Meetings July August 2022

THE

04

The Durban ICC has been recognised as Africa’s leading convention centre multiple times. Meetings speaks to Lindiwe Rakharebe to understand how her leadership has driven the venue forward.

07

Meetings hears from a number of leading ladies who each play a key role within the business events and MICE industry value chain. They share some of their greatest personal achievements. VENUE

20

CHANGE IS AFOOT

Managing Editor Shanna Jacobsen (shanna@3smedia.co.za)

Chief Sub-Editor Tristan Snijders

Head of Design Beren Bauermeister

Contributors Moizyll Baatjies, Angela Barter, Sven Bossu, Glenton de Kock, Lesley Ferreira, Gabor Ganczer, Rivania Govender, Natalie Kyriacou, Scott Langley, Thuli Mtolo, Victoria O’Sullivan, ElzaLee Pretorius, Morwesi Ramonyai, Catherine Schulze

Production & Client Liaison Manager

Antois-Leigh Nepgen

Group Sales Manager Chilomia Van Wijk

Bookkeeper Tonya Hebenton

Distribution Manager Nomsa Masina

Distribution Coordinator Asha Pursotham

Advertising Vanessa De Waal

+27 (0)84 805 6752 | Vanessa.DeWaal@3smedia.co.za

PUBLISHED BY

Dearest friends and MICE industry family, I am sad to say that, after more than four years at the helm, my time with Meetings magazine has come to an end, and I will be moving on to a new endeavour. I am, however, pleased to say that I leave you in some very capable hands.

But before I say adieu, I would like to share some insights from my journey with 3S Media, the publisher of Meetings magazine, as well as my time spent with you all in the business events industry.

THE POWER OF WOMEN

Perhaps my greatest highlight and honour was running the Women in MICE (WiM) Awards. While we postponed this outright during 2020 and hosted a successful nomination and judging process last year, we were unfortunately not in a position to host a physical event in 2021. We decided that we would be changing the strategy behind the WiM drive to recognise key women throughout the year while still continuing our Women in MICE Mentorship and Development Initiative. The Mentorship Programme with Queen Ramotsehoa, executive coach at the Tsheto Leadership and Coaching Academy, is looking forward to its second intake later in the year. In the meantime, I am very proud to present you with our Women in MICE Recognition Edition, where we have spoken with several women from across different parts of the industry’s value chain to hear about their experiences during their careers. Turn

to this section on page 7 for some incredible insights and pearls of wisdom that we can take with us wherever we go.

We feature an extensive spread of one my other favourite topics in this issue of the mag, with three beautiful features dedicated to sustainability. Sustainability communication strategist Angela Barter provides us with exclusive content on the dangers of greenwashing on page 28, while Laura Pastrone, founder of Peace by Piece International, speaks to us about her operation, which seeks to provide meaningful corporate gifting while giving opportunities to those living in marginalised communities. Lastly, in this section, we visit the gorgeous Thaba Eco Hotel – not to be missed for anyone looking for a venue that meets sustainability standards.

YOUR NEW EDITOR

While we have a number of other exciting features that you will discover as you browse through the pages of the magazine, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce to you the remarkable Pippa Naude who takes over from me as acting editor of the publication. Not only has Pippa worked extensively with 3S Media in the past, but she has years of direct MICE industry experience on both a supplier and association level. I am confident that I will be leaving you in the best hands possible.

Thank you to my colleagues at 3S Media for all your kindness and support through the years. To those I leave behind in the industry, I will miss you all and hope that our paths cross again.

All my love and luck to you all,

Publisher Jacques Breytenbach

3S Media

Production Park, 83 Heidelberg Road, City Deep, Johannesburg South, 2136

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NOTICE OF RIGHTS Meetings is published bi-monthly by 3S Media. This publication, its form and contents vest in 3S Media. All rights reserved. No part of this book, including cover and interior designs, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. The authors' views may not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or associated professional bodies. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation and compilation of this publication, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, completeness or accuracy of its contents, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. While every effort has been taken to ensure that no copyright or copyright issues is/are infringed, 3S Media, its directors, publisher, officers and employees cannot be held responsible and consequently disclaim any liability for any loss, liability damage, direct or consequential of whatsoever nature and howsoever arising.

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Meetings’ must-know minutiae

Egypt launches first-ever low-cost airline

A new low-cost airline is preparing for take-off in Egypt. It was announced on 8 July 2022 that Air Sphinx will begin its flight schedule during the 2022/23 Egyptian winter.

“The Cabinet was briefed by the start of procedures in preparation for launching a low-cost activity ‘Air Sphinx’, which is scheduled to start from the winter schedule for 2022/23 from the Egyptian airports in Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, Luxor, Sphinx and Cairo, in order to activate the movement of tourism arriving to Egypt from different countries,” stated a press release.

Air Sphinx is a subsidiary of EgyptAir, the country’s official carrier. The newly launched airline will fly domestic and international routes and aims to provide competitive pricing within Egypt’s travel market.

Boardwalk Mall completion on track for Q3-2022

STRONG PR launches dynamic organisation

In combining their collective industry expertise, the founders of STRONG PR, Marketing and Events – Mika Stefano, Herkie Du Preez and Jerri Mokgofe – have come together to launch a one-stopservice agency.

According to its founders, “Edgy, fun, dynamic, creative, established, goal-driven, supportive, strategic and dependable” are words that best describe this new media agency, which was launched in mid-July.

Established and experienced is what more people look for when searching for a firm to represent them. STRONG PR, Marketing and Events embodies these traits. And with a ‘no-excuses’ attitude, the agency is set to shake up the industry.

Sojern announces expansion into South Africa

The much-anticipated completion of the Boardwalk Mall in Summerstrand, Gqeberha, is gaining momentum, with developers reporting that the final phase is now 80% complete and on track for completion for its official opening on 22 September 2022.

“The mall will introduce the first Checkers, Woolworths Food and Dis-Chem stores to the Summerstrand area while also providing all the convenience and choice of a Pick n Pay, Clicks and the very latest cinema upgrade from NuMetro,” Paul Gerard, managing director of the Flanagan & Gerard Property Group, was quoted as saying. The developer is part of the Sun International Group.

In addition to the mall, the Boardwalk complex will be home to the Sunpark Events Arena – a new 2 500 m2 events arena.

“The Sunpark Events Arena will add to the lifestyle and entertainment activities on offer and provides an exceptional quality Eastern Cape venue for the legendary events that Sun International hosts around the country,” noted Paul.

Following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in South Africa less than a month ago, Sojern has announced its entry into the country with a new trends report.

It was expected that tourism activity in South Africa would quickly ramp up after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted on 22 June 2022. Sojern, a digital marketing platform built for travel marketers, is positioning itself to take advantage of the increased activity and has announced its foray into the country.

“With South Africa remaining a top travel destination for global travellers, we see lots of opportunities for growth throughout 2022. We look forward to building Sojern’s operations and supporting the local travel industry in its rebound,” the company commented.

You can access Sojern’s full South Africa Travel Trends report at theplannerguru.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SATrends-Report.pdf.

AFRICA’S SMARTEST CONVENTION CENTRE WINS AGAIN!

The Durban ICC has been recognised as Africa’s leading convention centre multiple times. Meetings speaks to Lindiwe Rakharebe to understand how her leadership has driven the venue forward.

The Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) prides itself on being the leading venue for meetings, business events, conferences and exhibitions on the African continent. However, this is not the centre’s own opinion, but rather the overwhelming feedback received from their clients who have voted it in the top 1% of convention centres worldwide, as well as ‘Africa’s Leading Meetings and Convention Centre’ no fewer than 17 times!

Key in the convention centre’s success is its leadership, with CEO Lindiwe Rakharebe at the helm of the operation.

Lindiwe joined the Durban ICC as CEO in April 2015. She was previously ABSA Bank’s regional executive for KwaZuluNatal. Lindiwe is well decorated academically, holding a bachelor’s degree in management leadership from the University of the Free State in addition to other qualifications in marketing management and management development. With a proven track record in corporate management, she has consistently proven her leadership abilities.

Lindiwe is passionate about growth and development of the region, as well as empowering those around her. As a staunch advocate for equality, she currently serves on the board of the KwaZulu-Natal Network on Violence Against Women, while continuing to touch the lives of all those she meets.

Lindiwe Rakharebe, CEO, Durban ICC

ABOUT LINDIWE

Fondly referred to as Mam Lindiwe by her colleagues, she is recognised across the industry as a woman who leads with her whole heart.

“To be an effective leader, it is so important to know how to care for your people. We are a family at the Durban ICC, and I want each and every member of my team to feel a sense of belonging and pride when they come to work,” says Lindiwe, who is known for her kindness and affection towards those around her.

A LEADING MICE VENUE

Over the years, the centre has successfully hosted some of the world’s largest and most prestigious events, and has been the platform for discussions on many global issues. Notable examples include the recent 21st International AIDS Conference, which attracted over 20 000 delegates to the city, the UN Climate Change Conference – namely, the Conference of the Parties (COP 17-CMP7) – and the 5th BRICS Summit in 2013. It has built a reputation as the leading convention facility on the continent and is constantly attracting new international events to Durban.

“We want to keep demonstrating to the world what makes meeting in Africa, and Durban, so great. Nowhere else will you experience the same warmth, vibrancy and level of service as when you come to our continent and visit our ICC,” enthuses Lindiwe.

It is easy to see why the Durban ICC has been recognised as a leading venue. Its versatility and capacity are enough to meet any need, no matter how extraordinary. The centre offers the largest column-free, multipurpose event space on the African continent. International and national conventions, exhibitions, sporting events, concerts and special occasions of every kind can be accommodated. Flexibility is a key factor in the design of this state-of-the-art, technology-driven centre, and its capabilities in this regard enable the venue to offer a range of innovative solutions such as live-streaming events, remote-presentation events, hybrid events, and video-on-demand.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

DURBAN ICC FAST FACTS

• Located in Durban, known as South Africa’s entertainment playground

• Comprises the Durban ICC Arena and Durban Exhibition Centre

• Voted ‘Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre’ by the World Travel Awards no fewer than 17 times and continuously strives to deliver excellent service

• Voted ‘Africa’s Best Convention Centre & South Africa’s Best Convention Centre’ 2020 and 2021 by World MICE Awards

• Largest flat-floor, column-free multipurpose event space in Africa

• Ranked in the world’s Top 15 Convention Centres by the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC)

• Located 30 minutes from King Shaka International Airport and within a 10-minute walk of over 3 600 hotel rooms

A TEAM EFFORT

As highly as those who know her at the Durban ICC speak of her, Lindiwe speaks equally highly of her team.

“No leader is an island, and I just wouldn’t be able to do what I do if it weren’t for the support and capabilities of my team,” says Lindiwe.

Together with Lindiwe, the Durban ICC team members are highly experienced and friendly, working tirelessly to ensure that each event is seamlessly executed, giving their clients complete peace of mind.

Providing exceptional customer service remains the heartbeat of the Durban ICC, as it strives to ensure that every delegate who walks through the five-star facility has a memorable experience. Delegates visiting the centre can look forward to superb standards of culinary excellence and hospitality. As part of the Durban ICC’s gastronomic evolution, its catering team is completely reinventing its culinary offering in order to showcase some of Durban’s authentic cuisines. Furthermore, a wide range of new innovative packages have been designed to meet the unique needs of each target market, at the best possible rates.

Demonstrating its commitment to excellence, the Durban ICC is five-star graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa and maintains its ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO22000 certifications ensuring the highest international standards in quality management, environmental responsibility, food safety, and health and safety.

The Durban ICC offers the largest flat-floor, column-free multipurpose event space in Africa. Incorporating the Durban ICC Arena and Durban Exhibition Centre, the complex offers 112 000 m² of flexible exhibition and meeting space.

The Durban ICC offers first-world convenience and a proudly African meetings experience. The centre is fully Wi-Fi enabled and connectivity is complimentary to delegates and guests.

“We have come through a very challenging period, but we did it together as a team and as an industry, and this is how we will continue to shine as Africa’s leading convention centre,” Lindiwe concludes.

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MAGNIFICENT MARRIOTT

Being appointed as a GM at the age of 25 – even though it was for a small operation – was a massive accomplishment for me.”

