19 minute read
20 Questions
Don’t miss the boat
For Natasha Mostert, who oversees corporate and private events at the Harties Boat Company, it’s about mixing it up and keeping up to date with technology and new ideas that create lasting memories.
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Where do you see the meetings and events industry currently? Energising delegates is a priority! It’s all about creating experiences and building a team through an experience, rather than sitting down.
Where would you like to see the industry in the next five to ten years? Something that excites me tremendously is how the contribution of women in the business and tourism world has increased in recent years. I see this continuing well into the future, which makes the possibilities for all to benefit endless. #SHETrade
What role or influence do you believe your organisation plays in the industry? Hartbeespoort Dam is a lifestyle destination for
everyone close to the city, yet it’s out of this world! Our offering not only provides exciting and unique experiences but we contribute to the local economy and other societal sectors.
What is the most challenging aspect of what you do? Domestic and corporate travel, and general business growth, have been affected by our poor economy. We have seen a decline in overnight stay conferences and an increase in experience-based day activities. This is great for our activity products but not our accommodation sector.
What do you enjoy the most about what you do? Creating special and unforgettable experiences and memories. I also love marketing our beautiful town and showcasing what we have to offer in this hidden gem!
What was your very first job? I was the guest relations ambassador for Legacy Hotels, Commodore and Portswood Hotels at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. It was so exciting; I was so naive but gained incredible experience
and it sparked my passion for the industry.
What was the best piece of advice you ever received? No matter what, show up!
What drives you both personally and professionally? My family. They motivate me to always do and be better.
What are some of your career highlights? Through Tourism Friendly, being part of the Miss, Mr and Mrs Deaf South Africa pageants – which we hosted two years in a row – has been humbling to say the least.
Who was your role model growing up? My grandmother, for the love she had for her family and grandchildren.
Who inspires you and why? My husband. He survived cancer a few years ago and, after going through something so traumatic, it changes the way you see and value life.
What quote best describes your outlook on life? “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
What do people most often wrongly assume about you? That I don’t have a full-time job!
What values will you not deviate from? Always being kind, because everyone is fighting a battle we know nothing about.
What is your favourite thing to do in your spare time? Watching my favourite series with my husband when the kids finally go to bed!
What was your best holiday and why? Zanzibar for our 10-year wedding anniversary – it really is paradise!
What are some of your ‘bucket list’ items? I would love to visit Italy and New York, and take an extended trip on a cruise ship. I would love to learn to play a musical instrument and learn Setswana. I also hope to have the opportunity to drastically and positively change someone’s life.
What is your favourite read? My bible or devotions, Facebook, Instagram and News24.
What three items do you never leave home without? My phone, my sunglasses and water.
What is your most prized possession? My family, for sure!
HOSTING GREAT EVENTS OF ALL SIZES
As a world-class multipurpose venue with 22 000 m 2 of event space, Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) is focused on delivering excellence at every event, from an intimate 15-person board meeting through to a glamorous cocktail event for over 4 000 guests.
The elegant venue, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, is best known for the many large-scale consumer and trade exhibitions, huge sporting events such as the annual Arnold Classic, festivals such as RMB WineX and Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, and major wealth conferences, all of which are constantly attracting the public’s attention.
At the same time, the ever-versatile SCC also hosts numerous smaller events every month, providing the identical level of excellent service and attention to detail, the state-ofthe-art facilities, and the renowned food and beverage offering as at every large event. Shaun Bird, GM of SCC, says, “Our core strategy for some time now has been customer focus – being flexible and always listening to what our clients want. Our team is dedicated and works together to make sure that every event – regardless of size – runs smoothly and that our clients are given the best service possible. This strategy is paying off and smaller events are impacting our business growth.”
FLEXIBLE VENUES FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS SCC has a total of 17 venues, which include two large exhibition halls (Exhibition 1 and Exhibition 2), as well as the Pavilion and the Ballroom, designed for large events of all types. The selection of smaller venues is available for more intimate meetings and events.
The Boardrooms can be set up in a number of configurations to accommodate clients’ varying needs and cater for 15 to 80 guests. Adjacent is the popular and stylish Bill Gallagher Room, which is suitable for postmeeting functions and celebrations or cocktail events and weddings. It also features natural lighting through glass doors and a lovely terrace on to which the event can naturally flow.
