SAFARI & SEASCAPES
TOP LOCAL DESTINATIONS
YEAR-END FUNCTIONS: MAKE THIS HIGHLIGHT MEMORABLE MEETINGS GOES OUTDOORS: SAFARI, COASTAL & CULTURE
Meetings and events set among the urban sprawl can be a bit too familiar and lacklustre for those seeking something a little different. We travel beyond the big smoke to reveal some of South Africa’s finest natural and cultural experiences
THE CONCRETE JUNGLE Breaking free from
In addition to its vast mineral wealth, South Africa is blessed with an abundance of flora and fauna. With a crossover of multiple biomes, the country is one of the most biodiverse in the world. This, coupled with our deep political history and blend of cultures, lends itself to a wide range of attractions, hotspots and activities that are not to be missed.
While urban centres provide absolutely everything one could ever ask for in terms of convenience, there is a demand for that which is just a little more locally authentic,
particularly by international delegations who yearn to experience something other than a luxury inner-city hotel or the Diamond Walk at Sandton City. Hosting a meeting or event that stimulates the senses to create more meaningful and impactful experiences is at the heart of this. this
G E TTING TH E R E A N D B A CK
Ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa invested a significant amount of money into overhauling the country’s roads, logistics networks and airports. This investment into
improving infrastructure in combination with the overall development of the country has meant that a world-class, out-of-town experience for your delegates is within reach. However, your budget, timing, planning and ability to hustle a good deal will all determine where you go and how you get there.
Logistics will be among your greatest planning and cost considerations. For the likes of a high-level executive, travel will need to be arranged so that it runs completely seamlessly while ensuring the maximum safety of all your delegates.
If you are out of your depth in bringing this aspect together, consult with the experts. Travel With Flair offers a range of services specialising in corporate travel and management. Its online service Cliqit is policy compliant and aims to provide clients with the highest cost savings possible, while enabling them to make reservations on the go. The TWF app then coordinates itineraries with travellers so they can get to where they need to timeously, with the security of knowing their next movements.
Corporate Traveller offers a similar end-to-end travel management service and caters for a range of groups and budgets. Part of the very well-established Flight Centre Travel Group, Corporate Traveller provides clients with total peace of mind, through access to free 24-hour emergency assistance, wherever they are in the world. If it’s more than people that you need to move, La Rouxnelle Logistics and Consulting , voted Best Logistics Company at the 2019 ROAR Awards, provides services in transport, customs formalities and on-site logistics assistance. assistance.
P LA N NING TO A T
Where you go will be contingent on the size of your delegation and the activities you are looking to incorporate. Also consider that there will likely be various meetings and formalities that need to take place around
any points of interest you are intending to schedule, so identifying a venue that is suitable for these purposes will be your first port of call.
It is also important to bear in mind that you are now responsible for managing a group of people who all have individual needs –some of which may be rather complex – so ensure you have the support you need to handle this effectively. Have a contingency plan in place to address any potential crises that may arise in an emergency and look into indemnity or insurance so that any risk in this regard is mitigated as far as possible. If you are using the services of a travel management company, they will be able to help inform this.
S AFARI M E
Among the greatest demand by visitors for alternative meeting or business event experiences in South Africa is found at venues and establishments where there is ample natural beauty and wildlife. Conversely, the opportunity this demand has created has yielded a slew of offerings promoting these experiences.
A two-hour drive from Johannesburg and just a stone’s throw from the Pilanesberg National Park, Sun City remains a favourite as an all-in-one experience that truly strives to provide something for everyone. As one of the largest resorts in South Africa, it
A SWEET ESCAPE
GLOBAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN NUMBERS
10.4%
Travel and tourism as a percentage of global GDP
21.5% of all spend within the travel and tourism sector is on business travel
R2.8 TRILLION to Africa’s GDP
R425.8 BILLION to South Africa’s GDP
319 MILLION
Jobs supported by travel and tourism = 10% of global employment
Source: World Travel & Tourism Council
Drums and Rhythm
Conceptual Eyes
e Franschhoek Hotel & Spa, situated in the Franschhoek Wine Valley, offers luxurious hotel accommodation and a truly unique winelands experience. This exclusive hotel features 79 elegant, en-suite rooms and suites, two lavish villas and 16 double or single villas. Each has its own breath-taking view over the Franschhoek mountains or manicured hotel gardens.
