated in the heart of Johannesburg in Sandton is the Sandton Convention Centre, Tsogo Sun’s premier conferencing venue.
J
OHANNESBURG IS ONE of the 20 fastest growing
cities in the world and Africa’s most popular tourist destination for 2013, according to the third annual Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index. No wonder then that it is also one of Africa’s foremost meeting, exhibition and event destinations – with the prestigious Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) providing the platform for local and international corporates and individuals to generate ideas that help shape and cultivate industries throughout Africa. “T “THE SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE CO has the capability to pro provide the platform re required to bring an unending variety of e experiences to fru fruition and create ah holistic event for both local and int international clients.” Mat Nyazema, Mati executive director of exe the SCC
26 • MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013
THE RISE OF CONFEX A notable trend in the conferencing space is the rise of exciting innovative and creative options as a result. The prevalence of the ‘Confex’ model is a good example as clients start to combine exhibitions and conferences, capturing
a more informal style along with the adoption of new technologies, which increases visitor participation.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS The SCC’s signature events, which are evidence of the convention centre’s commitment to its clients and service excellence, include Markex, Meetings Africa, Fine Brandy Fusion, RMB WineX and Whisky Live, among others. 2013 also saw the assembly of 175 Commonwealth parliaments and legislators for the 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. New to the SCC during 2013 was The Wine Show. Along with tastings of the numerous wines on offer, visitors were treated to a range of interactive activities and presentations, as well as the ‘Wine Extra International Wine and Spirit Competition’ Gold Lounge. Other noteworthy events at the SCC helping to advance thought and leading industries on the African continent during 2013 were the 8th annual ITWeb IT Security Summit, the GALAXY S4 World Tour 2013, Totally Concrete, the 2nd annual Infrastructure Africa Business Forum as well as the 7th annual African Education Week Learning Expo and Career Indaba. Mid-November will see the fourth World Conference on Doping in Sport being held under the auspices of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and hosted by the Department of Sport & Recreation and the City of Johannesburg.
to life AWARD-WINNING Hard work and dedication pay off, as the SCC proudly notched a few awards and certifications over the past year. Earlier this year, the SCC’s proactive efforts and commitment to sustainability were awarded Gold Certification in the Heritage Certification programme, while the second half of the year saw the SCC receive two coveted industry awards: Best Venue in the Large Conference Venue category in the Business Traveller Africa (BTA) Awards and, for the seventh time in recent years, Favourite Technical Venue in the Technical Production Services Association (TPSA) Awards.
FORWARD THINKING If the SCC’s 2013 year is anything to go by, the 2014 stellar line-up can only build on its reputation as one of Johannesburg’s most prestigious venues. The line-up of local and international events include Tyrexpo Africa 2014, the MTN Radio Awards, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Africa Energy Indaba 2014, the Sasfin Budget Day Event as well as the return of SATCOM and Franchise Exhibition 2014. In addition, Dr Demartini, one of the world’s leading specialists on human behaviour and personal development, has chosen the SCC as the quintessential venue to engage Gauteng’s audience with a variety of talks, seminars and presentations throughout the year. In further testament to the SCC team’s abilities, the renowned Harvard Business School and NASA have
also selected the SCC as their venue of choice for their respective conferences. Looking forward into 2015, the SCC team is proud to announce that the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) will, for the first time, host its World Congress in South Africa in celebration of its 60th year and has chosen the convention centre as its preferred venue following a successful bid from Joburg Tourism. IPRA president Christophe Ginisty comments: “We saw Johannesburg’s enthusiasm and ability to host this important event as critical determining factors in selecting a host country and venue, and are pleased to award our 2015 Congress to the city.”
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS Tsogo Sun’s SC SCC CC offers professional expertise and a myriad of services which enables the convention centre to offer both the global and local event organisers worldclass facilities and accommodation options. Being located in the heart of Sandton's business district is a plus.
saconvention.co.za
Hard work and dedication pay off, as the SCC proudly notched a few awards and certifications over the past year MEETINGS l NOV/DEC 2013 •
27
EVENTS CENTRE MEETING PLACES • Gauteng
TSHWANE EVENTS CENTRE
Exceed expectations
6 1 2 3
The Tshwane Events Centre has had an interesting year, hosting a wide and varied range of events, conferences and auctions.
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HE TSHWANE EVENTS CENTRE is well known among the residents of Pretoria as a centre of activity throughout the year. The centre has been host to varied and colourful events, ranging from the Independent Electoral Commission’s Nerve Centre, consumer shows, trade shows, conventions and exhibitions. Visitors have included presidents, foreign dignitaries, prominent business and community leaders. The venue facilities are flexible enough to be able to accommodate any tenant’s needs, coupled with comprehensive turnkey logistical solutions tenants enjoy, and clients experience a full service bouquet that is not only cost effective but extremely convenient. Ample parking and catering amenities allow large tour groups to visit the centre with ease and comfort. The large open spaces within the venues provide numerous possibilities for the centre when it hosts its own heritage days, children days and functions.
Year-end functions Ntombi Rewu t +27 (0)12 327 1487 ntombi@tshwabac.co.za
conference facilities this year. In order to keep up with demand we have had to increase our capacity and have added two new conference rooms to the centre; four more rooms are planned for the end of the year,” says marketing and facilities manager, Ricky da Costa.
Custom-made packages Kathy Wiggins t+27 (0)12 327 1487 kathy@tshwabac.co.za
TURNKEY SERVICES The Tshwane Events Centre is more than just a venue; it offers a full and comprehensive turnkey service to suit any client requirement and budget. Services on offer range from event logistical services and catering to event and project management as well as registration and accreditation management. By utilising the turnkey services on offer, clients enjoy a one-stop shop when it comes to their events, allowing them a stress-free to engage productively with their customers while having the peace of mind that stressful and time-consuming project planning is been done.
