Meetings Africa 2013 Day 2

ASSOCIATIONS PREPARE FOR THE “AFRICAN CENTURY”

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platform where supply could meet demand, the ‘new thinking’ is that trade shows now are being used as a forum where associations and meetings industry professionals meet and partner to effect profoundly positive change for a destination’s positioning, economy and job creation capacity.

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Emerging markets and their growing status as business event destination hosts drive globalisation, creating interest in (and hunger for) business event experiences that are culturally diverse.

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he developing world is leading growth in the number of international conventions hosted, giving every indication that this is going to be the ‘African century’ in business events.

This is what Gary Grimmer, Chief Executive Officer at Gaining Edge, the facilitator of the Association Forum at the Meetings Africa 2013 BOND (Business Opportunities Networking Day), told delegates yesterday morning.

Africa is currently experiencing compound annual growth rate of 7.7 percent in meetings hosted, more than a percent higher than growth experienced in Europe and two percent higher than growth in North America.

This is exciting, and significant, for a number of reasons, Grimmer said. Emerging markets and their growing status as business event destination hosts drive glo-

balisation, creating interest in (and hunger for) business event experiences that are culturally diverse.

Associations are vital for this continent, he said. They drive economic and social transformation, playing a vital role in continuing education across a gamut of professions and contributing significantly to the development of trade, to the knowledge economy, to trade links between countries, and to research and development.

“It is impossible to overestimate the importance of the knowledge transfer that is driven by regional and global associations,” Grimmer said. “Associations attract thought leaders, showcase innovation, generate media attention and deliver access to technologies and idea exchange.”

The Association Forum BOND day was attended by about 100 delegates, representing a wide variety of local and African associations. The day-long workshop featured a number of interactive sessions, giving delegates an opportunity to compare challenges, strengths and to learn from each other.

John Peacock, General Manager of the Associations Forum, an entity that brings associations together to boost their performance, provide training and education. The interactive sessions were moderated by Linda Pereira, Executive Director of CPL Events in Portugal.

They share the same insight -- whereas previously trade shows such as Meetings Africa would provide a simple

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EVENTS

Today’s Top

Tips

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Easy Registration

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Green Tip

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NOT TO MISS!

For quick and easy registration, there are laptops in the foyer. After registering you can collect your lanyard from the registration booths - this will ensure no queues.

Reduce waste by using Poken (www.poken. com) to exchange contact details, and request information in an electronic rather than printed format.

Be There!

OPEN TO ALL

BY INVITATION ONLY

SITE AGM Followed by Educational Session O8h00 – 10h00, Bill Gallagher Room

Rest Stop There is a Public Meeting Room in the centre of the exhibition floor with comfy couches. This is meant to be a relaxed area to meet informally and can be used as a locator if anyone gets lost.

Registration for Meetings Africa Opens – 09h00, Entrance Foyer, Hall 1, SCC Meetings Africa Opening Ceremony 10h00 – 11h00, Hall 1, SCC

Hosted Buyers Dinners 18h30-24h00, Off site

HOSTED BUYERS AND MEDIA Hosted Buyers & Media Lunch 12h00-14h00, Bill Gallagher, SCC

Connect!

Meetings Africa’s Facebook page will keep you up to date on all the latest news, including photos and competitions. Visit www. facebook.com/meetingsafrica and like the page so you’re in the loop.

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02 / MEETINGS AFRICA 2013 ISSUE 2

Meetings Africa Exhibition 11h00-17h00, Hall 1, SCC Meetings Africa Stand Awards 17h00 – 18h30, Hall 1, SCC

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AFRICAN EXHIBITORS ANTICIPATE BEST MEETINGS AFRICA EVER

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he South African and regional African business events industry is better represented at Meetings Africa this year than ever before, and exhibitors and visitors from the continent are brimming with excitement over the opportunities that will arise during the next three days.

“The numbers of quality buyers and exhibitors is impressive this year, and the African continent is particularly well represented, so we are hoping for excellent and lucrative results, in line with our pan-African strategy to encourage associations throughout the continent to rotate on a regular basis,” says Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, executive manager at the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB).

Of the 145 exhibitors at Meetings Africa 2013, just over 20 percent represent destinations other than South Africa on the continent. There are 30 exhibitors from regional and continental Africa in total at Meetings Africa this year. Lesotho, Zambia, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Swaziland are among the regional destinations exhibiting here for the first time in 2013. In previous years the number of destinations from outside of SA was negligible.

“Continental collaboration is central to the strategy to grow business event arrivals. Meetings Africa 2013 provides the ideal platform to initiate better and more inclusive continental partnerships that will work to realise the untapped potential

of the continent as a business event destination,” says Kotze-Nhlapo.