The sophistication of Le Franschhoek Hotel is evident in their fine dining options which offer guests the opportunity to indulge in seasonal dishes from an a la carte menu. The hotel is well-known for its exceptional service and picturesque setting. In addition, Le Franschhoek is an ideal destination for a team building, corporate functions and even a fairy-tale wedding – boasting five world-class conference venues, able to accommodate 20 to 120 delegates.
Email: reservations@lefranschhoek.co.z Tel: +27(21)876-890 www.lefranschhoek.co.za
can comfortably accommodate sizeable delegations. And with an extensive range of activities for all ages – from its golf course that hosts major international tournaments, to its Valley of the Waves water park – you will be spoilt for choice on how to enthral guests. And its state-of-the-art conference centre will address any official orders of business.
For a short jaunt outside the city, The Lion & Safari Park is ideally situated between Pretoria and Johannesburg. Event organisers can choose from a variety of packages that include Zulu dancing, marimba bands, DJs and solo artists, and its main function area comes complete with its own private kitchen, bar and boma that can take up to 200 guests. Its two restaurants, the Wetlands and the Bull n Buck, are better suited for smaller groups, and more intimate functions can be held at one of the two private mezzanine areas that overlook the park.
1/5 of jobs created over the were within the travel and tourism sector
DID YOU KNOW?
If you are looking for something for smaller groups that is focused on conferencing with a wellness element, The View Boutique Hotel & Spa in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, offers conferencing facilities for groups of up 50 people. Set among tranquil, leafy surrounds, the five-star venue, located on the Sapphire Coast, provides breathtaking ocean views while the Spa at the View provides a range of wellness and beauty therapies, with the latest holistic treatments
#OUTDOORESCAPES
leaving your guests feeling relaxed and revitalised.
The vast Zimbali area is home to a number of hotels and venues that provide superb conferencing facilities. Set against a coastal backdrop – with a host of activities including golfing, hiking and horseback riding – your guests will feel revitalised among the natural surrounds. Zimbali’s custom-built conference venues are designed to international specifications and Zimbali Conferences , the area’s designated conferencing team, will help you put together a package, including your menus, to suit your needs, budget and guest requirements. guest requirements
A B I T O F C U LTU R E
Budget and time constraints might not make it possible for a stint out of town that caters for each guest’s transport and/or accommodation needs, so consider something a little more local for a delegation still looking for an alternative experience.
For guests who are interested in our local history, one of the richest experiences they can have is at Constitution Hill . While this can be exceptionally hard-hitting for some, Constitution Hill is “a living museum that
tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy”, giving deep insights into South Africa’s past. The premises was once a former prison inhabited by some of South Africa’s most renowned political activists and freedom fighters; today, it is home to the country’s Constitutional Court, the highest court in the land and that which endorses the rights of our nation’s citizens. Tours and
signature events can be arranged through Constitution Hill’s offices.
South Africa has a history that spans beyond its politics and the origins of man found can be found less than an hour’s drive from Johannesburg. The Cradle of Humankind is a palaeoanthropological site that was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1999. Encompassing Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves, it covers an area of 47 000 hectares. There are various activities and points of interest within the area and Maropeng, in particular, offers venues and facilities suitable for conferencing or hosting private functions, should you want to combine your activity with a meeting or event.
Conferencing with a difference
Looking for
unique conferencing packages and activities to delight delegates? Look no further than Spier Hotel & Wine Farm.
