Business Events Africa October 2021 by Contact Publications

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Voice of the Business Events Industry in Africa

Vol 41 No 10 OCTOBER 2021

Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit – Re-awakening Africa

Business Events Africa: Serving the business events industry for 41 years

CONTENTS

VOL 41 NO 10 OCTOBER 2021

The authority on meetings, exhibitions, special events and incentives management

About the cover

Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit confirms that the world is ready to Re-awaken Africa.

VENUE NEWS 30 CTICC proves its mettle as an essential public service site. 31 Sun International launches new online booking platform. PERSONALITY PROFILE 32 Mesfin Abdi – There is potential for future growth in hospitality. CHEF’S PROFILE 34 Danielle Adams – making simple food really good. MARKET NEWS 36 Lindiwe Rakharebe scoops two awards for leadership. 37 SYSPRO partners with Chef’s with Compassion to tackle SA food crisis.

Cover Feature AFRICA’S TRAVEL AND TOURISM SUMMIT 6 Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit – Re-awakening Africa.

On the pages… EDITOR’S COMMENT 2 Africa is open for business. NEWS 3 Joburg celebrates 135 years. 4 Xhariep District Municipality wins bid to host GBFS 10th Annual Conference.

Association news EVENT GREENING FORUM 38 A new industry initiative to address climate change. SITE 39 SITE Africa welcomes the level 1 adjustment. SAACI 40 ATTS marks a turning point for the business events industry. AAXO 41 Technology – the panacea to shoestring budget woes?

HOTEL GROUP FOCUS 18 Radisson Hotel Group announces a record year in Africa.

EXSA 42 Getting back to the business of exhibitions.

ANNIVERSARY FEATURE 20 Wild Coast Sun Resort celebrates four decades of operation.

SAEC 44 Why designations will matter in a post-covid world.

VENUE NEWS 22 Spier – repositioning for the future. A LOCAL PERPECTIVE 24 Tourism 101 needed to recover from Covid-19 blitzkrieg. HERITAGE VENUE 26 Sanctuary Mandela celebrates Heritage Month. COMPANY UPDATE 28 Inspire Furniture – thinking out the box.

Published by the proprietor Contact Publications (Pty) Ltd (Reg No. 1981/011920/07)

HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 414, Kloof 3640, South Africa TEL: +27 31 764 6977 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 41 No 10 Business Events Africa has 12 issues a year and is published monthly. Due to Covid-19, the magazine is currently only available in digital format.

publishers of Business Events Africa, is a member of:

Learning | Growth | collaboration

Regulars MARKET NEWS 45 Valor partners with CityBlue Hotels in East Africa.

Official media partner

Official Journal of the Southern Africa Chapter of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence

Official journal of the Exhibition & Event Association of Southern Africa

45 Index of advertisers. 46 Directory and associations of interest. THE LAST WORD 48 Encouraging signs of global recovery in hospitality sector, but SA lags.

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

The world keeps spinning and will continue to do so, regardless.

s we approach the end of year, I am cautiously optimistic. Personally, I’m feeling a lot more upbeat. The business events industry is slowly emerging from an enforced hibernation. I am definitely seeing an increase in

physical events in all parts of the industry. It is fantastic to observe the different sectors in our industry starting up again. The past few weeks have been amazing. I’ve been following industry leaders on social platforms doing what they do best — be it exhibitions, incentives, conferences and events. The industry has been waiting for so long and all it took was a green light from government! After months of despair, finally there is renewed positivity in the industry. One big positive is that South Africa is now finally off most of the world’s travel red lists, including the UK. The recent Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit (ATTS) also set the scene for what is to come. If anything, I get the feeling that our continent – the continent of Africa – is finally realising its own strength in unity. Over the years, African countries have always looked to other continents for tourism and business events while, in fact, its own African countries were overlooked. There is no doubt that there are still a lot of challenges, like airlift, visa restrictions, etc. One of the challenges addressed during ATTS is that tourism/incentive and conference/events packages in the past

have always been geared to the European or American markets. If we, Africans, would like to cater for our own African visitors we should package it differently. Over the past few years, our industry leaders have done a lot of talking about the issue of airlift within our continent as well as the issue of visas within Africa for Africans, I hope that ATTS has ignited a new chapter, where African airlines look at new routes within the continent and finally break those barriers which have hindered travel within Africa. Of course, we would all love to see international delegates and tourists return to our shores but what prevents us from exploring new markets within our continent? The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us that we are able to collaborate a lot better if we keep the communication streams open within our continent. The time is now, Africa is open for business and I am proudly African!

Irene

Email: gomesi@iafrica.com

Credit: Hein Liebetrau

Africa is open for business

NEWS

Joburg celebrates 135 years As Joburg celebrates its 135th birthday, we should pause for thought and reflect on what makes our city so remarkable! Johannesburg, Joburg, Egoli, Mjiba, Joeys or Jozi — it’s impossible not to marvel how fast this mighty metropolis sprang up on the Highveld plains in 1886 and has continued to play a pivotal role in our country’s history and economy.

t the ripe old age of 135, Johannesburg is one of the world’s youngest major cities, the only one not settled on a major waterway or bay — as well as being home to the world’s largest man-made forest and having fabulous weather. These are just a few of the diverse features boasted by a city which some 5.9 million people call home. “While Joburg is the African continent’s business hub and the fastest growing and developing metropolitan centre, what is often overlooked – by residents and visitors alike – is its appeal as a fascinating destination,” said Councillor Tom Mofokeng, MMC for the Department of Economic Development, City of Johannesburg “Joburg retains the boomtown spirit of diversity, hustle and possibility, as it did when it sprang to life when the world’s richest gold reef was discovered here in

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1886. The establishment of a riotous tented mining camp on the dusty savannah plains, where we now stand, was followed by rapid, pioneering developments and advancements which have never ceased — to the phenomenal, pacy city of today. As Joburg Tourism, and in line with our #Welcome2Joburg campaign, we are passionate about and dedicated to showcasing its vigorous charm to both locals and visitors. We work to foster an increase in knowledge, civic pride and a growth in tourism awareness, whilst also encouraging locals and visitors to get out and about and to enjoy exploring the culture, heritage and hidden gems.” Inspite of Joburg’s youthfulness in global city terms, it is undeniably a treasure trove of economic, social, political and anthropological history. The City boasts layer upon layer of fascinating history, development and human-interest stories

— of course, not forgetting the leisure and lifestyle aspects of entertainment, sports, music, fashion, the arts and culture. Urban tourism has come into its own in Johannesburg, with the city seeing an increasing number of visitors keen to explore diverse aspects of the city — from all the exciting inner city rejuvenation precincts to the established heritage routes and sites in Alex and Soweto. This includes the development of public street art, pedestrianised zones, heritage sites and lifestyle activities such as the popular weekend markets. Surprisingly beautiful and always bold, Joburg packs a punch. “We’ve got everything in Joburg and plenty of it. Fashion, nightlife, theatre, fine art, shopping, sport, entertainment, tourist and heritage sites, diverse cuisine and cultural experiences,” Mr Mofokeng said.

Business Events Africa October 2021 3

NEWS

Thembeka Pama, GFS Global President.

Xhariep District Municipality wins bid to host GBFS 10th Annual Conference Tourism remains a key driver of South Africa’s national economy and contributes to job creation. The tourism industry is a major contributor to the South African economy and employment of citizens. The sector contributes about nine per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

eetings, conventions, conferences and trade exhibitions – big or small – provide a significant financial boost for South Africa by stimulating the economy and promoting local development, while through the associated organised touristic activities, visitors are exposed to its warm welcome, beautiful offerings and destinations. The South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB), together with the Free State Gambling Liquor & Tourism Authority, partnered with the Girls and Bafana Friendly Society (GBFS) to host GBFS’s tenth Annual Conference recently where critical issues of youth and women development took centre-stage. The GBFS is the South African chapter of the international Anglican

Church-based Girl Friendly Society (GFS) and has been deliberately set up to accommodate both genders in South Africa in recognition of the unique socioeconomic circumstances of the country. The GFS is a philanthropic society whose original mission is to empower girls and young women holistically, encouraging them to develop their full potential through programmes that provide training, confidence building and other educational opportunities. With the current issues faced by the youth of South Africa, such as genderbased violence and high unemployment rate, this conference was focused on addressing the following key issues; firstly, to empower women and young people (boys and girls); secondly, to encourage them to develop their full potential

4 Business Events Africa October 2021

through programmes that provide training, and thirdly, to boost confidencebuilding and open other educational opportunities. Part of its focus is on holistic development of a young person by helping them achieve mental, emotional, physical and spiritual growth. It also has an exchange programme that was approved in 2014 by its World Council in Wales. Mrs Thembeka Pama, GFS global president, said: “The intention of the exchange programme is for members who are still at school, in tertiary education institutions, and even those who are not at school, to receive exposure in other countries and learn different approaches to carrying out tasks and participate as volunteers at identified national or local government initiatives in those countries. The private sector and NGOs are also www.businesseventsafrica.com

NEWS

Delegates attending GBFS Conference.

included for cultural exchange learning.” This is the first conference hosted under the recently launched National Association Project. The South Africa National Convention Bureau is a business unit of SA Tourism and is mandated to market South Africa as a preferred destination to host meetings, conventions, conferences and trade exhibitions — big or small. The National Association Project aims to spread the economic benefits of hosting, conferences and meetings in smaller towns and villages. Under the theme ‘Towards Good Citizenship: Warriors for a Caring Society’, this conference sought to address the question, how do we become warriors of a caring society? How are we able to go back to basics restoring the moral decay of society? “For the first time in its existence, this conference included students and the unemployed youth on the agenda. More diverse views were presented, to ensure better quality of resolutions,” Mrs Pama said. This year the conference took place in Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State Province from 30 September to 2 October 2021. Gariep Dam is the most central point of the Republic of South Africa and is www.businesseventsafrica.com

connected through an excellent road network to the Eastern Cape, North and South Namibia and Botswana. The Gariep Dam is on the Orange River, which lies about 48 kilometres north-east of Colesberg and 208 kilometres south of Bloemfontein. Kenny Dichabe, chief executive officer for Free State Gambling Liquor & Tourism Authority, said: “The Free State Province is delighted to have hosted this auspicious conference that sought to engage the youth on issues that affect them and to expose them to opportunities that may better their lives. Amidst the global pandemic, South Africa is faced with two other pandemics; the high rate of unemployment and gender-based violence, which is mostly affecting women. This conference addressed these matters, and as a result, found ways to combat these issues. We thank SA Tourism for enabling small Province’s such as the Free State to host a conference that deliberates on shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.” Ms Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer of the SANCB said; “The economic impact of hosting such a conference is very direct. Hosting meetings is a very important economic driver and will play an important role

in the recovery of a distressed tourism industry. The people of Xhariep District Municipality have benefited immensely from hosting it, and many more that we hope to bring in future.” The National Association Project aims to encourage locally-based associations, federations and societies to rotate their national meetings and conferences across SA, thereby spreading the economic impact of local meetings and conferences to villages, townships and small towns. This will usher in new opportunities for entrepreneurs and any tourism business owners who stand to benefit from the potential business delegate coming to attend the business event. The chosen host city for the event benefits through economic growth and this also provides an opportunity for greater touristic prominence for the relevant city and the broader region, which in turn, creates employment opportunities. This includes employment for the professionals hired to host the event, as well as for the infrastructure, service and logistics companies. “The SANCB focuses its efforts on attracting conferences in economic sectors which government has identified as priority sectors for future development,” Ms Kotze-Nhlapo concluded.

Business Events Africa October 2021 5

Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit – Re-awakening Africa

AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT NEWS

DATE: 19-21 September 2021 SMME Day on 19 September Theme: Re-awakening Africa Location: Johannesburg, Durban, Lagos and available virtually Venues: Sandton Convention Centre, Durban ICC and Lagos Marriot Hotel Ikeja, Nigeria. Number of attendees, physical and virtually: 4,717 Host: SA Tourism

Africa is open for business Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit was hosted simultaneously in three major cities in Africa – Johannesburg, Durban and Lagos, Nigeria – between 19 and 21 September. The hybrid event gave delegates from around the world the option to attend either physically or virtually. It also gave those outside of Africa the opportunity to be a part of the Summit as they could personalise their programme according to their time zone.

he conference industry has always been slow to change, with traditional meeting models having been in existence for decades and the winning of international meetings being the ultimate goal for many in the meetings value chain. Overnight, the pandemic changed the traditional face-to-face model to virtual and, with international travel not an option, local and regional meetings became the darling. Centred on the theme of Re-awakening Africa, the Summit called on all tourism players throughout the continent and all global tourism friends and partners to reflect, reimagine and reignite the sector in a world still ravaged by Covid-19. As well as virtually, the concept of ‘Create Your Own Conference‘ was available to delegates so that they could personalise the sessions they wished to attend in any of the three host cities. The Summit included an eclectic mix of topics that ranged from how to ease travel across borders on the continent to packaging African travel in a post-Covid world, all with the overarching message that Africa is open for business.