As one of the world’s top hotel groups, Marriott is driven by excellence and constantly strives for the highest standards in hotel management and customer service.

The hotelier has a well-established footprint in South Africa and employs some incredible women who, much like Marriott, are consistently seeking ways to learn, improve and grow.

“I have had a couple significant achievements in my career that have shaped who I am as a leader today. My first achievement was being awarded the Protea Hotels Top Graduate of my class in 2010, which is now known as the Accelerate In-Service Programme,” comments Karen Battaliou, hotel manager for Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch and

Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg, Melrose Arch.

One of Karen’s most profound personal achievements was becoming a general manager within Protea Hotels at the age of 29, having worked for the company for a few years building her portfolio – a remarkable accomplishment for a woman her age.

Amy Elliot, hotel manager for African Pride Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection, is also one of Marriott’s young achievers.

“Being appointed as a GM at the age of 25 – even though it was for a small operation – was a massive accomplishment for me,” she enthuses.

Similarly, Bosele Mogamisi, hotel manager for the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Johannesburg Melrose Arch, says that her role within

Amy Elliot, hotel manager for African Pride Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection

the group has been at the top of her career highlights.

“Ascending to my current position –managing one of Protea by Marriott’s flagship properties in the heart of South Africa’s busiest city – has definitely been my most significant achievement,” she says.

NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES

While the ladies at Marriott are rightly proud of their respective achievements, these have not been without their own challenges; however,

Meetings learns how some of Marriott’s leading ladies have risen through the ranks to establish themselves in top management positions.

like with many situations in life, it is only through adversity that we are truly able to learn and grow.

“Choosing to change my career path from being a general manager, to join the Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch as director of rooms, was seen by a few of my peers as a step down. However, I saw this as an opportunity to work in the first purpose-built Marriott Hotel in South Africa, and gain the necessary experience to advance my career. I focused on my role and showed I had the dedication to manage this effectively. This paid off and, today, I am the hotel manager,” explains Karen.

For Bosele, she is particularly proud of how she was able to steer her operation through the pandemic.

“I think having to reopen a property right after a pandemic with limited resources has to be the greatest challenge that I’ve had to

overcome during my career. To date, it’s still a challenge that the team and I are yet to fully overcome; however, my handson approach and leading from the front have proved to work wonders,” she says, adding that technology has proven to be an incredibly useful tool in adapting to a rapidly evolving environment.

Amy, meanwhile, speaks more broadly about the various challenges she has navigated and overcome throughout her career.

“There have been a few challenges that I have had to overcome. Some small, some large. No one incident has defined my career or the way in which it took shape, and I look at every challenge in its context – figuring it out as I go along,” she remarks.

ASPIRATIONAL ADVICE

It is clear to see why each of these ladies has been appointed to the positions they hold, with each demonstrating clear leadership qualities. They share some of the wisdom they have acquired through their journeys to be where they are.

Johannesburg Melrose Arch

“Communication is key – always ensure that your mentors and leaders know what your plans are for your career growth and don’t be shy to ask questions, and for help when you need it. Treating everyone around you with respect is important, especially your colleagues and junior team members; you are not above anyone regardless of what your title is,” says Karen.

Bosele believes it is key to be true to oneself.

“Remain authentic and keep improving your knowledge through education. Always seek to understand your craft,” she advises.

Lastly, says Amy, make sure that whatever you decide to do makes you truly happy.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. I promise you that you can, and you have so many people rooting for you!” she concludes.

Bosele Mogamisi, hotel manager for Protea Hotel Fire & Ice!

I think having to reopen a property right after a pandemic with limited resources has to be the greatest challenge that I’ve had to overcome during my career.”

Karen Battaliou, hotel manager for Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch and Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg, Melrose Arch

I have had a couple significant achievements in my career that have shaped who I am as a leader today.”

SUN INTERNATIONAL conferencing ladies raring to go

Welcoming delegates for conferences and sports events has taken on a whole new meaning to staff at Sun International, where some business units have seen a return to prepandemic levels of activity.

“Sun City Conference Centre has returned to our peak, and the number of conferencing and sporting groups visiting us has exceeded our expectations,” says Marnie Tait, national sales manager at Sun International’s central office.

Nombuso Buthelezi, convention centre manager at Sun City Resort, had a target to reach 2017 numbers – a feat expected to

take three to five years. She is happy report that this target has already been met. As the women celebrate Women’s Month this August, they reflect on “the hard work, dedication, drive and passion to make this a reality,” comments Tait. “It serves as a base for next year to grow our conferencing and events segments.”

MAKING A COMEBACK

Nombuso says staff morale has changed and

improved after the impact of the pandemic. “The staff are excited that we are back in business and want to do more and go the extra mile. It took a minute to get back into gear, but you can see their hunger and passion for what they do shining through in everything.”

Often associated with leisure, Sun City is also firmly a place of business, offering 27 conference rooms, three convention centres, two auditoriums and multiple breakaway

Sun International is starting to see business events returning to prepandemic levels. Meetings understands what this means for some of the women at the helm of its operations.

What we are seeing postpandemic is that corporates are into healthy living and supporting sustainability. There is no spending without an end goal.”

Nombuso Buthelezi

Nombuso Buthelezi, convention centre manager at Sun City Resort

rooms, which are ideal for intimate or largescale corporate events, banquets, seminars, exhibitions or team-building sessions for up to 2 000 delegates. Sun City Convention Centre has evolved many times over the years in terms of the conferencing venues’ layouts, in keeping with best practice international standards.

Memorable outdoor venue spaces include the tropical beach-like Valley of Waves, Sun Park and the Green House. The Resort has resident stage designers, lighting and sound engineers, and a full range of audiovisual equipment available to accommodate all conferencing requirements.

“We recently hosted a 50th birthday dinner for a businessman in the Superbowl for 700 people, and you could not even see that it was the same venue,” Buthelezi explains. The stage was removed to create the space the client desired, with technical decor touches changing a concert area into a top-class gala dinner space, showing the flexibility of the venue.

“Business association conferences have picked up, and we have seen several large conferences from 250 up to 1 600 people across industries including pharmaceutical, petroleum and oil, as well as financial services – although it is only the local market thus far,” remarks Marnie. “Prior to Covid, we had a fair bit of MICE business and our pipeline for 2023 is starting to grow – this includes the UK, US and African markets.”

EXPERIENCED EXPERTISE

Marnie, who has been with Sun International for 20 years, and is responsible for national conferencing sales incorporating sports, events and entertainment for all of the Group’s properties, admits to having a soft spot when it comes to Sun City.

“People don’t realise the logistics that go behind running Sun City – it is a world within its gates and there are so many moving parts to keeping the wheels running,” she explains. “I am very passionate about events and conferencing; every day is different. I love the thrill of sales – interrogating a brief and finding a best-fit venue for that particular conference; negotiating and meeting with clients and putting their wish list into action.”

Nombuso handles the daily fulfilment on the ground from an operational point of view, “making it happen from a banqueting and conference point of view”.

Nombuso and Marnie speak multiple times a day, discussing logistics and client queries, “We cover everything from venues to food and beverage queries,” notes Nombuso, who has been with the Convention Centre for seven years, and manager for the past two.

The pair, both working mothers, manage their work duties while running their families – a constant juggling act.

MANAGING BUSY SCHEDULES

Marnie regularly travels around the country visiting Sun International’s 13 hospitality properties, on the road or in the air, while Nombuso works long hours.

Although the days of creating spectacular events for corporates might not yet be over, businesses have become more cautious about how their money is spent.

“What we are seeing post-pandemic is that corporates are into healthy living and supporting sustainability. There is no spending without an end goal. We definitely have more requests for healthier food options and recyclable packaging. Companies are interested in contributing to community upliftment,

so we also have many questions about our supplier development programmes and initiatives,” says Nombuso.

The entertainment aspect of Sun International’s business is also picking up around the country, especially at Sun City, which is iconic for hosting world-famous artists performing in South Africa. “People are looking for entertainment and they are longing for some fun after the pandemic, so every month we have a few concerts lined up and a number have been completely sold out,” Nombuso adds. Recently, the Superbowl hosted the Celeb City fight with Cassper Nyovest vs Naak Musiq, and the Magic Music Sessions had a full complement of 5 000 guests. Upcoming events include the Nedbank Golf Challenge in November – a global showcase for the Resort.

“We also have a wide variety of concerts coming up at Time Square and the SunBet Arena.” Time Square in Pretoria hosts the Miss South Africa event during August, an apt date as it celebrates women.

“After living through multiple lockdowns, it is really exciting to see normal life resume and we look forward to creating magical memories for our guests,” Marnie concludes.

Marnie Tait, national sales manager at Sun International’s central office

Dream team

It’s been a positive year for Event Synthesis – a well-known events management company based in Johannesburg specialising in delivering turnkey solutions to the events industry. Business has picked up significantly in the past few months, resulting in the company not only being very busy but also expanding to include a new member of its team. Julie Du Preez joined Event Synthesis in May 2022, and together with Angelique Smith, they form an indomitable pair.

“We’ve got a lot in the pipeline and will be quite busy for the remainder of the year,

but we are always on the lookout for new business,” says Julie.

With decades of experience between the women-run team, Angelique says that Julie coming onboard with Event Synthesis felt like a natural fit for her and Julie, and the two seemed to have found a groove almost from the beginning.

“It feels like Julie has been with me for a few years already!” laughs Angelique.

TAG TEAM

In theory, it might make sense for Event Synthesis to create portfolios of clients for each member of the team, but in practice, say Angelique and Julie, it doesn’t work that way.

“We’ll forever tag team on tasks because

we have specialities in different fields. We are both learning so much from each other and with our PA, Jacky, we really and truly are a well-oiled female-run machine,” explains Angelique.

Event Synthesis is also active in how it sources new business and highlights how important it is to procure potential leads. The Covid-19 pandemic underscored the importance of how companies impacted by lockdown restrictions needed to innovate to ensure their survival. In this context, Event Synthesis focused on event safety, which now forms one of the key areas of focus for the business.

“It’s only been two years, but the industry has changed since Covid-19. A lot of people who weren’t active in the MICE space are coming back, and the approach is now different,” says Julie, adding that collaboration will be key in finding the right way forward for the entirety of the industry.

Although there is a push for business events, budgets are tight, meaning those who form part of the business events value chain are having to innovate in how they deliver value to their clients while still making a profit.

ROBUST PROSPECTS WITH A CAUTIOUS APPROACH

Angelique and Julie are confident that in 5-10 years’ time, we will see levels of activity ramping up and surpassing prepandemic levels.

“People will spend where there is value, and the value has got to come from service delivery. They won’t ‘um and ahh’ about the rands and cents if they can see the value, and this needs to be demonstrated from the onset,” says Angelique, adding that this starts from the moment an introduction is made.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees of a successful event, but the Event Synthesis team both agree that there does need to be a sound methodology towards deriving the best results from each event for their clients. Key in this is outlining attainable deliverables, with no excuses on why these outcomes couldn’t be met.

“If a client is hosting a big conference, they are going to be upholding their brand to their customer base and they will need a supplier who is going to do exactly the same for them – whether it is the venue or caterer or the marketing collateral,” comments Julie.

The duo at Event Synthesis, Angelique Smith and Julie Du Preez, speak to us at Meetings about the opening up of the industry and what we can look forward to now – both from the company and MICE sector.

This is an industry that is hands-on and working in events is experience driven.”

Angelique Smith

While the MICE sector is currently seeing a major and most welcome incline in activity, as an industry that is interconnected to so many others, the team at Event Synthesis raise a few concerns around compliance.

“Personally, I would like to see the industry become a little more regulated. At the moment, I feel a lot of damage is being done with people are coming onboard thinking they can do it because it looks easy. This is giving professionals within the industry a bad reputation, and it’s giving the industry itself a bad reputation,” says Angelique.

She further notes just how key it is for skills development to form part of the MICE and business events sector. As part of its contribution towards upskilling the industry, Event Synthesis is in the process of creating an internship programme where those who are keen to explore a career in MICE can gain practical experience as they learn more about how the industry works.

