Business events industry leaders

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION

ESMARÉ STEINHÖFEL Regional director: Africa, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)

A HIGHLIGHT IN 2019 on the ICCA events calendar was the ICCA Association Meetings Programme (AMP) that was hosted in Africa for the first time in Durban, South Africa, from 18 – 20 June, with a record attendance from ICCA Africa members. The ICCA AMP provided the perfect platform for African meeting suppliers to present themselves to the global meetings industry.

By organising the event in South Africa, ICCA aimed to reach out and share knowledge on winning and organising international association meetings, and to stimulate the market on our continent. The theme “Inspiration to go further” was also very relevant with regards to the growth potential of the association meetings market segment in Africa.

ICCA is a member of the African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE). The Inaugural Africa Association Summit took place in Nairobi in October. The goal of the African Association Summit is to bring together leading not-for-profit leaders. The second Africa Association Summit will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, in October next year.

Association meetings drive progress

The vast quantities of knowledge that are created and shared, the inward investment and business connections that are stimulated, and the societal, healthcare and economic challenges that are addressed and solved at association meetings have an enormous economic and societal impact. As the world of meetings has evolved, so has the relationship between ICCA members and the association clients they serve, moving from the supplier/buyer relationship to that of real partnership and collaboration.

In order to shape the future and value of international association meetings, ICCA has announced the launch of the ICCA Association Community in January 2020 to formalise the relationship with associations within ICCA’s global community, and to offer a platform where associations and suppliers can work on advancing international and regional association meetings. This anticipated closer collaboration with association executives from 2020 will contribute to the growth of the African association market and regional conferences.

There has been a small increase over the last few years in the number of association conferences taking place in Africa. In 2018, Africa’s market share as per the ICCA city and country rankings report, was only 3.19 per cent with a total of 414 association conferences being hosted in our continent. This low number is a sure indication that there is a lot more potential for Africa to be more active in bidding for and hosting association conferences. The continent still needs more countries to establish national and or city/ provincial convention bureaus.

ICCA membership in Africa has grown by 14 per cent in the past four years. Members are currently only representing countries in Southern and East Africa so a focus area for membership growth in 2020 is to include West, North and Central Africa.

A key objective of the Africa regional office is to do more advocacy around association meetings and the professional, business, academic and economic outcomes they deliver. In order to achieve this, we will have to look at working closer with key industry partners i.e. SAACI, UFI, AIPC, SITE Africa etc.

I am confident that 2020 will build on the increased awareness of the association meetings market in Africa as well as a closer collaboration between African suppliers and associations.

LOCAL TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

GLENTON DE KOCK Chief executive officer of Southern Africa Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI)

ECONOMIC AND political uncertainty in many parts of the world continues to affect the business events industry. South Africa is no exception, and the business events industry is vital in addressing these challenges. Even with many successful bids secured for the future, the environment remains tough and unpredictable. Organisers, venues and suppliers have to be original, reinvent themselves, stay abreast of the latest technology and find new ways to offer value. It’s a tall order.

SAACI’s attempts to stay ahead in this disruptive operating environment are anchored by its pillars – learning, growth and collaboration.

This will be driven by increased stakeholder engagement, industry focused marketing, understanding future trends in business events and a detailed understanding of the value of the industry for Southern Africa. In delivering this, our focus for 2020 is on professionalising our industry through operational excellence, the highest industry standards and norms, adoption of technology and ensuring that we create sustainability through knowledge and skills transfer, as well as adequate capacity building.

Our technology platforms will drive our messaging as we seek better member engagement, but also push us to ensure ease of business within our association, amongst member companies.

The entrepreneurial opportunities that the business events industry presents have been demonstrated by RISE, our community-based project that reflects the entrepreneurial spirit our country requires. This inclusive approach to bring new entrants into the business events industry is mirrored by our new membership tiers, which came into effect in 2019.