RE-AWAKENING AFRICA TOGETHER www.businesseventsafrica.com

Summit attendance summary* TOTAL ATTENDED JHB DURBAN Virtual Sunday 61 18 73 Monday 213 54 2416 Tuesday 176 34 1670 Total per region 450 106 4140 TOTAL SUMMIT ATTENDANCE

TOTAL 152 2683 1882 4717

Activities ACTIVITIES DURBAN JOHANNESBURG Welcome Entertainment No Yes Opening Ceremony Virtual Yes Summit Sessions Yes Yes Lunch Yes Yes Welcome cocktails Yes Yes Matchmaking Meetings Yes Yes Business Matchmaking Tool The Business Matchmaking tool matched delegates with the right delegates for one-on-one sessions based on the information delegates had provided in their profile, thus creating a great opportunity to connect and share knowledge with fellow industry stakeholders. Meeting Stats Confirmed Cancelled due to no-shows

451 52

Meeting Stats Onsite in JHB or DBN Video calls – virtual

144 166

*The stats in the tables above are unaudited. Business Events Africa October 2021 7

PAGE AFRICA’S STRAP TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT

Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu addressing delegates at Africa's Travel and Tourism Summit from Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

The Summit a ‘significant step’ for tourism Africa's Travel and Tourism Summit (ATTS) kick-started on Sunday, 19 September, and called on all role-players to reflect, reimagine and reignite the sector in a bid to re-awaken Africa's tourism sector. Recently appointed Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu said that Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit was a significant step for the tourism and business events industry. As of 1 October, the gatherings’ numbers were further eased to 2,000 people gathering for outdoor events and 750 for indoor events. “Gatherings, such as this Summit, are crucial to the industry’s survival.”

he Summit was held as a hybrid event, accommodating delegates participating physically and virtually. It was the first pan-African summit of its kind, as it was being hosted in three cities simultaneously, namely Johannesburg, Durban and Lagos. Minister Sisulu said: “Through such events, we connect, we share ideas and we create a new positive narrative of Africa — one that shifts from a continent in turmoil, to one that is recovering steadily and ready to do business.” She further said that governments across the continent will have to show their commitment to reviving tourism as a crucial part of the economy. One of the measures that should be taken is to ensure an effective vaccination rollout programme. “Reports have shown that tourism in countries with a high number of vaccinated people will rebound faster than countries with a low percentage.” Africa’s response to Covid-19 According to the latest statistics, as 8 Business Events Africa October 2021

of September, Minister of Tourism Minister Sisulu said: “Nearly 76-million vaccinations have been administered throughout Africa. South Africa alone has administered over 15-million vaccines and the country seems to show a downward trend in terms of infection rates. Yet Africa is still considered an unsafe destination. The AU also launched the Pan-African biosurveillance technology called PanaBIOS that has the ability to track the spread of the Coronavirus and connect testing centres across the continent. Yet Africa is still considered a no-go zone.” Statistically, the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly dented the tourism industry in Africa. According to Statistics South Africa, all ten leading SADC countries have shown a decrease in inbound tourist numbers from 2019 to 2020. Botswana had the largest percentage decrease of 80.6 per cent. Outside of SADC, Côte d’Ivoire had the largest percentage decrease at 77.4 per cent. Domestic tourists in Kenya cut their

holiday expenditures by 37.5 per cent in 2020 amidst massive job losses and pay cuts due to the pandemic. It is estimated that tourism jobs in the East African region dropped by 46 per cent, from 4.1 million to 2.2 million, according to a new report published by the East African Business Council. It is estimated that a total of $57.8 million (R857-million) is needed to implement the East African tourism sector’s recovery plan. Minister Sisulu said that greater collaboration among tourism role-players is required and they would need to be flexible enough to adjust to the changing business landscape. “As we embark on new ways of doing business and hosting the people of the world, let’s draw lessons from the experiences of the pandemic and ensure that our business ways are more robust and agile for future sustainability. It is therefore important that we are aligned as a continent whilst reigniting the tourism industry. This is crucial, to gain momentum within the sector, as it works towards an inclusive recovery.” www.businesseventsafrica.com

AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT NEWS

Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu.

Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu addressing the ATTS delegates from Sandton Convention Centre.

Recovery plans key to reviving tourism Minister Sisulu’s department has drawn up and is currently implementing the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, which is in line with Government’s Broader Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. “Government’s commitment to tourism is unfailing. It has always recognised tourism’s crucial role in developing the economy. And the fact that it is listed as one of eight interventions in its recovery plan illustrates that point.” The following strategic interventions form part of the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan: • Implement norms and standards for safe operations across the value chain to enable safe travel and rebuild traveller confidence; • Stimulate domestic demand through targeted initiatives and campaigns; • Strengthen the supply-side through resource mobilisation and investment facilitation; • Support for the protection of core tourism infrastructure and assets; • Execute a global marketing programme to reignite international demand; • Tourism regional integration; and • Review the tourism policy to provide enhanced support for sector growth and development. www.businesseventsafrica.com

n Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu’s keynote speech at Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit, Minister Sisulu mentioned that she had addressed the red list matter with the British Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa that morning. After some discussion, they had agreed to bring together scientists and advisors from both countries to conduct further research into the Coronavirus Beta variant that has so far created the perception that South Africa is a Covid hotspot. After weeks of discussions and lobbying by various associations and bodies, the United Kingdom has finally taken South Africa off its highly restrictive red list, as of 11 October 2021. The red list saw strenuous rules and quarantine periods for those wishing to return to the UK from countries such as South Africa, Argentina and Mexico — all of which have now been removed. The United Kingdom has always been a key source market for South Africa, with Stats SA noting that the UK topped the overseas visitor list for the country in 2019 and 2020.

Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu arriving at the Sandton Convention Centre for ATTS.

Business Events Africa October 2021 9

NEWS AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT

Entertainers opening Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit, live from the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

thembiso Dlamini, South African Tourism acting chief executive officer, said that Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit was borne from the need to create a property that will demonstrate and highlight the continent’s tenacity and holistic abilities. “It is required to be a springboard to restart and rebuild the tourism sector amidst the Covid-19 pandemic through knowledge and partnerships.” “The Summit offered industry players and its stakeholders an opportunity to meet and engage on the challenges and opportunities that affect the advancement of tourism on the continent. This negative perception was driven by the heightened global media focus on the continent. But we want to tell our own stories, to build our own narratives.” Ms Dlamini said that collaboration among all industry role-players will bring tourism back to full health. “We need to find new ways to adapt to a changing business environment, one that was marked by the Covid-19 pandemic.” She referred to small and medium-sized businesses from the Game-changers & Future Pioneers (SMME) Day as examples of how businesses and government can exercise resilience. “Small and medium-sized businesses that were present at SMME Day have the flexibility to adjust quickly. And I think larger corporates and government will do well to follow suit.” “The future of travel and tourism is going to be quite different to the pre-Covid era. And we best prepare for it,” Ms Dlamini concluded.

10 Business Events Africa October 2021

manda Kotze-Nhlapo, chief convention bureau officer at the South Africa National Convention Bureau said the Summit presented Africa with the opportunity to create a platform that will demonstrate the continent’s tenacity in rebuilding the tourism sector through knowledge and partnerships. “We must remember that African tourism belongs to all 54 nations on the continent. It means tourism stakeholders from each of those countries have the ability to come together to find ways of making travel to our continent easier and more inviting to global tourists.” Africa’s tourism industry faces numerous challenges in its bid to rebuild. The United Nation’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said the tourism industry is unlikely to return to pre-Covid levels until 2023 or later. Additionally, the World Travel and Tourism Council reported that Africa’s tourism sector experienced an exponential decrease of US$83-billion (R1.2-trillion) and a loss of 7.2-million jobs in 2020. Despite these setbacks, Ms Kotze-Nhlapo remained upbeat about the sector’s future. “Governments across Africa, as well as the African Union, are ensuring a steady rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations. In South Africa, Government is implementing the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan which seeks to restore the tourism economy and recover lost jobs. These are signs that Africa is gearing up for tourism. The Summit went a long way in showcasing to the world Africa’s readiness to welcome tourists within the continent and abroad.”

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AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT NEWS

Delegates attending from Lagos Marriot Hotel Ikeja, Nigeria.

Collaboration key to African tourism sector success The success of Africa’s tourism sector amid Covid-19 hinges on increased collaboration among all industry role-players — this is the message from South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Tourism Fish Mahlalela.

eputy Minister Mahlalela was speaking at Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit’s SMME Day on Sunday, 19 September 2021. Under the theme “Re-awakening Africa,” the Summit called on all tourism role-players to reflect, reimagine and reignite the sector. The Summit was aimed at reviving Africa’s tourism industry, after more than a year of dormancy owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. In his address, Deputy Minister Mahlalela said collaboration in tourism will boost social cohesion. “For all of us to succeed, we can no longer do business in silos. The new tourism sector calls for greater collaboration between Government and the private sector, as well as between the governments of Africa.” Deputy Minister Mahlalela added that Government is working closely with tourism role-players to mobilise a response to the debilitating impact of Covid-19. The pandemic has adversely impacted the entire tourism value chain and has restricted the movement of people. The Department of Tourism has implemented interventions that will help revive small tourism businesses in townships and rural areas that are crucial to www.businesseventsafrica.com

the sector. “SMMEs can aid in the sector’s return to pre-Covid performance levels and its long-term sustainable growth trajectory that fully realises Africa’s vast and diverse tourism potential. The Tourism Sector Recovery Plan also makes provision for the establishment of a support hub to provide non-financial support to tourism businesses to increase the resilience of SMMEs during the pandemic and beyond.” An enabling environment for SMMEs Percy Koji, chief executive officer of Small Tourism Enterprise Association (STEA) echoed Deputy Minister Mahlalela, saying collaboration between private and public sectors is vital. “Collaboration is a big word. If you are in business for 10 years, no man is an island; no business can survive on its own.” He added that government needs to create an enabling environment as an initiative poised to drive growth for small and medium-sized businesses. “People will have more jobs, resuscitate the sector, and address the issues around crime.” STEA helps small businesses understand the importance of compliance with regulations and trains in this regard.

Mr Koji said that while small and medium-sized enterprises are recognised as a critical part of the tourism industry, they tend to be neglected. This is because SMMEs are not usually compliant in many aspects of business. “Big business will always be ahead because small businesses are not well prepared to compete against them.” Mr Koji said SMMEs still require training on various issues including tax matters as well as, being compliant with relevant government regulations. He added that SMMEs face numerous challenges such as tight cash flow which limits their strategic options, limited market access and lack of relevant business management skills. “For government to have a bigger tax base we have to facilitate small business. We have to professionalise SMMEs, so it becomes a more competitive space to be in.” He also called for increased focus on the domestic tourism market to create opportunities within our borders. “In South Africa we have focused a lot on inbound market but developing the local economy will create better opportunities for everyone. If you buy a coffee at a restaurant, you are creating a job for that person serving you.”

Business Events Africa October 2021 11

NEWS AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT

A new kind of travel for the continent Africa’s Travel and Tourism has proven to be the continent’s catalyst to usher in a new kind of travel — one that is increasing the value of community and rural tourism. The tourism roleplayers may be assured that the industry will emerge with fresh actionable ideas after more than a year of latency.

he Summit lived up to its theme of “Re-awakening Africa,” with fresh actionable ideas emerging from three days of robust discussions. Value of tourism for local and rural communities Safiyya Akoojee, a director at law firm Thomson Wilks, said empowering local communities means community and political leaders are required to effect change that is beyond political

Intra-African travel and mobility challenges It was widely acknowledged at the Summit that for Africa’s tourism to thrive, its countries would need to ease their borders to one another and allow for freer movement of goods and people.

ver since the African Union was established in 1963, the dream for most political and business leaders on the continent was to ease access across borders.

Domestic market may be a lifesaver While the Coronavirus has dampened global travel, many tourism authorities have been looking at their domestic markets to retain revenue.

ccording to Chris Lehane, the head of global policy and communications at AirBnB, there was an uptick in domestic tourism since the outbreak of the virus. “In South Africa, domestic travel increased by more than 600 per cent with

12 Business Events Africa October 2021

agendas. “We need to look inward before looking outward. Local communities, right down to rural level, have doctors, nurses, carpenters, and other professionals who may help establish tourism in their communities.” Founder of Nairobi-based Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda, Judy Kepher Gona, said tourism thrives in places created by people who make it beautiful to experience. “Travellers would like to experience the food and the natural beauty of a place. But people travel to meet people. The core is people in those communities.” Ms Gona referred to the transformation of the Maasai Mara from it having no Maasai guides in 2005 to having almost all of its guides coming from the local community. “We argued that this is their [livelihood] so give it to them. We then changed the narrative because they would not be guides, they would be hosts. Now, 99 per cent of hosts at Maasai Mara are Maasai. They are not asking for handouts, they asked to be given a chance.” Founder of Transfrontier Parks Destinations in Cape Town, Glynn O’Leary, said he is in the business of developing communities. “At the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, we teach the community to develop skills that may be applied to any part of the economy.”

