Business Events Africa — June 2023

Ever stop to consider the impact of Events, Exhibitions & Conferences on the ENVIRONMENT?

WE DO, every day: we prioritise the ENVIRONMENT in everything we do!

Business Events Africa: Serving the business events industry for 43 years

CONTENTS

VOL 43 NO 6 JUNE 2023

About the cover

30

Cover Feature

COVER STORY

8 Chat’r – a decade of inspiring connection and engagement.

On the pages…

EDITOR’S COMMENT

4 To be inspired – is a great reminder.

NEWS

5 Marriott International expands Protea Hotel’s presence in Africa.

6 Industry comes together for the Global Exhibition Day.

GLOBAL NEWS

7 The welcome return of the ICCA Country –and City – Rankings for 2022.

DESTINATION:

NELSON MANDELA BAY

14 Nelson Mandela Bay — a premier destination for business events.

MEET LARA PORTELLI

17 Keeping the show wheels turning at the spectacular SunBet Arena.

VENUE OF THE MONTH

18 Tourism Grading Council awards Sun City the gold standard for conferencing.

PREMIER HOTELS

20 Deal-seeking behaviour is booming.

CTICC

22 Gift of the Givers presents first conference of its kind in the world — Preparedness for Humanitarian Disasters.

VENUE NEWS

25 Avani Victoria Falls Resort relaunches cultural dining experience.

26 Radisson RED Cape Town retains global safety certification.

27 Newmark Hotels welcomes Hazendal Wine Estate.

28 Carmen Rhodes joins Taj Cape Town.

29 The Marine to launch new conference and function venue.

TEL:

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 6

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

Chat’r Xperience recently celebrated a decade of excellence in the events industry.

To be inspired – is a great reminder

In the competitive environment we find ourselves in today, it can be difficult to sometimes remember why we got into the industry we are in today.

Ihave been in the business events industry for 19 years, and even though I am the editor of a trade publication in the sector, I see myself as part of the industry.

I often think back at how I got into this industry, and honestly, it really was by chance. Quite frankly, when I completed my degree in journalism, all those years ago, I had never heard of this sector, then known as MICE.

After my studies, I joined a travel trade publication and got to travel extensively. The travel industry was – and still is – a very competitive sector. I worked closely with travel trade associations, tour operators, airlines, hotels and travel agencies.

My first encounter with the business events sector was actually the travel agencies’ annual congresses and the travel trade associations’ congresses.

I also enjoyed many events in the sector at that time and was invited to some exhibitions, but honestly, I really had no understanding of

what the business events sector really encompassed… like many others, I just assumed it was part of the tourism sector.

I have come a long way since those days, and today, more than anything, feel that this sector has so much potential to make a difference and create the changes we would like to see in our country.

I recently attended the inaugural Tourism Investment Forum Africa event in Upington in the Northern Cape. This event connected investors with tourism destinations and entities with destinations and business people, looking for investors for their destinations and businesses, in the form of tourist attractions, airports, hotels, expansions, etc.

I was amazed at how many tourism projects are currently in the pipeline in Africa, but are currently stalled until they can find the correct investors.

Just this one event can make these tourism projects a reality. It is incredible to think that our

sector has the capability to make this kind of difference, by just connecting people together for a congress.

This congress took me to Upington, a town I hadn’t visited in more than 25 years. It was wonderful that I got to experience the area after the conference, thanks to Northern Cape Tourism. It certainly opened my eyes to what tourism offers the Northern Cape, and has inspired in me to further explore the Northern Cape, as a tourist, in the near future.

So, if anything, conferencing feeds the tourism sector.

To conclude, yes, I am happy to be in the business events industry, and am lucky to have stumbled into it by chance. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Image courtesy of Blueberry Hill Hotel, Johannesburg

Credit: Hein Liebetrau

Marriott International expands Protea Hotel’s presence in Africa

Marriott International has announced the signing of five new deals in Africa, under its popular Protea Hotels brand. The signings, announced at the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum in Nairobi, demonstrate Marriott’s commitment to expanding its presence across the continent and meeting the growing demand for Protea Hotels.

Karim Cheltout, regional vice president — development, Africa & All-Inclusive, EMEA at Marriott International, stated: “Protea Hotels has a rich legacy in Africa, and we are thrilled to further strengthen the brand’s footprint with these five signings. We have noticed an increase in conversion projects, where developers are looking to rebrand their existing properties into Protea Hotels, in addition to new build opportunities.”

Protea Hotels by Marriott is a leading hospitality brand in Africa, recognised across the continent. With properties located in primary and secondary business centres as well as popular leisure destinations, Protea Hotels remains a preferred choice for travellers visiting Africa. The five projects will adhere to the brand’s high standards, offering modern facilities, friendly service, and amenities such as full-service restaurants, meeting spaces, and well-appointed rooms.

The newly announced projects are within:

1. Botswana

Marriott International will expand its presence in Botswana with the signing of Protea Hotel Serowe in collaboration with Letsatsi Partners. The hotel, scheduled to open in 2026, will feature 155 guest rooms and

suites, an all-day dining restaurant, a fitness centre, a swimming pool, and multiple meeting rooms. Situated near the Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Serowe, the hotel will be conveniently located between Gaborone and Orapa, one of the world’s largest diamond-producing mines.

2. Ethiopia

Protea Hotels by Marriott will make its debut in Ethiopia with the conversion of Blue Nile Resort to Protea Hotel Bahir Dar. The agreement with Blue Nile Resort Hotels PLC includes a full renovation of the property, which is expected to be rebranded as Protea Hotel Bahir Dar, by 2025. The hotel will offer 127 guest rooms and suites, multiple dining outlets, a fitness centre, and nearly 1,000 sqm of meetings and event space. It is located near Lake Tana and a short distance from the Blue Nile River.

3. Tanzania

Marriott International has signed an agreement with Parklane Holdings Zanzibar Limited to convert their property into Protea Hotel Zanzibar Stone Town. This project, set to open by the end of 2023, is located in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist area in Zanzibar. Protea Hotel Zanzibar Stone Town will

feature 26 guestrooms, an all-day dining restaurant, and a rooftop bar.

4. Nigeria

Projected to open in 2027, Protea Hotel by Marriott Abuja Jahi, Nigeria will consist of 144 guestrooms, two food and beverage outlets, a swimming pool and meeting facilities. The hotel will be situated in the developing district of Jahi, which is located northwest of Abuja’s city centre and will be close to Gwarinpa and Jabi, two prominent commercial areas. Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta is a franchised property owned by Gold Reef Hotel Limited and will be managed by BON Hospitality West Africa Limited.

The company also signed an agreement with Dutch Gate Hotel & Suites Limited to convert its existing property to Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta. The property is expected to open as a Protea Hotel in 2024 with 108 rooms, four food and beverage outlets, meeting facilities, a fitness centre and swimming pool. Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta, Nigeria will be situated in Warri, a major oil and gas hub in the South region of Nigeria. Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta is a franchised property owned by Dutch Gate Hotel & Suites Limited and will be managed by BON Hospitality West Africa Limited.

Industry comes together for the Global Exhibition Day

The annual Global Exhibition Day took place recently on 7 June, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, as part of the global initiative to celebrate the vibrant, dynamic exhibition industry.

By Lee-Ann Alder, association manager of EXSA

This year, in a joint collaboration, AAXO (Association of African Exhibition Organisers) and EXSA (The Events and Exhibition Association of Southern Africa) hosted an event in Johannesburg. The event was kindly sponsored by South African Tourism and Gallagher Convention Centre.

In following, UFI (the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), theme: “We run the meeting places and marketing places for everyone,” a panel of industry experts discussed exhibitions as a tool for sustainable economic growth.

Sibusiso Mncwabe, chairperson of EXSA, opened the event. He said: “As we gather here, representing diverse industries, cultures, backgrounds, and age groups, we are united by our shared vision and the unwavering belief in the transformative power of exhibitions. Exhibitions have always been a vibrant tapestry of ideas, knowledge, and inspiration, weaving together people and businesses from all corners of the world.”

The panel of Industry experts consisted of:

• Nomasonto Ndlovu, acting chief executive officer and chief operating

officer of South African Tourism.

• Projeni Pather, immediate past chairperson and spokesperson for the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO).

• Morwesi Ramonyai, chairperson of the Event Greening Forum.

• Justin Hawes, managing director of Scan Display and ex-chairperson of EXSA and immediate past president of IFES.

Noluthando Mthonti, a media personality was the MC and moderator for the event.

The outcome of the panel discussion

The discussion unpacked the relevance and importance that exhibitions play in the South African tourism economy.

• It is a vital cog in the system that sees many visitors come to South Africa to visit and exhibit at our exhibitions.

• Since Covid, Africa – and even the world – has become a much smaller place. We had to pull together to ensure a continuation of the industry.

• With government interest and intervention, that collaboration and growth will be even more pronounced.

• As the industry expands to meet the needs and demands of the everchanging landscape, it has to ensure correct greening strategies in exhibitions.

• The impact of greening on the environment is large, due to consumption, so plans need to be in place to deal with that responsibly.

• There is a large capacity for employment in the exhibition industry. There are many roles available to grow their knowledge and expertise.

Ms Pather, concluded the discussion:

“The MICE industry plays a crucial role in the global economy, driving economic growth, fostering innovation and facilitating trade and investment. By hosting conferences, exhibitions, and other MICE events, countries and cities can tap into the potential of this industry to create sustainable economic growth and generate employment opportunities.”

AAXO and EXSA are thankful to the sponsors for their generosity, as well as to the industry members who took the time to attend.

“Have the right people in the right places, working together.” — Roger Staubach.

The welcome return of the ICCA Country – and City – Rankings for 2022

ICCA is pleased to announce the return of our annual ICCA Country – and City – Rankings for the year 2022, after an absence of two years. The publication of the rankings coincides with the World Health Organization’s recent declaration that Covid-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, thereby emphasising the return to normalcy for the association meetings industry.

At the end of 2022, ICCA made the proactive decision to revert to normal rankings again, based on the observation that approximately 85 per cent of all meetings were held in-person. However, we do recognise that certain countries and territories were still working within the confines of Covid-19 restrictions.

In a joint effort with our dedicated members, ICCA’s Research team identified over 10,500 meetings of which some 9,000 meetings were held in-person, being either unaffected by Covid-19 or held in a hybrid format. As the association meetings industry is still catching up to the numbers of the last pre-pandemic year (13,254 meetings in 2019), we conducted a brief country and city comparative analysis, based on rankings rather than number of meetings. In addition, we will provide context to in-person versus planned meetings, showing how these statistics can be best utilised.

African Rankings

South Africa has once again ranked as the top African country for hosting 55 international association meetings in Africa, according to the 2022 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Rankings, coming in 41st place, followed by Morocco in 53rd place and Rwanda in 62nd place.

Cape Town, South Africa, has once again ranked as the top African city for hosting international association meetings in Africa, according to the 2022 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Rankings, with a total of thirty meetings taking place in the Mother City. Kigali, Rwanda, was the second most popular city, with a total of 21 meetings in Africa, followed by Cairo, Egypt for a total of seventeen meetings.

The rankings by International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) were based on the number of association meetings taking place regularly (annually and bi-annually), rotating between at least

three different countries and with at least fifty participants.

Senthil Gopinath, chief executive officer of ICCA, said: “This is a tremendous undertaking by our team, one that is most welcomed by our members because the ICCA Country – and City – Rankings always generates huge industry interest. It’s heartening to see the drive towards in-person meetings is once more very strong and we predict this trend will grow throughout the coming year.”

ICCA strongly believes that statistics exist to tell a story, and therefore we offer our members various tools to do this in a comprehensive way. There is not a single country where at least one planned meeting was affected by the pandemic in 2022. The ICCA Database displays the status of each meeting, and in the relevant cases, shows the reasoning behind the organiser’s decision not to run a meeting as in-person.

ICCA released the results at IMEX23, recently held in Frankfurt.

Chat’r – a decade of inspiring connection and engagement

Chat’r Xperience recently celebrated a decade of excellence in the events industry. In June 2013, John Arvanitakis founded Chat’r Xperience, after having worked for 10 years as a partner in an event management company. He was inspired to take the leap of faith and fly solo, as he saw a need in the event market, for something new.

From the beginning, John founded a company that would in time become a 100 per cent independent, proudly South African, integrated experiential marketing studio, with the goal to have a footprint stretching from home turf to the rest of Africa, and ultimately, the world.

John’s founding vision for Chat’r was to create award-winning experiential engagements, be it events, conferences, activations, exhibition booths or digital social media campaigns, in person or virtually, by delivering the right strategy based on the clients’ needs and brand message, that reached the target audience for the client, helping them to achieve their campaign goals.

Over the last decade, Chat’r has remained true to this purpose. Today, Chat’r is one of the leading experiential communication agencies in South Africa.

John said that we are often asked why we called ourselves Chat’r (pronounced chatter). “It remains a daily reminder that for every project we work on, that we remain focused and true to our purpose. In essence, it describes what we do — inspiring connection through engagement,” John said.

John added, “All we do is crafted and created to generate engagement. We design talkability, as our work generates conversations and connections.”

“Our clients can be assured that every piece of work that comes out of our studio ensures that it has an element of talkability in it. Our work is designed to give our clients that additional organic PR, that translates to engagement with their audience, their customers, or clients, that gets them talking about our clients’ brand, event, or exhibition booth. We turn observers into fans and likes into love; in

John Arvanitakis, founded Chat’r Xperience.

that way we generate chatter for our clients and, subsequently, additional exposure,” John explained.