IN CONCLUSION

Event Synthesis feels that the MICE industry will need to be proactive in its own development as there is currently very little support coming from the government.

“It’s sad, and you would think that as an industry that is such a big contributor towards GDP that they would get involved, but I believe that ultimately, it will be left to us and the associations to drive the industry forward,” notes Angelique.

For this reason, regulation needs to form a common underlying theme in how the industry operates and collaborates. If the business events value chain comes together to demonstrate how structured and organised it is, there would not be a need for government involvement, intervention, or support of any kind because the industry would be far more self-sufficient than it is at this point in time.

As for whether the future of MICE is going to be led by women, the answer from both Angelique and Julie is a resounding yes!

“We don’t see this changing any time soon,” concludes Angelique.

A lot of effort goes into what we do, and we try to improve on what we do with each event and project we work on.”

Julie Du Preez

CLEARED FOR

takeoff

progress, with significant prospects on the horizon.

“There are no limits to the scope of what can be achieved,” she says.

As a young adult, she had a passion for science and facts, qualifying as a medical doctor through Wits Medical School. After completing a year-long internship and another year of community service at a Johannesburg-based hospital, she realised that this was not her passion.

“With an open mind and willing to learn anything, I spent the next 13 years acquiring general business and survival skills at one of South Africa’s large corporate banks.

Tamzin Strauss, Head: Corporate Risk and Compliance at CemAir, feels equally enthusiastic about her appointment, saying that she feels humbled to be afforded the opportunity to take on a position of responsibility so far-reaching.

It hasn’t been an easy period for the MICE industry, with much of the value chain being exceptionally hard-hit. Airlines were among the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, but CemAir is making the best of the situation and is now South Africa’s third largest airline.

Laura van der Molen, CFO for CemAir, feels that her career is still a work in

I completed a part-time MBA in 2010, where I met my amazing and powerful husband, Miles van der Molen, who has been self-employed his entire working life,” she explains. She then joined CemAir in June 2013 and never looked back.

“I have now spent nine years in aviation and learn something new every day!” she enthuses.

“Compliance ultimately must be met and maintained in every area of an organisation. Without this, different facets, divisions and departments may find it difficult to work in unison. I look forward to putting my industry knowledge to the test in a role that I can mould and shape to suit the organisation that ideally will also ensure both the employee and passenger experience with CemAir is further improved.”

Koena Lerotholi, Manager: Public Sector at CemAir, is thrilled about her recent appointment to the carrier.

“I’m entrusted to represent an amazing brand to the market at large, primarily focused on the public sector, which does come with its challenges, seeing as we operate in a highly competitive market, but

Following the recent shake-up within South Africa’s local airline industry, CemAir is holding strong, with a number of powerful women helping to drive the airline and propel the industry forward.

our value proposition and product offering make it easier – as we are a cut above the rest.

COMING A LONG WAY

When Laura first joined CemAir in 2013, she was young, ambitious and, according to her, substantially experienced.

“In my previous 12 years working in a corporate environment, I took on a wide variety of roles from a business analyst on IT projects in the credit card division to a strategic business transformation officer, to a corporate and investment banker. It was not until I joined CemAir that I realised how little real business experience I had and how versatile and self-reliant I needed to be. Our business was about a twentieth of the size it is now; when you’re not in a large corporate where there is a department of specialists for everything, there are only a handful of ways to solve problems – and at the top of the list is educate yourself and just sort it out.”

Laura’s daily challenges include dealing with issues on payroll codes, employment contracts and HR policies, the CCMA, SARS PAYE and VAT returns, management accounts, BBBEE scoring, insurance, telephones, computers, servers and general IT infrastructure, foreign exchange controls, import and export regulations, product pricing and revenue management – an everbroadening list.

“The option of outsourcing all of this to consultants was appealing but, as a selffunded private company, I learned very early on that the only sustainable solution is to upskill myself and create the capability inhouse,” she says.

Koena feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the people she has over her career. And despite numerous hardships, she has prevailed.

“Regrettably, Covid had a dire impact on the travel industry, which resulted in me being

retrenched. Yet, even with this occurrence, I have realised how resilient I am – not only recovering from the financial and emotional trauma of it, but returning back into the workplace a much stronger and fearless woman, picking up the pieces and being ready to tackle any challenge head-on,” she states.

While the wide-reaching effects of the pandemic certainly had a serious impact on the aviation industry, Tamzin says her greatest achievement during this time was ensuring that her career survived within an industry so rattled by these effects.

“Finding and maintaining a space for myself in the industry through it all, has provided me with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment which may not have been possible without the vast network of connections built through collaborations, partnerships and alliances over the years, prior to and through the pandemic,” she says.

Believe in the power of your own ability. When faced with a challenge, recognise and identify the gaps in your knowledge, and educate yourself on what is required to close these gaps. There is so much information available through formal and informal channels, and most problems can be resolved with an internet search and a few phone calls. However, always check your references and go back to the source material. Don’t simply defer to a ‘specialist opinion’; instead, become the specialist.

The aviation and travel industry as a whole is extremely dynamic; no two days are the same. This requires us to be agile. Be agile enough to try to learn a bit about the rest of the business so you have a holistic understanding of the business you operate in – that way, while you learn and upskill yourself, you can present and provide a well-rounded solution. Be a significant force in your field and be unapologetic about breaking any barriers!

Be adaptable, always. The industry and your place in it calls for this. Consider that the most elaborate solutions aren’t always the most practical or enduring. Invaluable knowledge can be found by simply listening intently to the conversations around you. And, if you are anything like me, keep a pen and notebook handy. You never know when you may stumble on an idea, problem, solution or moment of inspiration that needs jotting down. Remember, a notebook never runs out of battery!

LAURA, KOENA AND TAMZIN’S TOP TIPS FOR SUCCESS

LAURA KOENA TAMZIN

years ago, hotelier Catherine Schulze found a new home at Steenberg Hotel & Spa. Today, she is the Managing Director of Beck Family Hospitality, and shares with us her personal and professional ambitions.

Growing up with a mother who was a hardworking farmer, Catherine Schulze understood the drive, care and commitment required to bring a team together to achieve great things.

Catherine has distinguished herself at all levels, from Front Office Manager to Rooms Division Manager. In November 2012, she was appointed as Hotel Manager and then in 2017 became General Manager of the Steenberg Hotel & Spa and today, she is the managing director of Beck Family Hospitality, a position she has held since March this year.

In her role as MD of the hospitality group, Catherine is responsible for Steenberg Hotel & Spa, Tryn, Bistro Sixteen82, and Grace House in Robertson.

Although she is responsible for a broad portfolio of properties, Catherine is clearly passionate about Steenberg. Along with a remarkable team, she has created an experience that delights guests and connects them to the deep hospitality traditions of Steenberg Hotel & Spa.

“From the very beginning, I have been inspired by the story of Catharina Ras, Steenberg’s 17th-century founder of the farm, and her courage and determination to create a better life for her family. I look forward to continuing this legacy for our guests, the Steenberg families, and the greater community,” comments Catherine.

BUSINESS SAVVY

Catherine’s strategic acumen and great style have transformed the Steenberg Hotel & Spa into a sought-after luxury haven, perfect for

STRONG Standing

discerning epicures, enthusiastic golfers and families keen to explore all that the farm and the Cape have to offer.

“Having steered the gracious farm through some complex and challenging times – amid all the heartbreak worldwide – it is a great privilege to have the opportunity to help create memorable experiences that connect and delight guests while supporting our team and their families to make their own goals come true,” notes Catherine.

As part of her goals, adds Catherine, she must align business partners, supporters and patrons to the core purpose of the business by sharing the caring and disciplined approach practised across the Beck Family Hospitality properties.

“While the guest experience is at the heart of everything we do and every decision that we make, we balance staff empowerment, and growth and care for our areas with a considered financial approach to support the strategic goals of the business,” she explains.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Covid-19 dealt a devastating blow to the

hospitality sector, and Catherine believes that the survival of the Steenberg Hotel & Spa, together with its sister properties, was in part owed to the support of the residents and the greater community.

“Our teams worked incredibly hard to create ways for guests to enjoy what we have to offer in different ways, as the lockdown levels changed. From the delicious meals we delivered, online cooking classes and tastings, to socially distanced picnics on the lawns – with the whole property to roam, and so many of our rooms, suites and villas having totally private outdoor spaces – we were able to host couples and families keen to holiday and connect with nature and each other in a secure environment with every safety protocol honoured,” she says.

The owners supported staff throughout lockdown and, with so many exciting prospects at Steenberg, each area is in the process of being enhanced with skilled teams that are currently creating new experiences for guests.

Keep an eye on Steenberg because you are going to want to visit and stay at this property!

Fifteen

BUILDING A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK

Evi Moller has a diverse background in the travel industry and spent many years in retail travel at one of the biggest industry players. Her finest quality is her desire to see others succeed. To enable them to do so, Evi, together with two other dynamic women – Christeen Tait and Monica Ferreira – dreamed up a platform where agents could do this. It was then that this trio created the We Support group on Facebook – geared solely towards those in the tourism sector, offering a platform for them to sell their products and showcase their creations.

The women achieved so much over the lockdown period, most notably their Women’s Month drive, where people were encouraged to share stories of travel warriors in the industry. The ladies roped in a bunch of generous donors and at the end of August 2021, a draw was done, and the ultimate warrior was recognised and walked away with some incredible prizes.

The We Support platform has grown exponentially, but the need among those in the industry struggling to survive, even with their side hustles, was massive. These amazing ladies then put their heads together and decided they needed to do more. Through We Support, they were contacted daily by industry members desperate for help in any way possible. So, being the terrific trio they are, they expanded and created another platform, called We Support Gives Back.

Through their tireless efforts, they have been featured in Travel News (formerly TNW) and Evi has been interviewed on ENCA. At the end of 2021, We Support Gives Back was selected by Skål International and C&L as their chosen charity, which will help these ladies continue to make a difference in so many people’s lives.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

After matric, my dream was to travel the world and become an air hostess. At that stage, I did not fit the very strict profile for air hostesses, and due to financial constraints, I could not secure a spot to study further, so I joined the South African Defence Force at a very young age.

I was taught to be tough in a world ruled by men and was fortunate during basic training to qualify to attend the officer’s course. In 1982, I became the youngest female officer in the history of the Defence Force to qualify. The years to come prepared me to become the first female resort manager in 85 years within ATKV Resorts. In both these roles, the world was dominated by men as decision-makers. The challenge was to build a foundation to prove that women can be just as successful as leaders and be part of transformation in the workplace.

During my growth period in the Defence Force I got married and had two daughters. Sometimes, it was difficult to keep a good balance. This is where I was taught different organisational skills to keep everything going. My husband was a professional athlete during this time. Balance between a career, raising children and supporting my husband’s goals was difficult. My youngest daughter was two years old and to qualify for my next promotion, I had to do a course very far from home for six months. I had to make the decision to choose between my career and family. Family won, and I made a career change, starting from scratch. Although I started from the beginning, it was all part of the plan to prepare me for where I am today.

Times have since changed. The challenges are not fewer but the context is different. The greatest challenge anyone can overcome is to know yourself, be true to yourself and not to compete with others.

This is freedom and it works for me.

To support their industry, Evi Moller, Christeen Tait and Monica Ferreira created the We Support platform. Meetings learns more.

For ATKV’s Elza-Lee Pretorius, resort manager at Buffelspoort, her career has taken many twists and turns. Meetings understands more.

Evi Moller was the 2022 Woman of Stature winner within the Woman in Tourism category for her work in the industry

FORGING A PATH AHEAD

sector and beyond.

Awoman’s role in the MICE sector of tourism in South Africa has become primarily one of combatting gender stereotypes and championing the causes of women in the sector. We have numerous other roles to keep us busy, but it is my opinion that this is one of the most important ones. It is not enough for us to just talk about it though. Our goal must be to drive gender equality and ensure it becomes policy for all roles within MICE. We are ideally suited to do this because of our superiority when it comes to the soft skills. Our gender luckily inherently has the personal attributes that enable us to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.

