COVER STORY

GL events Group... exceeding expectations

The GL events Group has been operating in South Africa for 45 years, and its structure is based on three pillars: infrastructure supply, venue management and exhibitions, which primarily focus on content management. GL events South Africa only served one pillar, the infrastructure supply side of the business, until 2018. In 2019, the Group was fully consolidated, with the acquisition of the Johannesburg Expo Centre, as well as Dogan Events and Exhibitions, which owns and manages the Rand Show.

The GL events South Africa Group, led by group chief executive officer, Craig Newman, replicates the entire GL events business model on a local level.

Discover the GL events South Africa business divisions:

Craig Newman.

Live

Infrastructure supplier

GL events Live Division is a global leader in the exhibition and event industry with previous event references in major global events such as the World Cup, Cop26, and other notable events. We have positioned ourselves locally as the leading infrastructure supplier and continue to strive to be the supplier of choice for event organisers and other customer clusters.

“This year has seen momentous increase in business in the second quarter. As a company, we have been presented with numerous opportunities to serve our existing and new clients, also supporting the industry, ensuring its continued growth,” said Ishmael Atanasi, chief executive officer for the Live Division.

“This has therefore increased the need for us to collaborate with our clients in the region and throughout Africa. Given the industry’s constraints in both human and infrastructure resources, GL events Live has remained in business with the capacity and skills to deliver projects locally and throughout Africa, while also supporting the GL events Group on international projects,” added Ishmael.

Our workforce has been our most valuable asset since our inception, and it has become absolutely necessary for us to continue to provide opportunities for our employees to advance and grow in their respective fields. As a result, we currently

have staff seconded in Qatar for the World Cup and some in Egypt for COP27, with a number of allocations and international projects in the works for next year.

In recent years, we have also learned to diversify our offering by providing sustainable solutions to strengthen our position as the leading infrastructure supplier for events and exhibitions, as well as to expand our portfolio to create non-event-related revenue streams.

Ishmael Atanasi.

We developed a simple yet effective framework that allowed us to use what we had to service a much broader scope that we would not have serviced otherwise. During the construction and delivery of Nasrec Field Hospital at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw how adaptable our teams could be and what could be accomplished through key partnerships and collaborations with other industry players.

In retrospect, we can be grateful for the pandemic because it taught us how to adapt to changing conditions and respond quickly to market needs and demands. Aside from the challenges encountered during this time, it also provided an opportunity for some creative ideas that can be supported by our existing manufacturing facilities, which are currently operating and fully functional with the capacity to produce cutting-edge designs and quality finishes for both exhibitions and our retail portfolio. We have since relaunched our retail business unit, which focuses on providing a full turnkey solution as well as specialised services such as, but not limited to:

• Shopfitting

Our priority is to design the ideal store layout while also providing customers with easy movement, appealing opportunities for product displays, a smooth traffic flow, and the ultimate shopping experience.

• Commercial fitouts

We create inspiring workspace that meets all of your requirements and offer specialised services in planning, design, and delivery of a perfectly suited commercial space within any given building structure.

• In-store refurbishments

We offer a complete refurbishment solution for existing space. Planning, designing, and sharing creative ideas to bring any space to life, whether it’s a complete makeover to create a brandnew look or re-designing something fresh for a tired-looking existing space.

Dogan Events and Exhibitions

Content Management and owner of the Rand Show

Dogan Exhibitions and Events is a fullturnkey exhibitions and events management company and the proud owner of the well-known Rand Show. The company has been operational for more than 15 years, with the majority of shares acquired by the GL events Group in 2019.

The acquisition by the GL group has afforded Dogan the opportunity to broaden its horizons and apply international best practices to the business. Like most organisers, the lockdown in 2020 forced the company to reconsider its product offering and business structure. After the selection of a new team, a host of new concepts was developed to sustain the company throughout the pandemic.

The first viable concept was to do small Rand Show pop-ups within shopping malls to ensure our exhibitors still experienced some face-to-face interaction with their clients. From the success of these activations we started searching for a larger platform for these activations. These small activations eventually lead to the launching of the Rand Show Spring Edition in Fourways mall, making Dogan the first organiser to run a face-to-face exhibition during the pandemic. The Spring Edition was a great success and is now a permanent fixture within the Rand Show calendar.