Chat’r boasts a team with over 80 years combined experience, in the experiential marketing industry. “The size of our team ensures we are agile and effective — we get stuff done like our clients want it, and when they want it. Team Chat’r is highly skilled in their craft and has an attitude of excellence. The shared belief of the Chat’r team is getting stuff done, and creating work that is not ordinary.”

John added: “Our team lives the words of Ralph Marston: “Excellence is not a skill; it is an attitude”. The Chat’r team are not just crew — but are here to create art.”

The Chat’r team are committed, down to earth, warm, diverse, and proudly South African. “We take personalised service to the next level through dedication and an in-depth understanding of our clients’ needs and objectives. By doing so, we have formed long-term and authentic relationships with them over the past 10 years.”

“The team has the capacity, professional project management skills,

design skills and manufacturing ability, resources, and experience to operate at any scale, from small intimate gatherings to massive events, conferences, activations, and exhibition stand builds. We can go as big or as small as you can imagine,” John said.

At Chat’r it is all in the detail and the little things. “We pay attention to all the fine details; from carefully checking media, to design and DTP, personalised messaging and a million other little things that make a good event a great event!”

“Our promise is that at Chat’r we know how to realise the magic hidden in those who come to us for help for their next event, conference, brand activation, exhibition stand design and build or social media campaign.”

“With creativity and strategy at the heart of our solution, we set out to evoke a thrilling, inspiring and an exciting experience for our client’s audience. We like to call it COI — Chatter On Investment. That is what our clients pay for, and we give them the best value in return for their investment by ensuring that the entire conversation revolves around the

connection between our client and their audience — before, during and after the engagement,” John added.

Ultimately, though in the words of Scott Belsky: “It is not just about the ideas; it’s about making them happen,” and it is here where Chat’r has, over the past 10 years, managed to excel in, by achieving a number of industry-recognised awardwinning projects, that they have been involved in creating and executing on behalf of their clients.

Nothing gets in the way of Chat’r, they have climbed mountains for their clients, literally!

For four consecutive years, Chat’r were tasked with setting up the Dimension Data hot spots on top of the highest peaks in the Cape Mountain ranges, as their client was a sponsor of the Cape Epic Mountain Bike Challenge. Nothing stood in the way, as Chat’r ensured that their client was able to broadcast live video messages, from loved ones all around the world, on big screens placed on the top of the mountain, via satellite to the cyclists participating in the Cape Epic. In assisting Dimension Data and Leo

Burnett with this activation execution, Chat’r lived the philosophy that they will climb mountains for their clients. This campaign resulted in a Loerie Award.

John added: “Not only do we climb mountains for our clients, but we also scale buildings and suspend giant inflatable balls on the side of their buildings. Chat’r was asked to execute the launch campaign for the Altech Node campaign, where we suspended giant balls on the side of the Altech building as a teaser campaign for the Node launch.”

Other award working projects that the team has been involved in over the past decade include an exhibition stand for Anglo American at the Mining Indaba 2020. This exhibition stand was recognised and awarded by the RTF – Architecture, Construction & Design Awards.

Over the past decade, Chat’r has planned and executed projects for some of South Africa’s most recognised companies and brands:

• South African Tourism — Africa Travel Indaba, branding partner in 2016 in conjunction with FCB.

• Durban Tourism, platinum awardwinning exhibition booth at Africa Travel Indaba in 2016 and 2017.

• TotalEnergies exhibition booth at Mining Indaba 2022 & 2023.

• Branding and communications agency for Routes World 2015, hosted in Durban. Routes World brings together airlines, airports and aviation stakeholders from across the world to build air services and global economic growth.

• Official hospitality and brand agency for International Jazz Extravaganza hosted in Durban in 2016.

• Conference organiser for Brand South Africa internal and stakeholder conference 2015.

• Inaugural conference organiser for CSOS in 2016.

• Global South African launch event partner for AVIOS travel rewards programme.

• Naspers results presentations.

• Exxaro Sustainability Summit 2022 and 2023.

• Brand South Africa Brand Village at World AIDS Conference 2016, hosted in Durban.

Extending their reach beyond the borders of South Africa, Chat’r has executed exhibition booth builds for Standard Bank at the Africa Energy Forum in Mauritius and Lisbon in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

In 2018, Chat’r was asked to design and build the exhibition booth for the South African National Department of Health and SANAC, in conjunction with The Presidency, for South Africa’s participation at the World AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

John was also privileged to be asked to assist Lorin Bowen Business Events with exhibitor management at the inaugural IATF2018 (Intra-African Trade Fair) held in Cairo, Egypt in 2018.

Most recently, in March 2023, Chat’r was privileged to win the pitch, against some of the biggest players in the exhibition industry, and was appointed by Grid608, to assist them with the design and

installation of a temporary exhibition to showcase the epic creative work of one of South Africa’s most rewarded and iconic advertising agencies, Hunt Lascaris, at their 40th anniversary celebrations. Hunt Lascaris is recognised as having created some of the most memorable advertising campaigns in South Africa. The honour of working with this legendary advertising agency and creating the platform for them to showcase their work was not lost on the team at Chat’r.

Chat’r are also extremely proud and privileged to be working with the President FW de Klerk Legacy Foundation on The Centre of the Constitutional Transformation of South Africa. Again, Chat’r was the David-against-the-Goliath in pitching for this project. The Centre is designed to be a permanent exhibition showcasing South Africa’s transition to democracy, from the groundbreaking speech delivered by then-President FW de Klerk to parliament on 2 February 1990, to the creation of our globally renowned and respected democratic constitution, that was signed into law by our founding democratically elected President Nelson Mandela on 10 December 1996.

“Just as there is great success, there are also challenges along the way. Any business owner that says otherwise is not being true to themselves or fair to their company,” John said.

He said: “Building a start-up is not easy, it comes with many challenges, from funding and cash flow challenges to client acquisition and retention and, of course, staffing and resource management. And then, of course, there are external factors

that are completely beyond your control, that also throw a spanner in the works. Chat’r was not immune to any of these. But, it was how we responded and handled the bumps in the road that has helped us to overcome these challenges and got us to the point that we are at today, celebrating our 10th anniversary. They say that the first five years of a new business are the hardest and, if you make it past these years, you are on the road to greatness. I challenge that, as in my opinion, every day is a challenge and every day we need to climb a new mountain; staying on the path to success requires constant attention and constant innovation to remain relevant.”

“Through our ten years we have been challenged, such as the time our exhibition stand was stuck on a ship at sea during a hurricane and was not going to make it in time for us to build it for our client at the Africa Energy Forum in Mauritius. Luckily, our team is agile and innovative and, when we realised we were not going to get our stand in time, we started to make plans to build another stand from scratch in Mauritius with just 48 hours to go. Time was not on our side, but by the time the conference opened, our client had their stand, an exact replica of the stand that was on the ship, and no one attending the conference was any the wiser. Needless to say, the original stand arrived at the harbour, on the day the conference ended!

“Then, of course, like everyone else in our industry, our business suffered from the catastrophic decimation of the event and exhibition industry caused by the

Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant two-year lockdown of our industry. Like many companies in our space, Chat’r’s business was not immune — we had ten planned projects cancelled within 24 hours of the announcement of the Covid-19 lockdown. This took our business to the edge of the cliff; by 2022 we were on the brink of collapse, already financially ruined,” John said.

He added: “Thankfully, we were thrown a lifeline, as a result of the loyalty and support from some of our clients, whose own businesses managed to survive the Covid-19 pandemic. This is where our commitment to our personalised service and our dedication to our clients’ needs paid off. Over the years, we formed long-term and authentic relationships with our clients, based on our committed philosophy of service excellence, integrity, respect, leadership and ingenuity. This allowed us to come back from the edge of the cliff and to begin rebuilding Chat’r from the ground up — so, I guess if we use the earlier analogy of the first five years of a new business being able to survive, we are once again on a five year respirator — however we have moved from the ICU to the high care ward, staying with the Covid-19 analogy.”

John said: “Having survived the catastrophe that was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and come away from the edge of the cliff, for which we are most grateful, and as we reach the end of our first decade, it is time to reflect on the past years and to plan for the future as, in the words of Benjamin Franklin: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.

“As mentioned earlier on, we at Chat’r firmly subscribe to the view that to stay relevant in our industry, we must keep innovating, and innovation is at the core of our plan for the next decade.”

“One of the lessons that the team have taken away from the recent pandemic is that our world is in a perilous state, increasing diseases are spreading more rapidly and are becoming increasingly immune to our borders, climate change is a reality, the world is on fire and global warming is affecting all of us. The sustainability of our planet is increasingly becoming a problem.”

The Chat’r team has this reality at the top of mind, as they plan their growth strategy for the coming decade. Sustainability and the environment will play a key role in any project they work on in the future. John said: “Just like when we started, we made sure that every event we were part of had an element that encouraged chatter, we are now committed to driving sustainable and green event practices in each and every event, activation, conference or exhibition booth we execute on behalf of our clients.”

“At Chat’r, we believe it is our responsibility, as event organisers, to provide our clients with guidance, solutions and answers to hosting more green events with minimal environmental impact and much reduced carbon footprint.”

A question that John asks of his team daily: “Have you ever stopped to consider the impact on the environment of the wastefulness of the events, exhibitions and conferences we organise?” — most people don’t.

“Conferences, events and exhibitions are – by nature – extremely wasteful. Consider that you’re setting up a small community for one, two or more days, placing everyone into an environment where they are beholden to what’s on offer from the event venue. Everything is designed to be single-use, fair weather, stop-through and temporary” — Kevin Cobus, Event Sustainability: The Evolution of a Wasteful Industry

“I could not agree more with the sentiments expressed by Kevin, and it is with this in mind that Chat’r has taken the firm decision to make a difference where we can, and to bring our clients along with us on this new journey,” John said.

John said that these are some facts and stats that he would like to share with his clients when discussing the impact of their event or exhibition participation on the environment:

• The typical conference attendee produces 1.89kg of waste each day, of which 1.16kg will end up in a landfill.

• The average conference attendee produces over 170kg of CO2 emissions per day.

• The carbon footprint of global air travel related to events contributes 2.05 per cent of global C02 emissions, about the same emissions as those of a country, such as France, emits.

Chat’r founder John, is a big fan of the Earthshot Prize environmental initiative, initiated by Prince William, The Prince of Wales, and he believes that the event industry needs to change its behaviour to support the outcomes that this initiative is aimed at — to find and grow the solutions that will repair our planet in this decade. Chat’r is part of an industry that is one of the biggest contributors to the waste in our environment, and is

committed to ensuring that for the next decade they play a role in helping to reduce the impact our industry has on the planet. This philosophy is at the heart of their work for the next decade and the entire team at Chat’r have bought into this vision.

Chat’r believes that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the event industry to develop and work towards their own event Earthshot.

Ensuring that we stay committed to this path, Chat’r supports and is a signatory to the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge, a United Nations supported industry initiative to address climate change. Chat’r is also a member of the Event Greening Forum (EGF) of South Africa. “The way forward for Chat’r is to work with a purpose, work with meaning. To work towards ensuring that all we do, for ourselves and on behalf of our clients, makes a difference and contributes positively to society — both the environment, in a sustainable way, and economically, with the objective to conserve the limited resources on our planet,” John added.

New eco design division launched Chat’r is proud to announce the launch of its new eco design exhibition stand design and build division, ECO-DESIGN powered by Xanita. With ECO-DESIGN, Chat’r has entered into a partnership with Xanita to design and build exhibition booths, branding and marketing material that places the sustainability of our planet at the forefront of our work. John said: “We are very excited about this new

journey, and we look forward to making a real impact and difference to the future of the events industry in South Africa, and globally.

“We are sharing our new strategy because we want to show the industry that greening an event can be done. It’s not too difficult, you just need to be prepared to do things differently. We’ve also tried to be very transparent about the challenges which we – as an industry – face, while highlighting the solutions we choose — and the fact that there is always something you can do to mitigate these challenges and their impacts,” John added.

John said: “We are confident that our future is bright green! If you are ready to start doing things differently, and more sustainably, for your next event, conference or exhibition stand design or build, consider contacting us at hello@chatr.co.za.”

Chat’r clients can be assured of our commitment to professional events, delivered with integrity and accountability. Chat’r is a member of the following industry organisations, which hold us accountable to industry best practices:

Event Greening Forum (EGF), Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), and Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO). John was recently inducted into the Professional Conference Organisers Alliance (PCO Alliance) of South Africa, an industry association of professional conference organisers by invitation only. But don’t just take our word, here are a few testimonials from some of our clients, who we like to call our fans!

Jan Hutton — CEO, Australian Tourism Data Warehouse, previously CMO South African Tourism

“You take pride in your work, your creative concepts, and project managing each step, which gives SA Tourism great confidence in the end result. Your skills do not just fall into the ambit of events management; they also add immense strategic value at the origination stage, packed in brilliant creative execution. In a summary, you’ve been a preferred service provider, simply because you deliver — with great work, on budget and on time. It’s a rare pleasure to work with people you enjoy, people who share the same work ethic, are forward-thinking and understand our business needs.”

Cyril Sadike — Managing Director, Sadmon Projects and Consulting

“I would like to formally commend you on the excellent service that you and your team provided Sadmon Projects and Consulting/Department of Health. Your task was to come up with a concept, design the stand and build the South Africa stand for the International AIDS conference 2016. In my opinion, the level of dedication provided by you and your team exceeded expectation. We were very impressed with the level of professionalism and the willingness to go the extra mile to meet our deadline. Your availability to make last minute changes was appreciated. What impressed us most was how well your team worked to

ensure that we got exactly what we had asked for and within the time we had stipulated.”