Situated in the Stellenbosch Winelands, just 40 minutes from Cape Town and 20 minutes from Cape Town International Airport, the historic Spier Wine Farm has 12 different meeting venues that can host meetings, workshops, seminars, exhibitions, performances as well as conferences both large and small. The four-star country-inspired Spier Hotel has 153 rooms to accommodate delegates and with ample space and conferencing options, Spier offers a host of activities for your delegates.
For a small fee per person, you can add a delightful twist to your day conference – Spier caters for a wide range of fun indoor and outdoor team-building activities for groups of all sizes, including The Amazing Race, art expression, drumming, laughing yoga, silent discos and potjiekos cook-offs.
Let your delegates try their hand at winemaking. Perfect for smaller groups of up to 20, a red or white wine blending experience in the historic Cow Shed can be arranged.
Delegates can also sample Spier’s acclaimed wine at the airy, art-filled tasting room on the banks of the Spier dam, or in the conference foyer or another private venue during a conference. Host a private dinner with a difference at one of Spier’s venues – outdoor spaces can be booked for groups of all sizes, while
everything from burgers and game to traditional regional specialities.
Delegates can visit Spier’s vibrant, colourful craft market and choose from a range of authentic, hand-made pieces – ranging vastly in terms of size and medium. While browsing, watch artists, designers and makers working on a beautiful wire and beadwork trophy head, an intricate painting, or weaving recycled aluminium into a sculpture.
If you want to ensure guests leave Spier feeling relaxed and revitalised, a quick yoga session on the beautiful lush lawns can be offered before, during or after a conference. The Spier Spa provides express treatments that can be done in the conference foyer during coffee breaks and lunches.
Tour the Spier Wine Farm on a Segway or, at no additional charge, guests can explore the Spier grounds on Qhubeka Buffalo Bicycles. Designed by the Chicago-based World Bicycle Relief and assembled in South Africa, these sturdy and strong machines are designed specifically for rough African terrain. For more options on Spier’s Conferencing with Consciousness offering, visit www.spier.co.za.
Sustainability is woven into every facet of the Spier conferencing experience, from water-saving devices in the bathrooms to rooftop solar panels that provide 40% of the conference centre’s energy needs. Every drop of Spier’s wastewater and over 98% of its solid waste is recycled. Spier invests in a wide array of learning initiatives that empower staff and communities to create positive social and environmental change. By booking one of Spier’s Conferencing for Good packages, your event is supporting these efforts –all the while treating your delegates to a memorable experience.
Spier has selected three organisations in the surrounding community to which guests can donate much-needed items, including school stationery and educational toys, should they have space available in their luggage. Spier will work with conference and event organisers to ensure donation boxes are available during their conference.
Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery offers ‘low and slow’ roasted BBQ meats. The Spier Hotel Restaurant menu includes
Upgrade your break
Make it in mosaic
Smoothie cycling
Indulge in a spa pampering
Bike the farmRunning routes
Glide through vineyards
Blend your own wine
Create an immersive incentive experience
A fabulous trip away or a once-in-a-lifetime experience is ideal for an incentive. Meetings explores the ways in which you can ensure your incentive is on point.
Stress is among the greatest challenges faced by people in this day and age, and it can certainly take its toll on the workforce. As such, incentives are, and should be, receiving more attention as a must-have versus just a nice-to-have. We unpack how these are so exceptionally effective.
# 3
DOING SOMETHING MORE
Incorporate an element of ubuntu by giving back to the community in some way. If you are able to take your delegates to a project they can be involved in – whether it’s a legacy or upcycling initiative, or assisting with packing meals for a less-fortunate community – incorporating an uplifting, feel-good component will provide a different perspective.
# 1
LEAVE IT TO ME
Logistics is often the most stressful aspect of travel, so if you can arrange people’s movements throughout the course of their itineraries, it will immediately put them at ease and help them feel relaxed. There are a range of travel outfits specialising in complete packages, which include transfers and shuttles at each point, so consult with the experts on the services and options.
