Business Events Africa — September 2023

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

CONTENTS

VOL 43 NO 9

SEPTEMBER 2023

About the cover

Choosing the perfect venue for a conference can make all the difference in creating a memorable and productive event.

VENUE NEWS

27 Premier Hotels continues expansion in South Africa.

28 Hotel construction commences in historic Longkloof precinct. CHEF’S PROFILE

29 Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant appoints chef Christiaan Campbell.

MARKET NEWS

Cover Feature

COVER STORY

6 Elevate your conferencing experience: discover the allure of Fancourt.

On the pages…

EDITOR’S COMMENT

4 Making memories

NEWS

5 ATLF 2023 – globally renowned speakers confirmed.

NORTHERN CAPE

8 Northern Cape – your desirable and competitive incentive destination.

CASE STUDY: COMIC CON AFRICA

12 Creative and cultural industries: economic impacts of Comic Con Africa.

TRIBUTE: RUPERT JEFFRIES

15 Remembering Rupert Jeffries: a legacy of leadership and inspiration.

PERSONALITY PROFILE

16 Yoshni Singh is committed to advancing the industry.

HOTEL GROUP SPOTLIGHT

18 How The Capital Hotels, Apartments and Resorts is making the most out of South Africa’s tourism potential.

GLOBAL NEWS

19 UFI preparing to welcome global exhibition industry to Las Vegas.

SUSTAINABILITY IN CRUISING

20 MSC Group — world first net-zero emissions cruise.

A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE

22 Breaking barriers: championing gender equity in hospitality.

VENUE OF THE MONTH

24 New conference and function venue now open at the Marine Hotel in Hermanus

30 City Lodge Hotels’ robust annual results signal a resounding recovery

34 Flock Eventing Platform — official partner of African Energy Week (AEW) 2023.

35 The Houghton Hotel and Afrika Tikkun empower youth.

36 Sun International derives another strong performance.

38 The President Hotel supports Streetscapes.

39 UJ School of Tourism and Hospitality hosts inaugural conference.

40 Hostex 2024 announces growing exhibitor list.

Association news

EVENT GREENING FORUM

42 When is an event a ‘green’ event? SAACI

44 Why SAACI chose Addo for its national congress. EXSA

46 ‘Greening’ in the expo industry SITE

48 The importance of food and food safety. AAXO

50 How are marketing attribution trends likely to impact the medium of exhibitions?

AIRLINE NEWS

51 LATAM Airlines’ inauguration flight Johannesburg-Sao Paulo.

Regulars

52 Directory of associations

LAST WORD 54 In-person vs hybrid vs virtual conferencing?

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Malcolm King malcolm@contactpub.co.za

EDITOR: Irene Costa gomesi@iafrica.com

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Vincent Goode vincent@contactpub.co.za

DISTRIBUTION M ANAGER: Jackie Goosen jackie@contactpub.co.za

SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Irene Costa

+27 (0)82 558 7387 gomesi@iafrica.com

PUBLICATION DETAILS:

Volume 43 No 9

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

Making memories

September is Tourism Month in South Africa. Business Events isn’t tourism, but contributes directly and indirectly to the tourism industry.

South Africa is a beautiful country and I am still blown away by its vast beauty.

It is no surprise that South Africa remains a bucket list destination for many foreigners, from a tourism and business events perspective.

This month, I was fortunate to enjoy a few of our provinces as a tourist. Here are some of the highlights.

The Kruger National Park – so unique in its offering – it is no wonder that it remains a top destination not only for international and local tourists but also for large conferences. Skukuza Rest Camp has a wonderful conference centre for larger conferences. It also offers Wi-Fi and has a few restaurant options on site as well as a large shop with curios.

For the smaller, more intimate meetings and incentives, the private lodges remain the preferred option in

the Kruger. They offer exclusivity and tailor-made experiences. These incentives are definitely a once-in-alifetime experience.

From the bush, I moved to the quaint town of Dullstroom, which was established in the 1880s. Dutch Settlers were encouraged to come to South Africa by the then-President Paul Kruger. In 1883, Dutchman Wolterus Dull, headed up a company in his namesake, formed to strengthen the links between the two countries. There are many rivers found in the area, hence the suffix ‘-stroom’, which is Afrikaans for ‘stream'.

Small towns offer authenticity, history and culture. Dullstroom is a real gem and has many wonderful properties with conference facilities. It is all about the food and outdoor experiences such as fly-fishing, horse riding, etc. I had one of the best meals I have ever had, in Dullstroom, at the

Vine Wine Bar & Eatery, led by Chef Michael Thomas — fine dining at its best. I really enjoyed the lounge-totable concept, where you move from one area to another for the different courses. It was our wedding anniversary and we were pleasantly surprised by the experience.

The Dullstroom Museum is a must, whether you are staying or even just passing through. It is actually located in the first Nedbank (then called the Nederlandse bank).

The last stop – was actually a wedding – that drew us to the destination of Cape Town, in the Western Cape, which is always awe-inspiring. It is no wonder it remains the top convention city in Africa. There is so much to see and do in the Western Cape — its beauty is really unmatched. The city is geared up for conferences, with a world-class convention centre and a huge

selection of hotels with conference facilities for the smaller conferences. There is so much to see and do in the Western Cape — not enough time in just one visit.

The fact is, a conference, exhibition, event or incentive can only give a delegate a snapshot of the country. This delegate will want to return, probably with family or friends, to get to experience the country as a tourist. Business events create future tourists. While they are delegates, they spend significantly more than any tourist would.

You are encouraged to go and make some memories. We live in a beautiful country — don’t let a business event go to waste — stay on and make even more memories.

through dynamic sales, marketing and networking endeavours.

Image courtesy of Blueberry Hill Hotel, Johannesburg

Credit: Hein Liebetrau

ATLF 2023

Globally renowned speakers confirmed

More global travel and tourism thought-leaders have confirmed to speak at the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum 2023 and AfCFTA Forum on Tourism, Creative and Cultural Industries.

Afew among these opinion leaders are H.E. Zurab Pololikashvili, the secretary general of UNWTO; Keith Vincent, chief executive officer of Wilderness Holdings; Senthil Gopinath, chief executive officer of ICCA; Emily Mburu-Ndoria, director of the Directorate of Trade in Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights & Digital Trade, AfCFTA; Minister Philda Kereng, Botswana Minister of Environment and Tourism; Evelyne Freiermuth, government affairs director, The World Travel & Tourism Council ; Mikul Shah, co-founder, Purple Elephant Ventures, Kenya; Robyn Williams, MRICS, CA(SA), senior vice president of JLL, South Africa and Derek Hanekom, chairperson of South African Airways; Didier Dogley, founder and director Inspire for Tomorrow Consulting Services Company Seychelles and former minister of tourism, civil aviation, ports and marine, Seychelles.

In addition, AfCFTA has partnered with Africa Tourism Partners to launch the inaugural AfCFTA Forum on Tourism, Creative and Cultural Industries as a key component of the 2023 Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards. The goal is to amplify the contribution of tourism, creative and cultural industries to intra-Africa trade.

The private and public sector, with AfCFTA leadership at the Forum, will explore measures to mainstream sustainability practices across African travel, tourism and hospitality touch points. This will be done by sharing insights on how stakeholders can create a balance between green thinking, innovation and profitability. This will serve as practical learnings for investors, entrepreneurs, accommodation and conference facilities. Other key areas of focus are hospitality and tourism franchising, tourism concession management, digitalisation and media relations, management of bid data, youth travel business opportunities and women in

tourism employability and entrepreneurship.

Over five hundred physical participants will be attending Africa Tourism Leadership Forum & Awards (ATLF) 2023 in Gaborone, Botswana. These include thoughtleaders, media, travel trade, industry practitioners, hoteliers, policymaker and renowned experts.

For more information and to register: www.tourismleadershipforum.africa or contact the Registration Hotline on +27 (0)81 303 7030 or rejoice@ africatourismpartners.com

ATLF 2023 to deliver bespoke Women in Tourism Masterclass

The tourism industry being dynamic in nature, skill-gaps are continuously being identified in both hard and soft skills. Based on this and to bridge the skills gap, ATLF 2023 is set to deliver a bespoke intra-Africa Tourism Entrepreneurship and Women in Tourism Masterclass on 3 October 2023. The Masterclass will be a pre-cursor to the ATLF and Awards 2023. It is dedicated to up-skill, re-skill and empower tourism stakeholders.

About UNWTO

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. As the leading international organisation in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

About AfCFTA

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a free trade area encompassing most of Africa. It was established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which has 43 parties and another eleven signatories, making it the largest free-trade area by number of member states, after the World Trade Organization, and the largest in population and geographic size, spanning 1.3 billion people across the world's second largest continent.

About Africa Tourism Partners

African Tourism Partners (ATP) — www.africatourismpartners.com — is a UNWTO- affiliated awardwinning Pan -African tourism development and strategic destination marketing advisory firm. The firm specialises in tourism and MICE strategy formulation, investment facilitation and promotion, research, master planning and destination market development and capacity building across Africa’s travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation and golf sub-industries.

Our clients and partners include, but are not limited to UNWTO, World Bank, Mastercard Foundation, NEPAD, AfCFTA, South African Tourism (SAT), Ghana Tourism Authority, Tourism KwaZulu- Natal, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Convention Bureau, Rwanda Chamber of Commerce, SAACI, RwandAir, SAA (South African Airlines), Ethiopia Airlines, Tanzania Tourism Board, Kenya Tourism Board, Uganda Tourism Board, Gauteng Tourism Authority, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), Nigeria and more.

Elevate your conferencing experience: discover the allure of Fancourt

Choosing the perfect venue for a conference can make all the difference in creating a memorable and productive event. Nestled amidst the stunning landscape of South Africa’s Western Cape, Fancourt Estate stands as a symbol of elegance and luxury, offering an unparalleled conferencing experience. We delve into the allure of conferencing at Fancourt, exploring its world-class facilities, bespoke services, and the seamless integration of business and leisure that makes it a standout destination for corporate gatherings.

AHaven for Conferencing Excellence —

Unveiling Fancourt’s Premium Facilities

Fancourt prides itself on its commitment to providing the utmost in conferencing excellence. The estate boasts a variety of exceptional venues to accommodate gatherings of all sizes and types. The centrepiece of Fancourt’s conferencing facilities is the Conference Centre, a modern and fully-equipped space capable of hosting large conferences, seminars, and exhibitions. With state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and high-speed internet connectivity, the Conference Centre ensures a seamless experience for both organisers and attendees. Additionally, Fancourt offers smaller, intimate meeting rooms that exude

sophistication and charm. These spaces provide a perfect setting for private discussions, breakout sessions, and teambuilding activities. Overlooking lush gardens and the majestic Outeniqua Mountains, these meeting rooms foster an atmosphere of tranquility and creativity, inspiring fruitful conversations and productive brainstorming sessions. Moreover, the professional events team at Fancourt collaborates closely with conference organisers to curate tailored experiences that align with the specific objectives of each event. From customising the setup and layout of the venues to arranging on-site dining options and teambuilding activities, Fancourt’s attention to detail ensures that conferences are flawlessly executed and memorable for all participants.

A fusion of business and leisure — delightful amenities at Fancourt

Beyond its world-class conferencing facilities, Fancourt offers an array of amenities that seamlessly blend business with leisure, ensuring an enriching experience for conference attendees. Golf enthusiasts will find themselves in paradise, with access to three championship golf courses, meticulously designed by legendary golfer, Gary Player. Amidst the serene natural beauty of Fancourt’s golf courses, delegates can enjoy a few rounds of golf, forging lasting connections with colleagues and partners. For those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, Fancourt’s spa and wellness centre offer a sanctuary of calm. Delegates can indulge in a wide range of therapeutic treatments and massages,

allowing them to unwind and recharge after intensive conference sessions.

The culinary delights at Fancourt further elevate the conferencing experience. The estate’s restaurants boast an exquisite selection of international and local cuisines, prepared using the finest ingredients. From sumptuous fine dining experiences to casual gatherings at the estate’s laid-back eateries, Fancourt’s gastronomic offerings cater to diverse tastes and preferences. Fancourt has recently welcomed a new executive chef, Jonathan Gargan, who brings with him a diverse background in fine dining, luxury estates, and various cuisines.

Discovering the Essence of the Western Cape — Exploring Beyond Fancourt

One of the unique advantages of conferencing at Fancourt is its proximity to some of South Africa’s most captivating destinations. Delegates can take advantage of the estate’s concierge services, to explore the wonders of the Western Cape, such as the famous Garden Route. Embarking on guided tours, hiking expeditions, or safari adventures, conference participants can immerse themselves in the rich culture and breathtaking landscapes of the region. These off-site excursions not only provide a refreshing break from conference engagements but also facilitate valuable networking opportunities in a relaxed and picturesque setting. Exploring the natural wonders of the Western Cape enhances the overall conferencing experience, leaving participants with unforgettable memories to cherish long after the event concludes.

Conferencing at Fancourt offers a truly elevated experience, combining top-notch facilities, personalised services, and a seamless fusion of business and leisure. From the modern Conference Centre to the golf courses, spa, and culinary delights, every aspect of Fancourt is designed to exceed expectations and

create lasting impressions. Coupled with the opportunity to explore the wonders of the Western Cape, Fancourt emerges as an unparalleled destination for discerning conference organisers seeking an unforgettable and productive gathering for their attendees.

Contact details

Give your team exactly what they need to be innovative: time and space at South Africa’s Business Playground. Contact Fancourt on 044 804 0000 or groupreservations@fancourt.co.za to discuss customised conferencing options.

Northern Cape Your desirable and competitive incentive destination

Northern Cape — for an extraordinary incentive.

The Northern Cape is rapidly emerging as one of Southern Africa’s premier incentive destinations. As the largest province in South Africa, it boasts a captivating landscape teeming with dramatic beauty, a rich tapestry of culture and history steeped in ancient wisdom, warm and welcoming hospitality, and a treasure trove of some of the world’s most coveted ‘bucket list’ experiences. When it comes to inspirational incentives that are unique and memorable, the Northern Cape stands out as an exceptional choice.

Inspirational incentives — unique and memorable

There really is no better way to reward your incentive groups than an unforgettable, life enriching trip to the Northern Cape. Splendid natural beauty, diverse and iconic cultures, warm hospitably, award-winning food and wine, luxury accommodation, natural wonders, spirit of Ubuntu, fascinating wildlife and a select range of products and services within the province, combined with an efficient infrastructure makes the Northern Cape an excellent choice for your incentive and meetings programmes.

Find new passions in an unspoilt paradise

The Northern Cape is home to some of the country’s most sought-after tourist spots, as well as some of the most starkly beautiful untouched landscapes in the country. There is arguably no other place like the Northern Cape, making it the perfect destination for incentive travellers who prefer to take the road less travelled.

Experience unforgettable tours

Flowers of Namaqualand — a natural wonder

Every year, between August and mid-October, the arid Namaqualand desert undergoes a breathtaking transformation. What was once a seemingly lifeless landscape bursts into a riot of colours as a spectacular wildflower bloom takes centre stage. Imagine walking through a sea of vibrant wildflowers, their petals

unfurling in a kaleidoscope of hues, as far as the eye can see. Namaqualand’s floral display is a sight to behold, a testament to the resilience of life in even the harshest of environments.

Northern Cape coastline included in your guided tour to Hondeklip and Kleinzee are:

• The Aristea: A well-preserved wreck located near Hondeklip Bay.

• The Benguela Eagle: a trawler that ran aground near Kleinzee.

• The HMS Sybille: a British warship that sank off Hondeklip Bay in 1901, during the Anglo-Boer War.

unknown, ready to embark on a hair-raising journey into the world of ghosts and legends, Kimberley awaits your presence. Who knows what eerie encounters and spine-chilling stories you might uncover on this ghostly expedition? Journey into the past: trekking with the Khomani San

Unearthing history: exploring Kimberley’s dazzling gem

Are you ready for a journey back in time to the heart of South Africa’s diamond rush? Kimberley, a charming town in the Northern Cape, holds a glittering secret that has captivated travellers for generations. Imagine the frenzy, the dreams, and the fortunes made and lost in the pursuit of diamonds. The Big Hole is not just a geological wonder; it’s a symbol of ambition and determination that transformed Kimberley into a diamond town.

Savour the flavours: Exploring the Quiver Tree Route’s Culinary Delights

Embark on a delectable journey through the Quiver Tree Route, one the country’s emerging food and wine destinations. It winds through charming towns like Keimoes, Kenhardt, Kanoneiland, Augrabies, Upington, and Marchland. Stopover at the many tasting rooms along the way and treat yourself to awardwinning wines, brandy and Jeripogo of the Northern Cape. A highlight of this route is the Orange River Tasting Room in Upington, where you can taste exceptional wines, including Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, and Pinotage. The Northern Cape is fast becoming a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts.