With constant membership growth and the SAACI online academy, we are confident that, as a good corporate citizen, we are actively making a difference – both economically and socially. Next year’s congress theme, ‘Welcome the Unknown’, could not be more apt, as it cannot be business as usual in 2020. In fact, it will be business unusual!

We encourage the business events industry to actively participate in discussion at the congress. Through robust engagement we may find some of the solutions we are looking for, and lasting memories are always made at the event. The congress will also embrace the youth, as the biggest challenge to growing our country and our industry is to disrupt the norm and make sure that the future of our industry is in capable hands.

At SAACI, we remain fully committed to driving the business events industry across Southern Africa to new heights in 2020 and continuing to provide our members with tangible value to their businesses.

We thank our members and the industry for the tremendous support received in 2019 and look forward to even more collaboration to face the challenges of 2020 head-on.

GREG MACMANUS Chairperson of the Event Greening Forum (EGF)

THE PAST YEAR has been particularly difficult for a number of industries, and the events sector has not been spared as the economy tightens and tourism experiences a particularly difficult year. Local companies have clearly cutback on their meetings and events – although there have been a number of significant events during the year, and the cost of travel – and South Africa’s notoriously high land costs, appear to be taking the shine out of this country as a MICE destination.

But having said this, we are a resolute and tenacious lot, and this year has seen a growing interest in greener events and the need to not only cut costs associated with events, but to start looking outside of the traditional ‘brown’ meeting box for exciting and memorable themes, venues and destinations for corporate meetings.

Part of the growth in the green sector has been driven by the corporate sectors growing awareness of sustainability and the need to ensure that they are seen to walk their sustainabilityvision talk by customers and shareholders. While much is being done in this space internally by corporates, PCOs and external service providers doing work for them don’t fully understand the potential that green meetings and events bring to them and their clients.

So looking forward to 2020, perhaps it’s worth looking at some trends that we believe will be experienced in this part of the world. companies and shareholders grow more aware of their responsibilities – looking past their need to contain costs and towards their image, the demand for greener and more responsible corporate events will grow. 2019 has been a year of awareness – both globally and locally, and we expect a growing demand for greener events to continue in 2020.

• e-Events: The cost of travel and its associated impacts will undoubtedly start having a more significant impact on the MICE sector in this country. We see greater acceptance of e-events and meetings as technology starts playing a greater role in how people participate in events and meetings. Technology has reached a point at which multi-continental meetings are becoming far-more likely, and this will reduce the number of delegates travelling to international events in the coming years.

• Climate change: Anyone who watches the news will appreciate that in spite of denialists such as Trump and other ‘flat-earthers’, climate change is going to affect the way that we meet and exchange ideas. There is far greater awareness of the impacts and associated damage that travel has on destinations, and the growing consumer outrage at the perceived lack of global action is informing their travel and business decisions more than we possibly understand. To attract delegates and visitors, event organisers and planners need to think differently and address the perceptions and fears of their target groups. 2020 is going to become the tipping point in global awareness.

• FOMO: Far too many PCOs and meetings professionals still don’t get it when it comes to more sustainable or responsible events. We believe those who want to remain relevant going into the next decade will need to hone their skills and awareness of green meetings and events. It’s not rocket-science, but there are still too many who think greener events are a passing fad when, in fact, this is the way of the future.

• Buying responsibly: From destinations, hotels, venues and transport systems, to gifting, entertainment and information distribution, we believe that 2020 will see greater awareness of the need to make event decisions more carefully and with greater attention to sustainability. The image of the event, its sponsors and clients will inform how PCOs and organisers make procurement decisions in 2020. Those who think it will be business as usual will probably not be in business in 2021.

GILL GIBBS Vice chairperson of the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA)

2018 THROUGH TO 2019 has seen our industry expanding, with ‘new kids on the block’. What this means, for all the various stakeholders, is that we must implement new strategies to manage, deliver and sustain our work, be prepared and be ready for the demand that we anticipate that 2020 will bring.

