Business Events Africa — February 2023

UNLOCKING AFRICA’S SUCCESS THROUGH QUALITY CONNECTIONS

Business Events Africa: Serving

the business events industry for 43 years

CONTENTS

VOL 43 NO 2

FEBRUARY 2023

About the cover

Meetings Africa looks to increase the number of African exhibitors to 20 countries.

PERSONALITY PROFILE

40 Phenyo Marumo –‘Learn from others with integrity’.

CHEFS PROFILE

42 Chef Samantha Tait – loves to experiment.

GLOBAL NEWS

44 Dubai wins 232 bids for business events in 2022, almost twice as many as 2021.

Cover Feature

COVER STORY

6 Greater African representation expected at Meetings Africa 2023.

On the pages…

EDITOR’S COMMENT

4 Never miss an opportunity to learn.

NEWS

5 Cape Town and the Western Cape gearing up for an economic boost.

EXHIBITORS – MEETINGS AFRICA

10 It’s time to meet in #MauritiusNow

12 Northern Cape – an extraordinary meeting and incentive destination.

NEW EXHIBITION

15 RX Africa launches the Infosecurity Africa event.

UFI REPORT

16 UFI Global Barometer shows positive outlook for 2023.

TOP EXHIBITION SUPPLIER FEATURE

20 Barmotion — a taste for exhibition engagement.

22 Garona — turning ideas into reality.

26 Inspire Furniture — expands with Connecta-Floor.

28 Scan Display – two decades of experience.

CENTURY CITY

29 Century City for work and play.

30 Century City Conference Centre & Hotels — all about people and planet.

MARKET NEWS

33 IFES forges new strategic partnership with IAPCO.

IELA REPORT-BACK

34 Building the future of exhibition logistics at the IELA 2023 Winter Seminar.

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

38 Why Deaf accessibility makes business sense.

46 KLCC to welcome over 700,000 delegates in 2023.

INCENTIVE IDEA

47 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ new ‘Experiences at Sea’ division.

VENUE NEWS

48 New executive chef brings exotic flavours to Taj Cape Town.

49 Wild Coast Sun named best luxury beach resort in South Africa.

TRENDSETTING

50 This year’s trends for the tourism and hospitality industries.

MARKET NEWS

52 Domestic tourism to stabilise, a bumpy international ride.

53 Huge growth potential for Africa’s hotel and hospitality sector in 2023.

Association news

EVENT GREENING FORUM

54 Why you should do a waste audit. SAACI

55 The delegate economy. SITE

56 Reviewing some of the travel and tourism industry’s basic principles — part 2. EXSA

58 ‘EXSA-lusive’ benefits of EXSA.

AAXO

60 2023 — growing Africa’s thriving exhibition industry.

Regulars

62 Directory. MARKET NEWS

64 The Rand Show returns in April. INDEX

64 Index of advertisers and contributors. THE LAST WORD

65 Trends to look out for in 2023.

HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 414, Kloof 3640, South Africa

TEL: +27 31 764 6977

FAX: 086 762 1867

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Malcolm King malcolm@contactpub.co.za

EDITOR: Irene Costa gomesi@iafrica.com

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Vincent Goode vincent@contactpub.co.za

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Jackie Goosen jackie@contactpub.co.za

SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Irene Costa +27 (0)82 558 7387 gomesi@iafrica.com

PUBLICATION DETAILS: Volume 43 No 2

Business Events Africa has 12 issues a year and is published monthly. This magazine is currently only available in digital format.

UNLOCKING AFRICA’S SUCCESS THROUGH QUALITY CONNECTIONS

Never miss an opportunity to learn

More than ever before, people are craving experiences.

Experience can mean various things. When I think of experiences, I think of how something makes me feel, it is something that leaves me inspired, something that makes a mark, and is stored in my memory bank. No, I am not talking about social media posts. Honestly, I think that can take away from an experience.

Business events is, without a doubt, experience driven; one could even say they’re a creator of lifetime experiences.

Be it a conference, an exhibition and – even more so – an incentive that facilitates experiences.

The legacy a business event leaves is by far the biggest ‘experience’ one can have, and this experience can go both ways. The social impact an event has on a destination, its long-term social economic benefits through various programmes left by the conference, exhibition, event or incentive is definitely life-changing.

As a destination, the beauty is part of an experience, but it goes so much further. From the natural beauty, the culture, the location, the attractions, to the heritage and the food, glorious food. There is something about food, the smell, the flavour, that can ignite memories of old and new. Service is in the heart of most experiences. Service comes down to people.

South Africa experienced a brain-drain during the pandemic. What this means is we saw a number of our industry experts leave the industry and, in some cases, the country.

Service levels in South Africa have hit a hurdle. It is by no means dire — in fact, it can be seen as a

positive. As the business events industry, this gives us an amazing opportunity to bring in new people and upskill students to the standards we expect in our industry. The youth are our future, with new perspectives and enthusiasm.

Recently, I was invited to attend the IELA Winter Seminar (page 10) at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. The event offered thity-one students a high-quality educational programme focused on the daily responsibilities of exhibition freight forwarders and on-site operations businesses.

During my time at the seminar, I was impressed by these 31 students from all corners of the world. Their enthusiasm for the industry was contagious, and their gratitude for being invited to participate in this seminar was palpable. They took every opportunity to network and engage with fellow industry colleagues. The delegates I chatted to

were all very excited to learn from the exhibition freighting stalwarts and newcomers, like themselves, who were in attendance. And, of course, they were so enthralled to be in South Africa and get to ‘experience’ Cape Town during their stay and, for some, a post event. For most, Cape Town is an undiscovered ‘country’, and hopefully they visit again as tourists, due to this one event.

Our local industry associations could learn a lot from IELA with regard to youth development. Maybe there is an opportunity to collaborate with IELA regarding their youth development?

What I learnt from IELA, is never miss an opportunity to learn and experience new things.

A breakout session at IELA.

Cape Town and the Western Cape gearing up for an economic boost

Wesgro’s Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau has secured 27 bids in the past year that take place in the destination between 2022-2024, and beyond.

Following the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic — the destination will welcome an estimated 20,000 delegates from the bids secured over the next few years, with an estimated R393.4-million to be injected into the local economy as a result of the secured business events.

Mireille Wenger, provincial minister of finance and economic opportunities in the Western Cape, said: “The economic boost and job creation facilitated by large events is crucial to the growth of our local business tourism sector. We applaud Wesgro, and the strides that have been made to keep Cape Town and the Western Cape on the map as a premium business events destination. Every visitor is a potential investor. We look forward to hosting delegates from around the globe — providing us with the opportunity to showcase the capabilities of our local industries spanning a wide range of sectors.”

Conferences secured span aviation, engineering, entrepreneurship, green

economy, investment, medical, manufacturing, veterinary science, as well as the tech sector.

Wrenelle Stander, chief executive officer of Wesgro, added: “I am proud to announce that large conferences are back. Business events from both the domestic and international markets have tremendous economic impact for the province. Moving beyond the economic boost, the events secured bring immeasurable value to our status as a knowledge hub on the continent — reaffirming our place as the destination where great minds meet.”

Conferences secured with a focus on the African continent include the Africa Fintech Summit — which took place at the end of last year in November; the All Africa Exhibition, Africa Partnership for Growth; Africa Investment Indaba; and the Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA) Congress and African Chiropractic Federation AGM.

Assisting in the securing of bids, Wesgro continues to work alongside

the South African National Convention Bureau, as well as local organisations to build its bid pipeline. The Bureau’s partnership with the Western Province Blood Services was instrumental in securing the International Society of Blood Transfusion Regional Congress, scheduled to take place in November this year.

Spotlighting gains to be made by the tourism value chain, Alderman James Vos, mayoral committee member for economic growth at the City of Cape Town, concluded: “Business events are intrinsically linked to leisure tourism — creating a positive knock-on effect for local hotels, restaurants, and attractions. As such, I’m happy to say that the City of Cape Town, through my department, will fund the Convention Bureau. We extend a warm welcome to the delegates expected to visit the Mother City over the course of the next few years, and encourage a return with family and friends to fully experience the rich experiences on offer in our city.”

Greater African representation expected at Meetings Africa 2023

Meetings Africa, the continent’s premier business events industry gathering, is setting the bar higher than ever before, as it looks to increase the number of African exhibitors to 20 countries.

According to Zinhle Nzama, acting chief convention bureau officer at the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB), the increase in the number of African exhibitors is an indication that leaders throughout Africa recognise the business events industry as vital to the continent’s economy. “As Africa’s economy shifts towards a technological future characterised by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, more nations are building their business events industries to attract foreign investors and businesses.”

Ms Nzama said that Africa provides

the business events industry with a host of experiences unmatched anywhere in the world. “We have the technological and infrastructural capabilities to host big events, much like other industrialised nations. Couple that with African hospitality and warmth and you have a recipe for a kaleidoscopic experience, one that immerses you into the fabric of this great continent.”

Hosted buyers

She said that Meetings Africa is still the continent’s most valuable business events gathering as it attracts the world’s best buyers and exhibitors. “There

are high-quality delegates that attend the trade show, thanks to a globally benchmarked vetting process that selects only the best buyers in the world.” This year, Meetings Africa is aiming to bring three-hundred-and-fifty international buyers to the show. Meetings Africa has confirmed three-hundred-and-twenty so far, from fifty-seven countries.

Fresh ideas boost the economy

Ms Nzama, said the show’s new theme, Africa’s success built on quality connections, is about connecting people and ideas that will drive Africa forward. “Expanding African representation means

that we are looking to bring in fresh ideas and to show our partners that this platform is serious about boosting Africa’s economic development.”

Ms Nzama referred to Meetings Africa’s new logo and positioning as a symbol of developing new perspectives that can restore the business events industry to profitability. “To stay relevant and fresh, we would need to deploy a bit of elasticity to our thinking. That means we would need to share our unique differentiators and stories in person and learn from our peers and industry leaders on how to succeed in the future.”

African exhibitors in for a treat

“The value of Meetings Africa for exhibitors is twofold: they will have the chance to trade with credible buyers on the floor and drive relevant leads and they will garner unique insights from businesses and speakers at the Boma Talks to help drive their success,” Ms Nzama said.

Niche Partners, a research group that publishes the annual African Perspectives on the MICE Industry Report, considers the African business events industry nascent and that it is yet to reach some level of maturity. In its most recent report in 2021, Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Africa were lauded for their mature business events industries and for recognising the sector as an important part of their national tourism strategies.

South Africa still holds the trump card on the continent. For the 2022/23 financial year, the SANCB together with its partners, have already managed to secure thirty-four of the seventynine bids for international meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The secured bids are estimated to

305 exhibitors representing the African countries have confirmed their spots on the Meetings Africa 2023 trade floor, so far. They will have the opportunity to interact with thousands of buyers from around the world, expected at the event. The African countries represented are Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Sudan.

Zinhle Nzama, acting chief convention bureau officer at the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB).

contribute R288-million to the South African economy between 2022 and 2025, a great return on investment on the 17.3-million the SANCB had invested in the bid support programme.

“Africa is the perfect business events destination. Our infrastructure and health and safety standards are on par with most industrialised countries,” Ms Nzama said.

Christine Vel, from Tourism Seychelles, said that their biggest mission at Meetings Africa 2023 is to “be able to network and make new contacts which will help with future promotion of our destination”.

“We hope for a very positive impact with the interest of small incentive

group companies to visit and sell the destination,” Ms Vel said.

Ms Vel said that Tourism Seychelles would love to use Meetings Africa 2023 “to meet buyers from all over and have the chance to present our destination and how we could work with incentive groups”.

Annemarie Lewox, account manager at Southern Spoor is upbeat about Meetings Africa 2023.

“We want to observe the changes in the market, the new role-players and market aggregators, and gain additional exposure to new visitors. It is important to see what the market is looking for, what it’s expecting and if it’s ready to embrace new concepts,” Ms Lewox said.

Ms Lewox urged buyers to get ready for an exciting Meetings Africa 2023 and to interact with the new

products exhibiting at the show.

“Many a buyer has attended Meetings Africa at least once before and, instead of keeping to your comfort zone and reaching out to the products you know and are familiar with, challenge yourself and see what is new. Be curious… there is a world out there ready to experience out-of-the-ordinary, fresh and innovative concepts. Do not overlook a name or brand you do not know. Spend the time this year and explore the less familiar. You may just be pleasantly surprised,” she said.

Follow Meetings Africa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using #MeetingsAfrica2023 and #VisitSouthAfrica. To participate at Meetings Africa 2023, register at www.meetingsafrica.co.za and play your part in unlocking Africa’s opportunities through quality connections.

Exhibitor – Tourism Seychelles

Exhibitor – Southern Spoor

Mauritius has positioned itself as one of the top MICE destinations, and being voted as the Indian Ocean’s Best MICE Destination for 2022 is the industry stamp of approval. With a wide choice of accommodation options, activities, and venues, from stunning beach-side resorts to business hotels, independent conference rooms and the largest multipurpose conference centre in the region, offering state-of-the-art equipment and quality service, Mauritius is open for business.

This – and so much more – is what makes Mauritius the ideal destination for your next meeting, conference, group incentive or event… so, come and experience the island’s amazing warmth, people, and hospitality. Mauritius is waiting to welcome you!

www.mymauritius.travel

www.mauritiusnow.com

www.ratherbeinmauritius.co.za

Email: mauritius@meropa.co.za

It’s time to meet in #MauritiusNow

Mauritius is open for business, and this beautiful Indian Ocean island is the perfect destination to host your next group, whether it’s for a meeting, incentive trip, conference, an event or exhibition. With its well-established, world-class MICE facilities and tropical setting, Mauritius is an ideal destination for South African groups looking for a unique and rewarding experience.

Combining quality and elegance with a touch of island-style flair, MICE buyers are invited to experience Mauritius for groups, large or small, all year round. No matter the size of the group, Mauritius delivers world-class, luxury MICE packages at superbly appointed, business-friendly venues across the island.

Over the years, Mauritius has positioned itself as one of the top MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destinations, offering scenic beauty, hidden treasures to explore and an exotic meltingpot of cuisines and cultures. Being named Indian Ocean’s Best MICE Destination for 2022 at the World MICE Awards is testament to this from the travel and tourism industry.

If you’re planning an incentive trip to reward your top performers, an international conference for a few thousand delegates, an exclusive high-level meeting for a business or government delegation or a product launch event, look no further than the island for the perfect venue, staffed by a professional and dedicated

support team, to deliver your special event.

Mauritius offers the MICE buyer the infrastructure to cater for a variety of groups and sizes, all year round, as a MICE-friendly destination. The quality and variety of accommodation, the attention to detail in service delivery, state-of-the-art conferencing venues, qualified and friendly staff, and a variety of additional activities on offer, all guarantee a unique experience.

Boasting the largest and most modern multimedia convention centre in the Indian Ocean region, the Swami Vivekananda Conference Centre provides all the facilities needed for large, international conferences, and can accommodate up to 5,000 people.

Other venues include the Free Port Trade & Exhibition Centre in Mer Rouge (up to 1,000 delegates), Trianon Convention Centre in Trianon (up to 3,000 delegates) and the newly-opened The Caudan Conference Centre (up to 400) in Port Louis. Many of the Mauritian hotels and resorts also offer conference facilities and unique areas within

the properties for spectacular marquees and setups to cater for up to 800 people at a time. The island boasts a host of activities specifically geared for MICE groups, ranging from golf and adventure sports such as quad-biking, trekking, mountain biking and trail-running to zip-lining, fishing, kitesurfing, parasailing, canoeing and skydiving. Mauritius’ stunning outdoor locations are made for interactive and adrenalin-fueled activities and adventures that are perfect for team building. There are also many cultural and culinary festivities and spiritual festivals that can also be enjoyed.

Mauritius has a tropical climate, with warm weather all year round. The best months to visit are from May to December, when the weather is cooler, dry and sunny.

Enjoy everything that Mauritius has to offer as your ideal MICE destination, combining quality, elegance and style, in a perfect paradise island setting!

It’s time to meet in Mauritius and discover #MauritiusNow

The VAT Refund Scheme has been introduced to encourage the business and entertainment event industry to anchor major international events in Mauritius.

1. The event organiser is required to register the specific event before the date of the event on the website of EDB at http:// forms.edbmauritius.org/cn/al935/MICE

• Particulars of event organiser.

• Date of event.

• Location of event.

• Total number of visitors expected.

2. Following the event, the organiser is required to submit to EDB, not later than 60 days following the event, the following mandatory documents:

• A duly filled-in application form (https:// www.mra.mu/download/VAT7D.pdf).

• List of visitors who attended the event, including details on nationality, passport number, arrival date and hotel check in/out dates.

• Accommodation confirmation letter from hotel to confirm that the listed

visitors provided resided at the hotel (stay period to be specified).

• VAT invoice/s and receipt/s issued by the hotel for accommodation costs in respect of the visitors/group.

• Details of the event and event organiser.

3. An assessment will be done by EDB; upon satisfactory compliance with set criteria and conditions as per requirements of the VAT Act, a statement will be issued by EDB to the applicant certifying inter-alia, the following:

• that the event has taken place.

• that the event has been attended by a minimum of 50 visitors.

• that each visitor has stayed for at least three nights.

• the qualifying accommodation costs and corresponding amount of VAT paid in respect of the visitors. The application is then recommended to the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) for a refund of VAT (15%) on qualifying accommodation costs.

MICE Incentive Programme — Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA)

Group size from 100 to 250 people: Rupees 100,000

Group size above 250 people: Rupees 200,000

• MICE incentive buyers should submit their proposals with details on the event, conference, incentive or meeting taking place in Mauritius.

• Minimum group size should be 100 tourists/ foreign participants per event.

• Minimum three-night stay per passenger per group in a hotel should be confirmed.

• A contract will be signed; refund of expenses will be made after the event, on production of original invoices duly certified by the main MICE incentive house or by the local representative or organisation, if they are represented locally.

• In case the payment has to be effected directly to the service provider, the local representative or organisation will need to submit the business registration number of the local service provider or an attestation/ evidence from the overseas service provider. The sponsorship should be used to cover costs incurred in Mauritius relating to, inter-alia:

• Entertainment (gala dinner/lunch hosted by the MTPA).

• Cultural events and shows (including special and personalised arrangements for welcome at the airport such as folklore show).

• Venue set up for an event including decoration, marquees, etc.

• Transport and logistics.

• Any other tourism-related activity approved by MTPA.