Melusi Khumalo — Regional Marketing Manager, Durban Tourism

“Thank you, Chat’r Xperience, for the excellent service that the company provided to Durban Tourism for the INDABA 2016. Chat’r was responsible for the entire concept, design, build and on-site maintenance of the Durban Tourism Stand. The stand was 250 square metres, as well as the aisle pillars alongside the exhibition stand. In my opinion, the level of service that Chat’r Xperience extended to Durban Tourism was far beyond our expectations. We were greatly impressed by the management and service by John Arvanitakis and his team of designers and on-site exhibition builders. In an era where exceptional service excellence is the norm in the industry, the work that this team did was an exceptional example for others to emulate. What is particularly impressive is the level of service provided by the director himself. John invested a lot of time preparing and planning for this to be a great success. This was the basis of efficiency to effectively meet and exceed our expectations.”

Anita Alves – Strategic Marketing Manager – First National Bank

“I have worked with John Arvanitakis and the Chat’r Xperience Team over a number of years and the team are all highly skilled, professional and tech savvy. John and his team have many years of experience within the events and experiential marketing industry and deliver high quality work.”

Ami Kotze – Group Project Director – IRL “Chat’r Xperience is a reputable events specialist company that I can highly recommend. Their service is of the highest quality, and they are always willing to assist, no matter the deadline or ask.”

Contact details

Email: hello@chatr.co.za Web: chatr.co.za

Nelson Mandela Bay — a premier destination for business events

Nestled in the heart of South Africa, this vibrant city offers a unique blend of intimate business tourism facilities set against a backdrop of pristine natural beauty. Whether you are planning a conference, corporate event, or private function, Nelson Mandela Bay has everything you need to make your event a success. The city provides a wide range of experiences, including the chance to witness the ‘Big 7’ game in malaria-free environments, all within close proximity to the city and its stunning beaches.

Located in a strategic position, Nelson Mandela Bay attracts business travellers, investors, and conference attendees due to its convenient central location and easy accessibility to major cities in the country. The city’s warm hospitality and safe environment further enhance its appeal.

Nelson Mandela Bay boasts an impressive selection of venues suitable for conferences, corporate events, and private functions. These venues are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and provide a stable and picturesque setting. From video conferencing capabilities to teambuilding activities, every conference need can be met with ease.

The venues in Nelson Mandela Bay offer a variety of facilities that can be tailored to suit any conference or event. The seating arrangements are flexible, and additional rooms are available to accommodate different session requirements. Catering services can also be arranged, to ensure that attendees are well-fed and satisfied throughout the event. The Bay’s venues can accommodate a considerable number of delegates, ranging from 70 to 300 on average, with larger and smaller options available. Private game reserves, seaside resorts, and luxury hotels offer exclusive and comfortable conference facilities for those seeking a more premium experience.

In addition to conferences, Nelson

Mandela Bay provides unique private function venues perfect for cocktail parties, awards dinners, company gatherings, and year-end functions, adding elegance and style to these events.

The city offers a stress-free conferencing experience amidst the stunning African landscape. Its multilingual environment, with English, isiXhosa, and Afrikaans as the predominant languages, facilitates smooth business interactions. Visitors to the Bay have a wide range of accommodation options to choose from, including hotels, retreats, boutique hotels, guesthouses, township lodges, selfcatering establishments, holiday resorts, caravan parks, and camping sites.

Nelson Mandela Bay is easily accessible by air, road, and sea. The Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ) is centrally located and serviced by various airlines. Metered taxis, luxury coaches, and shuttle buses provide convenient transportation within the city and its surroundings. The city’s small size and excellent transportation options make it effortless for delegates to travel between various meeting and entertainment venues, earning it the nickname ‘10-minute city’.

The city enjoys a moderate climate throughout the year, with temperatures ranging from 16°C in winter to 32°C in summer. Summers are warm and dry with low humidity, while winters are mild with chilly evenings. Nelson Mandela Bay’s culinary scene is diverse, offering a wide variety of cuisines, from gourmet restaurants to traditional township taverns. With the highest capita ratio of restaurants per population in South Africa, visitors can savour everything from succulent steaks to authentic African cuisine while enjoying breathtaking sunsets.

Nelson Mandela Bay boasts world-class venues, including state-of-the-art convention centres, exhibition halls, and hotels with excellent conference facilities. Whether one requires a small meeting room or a large conference hall, the city offers venues to cater to every need. Apart from its business offerings, Nelson Mandela Bay's natural beauty is a major attraction. With its stunning beaches, ocean views, and nearby nature reserves, the city provides an ideal opportunity to combine business with leisure.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Convention Bureau is dedicated to ensuring the success of every conference and exhibition. The bureau offers support in bid promotion, site inspections, accommodation, and on-site assistance, ensuring that clients have access to all the necessary resources for a successful event.

NMB Convention Bureau contact details

NMBM EDTA: Destination Marketing Unit

Nelson Mandela Bay

+27 (0)41 503 7513 / +27 (0)83 410 3565 dlouw@mandelametro.gov.za sisaacs@mandelametro.gov.za mleroux@mandelametro.gov.za www.nmbt.co.za

NELSON MANDELA BAY CONVENTION BUREAU SERVICES

Bids

Nelson Mandela Bay’s Convention Bureau will gladly assist with your bid if the local Convention Bureau and the Association and / or Conference Organizer are in agreement. The following can be included:

• Letter of Support to be submitted with the bid from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

• Request a letter of support from SA Tourism’s National Convention Bureau to be included in the bid.

• Request a letter of support from the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency to be included in the bid.

• City bid template for bid submission

• City information for bid submission

• Submit a request to the National Convention Bureau, your application will follow their processes

• Submit a request to the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, your application will follow their processes.

DELEGATE BOOSTING

This platform is used to boost, attract and entice delegates to attend the following conference in our destination. This usually takes place at a previous conference / event in order to boost the number of delegates to the conference.

CONFERENCE EVENT SUPPORT

The Nelson Mandela Bay Convention Bureau can supply

• City images to be included on conference website

• Tourist information which can be included on the confer ence website or share a link from the tourism website to the conference website

• Assist with City Welcome / Civic reception

PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL

Promotional material is for the use of planners and organ isers to use at their conferences and / or events. These could include from the MICE Planner, visitors’ guides, maps (in print or electronically), destination DVD, destination images.

SITE INSPECTIONS

Some conference and event organizers are not from the destination and may need to visit the destination to familiari themselves with venues, the best location, introductions to service providers i.e. venues, accommodation establishments, etc.

NELSON A PREMIER DESTINATION MANDEL A BAY,

TO FOR BUSINESS EVENTS.

WEBSITE

Conference and Event organizers can upload their conference and or event on the tourism website where their conference / event details are made available with the direct link to their respective website / social media pages.

PRE / POST TOURS

The NMB Convention Bureau can assist organizers with the following as Pre / Post options:

• Nelson Mandela Bay Pass www.nelsonmandelabaypass. co.za

• A list of tour options is available for pre / post tours, accompanying guests programme and special event recommendations.

SUPPLIER INFORMATION

Nelson Mandela Bay have a pool of local suppliers that can assist with quotes ranging from professional conference organisers, event planners, catering, décor and audio-visual service providers amongst others. These job opportunities can increase the local economy.

CAPE

Gqeberha

EXPLORE EASTERN

MEETINGS AND INCENTIVES

WELCOME

Keeping the show wheels turning at the spectacular SunBet Arena

The thrill of a crowd and the experience of state-of-the art audio visual equipment, combined with an international artist — a recipe that has had Lara Portelli, events and entertainment manager of the SunBet Arena at Time Square, hooked since joining Sun International in the 1990s.

From gala dinners for 1,400 people, to music shows for 10,200, Ms Portelli, who grew up in Gqeberha, has seen it all. During the course of her 27-year career, she has rubbed shoulders with Tina Turner, Quincy Jones, Meat Loaf, Jackie Chan, Westlife, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sarah Brightman, among other international superstars and celebrities who have visited Sun International properties in South Africa.

“My first role with the company was as guest relations officer at The Lost City, where I was involved in major events such as the Miss World pageant, and coordinating film shoots, adverts and movies that were filmed at Sun City,” Ms Portelli said.

With ample experience in the entertainment and conferencing industry, Ms Portelli worked as group events and entertainment manager, and also held this position at Sun City, before taking a short break and joining a sporting and entertainment industry company. “Here, I learnt about commercialisation of venues and how they run massive stadiums. But, when the opportunity arose to come back to Sun International, I jumped at it.”

In late 2021, when the bright lights of the stage were still extinguished by the pandemic, Ms Portelli joined SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria, the

biggest purpose-built concert arena in the Southern Hemisphere.

“I was recruited during the pandemic to prepare a Covid management plan and to get the venue ready to reopen after almost a year without any shows.

On 15 June 2022, SunBet Arena opened its doors once again to 5,000 people – 50 percent occupancy – for the All White Soul and Comedy Festival.

Not even loadshedding can dampen SunBet Arena’s enthusiasm — their show generator keeps the music playing and the lights on, for uninterrupted entertainment. “We have to switch it on 10 minutes before load shedding happens, and then the power runs seamlessly, and the team sets their watch alarms to remind us to flick the switch.

With events such as the Time Square NYE Block Party, with fifteen featured artists and thousands of people attending, means that the generators have to be reliable.

Hosting a show sees a minimum of 500 contractors employed in the precinct, including security, ushers, cleaners, health and safety and medics.

“A big show has up to 650 staff, and the spin off for Tshwane and the restaurants and businesses around us is huge.”

International artists are flocking back to the world-class venue, with

successful shows from Backstreet Boys and Counting Crows, held recently; UB40, Trevor Noah’s Live in South Africa, Westlife, Tamia, and Boyz II Men later in the year. Having luxurious accommodation at Maslow Time Square Hotel right next door means convenience for the artists.

Ms Portelli is proud of her team’s skilful production efforts which keep the Arena in tip top shape and one of the country’s leading concert, conference and corporate event venues.

“Kevin Hart (the American comedian) said he had done 298 shows around the world, and only the two had started on time and had no cellphone infringements — these were both at Time Square.” The show was the first time in South Africa when guests’ mobile phones were placed into a magnetised pouch so that they could not be used to film the show.

Watching an audience laugh, hug or cry while they are engrossed in a performance is something Ms Portelli will never stop loving. “I get huge enjoyment from knowing I have built a world class team who makes the magic happen.”

Ms Portelli’s advice to other women in the entertainment and conferencing industry is to “find your purpose in growing, building and supporting the team around you — their success is your success.”

Lara Portelli, Events and Entertainment Manager, SunBet Arena, Time Square.

Time Square Casino Menlyn, Pretoria, Time square exterior at dusk.

Tourism Grading Council awards Sun City the gold standard for conferencing

In a boost for the North West province, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa has awarded Sun City’s Conference and Exhibition Centre a five-star rating for the first time ever. Previously, only Sun City’s tourism infrastructure received star ratings, which includes five stars for the iconic Palace of the Lost City and the Cascades hotels, four stars for the Sun City hotel and three stars for the Cabanas.

Sun International has upgraded the popular resort multiple times over the past 44 years, with the biggest investment being R1-billion at the end of 2016. Before the onset of the pandemic, Sun City set its sights on securing a share of the growing conventions market, spending R150-million on modernising its business infrastructure.

Sun City’s business facilities now consists of 27 conference rooms, three spacious convention centres, two auditoriums and multiple breakaway rooms. The five-star grading also includes Sun City’s Sun Park and The Greenhouse unique outdoor events venues.

Anthony Leeming, chief executive officer of Sun International, said: “Sun City first caught the public imagination with its casino in the late 70s, but to

remain relevant we had to focus on expanding our tourism infrastructure. Today, leisure travellers still love Sun City and it remains the favourite resort for local and international visitors, but our business offering needed a complete overhaul to compete in this growing market. Since our upgrade, the resort generated over R220-million from conferences and events in 2022 alone. With the new 5 star grading we are confident that Sun City can set the benchmark for business travel, just as it has done for leisure travel.”

With the repeal of all Covid regulations, and companies shifting from hybrid solutions back to hosting physical conferences, Sun City experienced an almost immediate upturn in local conference bookings.

In 2022, the Sun City Convention Centre

welcomed more than 400 conferences and 250 lifestyle and sports events, from intimate team-building sessions to large-scale corporate events, banquets, seminars and exhibitions. While the majority of the conferences have been local, international bookings are starting to pick up for 2024.

The impact of business travel is also good news for the local community, as roughly 100 casual workers are needed for every 1,000 conference delegates. Last year, Sun City began training locals to provide additional support at big conferences and events, such as the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and provided them with silver spoon training, for fine dining events.

Talking about the grading, Brett Hoppé, general manager of Sun City, said, “We are delighted that we achieved 5 stars

with our very first business facility grading. It confirms our commitment to excellence and the quality of our offering.

“We are also pleased to note that following the grading process the assessors had no recommendations for improvement. They also praised our management and staff for being professional and dedicated, and noted their ‘attention to neatness and effectiveness, and adhering to time schedules, service delivery and consistency’.”

Mr Hoppé also stated that no other conferencing destination can boast as many exciting attractions for delegates to enjoy during their downtime, including two famous golf courses, the Valley of Waves, jet skiing and other water sports, fun activities and game drives in the Pilanesberg National Park — and not forgetting the famous Sun City Casino and nightclub.

Marnie Tait, national sales manager of Sun International, said: “While many people think of Sun City as a party destination, the Sun City Convention Centre is first and foremost a centre of business, but what better way to start your working day than with breakfast at dawn in a hot air balloon floating over the Pilanesberg Game Reserve? What makes Sun City extra special is that it is also a family destination. Delegates can combine business with leisure by bringing their families, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones will have a great time too.

Ms Tait also said that international companies often request ways to offset their carbon footprint. In 2021, a 500-strong Swedish conference requested that a tree be planted for every delegate. Sun City staff planted 500 fruit trees at schools in local communities surrounding Sun City. The resort has since committed to planting 500 fruit trees every year.