Pre-planning and implementing smart thought processes will see us minimising ever-increasing exhibiting expenses. EXSA is on a massive drive to regulate and credentialise the industry supplier sector, and we will be campaigning and sharing tips and tricks on how to minimise costs and time. Smooth buildups that save time, money, and promote sustainability are key objectives on our agenda.

A synopsis of trends

The emphasis is on creating spaces and environments that are important to attendees.

• Crowdsourcing content: The curation of content allows organisers to crowdsource their information and achieve a better understanding of what their attendees actually want, and not what they think is in demand – #drivingownership and incentivising attendees to attend.

• Speaker selection: A fresh look by reviewing new perspectives from inspiring leaders in and outside of our industry sector, to incite fresh insight across various themes and business strategies to assist our members and stakeholders. Content must yield and drive knowledge and be presented in engaging narrative and storytelling – think hologram presentations (#AI)

• Web and virtual reality events: VR continues to be an exciting offering, reaching global audiences through webcasting or livestreaming. This basically replicates all the content that is available to the attendees that are present and showcases it to a virtual audience. People who cannot attend still get to experience and engage in the event. No more #FOMO. This will not replace exhibitions – people need people contact, whether we are talking retail or exhibitions/events.

• It’s an APP world – mobile intelligent apps: AI-enabled event apps provide assistance to attendees from their objectives to their requirements on which sessions to attend, and what’s on offer.

• Facial feedback: Biometrics and AI can provide real-time feedback on how attendees are emotionally responding to the event or a specific session. Enhanced feedback surveys can be given on the spot.

• Technological innovation: Technology is moving fast, and is a fluid entity.

• By design: Storytelling through motion design/ animation. Less is still more, data is key and asymmetrical is the new look. To reuse and repurpose is paramount.

• By build: An emphasis on prefabrication to circumvent ever-decreasing buildup times. Think modular, whether bespoke or system. Repurposing is at the forefront. #smartbuilding

Africa is on the move and even more projects and exhibitions provide opportunity for additional revenue streams – provided that you plan, prepare and do your research. Avoid issues accordingly. Customs and ports are ever more difficult for contractor engagement.

Our industry will enjoy continued success when we are innovating, learning, and searching for ways to enhance the exhibition and event landscape, #drivingengagement. Exhibitors and attendees want tangible, memorable experiences and technology will tick these desired boxes and play an increasing pivotal role in amplifying and enhancing those experiences.

On a global level, we will see the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai, which will span over the period 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, with an anticipated 25 to 30 million visitors attending, 62 per cent of which will be international tourists. This prestigious and massive event that occupies 438 hectares and is themed Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. Design and architecture are top highlights. The committee chairman, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, has coined it a “festival of human ingenuity”, which will contribute to the development.

What does EXPO 2020 mean for the events and exhibitions industry?

It is a door to international opportunities, providing increased future collaborations and a celebration of current successes and projects.

TES PROOS Chairperson of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (Site) Africa chapter

2019 HAS BEEN an exciting time for SITE. September saw the rebranding of the chapter to now be fully inclusive: SITE Africa. The news has been very well-received across the continent, and we have already seen a growth in numbers, since the announcement. Incentive travel into East

Africa has grown in leaps and bounds. There is so much positive development going on in the regions, including the formation of a brand new Kenya Convention Bureau, so my prediction is “watch this space” – Africa is on the rise. We have appointed new ambassadors in the main regions and we look forward to working hand in hand to advance business tourism into and within Africa.

PROJENI PATHER Chairperson of Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO)

Turning it up!

Plagued by protests, a trash credit rating and many political storms, South Africa’s economy has had a tough time. And then we won the Rugby World Cup and realised that we can still win at this game called business. It is going to take some hard work and a rock-solid strategy, but exhibition organisers are known for their tenacity. Here’s what we see happening in the exhibition space next year.