#MauritiusNow

#RatherMeetInMauritius

www.mymauritius.travel

www.mauritiusnow.com

www.ratherbeinmauritius.co.za

For more information:

Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA)

SA Representative: Meropa communications

Hermina Sennelo / Liana Barnard

Email: mauritius@meropa.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)11 506 7300

Mice Vat Refund Scheme — Economic Development Board (EDB) Mauritius

Northern Cape – an extraordinary meeting and incentive destination

Welcome to the Northern Cape, one of Southern Africa’s fastest growing business events destinations. This province, the largest within South Africa, is a modern growing region with a choice of meeting venues with sophisticated technology and accommodation to meet every price point. It further features a landscape brimming with dramatic beauty, a rich culture and history with ancient wisdoms, warm hospitality, and some of the world’s greatest ‘bucket list’ experiences on offer.

Te Northern Cape, South Africa, has the proven capacity and world-class infrastructure to successfully host major international business events and meetings. Our strength relies on the diversity of our destination, not only in terms of our welcoming people and rich culture, but in our ability to deliver the dynamic, flexible and value-for-money attributes of a major global business events destination. We deliver world-class infrastructure, without compromising on the authentic, distinctly ‘African’ business and leisure environment.

The Northern Cape Tourism Authority acts as a ‘one stop solution’

for independent information and assistance, giving neutral advice on all aspects of hosting and organising any business event in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Meeting, event and incentive planners will have ease of access to all the information they require on the destination, simplifying their processes and making turnaround time significantly quicker.

Conferences and Meetings

Superior venues are located throughout the province, with excellent accessibility by road from major national highways as well as easy transfers from the centrally located airports at Kimberley and Upington.

Anchoring Kimberley’s meeting industry is the impressive Mittah Seperepere International Convention Centre. The MSICC is a flexible venue that accommodates a wide variety of functions, with the capacity to host virtually any convention, exhibition, product launch, or gala dinners. It can accommodate up to 1,000 delegates. Many of the Northern Cape’s hotels offer meeting venues as well. These are versatile and fully equipped, accommodating up to 600 guests in Kimberley, 250 in Upington and 200 in Springbok. The multipurpose venues provide the ideal location for corporate conferences, meetings, product launches throught to gala dinners and more.

Mittah Seperepere International Convention Centre.

The varied tourism offerings and leisure experiences make the Northern Cape especially attractive for pre and post tours and the incentive travel market with teambuilding activities such as fly fishing, river rafting, sandboarding and 4x4 challenges available in abundance. The astonishing array of outdoor adventures and nature experiences further add to the unique tourism diversity of the province.

The three main conferencing towns offers a large choice of accommodation for varying budgets ranging from luxury fivestar breakaways to four-star hotels, guest lodges and guest houses.

Incentives — unique, memorable and inspirational

Travel incentives are highly desired rewards. In comparison to cash, travel rewards are experiences those incentive delegates will remember for a lifetime. There really is no better way to reward your incentive groups than an unforgettable, lifeenriching trip to the Northern Cape.

Splendid natural beauty, diverse and iconic cultures, warm hospitably, award-winning food and wine, luxury accommodation, natural wonders, spirit of Ubuntu, fascinating wildlife and a select range of products and services within the province, combined with an efficient infrastructure makes the Northern Cape an excellent choice for your incentive and meetings programs.

Events

We offer a full spectrum of event support services to ensure a successful and memorable event. As a local expert, we work closely with handpicked suppliers to provide innovative and professional services.

Our services

The Northern Cape Tourism Authority’s expert local knowledge will ensure that you have the best conference, meeting or event in Southern Africa. We assist planners with finding the most appropriate venues and service providers, and provide destination information that will be suitable, based on event profiles.

• Bid support for national and international events/conferences/ meetings.

• Current databases of Northern Cape products.

• Negotiating rates with hotels, tour operators etc.

• Airport welcome and departure desk.

• Delegate boosting, hosting and site visits.

• Pre- and post-tours and accompanied person’s programme.

• Assisting with local logistical arrangements.

Contact info

Dianna Martin General Manager Marketing and Promotions | Business Tourism

Email: dianna@experiencenortherncape.com

Web: Experiencenortherncape.com

AN EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS EVENTS DESTINATION

Northern Cape, South Africa

An award winning business and incentive destination, this ageless land offers a seamless fusion of first world technologies and infrastructure with ancient authentic cultures, dramatic natural beauty and awesome adventure. This is the Northern Cape. Now come and experience it for yourself…

RX Africa launches the Infosecurity Africa event

Infosecurity Africa to be co-located with Africa Automation Technology Fair 2023, and Future Manufacturing Africa 2023.

Globally, businesses lose about R17-trillion to cybercrimes. Of those businesses, 219 million cybercrime-related emails emanated from South Africa in 2021 alone, with Interpol’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report stating that over 90 per cent of businesses on the African continent are operating without the necessary cybersecurity protocols in place.

To address the ongoing cyber risks facing business operations across the continent, RX Africa will be launching the inaugural Infosecurity Africa – the African edition under leading global cybersecurity and information security events group, Infosecurity – in 2023. Cybercrime is an ongoing risk, making awareness and strong IT defenses a vital part of any business strategy. Infosecurity Africa will showcase the latest in trends, threats, and cybercrime prevention from 9-11 May 2023 at the Gallagher Convention Centre. Co-located with esteemed events, the 12th Africa Automation Technology Fair (AATF2023), and the inaugural Future

Manufacturing Africa Trade Fair and Summit (FMA2023) — all three shows will be held in one venue.

Cybercrime causes pain for companies beyond their financials. Losses can extend to data theft or stolen intellectual property and personal information. There is also a great risk of brand reputational damage.

“Africa is on a growth track and its rapid technological evolution, while opening many positive opportunities, has also made the region attractive to cybercriminals. Many African countries have seen a rise in digital threats and malicious cyber activities, and this is a huge risk for all companies in the region, particularly with IoT being a major component in modern manufacturing. There is certainly a need to fight cybercrime with vigour, using the latest prevention methods possible,” said Philip Woods, events director: business and technology at RX Africa.

Infosecurity Africa will encompass all that businesses need to know about

information security, backed by RX Africa’s 25 years of experience in facilitating top events. Included on the agenda are discussions around cybersecurity in manufacturing, dealing with IT supply chain attacks and building awareness and education programmes for cybersecurity hygiene.

For exhibitors at Infosecurity Africa, thousands of visitors can be expected from across the continent.

With networking and sponsorship opportunities, exhibitors are sure to gain maximum visibility due to the overlap within automation, technology, and cybersecurity.

“We encourage exhibitors to sign up and come to conduct business, and for visitors to gain the knowledge they need to stay safe online. There are many exciting opportunities at InfoSecurity Africa, the dedicated hub on the continent for cyber education, quality leads for new business, a safer digital presence and plenty of inspiration,” Mr Woods concluded.

UFI Global Barometer shows positive outlook for 2023

• 80 per cent of companies expect normal levels of operations from June 2023.

• Revenues for 2023 are expected to reach 94 per cent of 2019 level on average and, excluding China, up from 80 per cent in 2022.

• Internal management challenges and digitalisation become the two most pressing industry issues.

• The complete report includes dedicated profiles for 21 markets and regions, showcasing different speeds of adaptation to the post-pandemic era.

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has released the latest, 30 th edition of its flagship Global Exhibition Barometer research, which takes the pulse of the industry.

The results highlight the quickening pace of the industry’s recovery in 2022 and a positive outlook for 2023.

While there is strong evidence that Covid-19 is behind in most markets, where the full recovery is expected in 2023, there remain a few markets, including China, where this full recovery is not anticipated in 2023. Globally, the level of operations continues to improve, with a proportion of companies declaring a ‘normal activity’ gradually increasing from

30 per cent in January 2022 to 72 per cent in December 2022 and expected to reach 80 per cent in June 2023 — aligning with prepandemic levels.

Companies from most markets expect to deliver 2022 results close to their 2019 levels. In terms of operating profit, around half of the companies are declaring an increase or stable level for 2022 compared to 2019 levels, and increasing to 7 out of 10 for 2023. Those results for 2022 were achieved with no public financial

support for 69 per cent of companies, and for half of those that did, this aid represented less than 10 per cent of their overall costs.

The most pressing business issues also reflect how the industry is now focusing on postpandemic challenges and opportunities: ‘Internal management challenges’ (highlighted by 20 per cent of respondents), ‘Impact of digitalisation’ (16 per cent), and ‘State of the economy in the home market’ and ‘Global economic developments’ (both 15 per cent of answers)

are the most common ones. By comparison, the ‘Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the business’ is now marked by only five per cent of companies as one of the most important issues (compared to 19 per cent twelve months ago).

“We can stop focusing on ‘post-pandemic recovery’ — and move on! This 30th edition of our Barometer confirms that the recovery phase is ending in most markets around the world. While every market shows certain specifics, globally, attention has shifted toward future challenges. Internal management –primarily staffing – and the need to further develop digitalisation are top-of-mind around the world,” said Kai Hattendorf, managing director and chief executive officer at UFI.

Size and scope

This latest edition of UFI’s bi-annual industry survey was concluded in January 2023 and includes data from 367 companies in 56 countries and regions.

The study also includes outlooks and analysis for 21 focus countries and regions – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the USA – as well as five additional aggregated regional zones.

Operations

The highest levels of ‘normal activity’ for the first half of 2023, on average, are expected in Brazil (98 per cent), Turkey and the US (95 per cent), the UK (90 per cent), Italy and Thailand (88 per cent), and Spain and UAE (85 per cent). In China, only 29 per cent expect a normal activity, and 40 per cent a reduced one.

This overall very positive outlook is driven by the fact that exhibitions can now be held everywhere in the world, except in some places in China. In parallel, new hygiene measures are reported in several regions (in more than 20 per cent of respondents in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand). In China alone, as of December 2022, and combining all markets, 55 per cent of respondents declared that exhibitions could be held (usually with hygiene measures), 17 per cent reported that ‘only local events’ were and 28 per cent said that events were still not allowed. Exhibition organisers participating in this edition of the Barometer were also asked to evaluate the ‘hosted buyers’ packages, whereby the organiser invites and hosts selected visitors in return for a guaranteed amount of business meetings with exhibiting companies.

Global results indicate that half of the respondents apply this concept, and while one in four of them are happy with the programmes, two-thirds declare having mixed results. Results vary significantly between

specific markets, providing insights into opportunities for hosted buyer programmes.

Turnover, operating profits and public financial support

Globally, on average and excluding China, the revenues for 2022 and 2023 represent 80 per cent and 94 per cent of 2019 levels.

Colombia, France, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Turkey have performed well above this average in 2022 and the UK will join that group in 2023.

In terms of operating profit, the markets in all the countries analysed are above average levels in either 2022 or 2023, or both, except China, Germany, Italy, Thailand, and the US. Globally, 4 per cent of respondents expect a loss for 2023, compared to 11 per cent for 2022. The highest proportion of companies expecting a loss in 2023 is declared in China (18 per cent), Germany (17 per cent) and Italy (11 per cent).

While the highest proportions of companies receiving public financial support are identified in Europe and AsiaPacific, there are significant differences across all regional markets, and the percentages of companies declaring that they received ‘no public support’ varies:

• from 69 per cent in the US to 100 per cent in Mexico, for North America

• from 53 per cent in Brazil to 83 per cent in Chile, for Central and South America

• from 12 per cent in Greece to 86 per cent in the UK, for Europe

• from 67 per cent in Saudi Arabia to 91 per cent in the UAE, for the Middle East and Africa

• from 19 per cent in Malaysia to 100 per cent in India, for Asia-Pacific.

Key business issues

‘Internal management challenges’ is the key business issue for all regions, and it is the most selected issue for most markets. Within ‘Internal management challenges’, 67 per cent of respondents selected ‘Human resources’ issues, 44 per cent selected ‘Business model adjustments’, and 31 per cent selected ‘Finance’.

For Germany, Italy, the UK and the US, however, ‘Global economic developments’ has become the most pressing issue.

An analysis by industry segment (organiser, venue only and service provider) shows no differences with regard to the three most pressing issues, which remain ‘Internal management challenges’, ‘Impact of digitalisation’ and ‘State of the economy in the home market’.

On the occasion of the 30th edition of the Barometer research, a special trend review has been undertaken to show how the industry’s priorities have changed in recent years. The analysis of the trend around top business issues over the 2015-2022 period identifies several important shifts: ‘Impact of digitalisation/Competition with other media’ now ranks as the main issue, with 30 per cent of answers (compared with 14 per cent in 2015).

‘Global economic developments/State of the economy in the home market’ have dropped from the main issue in 2015 (44 per cent of answers) to 22 per cent in 2021 and 29 per cent in 2022, while the ‘Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the business’ fell from 29 per cent in 2020 to 5 per cent in 2022.

And ‘Internal management challenges’ has increased from 14 per cent in 2015 to 20 per cent in 2022.

In parallel, ‘Sustainability/climate and other stakeholders’ issues’ has doubled from 4 per cent of answers in 2015 to 8 per cent in 2022, while ‘Competition from within the exhibition industry’ has dropped considerably, from 20 per cent in 2015 to less than 8 per cent in 2022.

Future exhibition formats: physical and digital events

In addition to the 88 per cent of companies who are confident that ‘Covid-19 confirms the value of face-to-face events’:

26 per cent (compared to 44 per cent and 63 per cent previously) believe there will be ‘Less international ‘physical’ exhibitions and, overall, less participants’ (with 5 per cent stating ‘Yes, for sure’, 22 per cent stating ‘Most probably’ and 31 per cent remaining unsure).

57 per cent (compared to 73 per cent and 80 per cent previously) believe there is ‘A push towards hybrid events, more digital elements at events’ (with 10 per cent stating ‘Yes, for sure’, 47 per cent stating ‘Most probably’ and 25 per cent remaining unsure).

5 per cent (compared to 11 per cent and

14 per cent previously) agree that ‘Virtual events are replacing physical events’, while 11 per cent are unsure and 84 per cent state ‘Not sure at all’ or ‘Definitely not’.

Background

The 30th Global Barometer survey, concluded in January 2023, provides insights from 367 companies, across 56 countries and regions. It was conducted in collaboration with 21 UFI member associations:

AAXO (The Association of African Exhibition Organisers) and EXSA (Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa) in South Africa, AEO (Association of Event Organisers) in the UK, AFE (Spanish Trade Fairs Association) in Spain, AFEP (Asociacion de Ferias del Peru) in Peru, AFIDA (Asociación Internacional de Ferias de América) in Central & South America, AKEI (The Association of Korean Exhibition Industry) in South Korea, AMPROFEC (Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales de Ferias y Exposiciones y Convenciones) in Mexico, AOCA (Asociación Argentina de Organizadores y Proveedores de Exposiciones, Congresos, Eventos y de

Burós de Convenciones) in Argentina, EEAA (The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia) in Australasia, IECA/ASPERAPI (Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association) in Indonesia, IEIA (Indian Exhibition Industry Association) in India, JEXA (Japan Exhibition Association) in Japan, MFTA (Macau Fair & Trade Association) in Macau, MACEOS (Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers) in Malaysia, SCEGA (Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority) in Saudi Arabia, SECB (Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau) in Singapore, SISO (Society of Independent Show Organisers) for the US, SOKEE (Greek Exhibition Industry Association) in Greece, TEA (Thai Exhibition Association) in Thailand, UBRAFE (União Brasileira dos Promotores Feiras) in Brazil and UNIMEV (French Meeting Industry Council) in France. In line with UFI’s objective to provide vital data and best practices to the entire exhibition industry, the full results can be downloaded at www.ufi.org/research

The next UFI Global Exhibition Barometer survey will be conducted in June 2023.

Building back Exhibitions and Events together!

The founding Associations of the SA Events Council have consistently provided essential information and support on event safety, business relief and venue capacity. Ensure you are ready for business by engaging with your association today.

YOUR EXPO SPECIALIST

We’re more than just a mobile bar company, we o er full turnkey hospitality and branding solutions speci cally tailored to your requirements.

Our extensive experience and knowledge in the events, marketing and hospitality sector let us understand what’s key to achieving the results you need, and we o er the best in service to our clients.

A taste for exhibition engagement

Today, the competition for visibility and attention at exhibitions is fierce, with all kinds of attractions being employed to draw crowds and deliver that ‘wow’ factor. But it’s all too easy to remember the ‘wow’ and forget the brand. In an environment already saturated with brands, these attractions may not be the answer to boosting your engagement and exhibition ROI.

At Barmotion, we believe that the pleasure of sharing good hospitality is the most effective way to cut through the noise and create a moment — that vital opportunity to connect with your target audience on a personal level. In a busy exhibition hall, it can be challenging to engage with attendees in a meaningful way. Branded hospitality gives you a shared focus on which you can build a dialogue with a new prospect, strengthen relationships with clients, and wrap visitors in your brand identity. However, it’s important to keep in mind that branded hospitality is not just about entertaining your guests. It’s also about providing them with a valuable experience aligned with your brand and values. To be truly effective, your hospitality

offering needs to be well-planned and executed and should be designed to meet the specific needs and expectations of your target audience. Standard coffee bars, serving espresso, cappuccino and so on, plus teas and herbal teas are hugely popular, of course. They provide some pep for flagging exhibition visitors and have almost universal appeal. We like to take a more imaginative approach wherever we can! We work with taste, colour, nutrition and even chemistry to create a hospitality package that, at its core, echoes your brand or amplifies your messages in some way. Naturally, this includes first-rate coffee and tea, but we use everything from ice cream, doughnuts and waffles to sushi, pizza and popcorn to create a customisable branding platform

with a reach that goes beyond the stand. By wrapping your brand around the visitor –using your stand, your staff and your branded juice bar, doughnut stand or mobile coffee cart – you create a consistent and continuous look and feel across the whole visitor experience. This gives your brand vital credibility the moment you invite a visitor to enjoy a refreshing drink and take a moment to hear what you have to say. By aligning your hospitality strategy with your overall brand identity, you can ensure that your guests leave the exhibition with a clear understanding of who you are and what you have to offer. And even if visitors don’t remember everything you say they will remember how you made them feel.

In addition to these benefits, branded hospitality can also provide a valuable opportunity for lead

generation and sales. By creating a comfortable and relaxed environment to host your guests, and sharing your branded food and drink, you can multiply the benefits by increasing dwell times, allowing you to develop more substantive conversations, answer detailed questions, and build confidence in your product or service.