Daily News chatted to some exhibitors from the rest of the continent to harvest a few insights into their expectations at Meetings Africa 2013: LUCY MACRIDIS, VILLA ROSA KEMPINSKI – NAIROBI, KENYA “I’m hoping to attract good business from the international MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) market. This is our strongest focus,” says Lucy. Meetings Africa, she says, is an ideal platform to do this. “It maximizes our exposure,” she says.

The Meetings Africa online diary, she adds, has really helped her a lot this year. “I’m looking forward to making and meeting new contacts, and doing the best business I can do,” she adds.

SOLISTER CHEELO, ZAMBIA TOURISM BOARD (stand 1015) – ZAMBIA “Zambia is predominantly a leisure destination, but we are now trying to build our Business Events industry.

Meetings Africa is the perfect platform to do this,” says Solister. South Africa is one of the main source markets for Zambian business events. “So we really want to position ourselves optimally at Meetings Africa, and we are very confident this week will deliver excellent results through the great networking opportunities available here, and the excellent calibre of buyers,” he says.

PORTIA MADOKA – ZIMBABWE TOURISM AUTHORITY (stand 1016) “We have good business event facilities in Zimbabwe, and we are hoping to showcase them here at Meetings Africa to good buyers,” says Portia. “Meetings Africa is the biggest business events show on the continent and it’s important that we are here.” Portia has represented the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority at previous Meetings Africas and did “good business” each time. “We are sharing our stand with a number of private tourist products like the Vic Falls Hotel and Holiday Inns, and all are anticipating good results over the next few days,” says Portia.

MARTHA YERONIMO – TANZANIA CONFERENCE SERVICES LTD, TANZANIA Tanzania Conference Service LTD is a leading Professional Conference Organizer in Tanzania. “Meetings Africa has become a very important event in our calendar at Tanzania Conference Services Ltd. I wanted to exhibit at Meetings Africa last year but there was no space. We are very excited to be here this year. “This year it’s important for us to attend Meetings Africa, because there are plenty of business opportunities at such a big, international show. As a visitor (not an exhibitor), I will go through the list of buyers carefully, particularly the technology companies, which is our target market,” says Martha.

ISSUE 2 MEETINGS AFRICA 2013 / 03

Twitter

WHAT YOU’RE THINKING AT MEETINGS AFRICA 2013

What You’ve Been Saying

We ask you what the most important topics, meetings and networks are that you’ve been involved in at Meetings African 2013

“The concept of Meetings Africa is wonderful and that they are investing so much in The Future Leaders Forum is so important for the industry in Africa. We need to encourage the brightest students to join the industry because companies need good people, so this is really important for the industry.”

Dale Hudson, Knowledge and Events Director, IMEX Group

“Good to hear about how associations should be run and the structure to support that, Great advice and outcomes to match the ultimate goal of advancing Africa Together.”

Megan Arendse, General Manager Commercial & Business Development, CTICC

@VickiRothman: “@MeetingsAfrica: #MeetingsAfrica gift bags - made from recycled plastic bottles. @SandtonEvents” thank you it’s lovely! @Tezzmania (Monde Mateza): “@MeetingsAfrica: Share knowledge, strategise and gain insights from the industry’s leading experts, at the #MeetingsAfrica 2013 BOND DAY.” @bayofgracetours: “@MeetingsAfrica 1 of my favourite events of the year #meetingsafrica”

“Terrific bunch of students from all around South Africa, enjoying the pearls of wisdom presented by really great speakers.

This kind of forum assists in developing their careers in the right direction, it’s terrific.”

David Sands, SITE Global President, commenting on the Future Leaders Forum

@MeetingsAfrica: “Share knowledge, strategise and gain insights from the industry’s leading experts, at the #MeetingsAfrica 2013 BOND DAY” @johnarv (John Arvanitakis): “It’s BOND DAY at Meetings Africa 2013, a day of amazing speakers, topics and lots to learn.... all rounded off...”

“Africa needs this focal point, Meetings Africa is the starting point.

Africa needs a home base to bring clients to showcase Africa’s offering to the global meetings industry. It’s good to see other African countries represented at Meetings Africa. With world class infrastructure and services people recognise South Africa is the market leader in Africa. As a leader, South Africa has an important role to play in stimulating growth on the continent and as a leader should benefit from this proportionately.”

Martin Sirk, ICCA CEO “Meetings Africa is a great platform for us to expose all that we are and can be to the Business Events sector.”

Lerisha Mudaliar, Western Cape Convention Bureau

@william_price (William Price): “Just look up to see #MeetingsAfrica has taken over #Sandton CBD pic. twitter.com/hjAEFdyt” @adriaanjl (Adriaan J Liebetrau): “I see lots of excitement mounting as people from all over are arriving in Jozi for #MeetingsAfrica see you all on Tuesday!”