# 4
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
At a time when we all need to focus more on our health, consider wellness incentives such as retreats and spas to allow your delegates to relax and provide them with an experience that revitalises them. This may not be everybody’s cup of tea, so for a more adventurous crowd, consider an outdoor affair that may involve something like white water rafting or horseback riding (see our feature on page 2).
# 2
CHANGE OF SCENERY
After prolonged periods of having to travel in and out of a city, day in and day out, a change of scenery is going to be a great accomplishment for your incentive delegates. And if you are looking local, you can’t go wrong with the bush, berg or beach – if your budget allows for it, go for a blend of all three.
# 5
AFRICA IS WHERE IT’S AT
Considering options within Africa might provide you with the unforgettable, world-class experience you are looking for without blowing your budget. Kenya and Tanzania are one-ofa-kind destinations and among Africa’s most sought-after, as are Mauritius and Cape Verde for idyllic beach getaways. Of course, seeing the great pyramids of Egypt is one of those real bucket list items.
There’s always something to celebrate at Fancourt, and this time, it’s the launch of the Business Playground offering for 2020.
DISCOVER SOUTH AFRICA’S BUSINESS PLAYGROUND
Fancourt is a long-standing Garden
Route landmark renowned for its three award-winning golf courses; however, ‘leading conference and incentive destination’ is yet another proficiency to add to its repertoire. Unapologetically engineered for both business and leisure, Fancourt is set to lure in corporates looking for a little more carrot, with just the right amount of stick.
Behind its whitewashed walls, performance meets pleasure within carefully considered conference spaces ranging from smaller venues accommodating groups of between 20 and 70 delegates, and a main ballroom hosting up to
www.theplanner.guru
400 guests. Four on-site restaurants each offer a distinctive menu and atmosphere, while The Club Lounge lends itself to less formal gatherings, predinner cocktails and networking functions.
With Fancourt’s flexible team of professionals ready to execute any request, co-workers and clients can stay on task while unleashing their creativity. From dine-arounds and wine pairings in Bedouin tents to festive shebeen evenings in the cart barn and chic luncheons at the 17th hole of the Montagu course, expect your next event at Fancourt to extend far beyond your imagination. When it comes time to play, the estate brims with leisure facilities for corporates ready to close their
laptops and hit the velvet-green fairways. Rally your team at the leisure centre, play doubles on the tennis court, explore the walking trails or find your business bliss point at the spa.
Accommodation ranges across 133 rooms, complete with all the mod cons your team could want, including those requests for something crisp and cold to come home to, even if it must be enjoyed while finishing a few last-minute emails.
THE INCENTIVE PLANNER l SEPT/OCT 15
24 hrs conference
Avianto. We used the conference facilities for our yearly strategy session. We had good food and friendly service. It’s an altogether lovely place to stay. The rooms are spacious and modern and the gardens are breathtaking
Tapping into a R145 BILLION MARKET
Having demonstrated remarkable growth in the past year, business events in South Africa have proven their potential as a key economic driver. With a R93 million government-backed bidding support programme to grow opportunities within the local business events industry, the South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) forms a crucial part of this dialogue.
EXHIBITIONS
Improve packaged programmes
Packages to be marketed to registered delegates and PCOs Focus on family-friendly packages Transactions
COVER ALL YOUR BASES
Travelling with a larger party carries with it a degree of risk when it comes to safety and security, so make sure you take into consideration all the various factors that could arise during your trip.
The benefits of incentives are undeniable – for our top company achievers, incentives, as the name lends itself to, drive performance in the form of attaining set business objectives. Incentives have the potential to increase sales by rewarding top performers and motivating others to achieve and exceed targets. And as a team, incentives improve overall teamwork, with enhanced communication, collaboration and elevated morale being just some of the wonderful benefits of a successful incentive.