Shipwreck Safari: unearthing maritime mysteries along South Africa’s wild northern Cape Coast

Exploring shipwrecks along the coast of the Northern Cape is a fascinating and adventurous journey. The Northern Cape is known for its rugged and remote coastline, which has claimed numerous ships over the centuries.

Some of the famous shipwrecks along the

Eerie encounters: Kimberley Ghost Tours

For those who seek the thrill of the supernatural, Kimberley offers a hauntingly captivating journey into its paranormal past. Step into the realm of spirits and specters with Kimberley Ghost Tours, where the whispers of history meld seamlessly with spine-tingling ghostly encounters. Kimberley Ghost Tours is not just an ordinary historical tour, it’s an invitation to immerse yourself in the supernatural tales that have woven themselves into Kimberley’s rich tapestry of history. So, if you’re a seeker of the

This once-in-a-lifetime adventure offers a rare glimpse into the ancient and enduring way of life of these remarkable people. As you traverse the pristine wilderness of the Kalahari, you’ll discover the secrets of their survival, from their mastery of medicinal plants to their aweinspiring hunter-gatherer skills. Learn how they’ve adapted to this arid terrain, uncovering the hidden treasures that sustain life in the desert. This journey promises to be an unforgettable adventure filled with awe, wonder, and a deeper understanding of the world’s first people.

Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites and national parks

The Richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape

The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape UNESCO Heritage Site is more than just a destination; it’s an encounter with the raw beauty of nature intertwined with the rich history and culture of the Nama community. Prepare to be spellbound by its dramatic landscapes,

intrigued by its unique ownership model, and inspired by its ecological diversity. This is the desert frontier that adventurous souls dream about, a place where the past and present merge to create an unforgettable journey.

Exploring the wonders of Augrabies Falls National Park

Nestled near the border of Namibia, approximately 120km west of Upington in the Northern Cape, lies a natural wonder that beckons travellers from far and wide — the Augrabies Falls National Park. At the heart of this park lies the breathtaking Augrabies Falls, a spectacle that draws visitors like a magnet. The sight and sound of cascading water thundering into steep gorges is a mesmerising display of nature’s raw power. This unique destination offers a tapestry of captivating experiences and features that promise an unforgettable journey.

Enjoy outdoor adventures

1. Heed the call of our mighty rivers River-rafting along the mighty Orange River or the Vaal River is a bucket-list experience. Drift along in the golden African sunshine and watch as the scenery unfolds along the banks. Join one of several river operators for a half- to multi-day river safari — an unforgettable experience.

The size and lack of light and pollution makes the Northern Cape skies come alive in a breath-taking galactic display from the Karoo to the Kalahari. Sutherland, aptly nicknamed ‘the Gateway to the Universe’ for its breathtaking night skies is a premier destination for stargazing. The town is home to the South African Astronomical Observatory and the Southern African Large Telescope.

unique landscape. With the soft sands beneath your board and the African sun on your back, dune boarding at Witsand Nature Reserve is an experience that will leave you both breathless and in awe.

The Northern Cape Tourism Authority — our services

The Northern Cape offer a full spectrum of event support services, to ensure a successful and memorable event. As a local expert, we work closely with hand-picked suppliers to provide innovative and professional services. The Northern Cape Tourism Authority’s expert local knowledge will ensure that you have the best incentive conference, meeting or event in Southern Africa. We assist planners with finding the most appropriate venues and service providers, and provide destination information that will be suitable, based on event profiles.

• Bid suppor t for national and international events/conferences/meetings

• Current databases of Northern Cape products

• Negotiating rates with hotels, tour operators etc.

• Airpor t welcome and departure desk

An adventure worth the sand — Witsand Nature Reserve in the Northern Cape, the place of the roaring sands of the Kalahari, beckon thrill-seekers from all corners of the globe. Prepare for an unforgettable journey down the undulating dunes, where every descent is a rush of excitement and every climb offers stunning vistas of the Kalahari’s

• Delegate boosting, hosting and site visits

• Pre- and post-tours and accompanied person’s programme

• Assisting with local logistical arrangements

Contact info

Dianna Mar tin

General Manager Marketing and Promotions |

Business Tourism

Email: dianna@experiencenortherncape.com

Web: Experiencenortherncape.com

2. Galactic encounters — Sutherland

3. Dune boarding in the Kalahari

YOUR BUCKET LIST DESTINATION

A CULTURE-FILLED, GLORIOUS, SOUL-SEARCHING ADVENTURE

Creative and cultural industries: economic impacts of Comic Con Africa

Socio-economic development for the continent is dependent on integrated growth across various sectors. Worldwide, the creative sector growth is on the rise. Last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) estimated the cultural and creative industries’ global worth at 4.3 trillion US dollars per annum. In terms of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), cultural and creative industries are a driving force behind inclusive economic goals, and achieving national objectives related to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

By Terena Chetty

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stresses that African countries need to do more to support local creatives and ensure that African audiences are more aware of and consume an increased quantity of creative and cultural products and services from Africa. Growing cultural and creative industries is another avenue for African entrepreneurs to leverage their local knowledge, skills, and cultural diversity to create innovative services catering to the diverse needs of African consumers and businesses.

When it comes to creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs and businesses, industry conventions and events are vital to access markets and networking. Comic Con Africa, the continental installment of the international Comic Con brand, is one of the largest creative industry events in Africa. Hailed as ‘the ultimate pop culture and gaming festival’, the entertainment value of the event is undeniable. But what significance does such an event hold in terms of socioeconomic impacts — both for South Africa and the continent at large?

The event

The inaugural Comic Con Africa event was first held in 2018, with alternating annual shows in Cape Town and Johannesburg. 2023 is a landmark occasion for the festival as it is the first time two Comic Con Africa events will take place in the same year (with the Cape Town 2023 edition having taken place in April this year).

This month, Johannesburg will host the 2023 Gauteng edition of Comic Con Africa. The massive four-day convention comprises vast exhibition areas, a gaming expo section, a ‘Kids Con’ area

and staging areas hosting cosplay competitions, international guests, notable speakers and more. Activities include immersive experiences (such as online and table-top gaming), dress-up cosplay competitions, the opportunity to see local and international speakers, photo opportunities, and, of course, lots and lots of shopping.

Showcase of Africa’s creative industry and artists

As one of the largest creative industry events on the continent, Comic Con Africa serves as a platform to showcase Africa’s talent and creativity. This includes artists across various genres — from sketch artists to painters; from textile and clothing art to handmade crafts, talented creatives from across the continent are able to show off their products and have access to relevant buyer segments. Over and above the various stalls situated throughout the expo area, the convention includes a built-in ‘Artist Alley’, a bustling hub dedicated to art and creativity in its various forms.

There is an element of knowledge-share as established artists and creators interact with up-and-coming local talent. Insightful workshops, presentations and panel discussions aim to empower, upskill and inspire creative talent.

The exposure opportunities for budding artists, writers and designers often leads to collaborations, creative commissions and extended customer reach far beyond the convention walls. This further strengthens the future of the creative sector and local artists, creating longterm value and immense potential for talent recognition and future successes.

Tourism and hospitality

Host cities can expect an influx of guests and exhibitors over the four-day convention period. This provides a much-welcomed boost for the tourism industry, which is still somewhat in recovery phase following the negative impacts of the pandemic. 2022 statistics show that ‘out-of-towners’ account for 11.4 per cent of Comic Con Africa’s audience, generating notable revenue for accommodation establishments, restaurants, e-hailing services and other hospitality-related businesses.

Job creation

The hosting of Comic Con Africa creates a wealth of jobs ahead of the kick-off of

each event. Event organisers require a vast workforce to put together the event (both in terms of structural and event planning needs), and to ensure that it runs smoothly for the duration of the convention. This includes exhibition staff, event coordinators, contractors, marketers, security personnel, parking attendants, cleaners, ushers and more. Organisers expect a crew staff of over 3,000 per day on the show floor.

From an exhibitor perspective, local vendors and exhibitors (both large and small companies) generally require additional staff to assist with sales and managing their exhibition presence at the convention. There is also a rise in B2B elements pre-event, such as exchanges between stand-builders and exhibitors.

This spike in employment opportunities (both temporary and longer term) around the convention

positively impacts economies. Furthermore, Comic Con Africa’s long-term vision is to contribute to the growth of vendors, exhibitors, professional brands (such as international cosplayers) and other event participants in a manner conducive to their business expansion, which then leads to more future job creation and economic growth.

Direct business impact

Comic Con Africa offers large brands (such as KFC, Telkom, Lego and Toyota SA), small to medium enterprises and even entrepreneurs the opportunity to reach and connect with a highly engaged consumer audience over the four-day convention. This includes direct B2C outcomes (such as direct consumer sales), B2B opportunities (such as brand collaborations) and entrepreneurial growth.

Food and beverage vendors experience an almost non-stop flow of customers. Many exhibitors sell out prior to the end of the weekend as shoppers snap up goods. Exhibitors themselves inject earnings back into the convention’s ‘economy’ by shopping at other stalls. Overall, the event signifies substantial consumer spending and economic stimulation. Comic Con Africa’s Cape Town 2023 stats show that a whopping 97.3 per cent of exhibitors have indicated an intention to participate in next year’s Cape Town event.

Commenting from an exhibitor perspective, Dané Krömker, owner of Chaos Kraft pop culture brand, said: “Comic Con Africa is the biggest platform for the geek community to get together. As the owner of a South African-based small business selling geeky merchandise, it is the biggest sales outlet of the year for me. Not only at the event but also in terms of generating custom orders post-event. But the biggest benefit to me was networking with other vendors at Comic Con Africa — in fact, we now often band together to collaborate and do our own small markets and bring the community together. I have been participating in every Comic Con event in Johannesburg since the very start, and I will definitely be exhibiting this year again.”

Brand impact & customer appetite

Comic Con Africa’s marketing manager, Calvin van den Berg, explains the multifaceted impact created by the brand: Comic Con Africa carries significant economic impacts through tourism, revenue generation, job creation, stimulation in the creative industry, as well as periodic capital injections for small businesses. We are proud to offer an audience of approximately 80,000 people over the festival days to large companies as well as small and emerging companies.

The willingness to spend from the fans, and consumer excitement at the show, often leads to smaller businesses that operate in the pop culture niche to experience a mass injection of capital from fan spend that is used to further grow their business. Over and above direct bottom-line goals, Comic Con Africa offers an experience unlike any other when it comes to culture, diversity and a sense of belonging. In terms of social barriers, within the confines of the convention, there are little to none. Visitors are encouraged to embrace their individuality, and there is a palpable sense of camaraderie amongst convention-goers. It is definitely a haven for both creatives and businesses alike, and this month’s event is sure to be one of the largest of its kind for the city of Johannesburg, to date.

Who is Terena Chetty?

Terena Chetty has extensive experience in Public Relations (PR), brand strategy and consumer communications. Currently Head of Strategy at 1Africa Consulting, she works closely with both pan-African and global brands. Terena holds a BA degree in Communication Science (cum laude), she is a columnist for business publication Retailing Africa and is a LinkedIn Top Voice in brand strategy.

Remembering Rupert Jeffries: a legacy of leadership and inspiration

In the world of Southern and Eastern African tourism, Rupert Jeffries was more than just a name; he was a visionary, and an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him. On 4 September 2023, we bid farewell to this remarkable leader, but his legacy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those he touched.

Born on 1 June, 1950, Rupert Jeffries’ journey in the world of tourism began in his beloved Switzerland, where he grew up and received his education. Little did he know that this young boy would one day become a pivotal figure in shaping the tourism landscape of Southern and Eastern Africa.

Rupert’s journey as founder of Dragonfly Africa was one of passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment. He established the company in 1982, leaving an indelible mark on the organisation and the industry as a whole. His vision was clear: to provide travellers with exceptional experiences while promoting responsible and sustainable tourism.

His colleagues at Dragonfly Africa and Green Route Africa remember him not only for his leadership but also for his kindness, humility, and boundless enthusiasm. As we reflect, let us share some heartfelt tributes from the team:

Clare de Haas, shared: “I’m thankful for how he trailblazed the way for the incentives market into Southern and East Africa for us all to be where we are now — working and living our dream jobs. A caring and thoughtful man, Rupert always pushed us to be our best. His passion, creativity, flair and business sense have left me a better person for having known and worked for him.”

Tanya Angell-Schau added, “It certainly was an honour for me to have known Rupert for 24 years and worked with him for thirteen of those years. In this time, he was a tremendous inspiration to me, someone who I looked up to, and aspired

to be more like. I will always remember him as a kind and generous person — the perfect gentleman. Gone but never forgotten, his legacy will live on forever!” Sara Shaw followed by saying, “Rupert led with compassion, and it is this quality that will be missed the most. Staff well-being and empowerment were always on the agenda.”

While Rupert’s passing leaves a void that cannot be filled, his legacy continues to guide us. Dragonfly Africa and Green Route Africa remain committed to carrying forward his vision and values. Yolanda Woeke said… “We will honour Rupert’s memory by continuing to provide exceptional

travel experiences that showcase the beauty and diversity of Southern and Eastern Africa.”

As we remember Rupert Jeffries, let us also remember the profound impact he had on our lives and the industry. In the words of Rupert himself, “Travel not only broadens the mind; it enriches the soul. It connects us with the world and its wonders.” His words will forever resonate with us as we carry his legacy forward.

In loving memory of Rupert Jeffries (1 June 1950 to 4 September 2023), a beacon of inspiration and a true pioneer in African tourism

Yoshni Singh is committed to advancing the industry

Yoshni Singh, 42, managing director of EO Africa, has two decades of experience in the conference industry. “This has allowed me to witness its dynamic evolution,” she said.

My passion lies in fostering meaningful interactions, the strategic challenges that come with event management, and the invaluable opportunities for global exploration through travel.

“My commitment is to continuously advance the conference industry, dispelling preconceived notions about small businesses, and striving for excellence. My family is at the core of my motivation, and I aspire to make a positive impact on both my professional family and the wider community,” Ms Singh said.

Where do you see the conference industry in Africa at present?

The conference industry in Africa is at an exciting juncture, ripe for growth and innovation. We’ve seen a surge in infrastructure and connectivity investments, making Africa a more appealing destination for international events. The pandemic pushed us to embrace virtual and hybrid event formats, which are here to stay. As travel restrictions ease, Africa’s diverse culture and stunning landscapes will attract even more conferences and

events. To succeed in this evolving landscape, we need to stay agile, harness technology, and focus on delivering exceptional attendee experiences.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Durban.

Where did your career begin? My career began in Johannesburg as a Hotel School Trainee.

How long have you been in the conference sector?

I have been in the conference sector since 1999 when I started as a hospitality management trainee. What I enjoy most about it is the interaction with people, the adrenaline rush, and the opportunity to travel.

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

The biggest change I've seen in this sector is the rapid adaptation to the virtual world during the pandemic. While virtual events were always a possibility, the pandemic made them a top priority and showcased the industry’s adaptability and innovation.

Were you always involved in this sector?

The tourism sector has been in my blood since high school, so I’ve always had a connection to this industry.

Are you married?

Yes, I am married to Aresh Singh, a constant pillar of support and my go-to person for anything and everything.

What role does your family play in your life?

My family holds a paramount position in my life. They are the driving force behind my daily endeavours, igniting my entrepreneurial spirit, and motivating me to strive for excellence in all that I undertake.

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

Reflecting on my journey, I would aspire to have spent more quality time with my late father, recognising the significance of cherishing moments with loved ones.

Do you have any hobbies?

Yes, I am a burgeoning marine tank aquarist, embarking on this captivating journey approximately eight months ago, continuously enriching my knowledge and skills.

What is your favourite sport?

My favourite sport is rugby, and I hold Siya Kolisi in high regard, for his remarkable leadership both on and off the field.

What do you do for leisure?

During my leisure moments, I derive immense pleasure from spending time in my kitchen, a space where I find relaxation and creative inspiration. Additionally, I enjoy exploring various regions of South Africa when I’m not engrossed in my professional responsibilities.

What is your secret to success?

My enduring commitment to success is underpinned by an unwavering work ethic and an indomitable ‘can-do’ attitude.

What has been your biggest challenge in this sector?

My principal challenge in this sector has revolved around dispelling the preconceived notion associated with

being a small business entity, particularly the presumption that we are exclusively equipped to manage small-scale events. My aim is to shatter this stereotype and demonstrate that excellence knows no size constraints.

What is your pet hate?