STATS BEHIND THE STATEMENT

The results of a study published in 2016 by the Hay Group, a worldwide consulting firm, found that women outperformed men in 11 of 12 key emotional intelligence skills. These included adaptability, conflict management, empathy, emotional self-awareness and teamwork – all essential skills needed for effective leadership in our sector. These skills are what we women bring to the table. While difficult to measure, they are of infinite value, especially in challenging times. And we all know that the MICE sector has had, and will no doubt continue to have, more than its fair share of troubles in the future.

Many companies in the MICE sector have similar services they offer the client. Very often they have similar technical systems and support structures too. What differentiates them and often provides the

competitive advantage is the emotional intelligence the company has. And based on the 2016 Hay Group study, this is mostly provided by the women in that enterprise. Thus, for our sector to thrive, it makes sense to employ women and for there to be many woman-owned businesses.

The good news is that, according to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, South Africa moved up two places on the Women Business Owner benchmark to rank 44th, with 21.9% of all businesses owned by women in 2021 versus 21.1% in 2020. It would be interesting to see what the MICE sector statistics are.

PARTING SHOT

We, as women in MICE, also need to remember that it is not enough to dream about gender equality – we also need to work towards it ourselves. We need to mentor other women and ensure they remember that failure is not the opposite of success. They should try out that new idea, or go for that promotion, or start their own company. It is also essential we remind each other that what is important is for us to work towards impacting on each other’s lives and not just to impress and further our own paths or goals.

MICE sector women also need to function as role models for other women entering the sector. We need to assist these women and remind them not to worry about all the things they do not know and still must learn. We need to tell them that sometimes not knowing will be their biggest strength, as they will look at situations and do things differently because they do not know how it’s been done before and that this could lead to huge successes.

We women in MICE in South Africa are so special. Our gender, by and large, dominates this sector of tourism and we do it with grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness and mostly we have the nerve to never take no for an answer. Now it is time to take all those attributes and use them to combat gender stereotypes and champion the causes of women in our sector. Let us pave the way and provide a much easier path for the next few generations of women in MICE.

Lesley Ferreira is the managing director of Cebisa Conferences and a PCO. Follow her on LinkedIn.

Lesley Ferreira highlights the key role played by women in MICE in South Africa’s local business events

Celebrate YOUR WINS

There are plenty of milestones and speedbumps that have brought me to where I am today, but one of my greatest achievements within my career would be to have started my own business(es). I feel any local business, big or small, should be supported and celebrated.

To be truthful, a lot of my personal challenges originate from imposter syndrome and the fear of failure, especially in a maledominated environment. Most of us are raised with the notion that ‘security’ is the first prize; that passion is child’s play and for some reason being a hardcore CEO of an established corporate, building someone else’s dream, is romanticised.

At some point, you need to back yourself up and turn your passion into profit. There will always be a reason or excuse to not ‘go for it’. There is no doubt that elements of risk are involved, and you can be sure you will make plenty of mistakes, but I strongly believe with the right mindset and persistence, that you can overcome all challenges in your way.

FOCUS AND PERSEVERANCE

Nothing will ruin your life more than thinking you should have your life together already. Know that you can start late, look different, be uncertain, and still succeed. Just start somewhere. No one is going to make your dreams come true for you.

Rocky said it best: “It doesn’t matter how this looks to other people. If this is something you have to do, then you do it. Fighters fight.”

It is honestly nobody’s journey but yours – there will always be someone there to tell you that you shouldn’t go for it or that you can’t do it or that you don’t have the right or enough experience. Don’t listen.

You will make (many) mistakes, but the words I try keep at the top of my mind are motivation and determination.

Be better, create access for others, gain new knowledge and skills, and make an income while making an impact.

WEARING MANY HATS

Thuli Mtolo, operations manager of Nelson Mandela Capture Site, has a broad role. She lets Meetings in on some of her life experience.

Landing my current role as operations manager of Nelson Mandela Capture Site is one of my greatest career achievements and a role I am thoroughly enjoying. It’s certainly a very challenging and diverse role, and one in which I wear many hats. One minute, I’m HR and the next, an events manager. There is not a minute that I don’t have any work to do, and that’s what I love most about it.

Most recently, I was invited by the Honourable Mayor of uMngeni Municipality, Christopher Pappas, to present to his NDP Committee. I will forever cherish this moment as the biggest highlight of my career to date.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Studying while working and raising my children was one the most difficult undertakings I’ve ever had to manage. All three were equally important to me, so I had to make a lot of adjustments in my personal life to make sure that none of these suffered. At times, I felt overwhelmed and wanted to quit. After a while, I realised that I had to manage my time better because I saw it as a barrier between me and my achievements. I took it upon myself to research time management tactics and empowered myself with the necessary skills to overcome this challenge.

The more confident you are in what you know, the more powerful you are. Always be on top of your game. If you are given a platform to showcase your skills, do not hold back. Strive to be a philanthropist. A workplace is not just your employer paying your salary – it’s your information hub. Use it to gain more knowledge, acquire more skills to grow and evolve in the space that you are in. Lastly, do not be intimated and be told that you cannot do certain things simply because you are a woman.

Victoria

O’Sullivan is the owner of The Spot Bistro on The Old Mushroom Farm. She shares her journey with Meetings , and why it is important to celebrate your personal achievements.

FOUR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES. ONE ADDRESS.

The swish Melrose Arch Precinct is home to four Marriott properties. Meetings delivers some insights into what makes each of these venues unique.

Set within the eclectic Melrose Arch Precinct in Johannesburg, the Marriott Melrose Arch Collection constitutes four unique hotel brands all within walking distance of each other.

Marriott’s collection of hotels and apartments offers guests and clients 705 bedrooms and 23 meeting and conferencing venues in what has been officially recognised as South Africa’s only smart city.

The city within a city is surrounded by 400 trees and lush greenery, with underground parking and a street-based layout that favours pedestrians.

Melrose Arch is protected by a team of 90 private security personnel. With 24-hour CCTV surveillance and 600 cameras strategically placed throughout the Precinct, Melrose Arch is one of the safest places to meet, eat and sleep.

When clients have time to enjoy a break from conferencing, the Precinct offers a myriad of trendy cafes, high-street boutiques, al fresco restaurants and lively entertainment areas, moments from your hotel doorstep.

Just 26 km from O.R. Tambo International Airport, Melrose Arch is ideally and centrally located – a mere 5 km from Sandton and Rosebank. It is also close to three golf courses and numerous other local attractions.

A SNAPSHOT OF THE MELROSE ARCH PRECINCT

The Melrose Arch Precinct mixed-use development is located in the leafy Johannesburg suburb of Melrose. The development cost a total of R1.49 billion to build, with construction beginning in 2000. The final phase of the development was completed in September 2013.

The Melrose Arch Precinct is comprised of 170 000 sqm of office, retail and residential space. This includes accommodation in the form of several upmarket hotels. With its network of underground parking, cobbled streets and sidewalk cafes, the Precinct lends itself to as little aboveground motor vehicle traffic as possible.

December is a time for festivity at the Melrose Arch Precinct, when the streets are decorated with bright lights that offer dazzling displays, making it a popular family attraction during the end-of-year holiday season.

JOHANNESBURG MARRIOTT HOTEL

7 EVENT ROOMS | 854 SQM TOTAL EVENT

SPACE | 400 LARGEST SPACE PAX

The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch is the premium business hotel in Johannesburg providing state-of-the-art business facilities within the Melrose Arch Precinct. Featuring 306 rooms and suites, including a contingent of sharing rooms, the venue is ideal for groups.

Dine in at the Keystone Bistro or discover creative mixology at Archer’s Bar & Eatery. Step into the Greatroom, your space to connect, relax, socialise or reflect. Work out in the spacious fitness centre or recharge at the hotel’s tranquil outdoor pool. With seven meeting rooms, including a 480 sqm ballroom, a combined total function space of over 800 sqm, and 600 sqm of pre-function space, the Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch is perfect for your next big event.

Marriott invites business and leisure travellers to enjoy four unique experiences located at one address.

MARRIOTT EXECUTIVE APARTMENTS

84 APARTMENTS IN TOTAL I 63 ONE-BEDROOM

15 TWO-BEDROOM I 6 THREE-BEDROOM

Marriott Executive Apartments Melrose Arch connects discerning international business travellers to one of the most sought-after long-stay destinations in Johannesburg. Experience premium, fully serviced apartment living with uninterrupted access to an exceptional variety of dining, shopping and entertainment destinations comprising the Melrose Arch Precinct.

Feel perfectly at home in your choice of one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments complete with a fully equipped kitchen, dining area and lounge designed for consummate comfort, convenience and style. While offering a luxury private living experience, residents can access numerous hotel services, including room service, undercover parking, 24-hour security, a fitness centre and swimming pool, as well as conference spaces. In addition, they can dine in at the Keystone Bistro or enjoy a drink at Archer’s Bar & Eatery.

AFRICAN PRIDE MELROSE ARCH, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION HOTEL

11 EVENT ROOMS | 5 360 SQM TOTAL EVENT SPACE | 55 LARGEST SPACE PAX

Designed with a curator’s touch, African Pride Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection celebrates the spirit of Johannesburg with refined comfort and signature experiences. Here, you can discover luxury without compromise in open-plan, boutique accommodations, exposed brick, leather headboards and chic bathrooms.

Ignite your senses with delectable cuisine at the March Restaurant, or sip aged whiskey by the fire at the Library Lounge. Host flawless meetings and conferences, and choose from a number of sophisticated event spaces, enhanced by custom catering and expert planners. Thereafter, delegates can explore diverse attractions, including Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square, Soweto Township and Maboneng.

If you don’t feel like going very far, African Pride’s locale, the Melrose Arch Precinct,

offers a range of shops and restaurants to explore. And after a full day of business or sightseeing, guests lounge along the shimmering waters of the exclusive hotel pool, featuring a vibrant bar for drinks and light dining. With luxury amenities and distinctive enhancements, African Pride Melrose Arch is a soulful and unique fivestar haven.

PROTEA HOTEL FIRE & ICE!

JOHANNESBURG MELROSE ARCH

5 EVENT ROOMS | 337 SQM TOTAL EVENT SPACE | 180 LARGEST SPACE PAX

Enjoy star-studded glamour during your stay at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Johannesburg Melrose Arch. Famous for its eclectic decor, you’ll feel like a celebrity at this stylish hotel located together with Marriott’s sister properties in the soughtafter Melrose Arch Precinct. Unwind in your lavish room inspired by iconic Hollywood A-listers and revel in some star treatment. Some rooms also boast stunning views over Johannesburg. The hotel’s enticing restaurant is a popular gathering spot for both hotel guests and Johannesburg locals, serving up tasty burgers and decadent milkshakes in 37 exquisite flavours. Keep fit in the gym or work on your tan beside the outdoor pool. Host VIP events in the modern, light-filled meeting and function spaces, which have room for up to 180 guests.

For reservations, email mhrs.jnbmc.sales@marriott.com mhrs.jnbmc.sales@marriott.com www.marriott.com

The rise of coworking spaces

The way in which we go about our professional day-to-day lives has vastly changed over the past two years.

From ridiculously early morning starts to hours wasted sitting in traffic during lengthy two-way commutes, gone are the days where office jobs were the norm for the majority of the working population. Although there is a push by employers to return to this more conventional way of working, for many, this is just no longer the case.

The Covid-19 pandemic may have forced us to adopt new ways of working, but even prior to the first wave there was an increased focus on the benefits of coworking spaces. With an average of 30 million workers joining the gig economy each year, according to Velocity Global, recent developments point to coworking spaces being a trend we can expect to continue for years to come.

ACCOR AND WOJO

WOJO is a massive supplier of flexible workspace solutions. It is co-owned by Accor Hotels and French real estate company Bouygues Immobilier. Recognising the benefits of offering such a service, Accor and WOJO signed an agreement to roll out a coworking model across Accor’s properties. This has resulted in the establishment of coworking spaces at 1 200 Accor Hotels and elevated WOJO as a leading global coworking brand.

More recently, Accor and WOJO signed a deal with Kasada Capital Management to bring coworking spaces to Africa. Kasada was created to both invest in the development of new hotels, as well as provide the capital necessary for the takeover of existing hotels in the sub-Saharan region. It has, under its management, a US$500 million (R8.5 billion) investment fund.

