Meetings Africa 2014 Daily News

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SHORT BUT SWEET OFFICIAL OPENING The ninth Meetings Africa was officially opened yesterday in a ceremony that was simple yet perfectly suited to the expo. With 262 exhibitors raring to get onto the floor, the CEO of South African Tourism, Thulani Nzima, began with a brief speech on business tourism, after which Deputy Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa officially opened the exhibition floor. Her short yet rousing speech was focused around both tourism and business events. Radiant in a light blue outfit that match the iconic blue Meetings Africa carpets, she welcomed all visitors to the expo and wished them a successful two days ahead.

“Africa is gaining prominence as a business events host,” she said in her opening address.

“Through Meetings Africa we want to showcase how accessible...we are.” She placed emphasis on the large African contingent that has attended the expo this year – much more than in previous years.

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ADVANCING AFRICA TOGETHER AT MEETINGS AFRICA Meetings Africa Media Panel Discussion

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es, Africa is taking huge strides forward in terms of global competitiveness in business events.

But partnerships between the countries on the continent are vital for continued growth.

As important are service excellence, infrastructure, capability and accessibility. The African nations can, and should learn from each other, support each other and lobby for improved airlift and visa accessibility to the continent.

This was the takeout yesterday from the Meetings Africa 2014 Media Panel Discussion that was moderated by highly regarded socio-economic and political journalist, Justice Malala with panellists Thulani Nzima (Chief Executive Officer at South African Tourism), Mike Schussler (wellrenowned economist), Mati Nyazema (Executive Director at the Sandton Convention Bureau), Beatrice Makawiti (Sessional Lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya and former Executive Director of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre) and Martin Sirk (Chief Executive Officer at ICCA).

Sub-Saharan Africa, said panellist Mike Schussler, is the second-fastest growing economy on earth today, with a young and economically active population and with significantly improved levels of education that drive economic growth.

However, Schussler said, while the ‘fundamentals’ were in Africa’s favour, the continent needed to open up accessibility in terms of visas and airlift, making it easy for Africans to do business with each other and with the rest of the world, too.

Beatrice Makawiti agreed, adding that it was essential for the African business events sector to collude on a strategy for growth. “Our destinations are different,” she said. “We grow and develop at different levels. We need to acknowledge this, and put strategies in place that ensure we invest in services accordingly.”

She added that continental accreditation would give the market predictable service excellence benchmarks across the African destinations that would do much to

attract business events to host countries across the continent.

Martin Sirk of ICCA said the sector and the market were experiencing unprecedented change. “The number of international association events has doubled every five years in the last few decades,” he said. “This offers the African destinations astonishing opportunities.

African destinations must go after meetings that support their national agendas to contribute to the knowledge economies of their countries.”

He added that Africa must support itself, creating regional chapter of associations, and hosting those meetings on the continent. “There are great opportunities for the African destinations in a business event sector that’s literally changing and growing by the hour. The ICCA rankings are important. But more important is flexibility, innovation and collaboration across this continent.

Create new events for Africa. This industry gives you an opportunity to create your own future.”

Mati Nyazema told delegates the success of a destination, or of a business, depended on the ability to anticipate the needs of clients, and to offer (and deliver) a seamless and professional service. “We have a great team of skilled, professional and capable people who deliver at the Sandton Convention Centre. It’s this – along with anticipation of client needs – that makes us successful,” she said.

Thulani Nzima said the Meetings Africa 2014 theme Advancing Africa Together was a reflection of this one truth: African destinations will succeed together, or they will fail together. “There are strong business imperatives for the decision to host a pan-African Meetings Africa. We’re in this business,” he said, “to lift the continent… together.

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02 / MEETINGS AFRICA 2014 ISSUE 3

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TODAY’S TOP TIPS Meetings Africa 2014 has proved to be exciting and extra-busy, so make sure you keep yourself hydrated. You’ll find drinks and snacks around every corner.

Feeling peckish? Try one of the many fantastic restaurants in this fabulous city.

You won’t be disappointed.

Tweet us @sa_ncb or use the hashtag @ MeetingsAfrica14. We want to hear your thoughts!