Plan your hospitality around your goals. On one level, we can deploy a simple juice or coffee bar with branded cups that will give you some brand visibility on cups across the whole exhibition. It will attract passing footfall and visitors looking for a bit of an energy boost. On a whole other level, we can create a thought-provoking menu that chimes with your brand and your message in clever and delicious ways, to help launch your much anticipated new product line. We have a ton of ideas to fire your imagination, whatever the scale of your exhibition ambition. Your food and drink need to be first-rate, and so does the service. At Barmotion, we emphasise the role our staff plays as brand ambassadors. It takes determination and resilience to treat every new visitor as the first, to give them the same enthusiastic reception, quickly build rapport and seamlessly hand over to the right person. Our staff are awarded their coveted ‘Rockstar’ status when they complete our training, which covers the correct and flawless preparation of food and drink. But it also teaches them how to greet people, make them feel welcome, comfortable, and looked after at all times.

The combination of a succulent treat for the senses and a genuinely warm welcome is a versatile and effective way to put your stakeholders into a receptive frame of mind. It works at different scales and offers plenty of branding opportunities, it can be used to attract visitors, lengthen dwell times, and reinforce brand values.

At Barmotion we are experts in creating precisely the right solution for your budget, your audience and your event, and making branded hospitality work for your exhibition presence. Our imagination and creative flair are built on years of experience creating bespoke branded hospitality for our customers. In that time we’ve learned that exhibitions are an irreplaceable part of the marketing mix. Face-to-face marketing can be an incredibly effective way to make connections with benefits that other channels can’t match. But it can also be an expensive enterprise, so it’s crucial to squeeze every last cent of return on your investment — and that will depend on the depth and breadth of your visitor engagement. And that’s where Barmotion comes in.

Contact details

Tel: 0861 937 625

Email: info@barmotion.co.za

Website: www.barmotion.co.za

Garona — turning ideas into reality

Garona Communications and Projects (Garona) is a reputable events, exhibitions and marketing service provider and has been providing solutions for the past 15 years.

Presley Mokotedi, director of Garona Communications and Projects, established the company in 2008 and has vast experience in marketing and communications. He said: “Our strength is our capacity to provide a wide range of solutions under one roof as well as our prompt and responsive customer service.”

“We pride ourselves in delivering complete solutions in the areas of exhibition displays, large format printing, design and branding services. We are exhibition specialists in the areas of trade shows, conferences, export promotion, pharmaceutical exhibitions and conferences, agricultural shows and many other large format environments.

“Meetings Africa 2023 will once again kickstart the new year. Garona remains the preferred service provider for both Meetings

Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023.

“Whether you are a small, medium or large-scale organisation our team of designers, printers and exhibition specialists will take the time to provide you with the best solution, having in mind your objectives, budgets and the environment within which you are operating.”

Looking back

Mr Mokotedi said: “2022 was a bright light of positivity for the exhibition industry in South Africa. The year started with many exhibitions returning face-to-face.

“2022, was great for the exhibition business and the recovery has been phenomenal. We also saw a positive return of international exhibitors and international visitors to the bigger exhibitions. Some of the shows that need to be commended for

Presley Mokotedi.

bringing in international exhibitors and visitors are; Mining Indaba and Africa’s Travel Indaba, Electra Mining Africa and Nampo. These and many more have been instrumental in driving new business and

investment into the country. Africa Aerospace and Defence also took place. It remains one of the largest expos in our country,” he added

2023

“The year 2023 is showing much promise, with most of the shows that took place in 2022, returning in 2023. We are here to assist organisers and exhibitors. We will see more international exhibitions in the new year,” Mr Mokotedi concluded.

Meet the team

Tebogo Mokotedi – marketing manager

Ms Mokotedi has worked her way up the ladder in the exhibition industry, having begun as an intern and later as a data capturer for a reputable exhibition company.

“I was then promoted to logistics manager and an Exco member for the company. I then moved to a wellknown logistics business where I worked for a year. I then joined Garona Communications and Projects where I have been working for eight years as an account manager. I have since been promoted to marketing manager at Garona, after obtaining a marketing qualification,” Ms Mokotedi said.

“Garona Communications and Projects is an events and exhibition service provider. Garona has vast experience in design, setup and breakdown of event structures and exhibition stands. Garona has been in existence for the past 15 years,” Ms Mokotedi said.

Thabang Phetla Banda – project manager

An excellent project management

professional with nine years’ experience in project sales, planning, and execution within the exhibition industry, Thabang Phetla Banda adds exponential value to every project she manages.

Beginning her career in media sales before moving into the recruitment industry and subsequently the exhibition and events industry in 2013, this young lady has a wealth of knowledge in all related fields of marketing and customer service. With a BA in Corporate Communication, and a BA Hons Public Management and Governance, Ms Phetla Banda is a hands-on, energetic accounts and project manager who is never afraid to delve in, really understand a brief and deliver results for each of her clients and their brands. Her significant effort and work ethic landed her recognition as one of the Top 40 Women in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions & Events) in 2019.

“Being part of the Garona team has been a great experience thus far. Joining the team has proven why I love working in the events and exhibition space. After being away from the industry due to Covid-19, as it had restricted us from working for quite some time, it really feels great to be back doing what we love the most. I have missed the sensation and the thrill of leading and motivating my colleagues from late nights to early mornings to excel. There is nothing like face-to-face interaction with clients and industry colleagues.”

“Collaborating with a team that is multi-skilled and always willing to go the extra mile has just revived the fire within me to continue to give back to this wonderful industry of ours.

It really is a privilege to be part of this team and to be given an opportunity to showcase my expertise and skill set once again,” Ms Phetla Banda said.

Ayanda

Zungu – account manager

“With almost 10 years’ experience in the exhibitions and infrastructure building industry, which some might say is a male dominated space, I quickly realised that after putting on that hard hat, I had far more resilience and strength than what was taught to me. Being a black woman working as an account manager at a black-owned company like Garona Communications has given me the autonomy of creativity which I believe would not be available at another organisation. It has assisted me in honing my strengths as a woman in leadership,” she said.

Ms Zungu added: “The Garona Communication team has inspired me to acquire more knowledge within the infrastructure building field and I felt compelled to make changes to show that women can take up space and succeed in a male, labour-intensive field. My nails still get done but the world is changing and we need more organisations as brave, non-prejudiced and as forwardthinking as Garona, who believe in ‘abilities’ rather than ‘gender roles’.”

Tebogo Mokotedi.

Thabang Phetla Banda. Ayanda Zungu.

Inspire Furniture — expands with Connecta-Floor

Inspire Furniture has been a market leader in the furniture rental business since it was established in 2014 in Chad Botha’s garage in Edenvale. The company grew significantly through innovation, networking and ensuring they were able to meet the industry’s requirements.

Inspire Furniture, like many other events, exhibition and tourism companies, has had to be very strategic to sustain their business model.

The company’s objective is to be the most sought after one stop specialist furniture, flooring and prop rental company in Southern Africa, through development of systems and operations.

Chad Botha, chief executive officer of Inspire Furniture, said: “The objective is to offer the most efficient service in the industry.” He acknowledged that although Inspire Furniture is not there yet, he said: “Inspire would continually work its weaknesses to achieve this goal.”

Chad said: “The company has been focused on continuing to grow its business interests locally and into the rest of Africa, through acquiring and partnering with companies that complement its product

and service offering.”

Inspire Furniture recently acquired Connecta-Floor. Chad said: “The recent acquisitions of Connecta-Floor fits in with our current offering. Flooring goes with furniture, and the company has an existing

client base that we will continue to service.”

Chad said: “Inspire has allocated over R6-million to invest in trailers for the trucks, and other tools, to achieve our objective, which will assist in growing Connecta-Floor.”

“We are constantly exploring ways to generate revenue, grow through collaboration and resources and we are currently speaking to various individuals and companies within and out of the industry to secure opportunities that are available,” Chad said.

Andre Janse van Rensburg will head up the new division: flooring and structures, which will include Connecta-Floor, operating within Inspire Rentals.

Andre said: “Connecta-Floor was acquired by Inspire Rentals as a result of structural changes within Finfloor, which resulted in Finfloor wanting to place more focus on the retail sector of laminated and vinyl flooring applications.

“The acquisition of Connecta-Floor by Inspire has bolstered the overall strength of the company, allowing for various areas of expansion.”

Andre added: “With Inspire as a partner, Connecta-Floor enjoys the benefits of a strong existing client base to draw from as well as a strong infrastructure, enhancing customer satisfaction.

“The modular flooring, incorporated with structures and furniture, greatly enhances our flexibility, offering all our customers enhanced and flexible facilities.

“We offer different levels of flooring solutions, from exhibitions to the more affordable options for domestic entertainment events.”

Andre said: “Connecta-Floor combined with Inspire strive to offer a level of excellence in the rental space industry. With a fully-fledged manufacturing workshop we are excited to have the ability to manufacture new and original flooring for emerging markets, differentiating us from the rest.”

Connecta-Floor – product offering:

Multi-purpose portable flooring system to suit a wide range of uses. Ideal for exhibitions, showrooms, car displays, functions, weddings, shopping malls, marquees, halls and ramps. Easy to transport and assemble. Made in South Africa. Supplier of exhibition modular flooring. Dance floors — in various patterns and colours. General flooring — weddings and events.

Offices: Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town

Contact Tel: 082 555 1206

Email: andre@inspirerentals.co.za

Web: www.connecta-floor.co.za

Scan Display – two decades of experience

With over two decades of experience, Scan Display is a leader in the African exhibition, events and display industries, specialising in award-winning exhibition stands, exhibition and event infrastructure, mall activations, roadshows and displays.

Our product range extends from large custom-built stands and portable systems to banner systems, brochure holders, display cases and shopping kiosks.

We supply the full range of exhibition and event services including shell scheme, carpeting, electrics, furniture, signage and audio-visual equipment, and have built the infrastructure for Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Mining Indaba, Professional Beauty and We Are Africa for many years.

We also offer several innovative products including the eco-friendly Fabric Pop-up System, our transportable ‘stand-in-a-box’, the Modulbox, fabric shell scheme and rolled carpeting.

Representation

Our head office is in Rosebank, Johannesburg and we have branches in Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Gaborone and Rwanda.

We have a network of distributors in Africa, and have completed numerous projects on the continent, from small exhibition stands to large pavilions,

and show infrastructure. Scan Display was the first African member of the International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services (IFES) and through this global industry association we have developed partnerships across the world.

Capacity

We have in-house production and warehousing facilities in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, and an inhouse printing division, Scan Print, in Johannesburg that operates around the clock, ensuring that tight deadlines are met.

Scan Display’s electrical division, Scan Electrix, has a team of electricians

to fulfil the electrical requirements of exhibitions, events and conferences.

Sustainability

Scan Display is committed to promoting sustainability in the exhibition and events industries. We offer a variety of green solutions for exhibition stands and exhibition and event infrastructure, including fabric shell scheme, energy-efficient LED lighting, and the Fabric Pop-up System.

Scan Display’s managing director, Justin Hawes, is a founder of the Event Greening Forum (EGF), a non-profit organisation that aims to promote greening practices within the events industry.

Century City for work and play

Century City is a 250ha business and lifestyle precinct, halfway between Cape Town’s CBD and its northern suburbs, on the N1. This mixed-use urban environment combines office, retail, residential, and leisure components.

They are continually working at reducing their carbon footprint, with the aim to become a sustainable settlement.

Century City has an array of conference facilities, event venues, hotels, and apartments. These include the Marriott Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa, Century City Conference Centre, Century City Urban Square Hotel, Century City Hotel Bridgewater, Manhattan Suites & Conferencing, Colosseum Luxury Hotel, Island Club

Hotel & Apartments, and StayEasy.

One of Century City’s unique attractions is the eight kilometres of navigable canals that meander throughout the precinct and Intaka Island, an award-winning six hectares of majestic wetlands, bird sanctuary, and nature conservation area.

Century City is easily accessible via various public transport routes, including, MyCiTi and Golden Arrow bus stations, Century City train station, and mini-bus taxi rank.

Century City Conference Centre & Hotels — all about people and planet

The Century City Conference Centre and Hotels has proven that taking care of people and the planet leads to greater prosperity in the conference and hospitality sector.

The Century City Conference Centre had already embraced a new normal when it opened its doors just seven years ago. Normal for the Centre has always meant looking after its people and the planet in the knowledge that this investment leads to prosperity.

Century City Conference Centre and Hotels is located in Century City — a safe and secure, privately managed, 250-hectare mixed-use estate, just minutes from Cape Town’s CBD.

This unique city-within-a city is located at the epicentre of the greater Cape Town metropole, and is serviced by a well-developed road network that provides easy access to the whole of the Western Cape. Intelligently run and immaculately maintained, Century City is a true ‘smart city’ that meets the requirements and aspirations of the twentyfirst century — no wonder it has become a sought-after destination within Cape Town. Paving the way for many new developments,

the Conference Centre was built with sustainability in mind. Not only was the building awarded a four-star Green Star Certification by the Green Building Council of South Africa for its responsible design, which incorporates natural energy sources and water-saving dual plumbing systems, the Centre was also voted Africa’s most sustainable venue in 2019 at the annual Global MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Exhibitions) Awards and

continues to adopt new and further initiatives to lighten its effect on the environment.

The Century City Conference Centre and Hotels team have put ‘People, Planet, Prosperity’ first, from the start. These are the buzzwords of the new way that business is being conducted — they have been doing it from the start.

People? It’s how they mentor, grow and develop their staff to become leaders. Planet? It is how they ethically source their food, beverages, equipment, furnishings and the linen in their state-of-the-art hotel rooms. They choose to rather source locally over importing at a lower cost. Prosperity? It is good for business when you are in the business of care.

“It is our track record and our ethos as good global corporate citizens that make us a destination of choice to host conferences. Our clients choose to do business with us because we share their values,” Gary Koetser, joint chief executive officer of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels said.

Century City Conference Centre and Hotels’ efforts towards contributing to a better future have not gone unnoticed and many global leaders in sustainability have chosen to host their conferences and exhibitions at the Centre.

In November 2022, The Green Building Council of South Africa hosted their annual conference at the Century City Conference Centre. This was the fourth time this event was hosted there. The RE-Generation three-day conference focused on the future of green building where record number of delegates were recorded. The organisers noted how the Covid-19 pandemic showed just how destructive we are to the planet as nature reclaimed exploited and polluted spaces when the world went into lockdown. It reminded us that we need not look further than nature to find solutions to the threat of climate change and to mitigate the human impact on our planet.

Later that month, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) hosted its inaugural South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit (SAGHS). 500 delegates came together at the Centre to see South Africa showcase the country’s offering as an early stage, large scale, low cost, world class green hydrogen production hub and total value chain investment destination.

South Africa is one of the founding members of the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA) which seeks to promote continental green hydrogen cooperation. Senior delegations from the other founding members of the AGHA, including Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco and Namibia, exhibited their unique offerings at the SAGHS.

This March, 1.5 Degrees Africa will set the scene and the tone for the year as the Century City Conference Centre will host its inaugural climate change event — the first African event of its kind. The timing of this conference is significant, given the growing global shifts and the multifaceted and layered debates across the African continent

regarding environmental sustainability, economic development and climate justice.

The 1.5 Degrees Africa event becomes an important and significant progressive enabler in bringing together both captains of industries and key policymakers across the continent, and beyond, to consider and imagine a world we would all like to live in, including future generations.

The Century City Conference Centre and Hotels are proud to partner with the E-Mobility Congress of South Africa (EMCSA) in April this year. EMCSA will bring together over 300 people, presenting them with an opportunity to spread awareness, develop and further grow the e-mobility sector in South Africa. The Conference Centre has committed to hosting the event for the next three years.

“We take the business of taking care of ‘People, Planet, Prosperity’ seriously by responding to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through our partnerships with key thought leaders in sustainable development, we are playing our role in creating a better world,” Glyn Taylor, joint chief executive officer of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels said.

Contact info

Contact Century City Conference Centre and Hotels

Email: events@ccconferencecentre.co.za

Tel: +27 21 204 8000

Web: www.ccconferencecentre.co.za

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ century-city-conference-centre

ROOTED IN SUSTAINABILITY, POSITIONED TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE. DRIVEN BY SUCCESS

www.ccconferencecentre.co.za

,

FIND OUT WHY WE’RE SO MUCH MORE THAN CAPE TOWN’S LEADING CONFERENCE CENTRE

IFES forges new strategic partnership with IAPCO

The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) and the International Federation of Exhibition and Events Services (IFES) have agreed upon a new threeyear Memorandum of Understanding which will see both organisations’ communities benefit across a number of initiatives.

At their most recent Meeting, held in Dubai, IAPCO Council unanimously agreed to a new collaboration with IFES, the first of its kind for both associations. The collaboration will see experts from both organisations share knowledge and educational content through industry events, seminars and webinars, visibility via on-line recognition and business development opportunities.

Ori Lahav, IAPCO president commented: “Many IAPCO member client events require exhibition and stand builds for their global business and professional events. Knowing and having immediate access to the most appropriate and trustworthy partners to work with just makes sense. This new MoU enables IAPCO and IFES members to have more direct contact, build upon their respective expertise and provide added value across the board to the clients they serve.”

With a membership retention rate of just under 100 per cent over the past two years, a growing number of new membership applications and continued support from global partners, IAPCO continues to focus its attention on providing added value and new services to its members. The MoU that outlines this strategic partnership is another great example of the value that PCOs can expect when they have a membership in IAPCO.

“As we enter our fourth decade as an association, I am proud of this new collaboration between IAPCO and IFES, as a manifestation of the IFES motto of ‘sharing knowledge’. We look forward to a long and beneficial partnership with IAPCO and its members, through which we will be able to support our respective members by generating more business together.

I believe that the pillars in which IFES was founded upon; trust, human relationships and integrity, will play a vital role in how our associations develop over the next few years.

I am confident that together with IAPCO we can enhance our industry worldwide, move our industries into a more sustainable environment and mutually create the values for the next generation,” said Philippe Beille, IFES president.

LOOKING TO HOST A MEMORABLE CONFERENCE IN 2023? PREMIER HOTELS & RESORTS ARE STANDING BY TO ASSIST YOU.

HOW ABOUT:

DURBAN'S ONLY PENTHOUSE CONFERENCE VENUE AT PREMIER HOTEL UMHLANGA.

OR

A COUNTRY SETTING IN THE HEART OF SANDTON AT PREMIER HOTEL QUATERMAIN SANDTON. OR

THE ICONIC EAST LONDON INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE (EL ICC) TO NAME BUT A FEW.