“Our spaces will meet the new expectations of our international [travellers], while transforming our hotels into real living spaces perfectly integrated into their surroundings,” commented Olivier Granet, managing partner and managing director at Kasada.

The first WOJO coworking spaces in Africa will start appearing in the second half of 2022. With private offices and meeting rooms, these will provide flexible solutions specifically tailored for international business travellers, local businesses and those who are self-employed.

CREATING ‘FRICTIONFREE’ WORKING AND MEETING SPACES

Workshop17, a South African company specialising in providing

coworking solutions, has signed an agreement with the Newlands Cricket Ground to provide 60 ‘friction-free’ office spaces on its premises. A friction-free workspace experience is currently being touted as “the workplace concept

The Covid-19 pandemic has spawned several developments within coworking spaces. Meetings learns more about what this means for the future of how we both work and meet.

Newlands Cricket Ground

for the future” and is intended to free physical working environments from unnecessary effort and stress arising from numerous bottlenecks. This extends to everything from spending less time in traffic to having office amenities blended with relaxing spaces all within easy reach.

“We feel privileged to have been invited by the developers of the Newlands Cricket Ground, Edudev and Heico, to create a Workshop17, in partnership with the co-owners: Western Province Cricket Association and Sanlam. The new Newlands coworking space will provide Southern Suburbs residents the option of working nearer to home or at other Workshop17 locations that serve communities. Essentially, it offers companies of any size the option of vacating existing offices or reducing the size, opting for these flexible locations,” says Paul Keursten, co-founder and CEO of Workshop17.

A plus point of this particular development is that activity from Workshop17 will not compromise the core purpose of the sportsground as a key international cricket venue.

Other local players within the coworking space, such as BlackBrick and The Business Exchange, are also growing their businesses along with the increased demand for flexible and coworking spaces.

REMOTE WORKING AND WHY COWORKING SOLUTIONS MAY BE KEY

Earlier this year, Meetings featured #WorkAnywhere – a global movement formed by a collective of experts who are trying to drive a shift in policy around remote working. In June, #WorkAnywhere released a report highlighting some of the challenges experienced by remote workers. This is a summary of their findings:

ABOUT #WORKANYWHERE

There is a link between working from home and loneliness:

• ‘Most lonely’ employees spend more time working from home (77.2%) than ‘least lonely’ employees (64.1%).

• ‘Home’ ranks lowest when employees rate how socially fulfilling they find their primary work location.

Coworking spaces were reported as the most socially fulfilling work locations (even more than offices!):

• 42% of all respondents said they feel most socially fulfilled and connected to other people in ‘third spaces’ (compared to 33% ‘in office’ and 26% ‘at home’).

• When asked which ‘third space’ they feel most socially fulfilled and connected to other people, an overwhelming majority of 60.7% said ‘coworking spaces.’ Workers yearn to make social connections throughout the workday:

• 68% of respondents believe making social connections during the workday is important.

• 59.7% of respondents want to make stronger personal connections with ‘neighbours and people in the community.’

“Organisations are struggling with how to create a sense of belonging to combat employee loneliness and disconnection. This research examines what steps organisations, policymakers and workers can take postpandemic to bolster social connectivity and well-being at work, no matter where it is conducted. Importantly, the results pertain to not just organisational employees but also to the large numbers of contractors and freelancers who contribute to our global economy,” explains Dr Constance Hadley of Boston University.

The #WorkAnywhere Campaign is the global advocacy movement representing remote and hybrid workers. Launched during the Covid-19 pandemic, which triggered a 600% increase in remote working, #WorkAnywhere has reached more than 150 million people. The campaign has hosted policy sessions with the European Parliament, European Commission, Microsoft, Zoom, Selina, Remote and others on life-work balance and workplace loneliness. Its research project, Social Connection in Remote Work, is the first-ever study exploring workplace loneliness that incorporates data from non-home remote work environments. Their upcoming research initiatives explore life-work balance and gender violence in the remote workforce. #WorkAnywhere is committed to empowering workers and unlocking the societal benefits of remote work, such as lowering the cost of living, increasing economic opportunities for women, and reducing pollution.

For more information on the study and its results, visit the website: www.workanywhere.org/social-connection-in-remote-work.

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

22 June 2022 will be a memorable day for South Africans – it marks the lifting of the final Covid-19 restrictions. Meetings hears from a jubilant industry.

“This announcement couldn’t have come at a better time. The tourism sector has been in recovery mode since late last year and this development will give the recovery process more impetus. Hiking is now a popular activity among travellers in the country. The reason is that the pandemic locked them in for a long time and since they are now free to move freely, they chose open spaces. The travel sector is starting to see a large number of first-time hikers signing up and trying new destinations. Travellers get the health benefits of doing outdoor activities, which is commendable.”

“This important development sets us on the path to economic recovery. South African music lovers cautious about attending large concerts can now attend live shows with full confidence that the shows will happen, and that the environment will be safe. We are back in business and will be announcing many more world-class tours in the coming weeks. We leave [the decision to wear a mask] to the individual concertgoer, but strongly encourage vulnerable people and those with underlying medical conditions to take appropriate health precautions.”

“This is a much-needed boost for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The limited capacities set at all venues posed a major commercial issue for all our businesses. We are in the business of building businesses; now we can focus on driving our industry forward again and boost economic development within our sector.”

“The return to life as we knew it before Covid-19 will go a long way in boosting the tourism sector’s growth, as travellers will be able to participate in more activities, including attending big events and gatherings that not only contribute to our country’s appeal but also to our economy.”

“We understand the initial reasons for putting these measures in place. We strongly believe that the decline in the number of infections and the scientific developments support the cause for change. We hereby welcome this decision to suspend some of the remaining restrictions. These changes will allow for the sector and the economy to fully function. The removal of masks and the easing of restrictions on gatherings are quite important for tourism.”

“We are absolutely thrilled that government has lifted the restriction of 50%-only capacity in conferences, events, exhibitions, musical events and big stadium events. This will really help our industry get back on its feet because we now have clarity and certainties. We can actually plan in advance, which is exactly what our industry needs. We’ve got lots of work to do to catch up all the events and conferences that we lost, especially in the international market, but our industry is resilient, and we really are determined to try to do that.”

Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Tourism, South Africa

“We appreciate the fact that notwithstanding the disagreements, even leading to threats or even actual court actions, the mainframe of our collective action remained until today. We thank South Africans for resilience in internalising various measures of prevention and mitigation against the virus, some of which will help us in dealing with some older respiratory diseases such as influenza and TB but also future respiratory epidemics.”

Tshepo Matlou, head: Marketing and Communications, Jurni

Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO, Tourism Business Council of South Africa

Justin van Wyk, CEO, Big Concerts

Rosemary Anderson, national chairperson, Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa

Carol Weaving, CEO, RX Africa

Dr Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health, Republic of South Africa

HIP, HIP, hooray!

ANEW Hotels & Resorts celebrates five years!

The hotel group shares its special news with the Meetings readers.

ANEW Hotels & Resorts has celebrated significant milestones over the past few months. And now, the brand is celebrating its fifth birthday. Stemming from a family-run business established in 1952, the ANEW brand was launched in 2017 and has become a market force in South Africa’s hospitality industry. From owning and managing only three properties three years ago, the group had grown to operate 15 hotels by May 2022, showcasing impressive growth.

ANEW Resort Vulintaba Newcastle is the newest property managed by the group, while other properties added in recent years include ANEW Hotel Ocean Reef, ANEW Resort Hunters Rest, ANEW Hotel Centurion, ANEW Hotel Roodepoort, ANEW Hotel Parktonian, and ANEW Hotel Green Point.

ANEW’s success lies in the commitment of its employees to the company’s HITEC values, which is an acronym of the words honour, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and courage.

STAFF AND PATRONS COMMENDED

Group CEO Clinton Armour praised his team for delivering world-class service to guests. He says the growth of ANEW would not have been possible without a dedicated staff complement. “Our

ABOUT ANEW HOTELS & RESORTS

ANEW Hotels & Resorts has evolved from a family business started in 1952. Family culture and attention to detail are firmly grounded in its people, and the group prides itself on the personal touch. The ANEW Hotel & Resorts Group owns and manages various properties in South Africa, with a vision to grow the brand by acquiring additional properties and management contracts in strategic locations.

success is a direct result of the dedication of our team at ANEW Hotels & Resorts. Their commitment and support have helped us grow and expand.

“As we move forward, we intend to expand the hotel group and become the first choice for travellers. We want to express our gratitude to our loyal guests for choosing ANEW Hotels & Resorts for their travel needs,” he adds.

The celebration of ANEW’s fifth anniversary is an exciting occasion, says Alan Campbell, director: Sales and Marketing.

“We’re looking forward to new challenges and new properties as we move into our sixth year. The past five years have been nothing short of amazing. Our staff and clients are responsible for our success and we are so genuinely grateful,” he says.

A SPIRIT OF PERSEVERANCE

ANEW Hotels & Resorts received the Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022 Inspiration Award in May this year. The award recognised an individual or organisation that has inspired the community by overcoming adversity to rise and shine over the past two years. Testament to ANEW’s perseverance during the pandemic, the hotel group employed only a few staffers at each property in KwaZulu-Natal, including a general manager, chef and maintenance worker. During this period, the small staff count contributed to the hotel’s character. Accountants cleaned hotel rooms, waiters made beds and receptionists handled room service.

“We are looking forward to strengthening the brand in the years to come and will continue to serve our guests with excellence,” says Kevin Burley, operations director at ANEW Hotels & Resorts.

REWARDS PROGRAMME

Sign up for the ANEW Rewards loyalty programme, which rewards returning and regular guests at all ANEW Hotels & Resorts locations. As an ANEW Hotels & Resorts guest, you will benefit from discounts on direct bookings and earn Wena Bucks that can be used for future stays and food and beverage orders.

Destination marketing campaigns aimed at increasing travel to Africa in 2022 are in full swing. Rivania Govender, research specialist at Niche Partners, presents just some of the creatively competing contenders.

TRAVEL AFRICA!

After two years of stagnation, the leisure and business tourism industry in Africa is attempting to bring back its foreign visitors with the most recent destination marketing efforts. Numerous African countries have developed campaigns to break free from clichés and reposition the continent as a modern, adventurous, business-savvy and marketready destination.

As one of the sectors hardest hit by measures introduced to combat the spread of Covid-19 during 2020 and 2021, it would not be hyperbolic to say that the pandemic has represented the industry’s most difficult times in tourism and business events. However, much of the world has reopened to Africa by lifting travel bans, eliminating mandatory quarantine requirements, and resuming regular flights.

To capitalise on the reopening of global travel, several African countries have already crafted strategic plans and campaigns to develop the sector as an economic opportunity and development catalyst. Niche Partners conducted an environmental scan of campaigns run by tourism authorities on the continent that are geared to encourage both business and leisure travellers into the continent.

UGANDA

The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) launched the ‘Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa’ campaign to challenge tourists to “take a deeper experience of the destination rather than the superficial one”. Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni unveiled the brand in the nation’s capital, Kampala, in March 2022. After conducting market research for the new campaign, the UTB aims to position the country as a competitive destination and showcase a range and variety Uganda’s “diverse corners beyond the gorillas and the Big 5”.

SOUTH AFRICA

The ‘Live Again’ campaign was introduced by South African Tourism, the country’s destination marketing agency in February 2022. South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu, shared that the campaign announces to the world that South Africa is ready to welcome all visitors, and that resilience, industriousness and adaptation are all parts of the indomitable South African character.

TUNISIA

Aimed at encouraging domestic visitors to travel to the country’s numerous tourism destinations, the Tunisian Tourism Office (ONTT) launched a campaign with the intention of promoting the country and boosting tourism, which accounted for 10% of the nation’s GDP prior to the Covid-19 epidemic, according to USAID. The ONTT and Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho have teamed up to make Ronaldinho the new face of the country’s ‘Visit Tunisia’ campaign, designed to promote the country’s eastern and northern regions.