However, there are risks that can be encountered and, where safety is concerned, rather be overprepared than miss a crucial check. We bring you some crucial dos and don’ts as recommended by the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE):
DO: as best possible unforeseen events
DON’T: not occur
CHECKLIST
Identify the risks
Assess the impacts on key assets or events
Determine the potential consequences
Determine ways to reduce risk
Create and prioritise risk management procedures
Source: www.siteglobal.com
Rather meet in Mauritius…
AND MICE ISLAND-STYLE!
Planning an incentive trip to reward your top performers, an international conference for a few thousand delegates, an exclusive high-level meeting for a government delegation, or a product launch? Look no further than the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, where you will find the perfect venue –staffed by a professional and dedicated support team – to deliver a unique, world-class event, with a touch of island-style elegance and flair.
Just a short flight from South Africa’s three major cities, and visa-free for South African passport holders, the paradise island of Mauritius is fast becoming one of Africa’s tourism and meetings jewels, with its abundance of scenic beauty, hidden treasures to explore, and a deliciously exotic melting pot of cuisines and cultures.
MICE MARKET
Mauritius offers the MICE buyer the infrastructure and superstructure to cater for a variety of groups and sizes, all year round. As a MICE-friendly destination, the island has all the key ingredients to host successful meetings, incentive groups, conferences and events. The quality and variety of accommodation, the attention to detail in service delivery, state-of-theart conferencing venues, professional and friendly staff, and the additional activities on offer all guarantee a unique experience.
ACTIVITIES
The island boasts a wide variety of activities that can be specifically geared around MICE groups, ranging from golf to adventure
sports such as quad biking, trekking, mountain biking, trail running, zip-lining, kite-surfing, parasailing, canoeing and skydiving.
The island also offers countless stunning outdoor locations for interactive, actionpacked and adrenalin-fuelled activities and adventures for team-building exercises.
WHEN TO VISIT
Mauritius has a tropical climate, with warm weather all year round. The best months to visit the island are from May to December, when the weather is cooler, dry and sunny. Although January to March is termed ‘cyclone season’ and may not always offer optimal beach weather, there are a host of other activities to engage in, such as marlin fishing, hiking, trail running and cycling, as well as the many cultural festivities and spiritual festivals that take place during this time.
Enjoy everything that Mauritius has to offer as your ideal MICE destination, combining quality, elegance and style, in a paradisiacal island setting.
#RatherMeetInMauritius – the idyllic Indian Ocean destination for all your MICE needs!
&Team building
the scenes
Champagne Sports Resorts executive chef Donovan Bower shares his take on catering for events.
ABOUT CHEF DONOVAN
little basket – suddenly it becomes a lot more appealing.
How has the food and beverage industry changed over the past five years?
People have become more health conscious with dietary and allergy needs becoming more common. The need to show food allergies has also become an important part of the food industry.
What are some of the current trends in the food and beverage industry?
We are moving toward more foods from the earth, with grains like quinoa, millet and barley being a big part of this. It’s not quite becoming vegan eating but it’s moving in that direction.
What would you identify as the primary mistake people make when catering for conferencing?
The key factor for conferencing catering is taking the guests themselves into consideration; if it’s an all-male conference, meal expectations and preferences tend to be quite different to womenonly functions.
What is your favourite dish to make?
A four-hour slow roasted loin of lamb with mirepoix and stock, presented with pomme william, green bean and carrot bundle, and finished with a rich jus.
What is your number one catering tip?
Always try to understand your clients’ needs and do your best to assist wherever you can.
What is your favourite kitchen equipment or gadget?
My 350 mm chef’s knife.
What dishes are you asked to make most often?
Our lamb curry, oxtail, and dark chocolate mousse.
Are there any foods you just don’t like?
Seafood – I’m highly allergic.
When did you know you wanted to be a chef?
I have ADHD. At school, we had a subject that involved a lot of cooking; I loved doing it, it kept my mind busy and it’s the reason I chose this industry.
What is the proudest moment in your career as a chef?
During my first year at Elangeni, when I soft-poached 160 quail eggs in five minutes and placed them on top of a salmon tartare, making sure every egg was sent out warm. The best part was been called out and congratulated.
