The Event Issue 10

Issue 10 | 2017

IMEXCA I AMER ITB ASIA

+ TSHWANE

The Intellectual Capital of South Africa

+ IMEX AMERICA

SA’s Leading Brands in the Spotlight

+ THE EXHIBITION SUPPLY CHAIN From Inception to Completion

The Kyalami International Convention Centre is conveniently situated in the business heart of Gauteng between Pretoria and Johannesburg.

The Pit building offers you world class facilities for a unique and inspiring experience with dramatic views towards Johannesburg, during the day and at night.

A perfect venue for: • Birthday celebrations • Weddings • Private functions • Conferences • Exhibitions • Trade shows Exceptional facilities include: • Conference Rooms • Boardrooms • The Paddock • Covered Viewing Deck • Roof Terrace • Launch Area • Pit Area • State-of-the-art kitchens • Executive ablution facilities • Wi-Fi • 3-phase power • Convenient access • Ample secure parking

Cnr R55 & Allandale Road, Kyalami, Midrand | Tel: +27 11 466 0204 info@kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com | www.kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com

TheKyalamiGrandPrixCircuit

Kyalami_Circuit

kyalamigrandprixcircuit

CONTENTS

www.theevent.co.za

02.

01

Mayor De Lille Conducts Final Site Inspection of CTICC Expansion

04.

Gauteng Wins Bid to Host Meetings Africa Until 2022

GAUTENG TO HOST MEETINGS AFRICA UNTIL 2022

06.

Western Cape Comes Out On Top for Leisure

Gauteng is the successful bidder to host South African Tourism’s strategic business events trade show, Meetings Africa, for the next five years.

Tourism in Latest Domestic Tourism Survey

08.

Cape Town and the Western Cape to Welcome Two Million Int’l Tourists in Peak Season

12.

Supply Chain Dynamics in Flux

IMEX AMERICA Head to the SA Pavilion at IMEX America to discover the best that the country has to offer.

16.

Guide to the Subvention Fund

22.

Is Regional Positioning for Events still Relevant?

28.

Tired Of Beige? Do Business Differently at the Radisson RED

UNPACKING THE EXHIBITION SUPPLY CHAIN Susan Reynard unpacks the complex world of exhibition planning and execution, with insights from SA’s leading experts.

30.

Brazil Arrivals Continue to Soar

32.

Tshwane: Knowledge Hub and Business Events Leader

34.

Botswana: Incentive Paradise and Growing Conference Destination

36.

Events to Diarise

MEET IN TSHWANE

38.

Associations News

We make planning business events easy by showcasing Tshwane’s gems and stand-out stars.

40.

Directory of Advertisers

02

NEWS

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MAYOR DE LILLE CONDUCTS FINAL SITE INSPECTION OF

CTICC EXPANSION

City of Cape Town Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille, has declared the expansion of the Cape Town International Convention Centre, CTICC 2, ‘ready to welcome the world’.

Mayor Patricia de Lille and CTICC Chief Executive Officer, Julie-May Ellingson at CTICC site visit.

T

he Mayor conducted a final site inspection of the expansion with CTICC Chief Executive Officer, Julie-May Ellingson, to give her final seal of approval of the construction of the expansion before contractors hand over the building for occupation.

The Mayor’s inspection included a tour of the impressive main conference and exhibition halls, meeting pod rooms, and the facility’s extensive back-of-house areas.

These include the control room with stateof-the-art building management system as well as the facility’s hot, cold and pastry kitchens. The Mayor also viewed the centre’s open-air rooftop terrace, with impressive views of the city and Table Mountain.

The City of Cape Town contributed R550-million towards the expansion costs.

‘In July 2014, I broke the first ground at the construction site. Now, we are standing in the impressive, light-filled reception hall

of CTICC 2. This has been a long journey, but it’s only through focused and visionary leadership by the City and its partners that we can welcome even larger events and conferences to our shores and take this city to greater heights. Today I’m even more proud to say that the CTICC is indeed a key driver of our efforts to position Cape Town as a forward-looking, globally competitive business city,’ said Mayor De Lille.

CTICC 2 is an elegant and modern expansion of the original building, now to be known as CTICC 1. The 31 148m2 expansion adds 10 000m2 of multipurpose conference and exhibition space through six halls located across two floors. The facility also includes 3 000m2 of informal and formal meeting space in the form of four larger meeting suites, a terrace room, and five smaller meeting pod rooms. Two modern rooftop decks provide the ideal backdrop for post-meeting cocktails. Unlike its original

counterpart, the new centre is built across six floors and has more exterior balconies.

CTICC 2 will also be able to operate as an independent facility. Its design received a 4-star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa.

CTICC 2 has struck a chord with international associations and by the August 2017, the centre had already secured 10 major international events up until 2022.

The third International Conference on Global Food Security will seek solutions to feed the earth’s nine billion people. The event takes place in CTICC 2 from 3 to 6 December 2017.

In 2020, the World Ophthalmology Congress promises to attract 15 000 delegates and is the largest event the centre has secured in its 14-year history. The City would not have been able to win the bid for this event without an expanded convention centre.

THE PRESIDENT HOTEL

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03

THE PRESIDENT HOTEL The ultimate conference experience in Cape Town’s most beautiful urban resort.

© Greg de Villiers

N

estled beneath Bantry Bay’s majestic Lion’s Head, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and just a step away from Cape Town’s CBD, is the most beautiful urban resort in Cape Town. This award-winning 4* luxury hotel’s 349 rooms combine contemporary sophistication and comfort with spaciousness. The hotel offers worldclass guest services and luxury facilities (infinity pool, fitness centre, salon, spa, and a variety of restaurants and bars). The conference venues boast state-of-the-art infrastructure and the Wi-Fi offering is the fastest of any hotel in SA. Experience fresh sea air, panoramic ocean views, superb cuisine, unsurpassed service and a friendly team waiting to welcome you.

The President Hotel understands the importance of providing world-class conferencing and meeting services, and delivers every function with the utmost attention to detail. Highly qualified conference executives will provide tailormade events to suit any requirement and will ensure a well-run, successful conference or event. With a team of friendly, flexible and dedicated professionals that will support you, your dream event can become an unforgettable reality.

The hotel can accommodate capacities from 10 to 350 delegates and boasts

newly refurbished venues and interiors with imported, comfortable and ergonomic furniture. Venues and facilities are multifunctional and state-of-the-art with fully automated AV, sound and lighting infrastructure, a superior technology experience with ceiling mounted HD quality projectors, motorised screens and highquality speakers. Delegates benefit from unlimited 200 Mbps hi-speed Wi-Fi.

Located on the beachfront, 6km from the City Centre and only 25km from Cape Town International Airport – the President is the perfect getaway in the city and by the sea.

The President Hotel offers guests a dining experience that will tantalise the most discerning palates. Executive Chef Craig Paterson’s inspirational dishes will allow guests to be spoilt for choice in our restaurants, deli and bar areas, with exceptional service and innovative cuisine. At the President, guests will savour a culinary experience like no other.

Distance from hotel: 6.5km CONSTANTIA WINELANDS Distance from hotel: 20km SIMON’S TOWN AND BOULDERS BEACH Distance from hotel: 40km STELLENBOSCH WINELANDS Distance from hotel: 55km CAPE OF GOOD HOPE Distance from hotel: 70km HOP ON HOP OFF “RED” CITY SIGHTSEEING BUS The best way to see Cape Town Distance from hotel: 5m SEA POINT PROMENADE Distance from hotel: 50m CAPE TOWN BEACHES Saunders’ Rock Beach – Distance from hotel: 100m Queens Beach – Distance from hotel: 350m Clifton 1st Beach – Distance from

This iconic building has stood at the foot of Lion’s Head for over a century and was originally known as the Queen’s Hotel. The hotel was built in 1887 and designed by GM Alexander.

Extensive additions were added in 1916 and 1923 to the design. The hotel as it stands now, was officially reopened as the President Hotel on the 3rd June 1998 by President Nelson Mandela. The hotel has changed ownership many times over the past 100 years and is now an independent, sectional title hotel. As the President Hotel is situated in Bantry Bay, which is known to be the most wind-free area in Cape Town, the hotel is secluded, protected and enjoys nearly 300 days of sunshine and wind free days per year. The average daily sunshine is between 12 and 14 hours, making the President Hotel’s infinity pool an attractive prospect all year round. The President Hotel’s perfect location offers easy access to explore, discover and experience all that Cape Town has to offer.

ROBBEN ISLAND MUSEUM Distance from hotel: 6km CAPE TOWN CBD Distance from hotel: 6km TABLE MOUNTAIN

hotel: 2km Camps Bay – Distance from hotel: 5km DAY CONFERENCE PACKAGE RATES START FROM R425 Call +27 (0) 21 434 8111 or email conference@presidenthotel.co.za to enquire about the ultimate conference and events destination. www.presidenthotel.co.za

04

NEWS

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Sandton Convention Centre © Elske Photography

GAUTENG WINS BID

TO HOST MEETINGS AFRICA UNTIL 2022 Gauteng is the successful bidder to host South African Tourism’s strategic business events trade show, Meetings Africa, for the next five years following a comprehensive bidding process.

T

he decision means that Meetings Africa will be hosted by Gauteng Tourism Authority and the Johannesburg Convention Bureau at the Sandton Convention Centre through a province-city partnership annually in February for the next five years.

“We would like to thank all the bidding tourism authorities for their submissions, and congratulate the province of Gauteng on winning the right to host Africa’s largest business-events trade show. We look forward to continuing with our strong partnership with the Gauteng province and once again showcasing the province’s world-class venues and infrastructure for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and events (MICE),” said Sisa Ntshona, CEO of South African Tourism.

With 22 000 m² of flexible event space,

contemporary Afro-chic décor and technologically advanced facilities, the Sandton Convention Centre is perfectly suited to showcase the continent as an attractive, value-for-money destination to host international and regional meetings and conferences.

“Through this partnership, and as we continue with our efforts to achieve our strategic goal of five million more tourists in the next five years, we will also reinforce Meetings

Africa’s status as Africa’s premier business and professional events trade show committed to positioning and of course growing the number of business events hosted on the African continent,” concludes Ntshona.