CONFERENCE CENTRE
Specific requirements
The facility can host anything from intimate gala dinners and award evenings to music events and year-end parties. “We are very excited by the enormous and positive response we have received for our
Ricky da Costa t+27 (0)12 327 1487 ricky@tshwabac.co.za
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tshwane-events.co.za.CAPE TOWN
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REASONS WHY TSHWANE EVENTS CENTRE IS UNIQUE
SPACE The Centre covers 82 000 m2 LOCATION Just a five-minute drive from Pretoria CBD HISTORY It's synonymous with The Spring Show (previously the Pretoria Show) POPULARITY The centre attracts over 1.4 million visitors through its gates each year and this is expected to increase CAPACITY The conference centre can accommodate up to 350 delegates, classroom style LIVESTOCK The centre can accommodate up to 2 900 animals at any one time
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS The Tshwane Events Centre is the natural choice for companies looking for a fresh and creative venue. The team is ready to assist at a moment’s notice with a no-fuss attitude.
2013 EVENTS • Department of Sports and Recreation: 2013 National Indigenous Games • Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory: Embrace Tomorrow with Bill and Chelsea Clinton • 2013 Spring Show • City Of Tshwane Excellence awards • Department of Defence Year-end Function • Tshwane University of Technology Exams • Engen Phambili Road Show • Spin City stunt vehicle Expo • Transoranje School for the Deaf annual Christmas Market • Lilizela Tourism Awards • God TV Church Crusade • Department of Labour: Family Day • Sowetan Dialogues • SASSA – South African Social Security Agency • NIC – National Industrial Chamber Imbizo • Department of Arts and Culture Fun Run • Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Fun Day Celebrations • Agang Launch Function • Department of Water Affairs Imbizo.
MEETING PLACES • Limpopo
Conferencing in the bush Just two and a half hours from Johannesburg, Mabula Game Lodge offers delegates the opportunity to see the Big Five while attending their conference in the bush.
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ET AGAINST A backdrop of lush green mountainous vegetation, Mabula Game Lodge is set in one of South Africa’s finest malaria risk-free private game reserves. The 12 000 ha reserve is home to an abundance of animal and bird life, including the big five. Combined with state-of-the-art conference facilities, Mabula Game Lodge is one of the venues of choice for having your conference in the bush.
LOCATION Mabula Game Lodge is ideally located two and a half hours from Johannesburg and 90 minutes from Sun City. Just bear in mind that travel on the N1 freeway towards Pretoria can take several hours depending on traffic.
ACCOMMODATION AND CATERING Forty-seven bedrooms boast a look that is clean, simple and elegant, and follows an African flavour. Natural, bold colours stand confident and proud, enhancing an ethnic feel throughout the lodge. Renowned for its ethnic cuisine and variety of unusual dining venues,
guests have a choice of dining in the lodge restaurant or a candlelit boma dinner under an African sky, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of traditional African dancers. Halaal or Kosher meals are available on request.
CONFERENCE VENUES The lodge has three airconditioned conference rooms available. The biggest room can seat up to 160 delegates cinema style.
TEAM BUILDING AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES Enjoy guided bush walks, horse trails, eco adventure trails (quad bikes), morning and afternoon safaris in open 4x4 vehicles. There are a host of additional activities nearby including hot-air balloon safaris and golf. Delegates can relax at the pool or indulge themselves at Mabula Spa. mabula.co.za
Conference rates All rates are valid until 31 March 2014 and are subject to change. R1 380 per person sharing per night R1 850 single per night Price includes: • welcome juice on arrival • one conference venue • accommodation and breakfast • lunch on either arrival or departure (additional lunches R146 pp) • two tea/coffee breaks • dinner • one game activity • inclusive of VAT. Full-day and half-day conferences options are also available.
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS Mabula Game Lodge offers a tranquil bush environment for your conference. Delegates will be treated to a truly African experience while having their conference in state-of-theart venues. Delegates will be treated to delicious meals and the lodge offers a variety of team building activities.
Activities on offer • game viewing • guided nature walks and horse trails • health and beauty centre • swimming pools • pool bar and indoor bar • tennis courts and squash court • volleyball court • curio shops • hot-air balloon safaris • reptile centre.
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MEETING PLACES • Western Cape
Conference rates
An oasis in Cape Town At the Cape Milner Hotel, the discerning business traveller or conference delegate can mix business with pleasure, enjoying a cocktail while watching the sun set over the fairest Cape after a productive meeting.
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HE HOTEL OFFERS a sophisticated and contemporary ambience with the highest standards in style and luxury. Renowned for excellent service, a chic atmosphere and stunning interior decor, The Cape Milner was been voted one of South Africa’s best boutique hotels.
LOCATION The hotel is nestled beneath the majestic Table Mountain in Cape Town’s trendy suburb of Tamboerskloof.
ACCOMODATION AND CATERING The 57 rooms are designed to offer complete comfort and relaxation in a modern minimalist style. Each room enjoys spectacular views of the beautiful Cape Mountains, including that of the renowned Table Mountain, and features include en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, wireless Internet connectivity and LCD flat screens. Accommodating all tastes, conference delegates can look forward to an array of both local and international cuisine with impeccable service to match.
conference facilities with a sophisticated and contemporary ambience. Boasting no less than four modern, eclectic styled conference rooms, The Cape Milner can offer fully flexible layouts, tailormade for conferences, banquets, presentations, cocktail parties, lunch and dinner parties, weddings and product launches. Accommodating all tastes, conferences delegates can look forward to an array of both local and international cuisine with impeccable service to match.
TEAM BUILDING AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES With complimentary courtesy shuttle service to the Cape Town CBD and the Waterfront, delegates will be able to experience the many different activities that Cape Town has to offer.
CONFERENCE VENUES This exquisite hotel offers state-of-the-art
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capemilner.com
All rates are valid until 31 March 2014 and are subject to change. R1 415 per person sharing per night R1 850 single per night Price includes: • welcome juice on arrival • accommodation and breakfast • dinner • one conference venue • two themed tea/coffee breaks per day • lunch • VAT Full-day and half-day conferences options are also available.
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS The Cape Milner’s picturesque ur sque views vi offer the perfect backdrop for any conference. Delight your delegates by choosing one of the 10 different themed tea breaks ranging from Vaal kitchen to Night at the Oscars.
Activities on offer • Grandwest Casino • Helicopter flips around Table Mountain and Cape Point • Mountain walks • Museums and culture trips within the CBD • Robben Island • Shark cage diving • Sunset cruises off Clifton Beach • Tours to the V&A Waterfront and local shopping malls • Township tours • Trips to Table Mountain • Wineland tours.