My primary aversion is witnessing individuals evade accountability for their actions.

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

One of the most unforgettable travel experiences was in Germany, where I found myself unexpectedly, due to a missed connecting flight in Spain, caused by an airport strike. This serendipitous overnight stay granted me the opportunity to wake up to a winter wonderland, exploring a captivating Christmas market. What initially appeared as a travel mishap transformed into an enchanting and memorable experience.

What type of holiday would you avoid at all costs?

I hold an unbridled passion for travel and am open to embracing various holiday experiences. There is no specific type of holiday I would avoid.

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

Given the opportunity, I would opt to be Sir Richard Branson for a day. The appeal lies in spending time on Necker Island, absorbing the wealth of inspiration and innovation that surrounds him.

What is your favourite city?

My favourite city is Durban, as it holds a special place in my heart. This is where I was born, and it symbolises the notion that great achievements often spring from humble beginnings. Even after two decades in Johannesburg, I firmly adhere to the principle of never forgetting one’s roots.

What is your favourite book, film, and TV programme?

Favourite book: A Thousand Splendid Suns Film: Braveheart. TV programme: The Good Doctor.

How do you relax?

To unwind, I typically indulge in

watching a series or immersing myself in the soothing realm of music.

What is your favourite food?

My culinary preferences tend to sway between sushi and curry, depending on the weather and my mood.

Who is your favourite movie star?

If I were to pick a favourite movie star, it would definitely be Kevin Costner. His performances have left a lasting impression on me.

What is the most impulsive thing you have ever done?

One of the most impulsive and thrilling decisions I’ve made was booking an international holiday and then revealing the surprise to my husband afterwards. It turned out to be a wonderful adventure!

Who is your role model?

My role model is undoubtedly my mother. Her unwavering resilience, regardless of life’s challenges, is truly inspiring. Even at 71, she embodies a fighting spirit that takes on any task, big or small, with a smile. She extends her helping hand to those in need along the way, setting a remarkable example.

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

For aspiring professionals entering the conference industry and aiming to walk a similar path, my advice is this: understand that this field is demanding and time-consuming. There will be days when you sacrifice your eight hours of sleep. It’s not a typical nine-to-five job. However, if you’re passionate about people and creating memorable experiences, you’re already halfway there. The key is finding your work/life balance amidst the chaos of this industry.

What is your dream for the future?

My dream for the future is that everything I undertake is met with success. I aspire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around me, whether it’s my work family, my own family, or society as a whole. Ultimately, I want to leave behind a lasting legacy for my children, Kivae and Denaya, as a testament to the impact I’ve made in this world.

How The Capital Hotels, Apartments and Resorts is making the most out of South Africa’s tourism potential

According to the Department of Tourism, the country hosted two-million visitors in the first quarter of 2023 and more than 5.8-million last year. The first quarter of the year also saw foreign direct spend hit an impressive R25.3-billion, a 143 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022.

With this number only set to grow, it is clear that tourism is back. Thanks to this influx of international travellers and an astute acquisitions plan, groups like The Capital Hotels, Apartments and Resorts are in a prime position to take advantage of tourism’s purple patch.

Marc Wachsberger, chief executive officer of The Capital Hotels, and Apartments and Resorts, said: “We’ve never been the type to waste a crisis, we used the pandemic as an opportunity to strengthen our position by investing in new acquisitions and builds. Now tourism is booming again, we’re well placed to benefit.”

The weakness of the Rand combined with a relatively low cost of living in South Africa has translated into value for money that allows foreign visitors to enjoy luxury accommodations, dining, and experiences at a fraction of the cost compared to international opportunities. As the world embraced post-pandemic travel, this led to unprecedented growth in the sector.

Bouncing back from the pandemic

While the Covid-19 pandemic took an incredible toll on the hospitality industry, businesses like The Capital Hotels, Apartments and Resorts managed to weather the storm by making bold decisions. “We built our Mbombela property during Covid-19 and that decision has paid off. The property now trades at an annual occupancy of 80 per cent in an area where almost no new hotels have been built since the 2010 Soccer World Cup and where our competitors are sitting at 53 per cent occupancy.”

In Kwa-Zulu Natal, for example, the group acquired a property in business rescue during the pandemic and pumped R100-million into restoring its 5-star

status. The Capital Zimbali Resort now trades at an annual occupancy of 72 per cent, with extremely popular conferencing facilities and restaurants. Throughout the process, not a single staff member was retrenched. In fact, an additional 150 were hired.

South Africa’s ability to control the spread of Covid-19 and its aggressive vaccination campaign instilled confidence in travellers, leading to an explosive demand for travel once restrictions eased. One of the most surprising things has been the influx of travellers from the rest of the continent. African travellers spent a collective R9.3-billion in Q1 of 2023, with our neighbours making up six of our top 10 source markets for travellers. Europeans spent R10.8-billion during that time and Americans splashed R2.6-billion, putting them 28 per cent above their 2019 spend.

The business of travel

In addition to traditional leisure tourism, the revival of business travel is driving a surge in demand for accommodation and conferencing venues in South Africa. The demand for rooms, coupled with a limited supply, has rejuvenated a Covid-impacted hospitality industry. Hotel chains that have invested in state-of-the-art conference rooms, reliable high-speed internet and loadshedding contingencies have put themselves in the perfect position to capitalise on future growth prospects. Business and leisure travel, or ‘bleisure’, is also seeing significant growth.

“The Capital 15 on Orange is another example of how our Covid acquisitions have come good for us. We spent R30-million getting it back to five-star standard, including opening the new Grotto Spa. That property now trades at an annual occupancy of 76 per cent, and is performing extremely well in

conferencing, short-term letting and international travel markets,” Mr Wachsberger explained.

The country’s natural wonders, from the majestic Table Mountain, to the vibrant Kruger National Park, have never been more alluring to international tourists seeking respite after a prolonged period of confinement. The Capital Hotels, Apartments and Resorts seized this golden opportunity by ramping up marketing efforts, ensuring enhanced safety protocols, and expanding its portfolio to meet the surging demand.

Sites like The Capital Mbombela, The Capital Zimbali Resort and The Capital 15 on Orange speak to how the group has managed to skilfully take advantage of a pandemic, a weak Rand and South Africa’s attractiveness to business and leisure travellers. This, in turn, has fuelled impressive levels of growth that look set to be maintained and built upon in the future. With tourism booming, companies with astute business plans will not just bolster their bottom lines but also help boost the South African economy.

Marc Wachsberger - CEO of The Capital Hotels, Apartments and Resorts.

UFI preparing to welcome global exhibition industry to Las Vegas

•Record registrations for 90 th UFI Global Congress to date

•Industry leaders from more than 50 countries already signed up •New formats, sessions, speakers announced

This year, the largest annual gathering of global exhibition industry professionals is being proudly hosted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and will feature the theme ‘Go beyond!’ Throughout the curated content and networking events the Congress will explore ideas, innovations, and strategies emerging that are propelling the exhibition industry forward.

“This year’s theme of ‘Go beyond!’ is really well timed. As the exhibition industry is on track to go beyond our previous top revenues, we will also have to go beyond what we are doing in many ways in the coming years — on digitisation, on staffing and talent acquisition, on our responses to the climate challenge, and so on,” says Michael Duck, UFI President.

Around 40 speakers from around the globe have been announced to date, with more to follow.

From CEO-led strategy sessions to the 2023 Next Generation Leaders showcase, including best practice deep dives and short, op-ed style interventions, the programming will build on the highly rated UFI conferences of recent months held around the world.

Given the strong interest from exhibition industry leaders to connect with the North American market, a special programme will take place on Friday afternoon, focusing on the state of the industry in the US and Canada, and connecting US industry players with their global peers.

See a selection of speakers and sessions listed further down.

Dedicated matchmaking to drive connections

In addition to world class content sessions, the UFI Global Congress serves as the global meeting of the industry’s leaders.

“At every Congress, we connect leaders across geographies to create business opportunities for them. A focal point is always to give opportunities for the industry in the respective congress host country to take advantage of the global industry leadership coming to them,” said Kai Hattendorf, chief executive officer of UFI.

To help drive these connections, UFI will run dedicated matchmaking sessions before

the start of the main congress programme as icebreaker sessions. These will especially focus on participants from North America, first time attendees, and other special groups.

Social events and activities to match the reputation of Las Vegas as the host city.

No UFI Congress is complete without the legendary evening events and other social activities. These include the Welcome Reception on Wednesday, the Big Night Out on Thursday, and the Post Congress Excursions on Saturday. Add to that UFI Sports activities in the mornings, and several additional options to gather and explore, and participants will have a full range of possibilities to take in what Vegas has to offer together with their peers.

The UFI Global Congress will be held at the ARIA Resort & Casino, located on the worldfamous Las Vegas Strip.

“We are honoured that Las Vegas will serve as the inaugural U.S. host city to welcome the world’s premier trade show organisers for the UFI Global Congress. We look forward to celebrating UFI’s 90 th anniversary event in Only Vegas style,” said Steve Hill, chief executive/ president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

A global event for a global industry

Fitting for a global association, the UFI Global Congress takes place on a different continent each year. It is coming to North America from the Middle East, having taken place in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, last year. After North America in 2023, the event will move to Europe for 2024 and take place in Cologne, Germany. The 2025 edition will be in Asia and take place in Hong Kong.

Registration for the UFI Global Congress is open for members from UFI as well as those from SISO in the US and UFI’s G3 partner associations AIPC and ICCA. Participants can register at www.uficongress.org

Industry associations wishing to organise business missions connected to the UFI Global Congress are requested to contact events@ufi.org. New requests will be facilitated as long as capacities remain available, as some projects are already in implementation.

An overview of Congress sessions

Here are three highlights from among the Congress sessions being prepared: The Global Economic Outlook, with Cody Feldman, Economist Intelligence Unit

The global economy has likely managed to skirt a recession in 2023, despite sharp monetary policy tightening and recent geopolitical shocks. But as we #gobeyond, there is a global trend towards more fragmentation and regionalisation in the world economy as supply chains are revisited and cooperation falters on critical policy issues such as climate and technology. From Cody, you will learn about the key macroeconomic, business and geopolitical trends that will affect the global economy in the coming year — and what this means for our global exhibition industry business. What Customers Expect Today — and Tomorrow, with Sophie Holt, managing director, Explori

Our industry is changing as the needs of our customers are changing. To stay relevant, we have to evolve ever faster, adapting to more complex and more demanding expectations from exhibiting companies. In this session, Sophie will share what businesses value about our events, what they dislike, and leading exhibitors will show where we need to #gobeyond as an industry to stay relevant. A New Blueprint for Event Planning and Operations, with Otero Finiti (Italy), Elizabeth George (US), Tehchad Kittiboonya (Thailand), Aya Moatamed (Egypt) and Amy Saleh (Australia)

UFI’s 2023 Class of Next Generation Leaders will take the stage to present their work on how our core product needs to change. Over the past months, the group has been working to define a new blueprint for event planning and operations that will make us #gobeyond today’s tried and tested approaches on and around our show floors. The group is sure — we need to change and evolve, and the faster we do, the better.

Follow UFI on LinkedIn for continuing updates on the programme and other Congress highlights: https://www.linkedin.com/ company/ufi-association

MSC Group — world first net-zero emissions cruise

• D uring the four-day sailing, the MSC Euribia surpassed its forecast performance resulting in 43 tonnes less fuel use than planned.

• A ‘digital twin’ technology was used to benchmark the ship’s performance.

• W ith heating and hot water on board produced by capturing waste heat from MSC Euribia’s engines, the boilers on board were not required.

• A ll proving that MSC Cruises’ newest flagship does indeed have the most energy-efficient cruise ship design to date.

The world’s first net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cruise ship voyage, was achieved by MSC Euribia. MSC Euribia, the Cruise Division of MSC Group’s newest LNG-powered vessel, marks a paradigm shift for cruising. It proves that net-zero emissions cruising is already possible, significantly ahead of the 2050 target for the industry. MSC Euribia achieved this milestone by utilising bio-LNG as fuel by applying mass balance.

Following MSC Euribia’s landmark netzero GHG emission maiden voyage from Saint Nazaire, France to Copenhagen, Denmark, between 3 - 8 June 2023 –including one day in Amsterdam – MSC Cruises is now able to share the key data and insights gathered from the journey. During the four-day voyage, MSC Euribia performed 11 per cent better than her

digital twin – a virtual ship reproducing the optimum energy flow and utilisation on board – achieving an overall saving of 43 tonnes of fuel. Optimal speed profiles, routing, trim and engine configuration, and strict optimisation of the hotel’s energy consumption, including HVAC, galleys, and lighting ensured that MSC Euribia never had to use more than two of its four engines available during the voyage. In addition, all the required heat for galleys, heating systems and hot water on board was recovered from MSC Euribia’s engines, meaning there was no need to utilise the boilers for the entire voyage. Achieving net-zero performance was made possible by using bio-LNG as a fuel. MSC Euribia utilised bio-LNG using a mass-balance system, the most costeffective and environmentally efficient method of delivering the benefits of

renewable LNG, fully recognised by the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). Each batch of bio-LNG produced was certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC).

The successful completion of this voyage sends a clear signal that net-zero GHG emissions marine operations are possible today, if alternative fuels are available. The data harvested and information gathered during the trip will then be used to optimise the existing ships in the fleet, further driving down emissions intensity across the MSC Cruises’ fleet.

Michele Francioni, senior vice president of optimisation for the cruise division of MSC Group, commented: “We are extremely proud of this achievement, that proves net-zero cruising is possible today. Our engineers on board and our crew, led

by Captain Battinelli, did a fantastic job of optimising the ship’s operation. MSC Euribia truly has the most energy-efficient cruise ship design to-date, but we need greater availability of renewable fuels for the wider maritime industry to consistently repeat this feat. With the right level of support from governments and international institutions in incentivising acceleration of technological advancements and renewable fuels availability, the industry can achieve net-zero emissions cruising by 2050.”

The recent signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between MSC Cruises and Gasum, a fuel supplier, will provide MSC with access to liquefied synthetic gas, or e-LNG, a renewable fuel produced using hydrogen, created by hydrolysis with renewable energy and captured carbon.

Linden Coppell, vice president of sustainability and ESG for MSC Cruises said: “The partnership with Gasum will enable us to access new and cleaner fuels needed to make a significant step toward net zero cruising. We need more suppliers like Gasum to step up and support our industry. We are ready and waiting to buy more of these new fuels. In the meantime, we will continue to learn from the data from MSC Euribia’s net-zero GHG voyage and use these findings as a benchmark for delivering our next LNG vessel.”

MSC Euribia’s pioneering net-zero GHG emissions voyage was recently recognised and awarded the ‘Sustainability initiative of the Year 2023’ at the Seatrade Cruise Awards 2023, announced on 6 September in Hamburg, Germany — a formidable accolade within the cruise industry.

MSC Euribia features and environmental technologies

Gross Tonnage: 184,011

Length: 331 m

Width: 43 m

Height: 73,6 m

Passengers capacity: 6,334

Engines and fuels:

Four Wärtsilä Dual Fuel engines: 2 x 16V46DF and 2 x 12V46DF Engines capable of running on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and on low-sulphur marine gas oil (MGO)

World-first net-zero emission cruise: MSC Euribia completed a net-zero GHG emissions voyage from St. Nazaire to Copenhagen utilising bio-LNG using a massbalance system, the most cost effective and environmentally efficient method of delivering the benefits of renewable biogas.

MSC Euribia can be powered using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which virtually eliminates sulphur oxides and particulates and reduces nitrogen oxides by 85 per cent. It also reduces emissions of greenhouse gases by up to 20 per cent (on a CO2-equivalent basis).

LNG is a transition fuel: the onboard engine technology and fuel systems can already use bio and synthetic LNG today. In the future, the ship design can accommodate retrofits, enabling our LNG-powered vessels to operate using green methanol. MSC Cruises is committed to deploying drop-in renewable fuels and accelerating the energy transition to net-zero.

Energy Efficiency

MSC Euribia is the most energy-efficient cruise ship design ever. MSC Euribia will

achieve an IMO Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) 55 per cent better than currently required and she is expected to be the best-performing cruise ship in the world at the time of her launch. MSC Euribia will emit up to 44 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions per passenger per day than ships built only 10 years ago.

Advanced water and waste treatment facilities

Wastewater is treated to a very high quality that is of a better standard than many shoreside municipal wastewater treatment systems worldwide. Our technology meets the strictest international IMO standards — including the so-called Baltic standard. Advanced waste management systems to reduce, reuse, and recycle the waste generated on board.