In the last five years (between 2013 and 2017) Meetings Africa has hosted over 1 000 international and regional buyers, 1 336 exhibitors and over 7 000 visitors. Meetings Africa 2018 will take place from 26-28 February 2018.

Sandton Convention Centre is perfectly suited to showcase the continent as an attractive, valuefor-money destination to host international and regional meetings and conferences.

I M E X/ 26 8 0E

06

NEWS

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WESTERN CAPE COMES OUT ON TOP

Wesgro, is encouraged by yet another excellent performance by the Western Cape in Stats SA’s latest Domestic Tourism Survey (DTS).

A

ccording to Stats SA, ‘the DTS is a large-scale household survey aimed at collecting accurate statistics on the travel behaviour and expenditure of South African residents travelling within the borders of the country.’

The Western Cape achieved significant successes over the survey period, coming out top in the following important categories: • More than 1.1 million overnight leisure trips • 166 000 overnight business trips • 4.1 million paid bed nights • 241 000 tourists who stayed in hotels

• • •

161 000 who stayed in guesthouse/guest farms 157 000 tourists who stayed in B&Bs 336 000 tourists who stayed in self-catering establishments

The Western Cape was also the only province in which holidays was the most stated reason for travel amongst both day and overnight trips during the survey period, while visiting friends and relatives was the second-most commonly stated purpose to visit the province.

Further, 99.2% of day travellers

and 69.9% of overnight travellers to the Western Cape originated from the province. Despite economic challenges, the Western Cape domestic market continues to travel within the province, sustaining the value of the local economy.

“These excellent results bode well for further investment in the tourism industry, as there is continued demand for hotels, guest-houses, B&Bs and self-catering establishments. This has a multiplier effect on the local economy, and will lead to further construction, and job creation,” said Wesgro CEO Tim Harris.

08

NEWS

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WESTERN CAPE READY

FOR TWO MILLION MORE INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

Cape Town and the Western Cape is open for tourism and is ready for a bumper peak season, which promises to be the best yet. International arrivals have grown by an unprecedented 27% year-on-year for the first half of 2017, and we anticipate two million more international passengers this year.

W

esgro commends stakeholders, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape provincial government, for the steps they have taken to reduce water consumption and ensure supplies last through the tourist season.

We therefore encourage tourists from the rest of South Africa and abroad to

visit our beautiful city and province this year, and be water wise when doing so.

In this regard, we wish to thank all of our partners in the tourism sector that have taken proactive steps to reduce their water demand during this critical time.

For more information on how establishments or guest can contribute to this effort, please see infographics below.

Interested visitors can also make

5 Water Saving Tips - Accommodation Wait for a full load before running washing machines and dishwashers. The rinse water from some washing machines can be reused for the next wash cycle.

Defrost foods in the fridge or naturally rather than placing it under running water.

Collect your shower, bath and basin water and reuse it for gardening and cleaning. “Greywater use has some health and hygiene risks that you must avoid.

Keep hands and surface areas sanitised/disinfected.

use of the City of Cape Town’s waterusage calculator, to see how they can get their water usage below 87 litres per person per day.

The Western Cape has many diverse offerings from the Cape Winelands to the Cape Karoo. To find out about what more you can do during this summer season, visit the Discover Cape Town and the Western Cape website.

5 Water Saving Tips - Guests Take a short 2-minute shower.

Only flush the toilet when necessary.

Don’t use it as a dustbin.

Collect your shower, bath and basin water and re-use it to flush your toilet.

Use a cup instead of running taps in the bathroon or kitchen, for brushing teeth, shaving, drinking etc.

Find and fix leaks to reduce water usage in establishments.

Use your towel more than once.

Low Flow Faucets and Shower Heads can reduce water usage to as much as 30%. Replace old faucets and bathroom accessories with low flow components to reduce water usage.

EASTERN CAPE SOUTH AFRICA

Dreading your next conference? Bored to tears by yet another excruciating expo or soulless corporate event? Clearly you haven’t discovered the basket of charms that is Buffalo City.

Don’t settle for dull and dreary. If your corporate, cultural, sporting or entertainment event has all the excitement and pizazz of a threeday-old salad, you’re in the wrong city.

Fun, festive and modern, with some of the best facilities under the African sun, Buffalo City is quietly establishing a well-earned reputation as the Go-To Destination for exciting, out-the-box events and show-stopper moments.

Come see why Buffalo City does it better!

Equidistant from Johannesburg and Cape Town, and perfectly positioned between Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Durban, our Metro is the perfect meeting place for events with a national or international footprint.

Our mild winters and balmy summers lend themselves to year-round outdoor occasions, while the city’s vast selection of internationalstandard venues and highly skilled professional teams ensure a deft and professional event, no matter what the occasion.

For more information contact the following Tourism Information offices EL Airport: East London Airport Arrivals Terminal Tel: 043 736 3019 KWT: 27 Taylor Street, King William’s Town Tel: 043 642 1215 Dimbaza: Wall of Fame, Main Road, Dimbaza Tel: 040 656 2062 tourismunit@buffalocity.gov.za www.bctourism.co.za

Buffalo City Tourism

DOWNLOAD THE BC TOURISM APP

@bcmtourism

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10

IMEX AMERICA

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ENJOY A BUSINESS BOOST AT

IMEX AMERICA 2017

“This is the one show a year that’s on my must-do list. It’s a no-brainer – I invest a few days and from that I gain relationships, new ideas and inspiration to take me through the next year!” Michael Morris, TriMega.

WHEN AND WHERE: IMEX America 2017, America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, will take place from October 10 – 12 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at The Venetian® | The Palazzo ®, preceded by Smart Monday, powered by MPI on October 9. Entry to IMEX America is free of charge - www. imexamerica.com/register

IMEX America

A

must-attend event, IMEX America enables meeting and event strategists from across the world to share innovation, business opportunities and knowledge. Professionals who organise meetings, events and conferences can meet with international destinations, major hotel groups, DMCs, technology and incentives all under one roof.

Over 3 200 organisations will highlight products, services, and destinations hailing from across North America and around the world and spanning

Education is a key focus of IMEX America and this year is no exception with opportunities to discover fresh thinking, share ideas and source inspiration.

all major meeting and event industry sectors, including incentive travel.

New exhibitors at the show include the Global Incentive DMC, Viking Cruises, the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, Havana Strategies, Prince Hotels, Rwanda Convention Bureau, Moscow and Groups360.

Several companies are also hosting their own booths after having shared booth space in the past. Striking out on their own for 2017 are: Ray Ban Events, the Mob Museum, Turkish Airlines, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Diplomat Beach Resort.

Education is a key focus of IMEX America and this year is no exception with opportunities to discover fresh thinking, share ideas and source inspiration. Smart Monday, powered by MPI, takes place the day before the show on Monday October 9 and launches the show’s renowned free education program.

New for Smart Monday is an Event Design Certificate Programme Level 1 of Mastery - a full day workshop in

which where the Event Design Collective will introduce the Event Canvas Model, a strategic event management model for customer-centric events.

Planners can discover global experts, themed tours and hands-on activities during the three days of the show on the Inspiration Hub. Expanded for this year, the Inspiration Hub is set to host over 180 sessions.

True to its talking point theme for 2017 - Purposeful Meetings - the IMEX team is offering a white space area close to the Inspiration Hub. ‘White space’ is the intentional design of time and space to allow people to chill out, clear their minds or take time to purposefully digest information.

At IMEX attendees are also invited to use white space to brainstorm with speakers.

Bringing Your A-Game To IMEX America?

Count down with us! We’re just days from the nation’s biggest meetings industry trade show—where productive business fuses with initiatives that nurture mind, body and spirit.

This event will make you an A+ student too. Get smarter with 180+ FREE learning sessions, many CMP accredited. Kick off each morning with the MPI Daily Keynotes, and address key topics in the Inspiration Hub—booth #LL100.

Arrive early for Smart Monday on October 9, powered

by MPI—a full day of education and networking.

Register at IMEXAMERICA.COM now.

THE

pulse

OF THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY.

IMEXAMERICA.COM #IMEX17

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FEATURE

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AAXO is streamlining operating procedures for the vast variety of suppliers to exhibitions. (Decorex by Reed Exhibitions)

SUPPLY CHAIN DYNAMICS IN FLUX

With competition increasing in the exhibition industry, managing the supply chain is more important than ever for organisers, venues and associations. Susan Reynard reports.

T

he main exhibition supply chain consists of seven major categories, says Christine Davidson, vice president of dmg events MEA, who is responsible for the Africa operations: • Stand construction: planning beforehand, build onsite, breakdown and post show review • Venue: provide a clean, secure and operationally efficient environment to host the event • Design and print: brochures, signage, websites, advertising, branding, all collateral • Web hosting: create, maintain, host site for each show, throughout the cycle • Email distribution: provide safe and fast communication delivery that meets required standards

• •

Media: print, online, outdoor, direct mail, inserts etc.

Registration: provide fast, simple, efficient system to record visitors wishing to visit, manage their entry into the show onsite and provide a range of post-show analysis and figures

Each company within their supply chain is expected to work to dmg’s specific service level agreements, which includes meeting cost and efficiency standards and providing a high level of service to customers/exhibitors/visitors.

Christine and her team at dmg-ems Africa hosted the inaugural The Hotel Show Africa at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand in June 2017, alongside Africa’s Big 7. This gives the company, which is headquartered

in Dubai, a unique perspective on hosting shows in South Africa.

Christine says that as an international company, the exhibition supply chain varies in accordance with their needs, although in South Africa there are fewer suppliers.

“We engage the best supplier for the job.

We review and assess after every show to ensure the quality exhibitors and visitors expect of dmg is maintained,” she explains.

“We have found that there are fewer suppliers to the exhibition sector in South Africa compared with other parts of the world e.g. Western Europe, USA and the Middle East. That volume of suppliers tends to drive competition and consequently standards and innovation levels. We have also found there is not a huge variety in terms of operational products and solutions available that sometime makes

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Consumer shows, like Decorex by Reed Exhibitions, require venues with plenty of onsite parking.

Conferences are the norm at trade shows, with top speakers like Minister of the Department of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, addressing delegates at dmg-ems Africa’s Saitex and Africa’s Big 7 expo in June.

FEATURE 13 it more difficult to produce the event in the way we would like,” she adds.