Get Involved - There is plenty to see and do at Meeting’s Africa 2014, so explore!

Around every corner is a different exhibit to see.

Scan here for Full Schedule

EVENTS

Not to Miss!

08:00 - 10:00 Society for Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) – Annual General Meeting 09:00 – 16:00 Tourism Communicators Forum 09:00 - 16:00 Meetings Africa Exhibition Day 2 11:00 – 12:00 Award Ceremony • Green Award • Matchmaking Awards • Partner Recognition 12:00 - 14:00 Hosted Buyers and Media Lunch Venue

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ISSUE 3 MEETINGS AFRICA 2014 / 03

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HOW GREEN IS YOUR HOTEL? Meetings Africa is striving to implement greening principles and practices – from encouraging the use of the Gautrain and doing on-site recycling, through to selecting appropriate accommodation for the hosted buyers and visitors.

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his year a questionnaire was sent out to the main hotels to determine how green they are and the feedback was very positive. The main questions that were addressed were: • Do you have an environmental policy • Are you a member of a green rating system such as FTTSA, Green Leaf or Heritage?

• Do you have a recycling programme in place • Do you have low flow showers and aerators on taps for guest rooms?

• Do you use energy efficient lights?

• Are you within safe walking distance of the conference centre?

Da Vinci provided us with their environmental policy and proof of their green rating system,

Heritage, while Park Inn indicated that they were accredited with Green Leaf but did not provide any additional information. It was encouraging to note that three of the five hotels have an eco procurement policy in place, giving preference to environmentally friendly and locally sources products and service.

Most of the hotels indicated that they have recycling programmes in place for major waste streams such as glass, tins, plastic, paper and organic waste. Most of the hotels implement a towel and sheet re-use policy for guests and they said that this is clearly indicated in their rooms. To save water they also have low flow shower heads and water efficient toilets with small cisterns and interruptible flush systems.

DaVinci stood out above the rest because they make use of renewable energy sources. They also promote alternative transport. They have an eco procurement policy in place, and they use eco friendly paper that is FSC approved with recycled content.

Balalaika indicated that they have a rainwater harvesting system in place that is used for watering their gardens, while Maslow indicated that they use waterwise plants in their gardens.

So, when you go back to your hotel, have a look around and see what they are doing to help implement environmental sustainability. The full checklist that was sent out is available under the resource section of the Event Greening Forum website (www.eventgreening.co.za).

Based on 21 simple ‘yes/no’ questions the hotels received the following scores: • Da Vinci 90% • Radison 80% • Maslow 71% • Park Inn 69% • Balalaika 50%

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ISSUE 3 MEETINGS AFRICA 2014 / 05

NEW SMART MEETINGS & EVENTS Connection, Choice and Community

from Park Inn by Radisson guests every time they meet in our hotels,” says Eric De Neef, ‎Senior Vice President of Marketing & CRM, Global Branding Park Inn by Radisson. “We empower them to focus completely on achieving their business meeting ambitions, while we focus on delivering all the essential hardware and software of a successful meeting or event.”

Smart Meetings & Events will be rolled out in SubSaharan Africa during the next two quarters of 2014.

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n innovative and youthful hotel brand, Park Inn by Radisson, is designed to meet all modern expectations of an international hotel experience. A smart investment. A smart consumer choice. A smart alternative in full-service, midscale arena. A global name that you can rely on wherever you go.

Park Inn by Radisson brings you a brilliant new Smart Meeting & Events hospitality concept, offering consistent Connection, Choice and Community to modern business get togethers. Smart Meetings & Events are designed to deliver the right type of smart food, drinks, event spaces and technology to support our guests’ life and work styles.

The Smart Meetings & Events concept focuses on Connectivity, providing guests with Surf4Free Internet access throughout all our hotels, on smartphone, PC or tablet. Anytime. Anywhere.

Fresh, colorful and engaging, Park Inn by Radisson is passionate about Choice, offering a great selection of beautiful destinations, flexible spaces, a valuable selection

of packages, plus, a uniquely delicious and nutritious Smart Food menu.