Always on, always connected

We are living in an ‘always on’ culture, where there is greater demand for what we offer. And when the economy is in a state of decline, demand is something exhibition organisers need to be tuned in to. Attendees want 24/7 engagement from organisers, and the organisers are not about to disappoint. 2020 will be a year in which exhibition organisers rise to the challenge by maximising the use of chatbots to assist with immediate responses. Chatbots on apps and websites will allow visitors to find everything they need – now.

A focused strategy

Due to the slow decline in exhibitor participation, organisers will need to focus their strategy not only on exhibitor retention to ensure growth, but diversify their product offering, find new revenue streams and deliver exceptional value.

Regulation shapes how we market our events

With the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) coming into full force from 2020, organisers will have to be more careful when marketing directly to potential attendees. We will need to re-evaluate our optin marketing strategies or face severe penalties. And find new channels to reach old customers.

Embrace digital channels

The rise of digital marketing results in organisers being more inclined to spend the bulk of their budget on digital channels. We need to find a healthy balance between traditional and digital marketing and stop thinking of digital marketing as the enemy. When done right, digital marketing compliments our traditional efforts in ways we never thought possible. Further to this, the industry can see some interesting developments as organisers commercialise their own digital channels to establish new revenue streams.

Fiercely protect our customers

There is a need to tackle the rise of deceptive practices from companies scamming exhibitors in the industry, pretending to be part of the organiser team. These fraudsters are scamming exhibitors into purchasing attendee lists from them, or services not affiliated with the organisers.

Organisers will have to place more stringent communication in place to ensure clients don’t fall into this trap.

Innovation is key

Organisers are pushing forward by innovating in exhibitions to keep them relevant; exhibition attendees can look out for a more personalised experience overall especially

with all the digital tools now available: personalised show journeys, highly targeted communications, add-on VIPtype experiences, improved overall event experience as organisers focus on visitor experience as opposed to just getting feet through the door.

A big focus on people

Sourcing, growing and retaining talent is more important than ever to help us grow our exhibition industry. Exhibition organisers will lead the way in sourcing talent for the industry and invest substantially to grow and retain talent for future stability.

Overall, exhibition organisers will again rise to the challenge – and we invite our peers, suppliers and customers to rise with us.

CONVENTION BUREAUS

TAUBIE MOTLHABANE Head: Tshwane Tourism

BUSINESS EVENTS are still the most lucrative segment of the tourism industry with the growth of facilities being seen worldwide. Tshwane has seen a growth in events coming to the city due to the increased capacity of the destination, due to the Sun International, Time Square Arena, as well as the Maslow and Capital Hotels in the precinct. This is set to continue into 2020.

Tshwane has enjoyed an increase in the number of local association and regional conferences held across venues within the city. As an academic and research destination, majority of the conferences were linked to research and academia. This continues to position our City as the research hub of the Country, and dare we say the African continent.

We predict that in 2020, there will be more interest from associations, in destinations that position themselves as centres of knowledge and excellence. Investment attraction will also focus more on tourism investment – the recent Hotel Investment Africa conference and Tshwane Trade and Investment Summit are examples of this trend.

However, more and more meeting planners are also looking for destinations that can offer an integrated “bleisure” (business & leisure) offering for delegates. Delegates do not travel to visit conference rooms; they come to destinations, and the total experience will be expected in the future.

Having said that, the importance of conference venues’ technological capabilities and innovation cannot be overlooked. Technology is becoming an integral part of the requirements for planners from meeting venues. Venues will be expected to provide technology that supports easy and fast connectivity, delegate interaction, social networking, data security and simulcasting, to name just a few.

Conferences and exhibitions are becoming a favoured format of business events and more exhibition space will be required in the coming years. In the same vain, smaller venues and hotels will continue to see an increase in demand and become serious competitors for traditional conference centres. One other trend that will become a standard demand and expectation in the industry is the demand for fresh, wholesome and sustainably sourced food. There is a new “foodie nation” emerging in the meetings industry. Mediocre conference cuisine will no longer be accepted. Delegates are becoming increasingly discerning about what they eat and how it is sourced. Venues and planners must keep this in mind and can utilise this as a competitive edge for their destinations and services.