Janine Baltensperger, events manager at SCC, says the range of smaller events hosted by the centre is broad. “We host companies within the financial services sector, training companies, associations, PCOs, corporates, and others, for board and business meetings, team building, workshops, and training sessions, all with their own specific requirements, for which we pull out all the stops.” She adds, “Every client is guaranteed the same level of service, whether they bring us 15 people or thousands.”
“Our core strategy for some time now has been customer focus – being flexible and always listening to what our clients want.” Shaun Bird, GM of Sandton Convention Centre
Deirdre Caine van Staden, marketing manager at SCC, notes that holding workshops, brainstorming sessions, and other meetings and events off-site has become increasingly popular for businesses. “Being away from the business environment can encourage greater levels of creativity and networking among delegates. There is also often an enhanced sense of occasion in an unfamiliar and inspiring environment, distractions are reduced or even eliminated, and people are more engaged.”
MORE THAN 600 ANNUAL EVENTS SCC hosts more than 600 events annually, from large-scale banquets for up to 2 200 guests in the luxurious Ballroom, 4 500 cocktail guests in the Pavilion, all the way to 10 to 250 people in a range of smaller meeting rooms. Over 10 000 people can be accommodated in the centre per day.
Shaun Bird says that SCC’s 20 years of experience have ensured the development of a vast store of expertise, knowledge and industry insight. “We constantly tap into our experience and expertise, we share learnings with each other, and we stay abreast of changing consumer and industry trends. This is an international convention centre, and everything we offer must consistently be world class.”
SCC’s easily accessible location is also a key drawcard for the venue, being sited in the heart of Johannesburg’s business and commercial hub, surrounded by hotels and upmarket shopping centres, and a convenient Gautrain station.
And as recent testament to the centre’s excellence, SCC achieved the distinction of being the national five-star winner in the Conference and Exhibition Venue category of the prestigious 2019 Lilizela Tourism Awards in November.
VENUE VARIETY
Large and small, who can do it all? Meetings looks at the offerings of some of the most diverse local players.
JOHANNESBURG EXPO CENTRE As Africa’s largest, fully-contained, multipurpose facility, the Johannesburg Expo Centre (JEC) is as big as they come. With 20 000 secure parking bays, the venue can accommodate massive crowds – and even a helicopter at its registered helipad landing site for VIPs flying in. However, the centre’s key selling point lies not in its sheer size but in the different eventing experiences that can be had at the JEC.
The award-winning venue is able to provide everything from transport and security to audiovisual, electrical and health and safety compliance for large-scale trade shows and exhibitions, conferences, festivals, government functions and private occasions such as product launches, gala dinners and weddings.
While it comfortably manages capacities of tens of thousands at any given time, the JEC also offers spaces at its Bateleur and Black Eagle conference centres that can be partitioned and designed for more intimate meetings and smaller functions, with a dedicated team on-site at all times to assist with all eventing needs.
JOHANNESBURG EXPO CENTRE
SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE Sandton Convention Centre is an organiser’s dream come true and the venue offers options to suit every style and type of event.
Host to major shows such as Meetings Africa, Hostex and the Arnold Classic, the convention centre is located within a major hub of the Sandton CBD, where there are up to 5 000 rooms available within walking distance from the venue.
Sandton City shopping centre and Nelson Mandela Square are accessible across the skywalk, and attendees can enjoy some of the world’s finest designer labels at the exclusive Diamond Walk. Combined with Sandton City’s parkade, 11 000 parking bays are accessible. As a venue that offers ample space with multiple set-ups, Sandton Convention Centre also provides a range of eventing options in its boardrooms and committee rooms that make it ideal for breakaway sessions, meetings, conferences and other corporate functions such as roundtable discussions and seminars.
BIRCHWOOD HOTEL AND OR TAMBO CONFERENCE CENTRE The beauty of the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre is that it provides different levels of accommodation on-site for its guests, which means you can budget for an international conference of any size without your delegates having to go anywhere.
Just 10 minutes from O.R. Tambo International Airport, Birchwood’s free shuttle service to and from the venue and airport makes it easily accessible for anyone flying into South Africa’s most trafficked airport.
With 60 well-equipped on-site spaces to choose from, organisers can put up an event of any shape and size, with Birchwood’s largest room offering accommodating up to 3 000 people at a time. The venue offers a full conferencing experience that includes AV and technical support, catering with tea and coffee, and free Wi-Fi.