Smart Food is created with love for delegates who are used to great tastes. The self-service features a selection of beautifully presented modern dishes - all a feast to the eye and soul - reflecting locality, seasonality and healthy options that our guests want.

Our lean cuisine is light but truly satisfying, with a low fat, high protein content, featuring Omega 3 rich fish and healthy fruit & vegetables, all smartly designed to ensure optimum, ideas, energy and creativity. In every meeting, from start to finish.

Park Inn by Radisson is also a truly Responsible Business focused on making a difference in the Communities we operate in. Through our Think Planet energy saving strategy, all carbon emissions associated with your meetings can now be offset through our Club Carlson for Planners program.

“Our Smart Meetings & Events featuring Surf4Free internet is designed to create value and success for our

Park Inn by Radisson – opening soon in 2014 Brimming with life and a vibrant personality and creating a friendly, down-to-earth sense of welcome, Park Inn by Radisson can now be found all around the world – in capital cities and economic hubs, close to city centers, airports and railway stations. Our portfolio is growing faster than ever with 160 hotels and 31,000 rooms in operation or under development in 35 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The group anticipates four new Park Inn by Radisson Hotels to open in SubSaharan Africa in 2014 in Abeokuta, Cape Town, Kigali and Libreville.

For more, visit www.parkinn.com.

BID WIN FOR CAPE TOWN The Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) was launched on 10 July 1997.

LIASA is a professional non-profit organisation, uniting and representing all institutions and people working in libraries and information services in South Africa. It strives to unite, develop and empower all people in the library and information field into an organisation that provides dynamic leadership in transforming, developing and sustaining library and information services for all people in South Africa.

LIASA together with the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau bid to host the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in 2015.

It was recently announced that the bid has been awarded to Cape Town. The Congress will take 13 - 21 August 2015 and is expected to attract 3000 delegates over the 5 day period, making an estimated economic impact of R42 000 000.

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CITY OF TSHWANE

Industry News

Igniting Excellence

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ity of Tshwane, seat of government, meeting place of the world and capital of the Rainbow Nation. In Tshwane you will experience an African city of excellence - one which blends the depth of local culture and character with world-class technology and infrastructure - all on the backdrop of natural splendour and architectural diversity. Sport, arts and culture, research and development, industry, learning and the business of running the nation are all captured in the daily lives of the city’s 2.5 million residents who make this city what it is. It is a city with a welcome as warm as its climate and for very good reasons named the best host city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The City of Tshwane covers 6 368km² of Gauteng’s 19 055km² and stretches almost 121 km from east to west and 108 km from north to south making it the third-largest city in the world in terms of land area, after New York and Tokyo/Yokohama. The City has about 2,5 million residents.

Tshwane is indeed a cultural microcosm of Africa and

the world. Each of South Africa’s cultures is represented here. The original residents of the Tshwane valley were the Ndebele, an offshoot of the southern Nguni people.

Today the most common language spoken is Sepedi, from the Sotho group originating from the northern areas of Southern Africa. This is followed by Afrikaans, whose large community in Tshwane dates back to the late 1800s when Pretoria was the capital of a Boer republic. Other dominant local languages are Setswana, Xitsonga, isiZulu and English.

There is also a strong influence of cultures brought to the area generations back by immigrants from the Orient and Western Europe who still speak their ancestral tongue and have established mini communities in the city. Alongside the rainbow people live newer arrivals from numerous African and other countries.

As the administrative capital, Tshwane is the proud host of the country’s national government and houses the ministry and head office of all the national

GALA DINNER A Truely African Experience

government departments. The city is thus the heart of policy development, which has changed and will continue to change the face of South Africa. The Union Buildings, the seat of government and site of presidential inaugurations, is Tshwane’s most iconic landmark. There can be no doubt of its powerful status when one sees the majesty of the sandstone building as it watches over the city.

Tshwane, as the hub for science and technology, knowledge and industry, receives a high number of national and international delegations and the city hosts various conferences and conventions related to these sectors every year. The city boasts a number of conference facilities of international standing, such as the CSIR International Convention Centre, situated on the CSIR campus, and the one-stop sports development facility at the High Performance Centre of the University of Pretoria.

