SAACI NEWS

Telling a fresh story

The Addo region in the Eastern Cape of South Africa is a beautiful part of the world, surrounded by contrasting dense thickets of spekboom, open grassy patches, and the odd wooded kloof. The area is alive with citrus estates, roses, and amazing bird life.

By Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI.

This year, the region is the host destination for the annual Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) Congress from Sunday, 30 July 2023 until Tuesday, 1 August 2023 at Addo Wildlife, Addo (Eastern Cape).

Gathering in a key citrus area of our country provides a backdrop that speaks to the theme for this year’s annual Congress, which is ‘Telling a Fresh Story’, and will focus on SAACI’s three key strategic focus areas for the industry, namely: Learning, Growth and Collaboration.

By the time the congress kicks off, we would surpass a year of operating in our country without any restrictions. As individuals, we would have plenty of stories to share through our personal experiences. However, this year’s theme will challenge how we, as an association and events professionals, need to drive a fresh approach to our work. This work that is done, daily in an operating environment, has numerous challenges, both economically and socially.

Speakers and discussion panels will focus on providing insights on how delegates can take a fresh approach in how we evolve our industry through sustainability, discussing key areas that affect our sector and take home some fresh knowledge from thoughtprovoking expert speakers.

As the leading meetings and events industry association, the SAACI Congress serves as a platform for industry professionals, including event organisers, conference planners, venue managers, suppliers, and service providers, to gather, exchange knowledge, and highlight innovations in the conference industry. The congress always aims to promote the growth and development of the business events sector in Southern Africa.

Attending the SAACI Congress can be beneficial for individuals and organisations involved in the conference industry, as it provides a platform for learning, networking, and staying updated on industry trends. Come and experience some stories that are dynamic and will enable a ‘fresh’ perspective. Register on www.saaci.org