However, delegates also agreed that the lack of sound transport infrastructure and stringent visa regulations are hampering growth and sustainability of the tourism industry. Tourism Business Council of South Africa chief executive officer, Tshifihwa Tshivhengwa, said that Africa has to align its policies for intra-African travel to become a reality. “We have failed to create ease of access within Africa. Until we as Africa are aligned and have policies that integrate travel we will fail. We look at our own continent as a place where we should not spend time.” Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ambassador to South Africa, Bene M'Poko, said for Africa to improve mobility, it would need to build new infrastructure and lessen reliance on routes that were established during the colonial era. “We talk a lot, we dream a lot, but we do not act, and we do not produce. The tourist travels because they want to enjoy themselves, to enjoy different foods and landscapes. But the constraint is infrastructure.”

North-West province growing at 130 per cent.” Most of that travel, he said, was by car with tourists opting for more isolated nature-based and rural destinations. He added that tourists are travelling for distinct reasons, which is an attribute of the new type of travel. “The outbreak of loneliness, pandemic of isolation and epidemic depression has made tourists look for more meaningful travel.” The new type of travel has also spawned the health-conscious tourist, millennials seeking authenticity, and the lowering of barriers for women and people of colour by travel platforms. The South African Government has recognised the value of the domestic market and has made it one of its most important interventions in its Tourism Sector Recovery Plan. It looks to stimulate domestic demand through targeted initiatives and campaigns. www.businesseventsafrica.com

AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT NEWS

From left: Kennedy Agyapong, founder Afrochella (Ghana); Francine Zana, founder and owner, Exclusive Hospitality (South Africa); Elvis Silayo, Lokaday (Tanzania); Luze Kloppers, founder Recycling Lab (Namibia) and moderator: Kim Whitaker, co-founder at Khwela Women & Ubuntu Beds.

Youth-led tourism businesses ushering in new Covid-era tourism Youth-led tourism businesses are bringing fresh ideas to the industry that may be the mainstay for the future.

he second day of Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit opened with a roundtable discussion on youth in tourism and ethical travel. Speaking on the panel, dynamic hospitality entrepreneur Kim Whitaker said that the industry would need to reimagine youth inclusion. “It’s as if we have to say, ‘I’m standing up and I’m ready to take charge.’” Ms Whitaker added that youth-led tourism businesses in Africa need to be given a chance to succeed as too many are deliberately prevented from doing so. “We have ‘tall poppy syndrome’ – the moment you rise as a young entrepreneur in Africa, you get cut down.” Africa is and will remain the youngest continent in the world in the near future. According to the Mo Ibrahim Index, almost 60 per cent of Africa’s population in 2019 was under the age of 25, which Ms Whitaker said could either present problems or possibilities. “With health and education on the rise, youth in Africa are in the position to be incredible entrepreneurs in the next 100 years.” Francine Zana, the director of Exclusive Hospitality Concepts in Gqeberha said youth-led businesses have the ability to succeed with the right support. Ms Zana’s story from humble beginnings to a tourism business owner won her a Lilizela Minister’s Award in 2017 alongside a host of other accolades. It is testament to www.businesseventsafrica.com

her excellent work ethic and the belief that tourism allows people to grow from the bottom all the way to the top. “Tourism is 90 per cent practical, 10 per cent theory, and you need to put in the long hours,” Ms Zana said. Youth want “social media-ready” travel Elvis Silayo, the founder of travel agency Lokaday in Tanzania said that youth are trained to find social media moments out of these experiences. We have had to curate experiences around social media such as Instagram tours. During the Covid-19 lockdown, his company adapted its messaging to one that linked travel to mental health. “We were struggling during Covid, and we had to find a connection between travel and mental well-being. Travel assists with mental health. We tried finding activities and redefined them as mental therapy. So, we offered yoga at the beach and trekking.” In Ghana, Kenny Agyapong is co-founder of Afrochella, an annual festival that celebrates Africa’s diverse culture and its creatives and entrepreneurs, particularly of millennials. Its first edition in 2017 attracted more than 3,000 people. By 2019, 16,000 people from all over the world were at the Accra-based event, which was a testament to his team’s perseverance. “My friends and I were just partying all the time, but we

thought ‘we have to do something about this,’ which is when we produced Afrochella. But it failed three times before it became successful.” Organisers had to postpone the 2020 edition because of the pandemic. But when lockdown eased, they began hosting Amapiano events based on the style of house music originating from South Africa. “We began hosting these events once a month and we began bringing in South African artists.” Such cross-cultural influences and collaboration across the continent are what will assist Africa’s tourism to emerge from a year-long dormancy, said Kim Whitaker. Youth are conscious travellers Luze Kloppers, the founder of Recycling Lab in Windhoek, Namibia, said young travellers base their travel decisions on the impact they have on the planet. “We would like you to show us how you are offsetting carbon after taking a flight. Are you considering green seat options? Is the money I’m paying with actually going somewhere, towards planting a tree to offset the carbon?” Ms Kloppers’ company recycles waste – particularly the large amount of waste from the hospitality industry – into various products such as fencing for farms, compost and biogas.

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PAGE AFRICA’S STRAP TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT

The Sustainability Village at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Talented local artisans and SMMEs featured at the Sustainability Village South African Tourism is continually looking at ways to create market access for SMMEs and to ensure inclusive growth, which is why they hosted a digital Sustainability Village at Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit on 20 and 21 September.

he Sustainability Village is a dynamic corporate gifting option for delegates. Instead of the traditional corporate gifts, South African Tourism gifted gift vouchers to delegates, allowing them to select and buy their own gifts from the vendors thus giving business to these crafters. In line with the hybrid format of the summit, the Sustainability Village also had a digital presence, which enabled easy access for online delegates as well. All crafters formed part of the online platform and delegates attending virtually were able to

use a digital voucher to shop online and the gifts were sent to them via courier after the Summit. Featuring talented local artisans and SMMEs, and their handcrafted goods, the Sustainability Village is a continued effort by the organisation to empower small businesses and promote culture and heritage. All the items sold at the Sustainability Village are made in South Africa and inspired by local culture and traditions. Some are made from recycled materials. The Sustainability Village allowed delegates to take a piece of Africa with them. Given the recent insights on traveller trends, sustainability is a big consideration for any traveller when choosing a destination to visit. The Sustainability Village is a great example of showcasing responsible tourism as it has a direct impact on social upliftment. Some of the vendors who showcased at the Sustainability Village were:

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• Gone Rural – Safari Curios Gone Rural – Safari Curios use traditional skills to produce contemporary Zulu beadwork, including bracelets, earrings and necklaces. They have over eighty women making bead and telephone wire crafts in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Most are the primary breadwinners in their families. • OOH Khamba Ooh Khamba are curators of artisan handmade arts and craft from the Midlands of Kwa-Zulu Natal. They take pride in enabling crafters from this area to make a living using ancient Zulu skills, these range from beautiful fashion to home accessories. • Douglas Design Douglas Design is a family-run business producing beaded wirework. The Chapeta family take inspiration from local flora and fauna. • Isimondeni Jewellery Nomfundo Dlamini, a jewellery designer combines her interest for Zulu www.businesseventsafrica.com

AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT PAGE STRAP

traditional bead work with contemporary designs and silver metalwork resulting in unique and beautiful jewellery with African flair. • Polka.Dot.Coco Two sisters inspired by fashion and Africanism. Nelly and Zee handcraft all their products in Umzinto, South of Durban. They take everyday fashion items like ties and bowties and add an African twist to them. • Nyathi Arts Creations Nyathi Arts Creations is a ceramic studio which creates distinctly African pieces from clay. It is an export ready ceramics manufacturing company, founded by Leonard Nyathi and based in Johannesburg. Products are all handmade and painted and include pots, cups, vases, plates, platters, ceramic garlic graters and wine cooler holders; the studio also takes on bespoke item orders upon request. • Marabou Essentials Marabou Essentials is a passion-fuelled brand of accessories that connects the authenticity of traditional African aesthetics with a modern urban culture and an artistic flair. It is a special craft; think wearable art. It celebrates the freedom for individuality as well as the artistry in fashion. The accessories are inspired by the African aesthetic- the prominence of daring colours, the distinctiveness of bold prints and the inventiveness of intricate patterns. The designs are influenced by clean lines, bold shapes and elegant curves. • Nubian Nature Nubian Nature was founded by Shereen Makhanye in 2013 from realising the difficulty in sourcing locally made products that were specifically made to gently care for African hair. The company has since expanded its product range to include Bath & Body products and Male Grooming products. • African Mamas African Mamas founded by Nomaswazi Tinus offers a stunning selection of handmade, beaded accessories, home décor products and corporate gifts produced from high-quality glass beads and upcycled materials to consumers and corporates • Tshinga Trading Enterprise Tshinga Trading Enterprise founded by Vuyo Mavuso specialises in Afrocentric Handmade bags, accessories, clothing, sandals and a variety of neckpieces using buttons, fabric and nylon thread. www.businesseventsafrica.com

The Sustainability Village at the Sandton Convention Centre.

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COVER AFRICA’S STORY: TRAVEL FANCOURT & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT

Netflix study: SA content creates deeper cultural affinity, potentially drives tourism Netflix has announced the launch of the Made in South Africa content collection — a curated collection featuring over eighty South African films, series, documentaries and reality TV shows created by some of the country’s most prolific talent, both behind and in front of the camera. The collection highlights South African storytellers and talent who have elevated South Africa’s creative industry recognition around the world.

he collection was announced after the global streaming service shared the results from a survey named Cultural Affinity Study at a panel session hosted by SA Tourism at the Africa’s Travel & Tourism Summit. The Cultural Affinity survey came out of the partnership between South African Tourism and the world’s leading content streaming service announced in March this year. With the tourism sector being one of the hardest hit by the Covid-19 Pandemic, South African Tourism looked at creative ways to retain the country as an attractive travel option to global travellers. In March this year, South African Tourism and Netflix agreed to explore joint opportunities that look to showcase South African-made stories that have the ability to drive international arrivals to the country. Speaking at the summit, Shola Sanni, Netflix’s director of public policy for sub-Saharan Africa, said the Made in South Africa collection will be accessible to Netflix’s over 209-million subscribers from over 190 countries and will feature shows included in the Cultural Affinity survey and the much-loved shows and films such as My Octopus Teacher, Blood & Water, JIVA!, How to Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, Trippin’ with the Kandasamys, I Am All Girls, Queen Sono, Kings of Joburg, Santana, Riding with Sugar, Seriously Single and many more. “It is about partnering to showcase the best of the local culture. It is about South Africans telling their stories to the world. There is a connection that happens when people view content and stories on Netflix. What we found is this power to be a cultural ambassador for South Africa and the continent.” Netflix Cultural Affinity survey’s startling results Netflix conducted a Cultural Affinity

survey with subscribers from Canada, Germany, the US, the UK, Brazil and France and found that after watching South African content, they were 3.1 times more likely to make South Africa their number one travel destination while also being 5.6 times more likely to learn a local language. The survey also found that South African content is a powerful vehicle for creating deeper cultural affinity that could drive tourism. “It ties into the objective that tourism boards around the world may leverage the power of storytelling on the service side, translating it into actual tourism numbers. By bringing these insights to government, we thought they could leverage this opportunity to increase actual tourism traffic,” said Ms Sanni. Findings showed that viewers of My Octopus Teacher wanted to visit South Africa for its nature and wildlife, viewers of Blood & Water were attracted to its landmarks and monuments, while viewers of Seriously Single wanted to explore the country’s creative scene. Not only do these stories showcase the beauty of South Africa but also showcase the country as a great film production location for other content creators around the world. “The very first thing for partners to understand is that the more authentic the story is, the more compelling it is for viewers — not the simplistic portrayal of Africa, but the true and authentic side of Africa.” Viewers who participated in the survey were able to relate to the stories and characters in these and other South African productions. “They saw themselves reflected in those stories. One US viewer said they felt people in South Africa have the same aspirations and life experiences as those in their country,” Ms Sanni said.

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Ms Sanni added: “Now, more than ever, digital technology allows us to transcend geographical borders and enable people from around the world to view local content.” Netflix partnership builds soft power Mzilikazi Themba Khumalo, chief marketing officer of South African Tourism, said that the partnership with Netflix would build the soft power base for South Africa and the continent and export the African way of life. “It is so the world may perceive the way in which we are talented, young and fresh and export the whole tapestry from a cultural standpoint.” The partnership between Netflix and South African Tourism was borne from the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic. People were not able to travel and opted for consuming content on platforms such as Netflix. “We saw that as an opportunity to enhance South Africa’s communications to the world as storytelling in the long form,” said Mr Khumalo. He said that destinations have the ability to serve as backdrops for films to attract viewers to those places. “As a tourism body we need to have a backdrop for a story that Netflix would like to tell. If you watch American movies shot in Washington DC, shots of the White House, The Capitol and other key icons in the city are shown. They have built the iconography in the film to project the power of the destination.” According to Ms Sanni, for every original production, 67 per cent of the budget goes to sectors other than film. “Countries must realise that the film industry must be leveraged to fulfil economic deliverables.” www.businesseventsafrica.com

AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT NEWS

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Business Events Africa October 2021 17

COVER STORY: HOTEL GROUP FANCOURT FOCUS

The Kingfisher Suite.

