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INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT
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INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT We dig into the hot topics in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industries across Africa.
VENUE SPOTLIGHT Hilton Named Africa’s Leading Brand Hilton was named Africa’s Leading Brand, Africa’s Leading New Resort, and Africa’s Leading Business Hotel at the Africa and Indian Ocean World Travel Awards for 2018. They took home a total of 14 awards at the ceremony in Durban on 6 October. Jan van der Putten, Area Vice President, Africa and Indian Ocean for Hilton said, “This recognition, coupled with the 13 other awards won by our hotels in the region, is testament to our commitment to deliver exceptional experiences – every hotel, every guest, every time.” To see the full list of winners, visit www.worldtravelawards.com. CTICC Appoints New CFO The Cape Town ICC has announced the appointment of Wayne De Wet as their new Chief Financial Officer. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree, as well as Honours in Accounting Science. He will develop and implement the CTICC’s financial strategies, and provide financial leadership as well as supply chain management, among other things. Previously, he was CFO at Cape Town Tourism and Commercial Manager at Sun International.
“Wayne comes with a wealth of experience and knowledge, having worked in the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as several state entities and the private sector. He also comes at an exciting time in the development of the CTICC with the addition of CTICC 2 and we know that his expertise, experience and leadership will help steer the company in an even more positive direction,” says Julie-May Ellingson, CEO of the CTICC. “I was seeking a new challenge to grow and expand my experience. Being in finance allows me to work across many sectors applying similar principles,” says De Wet.
TOURISM UPDATES Africa Tourism Board Soft Launch The Africa Tourism Board announced that its first soft launch meeting will take place during World Travel Market in London. The meeting will take place on Monday, 5 November at 2pm at the Excel Centre, North Gallery Room 4. Private stakeholders, VIPs, government officials, and media are invited to attend. The association will act as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to and from the African region. The African Tourism Board provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its members.
Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort won Africa’s leading New Resort
Wayne de Wet, the new CTICC CFO They also plan to enhance sustainable growth, value and quality of travel to, from and within the continent, and will offer leadership and counsel to member organisations. The board hopes to expand on opportunities for marketing, PR, investments, branding, and establishing niche markets, among other things. For more info, visit www.africantourismboard.com. UNWTO: Creating Smart Cities The UNWTO Conference on City Breaks: Creating Innovative Tourism Experiences (15-16 October 2018) concluded in Valladolid, Spain, with a call for cities to become smart tourism destinations. This means that tourism governance and the digital economy collaborate to offer travellers diverse and unique experiences across these spheres. Attendees and speakers analysed how exactly to react to the growing trend of city breaks as leisure experiences. Public-private partnerships, the inclusion of local communities, and the creation of smart destinations are necessary for urban locations that want to cater to the demands of hyper-connected and hyper-informed tourists. As technological advances continue to permit the creation of smart destinations, DMOs need to start managing urban