The Cruise Division of MSC Group is committed to being a net zero GHG emissions brand by 2050

The emissions intensity of our ship operations has decreased by 33.5 per cent since 2008, and we are confident in achieving a 40 per cent reduction by 2030. Achieving net zero emissions will require more than finding further operational efficiencies: we are embracing new technologies and switching to non-carbon and renewable fuels. We are working with fuel providers and others on deploying drop-in sustainable fuels like advanced biofuels and biogas today. Looking into the future, green hydrogen and green methanol will likely contribute to our decarbonisation, as will synthetic e-fuels. Our focus is the development of scalable solutions that can be used universally.

Breaking barriers: championing gender equity in hospitality

Across the world, women are overcoming professional barriers and ascending to leadership positions, but this transition towards achieving equity in the workplace needs to happen faster and with more intention.

By Hellen

Africa boasts some of the world’s most rapidly expanding economies and offers a thrilling frontier for businesses. Women have always been a catalyst for change, enhanced living standards, and championed progress in all sectors on the continent and across the globe.

For decades however, women in the industry have had to overcome roadblocks that act as barriers to career advancement. This problem extends beyond gender-pay disparity, and also includes the disparities in providing opportunities and tailored resources that meet the needs of women with the intention of attaining an equal outcome.

As an industry, we have made considerable strides — according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the hospitality sector contributes to almost 10 per cent of Africa’s overall GDP and women make up 69 per cent of its total workforce. In South Africa, four in every ten employees working in the tourism sector are women, with higher representation in the food and beverage, accommodation, recreation, and retail spaces.

However, despite this representation, the climb up the corporate ladder remains challenging. Women are reaching management and executive positions at a slower pace, leading to fewer opportunities for growth, and lower wages. To address this imbalance, a transformative and systemic approach is needed, focusing on strategic actions that tackle gender biases and promote gender equity.

The hospitality industry has a unique opportunity to take the lead towards this vital transition. At Hilton, for example, we’ve made a fierce commitment to creating work environments where all women can thrive — from housekeepers and engineers to general managers and executives.

We’ve done this through revitalising our strategic approach to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) in leadership positions with a focus on developing women across our hotels. Hilton’s strategy continues to focus on growing a critical mass of women talent organically, by providing an enabling, safe, and supportive environment to transition into leadership roles.

And, while we still have a way to go, our efforts have shown promising results — with the biggest strides having been made at hotel director level, where women leadership representation has grown from 33 per cent in 2016 to almost half (48 per cent) in 2023.

This is in line with our global efforts, where Hilton has committed to achieving 50 per cent gender parity at our corporate leadership levels worldwide by 2027.

Over the last three years, we have also collaborated with Evolvin’ Women, a social enterprise committed to providing skilled placements for unemployed women, providing access to professional development and full-time job opportunities. To date, 36 African women have been trained and provided with employment opportunities across Hilton properties in the United Arab Emirates.

We continually embark on leadership development programmes and hold regular conferences and seminars to educate and mobilise women to take on senior positions across our global network. In celebration of International Women’s Day earlier this year, Hilton implemented a job-shadowing programme, providing four top-performing female students from various African nations the chance to shadow Hilton women in executive positions, with the aim of promoting skills development and showcasing opportunities in the hospitality sector.

I have seen first-hand that empowering women results in greater performance and more importantly, creates a more dynamic and resilient workplace. Industry insight shows that women possess management strengths such as interpersonal skills, determination, patience, pleasant behaviour, and accountability.

More so, women are often hailed for their transformational leadership style, particularly in recognising the importance of coaching and mentoring.

As a group, we are also a headline signatory of the Women in Hospitality Charter, which is devoted to increasing diversity and inclusion in the industry, as well as finding solutions to some of the industry’s challenges. Let us remember the vital role that women play within

the hospitality industry, and effect lasting changes that address these issues and ultimately overcome them.

Who is Hellen Lebone ?

Hellen Lebone is the regional HR director of Hilton in Africa and Indian Ocean (AIO) based in Sandton, South Africa. Ms Lebone has 20 years’ experience in human resources, in both generalist and specialist roles, like change management, compensation and benefits as well as diversity and inclusion. As regional HR director for Africa & Indian Ocean, Ms Lebone leads the HR function across Africa & Indian Ocean, overseeing the HR mandate and teams at the company’s almost twenty hotels within the region. Her main focus is to drive the implementation of HR strategic priorities on building an inclusive and high-performing culture, and leadership development. She is a graduate of Wits University and Wits Business School, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree and a Post-graduate diploma in Human Resource Management.

Lebone, regional director, human resources, Africa & Indian Ocean, Hilton

www.garonacom.co.za

EXHIBITIONS EVENTS ADVERTISING PROMOTIONS MARKETING PRINTING & BRANDING

M : +27 (0) 11 794 6162

E : presley@garonacom.co.za

W : www.garonacom.co.za

Block 1, Corner of Northumberland & Felstead Rd, Northriding, Johannesburg, 2188

New conference and function venue now open at the Marine Hotel in Hermanus

The iconic Marine Hotel in Hermanus has opened a new conference and function venue. With exemplary service and awe-inspiring views of Walker Bay, the versatile event space boasts beautiful natural daylight to make the most of its unique setting, complemented by its world-class offerings.

The light and airy event space is perfectly suited to corporate events and executive strategy meetings and getaways. It also lends itself to hosting intimate, exclusive weddings and other private events and celebrations. Half- and full-day conference packages are available, promising excellent value with the inclusion of state-of-the-art audio-visual and conference equipment suitable for in-person and hybrid events. The facility can accommodate up to eighty guests cinema style; sixty seated school room style and fiftysix U-shape; or up to thirty delegates in a boardroom configuration.

Head chef Oelof Vorster takes conference breaks to another level with

tailor-made offerings to suit the requirements of every individual event. Adjacent to the new venue, the dedicated Origins restaurant caters for meetings, conferences and events exclusively, seating up to 48 guests for meals or cocktails.

Michel Bouic, general manager of The

Marine said that The Liz McGrath Collection has paid heed to the requirements of the growing business community of Hermanus and the greater Overberg region for a worldclass meeting venue that offers excellent value, with warm hospitality and service to match.

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

He added: “As a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, we take pride in our accommodation that is

About The Marine

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

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

The Marine, a member of The Liz McGrath Collection, is one of South Africa’s most spectacular seaside hotels. Located on Hermanus’ famous cliff path, overlooking the breathtaking Walker Bay, the Small Luxury Hotels of the World property offers visitors the unique opportunity to experience the finest land-based whale watching in the world, from June to November each year. Guests are even able to view these majestic creatures from the comfort of their own sea view room. The Overberg region is also a must for adventure sport seekers, offering a host of activities – including hiking, mountain biking and marine sports.

Back at the hotel, guests can indulge in exceptional culinary delights created by Head Chef Oelof Vorster: from breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Pavilion Restaurant, to afternoon tea and sundowners in the Sun Lounge & Bar.

The forty elegantly appointed rooms and suites include ten Luxury Doubles with Sea View and ten Premier Suites — both categories are perfectly positioned for watching pods of dolphins and whales as they swim in the bay below. Guests may take a refreshing dip in The Marine’s pool, located in the hotel’s tranquil courtyard, or in the Tidal Pool, which can be accessed from the cliff path.

Conferencing taken to another level

One of South Africa’s most spectacular seaside hotels, The Marine is located on Hermanus’ famous cliff path, overlooking the breathtaking Walker Bay, offering visitors the unique opportunity to experience the finest land-based whale watching in the world. At The Marine, every detail of a conference is planned with precision. The light and airy event space is perfectly suited to corporate events and executive strategy meetings and getaways. It also lends itself to hosting intimate, exclusive weddings and other private events and celebrations. Half- and full-day conference packages are available for groups of up to 60 delegates, promising excellent value with the inclusion of standard state-of-the-art audio-visual and conference equipment suitable for in-person and hybrid events.

Call +27 28 313 1000 or email guestrelations@themarine.co.za to book your event.

Premier Hotels continues expansion in South Africa

One of the fastest growing groups in South Africa – Premier Hotels & Resorts – has plans for a number of new hotel builds. There is serious growth in the near future as the group intends to acquire further hotels across the country.

marks the year where it announces it has reached its ambition of 2,503 rooms and further expanded its footprint in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and the Free State in secondary cities like Kimberley, Upington and developing nodes of Pretoria, like Menlyn.

“We have a vision of gaining ground across Africa and agility and adaptability are key to obtaining this goal,” said Samuel Nassimov, managing director of one of the fastest growing, independently-owned hotel groups, highlighting that the group was on the verge of announcing its 24th property in Venda, Thohoyandou, opening in January 2024.

“A superb indication of our growth is the materialisation of our pipeline into openings and refurbishments, as we’ve focused on Richards Bay and East London,” he shared.

“As a group, we have prioritised consolidating our market share in key focus markets and expanding our presence in new territories to cement our leading position as the most geographically diverse hotel company across Africa,” Mr Nassimov said.

As more brands seek to leverage the travel boom, expanding into foreign countries and territories, the ability to understand the local culture and offer authentic experiences has become an important topic of discussion for the industry.

In an interview with Mr Nassimov, he outlined the key elements to creating a successful global brand expansion strategy. He emphasised the importance of respecting the rules of business engagement, adapting to the local culture, and working with the right partners. Milestone developments.

In an increasingly globalised world where travel has become faster, cheaper, and more convenient, the hospitality industry has been thriving, with travellers from all around the world. According to

UNWTO, over 900 million tourists travelled internationally in 2022, double those in 2021, though still 37 per cent fewer than in 2019, meaning hotel brands have to expand at a rapid pace in order to keep up with the demand.

“It’s for this reason that we’ve chosen key hotels, spending 130 million on our units for upgrades: Richards Bay, Pretoria, Winkler and adding 30 rooms next year to our George hotel,” he said.

The nationwide hotel group has emerged from Covid-19 after a half a billion-rand investment bolstering two new-builds and four refurbished properties across South Africa, significantly boosting the tourism sector and creating more possibilities for guests.

The focus markets for the group’s expansion are to move into Africa and then into Europe.

Premier Hotels & Resorts strategically chose to acquire land in Umhlanga and develop during the pandemic. This is certainly reassuring for the revival of the industry and the securement of jobs.

Its significant R365-million spend covered the construction of two hotels on one precinct high up on Umhlanga Ridge in KwaZulu-Natal. The new builds are a four-star Premier Hotel Umhlanga, with 127 bedrooms designed to maximise the use of its location, with all bedrooms having unrivalled Indian Ocean views and balcony access and a three-star Premier Splendid Inn Umhlanga that will feature 63 bedrooms, its own 50-seater restaurant along with a spectacular conference centre.

“This marks another milestone as we expand and project the brand’s robust growth in the region, further showcasing the group’s strong commitment to South Africa,” Mr Nassimov said. “Low occupancy rates generated its own set of challenges but we remain optimistic and relentless in finding efficiencies to maximise future opportunities.”

“Our decision to invest in Umhlanga is testament

to the confidence we have in South Africa’s ability to recover economically,” Mr Nassimov said. “The Umhlanga project will position the Premier Group as a firm favourite amongst holiday makers as well as corporate, government and international clientele — as we strive to secure a hotel presence in every major city.”

The investment in Cutty Sark, a famous landmark resort in Scottburgh on the KZN South Coast helped to restore it to its former glory. It encompassed a complete refurbishment of all 59 sea-facing rooms, adding a further 39 rooms and upgrading furnishings, decor, and equipment. The resort is a completely re-imagined mecca for holiday makers, leisure seekers, conference groups and diving enthusiasts, with a dive school that specialises in the Aliwal Shoal Diving Experience. It now boasts a new swimming pool, outdoor terrace with spectacular views, cocktail pool deck experience, with direct access to the swimming beach — as well as upgraded bars, restaurants and pizza oven, new facades, extensive upgrades to the dining room, foyer and reception areas and a new conference area.

“The past two year’s challenging circumstances have driven our appetite to breathe life back into the South African hospitality and tourism industries and these major investments reaffirm our commitment to the sector,” he concluded.

The Group is set to continue its national expansion into hotel property development and management, providing operational expertise to steer hospitality ventures, and developing partnerships that enable consumers to experience superior guest services. The Premier brand is proud to continue their work, by showcasing genuine South African hospitality to discerning business and leisure travellers, both locally and internationally, and to further deliver on their promise to provide authentic guest experiences.

Hotel construction commences in historic Longkloof precinct

Growthpoint Properties is moving ahead with its final improvement to the historic Longkloof precinct in Cape Town — the development of the Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof Hotel.

The project was originally planned for completion towards the end of 2021, but was put on hold as South Africa has navigated a period of uncertainty. With increased tourism in Cape Town, and in particular the material growth in tourist numbers over the usually quiet winter months, as well as a general upswing in economic activity evident in the city, Growthpoint believes the time is now right to get the project back on track.

The Western Cape, and Cape Town in particular, have exhibited economic resilience. Semigration from other parts of South Africa to the Western Cape is steady and is boosting Cape Town’s appeal as an attractive city to live and work in. Reflecting this appeal, Growthpoint’s office vacancies in the Mother City are steadily improving and recently dropped below the 10 per cent mark for the first time since 2020, significantly outperforming the SAPOA national average of 15.8 per cent (March 2023).

International tourism has also picked up again, with international flights to Cape Town numbering higher than ever before and a strong flow of tourists year-round. Tourist centres in South Africa are also likely to get a boost from the current exchange rates, with a positive effect on Cape Town’s attractiveness to international travellers.

The heritage-led project to revitalise the Longkloof Precinct includes the renovation of several Growthpoint-owned buildings and the creation of an attractive public yard that connects to the city via four different access points. Growthpoint’s vision was to reimagine the six

buildings and vacant parking lot that are made up of a historical school and a historical industrial building with its boiler room as a modern and trendy mixed-use precinct that embodies the essence of this unique city in something new and exciting, yet respectful of its heritage.

The plans were painstakingly developed and refined over several years before work began in 2019, and most elements, with the exception of the hotel, were completed in 2021. This created unique and desirable offices now occupied generally by entrepreneurs, tech and marketingrelated companies.

One of the highlight features of the precinct is the 150-room Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof Hotel – the first of its kind in Africa – which leads out onto the public yard offering curated ground-level retail. The façade of the former MLT House, the structure of which is being incorporated into the hotel, has been carefully preserved and integrated into the new design.

Timothy Irvine, Growthpoint regional asset manager for the Western Cape, said that while delaying construction was correct in the economic uncertainty, market conditions are indicating that it is now the right time to resume work. “The hotel will round off the precinct, which is now ready for it. It will complement the mix of uses and tenancies there,” he said.

These include tech-orientated and entrepreneurial businesses as well as Workshop 17, which is now expanding. Workshop 17 is located in 32 on Kloof, which was the first building in the precinct to be renovated and which opened its doors in August 2019.

The building known as the Refinery, a gracious Herbet Baker-designed historical school building, underwent a modernisation of its services. The buildings known as Darter Studio and Threshers Studio, in deference to their surroundings and former use, were also revamped to create connected office buildings which have proven popular with creative and tech businesses. The public yard functions as a central space, along with its connectors into the rest of the city. It was important that it should be accessible to the general public, as something that anyone in the city could enjoy. A new coffee shop, Vine & Dandy, has now opened there, enlivening the space and reinforcing its importance as a place of socialisation and connection.

Mr Irvine believes that the completion of the hotel and its operation under the Hilton Canopy brand will round out the special appeal of the precinct. Careful consideration of the precinct parking requirements and the addition of another 150 underground parking bays to the others in the precinct bolsters the attractiveness of what has already become one of the ultimate spots in Cape Town.

The Longkloof Precinct is on the Mother City’s famous Kloof Street in an area that has a distinctive character and culture. It is rich in history and beautiful buildings — authentically Cape Town.

“Introducing Canopy by Hilton, a hotel that is unique in Africa, to the revitalised Longkloof Precinct is the fantastic final finishing touch to the new dynamic that Growthpoint has created to be a perfect fit for this unique neighbourhood,” he concluded.

Timothy Irvine, Growthpoint Properties, Regional Asset Manager.

Rendering of Growthpoint Properties Longkloof.

Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant appoints chef Christiaan Campbell

The Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant in Paarl is delighted to announce the appointment of chef Christiaan Campbell to its executive team.

Christiaan trained as a naval chef at the South African Navy Culinary School. His culinary career spans some thirty years and includes The Priory in Bath, England, two months working in the kitchens of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons by Chef Raymond Blanc (OBE) in Oxfordshire, The Restaurant at The Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge, London, Chewton Glen, La Gavroche and Gravetye Manor. Between 2004 and 2007, he was group executive chef of The Collection by Liz McGrath in South Africa.