This is the first time that the UNCCD COP programme was housed entirely under canvas structures
The little town
that could From tender to table, it took five months to get COP 11 Namibia up and running. Clare Neall, representing Event Management Company, shares what it took to put on the biggest event in sub-Saharan Africa for 2013.
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HE 11TH SESSION of the Conference of the
Parties (COP 11) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was a major gathering of countries that came together to discuss and deal with environmental issues that directly affect the livelihoods of millions of vulnerable people across the world. Held over a two-week period, and hosted by Uahekua Herunga, the Namibian Minister of Environment and Tourism, COP 11 saw the participation of 195 countries, each with an average delegation of between five to 10 people, including 45 VIP ministerial officials. In addition, it drew flocks of journalists, NGOs and other interested private and government environmental parties. Managing an event of this size is no mean feat and was a laudable triumph for the many teams involved. It was apparent that the population of Windhoek was in awe of an event of such magnitude, having previously seen nothing like it within their country’s borders. The UN placed huge demands on the host country.
OVERCOMING LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS The conference was held at the Windhoek Country Club and Casino Resort, part of the Legacy Hotels and Resorts’ portfolio. But even this, the largest facility in Windhoek, was hopelessly undersized for the expected turnout and so an ambitious plan was designed by Conference Systems Namibia, which was awarded the COP11 tender. The vicinity of the resort was turned into a temporary UN compound. Scan Display South Africa was contracted to build, under canvas, 2 600 m² of meeting rooms, 500 m² of office space and 600 m² of exhibition space. Two huge Supa Domes (the largest was 15.5 m high with an internal width of 36 m) Delegates were provided comfortable seating kept entertained for the thousands of delegates, throughout the conference while state-of-the-art electronics
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FEATURE • COP 11
beamed the continual high-level deliberations to all corners of the globe. Four weeks prior to the start of the event, an unprecedented engineering exercise commenced to coordinate the utilities, piping, thousands of metres of cabling and IT infrastructure for the temporary plenary venue, committee meeting rooms, UN offices, media centre, TV broadcast studio, printing and document reproduction hub, security and accreditation areas, a large exhibition hall, a beer garden and VIP areas. “This is the first time the UNCCD COP programme has taken place in structures such as these – that is, housed entirely under canvas,” said Martin Macphail, the event director.
VIP TREATMENT
Managing an event of this size is no mean feat and was a laudable triumph for the many teams involved
Naturally, with the pending arrival of VIP visitors, security was paramount. Teams from the Namibian army and police force were assisted by the UN security team that always accompany such an event. As protocol required a 24/7 secure environment, the property was officially handed over to the control of the UN the day before the official opening. No entry was possible by anyone without official accreditation through the strict badging and registration procedures.
ACCOMMODATION Accommodation in the city was at a premium, with calls for every establishment to make every possible bed available – from guest houses and B&Bs to the top hotels, such as the Windhoek Country Club Resort, the Safari Hotels group, the Hilton Windhoek and the Kalahari Sands Hotel. During the height of the busy September tourist season, this placed enormous pressure on the city. However, in the end, an equitable balance of tourist and delegate traveller was reached.
SAFETY FIRST To ensure compliance with local safety rules, a fire crew and its vehicle as well as with a team of medics were in place for the full duration. Aside from a few small mishaps that kept the first aiders busy, with no fires to report, the station fire engine was by far the cleanest vehicle on the property.
MEETING DESTINATION Rudy van Dijck, chief: Division of Conference Services at the United Nations Office of Nairobi, says: “Working in Namibia was an interesting experience. As Windhoek has a much smaller infrastructure than its South African neighbours, and with the country not being as well equipped, implementing an event such as this came with much bigger challenges. The teams had to work that much harder in realising COP 11.” unccdcop11.com
WHAT WAS NEEDED Bringing an event of this size together encompassed a myriad of other requirements, for example: general location aesthetics, road traffic management and calming measures, local resident considerations, catering teams, generators, portaloos, security machines, air conditioners, hotel transfers and airport shuttles, exhibition booths and furniture. Not forgetting directional signage, interpretation booths, side event furniture and decor, staging, audiovisual screens, sound systems, projectors, millions of microphones, multipin plugs and extension cords, event invitations, conference bags and inserts, daily programmes and water coolers.
Namibia produced a colouful, warm and hospitable event that has firmly put it on the map as an excellent business, meeting and tourism destination
In 2012, CLARE NEALL qualified as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) through the Convention Industry Council of America, a qualification that recognises individuals who have achieved the industry’s highest standard of professionalism. Her career has spanned many years in the global event and exhibition industry
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FEATURE • Conferencing
Let’s talk about
conferencing With video conferencing set to dominate the conferencing landscape, Douglas Allen shares with Meetings what it takes to organise a conference in 2014.
our hotel’s conference centre, we provide value add such as breakaway spaces for conferences at no extra change. It’s a tangible value add that MICE organisers appreciate and utilise. Other important questions to ask are “what is included in the quote?” and “are you fully equipped to execute my brief?” These questions should cover the broad outline. After that, it’s just working out the details.
TRENDS There is an increase in requests for Corporate Social Investment or carbon offset add-ons, the latter especially from international event planners and tour groups. Video conferencing facilities are also increasingly in demand. From a banqueting perspective, we’re also experiencing increased demand for food offerings that have healthy alternatives for delegates who are focused on wellness. High speed Wi-Fi is a non-negotiable to MICE planners. More and more multinationals are conferencing with their South African staff, then holding international presentations via video conferencing. It’s a win-win approach; the South African delegates get the input • Corporate Social Investment or carbon offset add-ons and information • Live video conferencing they need from • Healthy foods th their international • High-speed Wi-Fi co colleagues, who in tu turn don’t need to lose days in travel time. Live video conferencing has been challenging in the past because of slow internet speeds, even on the broadest bandwidth available, but South Africa’s technology is slowly catching up and it’s allowing conference venues to offer this additional service to the MICE industry.
TREND ALERT
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IRST THINGS first: communication is key. Mistakess ficit generally happen if there is a communication deficit between the event planner and the venue, if the event planner has an incomplete brief or if the venue doesn’t have a professional conferencing team to perfectly execute the brief.