BOOK TODAY

info@premierhotels.co.za

Western Cape: Premier Hotel Cape Town, Premier Resort The Moorings, Premier Express Inn George Eastern Cape: Premier Hotel EL ICC, Premier Hotel Regent, Premier Resort Mpongo Private Game Reserve, East London International Convention Centre (ELICC)

Kwazulu-Natal: Premier Splendid Inn Port Edward, Premier Splendid Inn Pinetown, Premier Resort Cutty Sark, Premier Hotel The Richards, Premier Splendid Inn Bayshore, Premier Resort Sani Pass, Premier Hotel Umhlanga, Premier Splendid Inn Umhlanga

Gauteng: Premier Hotel Midrand, Premier Hotel Pretoria, Premier Hotel Falstaff, Premier Hotel Quatermain, Premier Hotel Roodevalley

Mpumalanga: Premier Hotel The Winkler

Free State: Premier Splendid Inn Bloemfontein

Building the future of exhibition logistics at the IELA 2023 Winter Seminar

All delegates valued the training event as a booster for professional knowledge and networking and appreciated being part of an association which actively invests in a bright future for the industry.

The eleventh edition of the IELA Winter Seminar, a 100 per cent funded event as part of IELA’s 2023 membership benefits programme, took place from 12-15 January 2023 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. The event offered 31 students a highquality educational programme focused on the daily responsibilities of exhibition freight forwarders and on-site operations businesses.

Under the motto ‘Building the Future’ and based on three event pillars: Connect, Learn and Succeed, the 2023 programme at this training event for young adults and newcomers clearly profited from the strength of IELA’s history and many years of extensive experience. The attendees learned why IELA plays an important role

in the industry as well as why currently the association is a trusted brand, recognised by the entire exhibition and event industry.

Maximiliano Rosado Suárez, project manager with RESA Expo Logistics, Spain and winner of the second place Best Student, said after the event: “For me to be part of the IELA family is now getting full sense and has a special meaning. During this IELA Winter Seminar I was able to identify fully with the meaning of IELA family membership. Working closely with all the people I had the opportunity to meet from all over the world is something that has no price. On the professional side, I collected new valuable knowledge due to the expertise of members who shared with us their amazing expert experience.”

The IELA Education & Training Working Group, organiser of the event, invited thirteen expert

speakers (internal and local speakers) to share their work life experience, focusing on strategy, best practices and trends in the exhibition logistics industry. The programme shared knowledge on topics around export, domestic and onsite agent work, tariffs calculation and customs procedures. It also included key elements like packaging, insurance, shipping of dangerous goods, sustainability and occupational health and safety.

Due to the event taking place in South Africa, a special session on ‘How to do Exhibition Business in South Africa’ was given by local IELA Member, Jacqui Nel, with EF-GSM South Africa and two local external speakers who were also invited.

Nathan Christians, the founder and director of NC Surveyors offering marine and insurance support solutions to local and international

companies, highlighted the value of such training events, saying that it is important to always be prepared, keeping oneself updated with new training information and legislation.

Gary Walsh, founder of Garship Marine Surveying and Consultancy and also from Cape Town, talked about the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, and also highlighted the importance of basic training on certain rules and regulations, especially when it comes to moving hazardous cargo.

The more than 10 hours of instruction concluded with group breakout sessions and the groups’ presentations. Lastly, an individual final exam which confirmed the value of the knowledge shared and the high level of performance of the students.

Our congratulations go to the best students, with ex-aequo winners receiving first and third place:

Best Student first place:

• Livia Zünd with SWISS EXPO LOGISTICS LTD., Switzerland

• Pruthvish Thaker with Siddhartha Logistics Company Pvt. Ltd., India

Best Student second place:

• Maximiliano Rosado Suárez with RESA EXPO LOGISTICS, Spain

Best Student third place:

• Carolina Díaz with Rock-It Global Mexico

• Monelisi Gaji with EF-GSM South Africa

The Best Student first place, as always, has been rewarded with a free registration for the association’s annual congress and Partnering Event, and for the second time in the

association’s history, IELA will welcome and hand over the reward to both Best Students first place winners.

“The IELA Winter Seminar 2023 in Cape Town was a great opportunity to improve my knowledge about exhibition logistics and trade show events. Networking within the IELA association was another great benefit. We, as students, were able to learn from the mentors, speakers, and also from each other. Being a member of IELA is a valuable advantage — professionally, but also personally,” highlighted Livia Zünd, project manager at Swiss Expo Logistics Ltd and one of the winners of the Best Student first place.

“IELA created a truly enriching and enjoyable experience. The seminar was expertly organised and provided a wealth of knowledge and fun. I am grateful to Siddhartha Logistics for providing me with the opportunity to attend, to meet new partners and become a part of Group 5, which was awarded the best group award,” said Pruthvish Thaker, with Siddhartha Logistics FTWZ Pvt. Ltd., India, when talking about his participation at the event.

Another proud moment of the event was the announcement of the Best Team: Group 5, mentored by Chandra Ganesh with Felix Expo Logistics (M) Sdn Bhd, Malaysia:

• Naomi Bik with Valverde BV, The Netherland

• Celine Choi with Korea GLS, Inc., Korea

• Serge Rahal with BCC Logistics, Lebanon

• Pruthvish Thaker with Siddhartha Logistics Co. Pvt. Ltd., India

• Szymon Wałczyk with Universal Express Sp. z.o.o., Poland

• Livia Zünd with SWISS EXPO LOGISTICS LTD, Switzerland

Due to having highly motivated attendees during the sessions, the IELA Education & Training Programme Working Group chairperson Sudhir Dhavan, confirmed: “We have appealed to all the students to be a part of our Working Groups which will keep them actively engaged in the activities of IELA throughout the year and will similarly help them to gain more knowledge on a wider scale.”

Irene Costa, editor of Business Event Africa and guest media of the event, commented in an interview with IELA that the event industry in South Africa is seeing a lot more collaboration than before, with other African countries and that the whole event industry is making sure that inclusivity is taken into account. She also confirmed that sustainability is one of the core themes for the year, with most of the companies in the sector best performing.

As organiser of this event, IELA congratulates the event venue, Century City Conference Centre. The managing and executive teams were a great support throughout the organisation of the event, looking at every detail to make the event even more successful. The venue is a true demonstration of best performance in terms of sustainability.

The IELA Winter Seminar is one of the two training events organised by IELA, as the association also offers training for more experienced staff: the IELA Operations Summit, of which the upcoming edition will take place in February 2024.

Ajib Kasem

Carolina Diaz

Florentin Fasoli

Anjum Tabrez

Danilo Pachego

Ian Roux

Andrea Souza

Celine Choi

Girish Upadhyay

Carlotta Balboni

Djanwayne Bongcayao

Lavender Chang

WS 2023 Sponsors

WS 2023 Supporters

The association thanks all speakers for making this event possible

• History of IELA , by Sandi Trotter, IELA Chairperson and Director Business Development TWI Group, Inc., Canada.

• The Forwarder is your Friend , by Sudhir Dhavan, IELA Board Member and CEO R.E. Rogers India Pvt. Ltd., India.

• Domestic & Onsite Agent , by Jasmine Yang, IELA Board Member and Manager of Fairs & Events Department Eurotran Expo Service Co., Ltd., Taiwan.

• Export Agent , by Alexandra Erdmann, IELA Board Member and CEO SWISS EXPO LOGISTICS LTD, Switzerland.

• How to do Exhibition Business in South Africa , by Jacqui Nel, Director of EF-GSM South-Africa, IELA member from South Africa.

• Packaging , by Lucien Lawson, IELA Board Member and Director Clamageran Foirexpo, France, with the collaboration of Orphee M. Beinoglou Jr., IELA Board Member and Member of the Board of Orphee Beinoglou International Forwarder S.A., Greece.

• Insurance , by Nathan Christians, NC Surveyors (Pty) Ltd., South Africa.

• IELA Standards of Performance , by David Palomo, IELA Board Member and Operations

Manager Suomen Messulogistikka Oy, Finland.

• Tariffs & Calculations , by Ujjwal Gupta, Member of the ETWG and International Sales and BD BIG Logistics India Pvt Ltd & Rajath Naik, Member of the ETWG and Dy. General Manager — Operations & Sales R.E. Rogers India Pvt. Ltd.

• Customs procedures, formalities & documents , by Alessandra Dellavedova, Member of the ETWG and Import Project Manager Expotrans S.p.A. Italy.

• The International Maritime Dangerous Good (IMDG) Code by Gary Walsh, Master Mariner at Garship, Marine Surveying & Consultancy.

• Sustainability , by Lucien Lawson, IELA Board Member and Director Clamageran Foirexpo, France, with the collaboration of Orphee M. Beinoglou Jr., IELA Board Member and Member of the Board of Orphee Beinoglou International Forwarder S.A., Greece.

• Health & Safety , by Daniel Mithran, IELA Board Member and Director JIM Project & Expo Logistics (M) Sdn.Bhd, Malaysia.

• The 10 Minutes that change everything , by Alexandra Erdmann, David Palomo, Lucien Lawson, and Sandi Trotter.

IELA also thanks the event Sponsors, Hosts and Supporters

Sponsors

• Fulstandig Shows e Eventos MC Ltda

• Orphee Beinoglou International Forwarders S.A.

• R.E. Rogers India Pvt. Ltd., India

• SWISS EXPO LOGISTICS LTD, Switzerland

• TWI Group Inc. (USA)

• Valverde B.V.

• WEL World Exhibition Logistics

Hosts

• EF-GSM South Africa

• Katlego Global Logistics Pty Ltd

• LA Rouxnelle Logistics and Consulting

Supporters (volunteer speakers)

• BIG Logistics India Pvt Ltd

• Clamageran Foirexpo, France

• EF-GSM South Africa

• Eurotran Expo Service Co., Ltd., Taiwan

• Expotrans S.p.A.

• JIM Project & Expo Logistics (M) Sdn.Bhd, Malaysia

• Orphee Beinoglou International Forwarder S.A.

• R.E. Rogers India Pte. Ltd., India

• Suomen Messulogistikka Oy, Finland

• SWISS EXPO LOGISTICS LTD, Switzerland

• TWI Group, Inc., Canada

About the IELA Winter Seminar

IELA’s biennial members only education and networking event gave young professionals and industry newcomers the opportunity to join an exclusive programme dedicated to the complex issues and procedures of our industry.

About the IELA Education and Training Programme Working Group

The WG is chaired by Sudhir Dhavan, CEO R.E. Rogers India Pvt. Ltd. & IELA Board Member, with the support of two vice-chairs, Ute Wiezorrek, General Manager Cretschmar MesseCargo GmbH, Germany, and Alessandra Dellavedova, Import Project Manager Expotrans S.p.A., Italy.

The mission of the ETWG is to research and develop educational avenues for the association and its members. It organises two biennial training events, the WINTER SEMINAR, targeting new staff and newcomers to the exhibition logistics industry to boost quality and know-how within the industry, and the OPERATIONS SUMMIT, the only dedicated forum for exhibition and event freight forwarding operation professionals, offering valuable perspectives on improving operational efficiencies, enhancing service standards, optimising worldwide relationships and increasing bottom lines. Both events provide a platform for students to interact with their peers from around the world and share their exhibition and event experiences and knowledge.

Event webpage

https://www.iela.org/events/winterseminar/2023-cape-town.html

Lethabo Maboi

Maximiliano Rosado

Monelisi Gaji

Rimas Griceniuk

Serge Rahal

Szymon Walczyk

Veena Mohan

Mamata Kumari

Mina Hannah

Naomi Bik

Livia Zund

Melvin Francis

Mzovuyo Adonsi

Ronel Maboi

Simon Lachmann

Tasos Zervoudis

Yogesh Kumar

Marlene Serename

Pruthvish Thaker

Why Deaf accessibility makes business sense

South Africa’s Deaf and hard-of-hearing community is deeply rooted within the nation’s linguistic landscape. This large population primarily represents Deaf people and people with hearing loss, as well as their families, South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters, and other individuals who identify with Deaf culture. Despite the size of this community, it remains underrepresented in South African society, and the business sector in particular.

By Lize Spies, senior project manager at Folio Online.

With SASL on the fast track to becoming South Africa’s twelfth official language, it is now more pertinent than ever to recognise the potential of the Deaf workforce as well as the subsequent need for SASL interpreters to facilitate communication at business events and conferences. This will grant the Deaf community a crucial right that is currently overlooked by the broader society — linguistic access in the business sector.

The Deaf community of South Africa is well established, but insulated, and statistics regarding its members vary between credible sources. According to the South African National Deaf

Association, around four million South African citizens are either Deaf or hard of hearing. The 2011 census indicates that around 235,000 members of the community use SASL as their first language. Even though not all Deaf citizens are SASL users, the visibility and status of this language is essential in the fight for Deaf recognition and accessibility, in business and beyond. Deafness is an invisible disability to the broader society. However, the hearing community’s largely unintentional ignorance of Deaf culture hinders efforts to improve the community’s access to information, resources (such as interpreters) and even jobs. This lack of awareness

has resulted in Deaf citizens being restricted, not only in terms of social interaction, but also with regard to their participation in professional spheres, and basic rights, such as freedom of speech. The United Nations has proposed that the linguistic and cultural identities of people with disabilities should be recognised in an equal capacity to people without disabilities. In realworld terms, this means that sign language and Deaf culture should be acknowledged and respected in the same way as other official languages and cultures. SASL’s burgeoning status as South Africa’s twelfth official language holds the potential

to advance people’s understanding of the language and those who use it, which will increase Deaf individuals’ access to employment opportunities.

At present, South African commerce is missing out on a substantial pool of potential employees as the linguistic needs of the Deaf community are not catered for. Empowering the Deaf community by providing SASL interpreters is thus not only beneficial to the community itself, but to the industry at large, as increased employment opportunities translate into increased earning potential. This prospect of financial gain is too good to be missed.

Acquiring an SASL interpreter for a business event or conference is not for window dressing. Whereas speakers of other official languages understand English, the lingua franca of the business world, Deaf people do not have the option to utilise spoken languages. Their access to the business sector should thus be facilitated — and we, as professional language service providers, can assist.

My active collaboration with the Deaf community, through my work at Folio Online, has shown me that their social and economic upliftment is severely hampered without the assistance of qualified and accredited SASL interpreters. Providing SASL interpreters will break down communication barriers and open the business sector to the Deaf community. If businesses and Deaf organisations join forces, it will lead to training, upskilling, and employment opportunities for this community with untapped potential. All South African businesses should strive for inclusivity of all South Africans, and the Deaf community cannot be excluded from this assertion. If we ignore this call to action, there is a great risk of losing not only potential business opportunities, but also the chance to learn from one another. The expense of an SASL interpreter pales in comparison to the gains of collaboration and the invaluable opportunity to broaden our horizons.

Who is Lize Spies ?

Lize Spies is a senior project manager at Folio Online. Beyond managing the established medical interpreting service, Folio InterTel, she is also responsible for the conference interpreting and voice-over portfolios. Despite her busy schedule, Lize is a passionate advocate of mother-tongue accessibility. Her years of collaboration with the Deaf community have given her insight into where the needs lie and where publicly available interpreting services fall short. Facilitating linguistic access is her ultimate goal and Folio Online is her avenue.

Phenyo Marumo – ‘Learn from others with integrity’

Humble Phenyo Marumo, 41, regional marketing and communications manager of Minor Hotels Africa, has explored various industries over the years.

Looking ahead, he said: “I would like to continue excelling in both the tourism and hospitality industries. But, most importantly, I would still like to see myself taking on bigger roles in marketing and communication. I have taken the time to explore different industries, allowing me to be versatile and adaptable. At this stage, I am able to plug into any industry as a result of never being too lazy to take on different marketing challenges, from tourism to banking, to conservation to hospitality, I have not limited myself to any one industry, but I have ensured in putting my best foot forward. So, I still dream of working in a different country and yet, still benefit South Africa and Africa.”

When asked about the hospitality industry, Mr Marumo said: “The hospitality industry is currently in a very positive position at this stage. Travellers are currently looking at revenge travel. The break in transmission brought on by Covid led to travellers developing itchy feet, craving experiences and different environments. So, I believe that for the next couple of years there is going to be a lot of travellers trying out different hotels or accommodation facilities. However, we will also see people seeking unique experiences that no one else has experienced or can brag about, share on social media and get rewarded for. He said that growth in visitor numbers will be determined by a number of factors for hotels:

• Ability to recognise or reward your guests. This will set a hotel or destination apart and ensure repeat visits and positive responses.

• As much as it is imperative to jump on key trends such as providing unique and memorable experiences, showcasing the ways in which your hotels positively impact communities and ecosystems and creating wellbeing experiences and journeys that leave guests truly transformed, it is equally imperative to

remember that travellers have begun to favour brands that offer value-for-money packages, and tailor-made experiences that suit their needs.

• Most importantly, responsible travel has become the cornerstone of travel decision-making. Travellers are looking for sustainably responsible hotels/ destinations. They are seeking travel experiences that are led by and support local communities, use eco-friendly materials, decreased food waste and sourcing smarter ways to consume energy. Particularly Gen Z — who are unashamedly vocal about seeking out destinations that tick the sustainability boxes, since they are gratified by the thought of restoring the environment while on holiday.

Mr Marumo added: “Hospitality will only suffer from lack of collaboration, with flight prices increasing, safety in certain areas being an issue, and the economy slumping; we can anticipate a slow decline of the industry as more people will be unable to travel to these places. So, we do need to work collaboratively to ensure that the industry continues to thrive.”

Where were you born and raised?

Mmabatho, Mafikeng in the North West, previously Bophuthatswana.

Where did your career begin?

Kimberley, Northern Cape, as an educator, and then I became the marketing manager of The Big Hole, Kimberley Visitor Centre.

How long have you been in the hospitality sector?

I have been in the tourism industry for more than 10 years, with breaks inbetween exploring other industries. My tourism career began with The Big Hole, in Kimberley. Being its first marketing manager after being part of the team that converted it into a full-offering visitor centre, from a small mine museum in 2006. The visitor centre also had an onsite

guesthouse which was managed as part of the entire visitor experience. I was also part of the team that assisted the opening of the Protea Hotel, Kimberley, which was intended to be an accommodation partner to the Big Hole, Kimberley visitor Centre/Hub. From 2009-2018 I took a break from the tourism and hospitality industry. I became the executive director of an NGO, followed by an eight year tenure in Absa marketing. In 2018, I returned to the tourism industry, becoming the senior manager: marketing at SANParks, overseeing the overall marketing of nineteen National Parks including Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park. Then, in 2022, I joined Minor Hotels.

What has been the biggest change you’ve seen in this sector?