“Memorable destination conferencing is what Sun City does best — we live up to our promise of ensuring that guests love every moment that they are with us,” Ms Tait said.

Deal-seeking behaviour is booming

Today, before shopping, 90 per cent of consumers look online for the best deals and 89 per cent look for sales, deals, cashback rebates and the best prices. And, when shopping, the modern deal-seeker actively seeks out discounts, promotions and bargains.

By Nicole Chamberlin, The Cutting Edge Group

Deal-seekers aren’t rare birds; they’ll be everywhere. By understanding who they are and what they’re looking for, you’ll be well positioned to reach them.

While many consumers are looking for the best deal, not everyone buys on price alone, new research shows. 46 per cent are deal takers, six per cent are deal sharers, and eight per cent are outright deal rejectors.

So, who is the new deal-seeker and what motivates them?

Approximately 41.7 million shoppers are part of this new frugality movement — a transition from frequent purchase behaviour to thoughtful spending habits centered around an emotional connection to a brand.

A large majority of the modern dealseeker movement comprises millennials and gen-Xers — who are not only looking for savings in their purchase decisions, but both value and a personal relationship with their favourite brands. This new dealseeking generation is extremely valuable, so if you know how to engage them so as to influence their purchase decisions and create loyal brand advocates.

Top travel criteria

While travel demand continues to climb, continued increases in inflation and skyrocketing airfares are stretching budgets and affecting travel plans. Surveys show deal shopping and low prices are the top travel criteria for consumers this year. From flash deals to flexible check-ins and check-outs, to senior citizen discounts or no pet fees, below is a travel criteria in order to attract the deal-seeker to your hotel.

1. Know your audience

Families, millennials, business travellers, and solo travellers may be seeking different types of deals, so target your offers accordingly.

2. Deal-seekers love freebies

Free breakfast ranks high as a desired amenity. With the increase in food prices, this appears to be more attractive than ever. And the buffet is back! Consider being generous with free room upgrades during your non-peak booking days. Free Wi-Fi should be standard. Perhaps offer free shuttles to and from airports or the Gautrain and consider this service to popular

local spots. Try to seek out mutually beneficial business partnerships and consider offering free vouchers or coupons to museums, sporting events, spa treatments, boat rides, fishing venues etc.

3. Early check-in

Accept early check-ins when you can, as any chance to extend a trip will feel like a deal.

4. Offer flash deals

Many deal-seekers wait it out for last-minute deals and short-stay packages or winter deals. Don’t forget to utilise mobile marketing, and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for these time-sensitive offers. And, if you have relationships with social media influencers, make sure that they are aware of your deals, and as you offer ways to reward them for spreading the word.

5. Beef up loyalty programmes

Loyalty programmes encourage repeat business and may offer opportunities for say enticing a loyal business traveller to also become a leisure traveller, or vice versa.

FAST FACTS

Deal-seeker influentials — always looking for the best online, offline and mobile deal. They tend to be young, highly educated and socially active consumers who love shopping, but refuse to pay the full price for anything. They are frequently online and heavily engaged in social media, feeling comfortable sharing their favourite brands with friends, as they see themselves as trendsetters with the potential to multiply a brand’s message by word of mouth.

Offline deal-seekers — look for the best deals on traditional media. Predominantly over the age of 55, these shoppers would only look for a deal up to a limit. 63 per cent say they head straight to the clearance rack when they enter a store, but will not travel far to shop. This segment is very price-sensitive, with 43 per cent agreeing that they are highly consumed by getting the best deal. They are also more likely to view vouchers and discounts as a way for them to try new things.

Deal-thrillers — with a mean age of 49, they love getting a deal, but are also brand loyalists. This sector is 57 percent less likely than the average population to say that a coupon or sale would encourage them to try something new.

Deal-takers — highly educated and affluent consumers who will accept a deal if offered, but are less likely to seek one out. Promotions targeted at this group must be well publicised online and offline. However, they are much less influential online than dealseeker influentials.

Deal-indifferents — Deal-indifferents make up the largest segment of the population. Almost 30 percent of adults, they are unlikely to change their behaviour because of a deal. Of these consumers, 60 percent go shopping only when there is something specific that they really need. Because they do not care if they get a deal, marketers will waste valuable resources on this sizeable group and miss out on profits they could have otherwise kept.

Deal-rejectors — These consumers are the most shopping-averse group, wanting convenience over anything else. For these consumers, who are 58 percent male and tend to be older, convenience, service and brands far outrank price when it comes to making purchase decisions. This group of shoppers has higher-thanaverage discretionary income and a willingness to part with it. They are also 59 percent less likely to trust information they receive through social media channels.

Overall, the modern deal-seeker is a savvy shopper who actively engages in research, uses technology, and leverages various strategies to save money and find the best possible deals, so pay special attention to the content on your own hotel website, not only promoting your perks but offering more in-depth content such as videos.

Check out these deals at Premier Hotels

• Thursday travel treats — get deep discounts (from 25% up to 60%) on accommodation for the weekend, after a Thursday.

• Get 30% off or pay two, stay three at any of the 24 Premier Hotels & Resorts across South Africa, for your ultimate family winter holiday. Stay dates: 1 June to 31 August 2023.

Gift of the Givers presents first conference of its kind in the world —

Preparedness for Humanitarian Disasters

The Centre for Global Surgery at Stellenbosch University, in collaboration with Gift of the Givers, held an exclusive two-day conference on Preparedness for Humanitarian Disasters on 27-28 May 2023, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

The exclusive two-day conference on Preparedness for Humanitarian Disasters was led by Dr Imtiaz Sooliman and his team, using real missions to teach logistical, medical and ethical principles of working in disaster settings.

The conference covered the various aspects of disaster intervention, including the role of medical teams, trauma counsellors, dieticians, K-9s, etc, in search and rescue, as well as discussions on war evacuation, hostage negotiations and ethics. The Centre for Global Surgery has an interest in training

surgeons to work in humanitarian disasters, where surgical care is unavailable, but needed.

Dr Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers, said, “There was an overwhelming response to this conference, which reflects a real need for all parties involved in disaster management relief to be ready to handle a real life disaster situation, should it occur in our country, such as the Boksburg Tanker Explosion and KZN floods.

“We are grateful to the CTICC for sponsoring the venue that

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman opened the conference with a keynote speech.

Taubie Motlhabane, chief executive officer of the CTICC.

accommodated the large numbers that the event attracted, as well as to the various service partners of the CTICC for sponsoring associated services to host this conference.”

Over the two days, invaluable information was shared, punctuated by Q&A sessions, covering topics such as ‘Adaptation and medication in crisis situations’; ‘Navigating the torso without a compass’; ‘Orthopaedics out of the box’; ‘Anaesthesia in Disasters: a matter

of life and breath’; ‘Wound care’; ‘Emergency nutrition’; ‘What to do when there is no ICU’; and ‘Doctor! Help me! They have no space.’

A wide range of delegates from different disciplines attended the conference, including academics, heads of department, disaster management teams from municipalities, health care workers and students. Dr Sooliman said: “This was one of the first conferences of its kind in the world, and was an

excellent educational workshop on real life disaster situations,” he added.

Taubie Motlhabane, chief executive officer of the CTICC, commented: “We believe in the great work that is done by the Gift of the Givers, and it was an honour to have an opportunity to partner with them once more. In true Ubuntu spirit, our partners, Bidvest Prestige, AV Networks, ER24 and Evsol once again came to the party to sponsor various services required for the conference.”

Avani Victoria Falls Resort relaunches cultural dining experience

With Zambia’s cool season in full swing, Avani Victoria Falls Resort invited guests to explore rich flavours that lift the lid on local culture during the relaunch of the Mukuni Boma dinner experience, with a refreshed menu and an expanded cultural programme.

The launch was marked by the presence of the executive team, lead by Laurie Burr, the Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba and the Mayor of Livingstone, Constance Nalishebo Muleabai. The event was aimed at showcasing Zambia’s rich cultural heritage to the guests through Mukuni Boma’s cultural experience. The event saw an impressive turnout of guests from businesses in Livingstone and inhouse guests who were eager to experience the relaunch.

The Minister of Tourism highlighted the importance of cultural heritage tourism and the need to preserve Zambia’s cultural identity and how key the Mukuni Boma at Avani Victoria Falls Resort was to the tourism capital, Livingstone.

The relaunch featured a variety of performances, including traditional African music and dance. The Marimba delivered a lively and energetic performance that featured intricate rhythms and harmonies. Ngoni Warriors, another musical group,

showcased their unique blend of traditional African rhythms.

The alfresco experience takes place every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

night at the resort’s Mukuni Boma restaurant, where beautiful Zambian rituals are performed on the banks of the majestic Zambezi River.

Avani Victoria Falls Resort boma dinner guest buffet.

Avani Victoria Falls Resort Boma relaunch cultural dancers.

Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba and PR Girls.

Radisson RED Cape Town retains global safety certification

A global inspection, verification, testing, and certification company has confirmed that Radisson RED V&A Waterfront, Cape Town has retained its safety and security certification once again.

This, says the hotel’s curator Leonie Andereya, is a sign of their ongoing commitment to ensure the security and comfort of all guests and any staff member and service provider on the premises.

The certification was carried out by SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

“Our passion is to provide guests with

an experience that they remember for all the right reasons. We understand all too well that they have a wide range of choices and that travellers have become more discerning over the choices they make.

“As a hotel, we must put safety, service, sustainability, and security excellence at the heart of everything we do and the SGS certification shows we have succeeded again. We realise also that this is an ongoing journey, and we need to keep working hard to retain this accolade,” Ms Andereya said.

Radisson RED Cape Town has been SGS certified since its opening in 2017

and the latest certification was confirmed in March. The criterion for the certification consists of more than 220 elements, which are organised within six sections: a hotel property safety and security walkthrough; process, training, and organisation; security equipment; fire equipment; fire training; and crisis management.

“Being SGS certified shows guests, staff, and partners that Radisson RED V&A Waterfront takes the necessary precautions and measures to ensure their health and safety. Hotel guests should see the certification as another reason to stay, experience, and conference with us.”

Newmark Hotels welcomes Hazendal Wine Estate

Newmark Hotels and Reserves has placed a significant footprint in the Cape Winelands with the recent announcement that renowned Hazendal Wine Estate, located in Stellenbosch, in South Africa joins the company’s portfolio. Newmark’s mandate is to manage the estate’s daily operations and to further establish Hazendal in the domestic and international wine and hospitality markets.

Founded in 1699, Hazendal Wine Estate begins a dynamic new chapter in October of this year with the launch of The Hazendal, the new luxury boutique hotel on the estate. Since 2016, the historically rich Hazendal Wine Estate has undergone a significant restoration programme that has transformed the estate into one of the country’s leading hospitality destinations. Hazendal continues this remarkable reinvention with the current construction of the 34 rooms and suites country chic hotel. This reinvention, together with the estate’s sensitively restored five-bedroom original Cape Dutch Homestead, will further enhance the property as a leading winelands address that is only 30-minutes from Cape Town.

Set alongside its 18-holes Par 3 signature golf course and overlooking a picturesque reservoir and the Bottelary Hills, The Hazendal will add to the

carefully considered family and culinary experiences that are already available to visiting guests. These include a deli, an open-fire-cooking eatery, a wine tasting lounge, a contemporary fine arts gallery, a showroom for classic cars, a range of conference and event spaces, Wonderdal — a one-of-a-kind childrens’ edutainment centre, a two-level technology-based driving range and a beautifully landscaped putting park. Guests are also invited to enjoy Hazendal’s premium estate wines, Cap Classiques sparkling wines, spirit apéritifs and vodkas, all served in the elegant wine tasting lounge.

The Hazendal will include a beautifully designed restorative Spa, offering indoor and outdoor treatment rooms as well as a nail and hair bar, a screening room, a fully equipped gym, a heated 25-metre outdoor pool set in a tranquil central courtyard and a padel court. The Restaurant, a 56-seater restaurant with

additional outdoor seating, The Bar and the retro-styled Cigar and Whiskey Lounge will complete the culinary offerings of the hotel and will serve the hotel’s guests as well as outside visitors.

In a first for Newmark, the established management company will be responsible for all hospitality and experience offerings on the 145-hectare winelands estate including the launch and management of the new Hazendal Hotel opening in October. “Many of Newmark’s clientele who book our Cape Town hotels wish to overnight in the Cape Winelands too and hence Hazendal and its current hotel development make for an ideal alignment. My team and I very much look forward to further cementing brand Hazendal through the domestic and international travel markets,” said Neil Markovitz, chief executive officer of Newmark Hotels and Reserves.

Hazendal Hotel.

The Wine Lounge.

The Deli.

Carmen Rhodes joins Taj Cape Town

Taj Cape Town – the Mother City’s ultimate urban luxury heritage hotel – is delighted to announce the appointment of seasoned industry professional Carmen Rhodes as director of sales and marketing.

Ms Rhodes has climbed the ranks of the hospitality industry, thanks to her unswerving accent on professionalism and a natural flair for the business; an aptitude born of her warmth and determination to create an unforgettable guest experience — values which are in tune with those of Taj Cape Town.

This is not her first stint with the prestigious hotel, known for its unabashed opulence with a touch of Indian-inspired exoticism. Ms Rhodes first joined the group as associate director of sales, corporate and MICE, in 2018.

Ms Rhodes had already built an impressive track record by this time, having taken her very first step in the hospitality industry at the Best Western Cape Suites Hotel, where she completed training in all areas of operations, from reception to reservations, food and beverage, and housekeeping.