Radisson Hotel Group announces a record year in Africa Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world’s leading hotel groups, is proud to announce a hotel expansion record in Africa with thirteen signings to date, translating to a new hotel signed every 20 days. The group’s expansion drive, adding 2,500 rooms to its African portfolio, includes the announcement of nine hotels in Morocco, the group’s debut in Djibouti and the introduction of the Radisson Individuals brand in Africa. Adding to this expansion milestone, the group has also opened five hotels to date this year, including Africa’s second Radisson RED in South Africa and four Radisson Blu resort offerings in Morocco.

ith additional hotel signings and a further three openings in Africa expected before year end, Radisson Hotel Group remains prudently optimistic regarding the business recovery within the last quarter of 2021. The group’s aggressive expansion places them firmly on track to boost the current African portfolio of almost 100 hotels currently in operation and under development to its ambition of 150 hotels

by 2025. As part of the expansion strategy, the group has put forward growth priorities across key markets such as Morocco, Egypt and South Africa. From a single hotel in Africa 20 years ago, Radisson Hotel Group’s current African portfolio of almost 100 hotels in operation and under development is located in more than 30 countries across the continent, cementing the group’s leading position as the hotel company

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with the largest active presence in the most countries across Africa. The thirteen signings, reinforcing the group’s expansion strategy, have secured a record growth in Morocco with an additional nine hotels, comprising of two hotels in Casablanca, including the debut of the Radisson brand with the Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle and the recent partnership established with Madaëf which translates to seven www.businesseventsafrica.com

COVER HOTEL STORY: GROUP FANCOURT FOCUS

additional hotels across key leisure destinations in the country. The group has also announced the launch of their first project, the Earl Heights Suite Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals in Accra, Ghana joining their new affiliation brand; their market entry in Victoria Falls with the introduction of Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone as well as another new entry with Radisson Hotel Djibouti. The most recent announcement was the Radisson Hotel Middleburg which further complements the group’s presence across South Africa. These hotel signings equate to almost 2,500 rooms, most of which are in the group’s core focus countries, especially across Morocco, with the remainder reinforcing their presence in cluster markets or entering new territories. Ramsay Rankoussi, vice president, development, Africa and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group, said: “For the remainder of the year, we will continue to build on the success and momentum we’ve had thus far, with a continued focus on our identified key markets, specifically Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa. www.businesseventsafrica.com

We aim to further accelerate our presence across the continent through both new build and conversions, especially postpandemic, as there is less liquidity for newer developments. We therefore seek to form wider partnerships and strategic ventures with local or regional chains and forge ahead with our city scale and critical mass strategy.” “The execution of our strategy with clear priorities will equally support in achieving positive economic efficiencies and synergies operationally across all our existing and future hotels, further unlocking value to our owners. We have also demonstrated the relevant flexibility in addressing the current investment climate by providing not only tailored solutions to every project but also rationalising our relationships with our investors to assess the best timings in terms of openings and the right budget allocation in terms of segment, space program and development cost.” “Africa is mainly led by business hotels, but with the recent signings, we have expanded our leisure offerings and serviced apartments, which has not only

proven resilient during Covid-19, but is also fuelling a faster recovery. Our ambitions are driven by creating critical mass in each of our identified focus markets but also ensuring market proximity. These regions are sub-divided based on priorities, focus and potential scale.” “Despite the current situation and supporting our robust expansion strategy, our teams are working tirelessly to realise the pipeline, with eight hotel openings in Africa this year. We have already opened five hotels, consisting of four of the seven hotels we’ve just announced in Morocco, which consist of resorts and residences as well as the opening of Africa’s second Radisson RED hotel in Rosebank. The remaining three hotels, all due to open before year-end, represent our debut in Madagascar with a portfolio of three hotels.” Building on the success of the group’s five-year expansion and transformation plan, Radisson Hotel Group is ready for the rebound of travel and remains firmly committed to becoming the brand of choice for owners, partners, and guests.

Business Events Africa October 2021 19

SPECIAL FEATURE ANNIVERSARY FEATURE

Wild Coast Sun Resort celebrates four decades of operation The Wild Coast Sun, Sun International’s only beach resort on the unspoiled coastline between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, is marking 40 years of creating unforgettable memories.

oday, the resort remains as popular as it was when it first opened. Visitors are able to step out of the hotel and directly onto the beach and they are spoilt for choice by the wide range of activities that have been added over the past 40 years. Built at an initial cost of R25-million, the Wild Coast Sun opened its doors for its soft launch on 18 October 1981 – in what was then the Transkei – and the resort opened to the public on 1 December of that year. Since the early days in the 1980s when a three-night stay, including breakfast and activities commenced at just R139, and staff needed permits to work in the Transkei, a multitude of guests have taken

a walk on the wild side. Prior to Covid-19, the Resort welcomed 309,851 guests a year, on average. “Out of season rates for sea-facing rooms are about R50, and in season, as demand escalates, the price rises to R73,” reads a Sunday Times article on October 25, 1981. “If you’re not well-oiled, you’ll need some luck at the roulette wheel to keep you at this lap of luxury.” During Apartheid, when gambling was illegal in South Africa, Durbanites would flock by bus over weekends to try their luck at the Wild Coast Sun Casino. The Eastern Cape Gambling Board recently granted Wild Coast Sun a 20-year casino licence, bringing certainty to the Resort’s employees

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and surrounding communities. The 750-seat Tropical Nites theatre was equally popular, hosting many international shows. The Resort, straddling the Eastern Cape side of the Mtamvuna River border with KwaZulu-Natal, and which also runs along the Indian Ocean coastline, has an 18-hole Championship golf course designed by leading United States golf course architect Robert Trent Jones II and built for R2-million in May 1983. In 1986/7 the resort was further upgraded and expanded at an additional cost of R25-million, with the addition of a new wing of 136 hotel rooms, a swimming pool and a solarium. The

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ANNIVERSARY PAGE FEATURE STRAP

Convention Centre was built in 1990, and in 2010, the property had a R460-million revamp, with the addition of the Wild Waves Water Park. Today, the four-star hotel boasts 396 well-appointed bedrooms. “A picture of the Wild Coast Sun even featured on the Transkei 10c postage stamp,” said Wild Coast Sun general manager Peter Tshidi, the most recent incumbent who joined the resort in 2019. “From its earliest days as a casino and hotel, the property has an endless array of fun activities — from the Wild Waves Water Park which has become a ‘must do’ on every South Coast holiday, to horse riding on the beach, Segway tours, boat trips, waterskiing and paddle boating,” Mr Tshidi said. Those who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle may head to the Mangwanani Spa, for a total pampering and escape from the real world. “To mark four decades in operation, Wild Coast Sun’s birthday theme is ‘life starts at 40 — let the good times roll,’” Mr Tshidi added.

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Business Events Africa October 2021 21

VENUE NEWS

Aerial view of Spier Hotel.

Spier – repositioning for the future The well-known Spier Wine Farm is repositioning its hospitality offering to better suit emerging travel and business trends.

Spier Hotel Signature Garden Terrace room.

pier is renowned for its hospitality offering, having hosted many large business events and intimate private gatherings over the years. With more businesses implementing remote and hybrid working models, the way people gather for events and meetings has changed considerably. To adapt to these emerging travel and business trends, Spier is realigning its hospitality offering to focus on personalising experiences for smaller groups and parties. As a result, Spier’s Conference Centre will no longer be accommodating large business meetings or events. With a variety of intimate meeting and event venues, such as the renovated Manor House, Spier remains a favourite destination for hosting events and gatherings. The Spier Hotel, with its 80 rooms alongside the Eerste River, continues to be the first choice for many

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visitors to the Stellenbosch Winelands. Andrew Milne, executive chairman at Spier, said: “The global Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors. Travel restrictions and social distancing requirements have placed fresh challenges on hotels and conferencing infrastructure, and we are having to adapt. We see this as a vital moment to change direction. The events we host will be smaller and, with a more personalised hotel experience and, with our tailored food and beverage offering, guests will continue to enjoy the high-quality treatment they associate with Spier.” Spier will be providing a new food and wine experience that reflects its core values of sustainability, regenerative farming practices and local sourcing. In the coming months, the Spier Hotel will offer an enhanced dining experience ideally suited to smaller groups. www.businesseventsafrica.com

VENUE NEWS

Conference – Manor House De Clerque (above) and the Hotel Boardroom table (right). Hotel – wine bar with fireplace (below).

With a variety of intimate meeting and event venues, Spier remains a favourite destination for hosting events and gatherings.

Business Events Africa October 2021 23

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

Tourism 101 needed to recover from Covid-19 blitzkrieg For South Africa to rebuild its tourism industry amidst the ravaging effects of Covid-19, it will need a ‘tourism for dummies’ approach — ensure the safety of tourists, have a coherent strategy and create an enabling business environment. In other words, let’s get back to basics.

By Hamza Farooqui, Founder and CEO of Millat Investments.

here are three things that South Africa’s tourism has going for itself: year-round mild climate, welcoming people and authentic cultural diversity. But there are three things that go against it: an absence of safety, a lack of coherence between all tourism role-players and the unwillingness to be open for business on a global scale. All these cracks need to be addressed if we are to rebuild tourism. It really comes down to government getting the basics right first. It needs to create an environment in which tourism businesses, particularly global brands, may thrive. Make South Africa safe for tourists I hail from an immigrant family who came to these shores seeking a better future. Over the years we have seen the country evolve from the euphoria of 1994 to the urgent need for constructive economic growth. As a family, we are deeply committed to playing our part. In many respects, it probably has to do with our history as immigrants, who have fire in their bellies to bring about change and make an impact on their adopted home. However, spurts of xenophobic attacks

over the last decade, and not forgetting the recent riots, have made South Africa a destination to avoid. Racism is still embedded in our structures. All these issues have made us insular, effectively cutting us off from the global tourism ecosystem. We do not even consider Africans coming into our country as inbound tourists, yet they made up nearly 80 per cent of our foreign arrivals before and during the Covid-19 era. In addition, the vaccination rollout, while steady, has been achingly slow. Until then, just 17-million vaccinations had been administered since the rollout began in February this year. As a result, the UK had placed South Africa on the red list for travel meaning that British tourists – wishing to visit South Africa – had to undergo ten days of quarantine when they returned to their home country. It made South Africa an unattractive destination. Estimates put the loss of revenue at R26-million per day. Our traditional major source markets, Germany and the US, have only made travel to and from South Africa easier as of September. But we cannot continue complaining and waiting for the UK to open. We need to act and look for

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alternate markets. We have the ability to attract tourists from countries in the Middle East, China and India – all of which have a growing middle and upper class that is hungry to travel and consume our authentic offerings. We just need to begin focusing on bringing them here. In fact, the UK and Europe have been key beneficiaries of the Middle East for years – we may take a page from that playbook and apply it to our strategy. But we chose not to because we continue to stick to what is familiar and comfortable. Such self-made problems may be rectified through political will. The forthcoming new age of tourism will not be kind to countries that have lacklustre safety policies. Conscious travellers will be looking for destinations that are crime free, familyfriendly, politically stable and adherent to Covid-19 regulations. A need for a coherent strategy Considering the Coronavirus’ decimation of tourism, the South African government drew up a sectoral recovery plan to recuperate the industry to pre-Covid levels. But the plan fails to mention a coherent public-private strategy. www.businesseventsafrica.com

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

Government claims to recognise tourism as one of the economy’s crucial industries, that has the ability to lift the country out of its quagmire. This sentiment is clear in its Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. Yet the government’s actions are contrary. A R4.1-billion budget for tourism is not sufficient for recovery. The tourism department received even less in the years before Covid-19. The previous finance minister, Tito Mboweni, said in his Budget Speech in February that the department reprioritised R540 million for the Tourism Equity Fund to support recovery. And that was about all that was said on tourism. It has been reported that foreign tourists put off travel to South Africa for a later stage as it is seen as a long-haul, once-in-a-lifetime destination. I believed this too, until Australia made that excuse irrelevant. Statistics show that of the 9.4-million international arrivals Down Under in 2019, more than 370,000 were from the US and 344,000 were from the UK. The industry contributed almost AUD61-billion (R660-billion) to the country’s GDP. That is because Australia has driven a collective approach from all levels of government and the private sector. Both sectors run with the same messaging and have the same agenda. More than that, we need to consider an aviation policy which is accessible and open. Have we ever considered an open skies approach? The country needs to sort out its airlift problems. It had been without a national carrier since September 2020. Only in September this year did South African Airways take to the skies again, opening routes between major South African cities and five other African destinations. Statistics show that Africa makes up just two percent global airlift. Just how much of that share South Africa occupies is unknown. It is time that we have an open skies policy, at least for our fellow African countries. It would make South Africa an airline hub for the rest of the continent. A national carrier is important, but even more so is the success of a vibrant tourism market. We need to look beyond politics and what other parts of the world have done. We will need to do more if we are to present South Africa as a hub status for Africa, South America and the Middle East. Reconsidering our aviation policy and being accessible to the world will be a step in the right direction. www.businesseventsafrica.com