CHEAPER IS NOT BETTER Going for the cheapest quote can get planners into a world of trouble. Frequently, the cheapest rate could mean that corners have been cut somewhere, which is generally experienced in the overall product offering and service experience falling short of expectations. At the end of the day, that old Afrikaans adage of goedkoop is duur koop (loosely translated to buying cheap will end up costing more) applies. DOUGLAS ALLEN is the general manager of African Pride’s 15 on Orange Hotel
ASK FOR ADD-ONS All conference venues are competing for business and it would be rash in an economy emerging from a recession not to be flexible when it comes to conferencing packages. At
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MEET THE STAFF Ideally, every event planner should be meeting with a venue’s conferencing team before every MICE event, especially if there are unusual requests such as driving a car into a venue or holding a post-conference party with live music. For repeat business, event planners will often send their brief to the hotel and then check back to make sure everything is in place, but in the case of a firsttime client, a meeting is absolutely critical to ensuring the success of the event.
FEATURE • CSI
Conferencing with a cause The Protea Hospitality Group is all about giving back to the community as well as reducing its carbon footprint. Danny Bryer shares how they are achieving this goal.
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OST COMPANIES understand corporate social
investment (CSI) to mean a donation of sporting equipment to disadvantaged schools, a donation to a charitable cause or even the creation of a bursary. They’re absolutely right, but in an industry that consumes a large amount of resources to satisfy the needs of business travellers and conference delegates from around the world, the hospitality industry needs to approach the concept of CSI more holistically. CSI is therefore not a charitable footnote at the bottom of an annual report, nor is it an exercise to reduce a tax bill; it is a corporate ethos and strategy that has to permeate every corner of our business and influence the decisions we make about our present, as well as our future. I can only draw from our experiences at the Protea Hospitality Group as to how we live CSI every day, and that starts at hotel level.
MAKE IT POLICY Every hotel must support at least one community initiative per year as a matter of policy in the group, but in practice our hotels help at least a dozen each on an ongoing basis. For example, some hotels use their bulk buying power to donate produce to soup kitchens, or even send their chefs to prepare meals at institutions such as retirement homes or schools in impoverished areas. Others host benefit events, donate accommodation prizes to numerous good causes or even send out entire departments to build houses, tend school vegetable gardens or clean up polluted beaches.
REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT It’s at group level that we are setting the standards for energy-efficient structural changes during hotel refurbishments. This includes retrofitting LED lighting, installing energy-efficient water heating systems that work with hot air expelled by the air conditioners and also making those units more energy-efficient. This year, 12 hotels in South Africa have done remodelling of some sort, most of them incorporating elements of energy saving retrofits. Earlier this year, we also committed to serving only relationship Fairtrade coffee in all of our South African hotels, because we know that the choice we’ve made helps not only small-scale coffee producers in Africa, but their entire communities with the construction
of facilities like schools and clinics. On the waste side, we’ve done away with bottled water in conference venues and replaced them with glass bottles that are refilled with filtered water, our hotels recycle and some even have worm farms. We are also currently running two green conferencing pilot projects in Cape Town African Pride Hotels and Protea Hotels, which if they are oss successful will be rolled out across the group.
What does CSI mean in a hospitality context? • being good corporate citizens • helping to uplift our local communities • reducing our consumption of natural resources • reducing our waste • creating channels for business travellers and conference delegates to offset their carbon footprints or contribute to charitable causes • helping to grow the next generation of industry leaders • reviewing supply chains to as far as possible support local goods and services • conducting business ethically • contributing to the creation of jobs opportunities that are sorely needed on the continent.
SKILLS TRAINING People are unquestionably our biggest CSI, which is why we created the Protea Hotels Institute for Professional Development (PHIPD). The PHIPD is an entire department that is dedicated to providing ongoing training for our approximately 16 000 staff through classroom courses and an Africa-wide e-learning platform. It says something about an organisation’s culture when more than 60% of its managers are products of its own diploma courses and their average length of service in the company is more than 10 years. CSI and the business of hospitality cannot be viewed as two separate operations in a South African or African context. We need to stop thinking of CSI as a tax convenience or a tired phrase and start thinking about how we can expand our involvement even further. I have no doubt the future of our industry depends on it.
DANNY BRYER is director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue for the Protea Hospitality Group, which comprises African Pride Hotels and Protea Hotels, and is the largest hotel group in Africa with some 130 properties in 10 countries
Reusable glass bottles of water are used in the Protea Hospitality Group’s hotels instead of plastic water bottles
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N
Constitution Boardoom – African Presidential Roundtable
Freedoms that so many imprisoned here had fought for and won. Not only is Constitution Hill a National Heritage it is also home to the Flame of Democracy and beam of light outside the Constitutional Court in the Awaiting Trial block which were lit by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe with a flame ignited by former President Nelson Mandela. The Flame signifies the commitment of the country to Democracy, Human Rights and Constitutionalism. The Mahatma Gandhi bust in the Number Four prison was unveiled by Her Excellency, Ms Pratibha Devisingh on 3 May 2012. This is a poignant reminder to all who pass through the prison walls of Constitution
Peter Morey www.petermoreyphotographic.co.za
owhere can the story of South Africa's turbulent past and its extraordinary transition to democracy be told as it is at Constitution Hill. Situated on a hill overlooking the bustling Johannesburg city and the fostered suburbs, Constitution Hill provides a unique perspective of Johannesburg and its rich history. Constitution Hill is one of South Africa’s most education-orientated heritage sites. Thousands of citizens including Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Albertina Sisulu, Fatima Meer, Esther Barsel, and many more were imprisoned at Number Four, Women’s Jail, and the Old Fort, now known as Constitution Hill. The site that once stood firmly and supported segregation and later apartheid is today the Home of the Constitutional Court, the guardian of the basic Human Rights and
Woman’s Jail
Human Rights Conference
Hill of the sacrifices and contribution made by this physically fragile icon but who had through his teachings and life made such a phenomenal impact on the world as we now know it. The fight for Freedom in all its forms is not the fight of the minorities, but should be embraced by all in an endeavour to upholding the Constitution and entrenching Democracy, Human Rights and Freedom. As a multipurpose and unique Heritage Site Constitution Hill offers a variety of indoor and outdoor venues, available for hire. This is a prestigious location for your meetings, conferences, performance events, receptions, screenings, parties and product launches. Constitution Hill offers
Old Fort Parade Ground – 1200 pax room
dramatic venues in three prisons and heritage buildings, dating back 100 years. Some of these spaces are used to host gripping exhibitions with themes that reveal South Africa’s rich heritage and advocate human rights. Furthermore, Constitution Hill is an imperative platform for Heritage, Education, and Tourism related programmes. Constitution Hill is in Johannesburg and is ideally located with easy access from your major highways and from the airport. The Gautrain bus stop is in close walking distance to Constitution Hill which makes access to and from the airport very convenient and onsite secure basement parking is available.