In 2009, Christiaan was appointed as opening executive chef of Delaire Graff Restaurant, where he also oversaw the estate’s signature Indochine Restaurant and mentored Chef Virgil Khan, who is now considered a leading chef in South Africa. In 2014, Christiaan moved to Boschendal Farm, where he was a member of the EXCO team and managed all of the estate’s food and beverage offerings. He also lead the team of the thought-provoking The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal, which received the Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award in 2018.

His most recent culinary address has seen him lead Tebaldi’s restaurant at Temenos Retreat, a place of mindfulness and wellness in McGregor, where his role has been to reimagine the restaurant and also open a second eatery in the village, Out of Africa Café.

Christiaan has spent the past eighteen months aligning all of the hospitality, food and beverage services to the spirit of Temenos, through training and mentorship.

Christiaan is one of the pioneers of the contemporary food scene in South Africa to champion the ethical sourcing of produce and to support hyper local farms. He is highly regarded amongst his peers, both locally and abroad.

Johann Bouwer, general manager of the Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant, said: “To have someone of

Christiaan’s calibre join our team is very exciting to us. Christiaan’s career experience, his passion to share his knowledge and upskill his teams, together with his genuine ethos of sustainable consumerism makes him an ideal and natural appointment as Grande Roche heads into a revived and reimagined chapter.”

The Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant is located in the winelands town of Paarl and is a signature hotel in South Africa, known for its luxurious country ambience and warm hospitality.

City Lodge Hotels’ robust annual results signal a resounding recovery

City Lodge Hotels’ reviewed provisional condensed consolidated results for the year to 30 June 2023 show an impressive recovery in occupancies, average room rates, and revenue post the Covid-19 pandemic and the severe effects of the lockdown on the hospitality and tourism industries.

Group occupancies are up 18 percentage points to 56 per cent from the prior year of 38 per cent, and 1.5 percentage points up from 55 per cent for the 2019 financial year (FY19). Occupancies have been on a rising trend, with monthly occupancies since October 2022 exceeding those of 2019 (excluding January 2023). Similarly, average room rates for the year have increased meaningfully by 12 per cent compared to last year, and we have been recovering lost ground against pre-Covid room rates.

“We are now seeing our recovery playing out,” confirms Andrew Widegger, Chief Executive Officer. “We expect this growth trajectory to continue as it rolls out several significant developments aimed at boosting the bottom line by enhancing the guest experience. Our

drive is reflected in our new group slogan: ‘Life is hard. Check into easy’.”

Financial review

Dhanisha Nathoo, chief financial officer, shares the good news: “Revenue for the year ended 30 June 2023 increased by 55 per cent to R1.7-billion (2022: R1.1-billion), indicating that the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic is well established.”

Food and beverage revenue has seen growth thanks to the introduction of new menus at City Lodge Hotels and Courtyard Hotels, as well as the expanded lunch and dinner options at the Town Lodge and Road Lodge brands. It now accounts for 17 per cent (2022: 15 per cent) of total revenue and has delivered a 79 per cent increase on the prior year.

improved occupancies

The

and the Dhanisha Nathoo, CFO.

Andrew Widegger, CEO.

City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront is being fully revamped, with guest rooms optimised for space with new layout, furniture, artwork, and redesigned bathrooms.

return to normal trading conditions, including the higher food and beverage volume, has contributed to the increase in total operating costs. Salaries and wages increased by 32 per cent, to R492.7-million, as the prior year included a period of up to 30 per cent salary reductions for reduced time worked during Covid as many hotels remained closed or had low occupancies. The additional contract staff support and food and beverage service staff has also contributed to the increase.

Property costs increased by 19 per cent, mainly attributable to the increase in utility prices together with the increase in the variable portion of these costs, arising from greater occupancy volumes. The cost of running the generators during more frequent power outages increased to R16.6-million from R3.2-million in the prior period.

Rooms related costs, and food and beverages costs are variable in nature. These costs increased by 52 per cent and 68 per cent to R189.6-million (2022: R125.0-million) and R124.8million (2022: R74.4-million), respectively, and are driven by the increased volumes. Food and beverage gross profit margins have improved to 58 per cent from 55 per cent in the prior year.

Other operating costs increased by 49 per cent to R268.8-million compared to

R181.0-million in the prior year. The increases are associated with variable direct cost increases and the relaxation of the strict cost management measures instituted during the Covid-19 pandemic. These relaxation measures include a normalised repairs and maintenance schedule for the hotels, and renewed investment in advertising and marketing.

The 28 per cent decrease in the depreciation charge is as a result of a revision to the estimated useful life of furniture and fitting, and software. The increase in useful life is due to the prolonged frequency of refurbishment cycles during and following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The group generated an increase in EBITDAR of 83 per cent for the year to R556.3-million (2022: R303.2-million), and an improved EBITDAR margin of 32.4 per cent (2022: 27.5 per cent). EBITDAR margin excluding unrealised foreign currency gains is 30 per cent (2022: 20.2 per cent). The improvement in trading conditions has delivered a profit after tax of R163.7-million (2022: R81.7-million), and diluted earnings per share of 28.6 cents (2022: 14.3 cents). Similarly, diluted headline earnings per share is 30.3 cents per share, compared to a loss of 8.6 cents per share in the prior period.

Dhanisha says, “The group balance

sheet reflects a much improved, and strengthened position compared to the prior year.”

Debt funding was R300.0-million as of 30 June 2023 (2022: R600.0million), and cash balances were R328.3-million (2022: overdraft of R59.3-million), at the same date. The receipt of the proceeds from the sale of the East Africa operations in July 2022 of R479.4-million, and the cash generated by operations of R539.5million (2022: R265.8-million), enabled the group to repay R300.0-million of its total R600.0-million interestbearing borrowings facilities during the year. The group continues to have access to the R300.0-million undrawn interest-bearing borrowing facilities and the R115.0-million overdraft facility. The loan covenants have been met for all measurement periods during the reporting period. The board remains cautious about the economic challenges, particularly in South Africa, with the ongoing electricity and water supply constraints and the high inflation and interest rates over the last 12 months. However, the group also recognises the muchimproved liquidity position and the promising outlook and is confident that it is able to withstand these headwinds. The board has declared a final cash dividend of 8c per share (2022: Nil).

New bedroom colour palette and décor are inspired by the natural beauty of the region’s indigenous Cape fynbos.

Strategic developments

“The improved trading performance has allowed the group to once again focus on the value generated from its wellequipped and optimally positioned portfolio of hotels, which enable us to deliver exceptional service and an easy and seamless experience to our guests,” notes Andrew.

“As a consequence of our now robust financial position, our refurbishment programmes have recommenced, to ensure that our products are always in tip-top condition,” he explains.

During the past year, City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport successfully completed its kitchen extension including equipment installation in September 2022, and now offers food and beverage solutions to guests 24-hours a day. Road Lodge Richards Bay completed its room and commercial area refresh and modernisation in April 2023. A major revamp is currently underway at the 207-room City Lodge Hotel V&A Waterfront, which includes a complete renovation and refurbishment of the bedrooms, and commercial area. Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City completed the fit-out of the remaining four floors in mid-December 2022. These developments are complemented by City Lodge Hotels’ continued focus on meeting and exceeding the needs of travellers, who demand an uncomplicated and easy life, during these challenging times. The food and beverage offering is constantly being enhanced, and now includes new and improved menus at City Lodge Hotel and Courtyard Hotel brands, ordered using efficient Point-of-Sale devices, and delivered using state-of-the-art kitchen equipment. These meals are complemented by new cocktail and snack menus, affording the group an

opportunity to earn more of the guest spend.

The group has improved its B-BBEE rating to a level 3 in the current year, from a level 5 in the prior year. As operating activities improve, the group has renewed its support and investment in transformation initiatives within its communities, and also invested in the development of the future workforce from training and practical experience offered through the youth employment scheme (YES programme).

Outlook

“The 2024 financial year will be the year of renewed fervour into modernising and reinvesting in our portfolio of hotels, with refurbishments scheduled at ten hotels, which will include the further rollout of our new generation hotel room designs, to make the products more appealing to our changing guest profile and delivering an enhanced return for our shareholders,” explains Dhanisha. Sustainable and resilient environmental business operations are an imperative, and the group is responding to this need through the expansion of the group’s solar programme to a further 15 hotels, in addition to the 25 hotels that already have solar energy generating capacity,

and an increased focus on energy storage. Boreholes and filtration plants are being installed at properties where water is frequently disrupted and/or the water quality is sub-standard. All upgrades offer greater resiliency when it comes to supplementing off-the-grid electricity and water sources.

Total capital commitments authorised for the 2024 financial year is R367.6-million.

The group is encouraged that these shifts in economic sentiment have been mirrored in the positive occupancy trends in July 2023 of 61 per cent (July 2022 — 52 per cent and July 2019 — 56 per cent), August 2023 of 61 per cent (August 2022 — 51 per cent and August 2019 — 55 per cent) and month to date up to 7 September of 64 per cent, and looks to continue well into the summer season and the remainder of the financial year.

Andrew says in summary, “The group and hotel positioning and brand messaging are being refreshed, tapping into the slogan: ‘Life is hard. Check into easy.’ The aim is to stand out from the crowd and strengthen top-of-mind awareness, positioning ourselves for a new generation of business and leisure travellers.”

Refreshed design speaks to guests’ ever-evolving accommodation needs, whether travelling for business, leisure or a mix of both aka bleisure

City Lodge Hotels' logos, hotel positioning and brand messaging have been refreshed and the new group slogan is: ‘Life is hard. Check into easy’

WHEN LIFE GETS LIFEY.

Flock Eventing Platform — official partner of African Energy Week (AEW) 2023

Demonstrating the power of strategic partnerships, Flock Eventing Platform has joined African Energy Week 2023 as its official partner.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) is delighted to announce that Flock Eventing Platform will join African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 as a partner, which is scheduled to take place from 16-20 October at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. With a proven track record of executing successful events in over 36 countries worldwide and thousands of attendees benefiting from its various apps, Flock Eventing Platform is a trusted name in the event management industry. The company has a history of listening to the specific needs of event managers and providing a platform that caters to those needs, while remaining cost-effective.

As a global company with offices in South Africa, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the USA, Flock Eventing Platform is revolutionising the way event planners manage events, from pre-planning to postevent management. Its event management system and mobile apps, equipped with over twenty integrated features, are designed

to enhance engagement, improve communication with attendees, and streamline event management.

Flock Eventing Platform’s core values perfectly align with those of the AEC. They share a commitment to embracing courage, fostering continuous learning, inspiring others, and delivering excellence, consistently and punctually. The company’s innovative solutions and unwavering dedication to service, empower events of varying scales, to establish a strong and effective digital presence.

The partnership with Flock Eventing Platform is poised to elevate AEW 2023 by enhancing attendee experiences, improving event management, and expanding its digital reach. This collaboration reflects AEC’s commitment to delivering a top-notch energy event while ensuring efficiency, accessibility and engagement for all participants.

“Harnessing the potential of strategic partnerships is essential for propelling events within the African energy sector. Collaborations such as the partnership

with Flock Eventing Platform exemplify a commitment to delivering world-class energy events. By joining forces, we amplify the ability to provide innovative, engaging, and efficient platforms that drive meaningful conversations and connections. Together, we empower the industry with the tools and opportunities it needs to thrive,” stated NJ Ayuk, the executive chairman of the AEC.

By partnering with AEW 2023, Flock Eventing Platform aims to provide essential support, to enhance the overall event experience for attendees, exhibitors and organisers. The company’s expertise makes it a valuable addition to the AEW 2023, and its commitment to excellence aligns with the goals of this premier energy event.

AEW is the AEC’s annual conference, exhibition and networking event. AEW 2023 will unite African energy policymakers and stakeholders with global investors, to discuss and maximise opportunities within the continent’s entire energy industry. For more information about AEW 2023, visit https://AECWeek.com

The Houghton Hotel and Afrika Tikkun empower youth

The Houghton Hotel, a five-star urban resort in Johannesburg renowned for its commitment to excellence in hospitality, proudly continues its ongoing partnership with Afrika Tikkun to offer the Youth Employment Services (YES) Hospitality programme.

Since its inception in 2019, the initiative has provided invaluable opportunities for 88 young individuals to gain hands-on experience in the hospitality industry, fostering growth, and creating pathways to sustainable employment.

The YES Hospitality programme is a collaborative effort between The Houghton Hotel and Afrika Tikkun, a prominent non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering youth in underprivileged communities across South Africa. The programme aims to equip young individuals through industry specific specialised training with the practical skills and knowledge essential for a successful career in the dynamic world of hospitality.

“Our commitment to this work readiness programme in collaboration with Afrika Tikkun, seeks to dispel any apprehension and nurture self-assurance among the 21-35-year-olds in our community. The effects of our efforts transcend the boundaries of both workplaces and homes, as we establish foundational support systems that bolster confidence, promote social betterment, offer learnerships, and provide introductory work exposure. These initiatives serve as the keys that unlock the path to an autonomous and economically empowered life,” commented Jaco Minnaar, chief executive officer of The Houghton Hotel.

Phatudi Motaung, HR manager at The

Houghton Hotel commented on the life-changing experience which the programme offers. “The YES Hospitality programme is a great opportunity to acquire new skills and develop a career path that the successful candidates wouldn’t otherwise have been able to. Since its inception, the YES Hospitality programme has welcomed around 88 students, providing them with the chance to receive comprehensive training within the hospitality industry.”

Each year, twenty carefully selected students are given the unique opportunity to spend twelve months at The Houghton Hotel, where they undergo immersive training across various departments, including front office, spa, finance/ procurement, F&B, maintenance, and HR admin. The rotational approach enables students to gain a holistic understanding of the different facets of the hospitality business.

Ms Motaung further explained, “The programme at The Houghton Hotel is an enriching journey for participants. The exposure and training they receive within the diverse departments not only enhance their skills but also provide them with a strong foundation for a successful career in hospitality.”

The Sweet Taste of Success Stories

The YES Hospitality programme’s commitment to youth empowerment extends beyond the confines of The Houghton Hotel. Mukundi

Mphohoni, a standout participant of the programme, is a prime example. After completing the YES programme and gaining invaluable insights from placements in the finance and procurement departments, Mukundi founded Sweet Remedies. Her innovative business, established in July 2021, specialises in supplying sweets for hotels (including The Houghton Hotel, where her business is based), parties, events, gifting, and personal enjoyment. Mukundi’s journey exemplifies the transformative impact of the YES Hospitality programme on young entrepreneurs.

Mukundi shared her success story, stating, “My business, Sweet Remedies, was established in July 2021 and has been operating for the past two years and counting. The YES programme played a crucial role in refining my business acumen and skills, enabling me to run my business both within and beyond the hotel sector.”

The Houghton Hotel and Afrika Tikkun remain steadfast in their commitment to nurturing young talent and facilitating lasting change within the hospitality sector and beyond. As part of the programme’s application process, aspiring candidates can apply through the Afrika Tikkun website or visit Afrika Tikkun Centres in Alexandra, Orange Farm, Braamfontein, Diepsloot, and Mfuleni for inquiries and applications.

Sun International derives another strong performance

Income for the first six-months up 11.7 per cent to R5.8-billion;

• Adjusted EBITDA up by 5.6 per cent to R1.6-billion;

• Adjusted headline earnings up by 10.1 per cent to 197 cents per share from 179 cents per share;

• Sunbet generated recorded income, up by 138.4 per cent exceeding its five-year targets;

• Sun City achieves exceptional perfomance, income up by 25.5 per cent and EBITDA margin up 6.4 per cent;

• The group is in a strong financial position with South African debt at R5.9-billion, with debt to adjusted EBITDA at 1.8 times; and

• Interim cash dividend of 148 cents per share, up by 68.2 per cent totalling R388-million.

Sun International released its half-year results, delivering another set of exceptional results for the first half of 2023 and building on its strong performance achieved in 2022.

Income for the six-month period ended 30 June 2023 was up 11.7 per cent, to R5.8-billion compared to the prior period. Despite a significant increase in diesel costs and other cost pressures, disciplined cost management contributed to adjusted EBITDA being up by 5.6 per cent to R1.6-billion. Adjusted headline earnings improved from R444-million to R482 million, with adjusted headline earnings per share increasing by 10.1 per cent from 179 cents per share to 197 cents per share for the review period.

Gaming income, which makes up 78.0 per cent of group income, showed continued sustained growth with income up 6.6 per cent. Despite the difficult economic climate and increased competition, casino income proved resilient and increased by 3.2 per cent. Sun Slots’ operations were impacted by load shedding, with income slightly behind the prior period. SunBet generated record income during the review period, up by 138.4 per cent on the first half of 2022 and is well on its way to achieving the aggressive growth targets set for this business.