Let’s finally be open for business Tourism is a super-sector. It is the only industry that involves other sectors such as manufacturing, information technology and transport. To effectively tap into this opportunity, there needs to be a willingness to do business on the global stage. South Africa cannot remain insular any longer. We could begin by building our domestic market as a base. Studies have shown that South Africans mainly travel within the country to visit family and friends. This does not need to be the only reason any longer. The Coronavirus has given us the opportunity to build a well-oiled local tourism industry based on leisure travel with niche offerings. While Sho’t Left Travel Week is admirable in its intentions, dedicating one week every September is not going to entice the average South African to visit their own backyard. In addition, the discounts offered are paltry, with many luxury establishments charging rates to locals that are reserved for elite or foreign tourists. Travel for South Africans should be made accessible and affordable. Big local brands still dominate the tourism landscape with an outdated product and service culture delivered as if they are doing the customer – and the tourism industry overall – a favour. Such arrogance continues to make tourism inefficient. The need for global brands to bring a change, competition, agility, skills and global best practice is even more relevant today. In addition, the introduction of such brands will bring the country’s tourism on par with the global ecosystem as they generate an international presence and awareness of South Africa as a destination. These brands play a key role in attracting fair market share purely by being in a destination. They are a driver for destination marketing. Tourism still an employment powerhouse When tourism rebounds amidst the Covid-19 chaos, it will recapture its capability to be a major employer. PreCovid statistics show that it contributed 4.5 per cent of total employment in South Africa and remained resilient in tough economic times. We will, once again, look to tourism to mend the current 34 per cent unemployment rate. The private sector, particularly global brands, will play a part in developing the employees’ skills. It has the ability to

Who is Hamza Farooqui? Hamza Farooqui is the founder and chief executive officer of Millat Investments. The company had recently reopened its property Hyatt Regency Cape Town under a management agreement with Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The group will also be working with Millat to introduce for the first time in Africa its extended stay brand, the Hyatt in Rosebank and Sandton. Millat is currently aggressively growing its pipeline in South Africa. partner with tertiary institutions in growing a workforce fit for the industry. It will have to take the lead because tourism businesses bring global best practice and world-class training. But government would first need to create an enabling environment for these businesses to exist and thrive. They are required to have the resolve and ability to execute their plans. We require less talk and more action. In 2019, we only attracted 15.8-million foreign tourists. That is almost 10-million less than what the city of Venice receives in a year. And with Covid-19, South Africa’s figures dropped by 71 per cent to just 5-million foreign arrivals. We need to be smarter when it comes to attracting tourists. We need to find a way to place the country high on the global agenda. South Africa needs to stop being arrogant. Not every tourist is eager to visit our country. South Africa is not the only destination from which to choose. The sooner we understand this, the sooner we will be able to attract an abundance of tourists, create jobs and revive the tourism industry.

Business Events Africa October 2021 25

WOMEN INVENUE HERITAGE INDUSTRY

Sanctuary Mandela celebrates Heritage Month The Sanctuary Mandela has officially opened its doors to the public with up to 45 per cent off on all the available rooms, for bookings commencing now until the end of October and for stays from now until 31 December.

n celebration of Heritage Month in September, South Africans are able to stay and experience Johannesburg’s newest hotel in the leafy suburbs of Houghton. People are invited to an experience of tranquillity, heritage and mindfulness at the home where the country’s first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela, lived after his release from Robben Island. The Sanctuary Mandela was officially opened at the beginning of September 2021, to mark this year’s Tourism Month. The reimagined home commemorates the country’s dynamic political heritage, by celebrating the life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, best and globally known for his role in the fight against Apartheid South Africa. It harmoniously curates his life,

from when he was a boy, to when he fought the human rights injustices of the Apartheid regime, his 27-years imprisonment, his presidency, and to becoming a Nobel Peace Prize winner, father of the nation, peacemaker and Tata Madiba. Dimitri Maritz, general manager of the Sanctuary Mandela, said: “It has been a work of dreams and, after so many years of planning and building, we are finally ready to welcome people to this home. We would like everyone to experience this. From the food, the rooms, to the personalised experiences; we would like people to stay here and leave this sanctuary fulfilled and inspired by the spirit of one of the greatest human beings to ever live amongst us.”

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HERITAGE CASE VENUE STUDY

Mam Xoliswa Ndoyiya, Nelson Mandela’s former private chef.

The Sanctuary Mandela also offers some very intriguing aspects of Tata that are not necessarily widely known. An itinerary at this remarkable home includes an educational experience of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory where South Africans are able to learn more about Tata. Mam Xoliswa Ndoyiya, Tata’s former private chef, continues to cook in the kitchen at the Sanctuary Mandela, serving his favourite dishes to the public at the Insights Restaurant. “The most exciting aspect about the Insights Restaurant at the Sanctuary Mandela is that it is open for walk-ins. This means that both the people who stay and those who don’t, are able eat here. It makes me so happy because it allows us to cook for many more people, something Tata would’ve been very proud of,” said Ms Ndoyiya, chef de tournant at Sanctuary Mandela. “And now that we are open to the public, we are eagerly looking forward to making all the traditional dishes Tata used to enjoy in this house,” Ms Ndoyiya added. Beginning now, South Africans are able to book a stay and receive a 45 per cent discount on all rooms. Bookings may be made for stays between now and the end of December 2021. Sanctuary Mandela offers nine comfortable and spacious bedrooms with air conditioners and all modern conveniences in four room categories. Hotel amenities include a restaurant and a bar/lounge, outdoor heated pool, daily housekeeping, full breakfast, free Wifi, DSTV, 24-hour safe and secure parking and conferencing facilities. To book, use the online tool or email reservations@sanctuarymandela.com www.businesseventsafrica.com

Business Events Africa October 2021 27

CASE STUDY COMPANY UPDATE

Inspire Furniture directors from left, Graham Weakley, creative director; Chad Botha and Alastair Laing, co-founders, look to new horizons.

Inspire Furniture – thinking out the box Inspire Furniture has been a market leader in the furniture rental business since it was established in 2014 in Chad’s garage in Edenvale. The company grew significantly through innovation, networking and ensuring they were able to meet the industry’s requirements.

nspire Furniture, like many other events, exhibition and tourism companies, has had to be very strategic to sustain the business model and to ensure that they will be able to supply the industry once it returns to normal. Irene Costa, editor of Business Events Africa met with the Inspire Furniture co-founders Chad Botha, Alastair Laing and Graham Weakley, who only joined the group recently and is the co-founder of Prop Stars one of the oldest and most

well-known prop supply companies in South Africa Graham is currently working as the creative director for the group and the three of them offered some insight into their strategy going forward. The company’s objective is to be the most sought after one stop specialist furniture and prop rental company in Southern Africa, offering the largest variety of furniture and props, and through development of systems and operations offer the most efficient service in the industry.

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The primary traditional market being events and exhibitions, road shows, activations, and general functions. The strategy is to grow the wedding and prop business to supply the film industry, both which have immense potential for growth and to expand into long term furniture rentals and the house staging market. Chad mentioned the priority was to work together with everyone in the supply chain. “We continuously communicated with the landlord and supplier. The landlords were the key to www.businesseventsafrica.com

COMPANY MARKET UPDATE NEWS

ensuring long-term sustainability. It is all about approach and understanding that just about everyone has lost money and many their livelihood, and that we were not the only company affected. “We have collaborated with many other companies that suffered losses through Covid and pooled our resources to try and assist each other where possible. One such company being Prop Stars who merged the brand into Inspire.” Alastair mentioned finding the right partners was important and this has always been a critical success factor for Inspire, one such partner has to be Prop Stars. “There is a lot of common ground, with Prop Stars who in the past, not only supplied props to the film industry but offered a variety of funky, retro furniture which Inspire did not

it has been an integral part of Inspire’s growth from its inception. Alastair stated: “We have been in constant communication with suppliers and creditors to find a way forward.” Chad raised the point that the tourism and hospitality industry were the hardest hit with Covid and the lack of a quick response from the government has put a lot of company’s livelihoods in jeopardy. His priority has always been the staff who are the backbone of any company. “TERS has been my biggest stress ever, it has been extremely frustrating and the lack of communication from government has been disappointing. However, despite this we have found a way to wade through the storm,” he said. Chad’s approach has always been, “Every cloud has a silver lining.” Alastair seconded this, he said: “Overall

to generating substantial income that supports the local GDP.” Furthermore, he believes it is a total misconception that only SMMES need assistance. All three agreed that they are a small part of an incredible industry which is vibrant, exciting, and continually challenging. The industry has some great people who we believe are some of the most resourceful, hardworking and resolute individuals.” “We are constantly exploring ways to generate revenue, grow through collaboration and resources and we are currently speaking to various individuals and companies within and out of the industry to secure opportunities that are available,” Chad said. Inspire has recently entered a partnership with a venue, east of Pretoria, formerly The Barnyard at the Parkview Centre in Pretoria. Chad said: “It is a multi-purpose

With regulations easing, it is important for all of us in the industry to manage the expectations of our clients as it will take a while to recover from this Covid hangover. have. Graham with his designer flair, contacts, and knowledge of the film industry will provide a major contribution to the Inspire group.” Chad added: “This was a really easy connection. We have lots of space and a wide variety of furniture. Prop Stars creates sets and requires props and furniture, so in collaborating, we are able to tap into a growing market and offer much more than before. We have built a film studio at our premises in Wynberg and intend to create a filming hub for the industry, to be used for advertisements, music videos, film sets, YouTube videos and we have many ideas in the pipeline to expand on this. We are able to offer various Studio Packages which include the use of the furniture in the warehouse as part of the package, so people will be spoilt for choice whilst filming.” Graham confirmed that the deal just makes sense. “By combining our resources, we are able to provide a new integrated service, diversify and expand our operations.” Another such partner is Unlimited Events Group. Unlimited is part of the Inspire Group but still independent, www.businesseventsafrica.com

government has made promises over this period and not kept to many of them, so we have had to find a way to ensure we can rely on ourselves to go forward.” “When it comes to regulations, our sector has always excelled with the necessary guidelines and the pandemic made no difference, the sector heeded the call and set up new safety and health guidelines from the beginning, with no avail. This has been the most frustrating, not being able to operate.” With regulations easing, it is important for all of us in the industry to manage the expectations of our clients as it will take a while to recover from this Covid hangover. Organisers of events need to act responsibly and mitigate as much as possible the probability of recurrent waves. Inspire has worked hard to survive during this pandemic, as have all other suppliers. In total, the Group employs around 270 people. Chad said: “I believe government’s focus has been on supporting SMMEs – which unfortunately does not come close to a large operation’s far-reaching economic benefits from employment

venue, which has the ability to easily adapt to the different levels of lock down and all Covid-19 requirements by offering five different areas, each divided with their own separate entrance and an outdoor area.” The venue is named Metropolis, with the plan to go national should the demand arise. “This venue has excellent facilities and sound and will be utilised for conferences and events,” Graham added. Chad said: “Inspire has also entered into a shared joint venture with Reed Venue Management with the focus being retractable bleaches and grandstands that were used previously at the Dome. We are exploring ways of utilising these for events. Inspire has the experience to manage off-site logistics and Reed own the bleaches, which they would have either sold or tried to use to generate revenue.” In conclusion, Chad’s philosophy is: ‘unity is strength’ and it must be a win-win for all parties. “Our industry is in crisis, but that did not stop us from continually finding solutions, adapting, researching opportunities and finding new partners,” he concluded.