While at the venue, guests have access to Birchwood’s restaurants, pools and spa, as well as its fully equipped business centre, bringing all office amenities to your delegates.
GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE Gallagher Convention Centre’s popularity is evident in the numbers. Hosting an average of more than 350 annually across its sprawling 32-hectare premises, its offering is as impressive as it is varied.
With 27 spaces to choose from at Gallagher Convention Centre, you can tailor any event for between 2 and 7 000 people. The venue is also home to a beautiful wine garden that is tucked away in tranquil surrounds – ideal for private functions. Along with its pre-qualified network of suppliers who are carefully vetted, Gallagher ensures superior service for decor, logistics, BIRCHWOOD HOTEL AND OR TAMBO CONFERENCE CENTRE
freight handling, registration, security and technical management. For catering, Gallagher’s experienced on-site chefs can provide customised meals for all event sizes, including exhibitions. And with Gallagher’s full generator backup supply and
GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE
a million-litre water reserve, extended power or water cuts won’t disrupt your event. CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE
With the development of CTICC 2, Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has extended the unmatched capacity that has positioned the venue as a huge economic contributor to the city of Cape Town.
Catering for crowds of up to 20 000, the CTICC has played host to some of South Africa’s most notable international events, with many more coming up over the next year or two, including the World Ophthalmology Congress in June, during which it expects between 10 000 and 15 000 attendees from 110 countries. And with several four- and five-star hotels within close proximity, delegates don’t have to travel far.
With up to 38 spaces to choose from, which include several breakaway rooms, the CTICC’s offering is also centred on delivering events using the most sustainable means possible. To this end, it has partnered with several groups to drive various initiatives that uplift the local community by providing them with opportunities through the events hosted at the CTICC.
CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE
BURN BRIGHT WITHOUT BURNING OUT
The people who cater to our every whim in bars, restaurants and hotels often work long hours to ensure that we are looked after and have a good, and happy, experience. Perhaps it’s no surprise these employees are prone to burnout, says hospitality industry veteran Guy Stehlik.
Going the extra mile is part of the job, but all those miles can end up being exhausting. In the hotel business, staff work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that guests enjoy their stay at any good hotel, and the hotel never sleeps to ensure that every guest has a peaceful night’s rest.
Guy Stehlik, CEO of South Africa-based hospitality company BON Hotels, has worked in every sphere of the industry, having grown up in the hotels his father managed and starting out working as a bellboy at just seven years old.
A self-confessed ‘hotel brat’, he has acquired a lifetime of industry knowledge working for prominent hotel groups including the Hyatt Group and Protea Hotel Group, before founding BON Hotels.
“Hotel employees, including those who work in management and in head office, spend long days and nights pretty constantly on the go. We often sacrifice downtime, quality time with our families and valuable holidays to be on top of our game at work. This, combined with a variety of workplace stresses, can leave you susceptible to exhaustion,” he says.
WHAT IS BURNOUT? The WHO lists symptoms of burnout as feeling depleted or exhausted, having an increased mental distance or feelings of negativity towards your job, and reduced professional efficacy.
Awareness plays a huge role in addressing mental health concerns. A study by Occupational Care South Africa found that every day 15% of South Africans are absent from work, with only one in three being physically ill. This absenteeism reportedly costs businesses between R12 billion and R16 billion in lost revenue annually. There is an increasing focus on workplace wellness. One recent report by The RAND Corporation in the USA determined that more than 80% of companies in the country with teams of 50 or more people offered their employees corporate wellness benefits. And many South African businesses are following suit.
HOLISTIC SELF-CARE Guy advises a holistic approach to self-care; looking after your personal health, prioritising time for your own interests outside of the workplace, and planning quality time with loved ones to maintain strong relationships. “Things like being sure to drink enough water throughout the day might seem very obvious but we often forget to stop to drink some water when we are running around looking after other people’s needs – likewise, you need to make sure you are putting enough nutrients into your body,” he says. On a similar note, many studies show that regular exercise boosts energy. It might be the last thing you feel like doing after a long shift, but it also releases endorphins that make you happier, helps to relieve stress and anxiety, and generally keeps you stronger and healthier. It can even help you sleep better – and a good night’s rest can go a long way towards improving your day at work.