Tshwane is host to many inbound foreign business missions, sport and medical related conferences, seminars and workshops and government-related strategy meetings.

In support of its trade and investment drive, the City of Tshwane continuously engages with international and local investors and also hosts a biannual Tshwane International Trade and Infrastructure Investment Conference. Tshwane’s ideal weather conditions and relaxed cosmopolitan composition make it the city the ideal host.

COMPEX

After twenty-one years, Complete Exhibitions has come of age and, after an extensive review, has rebranded itself as Compex®. Dean Gunningham, Director of Operations says, “This became a necessity because we are so much more than just a provider of shell scheme. Following an extensive investment over the last five years in stock, staff and training, the company is now well positioned to provide our clients and the industry with a turnkey solution.” An event is all about the experience, an engagement with all of our senses. The ability to devise inspired and reliable solutions is what makes experience the key differentiator between service providers.

Compex announces Appointment of Lorin Bowen It is with great pleasure that the appointment of Lorin Bowen into the position of Manager: Marketing and PR at Compex® can be announced.

Lorin will join Compex® as soon as her responsibilities at SAACI have been concluded.

Lorin is well known throughout the Conference and Event sector having recently been the GM for SAACI, and previously held the position as the marketing manager for the Indaba Hotel.

Come and visit us at Stand L31

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ISSUE 3 MEETINGS AFRICA 2014 / 07

A CHAT WITH NONNIE KUBEKA On the economic impact of Meetings Africa

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Nonnie Kubeka

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onnie Kubeka, head of the Gauteng Convention Bureau, had a quick chat with the Daily News, sharing why Meetings Africa is important and how it impacts Johannesburg and the province’s economy. “Gauteng is open for business,” she says, and one can already see the enormous difference between last year and this year’s Meetings Africa event, with economic effects felt throughout the city.

“When you think about the exhibition stands that are built,” Ms Kubeka says, “of how many people

are employed to build temporary structures, the hotels where you find more staff being employed for breakfast and for bed making, we’re seeing a lot of indirect employment during this time.” She says that the number of business tourists also rises during this time as people start arriving as early as the Saturday before Meetings Africa for pre- and post-tours. From Soweto to nearby game reserves, the conference itself indirectly generates high tourism revenues.

If you look at transportation, she says, visitors need to be accessible and as such people use more

taxis in order to have their meetings in places other than the convention centre. Small restaurants, dinner places, coffee shops and of course shopping malls also see more customers – especially those within a kilometre of the centre. “The economic spin-off that we see is more at employment levels; at shopping levels, and if you look at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, you can actually see people running there in the afternoons!”

Ms Kubeka says that this year’s Meetings Africa has drawn a much larger contingent of exhibitors,

It has becomes a real African show, rather than a South African show

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buyers and visitors from the wider African continent.

“This year there were many more African countries so the African contingent has grown,” she says. “It has becomes a real African show, rather than a South African show, and we’ve seen many more African associations and hosted buyers so the rotational basis of the meetings business will be much higher.”

She believes that this will be a win-win situation for Meetings Africa in that there will be more interest in business events not just in the country but across the continent – and this single event is what has facilitated this growth. “This is what we want to grow so that we can keep the African economy running in both ways. The other part that is much more interesting is that the government buyers – the government and the corporate buyers – have grown in numbers. And it’s decision-making people that we’ve seen here more than just representatives.”

When asked whether Meetings Africa might be held in other cities on the continent, Ms Kubeka says no. “We don’t see it as having a franchise in other African countries, but we might see training sessions, mentoring sessions and sales missions or client supplier workshops for Meetings Africa in other African countries. But we’d like to see it grow to the next exhibition hall like that – having more African nations joining so that we can become a stronger African chapter in the meetings industry.”

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ON THE SHOW FLOOR… The first day of Meetings Africa 2014 was in full swing from the minute it opened.

Here’s what exhibitors and hosted buyers had to say.

Kristy Macrae

Amanda Wills

Mark Walker

My meetings have been good so far – I’ve only had three – so I’ve got a long day ahead of me.