“So far it’s nice to see how everything comes together. Normally I’m at a function and I see everything once it’s already put together. So to see everything built from scratch is really exciting. And at the end how everything comes together at an international affair.”

Leanne Margo, Sales Executive at Kievits Kroon Country Estate & Spa

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NEED TO KNOW •

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You can book a meeting room for an appointment - contact the Geniene Preston at Genienep@lxi.co.za As an exhibitior you can access free internet.

Send Danea Guthrie an sms on 082 560 4202 for the access codes.

For emergencies, you can contact Genevieve the paramedics on 083 307 6800. The paramedics are located near the media lounge on the exhibition floor.

IMRN – Eye on Africa • •

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On Wednesday only, the show starts at 9am, not 10am (the exhibition floor show).

Parking vouchers are not included in the exhibitors packet. If you didn’t order beforehand, please visit the organisers office.

All Exhibitors: on Wednesday, after the show (after 7), if you breakdown your stand after 7, you can go through the night - no closing down time.

Visit the “What’s On” tab at meetingsafrica.com for the latest events happening!

Meetings Africa is being followed closely by readers of the International Meetings Review Network (IMRN). Film & Event Media, publishers of The Event, have a partnership with IMRN that puts meetings in Africa in strategic focus. “We’re really excited…for two reasons,” says James Latham, Publisher, IMRN, “the quality of the content and the distribution – Film & Event Media’s investment in distribution and working with key stakeholders like the South African Convention Bureau.”

ISSUE 2 MEETINGS AFRICA 2013 / 09

SPREADING THE WORD ON GOING GREEN

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oing green is no longer a catch phrase or a passing fad for tree huggers. It’s a crucial part of everything we do, influencing our lives every day.

If going green isn’t already part of your life, it should be, delegates to Meetings Africa heard yesterday, or our negligence will damage the lives of our children and our children’s children.

Efforts by Meetings Africa to make its event as environmentally friendly as possible now include a seminar dedicated to going green. That’s in addition to the strong messages sent to all exhibitors, speakers and visitors to make sure their own participation is as green as possible.

While stalls were being set up downstairs in compliance to certain green requirements, the seminar upstairs was staged by the Event Greening Forum.

The first thing the audience noticed were water jugs on the tables, replacing the usual bottled water that contributes to global warming by its creation and destruction. The keynote speaker was Jeunesse Park, the founder of Food and Trees for Africa, who presented Al Gore’s Climate Change speech. It’s full of startling facts to shake up complacence and hopefully put an end to doubts about whether humans are damaging the environment. There are still some climate doubters, yet every major academic insti-

tute that had investigated the issue concluded that humans are harming the climate, Jeunesse stressed.

“Surely all of us clever people who organise meetings and events can come up with some solutions,” she said. “Ignorance is going to leave a terrible life for our children and their children.” Yet despite South Africa’s ideal position to take advantage of wind, solar and wave power, very little is being invested to capitalise on that. Jeunesse’s presentation showed maps highlighting areas of severe droughts and devastating floods, and other events of ‘extreme weather’ that have become almost commonplace.

Scientists have been measuring the global climate since about 1880, and the last 10 years have been the hottest on record. As temperatures rise, so does the frequency of severe storms and heavy snows. “The more carbon pollution we put into the atmosphere the more we alter our climate, and the more we are at risk of extreme weather,” Jeunesse said. “The days of switching on a tap and water coming out are coming to a fast end,” she warned.

Jeunesse was followed by Matthew Rosmarin speaking on bio-mimicry, and how taking lessons from nature can help you to improve and innovate your business. The Event Greening Forum also staged its AGM at Meetings Africa, as well as spreading the message about everybody doing their bit to protect the planet.

- By Lesley Stones

The Meetings Africa team is encouraging all exhibitors and visitors to follow its green initiatives. On a simple level, that campaign is designed to reduce the amount of waste produced by the event, cut down on water consumption and to use less electricity.

Yet the green campaign has a wider impact too, since many organisations seeking suitable cities and venues in which to stage their business conferences and exhibitions strongly support going green. They are looking locations that share their commitment, so Johannesburg’s ability to prove it is the greenest city in Africa – in several ways – can only be good for business.

The Meetings Africa team produced an Event Greening Strategy ahead of the show setting out objectives and suggesting ways to achieve them. They included: • Requesting exhibitors to reduce their packaging materials to cut down on waste. Rubbish is being separated to reduce the amount that ends up in landfill, with an aim of recycling 80% of waste rather than sending it to landfill.

• Energy efficiency: Stands are encouraged to use energy efficient lights and audio-visual displays, and to use natural light and ventilation where possible.

• Water conservation: Participants are encouraged to implement water conservation principles and use water in a responsible manner.

STAY TUNED TO SAACI!

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t’s full steam ahead for the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) on the heels of their Special General Meeting yesterday.

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veteran Dirk Elzinga.