Who in the food world do you most admire?
How can one present ‘plain’ food in a way that appeals to delegates?
It’s all in the plating – a toasted sandwich cut in half with chips on a white round plate is plain; however, take that same sandwich, cut it into quarters and place it on a wooden board with the chips in a
Did you eat your veggies as a child?
Yes, when I was younger, but I stopped as I got older.
What is your favourite food memory?
Baking Christmas mince pies with my mom and eating half of them.
What is one ingredient you cannot cook without?
Garlic.
Shaun Munro – he has been my mentor since I started my traineeship in 2003. I had the pleasure of working under him at Dish restaurant and again at Elangeni from 2007 to 2014.
What are your favourite foods to cook with?
An array of herbs and spices.
What do you think is the most challenging ingredient to work with?
Turkey is very difficult to work with because if it’s not cooked correctly, it can be extremely dry and lose its flavour.
What’s your “death row” meal, as the late Anthony Bourdain put it?
A big bowl of macaroni and cheese covered in All Gold tomato sauce.
Self-starter
ABOUT NOLI
Noli Mini , owner of Relax Spas and chairperson of the Young Professionals segment of FEDHASA Cape, shares her journey on rising to the top.
Before embarking on my solo journey as a mobile spa therapist in 2010, I worked as a therapist at two hotel spas. I decided to pursue this journey as an entrepreneur after finding a lack of opportunities for women of colour to grow into positions of leadership in the spa industry, and I saw the gap in the market for a more formal mobile spa business in Cape Town.
I felt frustrated as a result of having ideas burning in my core and not having the platform to have them implemented. This motivated me to start my own business. I’m a big dreamer and believe I was born for a greater purpose: to leave something of significance – a legacy of opportunities for those who come after me.
After a year, I realised the path was more difficult than I thought. I had to differentiate myself from the rest and started working closely with a few hotels in order to create a platform where I could build something of significance.
While working at the then Arabella Spa, known now as Heavenly Spa by Westin, I received an opportunity to do a Hotel Supervisory Certificate. This was the start of my love for the hospitality industry, as it gave me a snapshot of hotel operations and how the different hotel departments are interlinked.
In 2011, I joined FEDHASA Cape as a youth member; in 2012, I was voted in as the chairperson for the division’s Youth Segment, which, under my guidance, changed to FEDHASA Young Professionals in 2013.
Noli’s career started in 2002 as a spa therapist at a hotel spa in East London, Eastern Cape. A year later, she relocated to Cape Town to pursue greater opportunities. She is now 38 years old and owns her own mobile spa business. Cape Talk
This segment creates a platform for young professionals to engage with leaders in the hospitality industry and, in some instances, link them to mentors to walk with them as they build their careers in the hospitality industry.
STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
Alongside this role, I was developing my business and decided open a spa suite at Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge in 2015.
This year, I opened a day spa at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! by Marriott Cape Town. I was also hand-picked by Marriott International to do spa consulting and spa support for two of their spas (Mount Grace Country House & Spa in Magaliesburg and Arabella Hotel & Spa in Kleinmond).
In June, I had the opportunity to travel to Dubai through a partnership with Marriott International for training, visiting Marriott International spas to learn spa operations on an international level. This was yet another game changer in my career, proving that nothing is impossible if you stay the path, commit and stay focused.
In July, I was again voted in as the lead for FEDHASA Cape Young Professionals segment and next year, in 2020, my business turns 10. or young rs in the stances, link m stry ng my uite at Protea rfront otea Hotel was also nal to for untry rabella hip nal er, ar,
YEAR-END FUNCTIONS
Making a case for year-end functions
With a slowing economy and companies facing ever-tightened budgets, do year-end functions equate to unnecessary spend or are they an important consideration on the agenda?