I’m here to find out a bit more about Africa and in Australia, if people have been to maybe one part of South Africa, they often think “Oh, we’ve been to Africa so we’ll go somewhere else” so for me it’s more about finding out about all the different places because obviously it’s a very big place and every country has so much to offer.

Kristy Macrae, Sydney, Australia

So far so good. I met with someone from Zimbabwe Tourism Board and they offered to fly me out and show me around so I’m really happy about that! It’s so much better to see a place before you decide to have a conference there. I also met someone from Namibia so I’m quite excited about maybe having a conference somewhere in Southern Africa. We normally have conferences in South Africa every year but I’d like to branch out. I like that Meetings Africa is quite laid back and an overall good experience – a good opportunity to meet new people.

Amanda Wills, United Kingdom

I’ve only had a couple of meetings and they’ve been good so far. I like that Meetings Africa is a little bit more intimate, it’s easier to get around. I feel that there’s more time to get personal with people and more opportunities to meet people in one area because at IMEX you’ll meet somebody from Asia, somebody from Korea, somebody from Costa Rica but this is all Africa so it’s more specific, which I like.

Mark Walker, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Michael Johnston The meetings have gone well, the groups I talked to are out of Cape Town. I spoke to the Westin Group and I also talked to the Cape Town Convention Bureau. I’m on the board of the BK Style Foundation and we produce fashion week once a year in Brooklyn and we have an exchange programme so we look for capacity build and opportunities in other countries and South Africa’s our next stop. [Meetings Africa sent] a wonderful invitation and even with certain expectations, what you see here it’s still amazing. Meetings Africa is wonderfully planned, the opening ceremony last night was very nice, very fitting and I have great hopes.

Michael Johnston, New York, USA

Steve Garrett It’s been an excellent event! The daily Meetings Africa newspapers have been awesome and it’s nice to get some up-to-date information at the hotel before you turn up at the event. The quality of the people at the event has been fantastic and it’s nice to see Africa bubbling away. There’s clearly been a lot of growth in the area!

Steve Garrett – Ungerboeck Software International

Clifford Morake and Lee-Ann Hodgson We have met a lot of interesting people, and have made loads of networking contacts. There is room for improvement, such as the smaller stands at the front. But the show is growing rapidly!

Clifford Morake and Lee-Ann Hodgson – Gooderson Leisure

Francois Joubert We represent seven properties, and the show has been great for us. I’ve managed to see 10 clients and I’ve only been here for two hours!

Francois Joubert – Guvon Hotels and Spas

Raymond Goncalves It’s been a great show for us. Our expectation was to be exposed to a big international market as well as the local market, and so far we have seen both.

All the international visitors have stuck to their schedules, which is good. We’re hoping to continue with the good leads.

Raymond Goncalves – The Hyde Hotel

Wayne Johnson Cheryl Schmidt Seipati Tlaka and team We think the show is great, with a vibrant energy and excellent quality of hosted buyers. The networking opportunities are fantastic.

Seipati Tlaka and team – Limpopo Tourism Agency

The diary appointment system is working perfectly and the quality of the visitors has been really good.

Wayne Johnson – Fancourt

We’ve had fantastic meetings and all of the hosted buyers showed up for their meetings!

Our expectation is to sign up at least 10 large international conferences to take place at our hotel in the next two years. All in all, a fantastic experience.

Cheryl Schmidt – Lagoon Beach

www.meetingsafrica.co.za

ISSUE 3 MEETINGS AFRICA 2014 / 09

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE TWITTERSPHERE Meetings Africa @SA_NCB “@SA_NCB’s goal is clear - to grow business events hosted in South Africa by 50% by 2020.” Tokozile Xasa #MeetingsAfrica14

Meruschka @MzansiGirl Funky African decor at the meetings area @ sa_ncb stand #MeetingsAfrica14

WHAT YOU’RE THINKING We ask you what the most important topics, meetings and networks are that you’ve been involved in at Meetings Africa 2014

Bruce Davidson @bruceybld Thulani Nzima asks South Africans to help market #SouthAfrica positively at #MeetingsAfrica14 media face-off @SA_NCB

Meetings Africa @SA_NCB #Didyouknow: All plants used at #MeetingsAfrica14 are indigenous and have been locally sourced.