Members can register online on www.saaci2013. co.za. Early bird registration closes on 28 May. The conference is open to anyone with an interest in the conference industry – including venue owners and managers, professional conference organisers, corporate marketing and event professionals, event planners, public relations practitioners, exhibition organisers and suppliers of products and services.

For more information contact Eastern Sun Events on tel 041 374 5654 or saaci@easternsun.co.za.

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The 2013 national congress and exhibition of the SAACI will be held at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Port Elizabeth from 28 to 30 July.

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Andrew Stewart

The 2013 national congress and exhibition of the SAACI will be held at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Port Elizabeth from 28 to 30 July.

Themed ‘Create. Debate. Innovate.’, the congress will present an opportunity for delegates to address many of the challenges faced by the industry in 2013.

“In addition to our top class venue and facilities we are working with a very strong programme committee that is putting together an incredibly relevant programme that will not only inform, but challenge us to find the best path forward. ‘Take home value’ is what it is about,” says congress chairman Andrew Stewart.

Stewart says the congress committee, made up of representatives of the different sub-sectors of the conference industry, is hard at work to make it a benchmark event.

“SAACI members have already received correspondence from us, calling for abstracts by 29 March and we will release regular updates over the next few months.”

Speakers already confirmed for the congress include Matthew Lester, Associate Professor at the Rhodes Business School, who will deliver the keynote address, Alec Gilbert, Chief Executive Officer of the Adelaide Convention Centre and industry

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FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

- By Lesley Stones

ICCA AFRICA

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CCA Africa’s Chapter Meeting put the continent in the spotlight. “We want to host more sessions assisting Africa and showing what support is available from ICCA. We want to focus on growing in South Africa and the African continent,” says Nina Freysen-Pretorius, ICCA Board Representative for Africa and the Middle East, Senior Vice President. Join the conversation on Twitter: #MeetingsAfrica.

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hotels, venues, travel agents and event organisers.

They also heard from David Sand, the CEO of Uwin Iwin and president of SITE, and from Rashid Toefy, CEO of the Cape Town Convention Centre, who spoke about the qualities that make a good leader.

None of the students could fail to be motivated by Linda Pereira, the Executive Director of CPL Events. A fiery bundle of energy, she encouraged them to stand out from the crowd through their actions, their appearance, their enthusiasm and their professionalism. She berated those who had not researched her company before hearing her speak, condemning that as lazy and unprofessional. She urged them to research any company well before they think of applying for a job there, so they can make sure they will fit into its culture and represent that organisation well.

Linda also told them not just to gather business cards randomly, but to target those people they have already researched as potentially useful contacts. Then they should write down notes from the conversations so they remember the details of the person, and follow up with them by email.

They should volunteer for work experience, join associations and be a giver, not a taker, she urged.

Her inspiring talk was useful even to the older and experienced people sitting in on the event.

As part of the Future Leaders Forum, six of the students took part in a speaking competition that will win one of them a place at the International University Challenge in Frankfurt. The six were asked to prepare a 10 minute presentation about staging a meeting with cultural relevance. Judges selected the most impressive three entries and those students made their presentations yesterday during the Fu-

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ture Leaders Forum.

The winner will attend the final in Germany in May to compete against winners selected from the other Future Leaders Forums.

Since its launch in 2003 the Future Leaders Forum has given 5,400 students insight into their chosen industry in countries including Korea, Thailand and China, as well as South Africa.

Of those students, 90% have said they are more likely to enter the industry as a result. The students can also benefit from the Future Leaders Network, which offers the former attendees a network of peers from across the world, as well as continued career guidance and opportunities.

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The industry needs the best and brightest students so we are introducing them to real live events rather than the academic environment.

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xcellent advice was given to youngsters planning a career in the meetings industry at the Future Leaders Forum yesterday.

A group of 24 university students studying tourism and event management were chosen for the two-day educational programme. It gives them insight into areas they could specialise in, new networks of contacts and advice on how to stand out from the crowd.

The Future Leaders Forum is organised by IMEX (The Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events group), runs in partnership with MPI (Meeting Professionals International) and MCI, an independent communications and event management company.

Meetings Africa is the perfect partner for its South African activities, says Dale Hudson, the Events and Projects Director with IMEX. “The programme has been going for 10 years in 15 countries around the world. The industry needs the best and brightest students so we are introducing them to real live events rather than the academic environment.”

Spending two days at Meetings Africa gives students plenty of opportunities to meet movers and shakers in the industry, collect their business cards and have conversations about opportunities within the sector. It also gives them the chance to meet and impress potential future employees.

The 24 students were chosen for showing the most potential to have a successful career in the industry after universities across the country encouraged them to apply for the Future Leaders Forum.

As part of the programme, the youngsters held roundtable discussions with representatives from various sectors of the meetings industry, including

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