EGYPT

The Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority launched a new e-campaign on several social media platforms on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. For the summer of 2022, the ‘Follow the Sun’ marketing campaign will highlight several tourism sites in Egypt. The eight-week campaign will debut on a variety of social media sites, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, according to the State Information Service.

TANZANIA

In collaboration with Dutch football team Ajax, the Tanzanian government has launched a campaign to promote the country’s tourist attractions on a larger scale. “Our discussions were successful, and the management of the club has accepted

our idea and committed to transmitting it to the competent commercial department,” commented Tanzania’s Minister of Tourism, Damas Ndumbaro.

GHANA

The ‘Destination Ghana’ tourism campaign, which will run for 18 months and target the UK and European travel markets, has been launched by the Ghana Tourism Authority. Through this campaign, Ghana’s credentials as the geographic centre of the world, a destination for adventure, fun, entertainment and leisure, as well as a hub of sustainable ecotourism, were highlighted while giving customers a taste of Ghana.

MOROCCO

In an effort to revitalise its tourism industry, Morocco has launched the ‘Kingdom of Light’ campaign to attract younger tourists. This initiative was launched by the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) with the goal of “strengthening Morocco’s trendy image, particularly among a new generation of travellers” and attracting visitors aged 25 to 59, including art enthusiasts and those drawn to beaches, discovering new cultures and experiencing nature.

Tourism has always been one of Morocco’s economic pillars, and the ONMT is eager to bolster the sector by expanding its focus and marketing efforts. France, Spain, Germany, the UK, USA, Israel, and countries in Africa and the Middle East are among the target markets.

HAVE YOUR SAY!

Have you participated in the Africa Perspectives on the MICE Industry Report survey? Make your voice count towards Africa’s knowledge base and business events sector development on the continent.

Client link – https://forms.gle/meL2Zn6ZUA1XcCXM9

Supplier link – https://forms.gle/dFeJzSMQ2WZyD4T9A

For more information or assistance, please contact Niche Partners’ research specialist, Rivania Govender, on sales@nichepartners.org or +27 (0)79 104 6538.

NETWORK LIKE A BOSS

latest developments in the industry, as well as provides the time to discuss them and what they mean for your business with others in similar situations.

For some people, there may have been a time a few years ago, before Covid-19 dealt the events industry a crushing blow, when the word ‘networking’ conjured up downright dread at the thought of starting a conversation with a complete stranger during a conference or event. Technology contributed brilliantly to helping us exchange information during the pandemic, and while networking online was always an option, it’s really not the same as meeting people face to face – as we know, humans are hardwired to connect in person.

Now, after a two-year event drought and lack of interpersonal, face-to-face interaction, the events industry has risen from the ashes, and event attendees are more eager than ever before to connect and engage at events, to learn from each other, and to make new connections.

MORE THAN SOCIALISING

Networking events are about more than just kicking back and relaxing over a few drinks after a long day holed up in conference rooms – although, there is that advantage too. There are several big benefits to engaging with other event attendees:

other professionals about your business, brand and interests. You never know who may be interested in further discussion, which could lead to beneficial partnerships and collaboration.

6 Find your dream job: Networking event attendees often have a wealth of knowledge and connections that they are willing to share, and if you are looking for a new job or wanting to move up in your current company, you never know who might be hiring for your ideal job, or know someone who is.

NOT SURE WHERE TO START?

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Increase your profile awareness: Getting noticed is essential to career development, and attending professional and social events will help make you known in the industry. If you offer useful information or insights to those you are networking with, you can help to build your reputation as a reliable and knowledgeable member of your profession.

Here are some ways to develop your networking skills: Networking doesn’t come naturally or easily to many people, as it can be quite daunting, especially for more introverted people. Here are some tips to help take the stress out of networking and, just like any skill, the more often you do it, the easier it will become:

• Be confident, and just say hello.

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Get career advice and support: Gaining insights from experienced and knowledgeable industry peers is an important aspect of networking. Discussing common challenges and opportunities opens the door to valuable suggestions and guidance.

• Plan ahead and make a mental note (or physical note, even) of some points of discussion to raise with someone you are meeting.

• Ask questions and let the conversation flow.

• Have an open mindset and look out for opportunities to grow your business.

• Set up an informal appointment to meet the person at a future date to chat further about the relevant topics that arise in the conversation.

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Strengthen business connections: Networking is about sharing advice, building trust and developing the reputation of the business you represent. While engaging with other attendees and talking about what your business is doing, you are educating

4 Get inspiration from your industry peers: A key benefit of networking is exchanging information on experiences, goals and challenges, as it allows you to gain fresh insights that you may otherwise have missed. Offering helpful ideas in return is an excellent way to build your reputation as an innovative thinker.

5 Stay ahead of industry trends: Networking allows you to learn about the

• Keep your business card with you to exchange details.

From strengthening business connections to landing your perfect job, attending networking events can be an invaluable resource for your business and personal development. So, why not give one a try?

Natalie Kyriacou, marketing manager at the VUKA Group, writes about how networking can enhance your event experience and build business confidence.

GREEN TRAP

As event attendees, delegates, hosts, sponsors and partners become increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their choices, more event organisers and exhibitors are taking steps to address their carbon footprint and minimise waste generated by traditional inperson events.

Highlighting an event’s green goals or sustainability credentials in marketing communications can unlock a range of benefits, but it is crucial to avoid ‘greenwashing’ and its many dangers. Fortunately, this can be done immediately by implementing five simple but proven strategies.

According to the

2022 Events Trend Report published by Eventbrite, green events are currently still trending despite the unprecedented two years during which Covid safety took precedence over environmental concerns. Adapting impressively to meet all the challenges the pandemic created, the events industry saw a surge of both virtual and hybrid events, creating a popular new digital alternative to traditional in-person events. It also generated a further benefit: a substantially reduced carbon footprint and minimal waste.

TELLING STATS

reduces an event’s carbon footprint by 94% and its energy usage by 90%. Hybrid events, with at least 50% being online, are also said to reduce carbon footprints by as much as two-thirds.

This is significant given the substantial carbon footprint and waste generated by traditional in-person events, which had previously earned the eventing industry notoriety for negative environmental impacts. These extend to include the carbon emissions resulting from travel to the event, and energy consumption at both the venue and the event attendees’ accommodations.

Events are also known for generating huge amounts of waste during and after

According to a 2021 Nature Communications study, online hosting Angela Barter, founder, The PR Agency

As activity within the events industry starts picking up, Angela Barter advises us on how to avoid the dangers of greenwashing.

Image supplied by Xanita

events, expos and conferences. This includes: food waste; the stand builds and infrastructure from exhibitions and booths; as well as general waste such as paper, cardboard, plastic packaging, carrier bags, plastic cups, water bottles, single-use floor coverings, padding, wood and plastic film. Most of this is not biodegradable, usually ending up in a skip heading for the landfill once the event is over, where it will pollute the environment for years.

Knowing the impact and potential negative consequences the events industry can have on the environment, it is possible to implement genuine, measurable environmental initiatives for each event, such as responsible waste disposal and managing carbon footprint through virtual and hybrid platforms, or other means.

GREEN STRATEGY

Highlighting an event’s green goals or sustainability credentials in the event marketing and communications can unlock a range of benefits, including enhancing brand value and reputation, portraying good environmental stewardship, creating longterm stakeholder value, and capturing the attention and loyalty of event attendees, delegates, hosts, sponsors and partners. This is an effective strategy, if greenwashing and its dangers are avoided. ‘Greenwashing’ or ‘greenwash’, as defined by Greenpeace (Gatti et al., 2019:7), refers to “the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service”.

Greenwashing is unethical, and includes false, deceptive, exaggerated and inaccurate social and environmental claims that lead consumers to believe the company or product is ‘environmentally sound’ when it is not.

STRATEGIES TO AVOID GREENWASHING IN EVENT MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

With the pandemic over and in-person events gaining popularity again, more event organisers will begin to take steps to produce more sustainable events, making it increasingly important to implement strategies that will avoid greenwashing in event marketing and communications.

Fortunately, this can be done immediately by implementing five simple but proven strategies:

1 Genuine, measurable environmental initiatives that reduce event carbon footprint, minimise waste, and ensure responsible disposal will build confidence, trust and loyalty among event attendees, exhibitors and other stakeholders.

2 Be factual, truthful and transparent. Don’t imply environmental benefits or make irrelevant environmental claims. Non-disclosure or omitting information can be construed as deception.

3 Base each environmental claim on a specific and genuine benefit/advantage to the environment that can be substantiated scientifically, with technical evidence or by reasonable rationale.

4 Use clear and understandable language, avoiding general, vague environmental terms such as ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘eco’, ‘green’ or ‘natural’; and refrain from misleading imagery that implies an environmental benefit or suggests a third-party endorsement.

5 Ensure supporting certification, documentation or information is available to stakeholders. Using a well-recognised third party for accreditation helps gain strong credentials. When necessary, rely on the expertise of a sustainability communications specialist.

Greenwashing is not always intentional – it can also be due to a lack of understanding, ignorance or simply overenthusiasm. Either way, poor or inappropriate communication leads to the promotion of false or misleading environmental claims.

Greenwashing is a dangerous gamble with a company’s reputation. Inaccurate environmental or green claims or simply glossing a ‘green sheen’ over event marketing and communications could create a significant risk of negative publicity, irreparable brand damage, and a loss of trust and investor confidence, if greenwashing is exposed.

CONSCIENTIOUS UNDERTAKING

Companies that ‘green sheen’ their communications risk not only reputational damage when exposed, but could face legal and financial recourse. This is because although legal protection against greenwashing does not currently exist in South Africa, legal protection does exist for unfair, deceptive and misleading claims under the Consumer Protection Act and the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants

Act. The South African Advertising Regulatory Board also warns against general environmental claims and asserts that environmental statements in advertising need to be accurate, meaningful to the consumer and backed up by recognised scientific standards and principles. Without ‘greenwashing’, event organisers can provide exhibitors and delegates with accurate, transparent and authentic environmental information, enabling them to make informed decisions to support events that are truly making a difference to reduce their environmental impact.

Angela Barter is a sustainability communications strategist with over 20 years of experience. She is the founder of The PR Agency, and is a widely respected public relations specialist. She holds an MPhil in Environmental Management from Stellenbosch University and is an accredited PRISA (Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa) Chartered Public Relations Practitioner (CPRP). Visit www.angelabarter.com or connect with her via LinkedIn.

The gift that keeps on

Meetings hears from Lauri Pastrone, founder of Peace by Piece International, on how her organisation is providing an opportunity for underserved and marginalised communities while, at the same time, promoting a more sustainable model for corporate gifting.

We all love getting presents, and many of us, at some point during our careers, would have received a corporate gift of sorts.

The global corporate gifting sector is massive, and much larger than one might think. Valued at an estimated US$242 billion (R4.09 trillion) and growing, according to Forbes, the corporate gifting market saw a notable upswing during the pandemic, as

GIVING

of the item being that it bears a company logo. These branded items are more likely to end up in a landfill, resulting in a major environmental concern, than be treasured and appreciated for years to come.

companies tried to make sure their employees felt appreciated and that their clients knew that they were still top of mind. Corporate gifting is now the fastest-growing segment of the gifting market.

At this time, corporate gifting is also very much luck of the draw. We can receive a really cool item that has an ideal practical use but, all too often, many corporate gifts are cheap plastic junk, with the most significant aspect

Peace by Piece International (PbP), a US-based organisation founded in 2017, is on a mission to revolutionise the corporate gifting sector. They are currently working to ensure that the corporate gifting market is as sustainable as possible by supporting artisans and crafters in underserved communities by commissioning and purchasing handmade items and channelling them to corporates. This is key in how PbP is supported, with more and more businesses and people choosing to align to for-good endeavours that have a meaningful and material impact. This has been pivotal in PbP’s success. Founder Lauri Pastrone shares insights from her journey.

You personally launched PbP. What was the germ behind the idea here?

I strongly believed, and do now more than ever, that companies have the ability to mend some of the world’s biggest social challenges through their purchasing power. I started PbP because I wanted to connect corporate gifting to the underserved communities and artisans I had worked with personally over the years. I also knew the importance of going beyond typical ‘giving-back’ schemes like percentage of profits and donation matching. Impact needs to create sustainable and meaningful system changes that directly empower those in need. I founded PbP so that businesses can use their purchasing power to restore dignity in underserved communities and be more connected to the long-lasting impact that they create.