“It was a solid grounding that gave me insight into what happens in all areas of a hotel. As I’ve grown within my career, this has positioned me to offer the best experience,” Ms Rhodes mused.

She soon put these skills to work as she started progressing up the ladder, taking on various positions at high profile establishments in her native Cape Town. She gathered experience in other areas of the industry too, including tourism, and gleaned a glimpse of the international industry when she travelled to London.

After several more years spent in a number of different roles, Ms Rhodes and her family immigrated to Australia, returning to South Africa in 2020. She found that she missed the industry and its exciting dynamics during this time and was overjoyed when a two-month long series of online interviews helped her land a position as Senior Sales

Manager at the Cape Grace. Sadly, this role was cut short by the hotel’s closure due to Covid, but she took up the mantle once more at Newmark Hotels as group head of sales. During the two years she spent with the company, Ms Rhodes helped to open three hotels (The Rockefeller Hotel, The Catalyst Hotel and The Winchester Hotel) — no small feat, given the beleaguered state of tourism at this time. Ms Rhodes’ involvement extended beyond sales to include developing extensive plans for selling these hotels to clients; a task she admits was challenging, but which she embraced with enthusiasm.

Ms Rhodes said that the diversity of her 25 years in the industry has helped her build a thorough understanding of how the different teams in a hotel fit together to ensure success. Her experience in various areas of the tourism industry has also added a new dimension to her outlook: she has, after all, held posts in areas from travel consultant to site assessor at many leading operators, and maintains strong relationships with these players. “After my journey, working through different roles, I discovered my absolute passion for sales and am thrilled to have taken on the challenge of director of sales at Taj Cape Town,” she commented.

She added that one of her greatest joys is working alongside a team, helping them grow their talent, and

then watching them succeed. She’ll have plenty of opportunities to do just this at Taj Cape Town, as the hotel has been on a marked upward trajectory since it refreshed its ground floor last year, introducing a number of new venues and experiences to create a venue that’s ideal for fast-paced business meetings and workshops, international visitors exploring the Mother City, romantic rendezvous and celebratory occasions and family get-togethers alike.

“We are so excited to see Ms Rhodes come on board. Her special brand of talent and extensive network resonates with Taj Hotels’ ethos, and we are looking forward to seeing how she harnesses this to further entrench our brand on the local and international scene to make more special, memorable experiences for our guests,” said Mark Wernich, cluster general manager Africa at Taj Hotels.

The Marine to launch new conference and function venue

The Marine Hotel in Hermanus is launching a new conference and function venue in July 2023. With awe-inspiring views of Walker Bay and exemplary service, the versatile new event space at the Marine boasts beautiful natural daylight to make the most of its unique setting and complement its world-class offerings.

The light and airy event space is perfectly suited to corporate events and executive strategy meetings and getaways. It also lends itself to hosting intimate, exclusive weddings and other private events and celebrations. Half- and full-day conference packages are available for groups of up to sixty delegates, promising excellent value with the inclusion of audio-visual and conference equipment suitable for in-person and hybrid events.

Head chef, Oelof Vorster, is set to take conference breaks to another level with tailor-made offerings to suit the requirements of every individual event. Adjacent to the new venue, a dedicated restaurant will cater for meetings, conferences and events exclusively, seating up to 48 guests for meals or cocktails. The Pavilion Restaurant is also available for conference dining when booking the hotel on an exclusive-use basis, seating up to eighty people. Michel Bouic, general manager of The Marine, said that The Liz McGrath Collection has paid heed to the requirements of the growing business community of Hermanus and the greater Overberg region for a world-class meeting venue that offers excellent value, with warm hospitality and service to match.

Mr Bouic said: “The venue is however also designed as an attractive option for executive meetings and smaller conferences from Cape Town and upcountry. Within 100 kilometres from Cape Town Airport, we present a unique out-of-office work environment in this magnificent seaside setting on the famous Hermanus cliff path. At The Marine, conference breaks can be truly memorable as there are few places where one can breathe the champagne air and stretch your legs, while watching dolphins and whales frolic offshore as you gather your thoughts for the next work session. As a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, we take pride in our accommodation that is spacious and luxurious,

offering delegates a choice of forty hotel rooms and suites to choose from, some with sea views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.”

“Less than 90 minutes from Cape Town, the seaside town of Hermanus offers a host of exciting experiences. For downtime and out-of-conference excursions, the area boasts a great variety of activities and attractions, from cold water swimming in the Marine tidal pool, to wine tasting in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, and sightseeing boat cruises, to name but a few. At The Marine we promise successful conferencing with a good dose of Vitamin Sea — a holistic experience set to stimulate the senses and sharpen the mind,” Mr Bouic concluded.

The pros and cons of launching a new hotel brand

Expanding a hotel brand can present an exciting opportunity for growth, but it requires careful consideration and a solid understanding of all the options available. The two main options are launching a new hotel brand or opening a new hotel for an existing brand. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and hospitality professionals must weigh the options carefully to make the right decision.

By Anthony Batistich, general manager of @Sandton-Hotel

Opening a new hotel for an existing brand can be the less risky option. The existing brand’s reputation and goodwill can help the new hotel get off the ground quickly, and leveraging existing branding elements such as logos, materials, and promotional offers can save time and money. However, this approach also requires careful consideration as it can be challenging to maintain a consistent brand experience across multiple properties. A small misstep in execution can impact the overall brand’s reputation.

Launching a new hotel brand is a bold move that requires significant investment in branding and marketing, as well as a long-term strategy for growth. While creating a new hotel brand allows for the opportunity to create a unique identity and tailor the offering to a specific market, it can be difficult to stand out in an already crowded market and establish brand recognition. This process can take time, effort, and significant financial resources. However, launching a new hotel brand also provides an opportunity for a hospitality business to diversify its portfolio, reach new guests, and establish a fresh and innovative presence in the industry.

The critical essence of any brand is to entice customer recognition, enhance customer loyalty, and ultimately build recognisable credibility in the marketplace with added benefits for human capital, which include enticing talent to your brand who want to be associated with you and are proud to work for you. Retention of such talent is significantly easier too.

Further benefits may include the perception of consistency. Established brands initially have the advantage in that these aspects have been entrenched in the formation and association of the brand over time. Launching a new product provides exciting opportunities through application of established processes and experience.

Introducing a product and offerings which are

newer to the market can bring exciting new technological updates. In the hospitality space this can include state-of-the-art technology, robotics, and AI. Offerings which provide USP’s over existing brands and competitors. After all, we are all chasing the competitive edge.

Having been involved in launching the largest upscale mixed use development offering in the country has certainly allowed us to present a unique brand experience, supported by a prime accessible location, offering a Dubai-style, self-contained city experience with all the modern day conveniences and luxuries.

Our vision was always focused on offering an upmarket luxury experience that is affordable but consistent and accessible. Our focus is shifting to an inclusive customer loyalty program to further bolster our brand. This loyalty program will offer exciting discounts and rewards across the precinct, from our spa and deli, to food and beverage offerings and accommodation discounts. Because we are a new brand, we can customise our loyalty programme and are not bound by an existing and possibly outdated set of benefits.

By capitalising on our uniqueness in the market, we have been successful in attracting a good base of loyal clients from the node, who regularly support the hotel. Not only customers, but a talented pool of employees who embrace our vision for the precinct. Our marketing and PR activities remain focused on awareness as new entrants, with a strong emphasis and push on remaining relevant.

We benchmark ourselves against the best in Sandton and continue to push our guestcentricity through positive experiences that exceed expectations. Word-of-mouth marketing remains critical and invaluable, so every experience must be consistent, convenient, and delivered with aplomb, consistently every day. This most certainly supports our attempts to remain credible in the market.

Who is Anthony Batistich ?

Anthony Batistich has been the general manager of @Sandton-Hotel since it opened in early 2022 and has been responsible for growing and guiding the team since the launch of South Africa’s first multi-use, highrise lifestyle development which is home to a 561-room luxury hotel and 480 upmarket leased apartments in addition to a spa, deli, creche, co-working space and doctor’s rooms. He is a skilled hospitality operator, with vast general manager to operations director level experience. Mr Batistich’s excellent leadership and managerial qualities have served him and his teams well. His career, spanning almost 30 years, within the hospitality sector including tenures at some of the country’s biggest operators, including Southern Sun and Tourvest AHA hotels.

The decision between launching a new hotel brand or opening a new hotel for an existing brand will depend on the individual business’ goals, resources, and risk tolerance. It is important to conduct a thorough analysis of the pros and cons of each option to ensure the right decision is made, and that the new hotel will be successful in the long run.

In conclusion, expanding a hotel brand is a complex process that requires careful consideration and a comprehensive understanding of the options available. While launching a new hotel brand offers the opportunity to create a unique identity and reach new guests, it also requires significant investment and long-term strategy. On the other hand, opening a new hotel for an existing brand can be a less risky option, but it also requires careful consideration and consistent execution to maintain the brand’s reputation. The right decision will depend on the individual business’ goals, resources, and risk tolerance, and a thorough analysis of the pros and cons of each option is essential.”

Unveiling Africa’s travel trends: Briony Brookes shares insights for Africa Month

As we embrace the spirit of Africa Month, I am delighted to share with you some exciting insights into the travel trends that are sweeping across the captivating continent of Africa. As the head of PR and communications at Cape Town Tourism, it is my pleasure to shed light on these trends and invite you to embark on a remarkable journey through Africa’s wonders.

By Briony

Africa has been stealing the spotlight in travel world, and it’s time to uncover the reasons why. The travel trends which have propelled Africa to the top of everyone’s must-visit list include:

A more mindful approach to travel:

Making a positive impact

Sustainability is a driving force behind the African travel experience. Travellers today are increasingly conscious of their impact on the environment and local communities. Africa has embraced this ethos wholeheartedly, offering ethical wildlife encounters and communitybased initiatives that allow you to actively contribute to the preservation of the continent’s ecosystems, while making a positive difference in the lives of its people.

Sustainable development and tourism go hand-in-hand with our priorities, including water, energy, waste, safety, skills, community, universal access and enterprise development. As a city in the heart of nature, our aim is to provide our travellers with a safe, enjoyable experience in harmony with the environment. There are a host of sustainable and responsible travel options at their fingertips, including planting a veggie garden in Khayelitsha.

Versatility at its finest: tailoring experiences to suit every traveller

Moreover, Africa’s versatility is an unparalleled asset that caters to the diverse interests and passions of every traveller. Whether you seek the thrill of a safari adventure, the immersion in vibrant cultures and ancient cities, the serenity of pristine beaches, or the challenge of hiking through aweinspiring mountains, Africa offers a kaleidoscope of experiences that can be

tailored to create your dream itinerary. And Cape Town is no different.

At Cape Town Tourism we’ve revolutionised the travel experience with our ground-breaking campaign, ‘Find Your Freedom’. This interactive interface allows global travellers to tailor their own Cape Town adventure based on the guide they identify with, be it the Fearless Foodie, the Nature Warrior, or the Urban Adventurer. The campaign is a captivating and immersive journey, utilising cutting-edge digital technology to provide viewers with unique choicedriven video experiences. By empowering travellers to personalise their exploration of the Mother City, Cape Town Tourism is enticing individuals worldwide to find their freedom and reclaim a sense of purpose in their travels.

Enhanced accessibility: Seamless journeys to Africa’s wonders But here’s the best part: Africa’s travel infrastructure has undergone significant improvements, making it more accessible than ever before. Enhanced flight connections, robust transportation networks, and upgraded hospitality facilities ensure seamless and comfortable travel experiences, allowing you to explore the wonders of Africa with ease.

As the African continent opens up to travellers, accessibility becomes a key factor in shaping the ultimate African adventure. Research indicates that travellers from our international source markets are increasingly including two or more African cities in their itineraries. And now, there’s an exciting opportunity to connect two of the continent’s natural wonders in one incredible journey. Victoria Falls, the greatest falling sheet of water in the world, and Table Mountain,

the iconic landmark of South Africa, are set to welcome a growing number of local and international visitors. This is all thanks to a recent city partnership between We are Victoria Falls, a recently launched tourism community, and Cape Town Tourism. The partnership is aimed at enhancing the travel experience and promoting sustainable tourism.

As we celebrate Africa Month, it is the perfect time to heed the call of this extraordinary continent. Immerse yourself in its rich cultural tapestry, connect with its warm and welcoming people, and let the breath-taking landscapes leave an indelible mark on your soul.

Africa Month is an invitation to celebrate Africa’s rise as a global travel destination and honour its vibrant heritage. Together, let’s embrace the travel trends that make Africa an irresistible destination for every adventurer. Let’s explore the unparalleled beauty and experiences that await us.

With Africa’s travel trends shaping the way we explore the continent, Africa Month is the perfect occasion to embark on an adventure that will leave you with memories to treasure forever.

Brookes, head of PR and communications at Cape Town Tourism

Peter Hayward — lives life on ‘full throttle’

Peter Hayward, 66, founder and chief executive officer of Hayward’s Grand Safari Company, said that he has had a very adventurous life and lived life on full throttle. “Setting up huge luxury tented camps in remote regions of southern Africa combined with my years of hospitality training as a founding director of Secluded Country Lodges gave me the opportunity to extend myself beyond anything ‘normal’.”

Mr Hayward said: “I set about developing this grand safari concept in the early 90s with the intention of providing pure and authentic wilderness experiences for VIP groups who were unable to hold big outdoor functions in an orderly and safe manner in the wilderness of southern Africa.

“With a background in deep level production gold mining, proto firefighting, investment consulting, sales and a passion for executive outdoor training, the safari camp concept became a natural extension in bringing it all together and afforded me the privilege of sharing it with opinion leaders and their VIP friends, families and associates,” he added.

Where do you see the incentive industry at present and where do you see it heading in the future?