The business events industry will also see more young people (millennials) becoming important players and influencers. Africa is certainly becoming a destination of focus, hosting more and more regional business events (World Economic Forum in Cape Town).

Despite the sometimesworrying economic outlook in South Africa, I believe that the future of business events is good, but highly competitive. Destinations must work smartly to differentiate themselves in order to remain competitive.

RENDANI KHOROMMBI Deputy director, Johannesburg Convention Bureau

THE PAST YEAR has once again borne positive results for the Joburg Convention Bureau. Year on year, we’ve managed to keep abreast of developments on the international scene by participating in relevant roadshows and exhibitions, while also increasing our bid output to bring more convention business to our city.

As the Joburg Convention Bureau, we are thrilled that Johannesburg will be the host of the flagship SAACI Annual Congress in July 2020. This bodes extremely well for us on all fronts and is a great incentive to continue our efforts in showcasing Joburg’s credentials as a premier, global business events destination.

In the case of secured meetings, we’ve hosted numerous site inspections and we’re also working with local committees in an effort to offer onsite services. While I’m happy to report that we have a number of bids in progress for meetings to be held between now and 2021, I’d like to remind our stakeholders that our doors are always open to partnerships that can help increase the number of events we bring to Joburg.

In 2019 Joburg Tourism launched its Tourism Ambassador Programme, with the objective of making Johannesburg a safer destination, leading to an increased number of tourists visiting the City for both leisure and business.

In collaborating with the City’s Department of Public Safety, the Joburg Tourism Ambassador Programme creates visibility at tourism sites and attractions. This is a proactive initiative which is set to reduce the number of security incidents affecting tourists and residents. Secondly, the ambassadors will assist in providing tourism information to tourists and visitors.

In terms of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy (GDS), the Joburg 2040 – tourism remains an economic growth imperative on the city’s agenda. In line with the prioritisation of achieving increased visitor arrivals in the city and contributing towards the economic growth target of 5per cent by 2021, Joburg Tourism has sought ways to facilitate the tourism experience at sites and attractions in the City, rendering them safe, pleasant, informative and memorable.

Things are going from strength to strength – I’m extremely positive, believe that the trend is set to continue and that 2020 will be a great year for business events in Johannesburg, South Africa and indeed, the entire African continent.

SONTO NDLOVU Chief executive officer of Limpopo Tourism Agency

THERE IS NO DOUBT that South Africa is experiencing protracted, tough economic times, with estimated GDP growth of just around 0.5 per cent for 2019, and 1.2 per cent in 2020, while most of its African counterparts like Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria and Ethiopia are experiencing quite good economic growths of between 3-7 per cent.

While not good news for South Africa, the better economic performance of the other African states could present an opportunity for SA because in a way travellers from these African destinations will likely have more disposable income.

South Africa thus becomes an accessible and affordable travel alternative, whether for leisure or business events for these African travellers, when compared to overseas travel destinations. What also becomes attractive is the variety of lifestyle and business events hosted in various parts of the country. Add shopping to this and without a doubt, business events travel into South Africa is likely to experience a positive growth.

Challenges often present opportunities for extraordinary and innovative thinking, but also demand a high degree of partnerships and collaboration. South African tourism players will be forced to think outside the box in order to find new ways to defend market share and also stimulate tourism growth. This is no time for working in silos. There are huge demands on the new administration to put in action initiatives and efforts to grow the economy following the elections in May 2019.

On the one hand, domestic tourism is not likely to grow in 2019, given the tough economic times, high levels of unemployment (now at around 29 per cent) and further austerity measures being implemented on government employees, who make up a huge portion of VFR travellers.

Limpopo as a province, which is largely dependent on the VFR market, will be heavily hit. This calls for the tourism industry to be creative with their pricing structures ensuring packaged experiences that deliver value for money.