Business Events Africa October 2021 29

VENUE NEWS

CTICC proves its mettle as an essential public service site Cape Town’s CTICC proves its mettle as an essential public service site and key partner for the Western Cape’s proposed vaccination and tourism recovery programs. It was always the intention of the CTICC’s founders to create a vital hub of social, civil and economic value for the city and its surrounds – and its current status as a highly efficient public vaccination centre is certainly crucial to the Western Cape reaching its goal of achieving a 70 per cent vaccinated population.

ince July 2021, the iconic Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has been home to one of the Western Cape's largest vaccination centres, the Vaccination Centre of Hope, where over 90,000 people have received their Covid-19 vaccinations. The vaccination centre is a partnership with the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Government, Discovery Health, and the CTICC to accelerate the vaccination programme within the Western Cape. Currently, close to 2,000 citizens are vaccinated each day at the centre. This impressive achievement is thanks to the medical and administrative staff of the Western Cape Province, who have worked tirelessly with the team at the CTICC and their partners. The CTICC staff and suppliers have been instrumental in the day-to-day operations of the vaccination site. The team provides

ushering, cleaning, maintenance of sanitisation stands, electrical and lighting, ensuring the air-conditioning systems are working correctly, technical support, and a friendly welcome. The CTICC’s reliable and fast internet connection also allows for the management of bookings and registrations. Taubie Motlhabane, chief executive officer of CTICC, said: “The recovery of tourism is highly dependent on the ability of people to be able to meet safely. Any support we are able to provide to assist in a faster recovery of the tourism industry is of paramount importance to us,” Ms Motlhabane added, “We are also extremely proud to say that so far, 87 per cent of our entire staff complement of 155 have received their first jab. 100 of the 155 staff are fully vaccinated.” By combining public and private sector resources and capacity, the Vaccination

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Centre of Hope offers access to the Covid-19 vaccine to both medical scheme members and uninsured citizens, free of charge, through payment agreements between the Department of Health and medical aids. The CTICC’s current function as an essential health resource and support centre is indicative of its role and intention to remain a key player in the city’s landscape — and an ever-evolving hub of innovation and resourcefulness. Deon Cloete, chairperson of the Cape Town International Convention Centre Company (Convenco), said: “The only way to get ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic is to work together. This project began back in March 2021 and came online when our citizens needed it most. The CTICC is proud to be part of this equal opportunity effort. Together, we are able to safeguard our communities and make a difference in many people’s lives.” www.businesseventsafrica.com

VENUE NEWS

Sun International’s The Palace of the Lost City at Sun City at night.

Sun International launches new online booking platform Sun International has launched a new direct booking hotel reservation platform. The new booking engine shows room availability at all Sun International hotels, and also suggests alternative dates if the ones requested are not available. Travellers may also secure their reservations by using the simple and safe online payment process.

www.businesseventsafrica.com

raham Wood, Sun International’s group chief operating officer for hospitality said: “In addition to being fast, our new booking engine is also extremely easy to use. It takes just a few quick, easy steps to find and book the best rates.” Another first for Sun International is that the new booking engine also allows users to purchase accommodation vouchers to gift to others. “Bookings aren’t limited to the person making the booking. They may also be used to purchase vouchers that will be valid for up to three years. Gift a getaway to family and friends to mark anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions, or simply to show your appreciation to important people in your life. A Sun International accommodation voucher is an enduring way to appreciate

special people in your life,” Mr Wood said. In addition to the iconic Sun City resort, Sun International’s other equally exciting properties include the Wild Coast Sun resort, a slice of beach paradise on the tropical South Coast, the luxurious Table Bay hotel in Cape Town, The Maslow Sandton and The Maslow Time Square in Gauteng, the beach-facing Boardwalk in Gqeberha, The Golden Valley Lodge in Worcester’s beautiful Hex River Valley, The Sibaya Lodge in Durban’s Umhlanga Rocks, and Meropa in Polokwane, an ideal gateway to the Kruger National Park. Hotel vouchers are also ideal for corporates to use as part of their rewards and incentive programmes. New sign-ups to the newsletter will receive a 10 per cent discount. Booking engine link: https://www.suninternational.com/

Business Events Africa October 2021 31

PERSONALITY PROFILE

There is potential for future growth in hospitality Mesfin Abdi, 50, general manager of Radisson Blu Hotel Addis Ababa, believes in hard work and strives to serve. He was born and bred in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

r Abdi said, looking back: “I would have liked to join the hospitality industry earlier in my career. “I enjoy that there is a lot of potential for future growth, and through hospitality. There are many positives and I enjoy the fact that you have the ability to do things for other people.” Mr Abdi said: “I joined my current employer, Radisson Blu Addis Ababa in 2014 as HR manager. I was promoted to director for human resources and training and then executive assistant manager. In April 2020 I became the acting general manager and took on my current position permanently in October 2020.” After school, he completed a teacher training certificate at Kotebe Teacher Training College. “I obtained my business administration degree from Washington International University. Subsequently, I completed a leadership management training course at the International Leadership Management Institute in the UK. My working career commenced as an assistant PE teacher at the Sandford International School, which works according to the British curriculum. I fulfilled several positions at the school and eventually became a school administrator. Following that, I joined the department for international development at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa. Initially, I was technical support office administrator and eventually became the office manager, after working there for ten years,” Mr Abdi said.

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www.businesseventsafrica.com

PERSONALITY PROFILE

There is a bright future for the hospitality industry in Africa, especially in Ethiopia. Observing the hospitality industry, Mr Abdi said: “There is a bright future for the hospitality industry in Africa, especially in Ethiopia. Until recently there were only two internationally branded hotels in the country. Now there are five internationally managed hotels and a few international hotels which are franchised. In a country with a population of 110 million and a city which is the headquarters for the African Union and well over 100 embassies and numerable UN and international organisations, Addis Ababa has good potential to be a place to attract many visitors who require internationally branded hotels, as well as local hotels offering international standards.” “It is great to see that the Ethiopian government is supporting the hospitality industry and most universities now offer degrees in hotel management etc. Ethiopia has many places that are popular with tourists and there is also great potential for hotels to open outside the capital in areas where tourist numbers are increasing. The Radisson Hotel Group recognises the importance of offering high class accommodation for tourists and international visitors in places such as Bahir Dar,” Mr Abdi added. How long have you been in the sector? I began working in the hospitality industry in 2014. What has been the biggest change you’ve seen in this sector? When I joined the Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa, the hospitality industry had just begun picking up and was a sector many people aspired to join. It began attracting investors and highly qualified people. Are you married? Yes, my wife is Jane Malone and we have a daughter. www.businesseventsafrica.com

What is the most memorable place you have ever been to, and why? I went on a family holiday to Switzerland which was memorable and amazing. Everything worked like clockwork.

What role does your family play in your life? Without their support I wouldn’t be where I am today. Do you have any hobbies? I enjoy watching football and spending time with friends and family.

What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs? I would avoid a large group holiday.

Do you play any sports? Yes, golf. What is your favourite sport? My favourite sport is football and my favourite sports person was Maradona. I am an Arsenal supporter. What do you do for leisure? I enjoy getting out of town at weekends, when I get the opportunity. What is your secret to success? I work hard and try my best when faced with challenges. What is one of the challenges you find working with guests? At times, it is difficult to deal with guests when you know that they are wrong, but you must treat them as if they are right.

If you could be anyone for the day, who would you be and why? I would like to be one of those people who gives up so much to support others without receiving the recognition they deserve. I could learn how they see the world from their perspective. What is your favourite city? My favourite city is London because it is so multi-cultural and, if you work hard, you may be recognised. What is your favourite book and TV programme? I enjoy reading historical books about Ethiopia and a book called Blood and Sand by Frank Gardner. I enjoyed watching the Apprentice. How do you relax? I socialise with friends and watch TV.

What has been your biggest challenge in this sector? The biggest challenge is finding and maintaining skilled manpower.

What is your favourite food? My favourite food is fish and chips.

What is your pet hate? I dislike it when people don’t give their full commitment to the task assigned, as well as bad timekeeping.

What is the most impulsive thing you have ever done? I am not an impulsive person.

Who is your role model? One of my bosses from my previous employment. He is someone I gained a great deal of guidance from. He taught me to empower and trust others.

What is your advice to newcomers, aspiring to follow in your footsteps? My advice to newcomers is to work hard and be confident in attempting new things.

Who is your favourite movie star? Morgan Freeman.

What is your dream for the future? To grow within the hospitality industry.

Business Events Africa October 2021 33

CHEF’S PROFILE

Danielle Adams – making simple food really good Meet Danielle Adams, one of the Western Cape’s rising young food stars who, at the tender age of 24, has been appointed head chef at Cassia Restaurant, which is based at the Nitida Wine Farm in the Durbanville Valley.

anielle, who hails from Kuils River in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, has always had an affinity for food and the emotions and memories certain dishes may invoke. “There are distinctive flavours and aromas I still remember smelling as a child; such as my grandma’s braaied lamb chops. I grew up observing a lot of cooking and baking, my grandma baked from home as a source of income. I was constantly at the table watching her prepare pastry from scratch, baking cakes and waiting for tasters. “As a teenager I enjoyed preparing meals for my family and as I matured it

became my passion, my stress reliever and my happy place. Throughout high school, cooking helped me deal with exam anxiety. I recall how I would prepare a meal or make a dessert before studying, because being in the kitchen calmed me and helped me clear my mind.” After matriculating, Danielle’s consumer studies subject was the lowest mark on her certificate, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing her career path and in 2015 she began studying at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) Hotel School in Granger Bay. “It was a three-year course which required me to participate in workintegrated learning,” Danielle said.

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“My first placement was at Crystal Towers Century City and my second placement was at Cassia Restaurant.” After completing her placement at Cassia, Danielle was requested to stay on, but she was determined to return to university and complete her degree which she did in 2018. “A few days after I graduated, I returned to Cassia to see if they would still have me and fortunately, they agreed.” Danielle began as a commis chef in November 2018 and a year later was promoted to chef tournant. That was followed by a promotion to junior sous chef in early 2020 and by the end of that www.businesseventsafrica.com

CHEF’S PROFILE

year she was offered the head chef position. “It caught me completely off-guard, but during the time I’ve been at Cassia, I’ve always put my head down and worked really hard. “The general perception of being a chef in today’s industry is totally wrong. Students think that it’s all fancy and basically a cooking show, but what they eventually come to realise is that it’s not. It’s hard work, long hours, missing family events — literally blood, sweat and tears. It’s taken a lot of sacrifice and hard work to get where I am and I’m grateful for the opportunity which was given to me, because that’s all you need; just one opportunity; what you do with it, is up to you,” Danielle said. As head chef, Danielle manages a team of eight in the kitchen and is responsible for ordering produce, regular stocktakes, setting up weekly rosters, ensuring hygiene practices are maintained and – her favourite part – developing new ideas for menus. “My position has afforded me the opportunity to challenge myself mentally and allowed me free rein in terms of my creativity, regarding our menus. It affords me the opportunity to make people happy. I don’t know about you, but good food makes me happy and my job provides me with the opportunity to do that. “I also love challenging my creativity, using classic ingredients in different ways and utilising unique plating styles but giving it my own personal touch. I feel like a child in a playground.” It’s that creativity and personal touch that has Cassia’s regular diners so excited about the restaurant’s new menu. The current menu took Danielle over a month to perfect and finalise. “The idea is to take your palette on an adventure of textures, so you begin with the crunchy biscotti and the crystallised sugar of the Amarula brûlée and then you head to the smooth texture of the dark chocolate piped brûlée and lastly you end with a warm chocolate crème, with a little bit of a kick.” “It really consumed me,” she said. “There would be random times when an idea would pop into my head and if I were in the kitchen, I would try it out immediately. But sometimes it would be at 2am, so I would make a note and try it out later. “I also love taking simple dishes and www.businesseventsafrica.com

making them really good and then plate the food in a manner which elevates it. You should challenge yourself to think out of the box and take risks, but at the same time remember that simplicity and flavour is key. You may use all types of elements, such as a smoking cloche or a spume gun, but if your food doesn’t taste any good, the rest doesn’t matter.” In terms of food trends, Danielle said: “Consumers have begun taking a lot more interest in healthier food. Covid has made people become more healthconscious in maintaining or improving their health and to accomplish it within their means. Many people have been retrenched and now that restrictions are being eased, customers require value for money. As a restaurant we must cater for a wider variety of customers but still be affordable.” On the global front, Danielle said: “One of the main trends is meat free consumers. Customers would like more vegan and vegetarian options included in menus. Restaurants are required to be creative in providing and catering to suit all types of customers. If you have ever observed people at a restaurant, the first thing they do is take a picture of their dish and this has resulted in chefs constantly looking for ways to elevate dishes and make them more Instagrammable!” So, what does the future hold for this talented young woman? “Over the next five years I would like to broaden my knowledge regarding food, concepts and plating and I would like to create dishes that only Cassia is known for. It’s always been a dream of mine to own a food truck – producing gourmeton-the-go food – so hopefully, I will achieve that goal. “But, as they say, ‘we make plans and God laughs’, so I guess I’ll just have to see what the big man upstairs has planned for me.” For leisure Danielle enjoys taking drives along the coast and discovering new places. “Seeing where the road takes me and ending it off with a good meal.” Danielle’s hobbies are reading, spending time with her dogs, working out… occasionally and walking on the beach. Her advice for newcomers aspiring to become a head chef is: “It requires hard work, discipline and sacrifice. You must put in extra hours and be prepared for early mornings and very late nights. My overall advice to you would be to find a

system that works for you, but always keep a cool head and remember your kitchen staff are there to help you lighten the load, so learn to rely and depend on your staff. Communicate with your staff, so that both parties are on the same page.” What is your signature dish? Brown mushroom risotto and smoked chicken topped with tempura Shimeji mushrooms. I sauté brunoised brown mushrooms and red onion in a saucepan until soft, then add Arborio rice with a splash of white wine and mushroom stock. Cook on a low heat until the rice is almost done. The chicken breast is soaked in brine and smoked with rooibos-infused smoking chips. Once the breast is cooked, it’s shredded and added to the risotto which is then finished off with cream, parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon. Finally, the dish is topped with tempura shimeji mushrooms. I would pair this dish with our Nitida Pinot Noir 2020. Which trends are emerging in the conference industry regarding food? Canapés and finger foods. Small plates of delicious bites to allow attendees to network during their breaks. It’s out with the large portions and in with the elegant small portions that delegates may eat while moving around. What has remained constant in this industry? Good service, great food and affordability. What is your favourite beverage? Chai latte from Vida Café. What is your favourite food? I will drive all the way to Kalk Bay for a piece of their fresh, deep fried hake fillet and chips, but at home it would be simple Asian-style chicken noodles. What is your pet peeve? People who chew with their mouth open. What is your great love? I’m actually doing it right now... being a chef is what I love. While everyone is enjoying their meals, we are in the kitchen – behind hot stoves – so I guess you must love what you do. For me it is working long hours in the heat just to make others happy.