What sort of footprint does PbP currently have?

We partner with over 35 artisans and businesses helping underserved communities – all of whom create beautiful, quality,

ABOUT PEACE BY PIECE INTERNATIONAL

Peace by Piece International (PbP) is a social-impact company based in Silicon Valley, with partners based all over the world, including the US. PbP supports underserved communities by buying their products, many of which are made by women who were incarcerated, human-trafficked, homeless or at/ below the poverty threshold. These items are handmade, artisanal gifts that include foodstuffs, bags, clothing and a lot more.

In the US, PbP works with more than 15 non-profits and social impact organisations: two serve formerly incarcerated men, three serve formerly incarcerated women, three serve women who were formerly trafficked and/or abused, three serve refugees, and two serve autistic adults.

In Guatemala, Haiti, India, Rwanda, Kenya, Palestine, Jordan, Nepal and Mexico, PbP serves individuals who are culturally, socially and economically marginalised. For more information, visit pbpinternational.com.

We are committed to women, sustainability, education and job creation for the underserved, and have worked with communities in 10 countries – with over half of our partners being in the US. We work across industries around the US, both with promotional products resellers and directly with client companies. Our clients include some of the most influential global brands and organisations: Levi’s, Apple, Salesforce, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, ServiceNow, Intel and

What is your longterm vision for PbP?

We plan to become a ‘go-to’ for

company events and awards. Every day, more and more people care about the social and environmental implications of their decisions, including what they buy, who they work for, and what brands they support. Most companies want to make a social and environmental impact when they provide gifts and will think responsibly about the memory their gifts create.

We see socially conscious corporate gifting becoming the new norm. Long term, PbP will continue to transform the gifting industry into a movement for social good and inspire companies to see the power in their purchasing decisions.

What makes items from PbP so special?

What makes our gifts so special is that they truly are memorable. There is nothing more gratifying to a gift recipient than to know that the gift they received made a direct impact on the life of an underserved individual. Every event gift we provide comes with a story about the community that made it, along with a story about an individual who was involved in its creation. These artisan goods touch the hearts of their recipients and the companies we partner with. Most of the communities we serve (who make our beautiful gifts!) are made up by women (about 85%). And we know that when we can change a woman’s life for the better, her family is directly impacted, as is her community.

In ensuring sustainable gifting, what is your message to the events industry? Fighting the effects of climate change is everyone’s responsibility. We all know how much waste can be created at large corporate events from cheap business swag. I want to rethink the branded plastic merchandise that we are so accustomed to receiving, and realise these gifts’ potential for real, sustainable change. We are proud to be able to help the events industry find beautiful, hand-crafted, and high-quality gift options that are friendly to the planet and to people. From the use of organic cotton, which dramatically reduces water consumption and is healthier for farmers, to the rescue of discarded seat belts and cargo belts to create designforward business accessories, cool gifting can be sustainable gifting.

Thaba Eco Hotel is a rare and valuable jewel surrounded by the Southern Johannesburg metropolis, which captures the spirit of the African renaissance.

Tranquillity at THABA ECO HOTEL

Situated in Gauteng, South Africa, in the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve area, Thaba Eco Hotel has an abundance of indigenous trees, plants, birds and wildlife.

Thaba is known for luxurious accommodation, successful functions, dream weddings, delicious dining, and an authentic commitment to ecology and conservation.

At Thaba, staff are passionate about professional, service-oriented hospitality. This, along with its beautiful facilities and breathtaking natural surroundings, ensures that it is the venue of choice for corporate and leisure markets.

AWARD-WINNING SUSTAINABILITY

Thaba Eco Hotel was named as one of the top 10% of hotels to visit in the world as voted by Tripadvisor in 2020.

The hotel is proud to offer accommodation in a biodiverse bushveld haven in the heart of suburban Johannesburg, delighting in ensuring that overnight visits to the venue will leave guests feeling relaxed and refreshed. A strong emphasis on comfort and luxury will ensure that all visitors are treated like royalty every time they enjoy Thaba’s hospitality.

The ‘Eco’ aspect of the hotel’s name is more than just a word. It defines everything they do and every element of the way they work. Thaba is committed to managing its environmental impact with a strong focus on xeriscaping. This conserves through creative landscaping at the hotel to minimise the need for water use.

Thaba’s Eco-Drive offers outdoor fun while learning more about the fauna and flora, history and ecology of the area. This exclusive excursion at either sunset or sunrise will set the tone for a memorable experience.

AMENITIES

The Kraal Restaurant provides a warm atmosphere for guests to unwind and enjoy the finer things in life – superb food and wine, delightful desserts, and rich aromatic coffees. The hotel’s executive chef and his team satisfy the most discerning palates, with their wide variety of dishes on the separate menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Seating is available indoors and outdoors on the front and back decks, as well as in the garden area, where children have access to the fun-filled kiddies’ outdoor play area and equipment.

There is a reason Thaba Eco Hotel is one of Tripadvisor’s most romantic hotels in Johannesburg! The hotel offers an idyllic setting in contemporary African style that will make your special day unique and unforgettable. The delightful on-site church is the perfect place for your sacred wedding vows to be concluded in a romantic atmosphere with breathtaking views.

Thaba Eco Hotel is for the couple who envision warm breezes stirring in the air, photographs at sunset, nature in the background, and ‘getting away’ from the city while remaining only 20 minutes from town. The architecture provides the perfect canvas for your special wedding day.

FOR MICE

For the corporate market, Thaba offers conferencing facilities that range from the Executive Boardroom and conferencing suites to banqueting halls, accommodating groups from 4 to 450 pax.

The hotel’s close proximity to Johannesburg and the serene bushveld surroundings make it ideal for conferences, strategic planning, team building, workshops, training, product launches and year-end functions. Delegates can relax and unwind in luxury rooms amid the tranquil setting, with breathtaking sunsets, a fully equipped spa, a refreshing pool, and a meditation nature trail that will revive a tired mind to ensure optimal creativity.

The ElBar and Fire Kraal are renowned for their unspoilt natural beauty, impressive architecture, and professional service, providing the perfect venue for a special event.

The selection of exceptional venues combined with a dedication to service and tasty food will contribute significantly to the success of your event.

Finally, Sinzinani Spa is a unique urban sanctuary that offers an experience through luxurious individual treatments and spa packages. Sinzinani provides a world-class experience that will relax, restore and rejuvenate your body, mind and soul. For an authentically African luxury pampering spa experience, discover a place where relaxation and stress reduction are a way of life. Corporate wellness is an essential aspect of company productivity, and it assists with the overall wellness of every employee. A corporate wellness spa can be set up in the comfort of your conference areas, meeting areas, workplace, office and team-building site.

For more information, visit thabahotel.co.za.

ITINERARIES IN 2022 M

SC Cruises has seen a steady year-on-year increase in the South African MICE cruising market. This can be attributed to a growing number of companies and agents becoming aware of its great value-for-money and convenience cruising offers. Some of the most popular meeting and incentive destinations around the world in 2022 include Italy, Spain, and France. Mauritius and the Caribbean remain popular destinations, albeit more expensive than Europe.

This season, MSC Cruises is increasing our product offering to MICE clients as we bring two ships to South Africa for the very first time. Guests will get an opportunity to sail away on the MSC Orchestra from Durban or MSC Sinfonia, which will be operating exclusively out of Cape Town.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Each vessel has facilities and services, which include conference rooms, lounges, meeting rooms and a theatre that can accommodate up to 1 600 guests. Guests can make use of the onboard Wi-Fi connection, high-tech audiovisual equipment, as well as advanced sound and lighting systems.

All conference facilities are furnished with the same sense of style that distinguishes our fleet. Superb accommodation, fine dining, entertainment and countless opportunities abound for rest and relaxation following your event.

VISIBILITY FOR CLIENTS’ BRANDS

MSC Cruises can also provide customised visibility for companies or brands, both onboard and ashore. We can assist guests by displaying their logo on banners and on flags in meeting points and reserved areas, as well as printing it on anything from invitations to document folders, T-shirts, and caps.

BESPOKE ACTIVITIES

MSC Cruises is a one-stop shop for all your conferencing needs with activities designed to suit your event objectives. In addition to enjoying your event, guests will discover a world of comfort with our exciting activities that are designed to ensure ultimate satisfaction. Whether it’s a pamper session at the spa, a morning jog on our fitness track, or simply soaking up the summer sun on our outstanding pool deck, there is something for everyone.

PRICE Stop competing on

Little high, little low – how do we cost out our products and services, asks Scott Langley .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Just the other day, speaking to a store owner, I again heard the all-too-common complaint, “Those other guys keep undercutting us!”

He was lamenting the fact that it was too easy for his competitors to keep offering lower prices on the same products, especially online, without having to carry the same overheads that he has to from his brick-andmortar store in a prominent retail centre. What’s more, he felt he was offering a better level of service, like the expert advice his employees were freely giving his customers, which his competitors were not.

Still, he found it most aggravating that he was losing sales to a competitor based on a single determining factor in the purchase decision – price.

THE COMMODITY PROBLEM

The businessowner’s trap was that he had allowed his products to become commodities. A product is a commodity when it is available from many suppliers. Even if the products are

different, once a customer perceives them as being ‘the same’, they have been commoditised in the market’s mind.

The problem with commoditised products is that they are subject to price-driven purchase decisions. When all the available solutions are perceived as being equal, the cheapest one is, by definition, the most valuable. Why would you pay more for the same can of Coke on this shelf than the one on that shelf in the same store?

Commoditised goods are also valued at the point of market efficiency. In effect, this means that the marketplace will continue to drive the prices down through natural competition until they reach equilibrium. For many products and services, the price wars continue until the price point holds just above the survival mark for the suppliers – just enough to continue selling and keep the lights on. Unfortunately, with margins this razor thin, it is only a matter of time (or unforeseen circumstances) before they succumb to their inevitable demise.

Scott Langley is the director and founder of Kaizen Alpha Marketing. When he’s not coaching, consulting or building digital sales funnels, he enjoys spending time with his family or falling off a surfboard at his local beach break.

If you want help crafting your unique offer, please reach out to him at scott@kaizenalpha.com or visit www.KaizenAlpha.com.

PRICE-DRIVEN VS VALUE-DRIVEN PURCHASES

So how does one get out of this ‘apples for apples’ comparison race to the bottom? By changing the conversation from price and making it about value.

As author Dan Kennedy said, “There is no point in being the second cheapest supplier in your market. If you can’t be the cheapest, why not be the most expensive?”

You make value the prime consideration by fundamentally changing the offer (the solution, product or service) you present to the market. The best way to do this is by significantly increasing the value of your offer.

The offer you make should be bursting with value. Your clients should be drowning in the value they receive from your solution. Your offer should not only solve a meaningful problem or deliver their dream outcome, but must do so the quickest possible way, with the least amount of effort, and instil confidence in its success rate for them.

When you take the time and effort to create an offer like this, it cannot be commoditised. It is a unique value proposition that cannot be compared to anything else. You have opened your own category based solely on the value offered – a category of one, which can be priced accordingly.

In fact, it should only be offered at a premium price point. Doing so not only helps differentiate your offer from everything else in a related field but also reinforces the quality of the value proposition – just make sure you are delivering on your brand promise!

The prospect’s purchase decision is then straightforward – do I want to enjoy the dream outcome promised and all the value I will derive from this offer (time saved and guaranteed success without the effort and sacrifice of the alternatives) in exchange for this investment? Yes, or no?

Pro tip: Ferrari can sell a tiny fraction of Nissan’s production volume and still remain far more profitable.

FLIP THE SCRIPT

The other way to look at this is to start with the price point.

Ask yourself, “If I charged five times my current price for the solution I offer, what else would I provide my customer to ensure that they still derived tonnes of value from that exchange?” Then consider what those margins would allow you to provide.

Would you offer it in another way such as in-person vs online/one-on-one vs in a group?

Would you include some additional level of service or expertise you are qualified to provide? This is a key differentiating aspect in a done-for-you vs done-with-you vs do-ityourself scenario.

