COVER STORY

Conferencing excellence at Acsiopolis Precinct’s @Sandton-Hotel

A relatively new addition to the conferencing and event landscape stands out on the Sandton skyline. It can be found at the @Sandton-Hotel, located at Acsiopolis, a mixed-use development. If you’ve driven along Benmore Road in Sandton, you would likely have noticed an impressive high-rise building with a red @ marking the pinnacle of the structure. This is Acsiopolis – pronounced {ak-shop-oh-liss} – which means ‘city of worth’ in Greek.

Anthony Batistich, general manager of @Sandton-Hotel, says the precinct is gaining ground in repeat business in events and conferences for corporates looking for an all-in-one offering that guarantees quality and variety. “The strength of our offering, particularly for conferences, is multifaceted. As a mixed-use precinct, we have a wide range of top-class venues to suit conferences, business meetings, and banquets. What sets our offering apart are the other elements within our offering, including an auditorium, restaurants, a spa, private cinema, private gym and pool, pool deck, clubhouse bar, deli, and 561-luxury hotel rooms. Our team are well-versed in developing packages to suit the needs of specific events, which will mean delegates can arrive at Acsiopolis and not have to leave the property for the duration of the conference or event.”

Venues

Boasting a view of Benmore Road, the conferencing space can be divided into three distinct venues, all of which open up to the spacious conference centre lobby and terrace where tea breaks and light meals can be enjoyed. The Ballroom can accommodate 300 pax in a gala dinner set-up, 400 pax for cocktails and 500 pax cinema-style, or it can be divided into two sections for smaller breakaway meetings.

Four boardrooms with seating capacities of eight to fourteen people each are perfect for smaller gatherings, lively discussions and brainstorming. What really sets conferencing at Acsiopolis apart from other venues in the surrounding area is an 80-seater auditorium equipped with graded seating, superb state-of-the-art sound and electrical points for easy laptop charging. A wide range of tech and AV demands are catered for:

• Full HD projectors

• Built-in PA systems with microphones and wireless connectivity

• Seamless laptop connection

• High speed Wi-Fi

• Smart interactive TVs with built in PC boards to easily access Windows applications

• Kandao 360º hybrid camera

• Wireless Conference Caller for external calls

Mr Batistich said that the versatility which comes with such a broad offering means a choice of beautiful locations as the perfect backdrop for almost any event: “Why not host a cocktail function on our Clubhouse pool deck, with an incredible view of the sunset over Sandton? Or a magical night under the stars event on our central piazza, with plenty of space to spread out? For those looking to host a more exclusive event, our incredible Penthouses and Presidential Suite all boast phenomenal views, ample balconies, fully kittedout kitchens and the most luxurious of fittings. Our flexibility really is only limited by imaginative planning.”

The private conferencing facilities are available at a daily fee, which includes venue hire, standard conference equipment and refreshments. A full range of services ensure that every requirement is catered for along with the support of the hotel’s conference team.

Extraordinary events

With access to multiple dedicated conferencing and business venues and the luxurious lifestyle amenities within @Sandton-Hotel, no two events @Sandton-Hotel are the same. A banqueting team is standing by to tailor-make your dream event, whether it’s a conference or wedding, birthday, Bar mitzvah or Bat mitzvah, baby shower or book launch, trade show or cocktail party.

Some blue-chip companies have recently selected Acsiopolis as the location to meet their conferencing demands. It was the ideal location for the Competition Commission’s annual conference, which attracted 500 attendees; Multichoice’s Big Brother Titans Media Event for 120 members of the media; and Joburg Tourism’s 26th WASME ICSME Conference for government officials. @SandtonHotel was also the hotel of choice for delegates from out of town.

Food and beverage

The world-class food and beverage offering at Acsiopolis gives event organisers a range of offerings to suit every occasion and budget. The food philosophy @Sandton-Hotel is simple: use only the best ingredients and prepare everything. From their own biltong and Peri-Peri sauce to sushi, all of it is prepared in on-site kitchens. The result is a delicious array of mouthwatering meals that delegates will rave about. The executive chef has created a variety of menus for events, including buffet, plated and canapéstyle offerings, but can also develop a personalised menu for a function.

Over and above the ballroom, there are plenty of food and beverage options, including three restaurants (@SandtonRestaurant, the Clubhouse and Pool Bar) and an additional intimate function venue perfect for a Chef’s Table or private dinner, The Tasting Room, with a capacity of ten seated, which will be completed soon. @Deli on the Piazza boasts shelves conveniently packed with luxury food, wine and liquor.

Value-added amenities

An event @Sandton-Hotel is made even more special thanks to the wealth of incredible lifestyle amenities to be found within the Acsiopolis Precinct, each offering an element that can be incorporated into your event or a delightful and convenient add-on for guests staying within the hotel.

@Sandton-Spa offers a variety of pampering, aesthetic and grooming treatments, as well as a sauna and steam room, and for fitness enthusiasts there is a Pilates studio and gym.

Childcare is provided by @Sandton-Kids and a new addition to the precinct is a private cinema. Retail offerings include Regalia Laundry and Postlink on the Piazza, while @Sandton-Medical Suites provides a host of services, from a dentist and GP to aesthetic surgery and IV drips.

The conferencing facilities are available at a daily fee, which includes venue hire, standard conference equipment and refreshments. The conference rooms offer privacy and a full range of services, ensuring that every requirement is met. The hotel’s conference team is also available to assist with the planning of any event — be it a board meeting, banquet or conference.

The CoWorx co-working space, located on the ground floor of the hotel, offers office pods and hot desks for corporate clients and small enterprises. Conference guests will be able to make use of this serviced office space for any business needs. Free high-speed Wi-Fi rounds off an impressive offering.

Conveniently located

Location is everything, and Acsiopolis checks all the boxes. The Sandton Gautrain Station, Benmore Shopping Centre, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City, and the numerous surrounding corporate offices that make this the financial centre of Johannesburg and Southern Africa, are all conveniently close by.

Back up utilities

Service delivery challenges have become a part of everyday life for the foreseeable future in South Africa, which means checking loadshedding schedules is as much a part of our daily routine now as checking our diaries each morning. But at Acsiopolis, seamless transitions during loadshedding are barely noticeable.

As a multi-use development, Acsiopolis is perfectly suited to conferencing and meetings with access to all the world-class facilities and amenities which @Sandton-Hotel offers. Conferencing at Acsiopolis makes perfect sense when every need is met under one roof… conferencing just got better. Seamless. Simple. Succinct.

For more information go to Acsiopolis, go to the Acsiopolis website https://acsiopolis.co.za/, visit 5 Benmore Road, Benmore Gardens, Sandton, Johannesburg, or call +27 (0)11 395 4777 (Hotel).

Get Social

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…and don’t forget to tag us when you are sharing your unforgettable @Sandton experiences.