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MARKET NEWS

Lindiwe Rakharebe scoops two awards for leadership Despite the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought travel and conference tourism to a standstill, Lindiwe Rakharebe, chief executive officer of the Durban ICC, has bagged a second award– in two months – for her leadership qualities.

indiwe has just won the Leadership Award in the third annual Sebenza Awards, which focuses on recognising and celebrating top women for their brilliance, strength, and achievements in various fields of work. Ms Rakharebe, who has been at the helm of Africa’s leading convention centre since April 2015, also took top honours last month in the Venue Representative of the Year category of the seventh Women in MICE Awards. Meetings magazine and The Planner Guru website jointly hosted the celebration of the leading Women in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry to recognise the important role women play in the sector. Ms Rakharebe’s award was given to ‘the woman who has ensured the highest standards of guest and staff well-being by moving swiftly to implement measures that not only meet all requirements but exceed them’. Ms Rakharebe said she owed the two latest awards to every man and woman employed at the Durban ICC. “A leader is only as good as the team. It is the fortitude and resilience of our employees that has ensured the Durban ICC is post-pandemic ready.

“The success of our business depends on the satisfaction of our clients which, in turn, depends on the quality of the product we deliver and the level of customer service we provide. We set our goals high, working to achieve 100 per cent satisfaction from our clients and exhibitors." “Unfortunately, at the beginning of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic impacted our business more profoundly than anything to date. Nevertheless, we are filled with pride for all that we accomplished despite the challenges. As they say, ‘tough times don’t last; tough teams do’,” Ms Rakharebe said. Kini Shandu, the founder of the Sebenza Awards, said that for too long, women in South Africa have been marginalised and still face gender-based violence daily. “The Sebenza Awards brings about equality by identifying stars performing exceptional, extraordinary work in various sectors. We shine the spotlight on women, their contributions and position them in areas that create opportunities for them to excel even more,” Ms Shandu said. Ms Shandu added that Ms Rakharebe’s award was even more significant, coming at a time when the pandemic hit the Durban ICC particularly hard, as it relies

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heavily on gatherings, which have been severely restricted as local, national and international travel came to a halt. Glen Mashinini, chairman of the Board of Durban ICC, said: “However, our Lindiwe ensured that contingency measures were put in place to ensure the Durban ICC continued to provide the highest levels of infrastructure and service standards. “We are proud of the Leadership Award bestowed on Ms Rakharebe for her sound leadership and outstanding achievements at a critical time. “Her strengths, which include vision, inspiration, interpersonal communication and strategic and critical thinking have motivated the Durban ICC team’s efforts to put new measures in place, uphold all principles of corporate governance, diligent oversight and efficient financial and supply chain processes during a most challenging period,” he said. Meanwhile, the Durban ICC has been nominated for the title of World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2021 on the World Travel Awards and hopes to win the heavily contested accolade at WTA’s Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2021, which will take place in Moscow on 26 November 2021. www.businesseventsafrica.com

MARKET NEWS

SYSPRO partners with Chef’s with Compassion to tackle SA food crisis As food rescue organisation Chefs with Compassion (CWC) celebrated its 2 million meal milestone since launching in May 2020, software company, SYSPRO, has announced a partnership aimed at reducing unnecessary food waste and alleviating hunger.

hile millions of people around the world go hungry, it is hard to believe that around 30 per cent of the world’s food is being wasted, with 10.3 million tons being wasted in South Africa alone. There is no single solution that would end hunger within South Africa or across the globe. A challenge like this requires a collaborative effort. Chefs with Compassion is a non-profit organisation that aims to rescue food, cook and feed it to hungry South Africans. Launched in May 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, CWC has provided over 2.1 million meals across Gauteng and aims to continue if the need – and the supply of nutritious rescued food – remains. “Producing over 2 million meals is an incredible feat and we could not be prouder to partner with an organisation such as Chefs with Compassion. It is incredibly disheartening to see tons of food wasted each year, while thousands of South Africans are going hungry. We at SYSPRO are excited to see what we may bring to the table as we tackle the hunger crisis within South Africa,” said Angela Chandler, SYSPRO sales and branch administrator. Rescue, cook, feed Currently, CWC produces over 18,000 meals per week, which requires extremely large amounts of fresh produce and ingredients. Through a network of volunteers and food donors, CWC has rescued 731 tons of food surplus that would otherwise have gone to www.businesseventsafrica.com

waste. This food rescue effort not only reduces the amount of food wasted, significantly reducing the impact on the environment through harmful methane gases, but lays the foundation for CWC’s operations. Once the produce and ingredients have been collected, community cooks, caterers and compassionate chefs across the province prepare, cook, and distribute nutritious meals to the thousands of South Africans in need. Today, 32 kitchens and 30 beneficiary organisations are part of CWC’s network. Within South Africa, 600,000 children and 20 million adults go hungry every day. To meet this need, CWC aims to ramp up its operations from 18,500 meals to 100,000 meals per week. While this is nowhere near solving the hunger problem within South Africa, every meal produced will have a positive impact on the lives of food-vulnerable people and progesses CWC one step closer to their goal. There is still much work to do CWC’s mission is simple. Rescue, cook and feed. However, alleviating hunger in South Africa is far more complicated and will require a concerted effort, not only from NPO’s but government, civil society and the private sector. “We are delighted that SYSPRO has come on board, alongside our premiere sponsor, Compass Insure. The Chefs with Compassion operations are successful because of the collaboration between individuals, partners

and organisations. The partnership with Compass Insure over the past year has assisted us in strengthening the foundations of CWC and, alongside SYSPRO’s vast experience with logistics in the food and beverage industry, these relationships will make a valuable contribution to Chefs with Compassion’s reach and impact,” said Marion Tanzer, general manager of Chefs with Compassion. Much like any NPO, CWC relies on the spirit of volunteerism to continue its operations. As its operations expand, funding, finding new sources of fresh produce and other food donations, and the logistics of their operations are just some of the many

challenges CWC encounters daily. With the goal of producing 100,000 meals per week, there is still much work to be done and more partners are needed to tackle this challenge. Every contribution, big or small, moves us one step closer to addressing the hunger crisis within South Africa. For more information on how to get involved or partner with Chefs with Compassion – and make a positive difference in the lives of others – visit the SYSPRO UPlift webpage. For more information on Chefs with Compassion and their rescue, cook and feed operations, go to www.chefswithcompassion. org.za

Fully Equipped Industrial Kitchen for Hire

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EVENT GREENING FORUM

A new industry initiative to address climate change

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? The Event Greening Forum (EGF) has become one of a global number of organisations to have been signed up to the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative which was recently launched. We are proud to support the pledge by our industry for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and 50 per cent reduction by 2030.

By Greg McManus, chair of the Event Greening Forum.

he Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) hosts this initiative to connect the global events industry to a rapidly growing movement towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050. ‘The aim of the JMIC is to grow this initiative which represents the events industry as a whole, and to provide a collaborative commitment we may all act upon’ says the JMIC. Sustainable development has long been a focus for the events industry. Connected to programmes like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Guidelines (UNSDGs), industry initiatives have addressed everything from waste management and energy conservation to local sourcing and hiring practices. The principles of sustainability are now firmly imbedded within industry practices and client expectations. Now, following the devastation caused by Covid on the events industry and the lessons that have been learned about the fragility of our environment and the impacts that our behaviour has on our collective futures, focus is intensifying even further with the realisation that we need to accelerate our actions in response to the threat of climate change. This focus

is not only to secure our own industry’s future, but to support the many other sectors we rely on for our existence. Engaging with this initiative now means that the EGF and South Africa’s business events sector has become part of a global collaboration for action — for failing to act in a meaningful and committed way risks being left behind as the global response builds. This month, world leaders will meet in Glasgow, Scotland at COP26 to present how their countries will achieve the 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 to deliver on the Paris Agreement. In advance of this meeting, for profit and non-profit organisations from across all sectors are setting forth their own pathways towards this goal, and the ultimate goal of net zero by 2050. Through this initiative, the JMIC aims to link all stakeholders in the corporate, professional, academic and destination communities world-wide that have also committed to engagement in what is one of the biggest collective challenges we all face today, and to invite those that have not done so yet, to join. The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative aims to bring together a wide range of

38 Business Events Africa October 2021

If you would like to know more about event greening, visit wwweventgreening.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

industry stakeholders to: • Jointly communicate our industry’s commitment to tackling climate change and driving towards net zero by 2050. • Develop common methodologies for measuring the industry’s direct, indirect and supply chain greenhouse gas emissions. • Construct an industry-wide roadmap towards net zero by 2050, and emission reductions by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement, with support and guidance on key issues. • Foster collaboration with suppliers and customers to ensure alignment and common approaches. • Establish common mechanisms for reporting progress and sharing best practice. The new initiative arises from the work of an organising task force initiated by JMIC members, UFI, AIPC and ICCA joined by representatives of Emerald Expositions (US), Freeman (US), HKCEC (China), Informa (UK), Javits Center (US), MCI (Switzerland), Messe München (Germany), RX (UK) and Scottish Event Campus (UK) and it was borne from a discussion with the UNFCCC secretariat – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat – which is also supporting the initiative. More information may be found at www.netzerocarbonevents.org. www.businesseventsafrica.com

SITE NEWS

SITE Africa welcomes the level 1 adjustment By Tes Proos, president of Site Africa

South African members of SITE Africa are carefully optimistic following South Africa’s recent adjustment to level 1 restrictions for Covid-19.

eetings and events are now permitted with up to 750 guests indoors and 2,000 outdoors, with Covid-19 protocols and social distancing still in play. This potentially, is excellent news for venues and related suppliers as it presents great opportunities for short term business, especially from the domestic market. For the inbound incentive market however, it may take a great deal longer before this sector reaps the benefits. The incentive sector has seen massive postponements and cancellations during the first global lockdowns. The following lockdowns and resulting uncertainty resulted in further postponements and cancellations. Reality is that most inbound

incentive programmes that have postponed will only hit our shores from Q3 and Q4 of 2022 onwards. Furthermore, any new incentive programme enquiries that may come through during the rest of Q4 2021 may only travel between six and eighteen months from now on. As for the largest source markets, South Africa being removed from the US Red List has been very well received on both sides of the Atlantic. Once the UK removes South Africa from their Red List – pending mid-October 2021 – it should have further positive impact, with confidence returning for both the corporate decision makers and their delegates. It all makes for murky forecasting, but in an ideal world and more positive decisions

from global policy makers pending, we may look forward to a more robust 2022. A recent study regarding the economic impact pre-Covid-19 showed solid proof that incentive travel yields the largest spend per person within the business events sector. The estimated total economic impact of incentives in South Africa, using the global business events multiplier, is estimated at some R1,5-billion. The survey further shows that the direct impact or turnover of South African incentive related industry was more than R480-million in 2018 and R542-million in 2019. The total impact of this turnover, based on a multiplier of the South African Tourism multiplier of 2,45 in 2018, was more than R1,2-billion and R1,3-billion in 2019. Based on the above, incentive travel historically has a massive positive impact on the overall economy of South Africa. Confidence – not only in South Africa, but also globally – needs to be restored in order for incentives to return to their former state of well-being. In conclusion, it seems we are making progress in the right direction.

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...

Contact

Email: info@sitesouthernafrica.com www.sitesouthernafrica.com www.siteglobal.com

SAACI NEWS

ATTS marks a turning point for the business events industry The recently held South African Tourism — Africa’s Travel & Tourism Summit (ATTS) connected the best of South Africa’s business events industry with Africa and the world’s leading event professionals. By Glenton de Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI.

he three-day event, which concluded with clarity that more needs to be done within a collaborative way to enhance and increase business events, travel, and access within Africa, has marked a turning point for the business events industry for Africa. The power of human interaction, in a face-to-face environment, was witnessed. Attendees received greater value out of their discussions and engagements in this in-person environment. It is a reflection that, while we may have moved and embraced a hybrid way of delivering our business events, colleagues and professionals would still prefer to meet in-person.