Carol Weaving, CEO of Reed Exhibitions and chairperson of the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) says that the association, formed nearly two years ago, has made significant strides and undertaken market research, including engaging with government, to understand the economic impact of the industry.

“Exhibitions have been previously undervalued and underestimated and probably misunderstood. Now we’re driving the exhibition industry and ensuring advertising agencies and marketers talk to their clients and understand the value of these exhibition,” she says.

Carol says at Reed Exhibitions, which held 17 exhibitions this year (two of which were in Kenya and Ghana), the supply chain starts with the venue. “You need to work out dates, rates, availability, suitability, and that international (hotels nearby) and consumer needs (plenty of parking) are met.

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FEATURE

Suppliers speak up AAXO has held two open conversations in Johannesburg and Cape Town to hear from suppliers what their challenges with organisers are in a bid to unite the industry. She says as an association they have listened to their suppliers, conveying that organisers value their relationships with the entire supply chain.

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• •

•

• •

Carol Weaving, chairperson of the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) and CEO of Reed Exhibitions, shares a few of the points to come out of the meetings held in August: • Organisers to include a link to each venue’s technical specifications on their websites • Rigging points and services like plumbing to be added to the venue’s technical specs • Sub-contracting forms to be included in the manual for exhibitors

•

•

•

• •

Supplier briefing to be held by organisers for each show AAXO badges to be arranged for suppliers to ensure easy entry during build-up, show times and breakdown Exhibitors and contractors’ breakdowns to be listed in the manual Organisers to educate exhibitors about build-up procedures Priorities and schedules listed for breakdown of stands Venue induction and education sessions to be held to cover issues such as accreditation, safety files and processes Safety rules and regulations at venues to be made available to suppliers Safety files, customised for each show or venue, made available and valid for a year Damage deposits investigated and streamlined Members encouraged to use AAXO-approved suppliers

Once you have the concept in place, you start talking to your suppliers.”

Once you have the concept in place, you start talking to your suppliers.”

Carol groups suppliers as follows: • Operations: One major stand contractor is hired to build shell scheme stands, chosen based on relationships, service and pricing – service and delivery are essential. Start the conversation early and work with them as a partner right the way through to the end of the show. They are the infrastructure partner or contractor, who takes care of stands, lighting, distribution boards and electrics etc.

• Ancilliary: Includes suppliers providing registration, cleaning, security, plumbing, furniture and plants. Some suppliers offer a package deal of several of these functions and other suppliers specialise or outsource to each other. Market research and visitor analysis is often supplied by the registration company, who may also do matchmaking and meetings.

• Content: Conferences are the norm at trade shows for the B2B market so you need to organise workshops, speakers, panel discussions, demonstrations and/or meetings – you may have 70 educational

Content has become a major feature with some shows offering around 70 educational workshops during a single event. (The Hotel Show Africa by dmg-ems Africa)

Stand construction requires careful planning and coordination during build-up and breakdown, onsite and in loading bays. (The Hotel Show Africa by dmg-ems Africa)

What’s good for visitors is good for exhibitors, venues, suppliers and organisers, says Carol Weaving, CEO of Reed Exhibitions.

The Hotel Show Africa 2017 by dmg-ems Africa added an international flavour to the local exhibition calendar.

FEATURE 15

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“Don’t think exhibition, think experience,” says Carol Weaving, chairperson of AAXO.

•

workshops during a single event.

Marketing: Includes street pole advertising; posters; social media; artwork; banners; radio slots; advertisements and more. We have a range of agencies on our books, big and small. The marketing strategy depends on the type of event.

Reed Exhibitions uses a variety of suppliers as Carol says very few organisers will put all their eggs in one basket and only have one or two main suppliers. They prefer to have

several on their books, especially for when business picks up and suppliers may be too busy and not have adequate capacity.

“Venues are all different: some have preferred suppliers and others have compulsory suppliers. Some are more flexible than others and that’s also part of the decision-making process: you may choose another venue if you’re not happy with their suppliers,” Carol explains The extended supply chain includes accommodation and travel providers; visa specialists in the case of international visitors

and exhibitors; organisers of functions and events such as gala banquets and entertainers; and tour operators for activities connected to the show, to name a few. “You need to look after exhibitors, visitors and suppliers throughout the journey, from start to finish,” Carol notes.

“Don’t think exhibition, think experience.

Look at the total value chain and the cascade effect – focus on visitors first and make sure they’re happy. What’s good for visitors is good for exhibitors, venues, suppliers and organisers.”

L

ERENCE S O

L

ONS

LOCA

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Contact Jo-lene Sathorar t. +27 71 871 8813 e. info@localconferencesolutions.co.za w. www.localconferencesolutions.co.za

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U

Local Conference Solutions is a passionately South African enterprise based in Cape Town, South Africa. It designs and manufactures locally made conference bags and beaded lanyards for the corporate and event industry.

We understand that every client is unique, budgets are tight and deadlines short, so we tailor make and customise our range of Conference Bags to suit all pockets.In addition we also set up pop-up craft shops at conferences and events allowing delegates to procure locally made craft products.

C

Local Conference Solutions

Member of

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FEATURE

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© Mari Smith

GUIDE TO THE

SUBVENTION FUND This year saw the launch of the R90-million Subvention Fund at Meetings Africa.

Kim Crowie explores who is eligible, how to apply and what the finer details are behind this milestone funding administered by the SANCB.

A

t Meetings Africa this year, former Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom announced a new bidding fund approved by the National Treasury. This Subvention Fund has allocated R90-million for the next three years. This is part of the government’s R494-million budget allocation to promote tourism over the next three years, and has already assisted a number of individuals in their bids to bring international and continental association meetings to South Africa.

According to Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer at the South Africa National Convention Bureau

(SANCB), the organisation administering the Subvention Fund, says that they only provide support and bid funding to the six key industries as outlined in the National Development Plan 2030.

“It focuses also mostly on the potential of these association meetings for economic development for investment potential for education. Of course also the normal direct economic impact of the people that are coming, but the association meetings that we bid for are mostly to align to the economic sectors that can be involved in job creation and growth in those specific sectors from an economic perspective.”

This Subvention Fund has allocated R90million for the next three years. This is part of the government’s R494-million budget allocation to promote tourism over the next three years, and has already assisted a number of individuals.

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These areas are as follows: • Business Process Outsourcing: Financial services, insurance, telecommunications, after-sales, and information technology • Creative Industries: Film and video, music, artisans, crafts • Information and Communication Technology: Software development, electronic financial applications, fraud prevention • Life Sciences: Medial specialities, biotechnology, medical devices • Manufacturing: Automotive, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agriprocessing, electronics, biofuels • Mining and Metals: precious metals and minerals, mining expertise and technology, minerals beneficiation

Before Applying for Support: Are You Eligible?

The SANCB supports international association conferences and meetings, as well as regional African association meetings in order to promote the rotation of events on the continent. The SANCB does not support conferences that only rotate within South Africa, as these events should be supported by local and provincial convention bureaux.

International or regional exhibitions are also evaluated separately but must attract a minimum of 20% international or regional exhibitors or buyers. The SANCB also assists in supporting international corporate incentives; however these are only supported in the bidding phase, and not incentives that are already confirmed for South Africa. Applicants should also note that sports events, festivals, concerts, beauty pageants, Olympiads, debating teams and other events in this vein do not meet the SANCB’s criteria for support unless a strong meeting component is present.

The SANCB does not supply large amounts of money for bidding, but on average the support they offer is between R300 000 and R400 000. This is based on the 78 bids supported last year. This is also not cash that goes straight to the association, but rather to enhance meetings in South Africa. “We’re very cautious about where, how and on what the money is spent, and we enhance and make it easier for the meeting planner

and decision maker to choose us and to have a successful meeting,” Amanda explains. “Delegate boosting is important for us because that means we can bring more people, especially more African delegates from the continent to come and play. We put our money where our mouths are so that we can develop our continent ultimately. We are not talking about huge amounts of money, but rather small numbers. It’s exactly what it says – support to be equal with competition.

So because South Africa is a long haul, developing country, it can now be on equal footing with competition like Europe or the US, against whom we are bidding.”

International association events applying for support must meet the following criteria: • Attract a minimum of 300 delegates • Have a minimum of 40% international delegate participation • Have a minimum of two days conference duration • Should rotate internationally • Must have been supported by the SANCB in the bidding phase.

Regional African association events applying for support must meet the following criteria: • Attract a minimum of 100 delegates • Have a minimum of 20% regional delegates participating • Should rotate on the continent International corporate incentives applying for support must meet the following criteria: • Should be for a minimum of 100 people • Should preferably have a meeting component • Preference is given to incentives hosted outside the three major cities of Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg – encouraging business spread throughout the regions

Applying for Bid Support through the Subvention Fund In order for a business event to qualify for financial support, it must first meet stringent criteria. According to Amanda, South Africa has only just scratched the surface of bidding potential. There are still hundreds of association events that have

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Destination Marketing Support in Bidding Financial Support Maximising Meeting Attendance Generate Business Leads Education and Research Information Point for the Industry

not rotated to SA yet, and the country needs to become a strong contender in bidding and hosting these meetings.

Although SA currently ranks 35th in the ICCA rankings as an association meeting destination – which is a relatively good ranking for a developing country – there is still huge potential for growth.

Requirements for a business event to qualify for support: • The requirements for expected financial support should be clearly outlined and requested in the Request for Proposal (RFP) or • The conference budget must be provided and indicate a clear deficit.

That is, conferences making a profit may not qualify if subvention support is not stipulated in the RFP. • The event should fall within the economic sectors as listed above that have been identified by government as priorities for future development in the National Development Plan.

• The conference or meeting should have been supported in the bidding phase with a support letter from the SANCB. • Support should be requested at least three months prior to the bid deadline, or before the event is hosted.

For site inspection support, qualifying conferences and incentives meeting the above criteria will be furnished with two economy class air tickets for site inspections by the SANCB. Provincial convention bureaux are responsible for ground handling and accommodation.

Letters of support are issued through the SANCB to meetings and incentives that do not meet the SANCB financial support criteria and are referred to the provincial or city convention bureaux for support. These letters do not stipulate financial support.

18

JOHANNESBURG EXPO CENTRE

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JEC: YOUR TOP CHOICE FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) has gained a formidable reputation as the venue of choice for hosting some of the biggest outdoor and indoor festivals, concerts, and events in Southern Africa.