On the other hand, international arrivals will likely show positive growth. This will be largely due to the growing economies in many African countries, but also the recent visa waivers and the scrapping of the unabridged birth certificate for your travellers into SA. These legislative changes will likely have a positive impact on SA's international arrivals. In addition the ongoing weakening of the ZAR will make SA more affordable for international travellers.

Limpopo is strategically positioned as the gateway into SADC, as such should benefit from intra-Africa travel from the neighbouring countries – Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Limpopo Tourism Agency will continue its destination marketing efforts to raise awareness about the province’s capacity and capability to host local and international meetings as it builds additional capacity to bid for small to medium association meetings.

We are excited that in 2019 Limpopo hosted a number of international association meetings which have assisted to build momentum and excitement about the destination. The hosting of the IFES World Assembly (1500 delegates) in Bela Bela in July 2019, has certainly been a springboard for the destination and assisted in creating interest about Limpopo as a contender for international meetings.

The advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution cannot be ignored by destinations like Limpopo despite the fact that the province is predominantly rural.

We are excited that the Limpopo Provincial government is currently rolling out broadband across the province. Such an initiative will go a long way in improving connectivity for tourists but also assist trade partners and the destination to be more globally competitive.

In summary, 2020 will be a year of rebuilding, consolidating and reimagining South Africa's tourism approach into the next 25 years. It will be a year of going back to the drawing board and reviewing tourism strategies, particularly domestic tourism. It is also an opportunity to reflect on and find a more effective collaboration mechanism between national and provincial tourism entities and the industry. This will be critical given the ongoing economic and unemployment challenges in the country at the moment. We are likely to have stronger collaboration between African states in order to enable growth in intra-Africa travel. President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of tourism in growing the economy, and tourism players will need to take that to heart and work together to ensure that tourism is a catalyst for future economic growth.

LINDIWE RAKHAREBE Chief executive officer of Durban ICC

THE YEAR 2019 proved to be another highly successful year of operation for the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) and the business events industry as a whole, despite the tough economic climate.

Our outstanding performance as the centre translated into significant direct and indirect impact on South Africa’s and KwaZulu-Natal’s economies.

The Durban ICC, being the first purpose-built convention centre in the country, hosted a significant number of events this past year, reinforcing our position as Africa’s leading meetings and conference centre.

As a result the Durban ICC injected a staggering R6.3- billion into South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product and over 14 000 permanent and temporary jobs were created as a result of the centre’s activities over the past financial year.

For the past two decades we have been honoured to be the host venue of many significant international conferences, and we have seen the amazing impact which events can have on society.

Now we are drawing our collective events experience and using our magnificent facility to initiate and develop meaningful events which can contribute positively to our communities and society at large.

The Durban ICC Leadership Summit brand was launched in August 2019, and marks an important milestone along our journey of establishing South Africa, and KwaZulu- Natal, as a global leader in developing intellectual capital and an investment destination of choice.

We are confident that our sustained efforts will enable us to further strengthen our position in the market and explore new partnership opportunities.

With yet another successful year behind us, we are filled with optimism and a renewed sense of vigor, as we gear up to set new milestones in 2020. Technology, relevance and innovation such as developing digital platforms or event specific apps which can increase the effectiveness of networking are key trends for 2020 that will ensure that delegates have a more memorable experience. Delegates are looking for convenience and being able to access information at their fingertips.

Environmental sustainability, catering and food safety are other important elements that delegates pay careful attention to, such as the venue’s use of biodegradable packaging products in order to reduce the harm to the environment.

Another popular trend to consider is the selection of suppliers who use locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. As such, the Durban ICC uses seasonal, locally-sourced produce thus ensuring that our meals are cooked with fresh, high-quality ingredients, while supporting our emerging local farmers.

Another key element for any conference or event is catering to special dietary requirements such as glutenfree, plant-based, vegan offerings as well as dairy or lactose-free dishes. Delegates are particularly looking for healthier food options.

Conference delegates also emphasise the importance of balancing business and leisure as part of the event’s itinerary. This trend includes the use of outdoor venues that encourage delegates’ overall well-being by ensuring that they get fresh air and natural light.