The incentive industry will continue to be challenged to provide award winners with experiences that provide total inspiration. Not only from a location point of view but from a truly bespoke ‘not open to the public’ exclusivity and to further illustrate to the award recipients a hospitality environment that exemplifies excellence in everything it produces. A showcase within itself specifically designed for hosting top achievers.

I look forward to seeing South African corporates and opinion leaders

bringing more of their groups out into wilderness environments, which will provide a huge impact towards local culture and wildlife management upliftment.

Where were you born and raised?

I grew up in Rosebank Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and then settled into Potchefstroom Boys High School until matric.

Where did your career begin?

I opted out of varsity and joined Anglo American Learner Official Technical Training Deep Level Gold Mining Corp. After my gold mining career and my stint at Prudential (I achieved top ten sales in this organisation), I went on to develop Secluded Country Lodges, then simultaneously a Team Adventure Challenge company called the Power of One, which finally all came together

under the banner of Hayward’s Grand Safari Company.

How long have you been in the incentive sector?

My career in the incentive industry began in earnest in 1995 with the redesigned Hayward’s Grand Safari Tented Camps launch, with the specific intention of introducing incentive groups and big product launch events into safari regions where accommodation was not up to scratch or highly limited. I’ve been at this project since then, designing, developing, manufacturing and creating luxury, five-star, eco-friendly, temporary tented camps.

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

There has been a prolific abundance of hotel and lodge developments, but not the expected incoming tourism sector numbers to justify this expansion. The industry remains the most optimistic one in southern Africa, but huge challenges are tabled daily, with rising operational costs and shrinking corporate and client budgets (and profits).

Are you married?

Yes, I’m married to Celia, and she is my partner in our business and the various projects we run on our wildlife estate.

What role does your family play in your life?

In the early 1990s I established Secluded Country Lodges, which then became Secluded Africa Mobile Safaris. My four children all had a turn in joining me on explorative weekends away. The business was always all-inclusive, even when I was working on endangered species breeding programs or on a series called Treasure Hunters, that went out on MNet. It was wonderful. However, they are all spread out around the world now, with successful careers.

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

I would be more particular with my self-development and belief in myself during young adulthood. Although I’ve done huge amounts of MBA type study in business administration, I would definitely do this to my utmost ability, as a starting point. Add to that, I have

always been an artist and enjoyed performing on stage in school plays and even an artist painting in my younger years. The design and implementation of all the facets required for a grand safari allows me to express my artistic and creative talents and I enjoy this constant challenge immensely.

Do you have any hobbies?

We are currently running over sixty beehives, producing outstanding organic honey, and also have a herd of Ankole Watusi cattle that we want to develop into a stud breeding herd. I continue my personal research into the human potential, and the harnessing thereof, and studying continuously in the subject of the human mind and its boundless abilities.

I enjoy writing. I have a blog on my website ‘At the Fireside’. I enjoy filming/ videography and photography. I love cooking up superb dinners. I enjoy cigars, and used to run a Cigar Club called Cigafrique, The Great African Big Smoke Club! I’ve played guitar and spent many years developing executive motivational and leadership programs/ staff competency products. I enjoy reading and practicing applied philosophies, have studied Rudolph Steiner’s Anthroposophy, Mormonism, Buddhism whilst training for Black Belt karate and Scientology and the technology of getting things done and as a humanitarian helping communities change conditions in their environments for the better. I enjoy baking sourdough bread, bottling food recipes and vegetable food gardening. As you can see, I’m very interested in life and all it offers.

Do you play any sports?

I did, in my younger years, play rugby, water polo, athletics, tennis, hockey and then golf and dropped it all when I started my karate training, but nowadays a spot of leisurely fly fishing or clay pigeon shooting, mountain biking, walking, but mostly keeping active on every safari I do. I’ve never missed a safari since 1991!

What is your favourite sport?

I actually don’t have a favourite — I enjoy participating at every level, even 4x4 off-roading and wilderness camping, but that’s not a sport, as yet.

Who is your favourite sportsman/ woman?

I am impressed by Ronaldo, but my deepest respect goes to our own homegrown boy, Gary Player. A true living legend.

What do you do for leisure?

I hunt down campsites all over southern Africa and enjoy spending my time with the number one love of my life, who is my life partner at every level, my wife Celia.

What is your secret to success?

BE fearless. Take on and DO what drives your passion. Never give up. Tenacity is the golden key that unlocks the door. Never produce anything that is mediocre. Attach your name or presence proudly to your products. And HAVE what you deserve.

What has been your biggest challenge in this sector?

I’d say getting this very bespoke safari operation in front of the correct clients. It's really not a ‘bed option’ and is rather a life experience. One should never forget your Hayward's Tented Camp experience.

What is your pet hate?

Dealing with amateurs who are pretending that they are in control of something which they have no clue about and who are too arrogant to admit that they don’t know.

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

I’d say that I have learnt that one does not need to go to the ends of the earth to get an incredible experience. Every area on this continent has its own precious value. It's up to me and my event partners to unlock that and create an unforgettable experience for the client, their guests, my staff and the land custodians to whom we have their best interests at heart.

What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?

I am allergic to big flashy resorts or cookie cutter hotels where you need a break after spending time at them. Give me private, exclusive, owner managed, and owner run venues where I can tap into the passion that keeps the place alive.

If you could be anyone for the day, who would you be and why?

I’ve worked on me and my ability and place in the human race and the role I play on this planet. I’d just continue being a new and improved version of me daily!

What is your favourite city?

That’s a tough one! Havana, Cuba, is incredible. It’s like a big movie set. I love a good cigar and enjoy my exploration of this city very much, but I’d probably first go back to Barcelona. I enjoyed my visit there. I found it energetic, arty, organised and a foodie’s dream. The Spanish have a great attitude and are welcoming to foreigners overall. The food markets and restaurants were amazing. I’m overdue for a return visit!

What is your favourite book, film, TV programme?

Book: Science of Survival by LR Hubbard. It's truly brilliantly useful in this crazy world we survive in nowadays. Film: The movie that I have watched the most – five times over – was Avatar. TV programmes: I enjoy watching documentaries on wildlife, nature, archaeology, palaeontology, forgotten history, and of course, Treasure Hunting.

How do you relax?

I love to explore. I love to cook. I love to create. And I have a passion to change or make people’s lives better by helping wherever I can. So, when doing a combination of all of these, I am pretty much in my element.

What is your favourite food?

All things Mediterranean — I love the passion of this huge region, with its kaleidoscope of tastes, whether Greek, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Lebanese or Moroccan etc. …it's my ‘go to’ food when I want selection and the need to taste the passion for life.

Who is your favourite movie star?

Daniel Day Lewis.

What is the most impulsive thing you've ever done?

Once upon a time, I was driving down Rivonia Road. I had just started a new business. I came round a corner to find an old Chevy truck being offloaded from the back of a transporter. I hit the brakes and swung into the second-hand car yard. She was a classic 1942 beauty,

100% original. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I walked over to the dealer and pointed to the Chevvie, “Is she for sale?” He replied, “Yes, she just arrived from Zimbabwe.” I found out what she cost and bought her on the spot. I drove her home and she’s been on safari ever since — about 25 years later. Her story was that she was bought by two young nuns, from a convent in Rhodesia. They drove her all the way back to northern Rhodesia, where she worked in the convent for over 50 years.

groups and organisational know-how, is invaluable in the continued growth and exponential success of the organisations I have run.

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

A few years later, I sent her in for a paint job and repairs, and the old engineer fixing her was surprised when he woke up one morning to find the green Chevy standing outside, on the pavement of his apartment building. He was sure he didn’t bring her home from the workshop. On closer inspection, he found it was an exact replica of my Chevy, which he was busy restoring. It was owned by a neighbour, who had brought it home, to prepare it to sell. He phoned me to explain that the neighbour is immigrating, and I bought her on the spot. Then there were two — only about 300 apart on the production line. The one is the Gin Bar and the other one drives the laundry around on safari. Or we use them for the odd game viewer, kitted out with a Persian carpet and cushions. They’ve brought me years of enjoyment.

Who is your role model?

Mr. L. Ron Hubbard. Having studied many different philosophies and life sciences in my own quest for truth, I was fortunate enough to find the one person that resonated more than ever with my own knowingness, and that was the author, philosopher, administrator, explorer, freedom fighter, humanitarian and teacher, Mr L. Ron Hubbard. His incredible effort into the science of

Become besotted with the art of life. Never hesitate to go in where angels fear to tread and LOOK. Teach yourself everything there is to know about self-discipline and personal ethics, and entertain yourself with everything that makes up the world of hospitality. Dive deeply into these subjects, from food and the preparation thereof, to the selection of the correct wines and cigars, to the understanding of what it takes to make someone truly comfortable in the surroundings you have chosen for them. Be an aficionado in everything that is and could be important to the guests you are hosting. Understand that the network of people you bring in to help you present this moment in time, must each individually be perfectionists in their own right, within their own subject. Be your product. Live your product and present your product and own the space you have created.

What is your dream for the future?

I have achieved many dreams during this lifetime. From creating true authentic experiences for high calibre opinion leaders, business tycoons, product launches and blue-chip corporate incentive groups, in exclusive spaces, well off the beaten track of tourism, for which my company has won many international awards, to conservation and social responsibility initiatives, it has truly been a privilege. I thrive on providing experiences for groups of people, that will change their viewpoint of life.

Celia and I both enjoy exploring off-thebeaten-track places filled with antiquity and charm. We also both love being of value to the people we meet and are at our happiest when we can share our wealth of creative and productive knowledge with anyone wishing to improve their life’s goals and purposes. This mentoring consultancy would give us the opportunity to visit more of Africa’s hidden gems and take our combined expertise and life lessons and offer that to others where it could inspire and enlighten them to find their own fulfilment and purpose and achieve their dreams.

Africa’s Travel Indaba highlights the power of collaboration

In a world that is becoming increasingly connected, the significance of international events that bring together diverse industries and cultures cannot be overstated. Such gatherings serve as crucial platforms for countries and businesses to showcase their offerings, forge meaningful connections, and foster collaboration. Among these, Africa’s Travel Indaba stands out as a powerful catalyst in South Africa’s quest to market itself to an international audience and positively influence the continent’s trajectory.

By Anton Gillis, chief executive officer at Kruger Gate Hotel

This year, the theme of Africa’s Travel Indaba, ‘Shaping Africa’s tomorrow, through connection today’, beautifully captured the essence of the event. It symbolised the collective effort of bringing the world to Africa and using these connections to shape a brighter future for the entire continent. By facilitating dialogue, fostering partnerships, and highlighting the rich cultural heritage and natural wonders of South Africa, the Indaba served as an important tool in showcasing the country’s potential to the world.

One key takeaway from Africa’s Travel Indaba was the importance of collaboration and partnerships within the industry. The tourism sector has faced unprecedented challenges in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the road to recovery demanded collective action. It was heartening to see that the industry embraced this ethos, which allowed it to make significant strides in the past year. South Africa welcomed 5.7-million tourists during the period of January to December 2022, marking a remarkable increase of 152 per cent compared to the previous year. Notably, arrivals from other African countries constituted the most substantial source of visitors, with over four-million arrivals during this same period. These figures reflect the power of collaboration and underline the importance of a united approach in driving South Africa’s tourism recovery.

However, it is essential to address the challenges that still loom large over South Africa’s tourism landscape. The difficulty for international travellers to obtain visas and extend their stays remains a significant hurdle. It is crucial for the government and relevant authorities to streamline visa processes and

create an environment that encourages longer visits. This will not only attract more tourists but also enable them to explore the diverse offerings of the country thoroughly.

International buyers have also expressed concerns about South Africa’s crime rates and the persistent issue of load shedding. While these challenges need to be acknowledged, it is equally important to highlight the steps being taken to address them. Through proactive measures, such as increased security efforts and investments in sustainable energy solutions, South Africa can alleviate these concerns and create an environment that fosters trust and confidence in visitors.

Moreover, the weakening of the rand can no longer be relied upon as the sole motivation for international travellers to visit South Africa. It is essential for operators to elevate their offerings and create world-class experiences that captivate visitors from around the globe.

Despite these challenges, a shining light emerged from Africa’s Travel Indaba — the prevailing spirit of collaboration and partnerships. While competition within the hospitality industry is a natural aspect of business, it was encouraging to witness the willingness of industry players to work together for the greater good. This collective effort to promote South Africa to the world strengthens the industry as a whole, uplifts local communities, and solidifies the country’s position as a premier travel destination.

Africa’s Travel Indaba plays a vital role in fostering connections and partnerships within the industry. By providing a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation, it propels South Africa’s tourism sector forward. Through collective efforts, we

can shape the trajectory of Africa’s future and position the continent as a compelling and sought-after destination.

As chief executive officer of Kruger Gate Hotel, I am proud to witness the determination and passion within our industry. Together, we will continue to strengthen South Africa’s position in the global travel market, offering unforgettable experiences and leaving a lasting impression on all who visit our beautiful country. Africa’s Travel Indaba serves as a catalyst for this transformation, enabling us to showcase the best of what South Africa has to offer to the world.

Who is Anton Gillis ?

Anton Gillis is an industry veteran and chief executive officer of Kruger Gate Hotel, a lodge-style hotel ideally located in the Greater Kruger Conservancy, right at the Paul Kruger Gate and on the banks of the iconic Sabie River. He was born into a family of hoteliers and as such, was afforded the luxury of staying in some of the world’s finest hotels.

Resilience and collaboration among top themes at the sixth Hotel & Hospitality Show

The African hotel and hospitality market has immense resilience and potential. Recognising this and facilitating a platform for African hospitality to thrive, the Hotel & Hospitality Show, hosted by dmg and Kaoun, took place at the Sandton Convention Centre last month, to foster growth and collaboration within the sector.