Ultra South Africa 2017

H

osting large-scale local and international events of this magnitude require a great deal of expertise, as the team at the JEC take great pride in leaving no stone unturned, to deliver an overwhelmingly positive and unforgettable experience for organisers and visitors all the time. When it comes to hosting a world-class event, you simply cannot afford to compromise on location,” says Craig Newman, CEO of JEC. “Not only should your event venue have all the necessary capacity and infrastructure to accommodate thousands of visitors, but accessibility to the location, secure parking, and the safety and security of visitors, is of paramount importance,” he says.

This was highlighted again during August when JEC welcomed more than 18 000 Grace House Family Church members. Visitors from across South Africa, traveled to the JEC, South of Johannesburg, to experience The Encounter gospel concert 2017.

JEC has also become the permanent

home to other world-renowned events. In February, JEC welcomed almost 30 000 electronic music lovers, for the fourth edition of Ultra South Africa. The Ultra Music Festival is an international phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. The organisers have already confirmed that they will return to JEC in February 2018 for their fifth South African anniversary.

The Christ Embassy Love World Festival of Music and Arts is another gospel inspired festival that has selected the JEC as the venue of preference to host its annual gospel extravaganza. Other major festivals and events hosted at JEC include the Bassline Music Event, the Heineken Music Festival, and the Classic Car Show.

Mr. Newman goes onto say that the JEC ticks all the boxes when it comes to these large-scale events. Boasting more than 50 000m2 indoor exhibition and event space, and an additional 100 000m2 of versatile outdoor space, there’s more than enough capacity for any momentous occasion

and festivals that require careful planning and a dedicated team that are prepared to meet all the organiser’s expectations.

The Expo Centre has multiple access routes from each of Johannesburg’s major highways, with separate entrances to accommodate events or equipment and deliveries. In addition to over 20 000 secure onsite parking bays, the Expo Centre includes a Helicopter landing and shuttle services for transportation of event organisers and visitors.

Any event organiser’s choice of venue can make or break the success of the event.

With that in mind, the JEC is an awardwinning venue, as demonstrated when it once again took top honours at the PMR. Africa Awards, with the coveted Diamond Arrow Award for Excellence for Event and Exhibition Venues. This emphasises that the JEC is recognised as one of the top National Event and Exhibition Venues in Southern Africa, as rated by a sample of 55 event and exhibition organisers during a nationwide survey that was conducted during 2017.

JOHANNESBURG EXPO CENTRE

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19

SOUTH AFRICA WELCOMES

UFI AND THE WORLD The UFI Global Congress is the world-renowned meeting place for leading tradeshow organisers, fairground owners, as well as major national and international exhibition associations, and selected partners of the exhibition industry.

Africa represents the next frontier for growth and development for UFI.

Craig Newman, the CEO of JEC

C

raig Newman, the CEO of Johannesburg Expo Centre, who has been elected as the President for UFI 2019, explains why South Africa is the ideal country for this prestigious international event in 2017.

“The African continent has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the development of the global exhibitions, conferences and events industry, and South Africa possesses over the necessary experience, expertise and infrastructure to be the gateway to the African Continent,“ says Newman. “As an industry, we play our part to change global perceptions, and positioning of the African Continent as a destination of choice with a multitude of advantages for international stakeholders,“ he says.

This year, in line with UFI’s continual global expansion, the 84th UFI Global Congress will be hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1-4 November 2017.

Having already hosted a multitude of inspiring international events, including three sporting world cups, there is no better place than Johannesburg, a city within a country that continues to demonstrate an unwavering dedication to delivering

excellence. This year’s UFI Congress will focus on raising the oods of exhibitions across the world in a constantly shifting international marketplace. In fact, research

by UFI has indicated that in many ways the international exhibition industry is growing faster than the global economy.

According to Newman, the African continent demonstrated the most potential for industry growth and that local industry players are becoming ambassadors of the industry, generating interest and creating awareness that will attract global stakeholders to the local industry.

“We must raise the bar by looking at innovative ways in which we can expand and develop our industry,“ says Newman. “There are also a multitude of opportunities for us as venues, organisers and service providers to partner and combine our capabilities and experience to create a superior service offering and host the highest calibre of events.“ South Africa’s exhibitions, conferences, and events industry is engaged in a number of initiatives that will help to bring Africa to the forefront of the global exhibitions industry. The UFI International Congress is a major attraction for the global exhibitions

and events industry, bringing together hundreds of large corporate organisations and delegates from across the world.

“We believe that this is the perfect time to host this prestigious event because Africa represents the next frontier for growth and development for UFI, and a number of our partners have been working together to grow the continent’s share of regional, continental and global business events,“ he says.

“South Africa has a long and successful history of hosting world-class events and we continue to develop our expertise in hosting global events of this magnitude.“ Industry stakeholders are invited to join the 84th Global Congress as we discuss current and future pressures on our industry, and share best practices and insights into the profits generated through change and perseverance. Everything is ripe for South Africa to be the leading country within the business-tourism sector for Africa, and for this industry to become one of the biggest contributors towards the growth of this local economy,“ concluded Newman.

Contact Johannesburg Expo Centre: T. 011 494 1920 E. marketing@expocentre.co.za info@expocentre.co.za W. www.expocentre.co.za

20

CITY OF TSHWANE

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INTRODUCING YOUR NEW

FAVOURITE BUSH DESTINATION

Gone are the days of viewing Tshwane solely as the capital of legislation and government business. The city is stepping forward and showcasing its unmatched offerings in the incentive sphere.

Rewarding employees with incentive travel experiences is a proven strategy for growth and success within corporate and government departments. Now is the time to experience something different: add Tshwane to your incentive travel itinerary.

Kevin Richardson, the Lion Whisperer, owner of Rra Ditau

B

usiness and leisure travellers may know Tshwane as South Africa’s Capital City, a legislative hub and node for government business – however this city offers more than just government business and historic buildings, Tshwane is a city that offers an exceptional bush experience getaway, perfect for that mini incentive trip you want to organise for your business. And a mere 30-minute drive from the centre of Tshwane; the Dinokeng Game Reserve is the first free-roaming Big 5 residential game reserve in Gauteng – and probably in the world – next to an urbanized area.

Melany Muraour, General Manager of the Dinokeng Local Tourism Association, chats to the Event magazine about the Dinokeng area and its unsurpassed offering to business and leisure visitors.

What is the Dinokeng area?

The Dinokeng area falls within Tshwane and is 228 000 hectares.

Dinokeng includes three main tourism hubs namely: Cullinan, the Dinokeng Game Reserve and Roodeplaat.

We are also working to include the Dinokeng South area to increase the size of the Dinokeng Game Reserve as part of a Gauteng Department of Economic Development project.

Does the Dinokeng area have conferencing venues for those companies who want to have a conference/meeting before the bush experience?

There is quite a large number and a wide variety of conferencing and meeting facilities to accommodate small to very large groups of up to 1 000 people.

There are 55 places across the area where companies can MEET in the greater Dinokeng area. This incorporates companies looking to have conferences and team building for their staff or even venues to host their clients. The Roodeplaat area is probably the best known for value-for-money conferencing.

There are approximately 20 product owners offering meeting facilities here. In Dinokeng South, just between Roodeplaat and the fenced off Dinokeng Game Reserve, there are 10 venues that specialise in conferencing and there are some really interesting and unique experiences to be found here. In the Dinokeng Game Reserve there are also five venues that can accommodate very big groups, but there are also more intimate conferencing venues for smaller groups.

Cullinan also has 20 conferencing facilities available for groups of various sizes.

What different activities does the Dinokeng area have to offer the incentive market?

Dinokeng has something for everyone.

CITY OF TSHWANE

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Rra Ditau

Intundla Game Lodge & Bush Spa

21

are a couple of pottery manufacturers, a few spas, rose gardens, game drives and fully tailored and exclusive 5-star safari tented experiences. The Dinokeng Game Reserve, further up North, is Gauteng’s only nature reserve that is home to free roaming Big 5. The game reserve gives you the freedom to choose from a self-drive route with picnic sites to stop off along the way or expertly guided game-drives with stop overs at restaurants serving gourmet cuisine.

Does a range of accommodation options exist?

Hayward’s Grand Safari Company © DiscountTraveler

Top 10 Experiences in the Dinokeng Area for Incentives: 1. Hot Air Balloon Game Viewing 2. Abseiling and Zip lining 3. Microlight Glides (spot game from the sky!)

4. Aeroplane Flips 5. Quad biking 6. Horseback Riding and Horse Trails in the bush 7. Motocross and Mountain Bike Bush Trails 8. Underground Mine Tour of the Cullinan mine (fully operational experience a day with the miners) 9. Morning Games Drive with a stop for breakfast in the bush 10. Walking Bush Trails/ Walking with the lions at Rra Tau

There are about 400-450 tourism product owners on the Dinokeng Tourism Organisations (DTO) database. There is a plethora of places to “Meet, Eat, Stay and

Play in Dinokeng!” The best part is that if your staff are travelling with partners and/or their kids, everyone will be entertained. When it comes to where to places to PLAY, the Dinokeng Region has 125 places offering Adventure Activities, Attractions and Landmarks, Game Drives, Nature and Wildlife, Spas, Art, Shopping, Sports Facilities, Golf Clubs as well as Organised Tours and Shuttle Services, so companies can create an extremely attractive incentive package.

Activities in Roodeplaat include mountain biking, rowing, birdwatching, putt putt, game drives, hot air ballooning, sunset boat cruises, water skiing, spa treatments, a quaint shopping village, golf courses and a professional conference and event organiser who can put this all together for you and drive the family around. The Roodeplaat Dam and the Ndebele King’s burial grounds are also something to behold!

The Dinokeng South area has a naturist resort — a one-of-a-kind in the Tshwane are and a draw-card for the International European Market. There

With 160 places to STAY in Dinokeng, there is certainly a very big range of accommodation options available.

Cullinan and Rayton have about 20 places where you can sleep over. Accommodation ranges from hotels to game and country lodges. There are lovely, homey, very clean and neat ungraded guesthouses and B&Bs, a number of 3 and 4-star and a 5-star TGSA graded “cottage.”

