SAACI CONGRESS 2021

SAACI has ‘changed gears’ with its first hybrid congress.

The Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) Annual National Congress changed gears in 2021 and for the very first time, showed as a hybrid event. In partnership with the City of Johannesburg, the jam-packed programme was designed to assist delegates in growing their business.

Report-back by Irene Costa

Themed ‘Changing Gear – Inspiring Change’, the congress took place at the Indaba Hotel, Conference Centre and Spa in Johannesburg and achieved a total of 362 in-person and online attendees over the two-day programme. SAACI welcomed a global audience with delegates attending virtually from all over South Africa, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States.

John Arvanitakis, chairperson of the SAACI Johannesburg branch and the congress organising committee, said: “We’re excited to share the recordbreaking attendee delegate figures achieved during our two-day SAACI Annual National Congress 2021. We are humbled by the support and dedication shown by all participants and look forward to #InspiringChange within the business events industry.”

The SAACI Annual National Congress was the first time that many of the delegates had seen each other in fifteen months, since the business events industry last met as a collective at Meetings Africa 2020. There was a definite buzz of honest happiness to reconnect in person with fellow industry colleagues.

Some exciting announcements were made which were shared during the two days. The content was informative, inspiring and filled with knowledge and conversations that will indeed shape how the business events industry will move ahead.

City of Johannesburg signs an MOU with SAACI

Johannesburg, the host city, marked the second day of the SAACI 34th Annual National Congress by the signing of a significant collaborative agreement with the association in an effort to restart the business events sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As host city, and in collaboration with our industry partners, Johannesburg is thrilled to be providing the platform for not only ‘Changing Gear – Inspiring Change’, in line with this year’s SAACI National Annual Congress theme – but also to be a role player in building confidence in business events, along with industry learning, growth and collaborating,” said Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Geoff Makhubo.

“Joburg is indeed the right and ideal destination to be seeking opportunities for networking, identifying future business prospects and collaborative initiatives. We are proud to have been awarded this bid and to be the host city of such a significant business gathering during this period where we are gearing towards restarting tourism.”

While promoting Joburg as Africa’s premier business and lifestyle tourist destination on all marketing platforms, locally, regionally and internationally – the current administration is dedicated to creating an enabling environment to achieve economic growth and improve investor confidence in Johannesburg.

The 34th Annual National SAACI Congress also marks a significant milestone for the City of Johannesburg – the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI).

This remarkable collaborative arrangement will serve as a strategic intervention to turn business tourism around and help the city to improve its economic performance in relation to meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions or events (MICE). It will be implemented over a period of three years, with effect from the date of signing, to achieve common goals intended by both the public and private sector of the destination to improve goodwill and competitiveness.

“As the executive mayor of the city, I am making an undertaking right here, in front of all these industry patrons, that I am available to endorse all catalytic business events initiatives that will result in job creation and SMME development,” Mr Makhubo said. “I am doing this as a sign of ensuring goodwill to partnerships of this nature with organised business.”

As a strategic MICE intervention that the collaboration entered into, it will be underpinned by the following elements: • Co-bidding and mutual coordination. • Enterprise development. • Research, statistics analysis and intelligence. • Business events promotion and sales activity. • Work opportunities. • Youth learning. • Joint collaboration for MICE strategic initiatives.

“If we embark on this journey in the spirit of collaboration, with positive intentions, Johannesburg will improve its MICE competitiveness in Africa and globally,” Mr Makhubo said.

“As a result of this partnership, we should be able to improve on our International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) annual ranking. 2019 saw us in sixth place after Cape Town (South Africa), Kigali (Rwanda), Marrakech (Morocco), Nairobi (Kenya) and Cairo Egypt). Watch the space – we are working towards becoming market leaders through partnerships like this because we need to remain globally competitive to attract MICE business,” he concluded.

Sharing a Covid-19 greeting, from right, Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo and Kim Roberts, SAACI chairperson.

Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo signed the MOU with SAACI, with Kim Roberts, SAACI chairperson.

Adv. Cawekazi Mahlati, board chairperson of Johannesburg Tourism Company and Mayor of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo.

SANCB plots a way forward

Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer of the South Africa National Convention Bureau presenting the Bid Support Programme Review.

Passionate about the business events industry, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer of the South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB), presented twice over the two-day SAACI Congress.

Ms Kotze-Nhlapo looked at the SANCB’s Revised Bid Support programme and the National Association Project.

Ms Kotze-Nhlapo said that the business travel sector was in the engine room of powering South Africa’s economy.

“Our sector is solution-driven. We are the knowledge economy that helps key industries and services – from agriculture, to tourism, mining, medical and life sciences – stay on top of their game by providing platforms to share skills, network and learn from each other,” she added.

The events industry has been earmarked as a key area for tourism recovery and villages, townships and small towns could soon be getting a slice of the pie.

Ms Kotze-Nhlapo said that the SANCB wants its bid support programme to also enable the economic benefits of the meetings industry beyond the country’s main metros. It has identified about 27 smaller towns to focus on, as a start.

The SANCB’s sessions provided insights and clarity on the improved changes of the Bid Support Programme as well as the National Association Project.

Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer of the South Africa National Convention Bureau presenting a global outlook of the business events industry.

Bjorn Hufkie and Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, South Africa National Convention Bureau answering questions on the Bid Support Programme.

Bid statistics

Tshepo Maseko, South Africa National Convention Bureau answering questions on the Bid Support Programme.

The South African National Convention Bureau invested R23-million in bid submissions, through its bid support programme, to attract business events linked with the national government’s development priorities.

• 55 bids for international meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions were submitted for the period 2022 to 2025.