John Arvanitakis @johnarv “At #MeetingsAfrica14, you get to meet everyone in the industry without having to travel around.

City of Joburg ‫@‏‬CityofJoburgZA “Africa is growing twice the rate of SA today... we need to market Africa as a destination”. #MeetingsAfrica14

Aayesha Ouamar

Carlos Yerena

Alosha Lynov

It’s been great so far. We’re just here as a visitor, but it’s been great to see all the new exhibitors.

We have hotels based in East Africa and Maputo so it’s nice to our competition and what they are offering! And of course, this is a fantastic event to network.

Aayesha Ouamar – Serena Hotels

This is our fourth participation at Meetings Africa. We are a sustainable bag supplier, and we make bags in Cape Town townships. It’s great to connect on the different levels, such as PCOs and destination management companies. I like the environment here, and there are a lot of spaces where you can have meetings. I am trying to make as many contacts as possible and I’m looking forward to connecting.

Carlos Yerena – Township Patterns

This is my first time exhibiting at Meetings Africa and the level and quality of buyers is way up there! I have had people approaching me from overseas and all over Africa. This is exactly our target market, and I can’t wait to grab as much business as I can.

Alosha Lynov – 3D Deco

Meetings Africa @SA_NCB The world’s travel buyers are increasingly demanding one seamless, accessible experience of Africa. - Tokozile Xasa #MeetingsAfrica14

kimberleigh @kimcrowbar Awkward laughs in Media Face Off room when South African Tourism CEO asks journos to be more positive in reporting on SA #MeetingsAfrica14

follow us #MeetingsAfrica14 @MeetingsAfrica

10 / MEETINGS AFRICA 2014 ISSUE 3

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ISSUE 3 MEETINGS AFRICA 2014 / 11

BOLD MOVE TO PROFESSIONALISE THE BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY Representative business events industry associations have joined forces to professionalise the industry.

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The goal is to reach a point where only CEP Africa accredited training courses are opted for and ultimately a requirement for all tenders.

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he formation of the Council of Event Professionals (CEP) Africa was announced at Meetings Africa today – with founding members the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA), the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) Africa and the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI).

SAACI National Board Member Glenn van Eck says

CEP Africa, which is currently being registered as a Non Profit Company, will create recognised certification for the business events industry and work closely with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Four certification levels will apply to individuals who apply, namely Event Coordinator, Event Manager, Event Director and the Convention Industry Council’s Certified Meetings Professional.

EXSA will determine which international

THE EVENT PL ANNER’S GUIDE TO AFRICA IS THE WIDELY ACCL AIMED PREMIER MARKETING TOOL FOR AFRICA’S BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY.

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qualification applies best to the exhibition industry for certification by CEP Africa.

According to van Eck other associations are welcome to join CEP Africa, either as fellow founding members with a financial stake in the body or as nonexecutive directors. “We encourage them to join us in this bold initiative. It is about making Africa a good event destination.”

He says CEP Africa will not certify companies, but courses and individuals. “This will include Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and in this regard we will engage with experts including the Event Management Body of Knowledge Project (EMBOK) and the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council. RPL requires a portfolio of evidence which includes years of experience, published industry articles and serving on industry bodies.

“SAQA’s Directorate for Foreign Qualifications, Evaluations and Advisory Services will assess recommended foreign qualifications against South African standards.”

Van Eck says CEP Africa has no intention of being exclusive. Instead it is an honest attempt to lift standards of training where necessary. “The goal is to reach a point where only CEP Africa accredited training courses are opted for and ultimately a requirement for all tenders.

“CEP Africa will enable the industry to approach government with one voice and to ensure industry ownership of its own affairs. We will engage with the industry to determine what is lacking in terms of education and training. Based on this, we will accredit training courses related to all industry sectors, including specialist functions like safety and security.”

CEP Africa will appoint voluntary advisory panels, which will advise on certification and Continued Professional Development (CPD) points earned by individuals.

A CEP Africa administrator will be appointed soon, certification fees determined and the body is expected to be operational by the end of the year.