In 2021 we decided to rebrand and refresh the Rand Show, not knowing whether it would be possible to run a big show in 2022, we pushed forward. Clients came on board and the visitor promotions started yielding good results and, before we knew it, we hit midApril and it was time to open the show. Our show was the first big consumer exhibition to run under the 50 per cent venue capacity and visitor vaccination restrictions and we are proud to say that amidst these circumstances we had a great attendance with 90 per cent positive feedback from both exhibitors and visitors.

“We have learned to be flexible, adaptable, and to keep thinking outside the box,” said Adele Hartdegen chief executive officer of Dogan. “The Dogan team is dynamic and resourceful, and we keep innovating a top priority. The 2022 Rand Show was the first big opportunity for us to prove that our new structure and processes work and I’m proud to say that the show was a great success.”

The pandemic made us realise once again that the platforms offered within Exhibitions are key to sustaining businesses, in our case especially SMMEs, some of whom are fully reliant on the show to continue trading. We take pride in what we do and take on the responsibility of growing these enterprises with us and setting them up for success.

“We learned a few things from the 2022 show. Two of these are the fuels that keep us going. One of the main factors is the confidence our exhibitors and visitors have in the brand. This was evident in the exhibitor and guest turnout, which well exceeded our expectations for the first post-covid show. Secondly, is the show’s impact on the livelihood of SMME enterprises that rely on the show to generate significant revenues each year. For these reasons, we will continue to present a world-class Rand Show and strive to make each year’s show the finest yet,” said Didi Okoro, head of sales for the Rand Show.

The 2023 Rand Show promises to be an exciting, fun-filled family day with some big brands coming on board. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

Johannesburg Expo Centre

Venue management

For a variety of reasons, the Johannesburg Expo Centre should be top of mind when planning large-scale events and exhibitions. The venue’s adaptability allows it to manage any occasion and it can host both indoor and outdoor events, depending on your requirements. Whether your event requires quiet boardrooms for private meetings, large floor space for exhibits, a dance floor that can accommodate thousands of people, or outdoor refreshment stations, the JEC has the multipurpose facilities to meet all of your needs.

The JEC has no shortage of space either, with its 150,000 m² of space to host mass events. Coupled with that, when it comes to parking, the venue offers secure parking for 20,000 vehicles, ensuring that exhibitors and guests alike can find parking with ease and get straight to business. The JEC is also hailed as one of the most accessible venues in the country, with accessibility from all major highways and a helipad on-site for registered helicopter landing needs. Its location is ideal for travellers with five-star hotels in the vicinity and a mere 30 minutes from both international airports.

When it comes to capacity, look no further than Ultra Music Festival, which typically draws 30,000 music fans through the door, if not more.

From enthusiastic music fans to a far more business and trade orientated environment, this year’s Electra Mining Exhibition garnered a significant number of visitors over the five days of the show as the crowds came to see the latest innovations across mining, industrial, electrical, power, transport and related industries.

“Over the last few years, my main aim at the Johannesburg Expo Centre has been to provide the best customer service, attract and retain world-class events and ensure the venue is presentable at all times. We have spent a lot of time refining our processes, researching best practices, and offering our clients a venue that suits their every need. The JEC remains one of Africa’s largest purpose-built Exhibition venues and offers flexible large format spaces that are second to none,” said Adele Hartdegen, chief executive officer for the Johannesburg Expo Centre.

If you are hosting an event at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, you are without a doubt in the hands of the experts with their dedicated support team on the ground for all your needs.

The team at the JEC will always meet your demands and exceed your expectations — what more could you ask for?

Adele Hartdegen.

Contact Details

GL events Johannesburg (Head Office)

PO Box 993, Southdale, 2135

Johannesburg Expo Centre

Corner Nasrec & Randshow Roads, Gate 2 Entrance Johannesburg, 2091

Tel: +27 (0)11 210 2500

Fax: +27 (0)11 680 9940

Email: info.za@gl-events.com

Web: https://www.gl-events.co.za/en