Sun International chief executive, Anthony Leeming, said: “Although economic conditions in our operating environment remain challenging, our

business has proven to be resilient, and we anticipate that we will continue to improve earnings in the second half of the year.“

The group is in a strong financial position with South African debt (excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities) at R5.9 billion. South African debt to adjusted EBITDA and interest cover of 1.8 times and 5.7 times respectively, are well within the group’s lenders’ covenants of less than 3.25 times and greater than 3.0 times respectively.

This was despite the group paying a final gross dividend during the review period of R632-million for the year ended 31 December 2022, as well as experiencing a heightened interest rate environment.

“This is evidence of the strong cash generation by the group as well as its prudent allocation of capital. We continue to prioritise increasing free cashflows and disciplined capital allocation to maximise shareholder value within a set of fundamental capital allocation principles. Our balance sheet is in a strong position, with unutilised facilities of R2.3-billion,” Mr Leeming said.

The adjusted EBITDA margin was impacted by an increase in net diesel costs of R60-million and the relatively higher growth in income from resorts and hotels, which operates at a structurally lower margin than urban casinos. Overall, the adjusted EBITDA margin reduced from 28.7 per cent in 2022 to 27.2 per cent. Excluding the impact of the net diesel costs attributable to load shedding, the group would have achieved a 28.2 per cent adjusted EBITDA margin, broadly in line with the first half of 2022.

Net external interest increased by 40.3 per cent from the prior comparative period as a result of JIBAR increasing by approximately 3.5 per cent. The reduction in minorities’ share of earnings is attributable to the strong performance of wholly owned subsidiaries, namely Sun City and SunBet.

In line with Sun International’s dividend strategy to provide its shareholders with an appropriate, sustainable payout over the long term while maintaining a targeted debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of two times and a dividend pay-out ratio of 75 per cent of adjusted headline earnings per share on a sustainable basis, the board has resolved to pay an interim cash dividend of 148 cents per share, totalling R388-million.

SunBet has continued its strong growth trajectory and is exceeding its five-year targets. Overall income was up 138.4 per cent for the period. Adjusted EBITDA increased from R14-million during the prior comparative period to R90-million in the review period, a 542.9 per cent increase, underscoring the groundbreaking milestones for the business. Active players continued to grow, with additional games being offered and the overall player experience being enhanced. At the end of the review period, SunBet achieved substantial growth in key performance indicators against 2022, which included:

• unique active players up 702.8 per cent;

• first time depositors up 469.2 per cent; and

• deposits up 216.2 per cent.

Mr Leeming said: “SunBet offers the group significant and exciting growth potential, with the added advantage of the business model being self-funding and capex light and, with this in mind, we continue to invest in people and marketing in order to significantly increase our share of the fast-growing online gaming market. We have made significant improvements to registrations, customer deposits and withdrawal processes as well as an overhaul of the customer contact centre. Our customers are now able to interact with us seamlessly and we are well positioned operationally for higher volumes of business.”

Urban casinos income was up 4.2 per cent, despite a challenging operating environment due to load shedding and the resultant increase in diesel costs, with adjusted EBITDA, pre-management fee, of R1.1-billion for the period. The adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.7 per cent was down 2.8 per cent on 2022.

The group continues to focus on customer acquisition and retention, customer experience and margin improvement and has made considerable investments in each of these areas.

There was a continued strong recovery in both international and local business in the resorts and hotels segment of the group. Domestic leisure, conferencing, sports and events revenues continue to grow while international leisure business recovered strongly in the review period.

Total resorts and hotels income was up 26.9 per cent, to R1.4-billion on the

prior comparative period. Overall, an adjusted EBITDA, pre-management fee, was up 64.4 per cent to R314-million from the R191-million in the prior comparative period. The adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.0 per cent reflects a substantial improvement from the 17.0 per cent achieved in 2022 and represents meaningful progress towards the long term target for the group.

Load shedding resulted in a decline in game play and footfall at Sun Slots sites, which was the major contributor to the lower-than-expected results during the review period. A number of interventions have been deployed to counter the impact of power outages, which result in less game time.

Sun Slots’ income reduced from R730-million to R717-million, and adjusted EBITDA reduced from R191million to R166-million, for the period.

Mr Leeming said: “Our balance sheet remains strong, and we are focused on efficiencies as we look to protect and grow our income and margins. SunBet is achieving record numbers in terms of income and all key indicators and will deliver another step change this year. Our resort and hotel properties have continued to perform exceptionally well, and we anticipate another good year from them in 2023. Urban casinos and LPM operations are demonstrating continued resilience despite the tough operating environment.

“With the strong momentum that we have achieved, and having the right leadership in place, we will ensure that our strategy continues to deliver the required results.”

The President Hotel supports Streetscapes

The President Hotel, the iconic Bantry Bay landmark, launched its Tourism Month sale where R10 of each guest’s September booking is donated to Streetscapes, a sustainable urban regeneration programme in the heart of the city.

This year, Tourism Month’s theme is Tourism and Green Investments, which is fitting, as sustainability and responsible tourism have, over the last few years, been a great focal point in tourism, locally and globally.

For all September stays booked directly on the hotel’s website, The President Hotel will commit to donating R10 from every booking to Streetscapes, empowering them to continue their vital work. Streetscapes’ mission is to end chronic homelessness. They run an urban farm, they offer landscaping services, operate an off-the-grid laundromat that recycles water, a nursery and also offer skills development to aid people in finding jobs and getting off the streets.

“We are thrilled to embark on this incredible journey alongside

Streetscapes. Our partnership represents a powerful combination of hospitality and social responsibility,” said Jeremy Clayton, the President Hotel’s director. “By working closely with Streetscapes to evaluate our current sustainability practices and contributing a portion of each booking to the organisation, we aim to make a tangible difference and create a lasting positive impact in our community.”

Jesse Laitinen, strategic partnerships manager at Streetscapes, expressed gratitude for the partnership: “We are truly honoured to be selected as The President Hotel’s charitable partner. This innovative initiative exemplifies the power of collaboration between the private sector and non-profit organisations. The support from the hotel will enable us to further our mission and reach new

milestones in our efforts to empower those who are marginalised to unlock their full potential in order to develop resilient pathways and skills that lead to a sustainable future.”

As guests look forward to their stay at the President Hotel, with its gorgeous location, impeccable service, and breathtaking views, they will also have the opportunity to contribute to a cause that changes lives and makes a real difference.

UJ School of Tourism and Hospitality hosts inaugural conference

UJ School of Tourism and Hospitality hosts inaugural conference.

The two-day conference brought together local and internationally distinguished tourism and hospitality scholars, emerging researchers, and post-graduate students at the level of PhD. to explore sustainable pathways for transforming the tourism industry in the context of recovery and resilience building. One of the keynote speakers, Prof Robin Nunkoo, from the University of Mauritius, whose address focused on the need for interdisciplinary perspectives in tourism research, and Judy Kepher-Gona, the founder and principal consultant of Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda (STTA), whose address was titled ‘Communities and the future of Sustainable Tourism’.

In his welcome address to delegates, conference co-chair and academic head for tourism at STH, Professor Tembi Tichaawa, explained: “The conference is premised on the fact that for a long time, tourism has been considered a highly resilient growth-driven industry. However, the Covid-19 pandemic changed – at least temporally – the course of tourism development.  Instead of being resilient, the tourism industry is now considered a sector that is highly vulnerable to external pressures”. Oulu University Professor Jarkko Saarinen, who also serves as a distinguished visiting professor at the University of Johannesburg, added that

“the economic and geopolitical changes impacting the tourism sector have activated the need for adaptation, recovery and building better resilience for the sustainability of the sector going forward”.

“This academic conference aligned well with the recent leadership conference hosted by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), where themes of resilience and sustainability were at the forefront of the private and public sector deliberations”, said Prof Diane Abrahams. “The research presented at the conference will in turn provide academic insights on some of the key challenges and opportunities faced in the tourism sector globally”.

The conference attracted over 100 delegates, from 11 countries and 84 presentations were delivered over the two days covering a broad range of areas which are: climate and environmental change impacts and resilience; eco, adventure and nature-based tourism; sustainable tourism and hospitality education and learning; tourism and community development; tourism resilience and recovery; sport event tourism and resilience; digitalisation and technological solutions for sustainable tourism; tourism, policies and governance, as well as food, tourism and sustainability.

Prof Diane Abrahams amongst attending delegates.

Prof Jarkko Saarinen, University of Oulu.

Prof Tembi Tichaawa, STH UJ.

Hostex 2024 announces growing exhibitor list

Hostex 2024, Africa’s food, drink and hospitality trade expo, is gearing up to be an unmissable event for industry professionals. With just months to go, Hostex has announced a significant milestone — an impressive 50 per cent of the exhibition floorspace has already been sold, indicating the industry’s support and excitement surrounding this year’s event.

Hostex 2024 is set to host a diverse and dynamic community of exhibitors, representing all sectors of the industry. From cutting-edge tech solutions and sustainable practices to launches of new food and beverage products and equipment and solutionsdriven innovations, the event promises to be a one-stop destination for industry stakeholders. The addition of The Wine Bar and the return of popular features such as the Barista Challenge and the SA Chefs Skillery will deliver added value to visitors across the different industry sectors.

Hostex continues to live up to its reputation as the expo that connects the industry, supported by leading industry associations, including FEDHASA, SA Chefs, SANHA, GHASA, STTP, and NAA. “These partnerships are driving our commitment to create an event that goes beyond connecting buyers and sellers; it's about fostering growth, learning, and networking opportunities that will propel the industry forward,” commented Mark

Anderson, Hostex exhibition director.

With a heritage spanning almost four decades, Hostex has earned its place as a trusted and invaluable event in the hospitality, food and beverage sectors. In the wake of the challenges posed by Covid-19, Hostex 2024 offers an invaluable opportunity for industry professionals to reconnect, showcase their innovations, and explore new horizons.

“The importance of exhibitions has never been greater in the increasingly digital, disconnected business environment. It is significant to note that 88 per cent of companies surveyed in the Global Exhibition Barometer research by UFI, indicated their confidence that ‘Covid-19 confirms the value of face-toface events’,” Mr Anderson said.

Three exhibitors share their reasons for joining the growing list of exhibitors who will be showcasing their products to thousands of visitors in March next year: Returning exhibitor David Norse, The Fresh Press: “We had great feedback last year, following the years of no shows after Covid. It's a great way to allow our

overseas suppliers to come and feel and experience the South African trade/ market.”

First-time exhibitor Kabelo Baepane, Hive Energy: “We are a new energy drink in the market, and we see Hostex as a great platform to expand our product awareness.”

Wine Bar exhibitor Jonathen Ralph, Kleine Zalze: “We want to explore other trade shows outside of the generic wine shows.”

Mr Anderson concluded: “Hostex 2024 is not just an event; it’s an opportunity to be connected to the innovations, trends and best practices that will drive the growth of the hospitality, food and beverage industries in the future.”

Hostex 2024 takes place from 3-5 March 2024 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The 2024 expo is segmented into six districts — Equipment Africa, Food & Drink Africa, Tea & Coffee Africa, Contract Furnishings Africa, Technology Africa, and Sustainability Africa. For more information go to www.hostex.co.za

Grease Off at Hostex 2022, returning in 2024. Topia at Hostex 2022, returning in 2024

A jam-packed show at Hostex 2022.

David Nourse from The Fresh Press, returning to Hostex in 2024.

Importalia stand at Hostex 2022, returning in 2024.

Core Catering's busy stand at Hostex 2022 will be returning in 2024.

RFG Foods at Hostex 2022.

When is an event a ‘green’ event?

There are many ways to make an event greener, writes Event Greening Forum (EGF) member Greg McManus, director of Heritage Eco Events. However, implementing event greening measures doesn’t automatically make your event a green event. Here’s why.

Event greening essentially means implementing sustainable practices at your event which carefully balance environmental, social and financial considerations. The aim is to mitigate or lessen any negative impact the event could have, such as waste generated, energy and water used, the carbon footprint associated with transport and travel systems, the effect on the local community, and so on.

I wholeheartedly encourage and endorse event greening, for everyone in the events industry. However, a distinction needs to be made between the practice (event greening) and its results (a green event).

Proof is in the assessment

Ultimately, the success of one’s event greening actions will determine whether an event is green or not, which means two things:

An event can only be called ‘green’ after it has ended, and all its impacts have been assessed.

It can only objectively be called ‘green’ if the assessment is carried out by an independent person against a published, recognised standard and who has a recognised and fair assessment method.

Carrying out event greening does not guarantee a green event.

For example, an event planner may believe that they have held the greenest event possible – and it very well could be. But without an independent evaluation and audit against a recognised standard, it’s not possible to objectively determine this. Similarly, when it comes to claiming an event is ‘sustainable’ or ‘carbon neutral’, the services of a certification consultant should be used.

Again, this isn’t to disregard event greening efforts, which should always be encouraged. And for those new to it, trying out an aspect of it can be a good way to dip one’s toe in the water. However, I would argue that as an event planner strives to improve their event’s sustainability and greening credentials — to become what they can confidently call a green or sustainable event, they need to independently measure and assess their impacts to benchmark and improve their performance. Without this, they will never really know how effective their actions are and if they are achieving their greening goals.

An important part of any credible certification process is ensuring that a sustainable and effective process is started by which each subsequent event learns from the previous and a process of continual improvement is established. Never assume that you have now achieved the highest level of green events, because this is a dynamic industry faced with ever-changing environmental challenges — mostly beyond our control. It takes continually learning to stay abreast of what is expected. Ten or fifteen years back, simply recycling waste was regarded as a green event, but now this is but one of a dozen criteria expected by the corporate and consumer markets we serve.

Bringing in the experts: sustainability consultants

Event planners often contract a sustainability consultant to provide greening advice, guidance and support — all of which can greatly improve the sustainability of an event. These

Greg McManus.

consultants will have experience in identifying and implementing processes and systems to effectively improve the sustainability of an event.

In some cases, these consultants can also audit the event to give it a green score or rating as a guideline towards greater performance. This is very valuable, as it helps event planners better understand the results of their efforts, what is working and what isn’t. However, this is not the same as seeking certification for a green event — which is ultimately the most credible option for planners wanting to market their achievements and their event as green.

Certification provides certainty and credibility

Although certification consultants can also provide consulting and guidance to

a client in the pre-event stage, they are bound by the ISO [International Organization for Standardization] prescript with regards to the extent to which they can provide consulting and when they need to disengage before taking the audit and evaluation roles of certification.

Generally, they take-over from the greening or sustainability consultant from build-up to strike of an event, measuring, evaluating and scoring compliance to a pre-set standard by the client. They work to a recognised standard of sustainable eventing, and their methodology and scoring processes must be as transparent as professionally possible.

Currently, the EGF has several sustainability consultants including Borena Energy, Steadfast Greening, WrapZERO and my company, Heritage Eco Events.

In terms of certification consultants, Heritage Eco Events is the only one currently offering this service in South Africa, and our certification label is the only South African option available. It’s never ideal to only have one option in the market, which is why we have worked with the EGF to develop a technical standard that can assess and recognise private certification labels as they are developed.

The EGF’s technical standard ensures that, while the process towards evaluating performance could vary between certification labels, they all measure and evaluate the same criteria and minimum standard. In a sense, it is a way to certify the certification label.

The EGF is hoping to support and encourage the development of more local certification labels, as well as encourage more professionals and corporate event organisers to aim for this valuable process, in order to professionalise sustainable event practices. You can find out more about it here: www.eventgreening.co.za/ certification/

Keeping marketing honest Going back to the point that an event can only be assessed and certified after it has taken place, any pre-event marketing must be careful to not make claims that it cannot back up (greenwashing). Having said that, it is good practice to promote an event’s greening efforts, and I encourage this. However, the focus should be on what is being done to be more sustainable, rather than claims that it is sustainable. It’s a subtle nuance, but the difference between saying something has potential health benefits and saying it will cure all your ills (without being able to back this up).

About Heritage Eco Events

Heritage Eco Events is a professional consulting and environmental certification service specifically developed to assist event organisers, agents, promoters, managers and others involved in the meetings, conferences, events and exhibitions sector provide more environmentally responsible events. The company also offers two levels of certification –Green Event and Carbon-Neutral Event status.