There is definitely a number of changes that hotels and destinations need to keep a keen eye on. Firstly, this is the era of digital nomads or bleisure travel — travellers are keen on combining business travel with leisure, which is

a positive for hotels as bleisure trips take longer. Secondly, responsible travel has become the cornerstone of travel decision-making. Whilst travel used to be more about accomplishing a goal or satisfying a need, it has now become about the pursuit of a higher level of travel, an elevated experience. It is combined with the ‘brag’ factor. Couples are looking for the most ideal and photogenic wedding and honeymoon destinations or most instagrammable locations for their romantic getaway to share with their community. “If it is not on social, it did not happen”. Hotel brands need to keep this in mind when packaging or selecting locations.

Are you married?

Yes, I have been married for 11 years to a phenomenal woman, Leigh-Anne.

What role does your family play in your life?

A very pivotal role, as much as this will sound like a cliché, they are the reason I strive to be better at my craft and job. They motivate me daily and encourage me to never give up when a situation is tough, and they cheer me on when achieving a great milestone.

What would you change in your life if you could, when looking back?

Honestly, there is not much. What I would change though is the fact that I did not travel enough or explore our continent enough. Africa is marvellous, with endless options to experience.

Do you have any hobbies?

I do not have any strange or unique hobbies, however, I have a passion for group exercises in gym, as they encourage group synchronicity. My favourite is step class, which requires a combination of skill, concentration and teamwork.

What is your favourite sport?

I am huge soccer fan. I have been an Arsenal Fan for as long I can remember. My favourite sportsman was Nwanku Kano who played for Arsenal and Nigeria.

What do you do for leisure?

I enjoy travelling for VFR, it is always refreshing. However, travelling to unique places with ‘wow’ experiences is also fantastic. Locally, I enjoy visiting theme parks and family-orientated restaurants and farmer’s markets with my family.

What is your secret to success?

I believe my secret has been to learn from others. I have also never had a problem with being led, which has allowed me to shine under leadership that trusts me. I have also been very consultative, both upwards and downwards, allowing subordinates to thrive under me, too. I have also been able to adopt and adapt to change quiet easily. Lastly, I have made sure my relationship building skills are high, allowing me to leverage relationships to stay a step ahead.

What has been your biggest challenge in this sector?

The cost of travel has become a major challenge to most destinations. We are not exempt, as most of the leisure destinations in Africa are situated in remote parts of the country in which they operate, leveraging on the charm that is brought on by nature or natural wonders. Firstly, the cost of air travel has increased exponentially, fuel prices have made it nearly impossible to attempt road trip excursions and finally, the cost of living in some countries has led to consumers placing travel at the bottom of their priority lists.

What is your pet hate?

Inconsiderate people — whether in real life or seen on TV. It absolutely gets to me.

What is the most memorable place you have ever been to, and why?

Agulhas National Park. There is just something about remote coastal destinations that takes me to a different space. The combination of tranquillity, nature and serenity met by vast amounts of water and waves, help one calm down. The lighthouse also takes me on a historical journey. I am a sucker for history.

What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?

One with limited or mediocre experiences. Even if I do not get to engage in all the experiences while I am on a trip, I would like to know that they are at least available.

What is the most impulsive thing you have ever done?

Microlight flight, abseiling and ziplining on one of the longest ziplines.

What is your favourite city?

Gqeberha – formerly Port Elizabeth – is where I obtained my tertiary

education and it is an amazing coastal city with friendly people.

How do you relax?

I enjoy computer or TV games, which helps stimulate my brain. Specifically, strategy games which are surprisingly relaxing.

What is your favourite food?

Chicken livers with pumpkin, but everything my wife cooks to be honest, without sounding too corny, she really knows how to hit the flavour notes with her cooking.

Who is your favourite movie star?

Forrest Whitaker and Nia Long, they really bring life to movies and series.

Who is your role model?

Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba from Kenya. He has delivered truthful and inspirational speeches that have encouraged me. I have a passion for public speaking, and his delivery and confidence make me want to get up on stage and deliver a speech every time. His knowledge base is extensive, and his intention and ideals of a better society are inspirational.

I would also like to add that, along my journey, I have been led by three amazing women, who have and will always impact my life in different ways. Their leadership skills and guidance has been inspirational. I will always see them as role models who have impacted me directly. These are skills and pockets of knowledge I will never receive in a class or lecture room. These women are Elize, Absa; Hapiloe Sello, SANParks and Lindelwa Mthethwa, Minor Hotels. They will always be role models in some way or another.

What advice do you have for anyone starting out in this industry and hoping to follow in your footsteps?

Do not follow directly in anyone’s footsteps. Create your own, but along the way do not step in others’ footprints with the intention to erase them, rather walk beside those footsteps, taking time to appreciate them and what they stand for. The industry is tough, no matter which area you choose, whether it’s operations, food and beverage, sales, marketing, communications, etc. You need to be equally committed, learn from others with integrity, respect and service excellence. Also, remember to be a go-getter, no one is going to give you the opportunity. You need to find it, own it and live it.

Chef Samantha Tait –loves to experiment

Samantha Tait, 38, executive chef, Pumula Beach Hotel, has been in the industry for 17 years.

“I did my in-service training at the Hilton Hotel and The Quarters Hotel in Durban and then went on to work at Makaranga Garden Lodge in Kloof,” she said.

After school, I spent a few months working on a stud farm. I have always been a horse rider and been involved with horses, competing from a young age. I wanted more out of life but wasn’t sure at that time which direction to go in. I was always cooking with my mom and gran and they inspired me to pursue it as a career. My parents worked hard to see me through my cooking school and I will forever be grateful.”

Samantha was born in Pietermaritzburg to Jock and Lorraine Tait. “I am the youngest of three children. My brother, Kyle is 40 and my sister Shannon is 45. We moved from Inchanga to Durban North when I was five years old. I attended Northlands Girls High School and studied further with Shaun and Caryn at Fusion Cooking School where I was awarded my diploma.

“Upon completing my three months’ probation at Makaranga, I was offered a position in their kitchen under the supervision of Scott Graham. I then moved to Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse and spent just under a year working with Richard Paynton. It was around this time that I decided that I wanted to travel and was wait for my documents/visas to come through in order to go and work in the UK, where my sister had emigrated to. I started my UK career working at the Bath Priory in Bath as a junior pastry chef.”

Samantha said: “This was the first time I was really inspired by food. I enjoyed seeing how food could become an artform and the effect it could have on a person. It gave me what I needed to progress in my career and confirmed to me that I had chosen the correct path.

I returned to South Africa confident in the knowledge that I would continue on my chosen path and work towards becoming the best chef I could be. Being in the UK, I was able to spend some time with my sister and her family and was able to enjoy special moments with them when I wasn’t working.”

Samantha said: “My reason for returning to South Africa was to have a shoulder operation and biopsy, as my shoulder was a constant problem for me, especially in colder weather. I eventually found out that I have a

psoriatic spondyloarthropathy, which is a fancy word for inflammatory arthritis. I have never let it stop me from achieving what I want out of my career, I have only worked harder because of it. I do have flare-ups every now and then, but I know now how to deal with them correctly with the help of my specialist. When I was able to get back to work, I accepted a job close to home at a little boutique hotel in Mount Edgecome Estate, Fairways Lodge under Gatsby International Hotel and Resorts.

“As a sous chef, after a few months

the head chef left and I was given the opportunity to step into the head chef role. It was a very small kitchen, but I gained enough knowledge to move forward. I then applied for a position at Pumula Beach Hotel and, 12 years later, I am still in their kitchen working with chefs I have trained. This has made me the chef I am today,” Samantha said.

When asked about her five-year goals, Samantha said: “I’m not sure about five years… in the food industry we work on weeks and months, getting things done as soon as we can! In the next few months, I would like to look at the freshness of all my dishes and work to making them lighter, healthier and tastier. I’m always looking to create new dishes using overseas influences and spices. I love to experiment, as a hotel, we get a lot of different people and cultures in our dining room as well as people with special dietary requirements. My goal is to make them feel comfortable and give everyone the same experience.”

She added: “To be honest, I never stop, from dealing with my chefs and the continued training that is needed, to dealing with orders and suppliers, from the normal running of the kitchen and doing my fair share of the cooking, to dealing with the guests that come through the door… it is a juggling act and I enjoy every minute of it.”

In terms of food trends, Samantha said: “Over the last few years, I have noticed that people have invested in their health, yet they want equally tasty and lighter food. I have also noticed that people are becoming more familiar with food and how to cook it, which means that most trained chefs need to step up their game in the kitchen in order to provide customers with the food they want. I like people challenging me and forcing me outside of my comfort zone. I am always happy to work towards giving customers the best meal that they could have, cooked to their liking.”

In terms of global trends, she said: “I’m seeing a lot of people turning to plant-based foods. A hype on veganism, meat free and dairy free dishes are extremely popular these days. As I’ve said before, there is an expectation for lighter, healthier and tastier foods. People want healthier lifestyles; they want their kids to learn the difference and be a part of the change.”

Her advice to PCOs is: “Get to know

the chef involved and have a good partnership and relationship with them so that when guests arrive and new info is popping up, you know exactly who needs to know this and who can deal with it as fast as possible. At the end of the day, our basic objective is that the guests are looked after while they are with us.”

Samantha said guests know what they want and expect. This can be a challenge. “In some cases, it can be something as simple as Wi-Fi connections throughout the hotel. Simple but very costly. Providing impeccable service where adequate staff training is essential. It is expected, but sometimes requires going the extra mile. There are many other factors and challenges, but each hotel would have faced their own and grown from them. A personal challenge for me is working with certain foods like fish, which I am allergic to, but I layer up the gloves and get on with it.”

Samantha is single and said that this industry leaves little time for outside life. “Right now, I’m happy being me.”

Samantha does not have any children but has three nieces and a nephew who she loves to spoil. Samantha also has a cat who she loves going home to, after a long day in the kitchen!

For leisure, Samantha enjoys horse riding, going to the gym, and spending time with her family and friends whenever possible.

Her advice for newcomers aspiring to become an executive chef is: “Don’t rush the process, if it’s meant for you then it will happen naturally… your time will come. Enjoy the years inbetween. If you have that fire within you, it will all fall into place.”

In conclusion, Samantha said: “I think that one can always do better and grow and get pushed to think outside the box. I have a saying… we don’t always get it right, but we certainly try our best!”

What is your signature dish?

That question is like asking which of your kids do you love more! I make so many dishes and on any given day it changes depending on my mood! They are all delicious in their own way. Cooking is an art and it takes a lot of skill to get it the same each and every time so that when the same guest comes back six years later and

asks me to make them that same chocolate sauce with the fillet I did back then and serve it to them, the memory of the first time they came and sat down in my dining room comes back to them. That is the goal, the achievement I am looking for. I can’t make everybody happy, but I do try.

What are the trends emerging in the conferencing industry regarding foods?

After Covid, to be honest, it is just getting back to being normal. Getting conferences through the door is slowly coming back into play. November 2022 was incredible. We had back-to-back conferences and year-end parties. When it comes to the food, I feel that people are wanting good quality, tasty food. They have a very short time to eat and then, they are back in the conference room, so impeccable service is needed, a nice variety of hot food, as fresh as possible.

What is your favourite beverage?

A good glass of wine is a must after a long day, but I certainly enjoy a cocktail!

What is your favourite food?

I enjoy a tasty pasta, anything with cheese from time to time. But you can never go wrong with melt-in-yourmouth roast beef with horseradish sauce! I cook tasty rich food day in and day out for my guests, so I enjoy the simpler foods when at home.

What is your pet hate?

Someone saying to me that they can’t do it or that they are tired. Push it to the next gear and we will do it together.

What is your great love?

Showing passion, I admire energy. I love helping my chefs become the best version they can be, striving and becoming stronger. It is a privilege to watch them grow.

Are you adventurous?

I am a risk taker by nature, more so in my younger years, but more careful these days. I am a horse rider and I have fallen to the ground more times than I care to admit. I have also scuba dived with sharks many years ago, but in the kitchen, I know what my guests would like and I hope to deliver on their expectations.

Dubai wins 232 bids for business events in 2022, almost twice as many as 2021

Business events are poised to make a vital contribution to Dubai’s economic development and tourism growth, with another exceptional year of successful bids for international conferences, congresses, meetings and incentive travel programmes. Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau, part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, said that it won 232 bids for business events in 2022, almost twice as many as the previous year.

Set to be held over the coming years, the events will bring in an additional 135,000 visitors including scientists, thought-leaders and business executives to Dubai, enhancing the value generated by the business events and tourism ecosystem. DBE collaborated with a range of stakeholders for the successful event

bids including Al Safeer Congress Ambassadors and the public and private sector entities they represent, industry partners including Dubai World Trade Centre and Emirates, and hotels and professional congress organisers (PCOs) across the city. Beyond their direct impact, the events, which include flagship conferences and congresses organised by

international associations, as well as prestigious corporate meetings held by multinationals, will contribute to Dubai’s growth as a knowledge economy hub. Dubai won bids for a record 57 association conferences in 2022, the highest achieved by DBE. The successful bids are a testament to the organisation’s efforts to raise Dubai’s profile

DBE at IMEX 2022.

among international associations across a wide range of sectors.

The strong performance in 2022 represented a 95 per cent growth in the number of successful bids from 2021 and a 92 per cent increase in the number of delegates added to the pipeline — all further accelerating the momentum of Dubai’s growth.

Ahmed Al Khaja, chief executive officer of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “The remarkable growth in successful event bids contributes to the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to make the city one of the top three global destinations for tourism and business. Inspired by the Dubai leadership’s economic vision, our goal has not only been to grow the business events sector and drive further visitation to the city, but also to ensure it can feed into the development of key sectors and professions. Dubai’s success in capturing business events in 2022, especially international association conferences, will play a vital role in further propelling innovation, professional development and knowledge exchange in their respective sectors and industries, and elevate Dubai’s standing within them. As we work to further advance the objectives of the D33 agenda for the next decade, the collaborative approach taken with public and private sector entities across the city will be more important than ever before.”

“We are grateful to our stakeholders, who have shown a firm commitment to collaborating with us, to drive forward Dubai’s business events sector and ensure that the city remains an unrivalled host city. Combined with Dubai’s own homegrown trade shows and conferences, as well as other meetings being brought to the city, the business events sector continues to form an important pillar of Dubai’s destination, offering and tourism growth.”

The major association events captured in 2022 included the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine WorldLab Congress 2024, International Congress of Endocrinology 2024, World Sports Medicine Congress 2024, World Congress of the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologies 2026, and International Symposium on Dental Hygiene 2028. Meanwhile, the corporate meetings and incentive travel programmes that Dubai won bids for include IBM India and Europe Incentives 2023, Terpel Convention 2023, Envista EMEA Summit 2023 and Mary Kay Mexico Incentive 2024.

In addition to the bidding activity, DBE kept Dubai top-of-mind among meeting planners and association executives through an intense, year-round calendar of almost 200 global sales activities, including study missions, roadshows and participation in major trade shows. Overall, this resulted in Dubai’s business events proposition becoming more familiar to meeting planners in 33 markets globally through face-to-face interactions — all further boosted by marketing and PR activities.  Steen Jakobsen, associate vice president, Dubai Business Events said: “Engaging with meeting planners

globally throughout 2022, we consistently heard that they were impressed with the way in which Dubai’s business events sector rapidly rebounded in the wake of the pandemic and appreciative of the platform the city provided them to safely resume their events. This has built on many years of efforts to consistently develop Dubai’s offerings, across not only the business events sector but also the knowledge economy — and drive awareness of it among meeting planners and association executives. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with our stakeholders in 2023 and leveraging our international partnerships to further elevate Dubai as a destination of choice.”

To build on its 2022 successes, DBE is once again embarking on yearround activities in Dubai to further raise the profile of the city’s strengths and capabilities as a business events destination. These include sales missions to key target markets and participation in major trade shows including IBTM World and IMEX. DBE will also join forces with industry stakeholders to host meeting planners in Dubai for a series of study missions that will allow them to see first-hand Dubai’s business events and tourism infrastructure and its rapidly-growing knowledge economy.

Ahmed Al Khaja, Chief Executive Officer, DFRE.

Steen Jakobsen, Associate Vice President, Dubai Business Events.

The successful bids are a testament to the organisation’s efforts to raise Dubai’s profile among international associations across a wide range of sectors.

KLCC to welcome over 700,000 delegates in 2023

Malaysia’s premier venue, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre), is opening 2023 on a high note with over 200 confirmed events that will attract over 700,000 delegates and visitors to the venue throughout the year.

In addition to the millions in economic benefit for Malaysia annually, the business events industry is a vital social and economic driver that creates thousands of jobs, supports talent development, facilitates knowledge exchange, and more.

Alan Pryor, the Centre’s general manager, shared, “We have an exciting year ahead of us and are delighted to commence 2023 on a positive note with 30 per cent repeat business and 28 new conferences and exhibitions. We are also excited to have recently won seven new

bids for high-profile association meetings between 2024 and 2030 that are expected to attract 16,000 international delegates to Malaysia.”

Eighteen international and national conventions, 35 exhibitions, and about 160 corporate meetings and events are already on the Centre’s calendar for the year, with more to be added in the coming months. The venue will see a range of debutant trade shows including Intelligent Manufacturing, CyberDSA, E-Mobility Asia and many more. Key international conferences such as the 38th Asia Pacific Academy

of Opthalmology Congress (APAO), Aesthetic Medicine & Surgery Conference (AMSC), Energy Asia, World Renewable Energy Congress (WREC), and World Women Leadership Summit, will also be taking place at the Centre between January and December.

“Adding value to our diverse customisable event spaces and supporting facilities, are a range of new services that are available to our clients. We now have a dedicated team to assist with event conceptualisation, content and experience design, production planning, event set-up and tear-down, supplier liaison, and everything through to the successful delivery of the event. Our aim is to offer end-to-end services and solutions so clients and event organisers have everything they need to seamlessly execute their events, all under one roof,” Mr Pryor said. More and more live entertainment event organisers are choosing the award-winning venue for concerts and comedy shows. International heartthrobs like Ne-Yo, Sting, Blue, Maksim, and One Republic are set to rock the Centre’s 3,000-seat Plenary Hall from January to March. Popular Indonesian artistes, Cakra Khan, Bunga Citra Lestari or famously known as BCL, and Melly Goeslow are also part of this year’s illustrious entertainment lineup. The strategic location of the purpose-built venue in the heart of the city, its international standards in service delivery, long track-record of hosting successful high-profile international and government events and a dedicated and experienced team make the Centre an easy and preferred choice of venue for clients.