Would you provide additional levels of access to support and make them available at different times?

Would you add physical products together with your service? Or include training or

information resources to the physical products you sell?

Everyone’s business is unique, as are the considerations on what items to include and the cost and convenience of providing these additional value enhancers.

A helpful starting point is to brainstorm all the possible value-adds you can provide and then trim these down in order of highest value to your customer at the least cost and effort to deliver.

First, eliminate the options you are either unwilling or unable to fulfil at scale. Next, consider cutting those items that offer the most negligible value and are difficult to

provide consistently. You will be left with an offer combining those items representing the most significant value to your customer, which you can still deliver sustainably in the long term.

CONCLUSION

Avoid the commodity trap by differentiating your offer with a unique value proposition. If you are interested in better response rates, increased conversions, premium prices and wider margins allowing you to provide a more meaningful service to better calibre clients, then consider rebuilding your offer from the ground up.

Rising to the top

Moizyll Baatjies, who heads up Johannesburg Marriott Hotel’s kitchen, spotlights culinary trends while providing Meetings with insights into her experience as a chef and mother.

ABOUT MOIZYLL BAATJIES

My favourite dish to cook is a crispy seared salmon with lemon risotto seasoned with black pepper and fresh parsley. It is a simple dish yet very flavourful and elegant.”

I think the trends that we can expect to see in hospitality is that food safety will remain a priority for the foreseeable future. Individually plated small servings that minimise touchpoints and waste, and live cooking stations will definitely become more popular. Not only is this great for food safety purposes but also very appetising with the aroma that fills the air. Guests really enjoy seeing chefs prepare food for them.”

I grew up in the hidden parts of South Africa’s west coast in a town called Atlantis, which also explains my love for fish. I come from humble beginnings, and I am very proud of my roots. I grew up in a place where most people have no hope for their futures and accept their circumstances for what they are. It takes a very brave and focused person to break free from the stigma that so many have just accepted to be the norm. I moved to the Garden Route (Knysna) just after I matriculated, and it was the best move I ever made. I started working in a small bakery called 34 South. That allowed me to learn a skill I already had a passion for.

I used to love baking with my grandmother, but I just didn’t know it was going to become my career. I learnt where it could take me and made the best of it. I got the idea in my head that I should go and search for a job at hotels and the second hotel that I approached gave me a chance – the Plettenberg Bay Hotel, where I worked for five years, all thanks to Chef Christian Campbell who saw potential in me. I grew from kitchenhand to senior chef de partie (CDP) in the five years I spent there, without any qualifications.

I went on to study at Silwood School of Cookery and got my diploma. From there, I went to work for Fancourt as a CDP with Chef Victor Malek. He promoted me to head pastry chef within one year.

I worked for the Table Bay and now I’m at the Johannesburg Marriott Hotel. I am also a proud single mother of three beautiful children. Sadly, I lost my husband to cancer when my children were still very young. The hospitality industry is a very tough industry to be in, but I believe that if you show respect and consideration – and if you have the right attitude – there’s nothing that can hold you back. Stay humble and believe God will pave your way. My motto in life is to always leave room for disappointment in every aspect of life.

INDUSTRY VIEWS

Events of tomorrow

Shaping the Future

Akey highlight during the AIPC’s Annual Conference in July, held in Budapest, Hungary, was the attendance of more than 100 senior leaders from the events industry who came together to discuss the future of organised events.

Michael Hughes and Matthew Klas presented the result of the AIPC member survey and AIPC benchmarking exercise respectively. The good news is that we are back in business and expect to be at the record pre-Covid levels in 2023 in terms of bookings. At the same time, participants will be more selective when it comes to attending events and both convention centres and organisers are suffering from a lack of staff and staggering costs ¬– considered the key challenges for the next 12 months.

This will have a massive impact on profitability – 74% of the AIPC community expect decreased profits in 2023. At the same time, 37% of the AIPC community have a renovation project under way and 18% have an expansion project in the planning stages.

FOCUS ON SECURITY

Security, both physical and digital, is more important than ever. Robert McClure from Paratus – now officially nicknamed ‘Cyber Robert’ – gave some examples of the damage hackers can do. This resulted in a call for action to create an AIPC Cyber Defense Group, sharing knowledge and best practices when it comes to cybersecurity. The analogy was made with fraudsters in casinos –while casinos are of course competitors, they globally share knowledge on fraudsters and the ways they operate to address the challenge as a community.

PURPOSEFUL EXPERIENCES

Together with the dynamic team from the host venue – the completely revamped Hungexpo Budapest – we also tried to bring new experiences to the delegates, in terms of speakers and formats. And while even more could have been done, we did have some unique experiences.

As an example: we had the CEO of the biggest winery of Hungary, Christian Sauska, speaking on open innovation while tasting wines at the same time. We also did a Lego-serious play session, had a selfie-robot hovering around, went to the opera for the welcome cocktail, had a summer party instead of the classic seated dinner and much more. All of this with a purpose: to facilitate the reconnection between AIPC members after such a long time. Creating such purposeful experiences is likely to be a key success factor for organised events and the AIPC Annual Conference provided a great testing ‘sandbox’.

AMAZING TALENTS

Another first took place at the conference: we had our first cohort of the AIPC talent programme on stage to present two business concepts with the potential of addressing a major challenge in convention centre management. One idea focused on the voice of the customer, with the objective of making communication between customer and convention centre as straightforward as booking a hotel room a platform. The other idea was all about enhancing yield management via artificial intelligence and deep learning. Both ideas – and the presentations – were met with enthusiasm by the audience and we expect that both will be turned into a real product by next year, demonstrating how talented our upcoming leadership is.

A GLOBAL COMMUNITY, FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES

With representatives from 36 countries, it was truly a global community coming together again after a long time. Surprisingly – or not – the challenges faced are very similar, from Sydney to Cartagena: a lack of staff, an increase in costs and the unpredictability of the market landscape make convention centre management more challenging than ever and, therefore, the sharing of knowledge within the community is truly crucial. This conference was a great and important milestone for making that happen.

SVEN BOSSU is the CEO of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC).

GABOR GANCZER is the CEO of Hungexpo.

Sven Bossu and Gabor Ganczer present the highlights from the AIPC Annual Conference that took place in early July, in Budapest, Hungary.

INDUSTRY VIEWS

Cleaning the greening

The rise and fall of greenwashing

Research confirms how big a selling point sustainability is. For example, three-quarters of all consumers in a 2021 study by First Insight and the Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania indicated that sustainability is somewhat or very important to them. Meanwhile two-thirds of the same respondents said they would pay more for sustainable products. These are significant majorities.

And so, increasingly, claims of sustainability benefits are appearing in marketing when these benefits don’t exist. This is greenwashing. It can take many forms – from misleading, vague or exaggerated claims, to outright lies.

Possible greenwashing scenarios in the events industry could look like this:

• An event claims to be green because it has offset its carbon footprint without making any tangible effort to be sustainable.

• An event has a name or branding that implies it is eco-friendly when it isn’t.

• An event makes vague claims about reducing its impact, without being able to explain what it is reducing, how and by how much.

Making sweeping statements about how wonderfully green something is is easy to do. It is far harder to do the work that goes into supporting these statements. And so, as our climate crisis deepens, we are seeing more instances of greenwashing. But we are also seeing more backlash against it.

REPERCUSSIONS

Guilty greenwashers can expect to suffer

reputational damage and, increasingly, legal consequences. Earlier this year, a greenwashing raid was carried out on Deutsche Bank, after it was called out for exaggerating the green credentials of some of the investments it sells.

Advocate Louis Nel, AKA Louis the Lawyer, says that in South Africa greenwashing claims could be taken to court as infringements on the Consumer Protection Act or be prosecuted under the Code of Conduct of the Advertising Regulatory Board. This is already happening, as recent cases involving Colgate-Palmolive’s Protex brand, Bliss Brands’ Securex and Takelot demonstrate.

Another concern with greenwashing is that it can harm those companies and brands that are genuinely striving to be more sustainable, by breeding general mistrust and scepticism in consumers. This possible outcome would be a huge blow to the sustainability movement.

But there is a solution. We need to raise awareness about greenwashing and how to spot it. It’s an easy skill to pick up; all it takes is five minutes to read The Six Sins of Greenwashing™ on www. eventgreening.co.za (under ‘Downloads’ on the ‘Resources’ tab). Do this and you’ll be surprised by how much greenwashing you spot as you wonder the grocery aisles on your next shop. Don’t forget to share this knowledge and spread the word. If people can create a demand for green, we can also create a demand for honest and transparent marketing and brands with integrity.

Greenwashing only happens because green products and services are highly desirable, and it is a growing concern across industries, including our own, writes Morwesi Ramonyai .

MORWESI RAMONYAI

is the chairperson of the Event Greening Forum (EGF).

INDUSTRY VIEWS

Data-driven decisionmaking

Making an informed decision

Witnessing the gradual #buildback of the business events industry against the backdrop of an increasingly digital age, the question of the future of business travel still needs to be answered.

As we work and live through this uncertain period, we will shape that future of business travel in the post-pandemic era. With our experiences, and as we see the world reopening, one thing is certain – in-person meetings are essential for doing business.

This view is backed by initial research into the impact of business events recently done by the London School of Economics, which has shown that the more a team operates virtually, the less effective it is overall. Add to that screen fatigue and the undeniable fact that there is no replacement for physical presence when it comes to relationship-building, and it is apparent that business travel is not going anywhere.

As a result, data-driven decisions are essential for our understanding of the current behaviour of our industry.

How we deal with the current operating environment within our industry has so much to do with a ‘gut feel’ based on experience.

COLLECTIVE EFFORTS

We need a far greater collective effort that provides for the collation and analysing of data so that informed decisions can be made. Our clients use data to inform their decisions when meeting.

The call is simple: we need to share data of the impact a business meeting has, no matter how small. Business events are effective in our society – we need to demonstrate that through data, and get the economist to explain our significant contribution to our country.

South Africa’s economy will not be fully recovered until the tourism industry has recovered, some have been saying. Business events have a significant role to play in that recovery, so let us play our part and let us tell our stories in numbers and deeds.

As we carefully #buildback, now is not the time to make any hasty decisions, particularly if you don’t have the information to back up your chosen course of action, writes Glenton de Kock

GLENTON DE KOCK is the CEO of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI).

WHY B2B IS MORE P2P

The B2B space is certainly an exciting one. Here, individuals from the same sector come together to share ideas and explore how they can strengthen each other’s business proposition.

Without the B2B model, industry value chains would fall apart. Therefore, it is hugely critical that there is a means for different role players to engage with each other because this is the glue that holds an industry together.

Much like an event, B2B industries are the behind-the-scenes production team that makes it all happen. From informing regulation and legislation to establishing associations and standards that ensure there is a benchmark we are working towards, B2B is at the heart of every sector.

But what binds B2B industries together?

Common objectives around specific goods, services and operational aspects of an industry are key in this, but the way in which various representatives and decision-makers gather doesn’t just happen all of its own accord. For this to happen, relationships and the dynamic that

exists between each of these role players are crucial.

NETWORKING, NETWORKING, NETWORKING

I cannot emphasise the importance of networking within the B2B space enough. For industries like the business events sector, we often end up mingling with the competition, but without healthy competition in any market, we cannot gauge our own performance. Fair pricing goes out the window, and a market in which there is a monopoly is never healthy. And believe me, there is enough of the pie to go around that we don’t need to worry about scuppering others’ opportunities!

Relationships within the B2B space always have and always will define how an industry flourishes – the more robust this dynamic, the easier it is for us to solve problems together and openly discuss specific challenges. Indeed,

I am convinced that the strength of our local B2B industry is what got us through the worst of the pandemic. During this exceptionally challenging time, we collaborated like never before. This saw us hosting webinars, organising forums and demonstrating our mettle with proof-of-concept events. Today, we are standing together stronger than ever. Surely, this serves as a testament to the relationships we have forged over the years.

When anyone tells you that they are part of the B2B space, what they really mean is that they are part of a people-to-people industry.

Are you selling a product, service or experience? Here’s why you should focus on the latter, says Miss Meet .