“Our jobs revolve around catering to the needs of guests, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You must find a balance to perform at your best without becoming exhausted. You have to look after yourself to be able to look after others,” which, Guy says, is easier said than done.
SELF-MADE MAN
Kopano ‘Kops’ Lebethe has come a full circle from where he first started as a marketer for some of the biggest global brands. He talks exclusively to Meetings about his journey.
“I learnt my lessons the hard way but was always able to deliver on my commitment to my clients.” K opano ‘Kops’ Lebethe isn’t a man to mince his words. Now in his mid-40s, he has vast experience behind him and his business has managed sizeable campaigns for the likes of CocaCola, MTN and SABMiller.
Working as associate brand manager for CocaCola in 2001, Kops spread his wings and ventured out on his own.
“When I was serving out my notice at CocaCola, I was handling both music and soccer properties. I launched my business and I pitched a proposal to them for below-the-line experiential marketing, with my first project being to launch Fanta Pineapple in Swaziland, now eSwatini. This was done under my company, Kops Marketing Services,” says Kops.
Kops says his strengths lie in being able to conceptualise an idea, pitching it and getting the buy-in of stakeholders but that his greatest downfall has been realising success too young in life.
“I didn’t have a child or a wife, and I had very little commitment in terms of my responsibility, which led to some reckless decisions being taken on spending. I learnt my lessons the hard way but I was always able to deliver on my commitment to my clients.” TAKING A BREAK During 2005, Kops left Johannesburg, which at the time, he felt was necessary for him to regroup to gain perspective and focus on pursuing his dream of one day founding Kops Inc. “I closed up shop and went home (home home) to Mafikeng to find myself,” he says.After spending two years selling insurance, which Kops refers to as “low-hanging fruit”, and a year consulting to his uncle’s cleaning business, Kops decided to come back to Johannesburg with more clarity – he was contacted by his old manager who was now working at Coca-Cola’s activations agency to work on the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour and co-roll out the campaign across the African continent the following year. The lifestyle that the role afforded Kops was opulent but, he admits, was also his demise.
Kops Music was eventually born in January 2015, with its own e-store.
“I had partnerships with various artists, whereby I would do placements and music sampling for them; I would do bookings for them as well, and this was specifically for unknown artists because I felt that there were so many artists who want to be known but don’t get the exposure. With the launch of Kops Music, this was the opportunity I wanted to provide,” explains Kops.
A TOUGH DECISION A year after launching Kops Music, the business was taking strain financially because, as good as the model was for up-and-coming artists, it wasn’t generating enough revenue to sustain itself. “I continued with Kops Communications & Projects, consulting in the corporate world instead. This then last year gave birth to KOPSMEDIA and incorporated 18 years’ experience in eventing, marketing and project management with a bit of media buying,” says Kops.
More recently, he has revived his focus on music and entertainment and represents the likes of the Soweto String Quartet and Seiso Tswak Baker. Currently running several projects that extend to different industry sectors and with his experience managing artists, Kops has some wise words: “An event only happens once – in a moment in time – and never again. There’s only one way it can be done and that is to get it right.”
A Convergence of Business and Adventure
Didima Conference Centre & Wedding Venue, Cathedral Peak, Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site: (036) 488 8000
Ntshondwe Conference Centre & Wedding Venue, Ithala Game Reserve: (034) 983 2540
Let Ideas Expand Beyond the Office We have the freshest of air, an abundance of wildlife, the best adventure tracks and trails, breathtaking sights and scenery, but most importantly, we have conference centres in these magnificent tranquil surroundings.
Didima Conference Centre accommodates delegates from 120 classroom style, 60 U-shape style to 120 seated cinema style configuration. Ntshondwe Conference centre offers a cinema style seating arrangement for up to 140, a lecture style for 90 or a single U-shaped for 45 delegates. Ntshondwe’s two breakaway rooms offers a cinema style seating arrangement for 30, lecture style for 18 and single U-shape for 16 delegates. Both conference facilities offer various accommodation options, are fully serviced and can comfortably be adapted from one-day events to multi-day workshops.
The Perfect Wedding Make your big day perfect with unlimited privacy, breathtaking scenery, birdlife, wildlife, scenic trails, comfortable accommodation, delicious food and personalised service excellence .