CONSTITUTION HILL 11 Kotze Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg | t +27 (0)11 381 3100 | f +27 (0)11 381 3108 info@constitutionhill.org.za | www.constitutionhill.org.za
S E R V I C E P R O V I D E R S • Te a m B u i l d i n g
A year of change Adventure Works has seen a clear indication that local business has climbed out of the slump of the past few years and companies are keen to reward the hard work and dedication of their staff with new and MEETINGS unique experiences. RECOMMENDS
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NUMBER OF Interesting trends developed this year. Food-
related activities have been very popular, in keeping with MasterChef and The Ultimate Braai Master television shows. Adventure Works has developed its own spin on these reality TV shows and has turned the whole experience of acquiring food from farm stalls and corner butcheries into an adventure while exploring one’s own city. Interactive creativity has been another popular activity. Adventure Works has developed programmes focusing on music, art and dance – all of which involve working with township businesses. This not only adds a CSR component to the event, but vibrancy into an event, leaving any group feeling proudly South African. One such event took place in Langa and involved a group of 600 Malaysians painting pottery, learning to Diski dance, play a marimba and carry rice bags on their heads. The rice was then donated to an orphanage.
Adventure Works has been in operation for 14 years and has a proven track record for running professional, safe and fun activities for corporate groups of all sizes.
info@adventureworks.co.za 021 790 9015 www.adventureworks.co.za
DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES
most popular packages • The Mobile Pantry – hunt for your dinner • Cake off – edible art • Laughter sessions • Urban Adventure – How well do you know your city? • Interactive African Orchestra • The Balancing Act • Powerboats around Cape Point.
Adventure Works’ clients have approached them to create programmes that address the day-to-day issues of the work place as well as ways to relieve the stress of the office environment. The Balancing Act is an activity that illustrates the need for equilibrium between work, health and family. While Adventure Works’ Laughter Therapy sessions illustrate fun ways of learning how to deal with stress while increasing camaraderie in the workplace. This hilarious activity is a powerful tool.
Energise! Excite! Entertain!
adventureworks.co.za adven
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S E R V I C E P R O V I D E R S • Exhibition Stands
Champions of industry By going beyond the ordinary, ConCept G Exhibitions & Events has positioned itself as a major player in the exhibition industry.
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OR CONCEPT G’s Andrew and Gill Gibbs, the following words from Muhammad Ali have been an inspiration: “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.�
is dedicated to video games and technology. With over 30 000 visitors at this year’s expo, which is in its 11th year, the stands needed to impress. “We produced sizeable innovative stands that were also practical for the exhibiting company. The show is about wow stands that pop and that work for the exhibitor and the visitor,� says Gill.
WHAT IS A CHAMPION?
IN STORE FOR 2014
“In our industry, we must be expertly skilled at realising bespoke and system structures in the interests of health and safety as well as sustainability. In light of the words of Muhammad Ali, if the will is to be stronger than the skill, in the context of champion stand builders, our will is then extremely strong, uncontested. Our will is the core of our composition and this will is what keeps the champions of industry sustainable,� says Gill, CEO of ConCept G.
EuroShop 2014, the industry expo, will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany, and will bring new trends and nuances to further enhance ConCept G’s creative team. “At ConCept G, instead of slapping our foreheads and saying ‘what was I thinking?’, we breathe and ask ourselves, what are we learning? We will take the lessons of 2013 and use these to maximum advantage and potential for 2014,� says Andrew, MD of ConCept G. ConCept G’s team work together as one, with the same vision. They are the champions, working consistently and tirelessly, striving towards producing the perfect stand.
WOW STANDS Among the highlights of 2013 for ConCept G are the stands that they supplied for the rAge Expo, a weekend-long exhibition that
www.conceptg.co.za
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS ConCept nC Ceptt G is more mo ore than tha an just a service provider, it is a brand ambassador. As a value-add, ConCept G shares its expertise with clients so that together they can create a solution that will attract people to the stand.
2013 Highlights • Meetings Africa Hosted Buyer’s Lounge, Media Centre, NCB stand and the Association Lekgotla • Microsoft TechEd • AVI Africa Expo (repeat appointment) • The realisation of the Siemens Healthcare stands nationally for 2013 and 2014 • Various Siemens industry stands • Bauma Africa 2013 the large outdoor stand infrastructure for Shantui • rAge 2013 Intel, Xbox and EA Games stands.
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HOMETOWN PRODUCTIONS
Service above all F Throughout the planning of your event, as well as the event itself, Hometown Productions takes pride in providing expert and reliable assistance to ensure your vision is recognised, successfully and professionally.
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS Hometown Productions' p professional rofessio knowledge and dedicated team ensures an unforgettable event
2013 highlights Hometown Productions handled the full technical productions for: • Stellenbosch 360 gala event • Nedbank Achievers Awards • SA Weddings Bride of the year • Young Water Professionals of SA congress • Little Fighters Gold Event in support of children with cancer
ROM CORPORATE EVENTS, gala dinners, large-scale product launches or discreet boardroom meetings, Hometown Productions offers production solutions for audiovisual hire, PA systems, staging, creative lighting or set design on any scale to arrive at a successful result. Its specialist team leaves no question unanswered in the quest to provide South Africa’s premier level of technical expertise, venue knowledge and logistical planning.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Women’s Leadership Forum 2013
LATEST TECHNOLOGIES In 2014, event organisers can expect new and exciting technologies such as gesture media. This technology allows the presenter to manipulate the presentation with body movement rather than a mouse, keyboard or the good-old faithful clicker. They will also continue to expand on projection mapping, multi-image display presentation software, touch screen technology and LED lighting.