The Hotel & Hospitality Show connects brands and bolsters networking opportunities across Africa’s hospitality market,” said Evan Schiff, group event director at dmg events. “The turnout this year indicates confidence in the industry and the desire to keep doing business, better than ever.”

Gugu Sithole, chairperson of the Johannesburg Tourism Company, discussed the drive to promote Johannesburg as a top destination in Africa, with a globally competitive edge. “If we build effective partnerships, we can do so much more to reclaim our spot as a world-class African city.” She noted that Johannesburg placed third behind Cairo and Algiers as one of Africa’s Top Business Cities, according to the Global Business Cities Index for 2022.

In 2022, Johannesburg was also named as one of the world’s best cities for arts and culture, achieving 38th place, according to the global publication Big 7 Travel. This is not only testament to the City’s 76 art galleries (which comprise the largest art collection in the country), but also to its iconic signature events, which include several annual arts and culture festivals, as well as events like the Africa Rising Film Festival and the Festival of

Lights at the Joburg Zoo.

Mr Schiff and Jeff Blackbeard, regional director of Africa and the Middle East for Moore Global, confirmed how important big events have been in the global hospitality market’s recovery overall, and even though there are challenges, the industry feels confident and optimistic about the future.

Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, chief operations officer of City Lodge Hotel Group, recalled the difficulties during the pandemic alongside the triumphs such as when intra-provincial travel was finally reinstated. The brand evolved to accommodate local families and business travelers, no longer just the latter. “We must remember how far we have come,” she said. The resilience and creativity of the industry are admirable and there are many opportunities for growth amidst an excellent recovery so far.

Five-star, luxury travel is seeing healthy activity, particularly in Cape Town, amidst higher flight prices. “We’ve seen a more sophisticated traveller emerge over the last 8-12 months,” said Mike Vroom, Africa executive director for Newmark Hotels.

The Mother City’s leisure-driven recovery equates to a nightly rate of R3000, on average, for five-star accommodation,

compared to R526 in Joburg and Kwazulu-Natal.

Technology and automation have been major disruptors to the hospitality industry, particularly borne out of the pandemic.

Shaun Williams, founder of Escapism, a company that creates digital experiences to promote wellness, good sleep and better studying, said that leveraging AI to improve the guest experience was essential to consider, especially to stand out as a brand. He suggested crafting a guest experience that immerses virtual visitors into your offering, ensuring no one is excluded, while boosting the chance for more bookings and for guests to reminisce and rebook.

Embracing technology, wherever it makes sense, is vital to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of an establishment. Mr Williams suggested focusing on unique selling points, and particularly highlighted nature as a drawcard for guests — such as offering a virtual walking tour to a nearby waterfall.

The pursuit of wellness and nature was a theme mirrored in the most recent Hospitality Confidence Index survey by Moore Global and dmg, covering insights from seventeen different countries in

Africa. Key travel trends include nature-based getaways or medical tourism focused on wellness, along with ESG considerations for sustainable tourism and destinations.

Louis Cottar from Cottar’s Safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara region has found this to be true, saying that fresh approaches and meaningful guest engagements have become popular. In addition to game drives — unique, indigenous and conservationaligned experiences celebrate the community, and nature, where they occur.

Participation in international travel trade shows also puts brands on the map. “Events like the Hotel & Hospitality Show help to promote new business,” Graham Wood, chief operating officer of Sun International commented.

Collaboration can create immense success. This is particularly true in the township economy, where the community leverages off one another to create a value chain.

According to Wendy Alberts of the Restaurant Association of South Africa, there is immense talent based locally and an opportunity to combine passion and community upliftment. She noted how important it is to remove reliance on landlords and government, to fund progress and to band together as local businesses. This would also go towards tackling high levels of unemployment.[1] “We need people to invest time and energy towards self-sufficiency and sustainability. If everyone contributes, everyone benefits,” she said.

Bheki Twala, president of the Township Economy Chamber of Commerce & Industry encouraged enhanced professionalism. “It’s crucial to instill a professional approach, from the parking attendant to the hotel desk, to the bartender,” he reiterated as excellent service leads to repeat business.

By incorporating top service, local culture and through using technology, hospitality establishments can provide guests with a genuine and meaningful experience, fostering a sense of connection and increasing visitor satisfaction.

Next year, the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa and Africa’s Big 7 will join forces with the renowned trade show brand in the global interiors industry, INDEX Africa, to bring you one of the largest retail food, hotel, hospitality, and design events Africa has ever seen.

“Through continued strengthening of the industry at tailored events and concerted efforts from stakeholders, Africa can position itself as a premier destination, offering exceptional hospitality experiences,” Mr Schiff concluded.

For more information on the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa and to download the latest Hospitality Confidence Index visit www.thehotelshowafrica.com

Hilton set for Ghana entry with upcoming opening

Hilton has signed a management agreement with High Street Development Company Limited to open Hilton Accra Cantonments, a new build hotel that will mark Hilton’s debut in Ghana. The announcement was made ahead of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) which took place in Nairobi recently.

The hotel will be located in Cantonments, an upscale suburb that is home to multiple embassies and high commissions — including the US and French embassies, which will be within walking distance of the property. Hilton Accra Cantonments will also be less than five kilometres from Kotoka International Airport, making it a convenient choice for international and domestic travellers alike.

“With the signing of Hilton Accra Cantonments, we are delighted to be growing our pipeline in Ghana and adding momentum to our plans, to more than double our portfolio in Africa in the coming years,” said Carlos Khneisser, vice president, development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton. “The opening of the hotel later this year will mark our entry into Ghana — one of the world’s largest producers of gold and

cocoa, and a burgeoning tourist destination. We look forward to this exciting milestone which will highlight our continued expansion in Africa.”

For more than a century, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has set the benchmark for hospitality around the world. Once open, Hilton Accra Cantonments will bring this hospitality to life, featuring 145 guest rooms and a range of dining options including an all-day restaurant, a lobby lounge, and pool bar. In terms of leisure facilities, the hotel will offer a gym, spa, and outdoor swimming pool. In addition, it will have more than 900 square metres of event space including a ballroom, seven meeting rooms, and an executive boardroom.

“We are delighted to partner with Hilton, to open this world-class hotel which will soon grace Ghana’s capital city,” said

Dr. Charles Mensa, owner, High Street Development Company Limited. “We are confident that once open, the hotel will be an attractive option for travellers to Accra, offering high-quality accommodation and globally renowned service standards.”

Hilton currently has three hotels in the pipeline in Ghana including Hilton Garden Inn Accra Liberation Road — and 43 hotels in Africa, with another 65 under development.

Hilton Accra Cantonments will also be a part of Hilton's award-winning guest loyalty program, Hilton Honors, where members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount and free standard Wi-Fi.

Durban ICC celebrates successful hosting of Africa’s Travel Indaba

The Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) has successfully hosted Africa’s Travel Indaba, which saw an attendance of 8,629 delegates from around the world. The event, which took place in May, featured exhibitors from 22 African countries and facilitated over 21,000 meetings between exhibitors and international buyers.

Hosting Africa’s Travel Indaba served as a significant boost to the tourism sector in Durban, with hotels and non-hotel accommodations reporting an occupancy rate of 80 per cent during the event. In terms of the overall economic impact of the event, the estimated projected total direct tourism spend is R45-million, with the projected contribution to the Gross Domestic Product being R130-million.

“We are thrilled to have successfully hosted Africa's Travel Indaba at the Durban ICC and to have made such a significant contribution to the tourism sector and local economy,” said Lindiwe Rakharebe, chief executive officer of Durban ICC.

“In light of the challenges posed by the global pandemic, the successful hosting of Africa’s Travel Indaba at the Durban ICC is a testament to the resilience and recovery of the tourism industry. The event’s robust attendance and positive economic impact signal a promising

rebound for the sector. It is encouraging to witness the return of major events and the renewed confidence of exhibitors, buyers, and delegates in travelling and participating in in-person gatherings. The Durban ICC remains committed to upholding the highest health and safety standards, to ensure the well-being of all attendees and to contribute to the continued recovery of the tourism and events industry."

The event provided a platform for African countries to showcase their tourism offerings and to highlight the potential for tourism to drive economic growth and development across the continent. The show also fostered valuable networking opportunities and provided a platform for knowledge sharing and industry insights.

The event featured engaging panel discussions, informative sessions, and inspiring keynote speakers, offering delegates a comprehensive understanding of the latest trends and

innovations in the travel and tourism sector.

“The Durban ICC would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to all exhibitors, delegates, sponsors, and bid-party partners who contributed to the success of Africa’s Travel Indaba. Their unwavering support and participation have solidified the event’s reputation as the must-attend gathering for industry professionals, promoting tourism growth and collaboration across Africa.” Ms Rakharebe added.

The success of Africa’s Travel Indaba at the Durban ICC highlights the world-class facilities and services available at the venue, affirming its position as the premier venue for hosting major international events.

“We look forward to hosting many more successful events that will continue to contribute to the growth and development of the tourism industry in South Africa and the African continent as a whole,” Ms Rakharebe concluded.

Green events in the time of load shedding

Morwesi Ramonyai, EGF chairperson and managing director of renewable energy supply company Borena Energy, shares her top 10 strategies to host a sustainable event during the current energy crisis.

Hosting sustainable events during load shedding requires careful planning and consideration of energy-saving measures. With load shedding becoming an ongoing and worsening issue, the business events industry must adapt and manage the unavailability and unreliability of energy supply. However, hosting green events in such challenging circumstances is not impossible. It presents an opportunity to think creatively, be innovative, and collaborate with everyone involved, to prioritise sustainability and lower energy consumption. Here are 10 strategies that can help navigate the challenge and host green events despite load shedding:

1. Choose a venue with clean backup power

Select a venue that has renewable backup power sources such as solar power, wind turbines, or bioenergy. These sustainable energy sources can provide a reliable power supply during load shedding, minimising the environmental impact and avoiding an increase in the event’s carbon footprint.

2. Utilise portable solar-powered generators

Consider hiring solar-powered generators that are portable and mobile. These generators can provide temporary power during load shedding periods without relying on fossil fuels.

3. Implement battery backup systems

Utilise battery backup systems to store excess energy generated from renewable sources or during periods of regular power supply. These batteries can be used to provide power during load shedding, reducing the need for fossil fuel-powered generators.

4. Prioritise essential services

Identify the critical components of your event that require uninterrupted power and allocate resources to ensure these essential services have backup power or alternative arrangements in place during load shedding.

5. Optimise power consumption

Review your event’s power requirements and find ways to optimise energy usage. Use energyefficient lighting fixtures, audiovisual equipment, and other event technology. Choose LED lights, energy-saving bulbs, and equipment with high energy efficiency ratings. Ensure proper insulation and ventilation to reduce the load on the power supply.

6. Minimise unnecessary power usage

Turn off lights, air-conditioners and equipment when not in use and utilise power-saving modes on devices. Plan high energy consumption activities around times when load shedding is not scheduled.

7. Embrace the outdoors

Incorporate the outdoors into the event’s space planning. Consider hosting meals and appropriate activities outdoors, taking advantage of natural lighting and minimising the need for artificial power.

8. Include raw foods in the menu

Introduce raw, vegan, plant-based, and sun-kissed meals that require no energy for preparation. These options can reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability.

9. Explore virtual or hybrid event options

Consider hosting virtual or hybrid events that require less physical infrastructure and are more flexible in managing power interruptions. Virtual components can reduce energy consumption and allow for broader audience reach.

10. Raise awareness and encourage responsible energy usage

Educate event attendees, suppliers, and staff about the importance of sustainability and energy conservation. Provide guidelines on minimising energy consumption during load shedding and encourage responsible energy usage throughout the event.

Since load shedding is an ongoing reality, adapting events to this challenge is essential. Remember that sustainability requires continuous effort, and regularly evaluating and improving your event's environmental impact is crucial. By incorporating these strategies, you can host sustainable events even during load shedding, minimising energy consumption, and promoting responsible environmental practices.

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

EXSA mentors and educates

EXSA was recently given the opportunity to travel with the Services Seta to some of their Career Exhibitions. This was done to make learners more aware of the world of events and exhibitions.

The first stop was the beautiful area surrounding Caledon in the Western Cape. We visited three towns: Caledon, Villiersdorp and Grabouw over three consecutive days. At each venue there were a number of schools present, with learners varying from grade 9 to 12.

Sadly, none of the learners had been to a large exhibition, as many live in rural farming areas and have not been exposed to what many of us take for granted. They had great aspirations and were very excited to hear that there were so many career paths to choose from and that they didn’t only have to obtain qualifications, but could also go the skills route, as many would have to leave home to attend the closest universities and colleges.

The Services Seta team are an

amazing group of young, energetic individuals who were an absolute pleasure to work with. They ensured all learners were fed and, as there was leftover food, they went into the local communities and distributed the food among those less fortunate.

Two grade 12 learners were invited to attend the Financial Exhibition at the Sandton Convention Centre on 9 May. They observed what an exhibition was about and spoke to the exhibitors about a career in finance, which was very exciting.

The last stop was Cosmo City in Johannesburg with an audience of over 750 learners. Their goals and dreams were so varied and diverse. It was great to be able to listen to the youth and to hear how they want to make changes to both their lives and the country.

By Lee-Ann Alder, association manager of EXSA

The takeaway from this was very humbling and we also learnt through this experience. Thank you so much to Services Seta for allowing EXSA this opportunity.

World Africa Day: business tourism driving Africa’s economic growth

Africa’s events industry has grown significantly in recent years, serving as a catalyst for economic development. In fact, foreign investors are increasingly drawn to business tourism in Africa due to the significant growth potential, with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reporting that business travel and tourism in Africa is projected to grow at an annual rate of 7.6 per cent by 2028.