“As an important infrastructure asset for the city of Kuala Lumpur, we take pride in being the People’s Centre. We have enhanced our food court offering with popular F&B retail brands like Tealive and refreshed the look and feel for better ambience, comfort and dining experience. On-site accommodation, premier shopping malls and iconic tourist sites offer delegates and visitors more value and a variety of experiences while attending events at the Centre. We are well-connected through the city’s comprehensive public transportation network and air-conditioned walkways to nearby attractions,” Mr Pryor concluded.

Indonesian artist, Afgan, performs for a packed Plenary Hall at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre recently.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ new ‘Experiences at Sea’ division

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has announced ‘Experiences at Sea’, the union of Sixthman Festivals at Sea, a subsidiary of NCL, and the Company’s Charters, Meetings and Incentives (CM&I) division, will host thirteen consecutive events over 66 nights in Spring 2023 showcasing the Company’s dedication to providing one-of-a-kind, immersive adventures at sea for a range of passionate affinity communities.

The newly formed ‘Experiences at Sea’ brand will leverage Sixthman’s 21 years of experience from producing over 160 charters focused on creating immersive experiences along with the expertise of the Company’s CM&I team to further serve the company’s corporate, incentive and affinity-focused clients across all three of its award-winning brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The division aims to bring guests together to enjoy highly curated, elevated cruise experiences with an emphasis on community, connection and journeys that create memories that last a lifetime.

“As we kick off 2023, we are thrilled to be collaborating with our expansive roster of artists and NCL client partners with a record-breaking thirteen back-to-back immersive festival-at-sea cruises aboard Norwegian Pearl, bringing guests from an array of like-minded communities together to experience one-of-a-kind vacations alongside their favourite artists, athletes, actors, comedians and others within their lifestyle,” said Anthony Diaz, chief executive officer of Sixthman and SVP of Charters,

Meetings and Incentives for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “Powered by all that the ‘Experiences at Sea’ unit provides, we are committed to going above and beyond to shatter the expectations of what a vacation can be. It’s been so rewarding being a part of setting the stage for guests to be able to get away to get together!”

The Company’s CM&I team is already being recognised for creating custom experiences for their clients by winning both the Prevue Visionary and Northstar Stella Awards for ‘Best Events and Meetings at Sea’ for 2022.

The Company launches this new division with the platform of various offerings, including a collaboration with Infinity Sports & Events to offer its first charter experience in Europe in celebration of the Rugby World Cup 2023. It will provide travellers with a series of bespoke cruise packages ranging from 1- to 10-nights for the games between September 8 and October 16, 2023 aboard NCL’s awardwinning ship, Norwegian Epic. Guests on board will enjoy guaranteed official match tickets to a selection of games played in Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux and

Nantes, allowing them to catch all the on-field action, while some packages allow for exploring the jewels of the Mediterranean, as well as exclusive rugby fan-zone experiences back on board

To further grow its business outside of the United States, Canada and Mexico, ‘Experiences at Sea’ has enhanced its team roster with two new Europe-based roles. Based in Southampton, United Kingdom, Sabrina Greca is assuming the newly created role of International Senior Corporate Sales Manager overseeing the CM&I business development in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Jake Leighton Pope has joined the Sixthman team as senior director of event development based in London, to explore new festival at sea concepts in Europe.

From wrestling to nurses, comedic internet influencers, the LGTBQIA+ community and music genres such as Rock, Americana, Country, Pop, Electronic Dance and Blues, and so much more, Norwegian Pearl will serve as host to this record-breaking number of back-to-back theme cruises.

New executive chef brings exotic flavours to Taj Cape Town

Keshan Ramburan, newly appointed executive chef at Taj Cape Town, brings two decades of exotic flavours, skill, and love of food to the luxurious heritage hotel.

Born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, Keshan said that his interest in hospitality was first sparked by his family. “Every person who walked through our doors was considered a special guest. My family’s genuine warmth and hospitality had a profound impact on me: it is a lesson I take with me wherever I go. Not only did it shape my personality, but it gave rise to a true passion for cuisine and a desire to make people feel at home.” Keshan said that he believes this to be the secret ingredient at any hospitality establishment.

A graduate of Cape Town’s Silwood School of Cookery, Keshan’s skill has seen him dishing up at a number of prestigious kitchens, lodges and hotels throughout the country, including most recently, the Table Bay Hotel. His 20 years of industry experience further includes stints at the Aqua Sibaya Casino Sun International, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Madikwe Safari Lodge and Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

Keshan’s ongoing pursuit of excellence is a legacy of his father whom, he said, was the greatest influence in his life. “My father was a very wise man; a true leader of his generation.” Perhaps one

of the most important lessons learnt from his father is that mediocrity is not to be tolerated — it is vital to keep reaching for that gold standard.

Keshan is well aware that he has a significant responsibility: after all, the Taj brand is famous for its culinary offering, which is one of the many factors that has helped entrench it as the world’s strongest brand. With this in mind, he and his team are keenly focused on creating bespoke culinary experiences for guests.

“The recent reveal of Taj Cape Town’s refreshed ground floor has injected new energy into the hotel. This has always been a favourite venue, thanks to its magnificent décor and central location — but our new offerings, such as the refurbished lobby bar and whiskey lounge and Mint Restaurant, mean that guests have even more avenues for enjoying that renowned Taj hospitality,” Keshan commented. His aim is to ensure that both restaurants at the hotel – the Bombay Brasserie and Mint – live up to heightened expectations.

“The Bombay Brasserie already has an excellent reputation for Indian cuisine with a contemporary twist. Meanwhile, guests are enjoying the

theatrical element we’ve introduced at Mint, which specialises in small plates of wood-fired grills.”

Mouth-watering fare, legendary service and outstanding views of Cape Town’s historic precinct make both venues an excellent choice for diners seeking an extraordinary experience, whether a fast-paced business lunch or languid family dinner.

“We are delighted to welcome Keshan to Taj Cape Town,” enthused Mark Wernich, cluster general manager, Africa for Taj Hotels. “A chef with his impressive experience – in terms of both the years he has accumulated in the kitchen, and the calibre of the establishments where he has worked – is a great asset to our hotel. Keshan is certain to enhance the quality of our culinary offering, and we are looking forward to seeing our guests enjoy more delicious moments with us.”

Keshan’s future goal? “To create the ultimate culinary experience within the Taj brand in sub-Saharan Africa. Ultimately, we want our patrons coming back for more, and I truly believe that what’s on the plate plays a big part in this!”

Wild Coast Sun named best luxury beach resort in South Africa

Sun International’s only beachfront resort, Wild Coast Sun in Port Edward, has been honoured by being named the winner of the 14 th annual Luxury Lifestyle Awards category ‘Best Luxury Beach Resort in South Africa’.

The Luxury Lifestyle Awards recognise excellence across the range of industry sectors and maintain the highest standards worldwide. “After a thorough research process, Wild Coast Sun Resort has been distinguished as one of the best in this market. Your impeccable reputation and professional performance have been recognised and acknowledged,” said the award certificate.

In the past year, the resort has seen multi-millions spent on upgrades to new and existing facilities, following

improvements made leading up to Wild Coast Sun being raised from a three to a four-star resort, in 2020.

Wild Coast Sun general manager, Peter Tshidi, said the resort is a popular golfing, gambling and beachfront destination hotel.

Guests visiting over the holidays were among the first to try The Magic Company’s R6.4-million indoor Skypark facility. The structure, which is over 18 metres high, has 21 rope obstacles on a skytrail and a built-in zipline skyrail.

The hotel saw two new franchised

restaurants open their doors last year— Barcelos and Maltos. “Our inhouse breakfast and private function restaurant, Chico’s, also enjoyed a R5,5-million make-over and the beautiful new dining floor and bathrooms proved popular with our guests when it was revealed in December,” Mr Tshidi said.

“Wild Coast Sun does not intend to rest on its laurels — we have plenty more exciting news about improvements and new additions which will be announced later this year,” Mr Tshidi concluded.

This year’s trends for the tourism and hospitality industries

Europe still corners the global tourism market with 51 per cent as opposed to Africa with only five per cent. However, all is not doom and gloom given that Africa is one of the fastest growing regions when it comes to tourism.

This year will also see an increase in ‘bleisure’ travellers (those visitors combining business and pleasure) and all-inclusive and packaged holidays, while the South African tourism and hospitality industry will have to continue to deal with the effects of loadshedding. These were just some of the predictions of the lecturers at the IIE’s School of Hospitality & Service Management which has campuses in Rosebank, Johannesburg and Newlands in Cape Town.

Roshaan

Hurter (Cape Town)

An emphasis on safety and

sustainability: There is a continued bounce-back from the Covid pandemic, with a bigger focus than ever before on sustainability and safety. Looking at international tourism market share it remains clear that Europe still leads the pack, continuing to corner the market with 51 per cent as opposed to Africa with only five per cent. However, we should not be despondent; it is clear figures are slowly rising as our segment is working hard in rebuilding consumer confidence and adapting to evolving consumer needs. The highly respected Hospitality Global Market Report of 2022 found that the global hospitality market is expected to experience a 15 per cent compound annual growth. ACSA

reported a 90 per cent growth in travellers at airports compared to November 2021.

South Africa remains a very popular destination, but we should not get complacent. We should keep on reinventing ourselves and seek to deliver unique tourism products to entice and then keep our much valued patrons. Sustainability is key. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, which hotels are aspiring to. Eco tourism continues to grow year-on-year.

South Africans make the best out of adversity. The hospitality industry is proving to be innovative and resilient

when it comes to loadshedding.

According to Collin Thaver, managing director of Southern Africa 360, power disruptions in the industry are being managed and most tourism outlets have back-up generators to cope with this. He said that tourism bodies are using social media to update visitors to their area and region, and even local municipalities are sending out messages online.

Dustin Pieterson (Cape Town)

All-inclusive packages and business travel: This year business travellers will choose to combine leisure time during their trips. Guests will think of more ways to save money rather than to spend, so they might want to have exclusive packages that meet only their specific needs for that particular visit or stay. One can already see trends such as guest desire to pay for certain services and amenities utilised. More tourists will also opt for all-inclusive packages so they know how much their holiday is going to cost them. These all-inclusive packages used to be seen as low quality but that has changed and there will be more upmarket all-inclusive deals which include food, drink and activities. The electricity crisis will have consequences: from a hospitality operational point of view there is no short-term sustainable way to remedy South Africa’s current electricity crisis. This is something that affects everyone in hospitality, from the most basic employee doing

a cleaning job to the chief executive officer. However, the industry showed resilience during the Covid lockdown and, if anything, hoteliers don’t give up, but rather take charge and lead. The electricity crisis has forced larger hotels to run on generators to keep and maintain standards, but this is extremely expensive to maintain and not good for a carbon footprint. However, if there is no solution soon, it will have a more severe impact on the hospitality industry than what was experienced during the pandemic.

to a new term known as ‘bleisure’, which is the mixing of business with pleasure. The hospitality industry is becoming more corporate-oriented. Guests pay for the experience and the memories made, rather than just a bed to sleep in and breakfast in the morning. Business travellers do not only want to stay at a hotel because they are working, but also to enjoy themselves and take some leisure time. More corporates are employing hospitality-oriented people and graduates as hospitality equals customer service.

Etresia Booysen (Johannesburg)

Business travellers: More and more hospitality industries are leaning

The energy crisis and sustainability: Seeing that the electricity supply is becoming more unreliable, it is forcing more hospitality industries to look at alternative electricity sources. Solar power is on the rise and something that many hospitality industries and businesses will adopt in future planning. Other smart technologies, such as automation and air-source heat pumps will also be taken into consideration. It is very important for future hospitality industry owners to plan ahead and consider all aspects of sustainability, because not taking these technologies into consideration could prove very expensive if only installed when the electricity crises worsens. The hospitality industry is becoming more adaptable to sustainability and recent studies have shown that up to 78 per cent of travellers will stay in a sustainable hotel at least once this year (PressReader Team 2023).

Domestic tourism to stabilise, a bumpy international ride

Domestic tourism in south- and southern Africa looks set to stabilise in 2023 to pre-2019 levels, after pent-up demand helped the sector recover and grow, and gave rise to trends such as backyard travelling, ‘workations’ and longer stays. The increasing cost of living will see affordable accommodation and destinations in small towns becoming more sought-after for local travel, while hotel occupancy and room rates are expected to continue increasing.

Following the demise of several domestic airlines and the spike in the cost of flights, this year should see an increase in capacity with more airlines coming online and a welcome stabilisation of prices. This is according to Guy Stehlik, chief executive officer of BON Hotels, who has shared some of his predictions for the year.

International tourism to South Africa remains below pre-2019 levels and inconsistent in nature, he points out, predominantly affected by political and economic uncertainties, airline capacity issues, industry staff shortages, and the high price of jet fuel, among others. “On a positive note, our favourable exchange rate remains a drawcard and forward bookings from the international market have increased significantly,” Mr Stehlik said. “South Africa remains a top destination in Africa for luxury travel and in fact, what we are seeing, is an increased demand for luxury accommodation and for private experience-based trips.”

“The outlook for international economic activity is nevertheless worrying, with a worldwide recession looming. Indications are that the USA will be leading this recession, closely followed by China. This will impact international travel, and into the South African market as well,” Mr Stehlik said.

Moving on to what 2023 holds for BON Hotels, Mr Stehlik is upbeat. As a hospitality management company, BON Hotels has become known for an innovative sales and marketing approach that it offers to the hotels, lodges and resorts in their portfolio, to reposition them and align them to the BON Hotels brand. The company also takes full operational and

financial management of hotels, to offer owners peace of mind that their establishment is run according to the highest international standards.

“In 2023, we are positioning BON Hotels for growth, and an exciting development to underpin this strategy is a new team to strengthen our sales and marketing efforts and ensure higher occupancy rates,” Mr Stehlik said.

“Gareth Venner, the former head of sales for Marriott, is an industry legend who has joined us, bringing with him valuable relationships built up over time. I am excited about the impact that he has already made and will still make this year,” Mr Stehlik said.

“Greg Spark is our new operations director. He’s known for his high energy levels and attention to detail, and as a people person, he’s ideal for working with our owners. Together with Gareth, leadership is going to play a key role in our growth and profitability this year.”

Two other former Marriott appointees include Jacques Coetsee on the e-Commerce side where he will be heading up the BON Hotels’ loyalty programme, BONami, and Lexi Ramoroka, a strategic marketing and sales specialist, who is already lending her expertise to the marketing department.

BON Hotels is also known for its ethos of maximising a direct relationship with their guests and Mr Stehlik said that in 2023, there will be an even greater emphasis on these engagements to improve business coming directly into their hotels. “This direct relationship is, however, difficult to ensure these days, especially with the marketing and financial muscle behind online travel agencies,” he added.

The company has invested heavily in a new website that launched on 1 February 2023, that offers a much improved, user-friendly experience with easier navigation and content that speaks to the modern traveller. Large enticing images to inspire and a look and feel that highlights the world-class quality and service offered by the BON Hotels Group. There is also the option for website visitors to buy hotel vouchers as gifts and/or join the BONami loyalty programme online. Membership offers immediate rewards including discounted rates, complimentary accommodation vouchers, dining discounts and more.

“While the industry may still be grappling with some challenges on both the domestic and international front, at BON Hotels we are bullish and looking forward to a stellar 2023, built on the strong foundation of our brand and propelled forward by our outstanding team,” Mr Stehlik concluded.

Guy Stehlik.

Huge growth potential for Africa’s hotel and hospitality sector in 2023

Travel and tourism are firmly on the agenda in Africa, according to a new report on the hotel and hospitality sector, which shows a faster post-pandemic recovery than anticipated, strong resilience and immense growth potential.

The 2023 Hotel and Hospitality Industry Confidence Index is a collaborative research report between Moore and dmg events aimed at understanding the trends, challenges and perceptions facing the industry. In putting the report together, participants from 17 African countries in the hotel and hospitality market were surveyed and overall, feel optimistic about the prospects of the sector.

“The survey paints a picture of a sector that’s largely positive in its outlook, and that’s looking to find fresh routes to traveller engagement and new ways of building traveller experiences,” Evan Schiff, portfolio director at dmg events said.

Even with the challenges facing the sector, almost 82 per cent of respondents were positive about the next six months, while 90 per cent felt positive about the sector over the next two years.

Among the findings, respondents pointed to the potential for increased investment to bolster growth in the industry and leverage it effectively. Statista predicts US$13.80-billion in hotel market revenue volume on the continent by 2027. This means an anticipated rise in rate of revenue on an annual average of 8.68 per cent between 2023 and 2027.

An uptick in activity last year saw Africa achieve the world average in the pace of recovery, with North Africa leading the way on the continent at -29 per cent growth in international tourism. This is a big increase over the -73 per cent during the pandemic globally. Sub-Saharan Africa lagged 43 per cent behind its pre-pandemic key performance indicators but the recovery is

in motion across Africa and the opportunities for hotel and hospitality operators are vast. The key trends and challenges from the past year are a good Indication of what to expect this year.

Trends that were most prevalent in travel and tourism in 2022 included Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations, with travellers seeking sustainable tourism, conscious of the energy costs of a vacation. Nature-bound getaways or ‘staycations’ were popular to connect people with the environment. Medical tourism saw post-pandemic risk factors shaping how some chose to travel, including in the pursuit of wellness. The GOAT and growth trend was another key factor as identified in research from Expedia, highlighting that 2022 was the year of the GOAT (Greatest of All Trips) for travellers as they embraced ‘carpe diem’ and embarked on ‘bucket-list’ travel and new experiences. Automation and intelligent technology will further shape the industry to deliver on cost cutting while providing exceptional service. Due to Covid, some trends in hospitality are here to stay. “Check-ins went digital, restaurant menus were accessed via QR code, and customers are happy, which is encouraging hoteliers to go even further,” Mr Schiff said. “Many apps that were once a ‘nice to have’, are now fully interactive and engaging pathways to customer engagement and interaction. This is one of the most exciting trends in the industry.”

Márton Takács, global sector leader: hotel and leisure at Moore Global, said: “Securing

appropriately skilled staff in hospitality has proven to be a big challenge. “This along with the rising costs of energy and reliable supply, construction costs and the impacts of inflationary pressures, which extend to tightening the discretionary income purse strings for travellers, have weighed heavily on the industry.”

Covid still presents a dynamic, ongoing risk to the sector and occupancy rates are still generally lower than pre-pandemic, but Mr Takács added that there is a determination to not only preserve employment, but to keep going and to innovate. A substantial 94.3 per cent of respondents made their commitment clear to supporting employees and to retaining talent within the sector.

The Hotel & Hospitality Show, hosted by dmg events, is in its sixth year and seeks to connect brands with hospitality buyers in Africa, promoting B2B matchmaking services and masterclasses as part of its agenda, encouraging networking and the forming of meaningful cross-border collaborations.