SUCCESSFUL EXECUTIONS Most meeting planners know that nothing disrupts a meeting more than sound problems. In reality, audio quality is probably the single most important factor in the success of an event followed by audiovisual. The sad news is that less than 20% of meeting planners truly understand the potential of what’s available today in terms of event technology. Hometown Productions’ professional knowledge is an inventory of cutting-edge technology that is rigorously maintained, ensuring that they offer clients the highest levels of professionalism and quality.
HIRE THE EXPERTS Too many planners know too little about audiovisual equipment. There’s no use in securing the best equipment available, but not knowing what to do with it. The Hometown Productions team is dedicated to a proposition of top-level technical proficiency and a meticulous eye for detail in the planning process to deliver the desired result. hometown.co.za
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EXSA and SAACI have joined forces to bring you the first ever Women’s Leadership Forum for women in the events industry.
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he Women’s Leadership Forum will be a valuable source of information, insights, tools and networking opportunities. The programme is guaranteed to inform, empower and energise participants. Topics include: The role of women to shape and shift the world, Breaking through the glass ceiling and climbing the corporate ladder, Personal branding and its impact on business, your image and how it affects your success. Also included will be an entertaining CSI element, which will leave everyone with a feel-good vibe. Sue Gannon, general manager of EXSA, says: “The aim of this one-day conference is to provide a platform for women in the eventing industry, from small to large, and to provide delegates with valuable insights on developments in the local and international landscape.” WHO SHOULD ATTEND? If you are a leader, senior or middle manager, business owner or entrepreneur, then you should be investing time in focusing on yourself. You know which direction you want to be going in, but you also understand that success is never final and you need to learn all the time. THE DETAILS Date: 20 November 2013 Venue: Holiday Inn, Rivonia, Sandton Cost: R1 750 for EXSA and SAACI members, and R2 500 for non-members. Registration: exsa.co.za or info@exsa.co.za.
IN THE KNOW • ABTA
The high cost of too much choice Monique Swart finds it interesting – and sometimes fairly alarming – that many companies do not see the importance of consolidating their travel and meetings spend.
at using a different supplier, then so be it. Remember though that agreements go both ways, so if you stray from your preferred supplier too regularly and start diluting your spend again, thus not delivering on what you projected you will be spending with them, your corporate rate might not look as good when it comes time to renegotiate the following year.
SHOPPING AROUND
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Relationships go both ways and there is still place for loyalty, even in a highly competitive business environment
HERE SEEMS TObe a belief that consolidation limits choice. This can be true, but what is the cost implication of spreading your spend across a large variety of travel suppliers? When speaking to hotels, the message is very clear: they tell us frequently that if customers consolidate their accommodation and meetings spend into one budget and present the figures to the hotel suppliers as one figure, then the hotels will be far more inclined to give corporate rates and discounts. But when accommodation is spread across various different hotel brands, and meetings and events are also spread across a variety of properties, then the hotels are less inclined to give better rates as the spend is too diluted and fragmented.
PREFERRED SUPPLIER
MONIQUE SWART is the founder of African Business Travel Association. The organisation creates business travel communities across Africa for travel industry professionals
Looking at it in fairly basic terms, if you are spending R100 000 a year on accommodation, but that is spread across 10 suppliers at R10 000 each, the likelihood that any of those 10 hotels will give you a discount is slim to zero. However, if you pick one hotel brand that best serves your purposes and will service you well, the likelihood of them giving you better rates when you put all your spend with them is far higher. Does this limit your choice? Yes, it does. But then you need to weigh up how much choice you need, why you need it and what it is costing you. And having a corporate agreement in place with one brand does not mean that you are bound to them for all eternity. They will need to adhere to a Service Level Agreement and if there are times here and there where you need to look
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Similarly, we see that many companies still believe that having a selection of travel agents and travel management companies (TMC) is the best way to go as it gives them more choice. No it doesn’t. All it gives you is a variety of travel agents quoting on the same flights, hotels and car rental options. And it also gives you a headache trying to deal with a host of different agents and spending far too much time shopping around. In a business environment that now operates at an everincreasing 24/7 pace, never before has the saying ‘time is money’ been more accurate. Yet companies would rather spend this time shopping around comparing quotes, which often differ only slightly, than choose one trusted travel agent or TMC to service them well and help them save on their overall travel spend. This is where the real savings happen, not in the pennies and cents that make up the travel agents fees. Relationships go both ways and there is still place for loyalty, even in a highly competitive business environment. No matter what industry you are in, give some thought for your clients. How do you feel about those that spend small amounts with you every now and then and that you know also support your competitors? Do you bend over backwards for them or not so much? I am guessing not so much. Or if you do, it is probably grudgingly so. How about clients that have been with you for years, give you large amounts of business, speak to openly when they have a product- or service-related problem and are loyal to your brand and people? Would you drop everything to look after them, give them great service and discounts where deserved? For sure. So now think about how your travel suppliers and agents think of you. Which category do you fall into? If you want better service, higher levels of expertise and more access to cost savings opportunities, then become a better customer. Pick a handful of brands to support, get your data sorted out, consolidate your spend and then nurture those relationships to truly reap what you sew. And guaranteed, you will sew the great service you are looking for, while saving a heck of a lot of money along the way.
IN THE KNOW • AIPC
The future of convention centres From accreditation to technology advancements, AIPC president Geoff Donaghy shares with Meetings his insights into what convention centres will be faced with in 2014.
D
o you think standards and accreditation are important for centres today? What benefits does accreditation provide? Yes, for the simple reason that it gives owners, clients and the centre itself the confidence that a particular facility is addressing all the key areas of facility management. This is not a matter of creating uniformity – diversity is a big and important part of the centre experience – but rather that policies and procedures are in place to address all the key areas that make up the experience.
What standards programme does AIPC offer members? The
business process consultant on behalf of AIPC.
Does technology development continue to be a factor? It does, in three areas: first, the use of on-site technologies to facilitate more efficient operations such as registration, distribution of support materials and event updates; second, the ability to enhance sessions through devices that enable greaer
delegates and create specialinterest groups that can plan in advance, follow up long after the event and even create subcomponents at the event itself.