The Dinokeng Game Reserve has the largest number of lodges in which to stay. There are 60 lodges in the reserve, 15 in and around Rust De Winter and another 15 in the Dinokeng South area that specifically cater for accommodation only. Accommodation covers basic self-catering, camping and caravan sites, and glamping (glamourous camping - up to 4-star luxury tents and a handful of 3 and 4-star game lodges).

Roodeplaat has 25 accommodation venues and offers caravan and camping grounds, game lodges, plus some really beautiful waterfront 3 to 4-star hotels.

Contact Details Nonhlanhla Tshabalala Deputy Director: Incentive, Government and Corporate Meetings Tel: +27 (0) 12 358 6347 Cell: +27 (0) 71 351 4458 Email: NonhlanhlaT@tshwane.gov.za

22

FEATURE

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IS REGIONAL POSITIONING

FOR EVENTS STILL RELEVANT?

Maximise the natural beauty, heritage, traditions, features and facilities to attract more events to your province, advise the experts. Susan Reynard reports.

Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg © SA Tourism

T

he South African National Convention Bureau, part of South African Tourism, has identified six market priorities consisting of the country’s key industries: • Business process outsourcing: Financial services; insurance; telecoms; after-sales; IT • Manufacturing: Automotive; chemicals; pharmaceuticals; agriprocessing; electronics; biofuels • Creative industries: Film and video; music; crafts

•

•

•

Information and communication technology: Software development; electronic financial applications; fraud prevention Mining and metals: Precious metals and minerals; mining expertise and technology; minerals beneficiation Life sciences: Medical specialities; biotechnology; medical devices

Each of these market segmentations is based on historically strong industries as well as those experiencing good growth and the

country’s ability to compete internationally in these areas of expertise. With South African Tourism’s ongoing efforts to highlight the opportunities available across all nine provinces, does it still make sense to cluster certain types of events in particular regions?

Infrastructure attracts events James Seymour, CEO of Durban KwaZuluNatal Convention Bureau, says regions and provinces develop a reputation for and expertise in hosting some events because of heritage and tradition.

FEATURE

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James uses as examples the Dusi Canoe Marathon and the Comrades Marathon.

The Dusi is one of the most popular canoe marathons in the world that takes place downriver from Pietermaritzburg to Durban along a 120km stretch of the uMsundusi and uMngeni Rivers. It was conceived

by Dr Ian Player during World War II and founded in 1951. The Comrades Marathon 89km ultramarathon running race takes place between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, alternating uphill or downhill every year. It was founded by Vic Clapham in association with the League of Comrades of the Great War (World War I) in 1921 in commemoration of fallen soldiers.

“Durban has one of the most significant sporting precincts in the country surrounding the Durban International Convention Centre, which is one of the reasons why Durban was chosen to bid for the Commonwealth Games 2022 [since rejected] and seen as the ideal city to host the Olympic Games. Most sporting codes are catered for in a relatively small area, from sports and exhibitions to outdoor venues plus accommodation,” James explains.

Musical events such as Music in the Mountains Festival at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School and Splashy Fen Music Festival in the Underberg are now fixtures on the annual music calendar. James says the natural beauty of the region enhances these outdoors festivals.

“The Royal Show at The Royal Agricultural Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg is the most significant multi-faceted agricultural shows in Africa because of the showgrounds.

The showgrounds also host the Garden Show, a massive horticultural show, as well as other flower shows,” James adds.

Facilities are important but not always the most defining variable, James notes. Business events also depend on the level of specialisation of a field in the region. The University of KwaZuluNatal has one of the most advanced environmental schools and as a result Durban has hosted major environmental and climate change congresses such as the United Nations Climate Change Congress (COP17). Authorities on the topic are based in the region, some within the eThekwini Municipality. This attracts other environmental congresses.

The DICC as a facility is designed to operate on one level and is located

23

Congresses and conferences also serve to kickstart industries in a region, which make them highly sought after. within a precinct that includes the Durban Exhibition Centre and space for marquees that can be closed off. The precinct is ideal to host congresses that require space and security for large events, he says.

KZN also has various other specialisations and associations that attract events to the region, including but not limited to sports; lifesaving; sugar cane; agriculture; ports; mining; engineering; manufacturing; pharmaceutical; optometry; oncology; palliative care; neuroscience; IT; and governmental mega-conferences.

James says that where major associations and institutions are located becomes an important consideration when bidding for specialised congresses.

Incentives play an important role in the events industry, with corporates offering incentives such as teambuilding and getaways to their employees. While the Western Cape has traditionally attracted a lot of incentives because of its natural beauty, James says KZN is increasingly competing in this field because of its heritage and wealth of natural experiences, including mountains, beaches, historical sites, Midlands and the many top hotels and resorts in the region.

Corné Koch, head of the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau says the region is strong in attracting medical sciences, information and communication technology and educational association business events. “A big draw card is that the destination hosts four of the country’s major universities and teaching hospitals.

This provides a strong source from which to obtain business leads to attract these kinds of meetings,” she explains.

The universities also attract the educational sector meetings, with mathematics and science events taking place in the province.

Government’s role James praises the South Africa National Convention Bureau for its support, guidance, investment and willingness to help associations to develop bids and secure events. He says as a bureau

they are in contact with other provinces’ bureaux on growth strategies, in some cases working together and in other cases competing for certain events. He notes that congresses and conferences also serve to kickstart industries in a region, which make them highly sought after.

Corné says that in an effort to drive economic growth, the Western Cape government has embarked on a programme to identify the economic sectors that will provide the greatest growth and job creation within a five-year plan. Three priority sectors that will provide high growth to the province have been identified as tourism, oil and gas and agri-processing, with part of this programme called Project Khulisa. The Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau, a division of Wesgro, actively pursues meetings that align to these sectors, which also links strongly with the work done in its trade and investment promotions teams Corné adds, “The bureau is a member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). The association provide a valuable research tool to obtain leads for the destination. An annual submission of the type of international association meetings held in the destination places, cities and countries in a ranking model which is used as a valuable marketing tool when attracting new business.”

Corporate strategies A business delegate has the potential to become a trader or investor and subsequently a leisure traveller. The Western Cape Convention Bureau’s strategy therefore also includes identifying meetings that provide opportunities for networking with local business which could ultimately lead to additional business conversion in these sectors.

Although the destination has a strong attraction for association meetings that traditionally take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, a lot of smaller and other types meetings take place at the various other conference and hotel facilities in the province.

24

FEATURE

The bureau is not limited to attracting a certain type of meeting or size and has dedicated business development staff with a specific focus on types of business events.

The Western Cape is a large province with various hubs within it. Certain corporate hubs, like Century City, attract more corporate meetings while regions such as the Garden Route and Klein Karoo and the Cape Winelands attract a large amount of incentive travel meetings.

“The bureau ended its fiscal year on a high note, securing 33 new bids for the destination, which provide an estimated economic impact of R434-million to the province. Fifty percent of these bids secured will take place during our traditional low season of April to September, which is always a challenge for us,” Corné notes.

“Wesgro reports to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and we promote tourism, trade, investment and film, with dedicated divisions for each one. For the film industry, we have an office that promotes and works with that industry. We do not receive many requests for meetings for the film industry, but more so for film shoots, locations, catering and accommodation,” she adds.

Durban © SA Tourism

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Aerial view of Cape Town Stadium and Table Mountain

The CTICC is expanding to attract and accommodate more events. CTICC 2 will host: • Third International Conference on Global Food Security from 3 to 6 December 2017 • World Ophthalmology Congress in 2020 attracting 15 000 delegates, the largest event the centre has secured in its 14-year history • 18 th International Congress of Immunology in August 2022 for experts in biomedicine, with attendance forecast at 6 000 delegates across both buildings

CTICC CEO Julie-May Ellingson gave City of Cape Town Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille a tour on 6 September and says: “The CTICC has been a key driver of the region’s knowledge economy, a place where ideas are shared, investments planned, a platform for creativity and innovation and a stage where South Africans and Africans can take part in the co-creation of future scientific, technological and academic advances. CTICC 2 will no doubt bolster the centre’s credentials as a positive contributor to Cape Town and the Western Cape’s socio-economic growth.”

7 COLORS COMMUNICATIONS

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25

7 COLORS COMMUNICATIONS

What we offer

Services

Our Clients

Our team has the skill set and resources to execute bold campaigns while keeping to client budgets. Our collaborative approach allows us to optimise the possibilities on any project.

We set standards of efficiency, profitability and bottom line success, through strategy, compelling creative and management tools.

Our brand positioning is woven into the subtleties of celebrating the African creative spirit.

We are an internationally awarded communications agency implementing through PR, events & exhibitions. The three media form part of every effective marketing plan. We have the expertise to make your brand outshine the competition with our methodology and sleek implementation. We focus on the customer experience throughout the planning of our events and exhibitions.

• • • • • • • • • • •

South African Tourism NYDA NWDC Resotec Water Reed Exhibitions UFI North West Finance Economy & Enterprise Development RBJ Marketing City of Tshwane North West Tourism Bataung Memorial Tombstones

About the Company At Seven Colors Communications, we push the boundaries of what communication can do through creative, innovation and bold strategic planning. We are audience-centred, which means that we drill down messaging into meaningful brand connections, whether through conceptual events or exhibitions. Our youth led company offers fresh communications solutions (from public relations, expo management, image building to conceptual events) that will not only amplify your brand but will create long-lasting influential conversations and partnerships with the end user. We service a variety of clients from Private, Public, Individuals to Non-Profit, everyone is equally important to us. Appoint us to maximize your brand visibility and win over clients.

At the Helm

Neo Mohlatlole, Head CheeseBusiness Development Director

Eugene Mametse, Chief Firestarter Strategy & Communications Director

Contact Us

Meet the Team

Pule Masego, Graphic Designer

Esther Kola, Event Coordinator

Gauteng: 104 Impala Centre, 173 Beyers Naude Drive, Northcliff Tel: +27 11 782 6208 | Email: info@7colors.co.za Website: www.7colors.co.za | Facebook: 7Colors Communications

Kagiso Kgwahla, Sales Executive

Bongani Mogari, PR Coordinator

Lisa Hood, Special Projects Manager

Limpopo: 32a Devenish Street, Polokwane, 0700 Tel: +27 15 065 0059 Twitter: @7colorscomms LinkedIn: Seven Colors Communications

Lelo Maseti, Office Coordinator

Mavuta Boutique Apartments is the second facility from the Mavuta brand, which opened in September 2015.