Heritage Eco Events is also a proud patron sponsor of the EGF. Find out more at: www.sustainablebenchmark. com

About us

The Event Greening Forum is a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainability within the business events sector. To find out more, please visit www.eventgreening.co.za

For more information, please contact: Lynn Mcleod

Tel: 082 891 5883

Email: lynn@eventgreening.co.za

Image by Keith from Pixabay

Why SAACI chose Addo for its national congress

South Africa’s diverse landscapes and vibrant locations make it a versatile destination for meetings and events, catering to a wide range of interests and industries. SAACI recently held its annual congress in Addo, Eastern Cape.

By Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI

The choice of Addo as the location for this year’s SAACI annual association conference provided a unique opportunity to strategically promote economic development, spread opportunities, and engage with local communities.

Regional spread of meetings and events is one of the ways in which we may drive the offerings of our beautiful country while delivering socioeconomic benefits to our communities in these areas of our country.

In sharing some of the key considerations and steps we took as an

association, the following are just a short list to consider.

1. Assess rural locations

Identify rural areas that have the necessary infrastructure, accommodation options, and accessibility for hosting events. Some regions may already have suitable venues or can adapt existing facilities. It is important to understand the logistics during the meeting and event as well.

2. Collaborate with local communities Engage with local communities, to gain their support and involve them in

event planning and execution. This can include partnerships with local businesses, cultural groups, and artisans. The venue and service providers are key, as many will have locally sourced skills who can assist with the local elements of the meeting and event.

3. Infrastructure and facilities

Ensure that the chosen rural location

has the infrastructure to support events. This includes reliable electricity, internet connectivity, transportation options, venues with appropriate seating, audio-visual and catering facilities.

4. Accommodation

Partner with local hotels, lodges, and guesthouses to provide accommodation for event attendees. Consider offering a range of options to suit different budgets and preferences.

5. Transportation

Arrange transportation options for attendees, especially if the rural location is not easily accessible. This may involve shuttle services, car rentals, or chartered buses.

6. Promotion and marketing

Effectively market the event by highlighting the unique features and experiences that the rural location offers. Emphasise the natural beauty, cultural richness, and opportunities for outdoor activities.

7. Local cuisine and culture

Showcase the local cuisine and culture

by incorporating traditional foods, performances, and artisanal products into the event. This not only adds authenticity but also supports local businesses.

8. Environmental considerations Be mindful of the environmental impact of hosting events in rural areas. Implement eco-friendly practices such as waste reduction, recycling, and minimising energy consumption.

9. Community engagement

Involve the local community in event planning and execution. Consider hiring local staff, artisans, and performers. This supports the local economy and adds authenticity to the event.

10. Safety and security

Ensure the safety and security of event attendees by working closely with local authorities and law enforcement agencies. Consider factors like medical services, and emergency response plans.

11. Logistics and planning

Pay meticulous attention to logistics

and planning to ensure that the event runs smoothly. This includes scheduling, registration, and contingency plans for any unexpected issues.

12. Post-event evaluation

After the event, conduct evaluations to gather feedback from attendees, sponsors, and stakeholders. This information can be valuable for improving future events in rural areas.

13. Sustainability and legacy

Consider the long-term impact of the event on the rural community. Explore opportunities for sustainable development and leave a positive legacy by supporting local initiatives. Moving meetings and events to rural parts of South Africa can be a rewarding endeavour that not only offers unique experiences to attendees but also contributes to the economic and social development of these regions. It requires careful planning, community engagement, and a commitment to showcasing the beauty and potential of rural areas.

Building back Exhibitions and Events together!

The founding Associations of the SA Events Council have consistently provided essential information and support on event safety, business relief and venue capacity. Ensure you are ready for business by engaging with your association today.

‘Greening’ in the expo industry

Sustainability is the focus of many events and exhibitions. As EXSA, we looked for varying viewpoints on simple ways to start ensuring your business remains conscious of simple ways to increase your awareness.

By Lee-Ann Alder, association manager of EXSA

Irrespective of what your feelings are on the Net-Zero Carbon Events initiative, there are some basic changes a company can make when designing and manufacturing booths in order to be more mindful of the environment and your impact on it. Below are a few simple examples that are by no means an exhaustive list:

1. Eliminate as much single use fabrication as possible. Design with multi-use in mind.

2. Build a stock of reusable systems. An example, is to use Octanorms Eco Floor for your floor bases rather than chipboard strips and panels.

3. Build custom counters and cupboards with re-use in mind. These can be reused for years.

4. Replace large timber walls coated with vinyl, with TFS fabric systems.

5. Integrate recyclable materials as much as possible. An example is combining modular systems with Xboard, used creatively.

6. The likes of Octanorm, Bematrix and Aluvision carry huge ranges of systems that can create just about any type of construction usually done with custom fabrication.

7. Try to replace at least some of your plastic packaging with paper-based packaging. Dimple paper is a great alternative to bubble wrap in many applications.

8. Challenge your supply chain to source more sustainable materials. Organisations should focus on where they are positioned within their commitment within a sustainability eco-system.

The aspects that are relatively easy to

address are measurable and are being taken to heart in some or other way. Mostly by venues and organisers. Water, waste (food and garbage) and energy. These established steps are predominantly seen as Scope 1 or 2 emissions.

Definitions of scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

Essentially, scope 1 are those direct emissions that are owned or controlled by a company, whereas scope 2 and 3

indirect emissions are a consequence of the activities of the company, but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it.

The industry challenge is that there is little to no change in (Scope 2) and Scope 3.

Assessing as a ‘delivered’ event — at a venue, populated by visitors and staff.

Measuring actual waste from a site build has always been difficult: The use of MDF/plastics and nonsustainable practices, both on site and at production locations.

This depends entirely on individual service providers’ integrity.

To date, there are very few events that can show actual sustainable stands, exhibits or signage. Superficial window dressing and real numbers of possibly around 5-10 per cent are the average for event ‘greening’. Greenwashing is a reality and a negative factor on the modern expo floor.

This waste is ostensibly a greater impact on industry sustainability than

‘aircraft travel’.

It is purely not measured and the build-and-burn approach is ‘ignored’, as it’s difficult to manage. Until events, venues and organisers demand sustainable offerings at their events – with reporting from exhibitors/ service providers — this will remain our greatest challenge to the industry.

Sustainability can enhance our industry.

Improving cost effectiveness and aesthetics, to ensure face-to-face, remains a top marketing medium. If we do not change, we will lose ground to other marketing channels that are more sustainable and becoming more costeffective as a result. We cannot afford to ignore sustainability until such time as we are forced to change. By taking small steps now, we can implement gradual but positive and certain (measurable) change.

Ask questions, get involved

Become an informed asset to your exhibition client in their quest for

sustainability. Being more conscious of how we do things is not only our responsibility. We need to educate our future generations about the importance of sustainability as this will ensure continuity and longevity.

Gina Spencer, a 16-year-old scholar has this to say about the use of plastic bags:

Bio-degradable bags can be used more than once and they are made up of fabric that is bio-degradable, and the best thing is, it’s safe for kids to be around and you can store them and reuse them. The negative effects of plastic bags are quite bad in the world as they can take many years to decompose and can get overloaded and easily break. Plastic can still pollute land, marine life and environments. Unfortunately, plastic is still being manufactured, which is a problem around the world. Although plastic bags are now expensive to get, most people around South Africa and around the world are using biodegradable bags which is slowly helping the world.

The importance of food and food safety

The northern hemisphere’s long summer months are a time to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. When it comes to food preparation and good food safety habits, however, being too relaxed can destroy a vacation or even terminate in hospitalisation.

By Dr Peter Tarlow, Tourism & More. inc.

Although no one has recently connected food safety to criminal acts or acts of terrorism, this has occurred in the past. As we learned during the Covid-19 pandemic, health is an important part of tourism security. Likewise, food safety must be an essential component for a sustainable tourism industry. We only have to review some of the problems that the cruise industry has experienced in the past to know that the quality of our food and water, and the way we safeguard it, are essential elements of successful tourism and travel.

The issue of food safety is especially important during the summer months, when travel is at its peak and many people tend to hold informal picnics, barbecues and/or beach parties. Millions of people around the world associate these hot weather informal summer gatherings with their vacation experience or with good and healthy fun. It takes, however, only one instance of spoiled food or inadvertent food poisoning to ruin a person’s vacation or a locale’s reputation.

Food impacts our travel and vacation experience, and it has the ability to make our visitors either happy or angry. For

example, we might hypothesise that one of the many reasons that air travel is now often called ‘flightmares’ is among other reasons the poor quality (or absence of) airline meals. In the post-Covid world of tourism, travellers have also had to face inflated food prices that also impact the restaurants’ costs and the total cost of a summer vacation. Overpriced food not only raises the total cost of a summer vacation but impacts the way that visitors view the locale and their desire to return to that location. When we combine the expensive food with an issue of food safety or hygiene, then no amount of marketing, at least in the short term, can repair a tourism locale’s overall reputation.

To help you think about the impact of food on your section of the tourism industry, please consider the following.

• Meet with restaurateurs regarding the safety of salad bars and buffets

The first act of food terrorism in modern history took place in the 1980s in the State of Oregon. Too many people in the tourism and travel industry have not begun to think through this potential problem.

• Work with local fairs and events. Most rural events and festivals serve food, yet rarely consider issues of risk

management. In most cases, the food problems that take place at a festival can be avoided with some extra planning and a bit of caution. Tourism professionals need to ask themselves if the event/festival manager has taken a course in food safety, how much attention has been paid to risk management issues, and what policies and procedures would go into effect in the event of a problem.

• Work with local health boards. A tourism industry can be destroyed by the public’s perception that eating there is unsafe. Currently, food trucks are very popular around the world. Be sure that these trucks meet international food safety standards. Check to see that drinking water and drinking fountains are safe. For example, several Latin American nations suffer from the fact that the public believes that they do not offer clean drinking water, wholesome food products, or that there is a general lack of sanitation. Whenever you see a

Image by ally j from Pixabay

health violation, report it to both the owner and to the proper authorities. Remember that it takes very little to destroy a tourism industry.

• If you are a tourism officer, a hotel concierge, or give visitors advice as to where to eat, be up-to-date. Restaurants often come and go at a rapid rate and change of ownership is common in the restaurant business. Be accurate and up-to-date with your information. Be able to advise people not only by their likes but also by price range.

• Create multi-lingual menus. In places where there are visitors from many places, create multi-language menus. If there are no translators around, speak with your local community college or high school foreign language teachers.

• Train waiters and waitresses to be culturally and medically sensitive. If a person asks for no pork, do not bring a salad with bacon bits. Teach your staff never to state: “It is just a little bit.” Waiters and waitresses should be familiar with the content of menus and if that is impossible, then train them to ask rather than create an answer. In a world with cultural, religious, health, and allergic restrictions, such a policy is essential.

• Be aware of medical issues and make sure that all food service people are healthy.

For example, if a visitor is allergic to peanuts, then be sure to inform a patron

that peanut oil was used in the preparation of a particular food item. In the same manner, be careful of shellfish for those who are allergic and never challenge a patron who states that she/ he cannot eat a particular food. Also, many food servers are afraid of losing a day’s wages if they are sick. Provide enough sick-days so that a cook or waiters/waitresses do not handle food when sick.

• Educate tourism professionals on what is and what is not available. The public often seeks places that are out of the way or unique. Train personnel to steer people who desire such eating options to these types of places. Often, out of the way restaurants have special schedules and are hard to find. These moments are customer service moments. Taking the time to call for the visitor, giving directions or helping the person in some other special way, will become part of the dining experience.

• Emphasise your community’s special foods or dishes.

Your community or attraction may not be Paris, New Orleans, or New York, but so what? To make a food-impact, all you have to do is to develop one local dish and then get it publicised. In a like manner, ambience can add a great deal to the dining experience. In reality, the type of ambience or décor is less important than the fact that it meets the public’s expectations. For example, several lower New York City lower East

What we’re all about:

Side restaurants have created an image of brashness bordering on rudeness that seems to fit expectations and has become its own sort of tourist attraction. The public will do the rest.

• From the perspective of tourism, the age of the rapid franchise might have hit its heyday.

Tourism is about new experiences, and too many fast-food restaurants have not found a way to mix efficiency with the local cuisine. Many of them have not only cut back on service personnel but also present a less hygienic look. Travelers simply do not want to eat what they can have at home. To add to this problem, too many fast-food restaurants are simply less and less efficient. As the fast-food industry tried to expand its menu, it lost its most precious resource: time savings. To lessen this problem, work with your fast-food outlets. Help them to theme their restaurants, to drop specific items from the menu and to add others.

• Remember that the last and first impression of a locale are almost always the most important.

What is true of landscaping is also true of ‘urban-scaping’ and ‘restaurantscaping’. The types of food that is offered to incoming and departing visitors helps to set the entire trip’s mind-set. These then are the establishments that ought to receive the tourism and travel industry’s top culinary priority.

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How are marketing attribution trends likely to impact the medium of exhibitions?

Marketing attribution is the practice of tracking marketing touch points in a customer’s journey that prove to be effective in positively impacting consumer behaviour i.e. leading to a sale or purchase action.

By Gary Corin, vice chairperson of AAXO

Attribution emerged as digital marketing platforms multiplied and have been prevalent in marketers’ approach to channel selection. The nature of social media and digital media options allowed advertisers to track metrics like page impressions, click throughs, views, shares and likes. A decade later, communication specialists are realising that there are multiple touch-points in a customer journey and allocating finite metrics to independent media channels is myopic. We are definitely moving back to a multi-touch, cross-platform, integrated marketing mix approach.

Why is this good news for exhibitions as a

medium? This medium would barely exist if pure marketing attribution principles were applied. No serious exhibitor tackles an exhibition without specific goals.

The nature of exhibitions means that these objectives can vary from hard metrics (eg: attaining new customer leads) to softer, more subjective goals (eg: measuring brand perceptions). Attaching hard, finite metrics to exhibitions in a diverse, inter-related and complex human cauldron is problematic. Exhibitors still benchmark performance using sophisticated ROI tools.

Marketers face the same challenges when exhibiting. Exhibitions were curtailed during

the global pandemic. They have emerged stronger but leaner and more focused — but remain the perfect multi-channel, multi-faceted customer touch point in a marketer’s communication arsenal. The power of face-to-face communication, integrated into and coexisting in a digital world should not be underestimated.

LATAM Airlines’ inauguration flight Johannesburg-Sao Paulo

LATAM Airlines has just become the only airline to offer direct flights from South Africa to Brazil. The first flight on the Johannesburg-Sao Paulo route, which is expected to carry about 75,000 passengers a year between the two countries, landed in South Africa this Sunday (3 September). Notably, LATAM Airlines now flies from Brazil to ninety direct and indirect destinations abroad.

Davide Ioppolo, LATAM’s regional commercial director for central and South East Europe, UK, Nordics, Middle East and South Africa, said: “Finally, after three years, we are reconnecting these two cities, which means two continents. Thanks to agreements with local airlines in South Africa and our network of destinations in South America, we can offer the best experience and flexibility to explore an entire region.”

Through LATAM Airlines’ interline agreements with partner companies in South Africa, the new São Paulo-Johannesburg route is already connected to flights to countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Congo, Madagascar, Lesotho, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, Gabon, Malawi, Ivory Coast, among others.

A surprise on the inaugural flight

LATAM Airlines’ new route is operated three times a week on Boeing 787-900 aircraft seating 300 passengers (30 in premium business, 57 in premium economy and 213 in economy). The flight departs from Johannesburg airport at 13:05 (local time) on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. From São Paulo-Guarulhos airport it departs at 17:25 (local time) on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

At the inaugural boarding in Johannesburg, LATAM held a ribbon cutting ceremony. Passengers on the first flight were met at the gate by company executives, where they were welcomed to the inaugural flight. During boarding they were presented with a personalised LATAM key chain and a box of Brigadeiros, a typical Brazilian sweet to give them a ‘taste of Brazil’ from the beginning of the flight.

LATAM Airlines offers a better travel experience

LATAM Airlines has focused its efforts on several fronts to offer an increasingly simpler, faster, safer and closer travel experience to

passengers. These are:

• Faster pre-boarding

LATAM offers three services that streamline passenger service at the airport. Automatic Check-in dispenses with in-person or online check-in and allows customers to automatically receive their virtual boarding pass on their mobile phone. Self-Service Kiosks, installed at 34 of the company’s airports in Brazil, allow customers to print and tag their own baggage. Express Baggage Dispatch, installed at nine airports in the country, reduces queueing time by up to 50 per cent.

• More modern aircraft

LATAM operates a modern and efficient fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. In South America, it operates flights with Airbus A320 family aircraft and, in some cases, wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 767, 787 and 777, which are also used on long-haul international flights.