Delegates also look forward to events that have practical elements such as interactive workshops or guided tours of the destination city for a holistic cultural experience.

CRAIG NEWMAN Chief executive officer of Johannesburg Expo Centre

DESPITE THE ECONOMIC slow-down in South Africa and the global geopolitical situation, the MICE industry is still said to grow in 2020.

Even though the South African events industry is suffering under the current economic situation, keeping conferences in line with the trends is key. It is clear that exhibition and conference attendance is shrinking, making it a tough environment to be in.

Still, the Johannesburg Expo Centre believes that this is the type of environment that presents an opportunity for growth.

2019 has seen some of South Africa’s best and largest events take form at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, including the Rand Show, Automechanika, China Home Life, Jehovah Witness, the SATDU Conference and many more. There is an increase in investment into the MICE industry by government and public sectors, with most conferences and exhibitions being supported by these sectors. Johannesburg Expo Centre’s CEO, Craig Newman says: “That’s where the growth and development in our industry lies going forward.”

In a time of rapid innovation in technology, economic investment and advances in sustainability, the global meetings and events industry is still valued at an estimated $840 billion. There are numerous trends and predictions to keep in mind for 2020, with safety and technology taking priority.

Social media and digitalisation

Although social media has become a must in most businesses, it has also created what is referred to as social media noise. Therefore, more and more companies are realising the value of hosting face-to-face events and large chunks of marketing budgets are being allocated to live events. The industry has also shown growth in digitalisation with the increased development of event websites and mobile apps. There’s also the rollout of 5G – allowing faster connections for delegates – to look forward to in 2020.

Sustainability and responsible business

One of the biggest buzz words for 2020 is sustainability – whether it’s environmental, economic or social. In addition to educating and creating business development opportunities, more and more companies hosting events are assessing the impact of their events on local communities.

Creativity is key

Instead of just consolidating smaller meetings, clients are now adding more creative events. Even though they require the usual formalities, they also want to ensure that their events are not standardised and boring. People don’t want to just attend events anymore; they want to participate. As with the travel industry, the experience economy has also grown tremendously and will keep doing so in 2020.

Safety and security

Security is one of the main reasons for modified itineraries, followed by country risk ratings and natural disasters. Meetings and event’s organisers consider safety and security a top priority. Still, they are not willing to hold back on adventure and choice of destination, which also has an impact on event management. This has created a new business opportunity with medical and security risk service companies providing clients with pre-travel risk assessments to decide whether a destination is suitable.

BRONWEN CADLE DE PONTE General manager of CSIR ICC

IN THE FACE OF accelerating change and persistent stringent, unpredictable economic and political landscapes, with endless ripple effects, who is to say what will happen next in our business events industry. Excuse my paradox, but one thing for sure is that uncertainty in the business events industry is certain in the foreseeable future.

The frequency and impact of business disruptions are on the rise. 4IR has become the new buzz word, but how many of us really understand what it truly means for our industry and, can we really predict its impacts with certainty? The Fourth Industrial Revolution also brings with it a lot of new and complex ethics and policy questions which we will need to address as an industry while we have not yet completely risen to the challenge to professionalise our sector and rid it of uncompetitive behavior and unethical remuneration models. Price wars continue to escalate due to the lack of economic growth and continue to result in compromised quality and this is affecting our reputation as a destination. A combination of the above factors may even derail our concerted efforts to achieve increased collaboration. I hope not.

On a positive note such challenges bring about many opportunities. Opportunities to ground ourselves, to reach back into our culture as South Africans and apply Ubuntu principles as a lifebelt to bind us together to navigate these turbulent waters and emerge triumphant as a strong, united sector in South Africa on the international stage.

