SAEC NEWS

We need to remain resilient and focused.

The business events industry's collective focus on building an understanding of the sector’s immediate objectives and keeping a close eye on how we recover is complex. This complexity is against the backdrop of dealing with business interruption due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

By Glenton De Kock, SAACI, on behalf of SAEC.

There is an agreement that we need to reimagine the delegate economy for South Africa’s convention bureaux, convention centres, organisers, meetings, exhibition and events communities and all who form part of the entire ecosystem and benefit from the business events industry.

We are in consensus that a strong united voice to government, on behalf of stakeholders, will ensure consistent and impactful advocacy. Some of this we have slowly been able to achieve over this past year.

The short to medium-term objectives of the industry to enable recovery and future growth are to:

• Build confidence to meet by promoting what is possible (increase certainty for planning and reducing financial risk).

• Address immediate workforce shortages and skills gaps.

• Secure government support for attracting and fulfilling the potential of business events; and

• Build a future-ready workforce.

A more focused approach on the recovery of the business events industry is required. With clarity on the work we do as an industry, we need to work collectively on a clear reopening roadmap for the business events industry, in conjunction with our government.

We owe it to the many professionals in our industry to provide a clearer and more workable guideline on how we may operate sustainably in the latter part of 2021.

e: hello@saeventscouncil.org