Last year, 67 countries from around the globe were represented at the three African Trade Week events, opening doors for local sellers to meet international buyers. The African hotel and hospitality sector is ripe for disruption and is ready for another exciting year.

For more information on the Hotel & Hospitality Show, visit www.thehotelshowafrica.com

To read the full 2023 Hotel and Hospitality Industry Confidence Index, click here

Why you should do a waste audit

Whether you are a one-person company working from home, a large national operation with multiple premises or are hosting an event, you can benefit from doing a waste audit. Here’s why.

As the name suggests, a waste audit is the process or looking through your waste to assess what types of waste you produce, and quantifying each waste stream by weighing it. (A waste stream could be paper or organic waste, for example.)

As Grace Stead, a sustainability practitioner and co-founder of the Event Greening Forum, said: “You cannot manage what you cannot measure.” Certainly, you cannot manage it very effectively.

The value of a waste audit

A waste audit is an interesting way to consider your company’s or event’s operations and looks for ways to improve it, and even save money in the process. Once you start to measure your waste, you can also start to set goals to reduce it.

For example:

• A waste audit can reveal excessive amounts of expired consumables or specific items being thrown away. This presents an opportunity to change your purchasing habits. Example: Great Forest, a US based waste solutions company, shares how one of their client’s discovered 30 per cent of its

waste was disposable coffee cups, after which it eliminated these at their offices.

• Large volumes of landfill waste could motivate you to source products that are reusable or recyclable, or to implement a better recycling system. Example: exhibition stand builder Scan Display realised they were throwing a lot of (unrecyclable) bubble wrap away, so they created reusable furniture covers to reduce some of this waste.

• Binning lots of organic waste could motivate you to begin composting. If that sounds like a hassle, there are companies who can help you or do it for you — such as Earth Probiotic, Ywaste and Zero to Landfill Organics. And yes, in some cases they can even do this for events. Example: Spier has reported that 100 per cent of their organic waste is transformed into organic, nutrient-rich fertiliser that they use on their farmland.

• Contaminated waste could indicate you can improve how waste is separated at source (using a multi-bin system), so that more waste can be recycled. This could include educating your staff or attendees to gain their cooperation. Example: You could have a ‘green team’

manning waste areas at events, helping ensure attendees throw their waste into the correct bins.

Ready to start?

A waste audit can be conducted by external consultants. While this will cost money, you will benefit from advice on how to improve your operations and opportunities to save money. However, these audits can also be done by you and your team, for free. This makes sense for companies with few staff and minimal waste. Being so hands-on can be a great learning experience, but make sure you are prepped for it. The free DIY Waste Audit guide by Method Recycling should help, and can be found here: methodrecycling.com

In the case of events, event planners typically drive this process, and would contract a waste management company to oversee the process. This decision needs to be communicated with the venue, cleaning company and any other stakeholders, early in the event planning stages to gain their full support.

If you’re looking for green products and services to help you measure and reduce your waste to landfill, please visit www.greendatabase.co.za

About the EGF

The Event Greening Forum (EGF) is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainability within the business events sector. It does this by hosting educational sessions for industry and lobbying government in an effort to implement sustainability principles into the daily operations of the events industry.

The EGF was established through dedication and support of eight industry associations who are recognised as founding members. The founding members are key industry associations working together to promote South Africa as a destination for various types of events.

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about event greening, visit www.eventgreening.co.za where you can browse the free resources, sign up to the monthly newsletter, or contact them directly with any queries.

Contact: Lynn Mcleod

T: 082 891 5883

E: lynn@eventgreening.co.za

The delegate economy

The business events and exhibition industry has a substantial role to play in delivering and driving the economy of our country. This in itself is an industry imperative; and, as we are part of the global eventing world, the competition for consumers, talent, business and investment makes it challenging at times.

By Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI.

However, we must never lose sight that beyond the high yield of delegate spend, business events are recognised for:

• Attracting global talent and knowledge transfer.

• Stimulating trade, encouraging foreign investment, and catalysing industry growth.

• Nurturing research collaboration, fostering innovation, and boosting productivity.

• Promoting cultural exchange and diplomacy.

Added to this are sporting events that aid the profile of a destination as well as attracting new visitors to a destination.

At present, our country is experiencing a wonderful window of focus across the business events and exhibitions industry, matched by significant international sporting events that are taking place on our shores.

We are witnessing the SA20 Cricket T20 capturing the imagination and support

of local audiences as well as many within India due to the connection of the teams participating. This sporting event will be followed by the ICC Women’s World Cup, as well as the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, with the muchanticipated Formula E grand prix.

Africa’s Mining Indaba and our own Meetings Africa anchors the first quarter of 2023 for business events which precedes WTM Africa and is ensued by the Netball World Cup, resulting in us having focus on the socioeconomic impact the aforementioned activities will have on our economy.

All of this work is completed years before, through the form of bids, presentations and discussions to secure these events for our destination. It clearly demonstrates how important business events, exhibitions and events are for our country.

A wonderful example is the sterling work done by the team in the Western Cape. The Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau secured 27 bids in

the past year for business events that will happen between 2022-2024, and beyond. The destination will welcome an estimated 20,000 delegates from the bids secured over the next few years, with an estimated R393.4 million to be injected into the local economy as a result of the secured business events. We know that the positive knock-on effect within the supply chain for each of these events demonstrates the economic ripple that the delegate spend is far beyond the price of a conference registration fee, accommodation, or transport. Many delegates return, as tourists, to the host destination, with family and friends. In the coming year, we should see a greater return in our various sectors. As an industry we will continue to grow and do our best in a more competitive environment.

Reviewing some of the travel and tourism industry’s basic principles — part 2

We began the year by reviewing some of the fundamental principles of a successful tourism business or industry. Tourism is multifaceted and despite the fact that there is no one form of tourism, many of the industry’s basic principles hold true no matter in which aspect of the travel and tourism industry one works.

By Dr Peter Tarlow, Tourism & More. inc.

Despite our cultural, linguistic, religious, and geographic differences, human beings are basically the same around the world and the best principles of good tourism transcend cultures, languages, nations, and religious affiliation. Due to tourism’s unique ability to bring people together, if used correctly it can be an instrument for peace. This month, we continue with some of the basics and fundamental principles of the tourism industry. Be prepared tackle both ongoing and new challenges. The tourism industry is part of a constantly changing world. The year 2023 will see multiple challenges which travel and tourism professionals will have to face. Some of these are:

• Climate crises that can impact your part of the industry, including flight cancellations or delays, and irregular heat and cold patterns.

• Economic pressure, especially on the world’s middle class.

• Increased issues of crime.

• Higher levels than normal of professionals leaving the workforce due to retirement or feeling underappreciated. These include police, medical personnel, and other essential service providers.

• Fuel shortages.

• Food shortages.

• Further divisions between the richer and poorer areas of the world.

• Greater numbers of people suing tourism business or tour operators due to poor service or not delivering what was promised. The following reminders are meant to both inspire and to warn.

• When the going gets rough, be calm. People come to us for tranquility and to forget their problems, not to learn about our problems. Our guests should never be burdened with our economic difficulties. Remember they are our guests and not our counsellors. Tourism ethics requires that your personal life stays out of the workplace. If you are too agitated to work, then stay at home. Once one is at the workplace, however, we have a moral responsibility to concentrate on the needs of our guests and not on our own needs. The best way to be calm in a

crisis is to be prepared. The Covid-19 pandemic should teach us to do good risk management and be prepared for foreseeable problems and ‘black swan events’. In a like manner, your community or attraction needs to train employees on how to handle health risks, travel changes, and personal security issues.

• Use multiple methodologies to understand trends in tourism. There is a tendency in tourism to use purely qualitative or quantitative analytical methodologies. Both are important and both can provide additional insights. Problems occur when we become so dependent on one form of analysis that we ignore the other. Remember, people surveyed along with computerised data are not always truthful. Although these methods may be highly valid, their reliability factors may be lower than what we believe. Polling errors both in the US and the UK ought to remind us of the principle of ‘garbage in/garbage out’.

• Never forget that travel and tourism are very competitive industries. It behoves tourism industry professionals to remember that the tourism industry is filled with multiple forms of transportation, hotels, restaurants, tour operators and tour guides and interesting places to visit and shop. Additionally, there are many places in the world with interesting history, beautiful scenery and great beaches.

• Find a way to make the shopping experience unique. In today’s interlocked world major cities no longer sell only their local products but provide a wide variety of products from around the world. Basic principle: if you can get it there, you can probably get it here.

• Do not forget that travellers today have more information than ever before. The worst thing for a tourism industry is to be caught exaggerating or lying. It takes a long time to rebuild a reputation and, in today’s world of social media, one mistake can spread like wildfire.

• Marketing can aid in product development, but it cannot substitute for product(s) development. A basic rule of tourism is that you cannot market what you do not have. Remember that the most successful form of marketing is word-of-mouth.

Spend less money on classical marketing strategies and more money on customer service and product development.

• Focus on the unique aspects of your part of the travel and tourism world. Do not try to be all things to all people. Represent something that is special. Ask yourself: What makes your community or attraction different and unique from your competitors? How does your community/locale/country celebrate its individuality? If you were a visitor to your community, would you remember it a few days after you had left, or would it be just one more place on the map? For example, do not just offer an outdoor experience, but individualise that experience, make your hiking trails special, or develop something unique about aquatic offerings. If, on the other hand, your community or destination is a creation of the imagination, then allow the imagination to run wild and continually create new experiences.

• Travel and tourism professionals need to enjoy what they do to project this sense of joie de vivre to their customers. Travel and tourism is about having fun and if you and your employees do not come to work with a smile on your face, then it would be better to seek other employment. Visitors quickly ascertain our moods and professional attitude. The nicer you are, the more successful your company or local tourism community is going to be.

• Be authentic. Nothing gets unmasked more easily than a lack of authenticity. Do not try to be what you are not but rather be the best that you can be. Tourism locations that are authentic and natural tend to be the most successful. To be authentic does not mean only forests or beaches, but a unique presentation of cultural awareness.

• Smiles are universal. Perhaps the most important technique to learn in tourism is the way to smile. A sincere smile can compensate for many an error. Travel and tourism is built around principles of high expectations, many of which are never met. This gap between the image and the reality is not always the fault of

the industry. There is little that the industry can do to make a rainstorm depart or to prevent an unexpected blizzard. What we can do is show people that we care, and be creative. Most people can forgive an act of nature, but few customers will forgive a state of callousness or lack of caring.

• Tourism is a customer-driven experience. In the past few years, too many tourism and visitor centres have worked hard at driving their customers from human-based experiences to web page experiences. The logic behind this move is that it will save large corporations, such as airlines, a great deal of money on wages. The risk that these companies will have to consider is that tourists develop relationships with people rather than websites. As tourist and traveller corporations drive people to websites, they should be ready to accept the fact that customer loyalty will decrease and that their frontline personnel’s actions become even more important.

• Ask yourself if your tourism image is the same as that of your clients? For example, you may say that you are a family destination, but if your customers view you from another perspective, it will take a tremendous amount of marketing to change the image. Before launching a new marketing campaign, consider how your destination makes its clientele feel, why people chose your destination over the competition, and what emotional benefits do your visitors receive when they chose your destination.

• Our customers are not in school. All too often, especially on guided tours, we have the false notion that our customers are our students. Guides need to speak less and allow visitors to experience more. The average adult, on tour,

stops listening after about five to seven minutes. In a like manner, too many police departments and security organisations falsely believe that they can educate the visitor regarding personal safety and security. Assume the visitor will pay no attention, and develop security programs based on this simple fact.

• Strive to provide an enchanting travel and tourism experience. Tourism is not about education or school, but about enchantment and the nurturing of the spirit. A lack of enchantment means that there are fewer and fewer reasons to want to travel and to participate in the tourism experience. For example, if every shopping mall looks the same or if the same menu exists in every hotel chain, why not simply stay at home? Why would anyone want to subject him/herself to dangers and hassles of travel, if our industry destroys the journey’s enchantment by rude and arrogant front-line personnel? To help your locale or attraction make money put a bit of the romance and enchantment back into your tourism product.

• When in doubt, the right thing to do is the best thing to do. Don’t cut corners because times are hard. This is the time to build a reputation for integrity by doing the right thing. Make sure to give customer’s their money’s worth rather than appearing to be selfish and greedy. The hospitality business is about doing for others, and nothing advertises a place better than giving that something extra in a period of economic constriction. In a like manner, managers should never cut their underlings salaries before they cut their own. If reduction in forces are necessary, a manager should personally handle the situation, present a good-bye token and never be absent on the day of a lay-off.

Who is Dr Peter E. Tarlow ?

Dr Peter E. Tarlow is the president of T&M, a founder of the Texas chapter of TTRA and a popular author and speaker on tourism. Dr Tarlow is a specialist in the areas of sociology of tourism, economic development, tourism safety and security. Dr Tarlow speaks at governors’ and state conferences on tourism and conducts seminars throughout the world and for numerous agencies and universities.

What we’re all about: motivational experiences

Why we do it? Business results!

Site is the only global network of travel and event professionals committed to motivational experiences that deliver business results.

Site provides insights and connections that inspire the utilisation of this powerful tool across diverse industries, regions and cultures.

Site serves as a source of knowledge and best practices where members can make personal connections that sustain professional growth.

Only one organisation sits at the critical intersection between those who seek the benefits of motivational tools and those who can provide these extraordinary experiences. That organisation is Site...

‘EXSA-lusive’ benefits of EXSA

Why is it necessary to the growth and success of your company to choose EXSA as your association of choice?

EXSA membership provides access to and support of the globally recognised Industry Association for goods and services suppliers, exhibition and event service providers, venues, role-players and stakeholders. In signing up for membership, you will have the advantage of the strength of EXSA’s domain.

With a variety of membership packages available, your selection will be based on your requirements, your objectives and where you are positioned in the industry. World class quality services are expected from EXSA members that will be appointed as suppliers, venues and service providers within the EXSA network and therefore, EXSA has a

vetting and monitoring process. Supporting its members, no matter their challenges, EXSA is dedicated to making sure that there is visible industry progress.

Access to the EXSA Member primary WhatsApp Group For rapid notification, mobilisation, gathering and sharing of real time

pertinent industry news, updates, networking, referrals and assistance.

Members-only and discounts to EXSA events

Think tanks, masterclasses, workshops, webinars and on-line events with access to local and international experts and speakers.

SARS VAT Ruling

Services supplied by EXSA members for and on behalf of international clients may be zero-rated for VAT insofar as the requirements as stipulated in the SARS VAT Ruling are met.

Member exposure and promotion Highlights and profiling of member activities, accolades and achievements.

EXSA-llence Awards

Prestigious recognition and rewarding of leadership, innovation, excellence in design and implementation at the Annual Awards.

Opportunity and Gain

• To contribute significantly to the exhibition, event, design and creative industry.

• To expand your network with likeminded professionals.

• Gain knowledge, advice, professional experience and skills.

• Get exposed to professional development opportunities.

• Raise your business status and credibility in the professional work environment and in the industry at large.

• Enhance and expand on your brand development, authenticity and reputation.

Ethics Committee

Resolution of relevant dispute matters.

Access to products, services, information and discounts

Networking, a sense of community and common purpose, volunteer your time, skills, valuable advice, experience and expertise to enhance the industry community — including EXSA Connect and think tanks sessions.

Exposure to and networking with Industry Associations –where EXSA enjoys reciprocity agreements, support, advice, shared best practice, skills and information.

For more information or queries

Please contact the EXSA office on 011 620 3089 or info@exsa.co.za

Supporting its members, no matter their challenges, EXSA is dedicated to making sure that there is visible industry progress

2023 — growing Africa’s thriving exhibition industry

As the world begins to emerge from the shadow of Covid, exhibitions have become an important part of many companies’ marketing strategies. They offer a unique opportunity to interact with customers and prospects in a face-to-face setting, which is something that's not possible in other channels.

By Projeni Pather, managing director of Exposure Marketing and AAXO immediate past chair.

However, post-pandemic, stakeholders want more value for less investment. To achieve this, you must be able to measure your return on objectives and time invested at exhibitions—not just your return on investment. This column will discuss some practical ways of achieving these goals.

Research the market

Exhibitions are a great way to engage with customers and increase brand awareness, but they require significant time, money, and effort. Before you invest, it's important to understand the needs of your stakeholders and the market you are targeting. By conducting market research, you can gain key insights into what your customers want, what they need and what motivates them. This information will help you determine the best approach to delivering value to your customers and ensure that your objectives are aligned with their needs.

Embrace technology

With millions of people spending more time online during the pandemic, the opportunity to bridge the digital and physical at exhibitions is vital for delivering a more engaging and personalised experience. For example, incorporating augmented reality, virtual reality, and other cutting-edge technologies can create an immersive visitor experience and help drive engagement. Utilising digital marketing strategies, such as social media campaigns and email marketing, can help increase visibility and reach potential customers. QR codes and mobile applications can also streamline attendee engagement, making it easier for them to schedule appointments, access information, and connect with your team.

Pursue sustainability

In a world where customers are becoming more environmentally conscious, sustainability is critical in delivering a successful exhibition. By pursuing sustainable practices, you can show

your customers that you are committed to reducing your environmental impact and contributing to a better future for all. This could include using eco-friendly materials, reducing waste and emissions, and demonstrating the sustainability of your products and services.

Enhance customer experience

We must educate stakeholders that exhibitions are not only about driving sales but also creating a memorable and engaging customer experience. A wellexecuted exhibition booth goes beyond a great stand design; it encompasses all aspects of the customer journey, from preevent marketing to post-event follow-up. Enhancing the customer experience can deepen your relationship with customers and create a strong brand impression that lasts long after the exhibition ends. Maximising ROI at exhibitions requires a holistic approach to creating a successful platform that delivers value to all stakeholders and drives longterm results for your business.

Let’s grow the exhibition industry by investing in our young professionals.