As SAACI, we remain optimistic as we continue to help facilitate, work with partners such as the South African National Convention Bureau and the City of Johannesburg, as in-person or hybrid connections and relationships are built between members and buyers looking to bring business to South Africa. These stakeholder engagements must continue in earnest. We are required to build momentum that drives sustained recovery for the broader business events industry. Working in partnership has never been more important. As an industry, we have had to learn to adapt. We agree that the #ATTS2021 itself is a great example of some of the things

which have now become standard in today’s environment. For this event, we experienced contactless registration on arrival, thermal temperature checking, self-check-in counters with QR code registration. The Coronavirus pandemic has expedited the need for the industry to upskill in the use of different technology platforms, systems, and devices. Events now need a plan B, C and in some cases, a plan D. Our world revolves around the ability to deliver events in an omnichannel environment. This means it could be in person and online (hybrid), fully online, on demand, by subscription, or include other elements of event delivery. ATTS delivered on all the above and more. This event, in conjunction with the SAACI Annual National Congress, may be viewed as good case studies, which allow many planners some insight into how far we have come in eighteen months. Where will we be in the next eighteen months…?

THE ASSOCIATION FOR CONFERENCE INDUSTRY LEADERS

CONNECT SAACI unites , supports and educates the business

events industry in southern Africa by creating sustainable environment for business growth

THRIVE Join SAACI and enjoy access to an inspiring network of industry professionals, while giving your business the professional status it needs to attract the attention of business leaders. GROW Become the business events professional you’ve always wanted to be. Access the SAACI Academy and enter a world of inspiration, connections and world-class skills development.

www.businesseventsafrica.com

Visit our online community: www.saaci.org www.saacicongress.org www.saaci-academy.org

+27(0)11 880 5883 info@saaci.org

Business Events AfricaLearning October 2020 40 | Growth | collaboration

AAXO NEWS

Technology – the panacea to shoe-string budget woes? Event technology has become an expected commodity, and through its rapid evolution and development, it has become far more accessible. By Devi PaulsenAbbott, vice chair, AAXO.

aking do with less resources, has become a familiar catch-phrase for the events industry. Particularly as we ramp-up and reboot our sector in South Africa. If used smartly and correctly, technology may assist in realising significant cost-savings and efficiencies, whilst improving the overall experience before, during and after an event. Networking, interaction, feedback and engagement tools worth investigating include: • Mobile apps: The cost of mobile apps have reduced considerably. Most virtual event platforms provide an app option or there are thousands of white-label options to choose from. A worthy event app delivers unique value, providing an integrated and interactive interface.

With capabilities for self-service registration and digital badges; audience polling; speaker information, programmes and promotional content. • Digital translation/interpretation: Offering multi-lingual content provides a wider audience reach, particularly in virtual and hybrid environments. Translation features are now available on many virtual event platforms, reliable enough to offer an acceptable level of translation to bridge communication gaps. • Marketing automation: While it may be an initial investment, marketing automation software has the ability to save time and money in the long run and increase engagement and efficacy of any campaign. • Social media: The benefits go beyond the staple traditional marketing opportunity. There are many platforms available that provide gamification and experiential elements, i.e. live streaming, audience and message monitoring through geo-tagging and focused press boards, to name a few. For little cost, social platforms allow for engagement and interaction pre-/ during/post-event. • Streaming technology: A live streaming element (for traditional live-only events) provides

value and engages audiences. A number of very cost-effective off-the-shelf production tools are now available to create professional live streams very seamlessly. • AI-powered personalisation: AI has the power to streamline the event experience and to engage your customers. Some common examples include: – Event chatbots – Customised promotions – Event registration – Closed captioning and voice translation • Second screen technology: Allows your attendees to use their devices to participate more actively at an event. Second screen technology is a dynamic, smart two-way solution, allowing for content, such as slides, polling, video, notes, social media links to be sent to any device in real-time and for the audience to use their devices to ask questions, participate in polls and post to the event specific social channels. While some solutions may require an initial investment, the return is worth it. If you are managing an event on a shoe-string budget, combining the proper amount of technology and creativity is able to make the overall event better, be it live, digital or hybrid.

EXSA PAGE NEWS STRAP

Getting back to the business of exhibitions Energy Capital and Power (ECP) recently hosted two events in Africa. HOTT3D designed and produced the infrastructure for their events including stage sets, venue branding and exhibition booths.

By Liam Beattie, board member of EXSA.

he professionally run events proved that events have the ability to take place safely during the current pandemic. The first event, SSOG (SSOP) took place in Juba, South Sudan at the end of June 2021. Over 300 attendees participated at The Crown Hotel, which has a capacity in the main ballroom of 600 pax. The second event, AOG, took place in Luanda, Angola at the Centro de Convencoes Talatona (CCTA) during September. The main auditorium is able to seat 700. For this event, a maximum of 350 pax was allowed in at any one time. A special dispensation was granted by the Angolan government for this event (although the presidential decree had advised on increased numbers a few days

friends and colleagues not seen for some time. VIPs such as ministers and government officials were tested privately and, again, there was no hesitation to work within the rules and lead by example. Tests were conducted by International SOS though in some cases delegates were able to bring their off-site official test result along as proof. Of the 350 onsite tests, there were no positive tests. One offsite test resulted in a positive case and, of course, that person did not attend. Katie Briant, events director for ECP, said: “We are proud to be starting events again in Africa. Covid-19 knocked the events industry hard. However, we have taken every opportunity possible to start up physical events, with a virtual ‘element’.

prior to the event). Over the course of the two days over 600 delegates attended. Both events followed guidelines as those proposed to the South African government by The South African Events Council (SAEC). In fact, the guidelines were developed based on the SAEC protocols developed by the South African events industry as well as aligned with Angola’s protocols. Huge appreciation goes to the SAEC for the immense amount of work and effort which was offered by so many role players. At both events, I found that everyone realised the importance of following the protocols and even in the Covid-19 testing queue, there was not one issue. In fact, the outside area of the testing marquee became a place to meet up with

42 Business Events Africa October 2021

www.businesseventsafrica.com

EXSA NEWS

“With the most effective Covid protocols in place and the endorsement from our local government partners, this resulted in us having minimal cases reported at the events. It has not been easy, but slowly and surely we are seeing the results of our continued effort,” Ms Briant continued. In South Africa, we are required four tests, in total, per event. First, 72 hours prior to arrival in the new country and the same on return, as well as two tests in-country. On arrival at the airport and before the event. It’s clear that we need to move beyond testing as soon as possible and the way to achieve this is to ensure a high level of vaccination. During both events, the talk was that attendance at future events will be subject to full vaccination, to scale up the numbers that may attend. In summary, it is very clear that events such as these may be carried out with the correct protocols in place. Having an integral part of the business events industry completely closed is very damaging to South Africa’s economy and so we back the SAEC’s call to allow the reopening of this sector and call on the SA government to urgently catch up with our fellow African countries’ efforts to kickstart their economies.

SAEC NEWS

Who is Kevan Jones?

Why designations will matter in a post-covid world Over the past several years, many of the associations active in the events industry have been working to develop professional designations that recognise the skill and competence of individuals working in their sector. By Kevan Jones, executive director of SACIA, on behalf of the SA Events Council.

t’s a process that began in 2013, when SACIA developed their designations, which recognised the competence of audio-visual technicians and applied for recognition from the South African Qualifications Authority so that individuals holding the designation would be formally recognised. SAQA recognised the Association in February 2015, and since then, more than 100 AV technicians have earned the Certified AV Professional designation, based on a process that reviews their education, work experience, and work ethic. Candidates who would like to earn a designation are also required to write an examination and present a portfolio of evidence supporting their claim of competence. Shortly after, the TPSA was reconstituted as a special interest group within SACIA, and the newly-elected council set about developing a range of designations that were relevant to a broader range of event technicians, including lighting designers, event riggers, sound engineers, stage managers and project managers. These designations proved popular among the freelance community, many of whom

lacked any formal qualifications relating to their craft and appreciated the designation’s formal recognition. At the same time, SACIA’s Event Safety Council developed several designations for event safety practitioners that specifically addressed the safety needs of the events industry. Until then, the only formal recognition for safety officers had been provided by associations working in the construction industry, but these addressed an altogether different working environment and were not relevant. Alongside the work being done by SACIA, a partnership between SAACI, EXSA and the International Festival & Events Association (IFEA) had led to the establishment of the Council of Event Professionals Africa (CEPA), which had been working to establish designations in event management. After working as a stand-alone body for several years, CEPA was also reconstituted as a special interest group within SACIA. In 2019, new professional designations were registered with SAQA and today, eleven different designations recognise the skill and competence of industry professionals

44 Business Events Africa October 2021

Kevan Jones is the executive director of SACIA. He holds an MA degree from Regents University London School of Psychology and the CAE designation for proven competence in Association Leadership. working in the events industry at various levels of competence. Whilst all of these designations were relevant in previous years, the need for industry professionals to hold a designation in a post-Covid world makes them even more appealing to both employed persons and freelancers working in the sector. A new generation of event companies will certainly spring up as we return to work, and a new generation of freelancers will offer their services. They’ll all claim to be expert practitioners who’ve honed their craft over several years, and indeed, many of them will have done so. But there’ll be even more who’ll claim a competence they simply don’t have. As the events industry strives to embrace a commitment to professional standards, it simply makes sense to encourage individuals to earn a professional designation that recognises their knowledge and expertise. Designated individuals hold themselves to a higher standard of business, ethics and continuing professional development. These are undoubtedly the people you want to work with as we recover from the devastation of this Covid pandemic. e: hello@saeventscouncil.org

www.businesseventsafrica.com

MARKET NEWS

Valor partners with CityBlue Hotels in East Africa Valor Hospitality Partners, a global, full-service hotel management company announced recently, their recent partnership with CityBlue Hotels, one of Africa’s fastest growing local hotel chains, owned by The Diar Group.

nder a long-term arrangement, the new joint venture, to be named Valor Diar, will initially operate Divine Residences by CityBlue in Riverside, Nairobi – developed by Vaal Real Estate – which is set to open in April 2023. Valor Diar will bring a significant pipeline of East African properties as the market recovers, following the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. “CityBlue has overcome challenges in the African marketplace and reached an appropriate time to bring on board an

Euan McGlashan, CEO and global co-founder of Valor Hospitality Partners.

Jameel Verjee, principal of The Diar Group.

international management partner. Valor has a strong base and team of professionals in the Middle East and South Africa who are eager to share their knowledge. Moreover, as we begin to see the future beyond the pandemic, this is the ideal opportunity to expand our global footprint,” said Euan McGlashan, chief executive officer and global co-founder of Valor Hospitality Partners. “The Diar Group had identified a gap in the sub-Saharan market over the past decade with its well-known and scalable CityBlue brand.”

“Our journey from a start-up to an established African hotel chain has allowed us to develop a deep understanding of many markets. We believe that this has prepared CityBlue for the next phase of expansion and to do so, it makes sense to partner with a world-class management team. Valor’s visionary leadership recognises that its global strategy must include all of Africa and not just South Africa,” said Jameel Verjee, principal of The Diar Group and founder of CityBlue.

Index of advertisers ADVERTISER

PAGE EMAIL

AAXO

41 aaxo@aaxo.co.za

Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit

FC, IFC, 6 info@eventgreening.co.za

WEBSITE www.aaxo.co.za www.africatourismsummit.com

Event Greening Forum

www.eventgreening.co.za

EXSA

42 exsa@exsa.co.za

www.exsa.co.za

Mjunxion

2 yolande@mjunxion.co.za

www.gotrips.co.za

SAACI 40 info@saaci.org

www.saaci.org

SA Events Council

www.saeventscouncil.org

SITE

39 info@sitesouthernafrica.com

www.sitesouthernafrica.com

University of Johannesburg

www.thekerzneratuj.com

www.businesseventsafrica.com

hello@saeventscouncil.org

bookthekerzner@uj.ac.za

Business Events Africa October 2021 45

Business Events Africa October 2021

Articles inside

SAEC NEWS

EXSA NEWS

AAXO NEWS

SITE NEWS

EVENT GREENING FORUM

MARKET NEWS

MARKET NEWS

PERSONALITY PROFILE

CHEF’S PROFILE

VENUE NEWS

HERITAGE VENUE

COMPANY UPDATE

VENUE NEWS

HOTEL GROUP FOCUS

A LOCAL PERPECTIVE

AFRICA’S TRAVEL & TOURISM SUMMIT SUPPLEMENT

ANNIVERSARY FEATURE

VENUE NEWS

NEWS

NEWS

EDITOR’S COMMENT