Do you see a trend towards live conferences as a substitute to the participation at the congress? The greatest impact we have seen so far is the expansion of an event’s “reach” via what are referred to as “hybrid events” or a combination of a live, on-site component with elements that are also accessible online from other locations. So far, these have been seen as largely positive because they expand the total audience and can even generate future live event attendance because what remote participants see encourages them to want to participate in person the next time.
The greatest impact... is the expansion of an event’s ‘reach’ via what are referred to as ‘hybrid events’”
AIPC Quality Standards programme is a process-oriented set of management and operations criteria that specifically address all aspects of the centre operating, ownership, management and community interface, and participating centres are audited for the extent to which they comply with and/or exceed the criteria set out for each category. A centre must meet or exceed the required minimums in a number of areas to achieve accreditation. This is audited by an outside
audience participation and more sophisticated presentations; and third, delegate interactive elements like social media and locating devices for participants. The latter is very interesting because when properly used, it can extend the life of the meeting considerably pre- and post-event as well as enable participants to interact more effectively with like-minded
Are environmental/ sustainability concerns still a big factor for centres and their clients? Sustainability is now a reality in the industry and not so much a topic of debate, because it is taken for granted.
GEOFF DONAGHY is the president of the AIPC. The organisation is committed to recognising excellence in convention centre management
Convention centres are far ahead in this regard because they have always had a number of different groups to satisfy; clients as well as owners – often governments – and communities want to see greater attention to environmental standards. One of our recent surveys showed that extensive environmental policies and programmes are now in place at well over 90% of member centres worldwide, and this means it is easier for clients to access what they need for greening their meetings.
What other issues are out there that you see gaining importance? With finances tight all around, I think the biggest pre-occupation everyone has today is how to make the financial equation work better for all concerned. Many organisers have less in the way of resources and need additional value as well as more on-site help. On the other hand, centres – particularly those owned by governments – are less able to absorb the additional costs and/or reduce rental and service rates. Everyone needs to work together on greater value and efficiency as well as to be prepared to look at new ways to share risks and rewards if the industry is to be able to continue to deliver what the delegates want and the participating organisations need.
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MICE APPS
TOP APPS
EVE ERNOT TE An easy-touse app that helps you remember everything across all of your Apple, android and pc. Also synchronises across devices.you use. Stay organised, save your ideas and improve your productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders and make these notes completely searchable. FREE
for event planning
FREE
It's time that you lose that back-breaking events binder. Meetings brings you the best apps that will make your smartphone into a virtual meeting binder.
MEETINGS RECOMMENDS
FEATURES INCLUDE CAPACITY CALCULATOR • Calculate venue capacity for 15 different seating configurations, including banquet, classroom, etc. • Enter your desired capacity in a specific seating configuration and it tells you how big a room you need.
• Both feet and meters can be used. • Dance floor size calculator. STAFFING • Calculator for number of waiters based on five different service styles. • Calculator for number of bartenders • Calculator for number of check-in staff
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DRO OPBOX X Keep all your photos, documents and videos in one place and share them easily. Access any file you save to your Dropbox from all your computers, smartphones and even the Dropbox website. FREE
FREE
SUPER PLANNER
This is the app for the professional event planner. It provides a variety of planning tools, including calculators for venue capacity, staffing, catering, staging, projection and dance floor as well as useful tips in several areas.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE • Price Converter, from “inclusive (of tax and gratuity)” to “plus plus”. Factors in whether gratuity is taxed or not. • Calculates number of hors d’oeuvres • Calculates number of drinks • Chart lists number of drinks per bottle for wine, champagne, 750 ml liquor and litre liquor. • Table chart listing linen sizes needed for each table size, as well as how many people fit at each one. • Diagram of formal place setting. AUDIOVISUAL • Projection seating calculator for how close first and last row of seats should be based on your screen size. • Projection Space calculator for how much space needed between projector and screen. Provides a basic calculation, as well as an advanced advan adv anced calculation (based on focal length and projector depth). • Staging diagram, showing locations for stage left/right, upstage/downstage, house left/right. • Stage height calculator. • 13 Powerpoint/Keynote design tips. • 15 Projection tips
R
8 80 99 9
PAG GES By far the most beautiful word processor you will ever see on a mobile device. This powerful device has been exclusively designed for Apple devices. Create, edit and view documents wherever you are. Pages works with iCloud, so your documents stay up-to-date on all your devices. R80
NA
NUM MBE ERS Built for Apple, Numbers is the most innovative app ever designed for a mobile device. The app lets you make compelling spreadsheets in minutes, with tables, photos and graphics, using just your fingers. Numbers works with iCloud, keeping all your spreadsheets up-to-date. R80
NA
NOT TABILIT TY This is the best-selling note-taking Apple app. Notability is so powerful that it will transform how you work, sketch ideas, annotate documents, sign contracts, complete worksheets, keep journals, jot travel notes, teach a class, make a presentation and much more. With iCloud support, your notes stay up-to-date on all your devices. R80
NA
R E WA R D & D E V E LO P • U S B
To serve or not to serve Justin Cohen shares his top tips on how you can offer your clients the best possible service.
W
HEN I TALK to leaders about what differentiates their organisations from others, the thing I hear most often is service. Of course, service is an essential organisational strategy. Just think about the last time you decided to stop doing business with a person or company. For two thirds of people, the reason is poor service. With something as seemingly small as failing to return my call, the subtext is: “You’re not important” – whether you mean it or not. This generates social pain. Researchers have found that social pain registers in the same part of the brain as physical pain. It doesn’t just feel like a slap in the face; according to the brain, it is! Shoppers spend on average 10% more when they’re greeted by a smiling helper because that smile communicates the one thing we all want to feel: “You’re important”.