EXCO AND HEAD OFFICE

Chairperson:

Kim Roberts

e: info@mise-en-placesolutions.com

c: +27 (0)82 652 2008

Vice-chairperson:

Minister Kganyango

e: mkganyago@csir.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Treasurer:

Jaques Fouche

e: jaques@be-moved.co.za

c: +27 (0)60 993 7542

Public officer:

Alistair Stead

e: alastair@scandisplay.africa

c: +27 (0)73 236 6618

Chief executive officer:

Glenton De Kock

e: ceo@saaci.org

c: +27 (0)82 575 7565

Membership services consultant:

Alshanthé Smith

t: +27 (0)71 299 0601

e: members@saaci.org

BOARD MEMBERS

Chairperson:

Kim Roberts

e: info@mise-en-placesolutions.com

t: +27 (0)82 652 2008

Vice-chairperson:

Minister Kganyango

e: mkganyago@csir.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Treasurer:

Jaques Fouche

e: jaques@be-moved.co.za

c: +27 (0)60 993 7542

Public officer:

Alistair Stead

e: alastair@scandisplay.africa

c: +27 (0)73 236 6618

Eastern Cape Chairperson:

Melissa Palmer

e: melissa@becbc.co.za

t: +27 (0)82 437 7600 +27 (0)41 404 2431

KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson:

Irene Vallihu

c: +27 (0)79 692 4604

e: irenev@icc.co.za

Gauteng Chairperson:

Neil Nagooroo

c: +27 (0)82 929 5241

e: neil@nxlevel.co.za

Western Cape Chairperson:

Angela Lorimer

c: +27 (0)74 550 1000

e: angelajacobson862@yahoo.co.za

Coopted Youth Ambassador: Minister Kganyango

e: mkganyago@csir.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Coopted Learning Ambassador:

Esti Venske

e: venskee@cput.ac.za

c: +27 (0)83 482 9276

EASTERN CAPE

Chairperson:

Melissa Palmer

e: melissa@becbc.co.za

t: +27 (0)82 437 7600 +27 (0)41 404 2431

Vice-chairperson: Claire Kivedo

e: claire@overallevents.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 4641 504

COMMITTEE: David Limbert

e: david@magnetic.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 9064 198

Gill Dickie

e: gilld@bidvestcarrental.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 527 7619

Wanda Fourie

e: registration@easternsun.co.za

c: +27 (0)72 608 1641

Claire Kivedo

e: claire@overallevents.co.za

c: +27 (0)82 464 1504

GAUTENG Chairperson: Neil Nagooroo

c: +27 (0)82 929 5241

e: neil@nxlevel.co.za

Vice Chairperson: Mary Mahlangu

c: +27 (0) 81 574 9493

e: mary@flockplatform.com

COMMITTEE:

Rendani Khorommbi

Joburg Tourism

t: +27 (0)11 883 3525

c: +27 (0)82 773 2999

e: rendanik@joburgtourism.com

Zaida Enver

Pure Grit Events and Exhibitions

Management

t: +27 (0)82 555 1049

e: zaida@puregrit.co.za

KWAZULU-NATAL

Chairperson: Irene Vallihu

c: +27 (0)79 692 4604

e: irenev@icc.co.za

Vice-chairperson: Gill Slaughter

c: +27 (0)83 269 0279

e: gills@turnersconferences.co.za

Treasurer: Sibusiso Mncwabe

c: +27 (0)83 477 5536

e: sibusiso@marketingwell.co.za

COMMITTEE:

Tarannum Banatwalla

c: +27 (0)83 254 9462

e: tarannum@jellyfishcatering.co.za

Mabuyi Mosia

c: +27 (0)71 117 7509

e: mabuyi@ikhono.co.za

Kavitha Dhawnath

c: +27 (0)83 607 200

e: kavitha.dhawnath@gearhouse.co.za

Wiseman Mnguni

c: +27 (0)78 220 2162

e: mboniseni.events@gmail.com

Sandile Dlamini

c: +27 (0)79 104 5510

e: sandile@anzomode.co.za

WESTERN CAPE

Chairperson: Angela Lorimer

c: +27 (0)74 550 1000

e: angelajacobson862@yahoo.co.za

e: ALorimer@Hotelsky.co.za

Vice-chairperson:

Alex Wrottesley

c: +27 (0)21 430 2060

e: alex@intoafrica.co.za

COMMITTEE:

Ansu Colditz

c: +27 (0)82 457 8071

e: ansuc@millenniumtravel.co.za

Esti Venske

t: +27 (0)21 460 3518

e: estivenske@gmail.com

Zimkitha Bavuma

c: +27 (0)72 172 5746

e: zim@live.co.za

Esmare Steinhofel

c: +27 (0)84 056 5544

e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org

Andrew Gibson

t: +27 (0)860 111 625

e: Andrew@magnetic.co.za

e: andrew.msct@gmail.com

Gheeta Payle

t: +27 (0)86 123 7890

e: gheeta.payle@inhousevtm.com

Lara van Zyl Paragon Africa

t: +27 (0)82 223 4684

e: lvanzyl@paragong.com

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

EXSA OFFICE

www.exsa.co.za

EXSA Association Manager

Lee-Ann Alder

t: +27 (0)82 550 0349

e: info@exsa.co.za

EXSA Chairperson and KZN forum

head:

Sibusiso Mchwabe (KZN)

Marketing Well

t: +27 (0)83 477 5536

e: sibusiso@marketingwell.co.za

EXSA Deputy chairperson, Head of WC forum:

Jacqui Nel (EC)

Exhibition Freighting G.S.M.

t: +27 (0)21 552 7248

e: jacquinel@ef-gsm.co.za

Deputy head KZN forum:

Sandile Dlamini

Anzamode

t: +27 (0)79 104 5510

e: sandile@anzomode.co.za

Deputy Head WC forum:

Liam Beattie

Hott 3D

t: +27 (0)76 577 0989

e: liam@hott.co.za

Immediate past Chairperson:

Doug Rix

DK Designs

t: +27 (0)82 579 7071

e: dougrix@wol.co.za

Directors:

Kerry-Lee Bester

Brilliant Branding

t: +27 (0)72 265 6600

e: kerry@brilliant-branding.co.za

Beert Kuiken

Octanorm

t: +27 (0)82 387 5324

e: beert.kuiken@octanorm.co.za

SOUTHERN AFRICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE CONFERENCE INDUSTRY

SOCIETY FOR INCENTIVE TRAVEL EXCELLENCE ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN EXHIBITION ORGANISERS

President: Tes Proos

c: +27 (0) 84 682 7676

e: tes@crystalevents.co.za

Treasurer: Peter-John Mitrovich

c: +27 (0)82 318 1889

e: peter-john.mitrovich@grosvenortours. com

Sustainability: Daryl Keywood

Southern Africa Development:

Brad Glen

East Africa Development:

Chris Munyao

Young Leader Programme:

Peter Mwanja

Africa Convention Bureaus:

Rick Taylor

North Africa Development:

George Fawzi

Board member at large: Rick Taylor

East Africa (Rwanda): Chris Munyao

North Africa: George Fawzi

North Africa support: Brad Glen

Secretariat & Events: Mariaan Burger

c: +27 (0)82 557 8041

e: info@siteafrica.africa

SA EVENTS COUNCIL

e: hello@saeventscouncil.org

Chairperson:

Raylene Johnson, CEO: TEBCO-SA

Vice-chairperson: —

–

46 Waterford Office Park, Waterford Drive, Fourways, Johannesburg

t: +27 (0)87 265 5840

e: aaxo@aaxo.co.za

Association coordinator:

Anthea Buys

e: anthea@aaxo.co.za

Chairperson:

Devi Paulsen-Abbott, Dmg Events

e: devipaulsen@dmgevents.com

Vice-chairperson:

Tiisetso Tau, Synergy Business Events

e: ttau@synergybe.co.za

Venue Committee Chairperson: Charles Wilson, Gallagher Convention Centre

e: charlesw@Gallagher.co.za

Treasurer:

Mark Anderson, Specialised Exhibitions

Montgomery

e: marka@specialised.com

Board of directors:

Chanelle Hingston, Clarion Events Africa

e: chanelle.hingston@clarionevents.com

Sandra Barrow

e: sandra.barrow@rxglobal.com

Projeni Pather, Exposure Marketing

e: projeni@exposuremarketing.co.za

179 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North, Private Bag X7000, Parklands 2121 t: +27 (0)11 447 4777

e: info@eventgreening.co.za www.eventgreening.co.za

Chairperson: Morwesi Ramonyai, Borena Energy

Vice-chairperson: John Avanitakis, Chat’r Xperience

Treasurer: Justin Hawes, Scan Display Secretariat: Lynn McLeod

e: lynn@eventgreening.co.za

Executive director: Kevan Jones

SATI – South African Translators’ Institute

Executive director: Marion Boers

t: +27 (0)11 803 2681

e: office@translators.org.za

www.translators.org.za

SATSA – Southern Africa Tourism Services Association

Box 900, Ferndale 2160

t: +27 (0)11 886 9996

e: pa@satsa.co.za

www.satsa.com

SKAL International South Africa

Secretary: Anne Lamb

t: +27 (0)21 434 7023

c: +27 (0)82 708 1836

e: anne@yebo.co.za

www.skalsouthafrica.org

STA – Sandton Tourism Association

t: +27 (0)83 558 5445

e: secretariat@sandtontourism.com

www.sandtontourism.com

TBCSA – Tourism Business Council of South Africa

Chief executive: Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa Box 11655, Centurion 0046

t: +27 (0)12 664 0120

e: comms@tbcsa.travel

ABTA – African Business Travel Association

Box 2594, Pinegowrie, 2123

t: +27 (0)11 888 8178

c: +27 (0)83 679 2110

e: monique@abta.co.za

www.abta.co.za

Founder: Monique Swart

ASATA – Association of Southern African Travel Agents

PO Box 650539, Benmore, 2010

t: +27 (0)11 293 0560/61

www.tbcsa.travel

www.tomsa.co.za

Member relations manager: Boitumelo Moleleki

TGCSA – Tourism Grading

Council of South Africa

Private Bag X10012, Sandton 2146

t: +27 (0)11 895 3000

f: +27 (0)11 895 3001

e: enquiries@tourismgrading.co.za

TINSA – Interpreters/Translators

Network of Southern Africa

Interim treasurer:

Glenn van Eck, Chairperson: CEPA

Spokesperson:

Projeni Pather, Chairperson: AAXO

Members:

Kevan Jones, Executive Director SACIA

Sharif Baker, Chairperson TPSA

Tes Proos, SITE President

Justin Hawes, Managing Director: Scan

Display & Event Greening Forum Treasurer

Sibusiso Mncwabe, Chairperson EXSA

Justin van Wyk, Chairperson SALPA

Mike Lord, Chairperson ESC

Arthur Goldstuck, PSASA Exco Member

Esmare Steinhofel, Chairperson: ICCA

Africa Chapter

Advisory Members:

Prof Nellie Swart, Associate Professor: Tourism Management

Corne Koch, Head: Convention Bureau (WESGRO)

Tiisetso Tau, AAXO member

Daryl Keywood, SITE Member

Bheki Twala, TEBCO-SA Executive

Kim Roberts, SAACI Representative

Western Cape

Robyn D’Alessandro, PR/Social media, Vivo Visual Voice CC

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS & CONVENTION ASSOCIATION

ICCA African Chapter Chairperson:

Taubie Motlhabane

Cape Town International Convention Centre

t: +27 (0)21 410 5000

e: Taubiem@cticc.co.za

Secretariat:

Esmaré Steinhöfel

ICCA Africa Regional director

c: +27 (0)84 056 5544

e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org

www.iccaworld.com/dbs/africanchapter

www.iccaworld.org

e: barbara@asata.co.za

e: general@asata.co.za

Office manager: Barbara Viljoen

Council of Event Professionals Africa

Kevan Jones

kevan@sacia.org.za

t: +27 (0)11 083 6418

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

Chairperson: Glenn van Eck Magnetic Storm

c: +27 (0)82 800 2616

e: glenn@magnetic.co.za

FEDHASA National Office –Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa

PO Box 3853, The Reeds, 0157

c: +27 (0)82 552 9862

e: ceo@fedhasa.co.za

www.fedhasa.co.za

PSASA – Professional Speakers

Association of Southern Africa

t: +27 (0)11 462 9465

c: +27 (0)83 458 6114

e: admin@psasouthernafrica.co.za

www.psasouthernafrica.co.za

SABOA – Southern African Bus Operators Association

Postnet Suite 393, Private Bag X033, Rivonia 2128

t: +27 (0)11 511 7641

e: saboa@saboa.co.za

www.saboa.co.za

SACIA – Southern African Communications Industries Association

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

e: kevan@sacia.org.za

e: info@interpreter.org.za

t/f: +27 (0)11 485 2511

c: +27 (0)83 249 0010

www.interpreter.org.za

TPSA – Technical Production Services

Association

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

e: kevan@sacia.org.za

www.tpsa.co.za

Executive director: Kevan Jones

TTA – Tshwane Tourism Association

Box 395, Pretoria 0001

t: +27 (0)12 841 4212

e: secretary@tshwanetourism.com

www.tshwanetourism.com

Chairperson:

Bronwen Cadle de Ponte

Secretary: Sithembile Nzimande

Membership coordinator: Liz Oosthuysen

e: membership@tshwanetourism.com

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS OF INTEREST

EVENT GREENING FORUM

The Rand Show returns in April

The Rand Show is one of this country’s most memorable events on the annual entertainment calendar, and the expo returns this April. Running from 6-10 April 2023, SA’s largest consumer exhibition will take place at The Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec.

From a host of outdoor activities to retail shopping, all-day entertainment, kids fun, rides and competitions, to food and drink stalls, the 2023 event promises to be a great day out. Tickets went on sale on 31 January and have not been increased in price.

Exciting news is that this year we will be hosting big-name local musicians who will perform throughout the grounds at no additional cost to visitors. This will certainly add to the already amazing atmosphere of the show,” said Adele Hartdegen, chief executive officer of the Rand Show.

“Another incredible addition is an initiative to practically uplift and support SMMEs. Hall 7 will be dedicated to small businesses and visitors can vote for their favourite stands via the RandShow App. The winner will receive

R50,000 cash to grow their business.”

“In addition, an SMME Summit is taking place where corporates and public sector representatives will be linked with

Index of advertisers and contributors

participating SMMEs in terms of funding, training and access to the market”.

From fantastic fun to real business development, the 2023 rendition has it all.

Trends to look out for in 2023

In 2022, as the pandemic subsided, events began taking place at short notice. We had very tight deadlines for designing exhibition stands and planning event infrastructure. Unfortunately, I think this trend is going to continue as clients have become used to this way of operating and suppliers’ ability to deliver at the last minute.

By Justin Hawes, managing director of Scan Display.

However, I am hoping that with things more settled now, there will be greater advance planning and lead time for business events suppliers, with longer build-up and break-down times in the exhibition industry.

Skills shortage

The South African business events sector is experiencing a skills shortage, as experienced staff either left the industry during the pandemic years, or they emigrated. I believe that the skills shortage faced by our industry will continue to present challenges for the foreseeable future. New staff will need to be hired and trained, which takes time and energy — both of which are in short supply after the past few difficult years. This skills shortage in the business events industry is not restricted to South Africa. I see my colleagues at the International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services (IFES) facing the same problem around the globe.

Demand for live events

There will continue to be a big demand for live events, as we experienced in 2022. We predict that there will be growth in face-to-face marketing as we have seen that people want in-person events and interactive experiences.

In-person events will continue to be complemented by online elements, resulting in hybrid events. We have seen the merits of online meetings and events and they will still be a feature of the business events industry.

We have realised that it isn’t always necessary to jump on a plane and be at every meeting or presentation, and there are times when online will suffice. The devastating effects of climate change have highlighted sustainability, and online events represent one way to mitigate the impact that travel has on climate change.

Increase in international events

When events began taking place in 2022, they were generally smaller, localised events, or smaller editions of big events. Our 2023 calendar is showing that the big international events are back, with many international conferences taking place in South Africa. Attendance of international delegates, exhibitors and visitors will grow as travel becomes easier, with increased flights and capacity and reduced red tape. People are feeling more confident about international travel. Scan Display will be visiting and exhibiting at EuroShop, the world’s leading retail trade fair, in Düsseldorf, Germany at the end of February. The last show took place in February 2020, where we first heard talk among visitors at the show of a strange virus in China. Little did we know what awaited us! The show is back, and its 2023 edition promises to be everything it was back in 2020.

Price increases

The price increases across the globe will result in increases in our input costs. Some of our componentry is petroleumbased and thus will be more expensive. Our teams travel regularly to and from site and also to out-of-town projects, and our transport costs will be impacted by rising fuel costs. We will have to increase our prices, at a time when our clients’ budgets are already strained. Therefore, it will be important for us to offer clients the best value possible.

South Africa

As we are all aware, South Africa is facing many challenges with the current load shedding and other infrastructure problems. Despite all these problems, our business events industry still has strong leadership and delivers a worldclass product. Our venues are up there with the best in the world, and their management is very competent at navigating our infrastructure problems.

I believe that events will still come to South Africa despite the challenges. We are leaders in Africa in this sector and, even though at times we feel negative about our country and our sector’s ability to deliver, we are still capable of providing world-class events.

The year ahead

The tight deadlines and lack of skilled staff will continue to put pressure on our industry. We are still reeling from some very tough years. We continue to face financial pressure as we fight our way back. But the current demand for events is promising. We are not quite out of the woods, but we have come this far, and 2023 is looking positive.

Who is Justin Hawes ?

Justin Hawes has been managing director of the South African exhibition and events company, Scan Display since its formation in 1996. He founded the Event Greening Forum, a non-profit organisation aimed at promoting sustainability in the South African events industry and is currently its treasurer. Mr Hawes is the first African to be represented on the International Federation of Exhibition & Event Services’ (IFES) board. He was treasurer from 2013-2016, vice president from 2017-2020, and president for 2021/2022.

AFRICA’S LEADING BUSINESS EVENTS DIRECTORY

DIGITAL DIRECTORY

2 for 1 offer

The print listings now mirror our online directory style with basic and premium listings. In fact, upgrading a basic listing in print to premium will include an upgrade to premium on the website and vice versa. The same information online is printed in the print directory.

Business Events Africa is known for having the most comprehensive directory of venues, service providers, speakers and conference organisers in Africa. We have been a trusted source of information for more than 40 years, and now offer this valuable resource online.

The market is tough out there. What makes your business different from any other? For starters, be more accessible on the internet.

Online searches are now the preferred method of finding information and contact details, so the better your online presence, the more business you will get.

BENEFITS OF LISTING YOUR BUSINESS:

• By claiming your listing, you can may your company’s information up-to-date at your own convenience

•Upgrade your listing online at any time, to maximise your brand exposure

•Improve your SEO and online presence

•We provide a targeted audience for your business

•See your stats – know how many people are seeing your listing

•Increase traffic to your website with a link from the directory

For as little as R2 400, you may get the edge over your competitors by providing indispensable information to your customers on our online directory

Affordable advertising is just a click away

Visit www.businesseventsafrica.com/directory