Meetings’ must-know minutia
Event safety designations formally recognised
In a step towards providing competency in sound risk management for events hosted on South African soil, two new formally recognised event safety designations have begun their roll-out. An initiative driven by the Southern African Communications Industries Association’s Event Safety Council, draft designations for both event safety practitioners as well as event safety professionals were gazetted in August last year and approved by the South African Qualifications Authority on 20 November 2020.
R1.2 billion Tourism Equity Fund launched A partnership between South Africa’s National Department of Tourism and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency saw the launch of the R1.2 billion Tourism Equity Fund in January 2021. With the aim of creating a more inclusive and representative sector, the fund will be used to support black entrepreneurs – women and youth in particular. Qualifying individuals can submit their funding proposals directly to the Department of Tourism.
Qatar Airways increases flights in Africa After becoming the first international carrier in the world to achieve a 5-Star Covid-19 Airline Safety Rating by air transport rating organisation Skytrax, Qatar Airways has committed to increasing flights to several African destinations, starting in February. The airline is also currently offering refunds and an unlimited number of date changes on tickets issued before 30 April and for travel taken by the end of the year.
Forced quarantine for SA travellers to the UK
Marriott expands global footprint
With South Africa being recognised as a high-risk destination, arrivals from the country to the UK will face a mandatory quarantine period that means isolation in a hotel for 10 days. This will come at a set cost of £1 500 (approximately R30 000) and be at the traveller’s own expense. Similar measures have been implemented in Australia. Ireland has also temporarily suspended visa-free short-stay travel from South Africa, with very limited exemptions.
Marriott International has announced its pipeline for 2021, which includes three new African hotels, all based in Egypt. These are the JW Marriott Cairo Mena House that will open in the last quarter of this year and be within walking distance of the iconic Great Pyramids, as well as the St Regis Cairo (pictured), together with the St Regis Almasa, located just outside of the hustle and bustle of the city.
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