Mavuta Boutique Apartments boasts unsurpassed luxury and comfort in the heart of Polokwane’s central business district, adjacent to Peter Mokaba Stadium. This sister property to the ever so popular and renowned Mavuta Manor offers additional self-catering facilities or “in-suite” butler service to our discerning business and leisure travelers.

Patrick Moirwagale (Group Head Chef) chef@mavuta.com +27 72 623 5938

179 Marshall Street Polokwane 0699 Limpopo South Africa Tel: 015 295 5714 Fax: 015 295 559 reservations@mavuta.com

Come and experience hospitality the Limpopo way. Mavuta Manor, an elegantly furnished luxury Guest House, nestled in the pristine surroundings of Polokwane’s uptown suburb.

Guests are given a warm welcome on arrival to an architectural design inspired by the environment.

An elegant guesthouse situated in the heart of Polokwane’s central business district. This Modern 5-star Luxury Suite property with all modern amenities boasts with sophistication and luxury from the minute you enter its secured surroundings to the “Porte Cochere”, well-manicured gardens and spacious luxurious suites.

94A Voortreker Street Polokwane 0070 Limpopo South Africa Tel: 015 295 5714 Fax: 015 295 559 info@mavuta.com

28

SPOTLIGHT

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TIRED OF BEIGE?

DO BUSINESS DIFFERENTLY AT THE RADISSON RED

By Katie Reynolds-Da Silva

In a nutshell The Radisson RED Cape Town is the anti-boredom venue; the no-beige-allowed answer to Cape Town’s plethora of sameness. Is it professional? Absolutely. Does it service both the business-event and the leisure markets? Yes, there’s something for everybody.

Can you bring your pet? Please do; there’s even a resident canine mascot – Baxter. But what’s it all about? The venue is inspired by art, music and fashion; and if that doesn’t make you sit up and take notice, nothing will.

Dale Simpson, Curator Radisson RED

I

was fortunate to be given the opportunity to experience the brand-new Radisson RED hotel first hand, one day before the venue opened to the public. Situated next to the awe-inspiring Zeitz MOCAA museum, the PWC building, the Silo residential towers, and the shipyard; the Radisson RED is flanked by innovation and industry.

Curator Dale Simpson, a charismatic Irishman clad in a trendy blue kilt and leather jacket, warmly welcomed the media at a pre-dinner party on the rooftop, which provides spectacular views of the city, the mountain, the stadium, and of course, the vibrant Silo District. The centrepiece of the rooftop is the lap pool, and is adorned with a RED truck (a real one!) which served delicious craft beer and local wines. The group was then invited downstairs to the restaurant where a wide array of healthy dining options was ready to be served. Once sated by piles of seabass, salads, hummus

and breadsticks, the silent disco began. For those unfamiliar with the concept, Google it. It’s the most fun you can have with headphones on. Finally collapsing onto the vast king-size bed in my Studio Suite, I was able to reflect on the incredible offerings of the Radisson RED. It encapsulates the vibe of the Millennial business world. It proves that you can be smart, successful, fun, and a touch unconventional all at once.

And to top it all, the Radisson RED caters to an ever-growing sector of the market; those that travel with their pets. Lerisha Mudaliar, Stakeholder and Marketing Coordinator for the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, had this to say of her experience: “My dogs were treated with the utmost respect and dignity by all the staff from the moment we walked in. You could sense that the staff that interacted with my pups really have a passion for pets. Each dog received his own bed, one food and one

A snapshot look at the Radisson RED • • • • • • • • •

252 Studios Free High speed Wi-Fi 4 Events & Games Studios OUIBar & KTCHN RED Fitness RED ROOF, pool + bar + grill Table Mountain Views Located in the V&A Waterfront Beside the Zeitz MOCAA museum

water bowl, not to forget the treat (a bag of doggy popcorn). The rooms do not have carpets which makes it easy to clean any accidents that may occur. The dogs are free to go to all parts of the hotel (on a lead of course with the owner), they even sat with us at breakfast. For people travelling with their fur-children, I highly recommend the hotel.”

Faircity Hotels offers a selection of conference facilities in Gauteng. With attention to detail and experienced empathetic staff to assist companies in organising a conferencing event, delegates will be motivated and pampered from the moment they arrive. All Faircity Hotels’ conference venues are air conditioned and equipped to host both half day and full day functions.

Conferences that run over two or more days, allow delegates to enjoy our selection of three and four star accommodation.

Conference venue packages are available and include a variety of meals, depending on the length of the conference.

FAIRCITY Quatermain Hotel Morningside, Sandton - 011 290 0900

FAIRCITY Mapungubwe Hotel Johannesburg, Marshalltown - 011 429 2600

Faircity Hotels and Apartments is a young, innovative and vibrant hotel group with hotels, conference venues and serviced apartments which form Faircity’s primary service offering.

FAIRCITY Falstaff Hotel Morningside, Sandton - 011 784 8580

FAIRCITY Roodevallei Hotel Pretoria - 012 845 5000

www.faircity.co.za

30

NEWS

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BRAZIL ARRIVALS CONTINUE TO SOAR

Brazilians are loving South Africa. This is according to the latest tourism and migration report by Stats SA.

© Eugenio Hansen

V

isitors to SA showed a positive growth, increasing by 12% from last year. But it was Brazilian travellers who featured prominently in the report, with a staggering 32 368 arrivals reported.

Visitors from the South American country increased by 128% year-to-date, up by 176% from the previous year.

Sthembiso Dlamini, Chief Operating Officer of South African Tourism (SAT) said reasons for this may be attributed to SA being an eight-hour flight from Brazil, and nine hours, 45 minutes from São Paulo, making SA an attractive destination for Brazilians.

“The two countries share many similarities, such as pleasant weather all

year round, warm and friendly people, a love of music, and football,” said Dlamini.

She continued: “South Africa is also excellent value for money from budget to luxury for Brazilians as one real is worth four rand. As a result, a holiday in South Africa is affordable for Brazilians.

Brazilians love to be indulged when they travel and South Africa offers it all – providing all kinds of tourism services and wonderful food and wine.”

Dlamini also noted that 30% of Brazilian arrivals stayed for one night in South Africa, “which is a clear indication that they also use SA as a gateway into other African countries,” he said.

South African Tourism has also done a lot of initiatives to market the destination in Brazil. These included hosting media and trade fam trips, which have resulted in an increase of awareness and positivity about SA. The annual SAT and South African Airways roadshow had also added impetus to tourism from the market Dlamini said.

Brazilian travellers were inclined to visit all nine provinces, favouring Gauteng, Western Cape and Mpumalanga.

- By Kylie Granat for Tourism Update

35 000

Brazilians love to be indulged when they travel and South Africa offers it all – providing all kinds of tourism services and wonderful food and wine.

30 000 25 000 20 000 15 000 10 000 5 000 0

YTD 2017

JAN

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22 March 20 -20 22-March 20182018 Shanghai Shanghai 20 - 22 March 2018• China • China

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PRIORTY HOSTING CONSIDERATION FOREVENT THE EVENT READERS! PRIORTY HOSTING CONSIDERATION FOR THE READERS! PRIORTY HOSTINGFor CONSIDERATION FOR THE EVENT READERS! For MICE and Association Buyers MICE and Association Buyers Only! Only!

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Successful applicants enjoy hosted flights and accommodation in Shanghai, and full buyer privileges.

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International Delegates China Delegates China Delegates buyers.itcmchina@ttgasia.com | (65) 6395 7575 ID: ITCMCH www.itcmchina.com www.itcmchina.com itcmchinabuyers@citsmice.com.cn | (86)7997 10 8522 7997 itcmchinabuyers@citsmice.com.cn | (86) 10 8522 China Delegates www.itcmchina.com itcmchinabuyers@citsmice.com.cn | (86) 10 8522 7997 Organised By 主办单位: Organised By 主办单位:

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32

BUSINESS EVENTS MADE EASY

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Velmoré Hotel & Spa

012central can be used for a special function or conference.

TSHWANE

A knowledge hub for the country, the City of Tshwane is a leader in hosting high-profile local and international business events.

T

shwane, situated in northern Gauteng, is one of South Africa’s three capital cities, serving as national capital. It is home to iconic historical sites like the Voortrekker Monument, the Union Buildings, Church Square and the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. It is also an education hub with the UNISA (University of South Africa) headquarters, the University of Pretoria, and Tshwane University of Technology located here.

Several conferences, exhibitions and corporate meetings take place annually in Tshwane, with a large number of government events held in the region. Some of these were the Leadership in Local Government

Conference, the Tshwane International Investment Lekgotla, the Green Building Conference, and Sports & Events Tourism Exchange. Business events from this year include the 14th National Design Education Conference, Sustainability Week 2017 and the SAACI Congress.

Tshwane has a host of state-of-theart conference and exhibition venues to choose from, such as the CSIR International Convention Centre, which can host up to 1 000 delegates, or as little as 10 guests.

Thanks to the number of prominent events they have hosted, the venue offers a range of additional facilities like interpreting booths, VIP suites, and hotel accommodation booking and transportation arrangement

012central Venue Space

Best For

Cocktail

The 012

Conferences, Corporate Meetings

1 200

Bank Towers

Cocktails, Special Events

200

Jardown

Corporate Functions, Special Events

900

Prinschurch

Cocktails, Launches, Art Exhibitions

500

services. Other well-known venues such as the Gallagher Convention Centre and Tshwane Events Centre are also popular.

Key venues 012central As the name suggests, this is Tshwane’s trendy new precinct and venue space. It’s ideal for small to medium-sized events, or for those in search of something off the beaten track. The 012, its main venue, is dotted with greenery and art, and has a sizeable outdoor section. It holds up to 1 200 guests standing. www.012central.co.za Velmoré Hotel & Spa Velmoré Hotel and Spa offers a dash of old world charm mixed with modern beauty. The hotel offers a choice of 16 venues for up to 750 guests. They also assist in combining conferences with the teambuilding activities they offer. They have a certified Halaal kitchen on site, and offer 24-hour package rates, as well as full-day, and half-day delegate packages. www.velmorehotel.co.za

Velmoré Hotel & Spa Venue Space

Area m2

Cinema

Classroom

Banquet

U-Shape

De Bastille

1 000

750

350

600

100

Tres Sage

600

500

280

350

80

De Voir Maison

300

200

100

100

50

Martells

150

150

80

70

60

Cellar

130

100

45

70

30

BUSINESS EVENTS MADE EASY

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Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn can host up to 350 delegates.