3
STEPS TO SERVICE EXCELLENCE
My uncle is a small town GP and he has a simple formula for providing great service to his patients. He calls it his 3As:
1 BE ABLE Competence is non-negotiable. 2 BE AMIABLE Excellent ability doesn’t replace an
excellent approach. The number one factor determining
like people, serve patients’ self-reports of recovery is their doctors’ people because you bedside manner. I would say the same figure applies to like yourself. our customer’s satisfaction with our products. It’s not just the medicine it’s the way we administer it. The event finished BE AVAILABLE Show up. If I can’t get hold of you it late into the night. doesn’t matter how nice you are I’m going to look for As I was about to someone who can stop the pain now. leave I noticed my But true service is more than a three-point checklist; it’s client beginning a way of life. to dismantle one of about 25 corporate banners. I asked if she needed a hand, expecting her to decline. “That would be great,” she replied. “You can start with those five.” I tried to suppress my surprise and disappointment. Then the words I had parodied earlier popped into my head: “That’s not my job”. I know, I know, call me a hypocrite. Yes, it is easier to say than to do.
3
BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY I was brought in to present at an aeronautical company. The CEO wanted a message that would remind them that no matter how brilliant a single individual was, we only rocket to true greatness when we serve. I started off sharing research by Harvard professor Shawn Achor, showing that people who pick up slack for their coworkers, organise social activities and generally serve beyond their job description are 10 times more engaged. That means they’re happier and having more fun. I continued: “Service isn’t the job you do for a wage. It’s not what you have to do, it’s what you do beyond. This is part of what makes it satisfying; it’s a freely chosen act of kindness. But if you don’t want to serve people because you don’t
THE BENEFITS OF SERVICE After I got over the initial shock of having to actually follow my own advice, a strange thing happened: I started enjoying myself. Yes, it was good to be pulling my weight with a team and then sitting together afterwards to eat a late night dessert while getting to know what it’s like to work with actual rocket scientists. That would have been more than enough, but getting a note of thanks a week later made that tiny act of service a true gift to me. I’m not sure that service comes naturally to us all. A more basic impulse may be to take before we give. What I’ve realised is that serving others is the best way to serve ourselves, even if it’s easier to say than to do.
JUSTIN COHEN speaks, trains and facilitates internationally. His areas of expertise are in motivation, sales, service and leadership. He has an honours degree in psychology.
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T H E B A C K PA G E
Dealing with clients 101 Working in event management is very similar to being in the wild. Miss Meet shares how to spot different clients and how they behave in their natural surroundings.
I
HAVE BEEN in the industry for many years and have been around the proverbial eventing block a few times. I have dealt with a variety of clients – from the nightmare through to the too-good-to-be-true client. To simplify your life, here are the five types of clients that you will come across during your career:
THE GET-A-GOOD-DEAL This client can also be referred to as a wheeler-dealer. They believe that the quote you first present is just a starting point for negotiations. The best way to move in on this client with budget is to let them know that you take no nonsense from suppliers and that, after many phone calls, e-mails and meetings, you scored them the absolute best deal (basically just coming in high and then lowering your price to what you would originally have charged). Even though you can often feel like this type of client is taking advantage of you and bullying pretty much everyone in the supply chain, they are often great for getting repeat- and referral work as they have a stake in many deals and are well-connected.
THE NETWORKER THE MIXED SIGNAL Look, let’s be honest, dealing with a client that throws out mixed signals is like being exposed to Morse code for the first time. A lot of signals are coming your way, some long and some short. And just when you think you have the whole thing deciphered, the next set of signals come hammering through. The good news is that if you have successfully deciphered this client, your portfolio of work experience moves to the next level and the job of air traffic controller is not far out of your reach.
This client is way cooler than you – and the reason you and everyone else know this is because they often share their “I’m cooler than you” status on Facebook and Twitter. They promise to introduce you to everyone in their business and social network. They can often be identified by the line: “Stick with me, I’ll make you famous!” We’re talking big egos here, so the best way to deal with this type of client is to stroke that ego. Work hard, keep them happy and send gifts and birthday cards. It’s an ego you’re dealing with, so kiss that butt, but keep it professional! A word of advice though, don’t rely on all the promises – keep working on your own network.
It’s an ego you’re dealing with, so kiss that butt, but keep it professional
THE NIA MISS MEET, a professional event manager, shares her personal experiences within the meetings, events, incentive and exhibition industry
The NIA (need immediate attention) client is all-consuming and can be identified by their use of words such as critical, dire, imperative, pressing, intense, desperate, disaster and urgent. All their e-mails are ‘highest priority’ and are typed in CAPS. They work on weekends and late into the night and think that everyone else does too. Additionally, the NIA client believes they are your only client and that their job should therefore be your highest priority at all times. On the positive, this client usually approves your work and quotes relatively quickly as in their world there is never any room for stalling. Should you win with this client, they are definitely loyal and often think the world of you. Just a word of advice though, the NIA client should only be secured if you have no life other than your work and if you do not consider dating, marriage, kids, socialising, girls nights out – ok pretty much anything other than work – important at this stage.
THE GROUPIE This is the ultimate dream client. The groupie client is an enthusiastic supporter and follower of your work, your timeline on Facebook and your Twitter posts. This client believes you are the alpha and omega and they are very good for your self-esteem. They probably only come across once in a lifetime, so treasure them, nurture them and give them your best. However, great as it is to deal with this type of client, you have to continuously caution against coasting and delivering sub-standard work. It may take a lot to disappoint this client, but don’t rest on your laurels because in a flash someone else may come along and impress them even more. No matter the type of client, always keep in mind that it’s the experience that clients receive that they will share with others. This is the best marketing you can get for your business.
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Adventure Works
37
Johannesburg Expo Centre
Constitution Hill
36
La La Nathi
CLA Brand and Event Engineering
13
Club Mykonos Resort
OBC 8
Sandton Convention Centre
IBC
Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani
OFC
National Convention Bureau
19
Tshwane Events Centre
IFC
2
Concept G
38
Oasys Innovations
14
Tsogo Sun
23
EXSA
39
Panda Hospitality
31
USB International
43
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A SPACE TO SHAPE IDEAS If you’ve got the right kind of people leading the way, any event can be a great success. No one understands this better than Sandton Convention Centre, which is why we have a passionate team of highly skilled professionals who will provide everything you need to host an unforgettable event. Our state-of-the-art venue has welcomed many famous individuals through its doors, and it’s all thanks to our unrivalled experience that they keep coming back. If you’re looking for a proven leader in the field, come and speak to us, because we are Africa’s premier award-winning venue after all.
SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE www.saconvention.co.za
POTENTIAL RELEASED