• Full entertainment on LATAM Play

A free experience for LATAM customers during domestic and international flights. It is available on individual seat screens (for Boeing 767, 787 and 777 aircraft), via QR code or via the website http://latamplay. com/ for personal mobile devices (for Airbus A319, A320, A320neo and A321 aircraft). The platform offers the largest catalogue of in-flight entertainment, free of

charge. There are more than 100 movies, 300 series episodes, games and music, as well as access to the HBO Max catalogue.

• Brazilian Flavour

Since the beginning of the year, LATAM has been promoting female chefs from different regions of Brazil through its ‘Brazilian Flavour’ programme. Every three months, the airline schedules a signature dish (lunch and dinner) signed by these professionals to make up the menu in the Premium Business and Economy cabins of its international long-haul flights (more than 7 hours) departing from Brazil. From 1 August, the menu included the Amazônia Encantada dish (grilled pirarucu with seasonal vegetables, manteiguinha beans, special cream and Amazonian spice farofa) signed by chef Débora Shornik and representing the northern region of the country.

• Premium Business for more comfort on board

With seats that recline up to 180º, this cabin offers more privacy, with direct access from all seats to the aisle of the aircraft, blanket and pillow, amenity kit, full in-flight entertainment and premium cuisine. Customers travelling in the Premium Business cabin also have exclusive service at the airport, from check-in to landing, and guaranteed access to all LATAM lounges.

EXCO AND HEAD OFFICE

Chairperson

Kim Roberts

e: info@mise-en-placesolutions.com

c: +27 (0)82 652 2008

Vice-chairperson

Minister Kganyango

e: mkganyago@csir.co.za

c: +27 (0)79 513 8708

Treasurer

Jaques Fouche

e: jaques@be-moved.co.za

c: +27 (0)60 993 7542

Chief executive officer

Glenton De Kock

e: ceo@saaci.org

c: +27 (0)82 575 7565

Membership Services & Operations

Tracey-Lee Abdulla

e: members@saaci.org

t: +27 (0)84 492 1515

REGIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Eastern Cape Chairperson

Melissa Palmer

t: +27 (0)82 437 7600

e: ec.za@saaci.org

KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson

Irene Vallihu

c: +27 (0)79 692 4604

e: kzn.za@saaci.org

Gauteng Chairperson

Zoe Molapisi

c: +27 (0)82 922 0470

e: jhb.za@saaci.org

Western Cape Chairperson

Alex Wrottesley

c: +27 (0)79 429 1627

e: wc.za@saaci.org

Youth Ambassador

Gheeta Payle

c: +27 (0)061 609 8585

Learning Ambassador

Esti Venske

c: +27 (0)83 482 9276

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

EXSA OFFICE

www.exsa.co.za

Chairperson

Sibusiso Mncwabe

Marketing Well

Vice Chair

Jacqui Nel

Exhibition Freighting GSM

Treasurer

Ismael Atanasi

GL Events

Director

Ashona Maharaj Durban ICC

Director

Beert Kuiken

Octanorm

Director

Gabi Babinszky

Brandex

Director

Kelly Papas Barmotion

Director

Kerry-Lee Bester

Brilliant Branding

Director

Liam Beattie

Hott 3D

Director

Nic Curle

Nucleus

Co-Opted Director

Daksha Vallabh

Orange Orbit

Co-Opted Director

Gavin Burgess

Technology Partners

Co-Opted Director

Kimendrie Pillay

Johannesburg Expo Centre

Co-Opted Director

Ross Wilson

Urban Tonic

SOCIETY FOR INCENTIVE TRAVEL EXCELLENCE

President Tes Proos

c: +27 (0) 84 682 7676

e: tes@crystalevents.co.za

Treasurer

Peter-John Mitrovich

c: +27 (0)82 318 1889

e: peter-john.mitrovich@grosvenortours. com

Sustainability

Daryl Keywood

Southern Africa Development

Brad Glen

East Africa Development

Chris Munyao

Young Leader Programme

Peter Mwanja

Africa Convention Bureaus

Rick Taylor

North Africa Development

George Fawzi

Board member at large

Rick Taylor

East Africa (Rwanda)

Chris Munyao

North Africa

George Fawzi

North Africa support

Brad Glen

Secretariat & Events

Mariaan Burger

c: +27 (0)82 557 8041

e: info@siteafrica.africa

SA EVENTS COUNCIL

e: hello@saeventscouncil.org

Chairperson

Raylene Johnson, CEO: TEBCO-SA

Interim treasurer

Glenn van Eck, Chairperson: CEPA

Spokesperson

Projeni Pather, Chairperson: AAXO

Members

Kevan Jones, Executive Director SACIA

Sharif Baker, Chairperson TPSA

Tes Proos, SITE President

Justin Hawes, Managing Director: Scan Display & Event Greening Forum

Treasurer

Sibusiso Mncwabe, Chairperson EXSA

Justin van Wyk, Chairperson SALPA

Mike Lord, Chairperson ESC

Arthur Goldstuck, PSASA Exco Member

Esmare Steinhofel, Chairperson: ICCA

Africa Chapter

Advisory Members:

Prof Nellie Swart, Associate Professor: Tourism Management

Corne Koch, Head: Convention Bureau (WESGRO)

Tiisetso Tau, AAXO member

Daryl Keywood, SITE Member

Bheki Twala, TEBCO-SA Executive

Kim Roberts, SAACI Representative

Western Cape

Robyn D’Alessandro, PR/Social media, Vivo Visual Voice CC

SOUTHERN AFRICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE CONFERENCE INDUSTRY

ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN EXHIBITION ORGANISERS

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS & CONVENTION ASSOCIATION

46 Waterford Office Park, Waterford Drive, Fourways, Johannesburg

t: +27 (0)87 265 5840

e: aaxo@aaxo.co.za

Association coordinator:

Anthea Buys

e: anthea@aaxo.co.za

Chairperson:

Devi Paulsen-Abbott, Dmg Events

e: devipaulsen@dmgevents.com

Vice-chairperson:

Tiisetso Tau, Synergy Business Events

e: ttau@synergybe.co.za

Venue Committee Chairperson:

Charles Wilson, Gallagher Convention

Centre

e: charlesw@Gallagher.co.za

Treasurer:

Mark Anderson, Specialised Exhibitions

Montgomery

e: marka@specialised.com

Board of directors:

Chanelle Hingston, Clarion Events Africa

e: chanelle.hingston@clarionevents.com

Sandra Barrow

e: sandra.barrow@rxglobal.com

Projeni Pather, Exposure Marketing

e: projeni@exposuremarketing.co.za

ICCA African Chapter Chairperson:

Taubie Motlhabane

Cape Town International Convention Centre

t: +27 (0)21 410 5000

e: Taubiem@cticc.co.za

Deputy Chairperson: Frank Murangwa

Rwanda Convention Bureau

t: +250 788 358 454

e: frank.murangwa@rcb.rw

Secretariat:

Esmaré Steinhöfel

ICCA Africa Regional director

c: +27 (0)84 056 5544

e: esmare.s@iccaworld.org

www.iccaworld.com/dbs/africanchapter

www.iccaworld.org

179 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North, Private Bag X7000, Parklands 2121

t: +27 (0)11 447 4777

e: info@eventgreening.co.za

w: www.eventgreening.co.za

Chairperson

Morwesi Ramonyai, Borena Energy

Vice-chairperson

John Avanitakis, Chat’r Xperience

Treasurer

Justin Hawes, Scan Display

Secretariat

Lynn McLeod

e: lynn@eventgreening.co.za

OTHER ORGANISATIONS OF INTEREST

ABTA African Business Travel Association

Box 2594, Pinegowrie, 2123

t: +27 (0)11 888 8178

c: +27 (0)83 679 2110

e: monique@abta.co.za

www.abta.co.za

Founder: Monique Swart

ASATA – Association of Southern African Travel Agents

PO Box 650539, Benmore, 2010

t: +27 (0)11 293 0560/61

e: barbara@asata.co.za

e: general@asata.co.za

Office manager: Barbara Viljoen

Council of Event Professionals Africa

Kevan Jones kevan@sacia.org.za

t: +27 (0)11 083 6418

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

Chairperson: Glenn van Eck Magnetic Storm

c: +27 (0)82 800 2616

e: glenn@magnetic.co.za

FEDHASA National Office Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa

PO Box 3853, The Reeds, 0157

c: +27 (0)82 552 9862

e: ceo@fedhasa.co.za

www.fedhasa.co.za

PSASA – Professional Speakers

Association of Southern Africa

t: +27 (0)11 462 9465

c: +27 (0)83 458 6114

e: admin@psasouthernafrica.co.za

www.psasouthernafrica.co.za

SABOA Southern African Bus Operators Association

Postnet Suite 393, Private Bag X033, Rivonia 2128

t: +27 (0)11 511 7641

e: saboa@saboa.co.za

www.saboa.co.za

SACIA Southern African Communications Industries Association

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

e: kevan@sacia.org.za

Executive director: Kevan Jones

SATI South African Translators’ Institute

Executive director: Marion Boers

t: +27 (0)11 803 2681

e: office@translators.org.za

www.translators.org.za

SATSA Southern Africa Tourism Services Association

Box 900, Ferndale 2160

t: +27 (0)11 886 9996

e: pa@satsa.co.za www.satsa.com

SKAL International South Africa

Secretary: Anne Lamb

t: +27 (0)21 434 7023

c: +27 (0)82 708 1836

e: anne@yebo.co.za www.skalsouthafrica.org

STA Sandton Tourism Association

t: +27 (0)83 558 5445

e: secretariat@sandtontourism.com

www.sandtontourism.com

TBCSA Tourism Business

Council of South Africa

Chief executive: Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa

Box 11655, Centurion 0046

t: +27 (0)12 664 0120

e: comms@tbcsa.travel

www.tbcsa.travel

www.tomsa.co.za

Member relations manager: Boitumelo Moleleki

TGCSA Tourism Grading

Council of South Africa

Private Bag X10012, Sandton 2146

t: +27 (0)11 895 3000

f: +27 (0)11 895 3001

e: enquiries@tourismgrading.co.za

TINSA Interpreters/Translators

Network of Southern Africa

e: info@interpreter.org.za

t/f: +27 (0)11 485 2511

c: +27 (0)83 249 0010

www.interpreter.org.za

TPSA Technical Production Services Association

c: +27 (0)82 555 5556

e: kevan@sacia.org.za

www.tpsa.co.za

Executive director: Kevan Jones

TTA Tshwane Tourism Association

Box 395, Pretoria 0001

t: +27 (0)12 841 4212

e: secretary@tshwanetourism.com

www.tshwanetourism.com

Chairperson:

Bronwen Cadle de Ponte

Secretary: Sithembile Nzimande

Membership coordinator: Liz Oosthuysen

e: membership@tshwanetourism.com

EVENT GREENING FORUM

In-person vs hybrid vs virtual conferencing?

By Samuel Nassimov, managing director of Premier Hotels & Resorts

Both virtual and hybrid meetings utilise video conferencing technology to aid communication, enabling people to be productive and share ideas. They both include remote participants. And they also make it possible to connect anywhere in the world, making it easier for international companies to connect with their business partners, clients and other businesses from different countries. Good internet connection, video quality and sound are very important in both virtual and hybrid meetings. But conferencing has that human touch.

In-person business conferencing is back

This time-honoured corporate tradition of face-to-face has been a recipe for a radical reassessment and it’s transformed dramatically, returning full steam. But just what do people actually want from these interactive experiences other than the desire for togetherness and the value seen in terms of business bonding?

Here are the advantages to face-to-face conferencing:

• Nonverbal communication: It allows participants to read body language, facial expressions, and gestures, which can help convey emotions and messages more effectively.

• Builds relationships: In-person interactions often lead to stronger personal connections and better understanding among participants.

• Immediate feedback: Participants can receive immediate reactions and feedback from others in the room, which can aid in decision-making and problem-solving.

• Reduced miscommunication: Misunderstandings that can occur in virtual communication due to technical

glitches or lack of visual cues are minimised in face-to-face meetings.

• Focused attention: There tends to be less multi-tasking during in-person meetings, leading to better engagement and concentration.

Hybrid meetings

Providing face-to-face energy, the hybrid conferencing model – combining both in-person and virtual elements – has exploded in popularity and helped connect people not only in South Africa, but worldwide. It’s the ‘best of both’ as they can happen both remotely, using virtual conferencing platforms and on-site.

This mix of on-site attendance and remote participants is known as the new way of connecting, both internationally and locally. No longer are people confined to travelling to meetings, rather, they are able to attend meetings in the comfort of their own homes and anywhere in the world.

They can be beneficial for reaching a wider audience, reducing travel costs and promoting inclusivity for those who cannot attend physically. It’s a flexible model that allows organisers to cater to participants who prefer or require a virtual format, while still offering the benefits of face-to-face interactions for those attending in person. Hybrid conferences often included a mix of live sessions, pre-recorded content, and interactive virtual components.

Virtual meetings

Virtual meetings – seen as interactive television – are entirely conducted online, with participants joining remotely from different locations. They offer convenience, cost savings, and the ability to connect with people from around the world without the need for travel. Virtual

conferencing holds a great many benefits from a lower carbon footprint to cutting down on travel logistics and costs; more efficient time-usage by speakers and better focus by breakaway groups. Virtual conferences gained widespread acceptance and demonstrated several advantages, such as increased accessibility, reduced conference and travel costs, and the ability to reach a global audience.

Some factors that might influence the ongoing battle between the three include:

• Technological advancements: Advances in virtual meeting technology could make remote participation more seamless and engaging, potentially shifting the balance in favour of virtual meetings.

• Return to in-person activities: Post Covid-19 there might be a greater desire for in-person interactions, giving hybrid meetings an advantage.

• Cost considerations: Organisations might opt for virtual meetings to save on costs. Companies that found virtual conferences to be cost-effective and efficient might choose to continue utilising them, especially for smallerscale events or when targeting international audiences. This could help reduce expenses associated with travel, accommodation, venue rental, and other logistical aspects on travel and venue expenses, while hybrid meetings offer a compromise between cost savings and in-person engagement.

• Participant preferences: Some individuals might prefer the convenience of virtual meetings, while others value the networking opportunities and personal connections of in-person events.

• Nature of the event: The type of event,

The battle between in-conference, hybrid and virtual meetings is still ongoing as all these types of meetings have their advantages and disadvantages. The preference for either depends entirely on the nature of the event, budget, individual preferences of the participants, and available technological capabilities.

such as conferences, workshops, team meetings, or client presentations, could influence whether a hybrid or virtual format is more suitable.

• Environmental impact: Concerns about sustainability and carbon emissions could lead to a preference for virtual meetings to reduce the need for travel.

• Flexibility and accessibility: Virtual conferences offer greater flexibility in terms of scheduling and attendance. Participants can join sessions from anywhere, eliminating the need for travel and accommodating diverse time zones. This flexibility and accessibility may be appealing to both companies and attendees, contributing to the continued popularity of virtual conference options.

• Preference for in-person interaction: Despite the advantages of virtual conferences, some individuals still value the face-to-face networking and engagement opportunities that inperson events provide. Certain industries or event types, such as trade shows or large-scale conferences, may continue to prioritise in-person gatherings to foster personal connections, collaborations, and the showcasing of products or services.

• Technology and infrastructure enhancements: The shift to online conferences prompted advancements in virtual event platforms, video streaming technologies, and interactive tools. Organisers focused on improving the digital experience, offering features like real-time Q&A, live polling, and breakout sessions.

• Adaptation of presentation formats: Presenters and speakers adjusted to delivering talks remotely, often using video conferencing tools. Pre-recorded presentations became more common, enabling smoother transitions between sessions and accommodating different time zones.

Overall, corporates are preferring the hybrid approach — with training and meetings taking place online or at their offices. This is expected to improve markedly during the latter half of the year – notwithstanding the current energy crisis as teams are rebuilt and strengthened. That being said, out of all the feedback we’ve received from return conferencing clients, and from personal experience in the space, we can safely say that hybrid meetings are still proving popular as delegates exchange ideas in person and build new networks.

Index of advertisers and contributors

Who is Samuel Nassimov?

From a humble 40 bedrooms, Samuel Nassimov has grown the group’s portfolio to encompass 24 hotels and resorts, providing almost 23,000 bedrooms to discerning business and leisure travellers and employing in excess of 1,500 employees. Sam attended hotel school in Tel Aviv in the 1970s and started his career at the bottom of the ranks at the city’s famous Dan Hotel. Driven by a passion for cooking, his next step was as a trainee chef, a position in which he excelled and which resulted in a promotion to Head of the Grill Room. With a superior collection of hotels, resorts and conference facilities in the principal business and travel destinations in SA and with Samuel at the helm, Premier Hotels & Resorts is a rapidly growing force in the South African leisure, business travel and conventions industry.

The

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