During these unsettled and uncertain times I would think that it would be wise to revisit the basics: to ensure that we have strong foundations; to educate ourselves enough to separate the proverbial grey areas into black and white; and to not get distracted or misled by impracticable trends but, to be inspired. To be inspired by the changes happening around us to develop, and deliver, an improved unique and attractive market offering, as a country, as only South Africans can! In this age of rapid technological change, disruption, and increasing “disconnectedness”, our ethos, our humanity, and our ability to make our customers’ smile becomes progressively important which bodes very well for South Africa and the meetings industry in particular.

CHARLES WILSON Chief executive officer of Gallagher Convention Centre

THE BUSINESS EVENTS industry cultivates detailorientated, pressureproof people, and 2019 was no different.

It is very important to first reflect on the past year before looking ahead to what 2020 might bring for the industry. 2019 Brought challenges such as tighter budgets and some uncertainty around the time of the elections. We experienced event organisers having to innovate amongst the pressure of “getting more for less”. 2019 again reiterated the importance of cultivating lasting relationships with clients in order to find workable solutions for them amidst challenging budgets. Knowing what we have learned from 2019, we have to look towards 2020. In my opinion, we need to see more innovation from long-standing events as organisers will have to reinvent their events, balancing their budget, public interest, and keeping their product fresh.

Venues such as Gallagher Convention Centre will continuously reinvent their offering to meet the everchanging needs of clients.

Technological innovation will continue to influence the MICE industry as well as exhibitions; in 2019, we saw a rise in the popularity of Virtual Reality stands and 2020 would continue along this trajectory.

The industry is taking note of companies that are reinvesting in their future by reinvesting in their product and facilities. As a service-orientated company, we understand the importance of continuously upskilling our people, reinventing our product and reinvesting in our facilities. In 2020 the need for venues to modernise their catering offering will continue.

At Gallagher we customdesigned food trollies to offer a practical solution to the food truck trend. These food trollies enable us to serve a much larger number, quicker and without compromising on the health and safety standards of the products served. The coming year will also see us continuing with our project to renovate the restroom facilities at Gallagher Convention Centre as we understand that organisers want to see the venue they book keep up with the times.

In keeping with what we have seen recently, the trend of lastminute bookings will continue in 2020. This trend creates an environment where venues such as Gallagher Convention Centre needs to be on standby to create spectacular events with very short notice.

In 2020 clients will demand more from their suppliers due to the challenge of juggling shrinking budgets and growing expectations. Venues committed to realising the client’s vision and offering superior service will thrive.

MARK JAKINS Premier Hotels and Resorts group sales, revenue and marketing director

KEY PREDICTIONS and take-outs for 2020:

• Short term bookings and rate negotiations will continue. Value-for-money is everything.

• Everyone from bluechip corporates to government departments, to individuals, will continue to display frugalness.

• Well-maintained properties will continue to be an important factor as organisers look for venues in great locations that are easily accessible.

• It will be imperative that technology works, that Wi-Fi is available and working and that conferencing equipment is reliable. It sounds obvious but these factors are critical for delegate and speaker wellbeing and for their respective company message to be effectively communicated to their delegates.

• Menu variety is key. Venues need to provide a variety of catering options from healthy to abundant, along with quick and efficient service from caring and well-trained staff. Dietary needs for different cultures continues to grow in importance.

• Consistency remains everything. Longer conferences are often plagued by inconsistent standards and venues will strive to up their game in this regard.

• It is important to have senior management involved to sort out problems immediately. Problems will happen but the recovery will win the day!

• Everyone wants a great overall experience and this will be heightened in 2020 – indoors, outdoors, entertainment, keeping fit, culinary, sleeping etc.

• BEE credentials will also be very important in determining support for venues. A consideration will also be what venues are giving back to their local communities to justify bringing the conference or event to that venue. Sustainability in South Africa is important in establishing trust for your brand.

It is these core insights that have driven Premier Hotel and Resorts through 2019 and it will be interesting to see the results into 2020. The fact remains, business and leisure guests will continue to expect quality, variety and service when it comes to this sector and Premier Hotel and Resorts is determined to meet the demands as they grow further in this market.