This promising statistic indicates a strong interest from foreign investors who recognise the untapped opportunities and potential returns that business tourism in Africa can offer. While underrepresentation in global trade, rolling blackouts, poor reputation, digital divides and poverty are some of the core challenges faced by African businesses and events across the continent; in the face of adversity, the events industry is continuously looking to create solutions for local challenges through the transformative power of business tourism.

“African countries have adopted various innovative solutions to overcome the challenges specific to the events industry. Infrastructure development has been a key focus, with governments across Africa investing in state-of-the-art convention centres, exhibition spaces, and accommodation facilities. These efforts aim to enhance the continent's capacity to host large-scale events and conferences and further drive foreign investment,” said Devi PaulsenAbbott, chairperson of AAXO. Further to infrastructure development, countries across

Africa are investing heavily in the promotion of their regions for business travellers. According to AAXO member, Farirai Nandipa Mabodza, who is the managing director of Farirai Nandipa Events in Zimbabwe: “Recently, our government has been moving to promote MICE tourism. As an organisation, we hope to be part of the initiative to promote Zimbabwe as a destination for business events and to be the bridge that connects external organisers to the Zimbabwean events space”. Another key area for the development of the business tourism sector across

Devi Paulsen-Abbott, chairperson of AAXO. Projeni Pather, managing director at Exposure Marketing.

Farirai Nandipa Mabodza, managing director of Farirai Nandipa Events.

the continent is collaboration and right-fit partnerships. Projeni Pather, managing director at Exposure Marketing and immediate past-chair of AAXO, added: “When expanding your event across the continent, it is extremely important to find a local partner that understands the economic, cultural and social nuances of the market and has access to excellent resources and venues that are accessible and well-equipped. A good local partner will have insights and access to securing funding, sponsors and industry partners for a successful exhibition.”

Improvements to accessibility, such as visa restrictions and access to the market, have also made progress in recent years with governments understanding and welcoming the economic opportunity of business tourism. Countries such as Rwanda and Kenya, as example, have implemented e-visa systems, streamlining the visa application process and making it more accessible for international visitors. Ms

Mabodza

added: “Africa is a vast market: foreign investors have the opportunity to use events such as tradeshows and exhibitions to market products to the continent. With most countries working on developmental programs, the African events space provides the platform to market what investors have to offer.”

“There is a wealth of opportunity in Africa’s emerging markets, and the exhibition and events industry provides a platform for investors and visitors to tap into; from social development, sustainability, business growth, knowledge transfer, diversification, channel growth, an untapped market with immense possibility, together with cultural diversity and heritage, leaving visitors returning for more,” Ms Pather added.

Business tourism has emerged as a powerful driver of economic growth across Africa. By attracting international conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events, countries can showcase their business potential and attract foreign direct investment, whilst

the influx of business tourists stimulates the local economy, generating revenue for hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and other sectors. Moreover, business tourism promotes the growth of local industries by providing opportunities for local suppliers and service providers to collaborate with international businesses, while SMEs benefit from exposure to global markets, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.

“The events industry in Africa has tackled the continent’s unique challenges head-on, leveraging business tourism to drive economic growth. Through innovative solutions, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, African countries have successfully positioned themselves as attractive destinations for conferences and corporate events. As the industry continues to flourish, Africa is set to reap the rewards of sustained economic development and international recognition,” Ms PaulsenAbbott concluded.

marketing technology tools for your meetings and events

Meetings and events planners are always considering how best to enhance various aspects of their planning, promotion, and execution. Through leveraging MarTech (Marketing Technology) tools and platforms, meetings and events professionals can streamline their processes, enhance attendee experiences, improve marketing effectiveness, and gain valuable insights for future events.

By Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI.

For some, you may not necessarily want to embrace all available tools or platforms and as such, it is essential to carefully select and implement MarTech solutions that align with the specific needs and goals of your event.

In recent years, we have witnessed an improvement in event registration, ticketing online registration platforms, and ticketing systems to streamline the registration process for attendees. These platforms can automate registration, collect attendee data, and facilitate secure online payment processing. Our industry has become comfortable with the utilisation of these platforms.

Being linked to ticketing platforms has

led to email marketing and automation tools enabling communication with attendees before, during, and after the event. We have all received personalised emails, event reminders, updates, and post-event surveys.

Social media platforms and promotional posts drive event-related conversations and engage with attendees pre and post the event. In addition, targeted ads, hashtags, and influencer marketing is also used by many meetings and event planners to grow audience awareness.

An area that we still need to get participants to help us is the utilisation of our survey tools and feedback platforms. The data collection is needed as it provides valuable insights

from attendees.

As an industry, some work needs to be done on this, in order to gauge satisfaction levels, gather suggestions for improvement and measure the impact of the event.

Notwithstanding, the use of a wellmaintained customer relationship management (CRM) system to manage attendee information, track interactions, and personalise communication. This integration helps to nurture leads, track engagement, and facilitate targeted marketing campaigns.

Meeting your SITE Africa board

This

month we meet Site Africa board member, Babra Adoso Vanhelleputte from MICE

UGANDA-Asyanut Safaris & Incentives.

How did you become involved in tourism and how did it lead to you being a leading DMC in Uganda?

My career commenced as a volunteer at the Red Cross. This role took me to many parts of Uganda, where my appreciation for the beauty of Uganda blossomed. At this stage I had no knowledge about tourism. After working with the Red Cross, I set off to do my Masters in the United Kingdom. When I returned to Uganda, I travelled a bit for various job interviews. During these travels, I soon realised that obtaining travel tickets in Uganda was rather challenging. This is why I established a travel company in 2003, to assist people with this and to share this beautiful country with others.

How did you become aware of the value of incentive travel?

After four years of operating my travel company, I heard the term MICE, for the first time. This captured my interest, and I began exploring. In 2007, I

established a MICE division, the first in Uganda, while others focused on leisure.

I attended WTM London, but the MICE aspect was not really there. I continued my quest for more information when I learnt about IBTM and IMEX.

When the Ministry of Tourism began planning the Uganda Convention Bureau, I was invited to go on a benchmarking trip to Rwanda, which had established their convention bureau. I met several young and enthusiastic incentive organisers in Rwanda. During IBTM I attended various educational sessions on incentives and there my journey began, learning about incentives. I decided to take it seriously by completing the CIS (Certified Incentive Specialist) certification and subsequently, joined SITE, while at IMEX.

Why did you become a member of SITE Africa?

I believe that belonging to a recognised and experienced association has

numerous benefits for me and my business. I was already a member of SITE, but at the time, it was far away in Chicago. I needed a community whcih was closer, that could support my

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...

growth and development in the incentives space. It made a lot of sense to join SITE Africa as a member. It offered me the support I needed.

In your opinion, what are the key features of Uganda to draw incentive travellers?

Uganda is a niche travel destination with a lot of unique attractions. Uganda, as a destination, is ready to receive incentive travellers. It is well connected to Europe and beyond, including the Middle East and the rest of the world. It also has good connections to major African regional travel hubs.

What unique experiences does Uganda offer incentive travel groups?

Uganda has good infrastructure, i.e., hotels, meeting rooms, tourist attractions, good connectivity, as well as warm and friendly people to host guests. The weather is unique. Uganda is on the Equator and at high altitude, so all year-round travel is possible. The unique flora and fauna offer an

amazing travel experience — Uganda has ten national parks and twelve national reserves; it has the largest population of the endangered mountain gorillas (a phenomenal experience when had). It also boasts the Nile River (the longest river in the world), and the Rwenzori Mountains offer spectacular team building travel experiences.

What are the challenges facing incentive travel into Uganda?

• Due to the fact that Uganda is a niche travel destination, some attractions are expensive and may not fit the overall budget of the incentive buyer. The average cost to host an incentive in Uganda, compared to other destinations, is high. This is a big challenge when bidding to host the incentive.

• The distance between the various attractions can be considerable. Unfortunately, this can be a challenge for incentive groups with limited time.

• The unique nature of some our most

Index of advertisers and contributors

popular attractions, i.e., gorilla and/or chimp trekking has some access limitations. For example, incentive groups usually want to experience the same activities on the same day and stay in the same lodge or hotel. The challenge in our national parks is that the capacity is low, for obvious environmental reasons. Big hotels are not built in the parks, so this makes the logistics around hosting large groups quite complicated.

Any immediate solutions to any of the above?

The solution would be to split a group into smaller groups and allow them access to the same activities, but at different times.

What is your personal favourite destination in Uganda and why? Uganda, as a country, is uniquely blessed with beauty. I have so many favourite places but if I had to choose, I would say Kisoro and Kidepo — it’s breathtakingly beautiful and it is known as the Switzerland of Africa.

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

Chairperson

Sibusiso Mncwabe

Marketing Well

Vice Chair

Jacqui Nel

Exhibition Freighting GSM

Treasurer

Ismael Atanasi

GL Events Director

Ashona Maharaj

Durban ICC

Director

Beert Kuiken

Octanorm Director

Gabi Babinszky

Brandex Director

Kelly Papas Barmotion Director

Kerry-Lee Bester

Brilliant Branding Director

Liam Beattie

Hott 3D

Director

Nic Curle

Nucleus

Co-Opted Director

Daksha Vallabh

Orange Orbit

Co-Opted Director

Gavin Burgess

Technology Partners

Co-Opted Director

Kimendrie Pillay

Johannesburg Expo Centre

Co-Opted Director

Ross Wilson Urban Tonic

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

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS & CONVENTION ASSOCIATION

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

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

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

ICCA African Chapter

Chairperson:

Taubie Motlhabane

Cape Town International Convention Centre

t: +27 (0)21 410 5000

e: Taubiem@cticc.co.za

Deputy Chairperson:

Frank Murangwa

Rwanda Convention Bureau

t: +250 788 358 454

e: frank.murangwa@rcb.rw

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

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

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

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

From blackouts to bright lights

No matter which way you slice it, load shedding is doing an incredible amount of damage to our economy. According to Investec, load shedding cost South Africa R300-billion in 2022 and resulted in the loss of five percent of its GDP.

By Marc Wachsberger, managing director of The Capital Hotels and Apartments

For a hospitality industry already reeling from the impact of the pandemic, the threat of a winter where businesses must regularly face 10+ hours without electricity could derail the gains the sector has made. Fortunately, for guests looking for a warm, electrified, and safe experience, groups like The Capital Hotels, Apartments & Resorts are taking matters into their own hands rather than waiting for someone to save them.

It is time to become load shedding-proof

As a result of frequent power cuts, the hospitality sector has had to adapt to a whole host of new issues that result in ballooning operational costs. With load shedding expected to continue for at least the next two years, with some predicting it could

be longer, any business worth its salt must be considering alternatives.

Marc Wachsberger, chief executive officer of The Capital Hotels, Apartments & Resorts, said: “We do not believe that load shedding should have any impact on our guests. We have created an oasis of normality in what is becoming an increasingly turbulent country and have some ground-breaking steps to ensure that nothing disturbs a visitor’s time with us.”

This means that a significant amount of investment has been put into backup power and water supplies, with several properties in the group being able to run for days without those essential services. A prime example of this is the solar panel pilot project at The Capital Empire. Last October, The Capital, in partnership with Rhino energy, invested almost R2-million in creating solar

power infrastructure that reduces their dependence on Eskom. With little maintenance required and a lifespan of 20 years, the move shows how sustainable thinking can produce solutions that outlast our current woes. The project has been such a success that, from 2024, The Capital will spend R10-million rolling the programme out across three more of their properties. That means that within the next two to three years, 80 per cent of the group’s properties will be solar powered.

In a move aimed at continually improving their sustainability efforts, The Capital will also be reducing the amount of time that their diesel generators run during the day. It is well known that burning fossil fuels negatively impacts the environment. Ramping up their investment in renewable energy while simultaneously

cutting back on their use of diesel generators is a move that other players in the industry should aim to emulate.

The effects of load shedding on the hospitality industry cannot be overstated. Power outages mean that guests are left in the dark, elevators stop working, and kitchen equipment grinds to a halt. Imagine the heat when aircons stop working at The Capital Zimbali, located in the warm and humid province of KwaZulu-Natal — it’s not what a five-star resort promises to its guests, who expect to be cool and comfortable. All of these can have a devastating impact on the guest experience, leading to lost revenue and reputational damage.

Creating safe havens

One of the many unforeseen consequences of never-ending load shedding is protest action. According to their latest data, the South African Reserve Bank’s Quarterly Bulletin for 2022 found that South Africa had lost 1.6 million work days in the first six months of 2022 and March’s national

shutdown has businesses and government in a state of panic at the potential repercussions.

The coming cold spells, increased load shedding, and the economic effects of it, will undoubtedly lead to even more protest action. The hotel groups that not only provide basic services like electricity and water, but also go above and beyond to ensure guest safety in the face of any eventuality, will be the ones with the edge.

The impacts of load shedding will be felt by the hospitality sector for years to come. However, that does not mean it is all doom and gloom. According to the World Travel Tourism Council, the Rainbow Nation’s tourism industry has a bright decade ahead of it. If all goes well, the industry is projected to create 800,000 jobs, grow at 7.6 per cent per year and contribute more than half a trillion Rand to the country’s economy by 2032. For innovative hotel groups with the power to pivot, that means that the next decade could be brighter than our current load shedding woes would have us believe.

Who is Marc Wachsberger ?

Marc Wachsberger is the managing director of The Capital Hotels and Apartments. The hotel group, with its innovative apartment hotel model that offers the best of accommodation, conferencing, and lifestyle events, has properties in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, and Mpumalanga. He is married and has three children.

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.

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