Additionally, it will also attract 9,825 international and regional delegates.

• The 55 bid submissions have a combined estimated economic impact of R899-million and may potentially attract 30,521 international and regional delegates to South Africa between 2022 and 2025.

• Thus far, South Africa has won sixteen of the bids submitted for the 2020/21 financial year, with a 29 per cent conversion rate.

• The secured business events will contribute R296-million to the economy in the period between 2022 and 2025.

For more information:

Revised Bid Support Programme

https://www.saaci.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/05/Bid-Support-Programme-.pdf

A deep-dive session on South Africa’s Bid Support Programme and the amendments made to improve our destination’s competitiveness in the current environment.

National Association Project

https://www.saaci.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/05/National-Association-Project-. pdf

A deep-dive session on the National Association Project that aims to capacitate associations to host their meetings and conferences in villages, towns and small dorpies all across South Africa.

SAACI proposed logo refreshed

Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI presented the proposed new SAACI logo.

SAACI shared the proposed refreshed version of the association’s logo at the annual national congress. The live poll and in-person responses received were exceptionally positive.

Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI, said: “This logo conveys a feeling of motivation, pride, and energy, with the fresh addition of pastel colours, signifying inclusivity, growth, understanding, drive, and results. The meeting of people image symbolised in the graphic is complimented by the coloured dot above the ‘i’ to represent a modern SAACI of today. Sustainability – both human and environmental – is the rationale behind the green dot. These proposed changes come at a time when the business events industry is evolving in its service offerings and expanding its reach into Africa.”

The refreshed logo conveys:

• A crisp, contemporary, professional look and feel.

• A powerful and highly legible design in every form of media: print and digital.

• SAACI’s mission to create, grow, and protect while our name remains the same. The refreshed logo and website have changed significantly to better represent industry relevance.

The words ‘Business Events Association’ describe not only our image but also the full spectrum of the association’s representation within Southern Africa.

The logo has not been passed yet as we require a resolution from members at the upcoming SAACI annual general meeting.

Seen at the SAACI Congress at Indaba Hotel, Conference Centre and Spa…

Glenton De Kock, SAACI and Bongiwe Nzeku, South Africa National Convention Bureau.

Denise Kemp, Eastern Sun Events, Angela Lorimer, Lagoon Beach Hotel and Spa and Irene Vallihu, Durban ICC.

Merryl Fairfoot, South Africa National Convention Bureau and Denise Kemp, Eastern Sun Events.

Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, South Africa National Convention Bureau and Elmarie Swanepoel, Tsogo Sun Hotels.

Craig Newman, GL events; Bongiwe Nzeku, South Africa National Convention Bureau, Neil Nagooroo, Nxlevel Consulting and Ticketpro Dome; Donovan Raman, Ephephile Travel.

Kim Roberts, chairperson of SAACI, Bjorn Hufkie and Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, South Africa National Convention Bureau and Glenton De Kock, SAACI. Angelique Smith, Event Synthesis; Fikiswa Mgolombane, South African Tourism; Daksha Vallabh, industry consultant, and Ellen Oosthuizen, PCO Alliance and chairperson of the SA Events Council.

Bjorn Hufkie, South Africa National Convention Bureau, Elmarie Swanepoel, Tsogo Sun Hotels and Glenn van Eck, Magnetic Storm.

Phetogo Kubheka, Synergy Business Events; Candice Geyser, Indaba Hotel, Conference Centre and Spa and Alshanthé Smith, SAACI.

Nico Vilakazi, South Africa National Convention Bureau; William Price, digital marketing consultant; Michelle De Sousa and Jacqui Reynolds, On Show Solutions; Minister Kganyago, CSIR ICC and Neil Nagooroo, Nxlevel Consulting and Ticketpro Dome.

Glenton De Kock, SAACI; Irene Vallihu, Durban ICC; Projeni Pather, AAXO chairperson and Ellen Oosthuizen, PCO Alliance and chairperson of SA Events Council.

Bridget Thomas and Angela Lorimer, Lagoon Beach Hotel and Spa.

Live Poetry by Bongani Mathebula.

Mayor of Johannesburg, Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo and Don Jesseman, general manager of Indaba Hotel, Conference Centre and Spa.

Kgaugelo Kgokolo, Johannesburg Tourism and Tshepo Maseko, South Africa National Convention Bureau.

Kgaugelo Kgokolo, Johannesburg Tourism and Tshepo Maseko, South Africa National Convention Bureau. Ellen Oosthuizen, PCO Alliance and chairperson of SA Events Council; Justin Hawes, Scan Display; Projeni Pather, AAXO chairperson, Glenton De Kock, SAACI and Robyn D’Alessandro, SA Events Council.

Stefan Huggett, Spier and Angela Lorimer, Lagoon Beach Hotel and Spa.

Linda Ben, Leshaus and Comien Grobler, Spier

John Arvanitakis, chairperson of the SAACI Johannesburg branch and the congress organising committee; Rudi van der Vyver, We Are Virtual and Gillian Saunders, tourism and hospitality adviser.

Minister Kganyago, CSIR ICC and Nitta Sukha, South Africa National Convention Bureau.

Rendani Khorommbi, Johannesburg Convention Bureau and Glenton De Kock, SAACI.

Preetesh Sewraj, chief executive officer of Loeries Africa ME.

Unpacking the role of institutions of higher learning towards the professionalisation of the events industry, facilitated by Dr. Nellie Swart, left with Dr. Lisa Welthagen, Department of Tourism at Tshwane University of Technology. Other presenters included only virtually: Dr. Hugh Bartis, Nelson Mandela University and Esti Venske, Cape Peninsula University of Technology.