33

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn offers trendy, eye-catching decor.

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn Venue Space

Area m2

Cinema

Classroom

Banquet

Cocktail 150

Conference 1

110

130

70

80

Conference 2

200

140

140

140

200

Conference 3

100

90

60

50

90

Conference 4

100

90

60

50

90

Conference 1 & 2

309

330

210

220

350

Conference 3 & 4

200

180

120

100

180

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn This swanky hotel located in the suburb of Menlyn in Pretoria, is unique in its modern design and conveniently situated near Africa’s largest shopping mall. It has five flexible and versatile conference venues and three meeting rooms and can host up to 350 in its largest event space, complete with four breakaway rooms. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ pryme-protea-hotel-fire-and-ice!-menlyn

Tshwane can be accessed through OR Tambo International Airport in close proximity to neighbouring Johannesburg, or Lanseria International Airport near Sandton. Airlines include:

Corporate meetings take place annually in Tshwane, with a large number of government events held in the region.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Incentive Travel Products Known as the ‘Garden City’, Pretoria bursts a sea of soft purple jacaranda in spring and is a beauty to behold. Here, one can find many iconic historical tours of the Voortrekker Monument, Church Square, the City Hall State Theatre or Opera House, and of course the Union Buildings and the President’s Office. A unique incentive option for visitors is Friends of the Rail’s 60-year-old railway coach which rides through the 1910 Pretoria station and beyond, where visitors can view the city from a completely different angle. In close proximity to Tshwane is Dinokeng Game Reserve, the only Big 5 residential reserve in Gauteng, while the town of Cullinan is picturesque, quaint and an entertaining history lesson in the region’s rich diamond heritage.

Access

• •

Currency South African Rand

US Dollar

Euro

Chinese Yuan

50.00

3.87

3.23

25.28

Climate Tshwane has a humid, subtropical climate with long, hot rainy summers and short, cool to cold, dry winters.

Nights are cool and clear, while days are mild to moderately warm with an average annual temperature of 18.7 °C.

Air China Air Mauritius Arik Air British Airways Cathay Pacific Delta EgyptAir EgyptAir El Al Israel Airlines Emirates Ethiopian Airlines Etihad Airways Iberia

• • • • • • • • • • •

KLM LATAM Airlines Lufthansa Qatar Airways Quantas Singapore Airlines South African Airways SwissAir TAAG Angola Airlines Turkish Airlines Virgin Atlantic

Contacts Gauteng Convention and Events Bureau Email: info@gauteng.net Tel: +27 (0)11 085 2500 Web: www.gauteng.net Tshwane Tourism Association Email: secretary@ tshwanetourism.com Tel: +27 (0)12 841 4212 Web: www.tshwanetourism.com

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BUSINESS EVENTS MADE EASY

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The Grand Palm's new glass marquee © The Grand Palm

See peacocks at close range at The Grand Palm's Fig Tree bar © The Grand Palm

BOTSWANA A landlocked country with myriad safari possibilities, Botswana is a well-known incentive destination and a growing conference hub in southern Africa.

B

otswana’s vast, sweeping landscape is home to the expansive Kalahari Desert and the lush Okavango Delta where animals flock during rainy seasons. The nation is a champion of conservation and has a number of excellent national parks to explore including Chobe, Moremi, Makgadigadi, Central Kalahari and Nxai Pan National Park to name a few. Thanks to its array of wildlife – cheetah, hyena, wild dog, buffalo and giraffe to name a few – it is a renowned incentive travel destination with DMCs like Dragonfly Africa, Grosvenor and Wedgewood offering a range of packages for the region.

According to a recent whitepaper

by HVS called Learnings From and For Africa’s Game Lodge Industry, the African safari experience is epitomised in just few countries on the continent – one of which is Botswana. “The popularity

of tourism in the plains of Serengeti, or the dotted landscape of Mara, the vastness of the Kruger National Park, the deltas and deserts of Botswana are examples of this trend. HVS anticipates this momentum will grow as tourism and connectivity in African wildlife destinations continues, presenting a strong investment potential for passionate developers/ wildlife conservationists especially in upcoming wildlife destinations in Africa (reserves of Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda and Zambia among others).”

Although it has a small population when compared with the rest of Southern Africa, Botswana continues to grow and hold its own as a world-class businessevents destination. It has hosted the Diamonds Still Sparkling conference in Gaborone twice in six years, and hosted the 11th International Kimberlite Conference in September. The country sees mainly

mining and investment conferences and events through its borders, although late last year Botswana hosted a leading ITU event: the 14th World Telecommunication/ ICT Indicators Symposium.

Key Venues The Grand Palm Hotel Casino and Convention Resort The Grand Palm is an exquisite, opulent venue and home to the Gaborone International Convention Centre. The award-winning facility offers a variety of venues, high-speed Wi-Fi and a business centre for essential services. It can host up to 1 800 delegates and has extensive technical resources, with state of the art audio visual, lighting and multimedia capabilities. In addition to GICC, the Peermont Walmont Hotels adjacent house two venues for between 100 and 250 people. www.grandpalm.bw

The Grand Palm Hotel Casino and Convention Resort Venue

Area (m2)

Cinema

Classroom

Banquet

Cocktail

Boardroom

Tsodilo Suite

1 550m2

1807

1 002

1 040

1 550

1 500

Hall A

595m2

588

360

350

590

390

Hall B

595m2

588

360

350

590

390

Hall C

368m2

396

192

200

370

192

Okavango Suite

306m2

250

220

200

150

-

Serondela Rooms (1-4)

180m2

120

108

120

150

45

BUSINESS EVENTS MADE EASY

Botswana Conference and Exhibition Centre © Fairground Holdings

35

Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Centre- Poolbar

Botswana Conference and Exhibition Centre Venue

Cinema

Classroom

Banquet

Cocktail

U-Shape

Ditshupo Chamber

10 000

5 000

2 500

15 000

2 000

Boipuso Chamber

2 000

950

800

1 500

600

Annex Conference Room

360

300

360

350

300

Pavilion Conference Room

400

200

280

300

120

Banquet Conference Room

350

100

120

250

100

Room 4

50

25

40

30

25

Banquet

Boardroom

Botswana Conference and Exhibition Centre Botswana Conference and Exhibition Centre, also known as Fairground Holdings, has 50 hectares of versatile space ideal for exhibitions. The Ditshupo Chamber (10 000-seater) and Boipuso Chamber (2 000-seater) are ideal conferences, expos and gala dinners. Three multi-purpose conference rooms hold between 250 and 500 guests, while 13 breakaway rooms are often used as boardrooms or meeting spaces for delegates. www.fairgroundholdings.com Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Centre The Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Centre is a beautiful venue for small to mid-sized conferences. It offers free Wi-Fi access and 84 standard and executive rooms.

Seven conference venues offer a variety of capacities for events, while a 1 000-seater hall can be configured to sit 550 banquetstyle. Tlotlo also has two restaurants,

The Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Centre Venue Main Hall

1 000

550

-

Executive Boardroom

-

-

20

a pool bar, a cocktail bar and a beauty parlour on site. www.tlotlohotel.co.bw

Incentive Travel Products Botswana is a well-known incentive travel destination thanks to its many natural wonders and wildlife to explore in places like Chobe, Makgadigadi and Okavango. In addition to the many luxury safari and game viewing incentive packages available through DMCs like Dragonfly Africa, Grosvenor Tours, Zar Travel, Wedgewood and others, visitors can also visit the likes of Savute, an ancient inland lake with curious water movement, and landscapes littered with fascinating finds. Visitors will find large,

Currency

Climate Botswana has a semi-arid climate that is hot and dry for much of the year. The rainy season runs through the summer months, with erratic, unpredictable, extremely regional rainfall.

Cinema

free-roaming herds on the open plains of Chobe National Park, or can opt for unique water-based safaris to view one of the largest animal populations in Southern Africa.

Access Botswana has four main airports with Sir Seretse Khama International as the main access point in the capital of Gaborone. Carriers include: • South African Airways • Ethiopian Airlines • Air Botswana

Contacts

Batwana Pula (BWP)

South African Rand (ZAR)

US Dollar (USD)

Euro (EUR)

Chinese Yuan (CNY)

50.00

64.58

4.94

4.15

32.59

Botswana Tourism Organisation Tel: +267 391 3111 / +267 310 5601 Email: board@botswanatourism.co.bw Web: www.botswanatourism.co.bw

36

EVENTS TO DIARISE

OCTOBER

www.theevent.co.za

SWAHILI INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO 13 – 15 DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

AFRICAN REAL ESTATE & INFRASTRUCTURE SUMMIT 25 – 26 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

AFRICAN PORTS EVOLUTION 17 – 18 DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

WASTECON 2017 25 – 27 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

IMPROVING HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA 17 – 18 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

SUB SAHARAN AFRICA POWER SUMMIT 25 – 27 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

ANNUAL CYBER CRIME CONFERENCE 18 GABORONE, BOTSWANA

EFFECTIVE STRATEGY AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 25 – 27 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICAN PHARMACY CONFERENCE 21 – 24 DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

INTERNATIONAL POPULATION CONFERENCE 29 – 4 NOVEMBER CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

RAGE EXPO 6–8 RANDBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICAN EDUCATION RESEARCH ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE 23 – 26 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS EVENTS CONFERENCE 30 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

6TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES 10 – 12 KLEINMOND, SOUTH AFRICA

AFRICA OIL WEEK/ AFRICA UPSTREAM CONFERENCE 23 – 27 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

AFRICA HOTEL INVESTMENT FORUM 10 – 12 KIGALI, RWANDA

INNOVATION AFRICA 23 – 25 MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

GARTNER SYMPOSIUM/ITXPO 1–5 ORLANDO, USA ALL AFRICA CONGRESS ON PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACY 2–4 BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA LIASA CONFERENCE 2–6 GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA THE DIGITAL EDUCATION SHOW AFRICA 3–4 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA FTTH COUNCIL AFRICA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 3–5 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