This year has been a tough one for South Africa. Stats SA figures indicate that the economy contracted by 3.2% in the first quarter of this year and, while growth rebounded 3.1% in the positive in the next period, we are still not out of the woods. In the wake of political and economic uncertainty, this has had a knock-on effect on both consumer and business spending, which has left employers struggling to keep their ships afloat and seen unemployment skyrocketing to 29%.
Minimising overheads is the most sensible strategy for the survival of each business; however, it has meant that, across the board, existing employees are facing more pressure than ever to deliver and do so with limited resources and support.
CUE THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE REVOLUTION…
In our personal lives, a sense of belonging creates a deeper sense of purpose and it is no different in a business or a professional context; employees need
to feel they are part of the decisions and outcomes of the companies that employ them. Realising that this approach brings out the best in their employees, and business, there has been a naturally increasing trend towards this dynamic. Albeit a vast quantum leap from a traditional top-down approach, it is still up to owners, directors and managers – the powers that be – to ensure that opportunities are created to bring about greater cohesion between their teams. And while a strong business model will help weather the storm, it is the people who are riding it out with you who can be the differentiator between surviving and thriving.
Understanding the relationship between employees and employers in this light means that more focus could and should be given towards the value-add of staff gatherings such as year-end functions – more so because of what they should be intended for, which is to wrap up on the year gone by. This needn’t be an over-the-top, opulent affair; however, there should be a time, day, or evening dedicated to affirming the core values of your company and what each member of the
team brings to the table. It is key to highlight your team’s objectives by showcasing staff achievements and leadership efforts.
STILL NEED A REASON WHY?
If, as an employer or business owner, you can see the need for an occasion such as a year-end function, this can also set the tone for the spirit in which it is held throughout the next annual cycle. A year-end function is intended to be a companywide affair and it is important that everyone, from the tea lady to the owner, participates on a level playing field, so that any perceived hierarchies in this instance fall away and everyone can come together as peers.
Lastly, managers and decision-makers should not forget the human element, as it makes them more approachable and relatable to their staff. A stronger interest in company goings-on not only motivates staff to perform well but, during times of crisis, it could play a significant role in how you come together as a team.
AVOID THE END-OF-YEAR DREAR
Have a year-end function for every budget
Year-end functions might not be at the fore of every business’s priorities but they should be an important item on the agenda. Meetings brings you some nifty tips and tricks on how to deliver a memorable event for every budget.
Small
If you are on a tighter budget, don’t bite off more than you can chew – keep in mind the fundamentals of a year-end function; the focus should be on your staff and team, and your objectives for them within the broader company vision.
If you are only catering for a few members of staff, consider a themed office party with decor and a few eats. If there’s room for it, a small gift or voucher for your employees as a token of your appreciation for their efforts, particularly if there haven’t been any bonuses, would be meaningful.
Medium
You don’t need to do it all. Treating employees to a lunch out at a popular venue and toasting them with a brief speech to recognise and thank key members of the team who are making a difference is far more impactful than not acknowledging the occasion at all.
There are a host of hotels and restaurants offering year-end specials for every size and type of party, where you can get away with budgeting a few hundred rand per head. Remind staff of the fundamentals and reflect on the shared contribution made by the team.
Large
If you have a sizeable budget for a large number of people, find a venue that specialises in corporate gala functions and that has a good year-end package, where you can perhaps provide elements like catering, decor and entertainment at a bargain.
Try strike the right balance between formalities and festivities – theme your event to the nines and include fun sideline engagements such as photo booths or games. Giveaways are always a hit, so line up your budget or rope in sponsors for prizes.
Day conference packages
A little bit of country in the heart of Sandton.
The Protea Hotel by Marriott® Johannesburg Balalaika is situated in the heart of Sandton within easy reach of the business and entertainment areas. It is a popular conference and function venue. From intimate gatherings to gala events for 80 to 200 people.
and professionally and to cater to any particular requirements. together.
Attached to the Hotel is the renowned Bull Run Restaurant. Enjoy some of the best steaks in Johannesburg in an atmosphere of New York sophistication.
at Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton.