IMEX AMERICA 10 – 12 LAS VEGAS, USA ELITE SPORT SUMMIT 11 – 13 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA ACTE GLOBAL CORPORATE TRAVEL CONFERENCE 11 – 13 LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM FINANCE INDABA AFRICA 12 – 13 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

AVIANA UGANDA 24 – 25 KAMPALA, UGANDA

EVENTS TO DIARISE

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UFI CONGRESS 1–4 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA FINNOVATION AFRICA: ETHIOPIA 2017 3 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA SMALL BUSINESS EXPO 3–4 DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA EAS AFRICA FINANCIAL SERVICE EXPO 3–4 DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA AFRICA ASEAN BUSINESS EXPO 6–8 SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA AFRICA COM 7–9 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA MISSIONS CRITICAL AFRICA 7–9 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA AORTIC 2017 (INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CANCER IN AFRICA) 7 – 10 KIGALI, RWANDA SITE YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE 8–9 LAS VEGAS, USA

ICCA CONGRESS 12 – 15 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC WATER AFRICA AND WEST AFRICA BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION 14 – 16 ABUJA, NIGERIA SA BRAND SUMMIT AND AWARDS 16 – 17 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA RWANDA BUILDEXPO 22 – 24 KIGALI, RWANDA

DECEMBER 18TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ENDOCRINOLOGY / 53RD SEMDSA CONGRESS 1–4 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA WORLD VACCINE SUMMIT AND EXPO 4–6 DUBAI, UAE POWER GEN INTERNATIONAL 5–7 LAS VEGAS, USA

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUSINESS ADVISING 22 – 24 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

WORLD SME EXPO 6–8 HONG KONG

ANNUAL MEETING ON PHARMACOLOGY 23 – 24 DUBAI, UAE

AL ANSAAR SOUK AND TRADE FAIR 22 – 1 JANUARY DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

AFRICA PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE AND SHOWCASE 23 – 24 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA TANZANIA TRADE SHOW 24 – 26 DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA SAPHEX 28 – 29 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA IBTM WORLD 28 – 30 BARCELONA, SPAIN CHENGDU INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO 30 – 2 DECEMBER CHENGDU, CHINA

JANUARY FRANSCHHOEK CAP CLASSIQUE AND CHAMPAGNE FESTIVAL 2 FRANSCHHOEK, SOUTH AFRICA MEETINGS MOROCCO 12 – 13 MARRAKECH, MOROCCO UGANDA TRADE EXPO 16 – 18 KAMPALA, UGANDA POWER TECH AFRICA 22 – 23 NAIROBI, KENYA MULTIMODAL WEST AFRICA 23 – 25 LAGOS, NIGERIA SA TOURISM INDIA ROADSHOW 30 – 3 FEBRUARY INDIA

The Venetian Hotel Las Vegas Photo by Scott Webb © Unsplash

NOVEMBER

37

38

ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

Rudi Van Der Vyver Chief Executive Officer at SAACI

BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL, NOT YOURSELF It’s that time of the year again where business events are just going crazy, and not even mentioning the last-minute client requests to find a venue and put together another spectacular event which they completely forgot about, or are just under the impression this takes three days to plan and arrange. This however, is part of what we do and is an all too familiar occurrence this time of the year. While we are all busy focusing all our energy on pulling off these incredible feats of last-minute organising magic, we often allow ourselves and our teams to suffer the consequences. This is something we all know is happening and yes, it’s part of what we do and we accept that, but we consciously need to try and find a balance. When pushing your teams to the limit, be mindful of the burnout. This often makes working environments very dangerous as people don’t concentrate because of their tired minds and constant stress. Try to incorporate small breaks during the event planning and set up, ensure your teams have some form of small distraction and it’s vital to keep everyone hydrated and healthy during these extremely busy periods. Remember, we are only as strong as the team around us and the weakest link in that team.

If we don’t take care of ourselves and our teams we can’t produce the amazing results for our clients.

www.theevent.co.za

ATA SET TO ATTRACT MORE AMERICAN TOURISTS Under the umbrella of the African Travel Association (ATA) 41st Congress, world tourism and travel leaders met in Kigali, Rwanda to deliberate and find strategies to market the African continent as a global tourist destination for the United States and other partner safari market sources in Europe.

Visits to Africa by three consecutive US presidents over the last few years have been symbolic of how the continent is growing into a destination that North Americans could visit and invest in. Africa is currently the number one tourist destination for wildlife and photographic safaris to US citizens, thanks to ATA’s educative campaigns in America.

East Africa has also been a target region in which ATA has organised events, attracting hundreds of internationals to discuss African tourism. The ATA World Congress conferences have attracted between 300 and 500 participants from various tourist-oriented countries. The States has been the leading single country to bring almost 200 participants in the most recent past events.

ICCA AND APFAO SIGN MOU The International Congress and Convention Association has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the Asia Pacific Federation of Association Organisations (APFAO), a leading federation for ‘association for association executives’, at the ICCA’s Association Meetings Programme (AMP) on 29 June 2017 in Fukuoka, Japan.

The MoU will pave the way for a pioneering new partnership between both organisations, opening up a myriad of opportunities for cooperation on projects of mutual interest.

Work will be built around themes in institutional and capacity building to sustain the growth of the meetings industry and association community, in particular in the Asia Pacific region.

The MoU was signed by ICCA CEO, Martin Sirk and APFAO Pro-Tem Head of Secretariat, Octavio B. Peralta.

ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

www.theevent.co.za

Chairperson of AAXO

ADVANCING BUSINESS THROUGH UNITY Unity in the exhibition industry is imperative to advance business integrity and growth. All the “cogs’ in the exhibition machine are equally important and change will only come through a collective effort. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we have to start by creating channels for clear, constructive communication.

AAXO took the lead, creating “Open Conversation” sessions in August - one in Cape Town at Spintelligent’s offices and one at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg.

Close to a hundred organisers, suppliers and venues overall took advantage of the opportunity to raise issues that hamper the success of exhibitions for all.

One example was suppliers’

needs for technical specifications from organisers. The solution? AAXO organisers will publish clear technical specifications on their websites going forward to avoid suppliers being left out-of-pocket through last-minute spec changes. AAXO organisers will also give preference to AAXO-approved associate members (suppliers, venues and service companies.)

The Johannesburg session closed with a networking event in the Augusta suite, further cementing relationships.

AAXO commits to creating a better working environment for suppliers and to foster better relationships between organisers, suppliers and venues through open and honest discussion.

Keep an eye on our website for more “Open Conversation” sessions soon.

CONSIDERING VR IN THE EXPO SPACE A perfect union of technology and the face to face experience of an expo.

At EXSA, we understand that innovation is key to sustainable and relevant events and exhibitions and that increasingly it is technology that takes this innovation to the next level. Locally there’s now even more opportunity than ever to embrace and utilise a hot global trend: that of virtual reality.

Virtual reality offers exhibitors an exciting and dynamic platform for interaction with visitors and it doesn’t necessarily cost a fortune.

Imagine your client is a hotel chain, now imagine having a simple stand where visitors can step into the lobby of any hotel across the world and feel what it’s like to be there. The likelihood of a holiday booking taking place right there is pretty high!

Consumers are overwhelmed with information, products and branding which is why virtual reality can be so innovative: it offers an immersive experience.

What’s more is that this type of experience is all-encompassing, stimulating the senses. Using sound, graphics, imagery and even unique touch or taste to ensure that the consumer is completely engaged. There are no distractions – a rarity in this age.

Virtual reality is also an opportunity for creativity and fun. It’s a chance to think out of the box and really immerse yourself in your product or brand.

For more information please visit www.exsa.co.za

Photo by Henry Be © Unsplash

Carol Weaving

39

40

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS

ADVERTISERS 7 Colors Communications PAGE 25 T. +27 11 782 6208 E. neo@7colors.co.za W. www.7colors.co.za AAXO PAGE 39 T. +27 11 549 8300 E. info@aaxo.co.za W. www.aaxo.co.za Buffalo City PAGE 09 T. +27 43 705 9095 E. mirandano@buffalocity.gov.za W. www.buffalocitymetro.gov.za Expo Centre PAGE 18-19, OUTSIDE BACK COVER T. +27 11 494 1920 E. info@expocentre.co.za W. www.expocentre.co.za Expo Guys PAGE 13 T. +27 11 433 3260 E. info@expoguys.co.za W. www.expoguys.co.za EXSA PAGE 39 T. +27 11 805 7272 E. info@exsa.co.za W. www.exsa.co.za Faircity PAGE 29 T. +27 11 429 2600 E. info@faircity.co.za W. www.faircity.co.za Gearhouse INSIDE BACK COVER T. +27 11 216 3000 E. jhb@gearhouse.co.za W. www.gearhouse.co.za

IT&CM China PAGE 31 T. +65 6395 7575 E. itcmchina@ttgasia.com W. www.itcmchina.com Local Conference Solutions PAGE 15 T. +27 71 871 8813 E. info@localconferencesolutions.co.za W. www.localconferencesolutions.co.za Mavuta Boutique Apartments PAGE 26-27 T. +27 15 295 9554 E. reservations@mavuta.com W. www.mavuta.com Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit & International Convention Centre INSIDE FRONT COVER T. +27 11 466 0204 E. megan.x@kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com W. www.kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com President Hotel PAGE 03 T. +27 21 434 8111 E. conference@presidenthotel.co.za W. www.presidenthotel.co.za Radisson RED PAGE 06 T. +27 87 086 1578 E. sue.levy@radissonred.com W. www.radissonred.com SAACI PAGE 38 T. +27 11 880 5883 E. info@saaci.org W. www.saaci.org

IMEX America PAGE 10-11 T. +44 1273 227311 E. jennifer.mcneil@imexexhibitions.com W. www.imexamerica.com

Sun International PAGE 05 T. +516 472 0759 E. sschwab@elitehotelmarketing.com W. www.suninternational.com

Inspire Furniture PAGE 07 T. +27 76 644 0271 E. chad@inspirefurniture.co.za W. www.inspirefurniture.co.za

Tshwane Convention Bureau PAGE 20-21 T. +27 11 358 8248 E. lillianh@tshwane.gov.za

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