TALKING POINTS
INDUSTRY VIEWS Revitalising events sustainably
MORWESI RAMONYAI is the chairperson of the Event Greening Forum (EGF).
Mainstreaming event greening Event greening should be a part of upskilling our industry, says Morwesi Ramonyai.
T
he South African Events Council’s Road to Recovery webinar in March addressed concerns facing the local industry as events start to re-emerge with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. A key challenge is the loss of expertise and skills from the sector, as retrenchments, furloughs, wage cuts and uncertainty have driven talent into other fields of work. Consequently, there is a pressing need to train and nurture those who are new to working in the business events space. This is so that events can be safely and professionally managed, and aid our recovery, among other reasons. As the chairperson of the EGF, I would argue that sustainability should be included in this upskilling process from the start. While many still view event greening as an ancillary requirement, the truth is that sustainable practices are increasingly in demand, increasingly expected by the market, and increasingly likely to be legislated. It’s no longer a ‘trend’, but a necessity for our future. How we do business is
both environmentally and socially unsustainable. We need to improve our systems and make bold shifts, such as moving to a circular economy and going carbon-neutral.
REBUILDING RIGHT But big changes like this need small starts. And this is where we are today. Rebuilding is hard, but it is also a unique opportunity to put in place the values and structures you want to see grow with your business and team. Laying the right foundation now will benefit you (and your clients and our industry) in the long term. This doesn’t need to be an arduous or costly exercise. The EGF is not-for-profit, and we have the resources and support to help you on this journey. Our upcoming training webinar – Back to Basics of Event Greening – will be held on 21 July 2022. It’s a great introduction to the concept of event greening, and a handy way to refresh your knowledge.
To find out more and to book your spot, or access some of our free resources, visit www.eventgreening.co.za.
INDUSTRY VIEWS An industry in recovery
Making a turnaround The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the exhibitions industry cannot be underestimated, but the resilience of the industry is clear, writes Mark Anderson.
I MARK ANDERSON is a portfolio director at Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery and treasurer of the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO).
t has been a tough period for shows and those working in the industry. Many of the smaller industry players were unable to survive, but the bigger organisers and shows have endured, and have come back stronger. In most parts of the world, this year is seeing the industry busier than ever. Shows are back and calendars are tight. This is according to Kai Hattendorf, CEO at UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. This was highlighted at our most recent show, Propak Africa, which took place in March this year. Buyers attended the show to buy, and sellers – our exhibitors – were there to sell. Experts and leaders met. It was an impressive show where many new products were seen for the first time and where highvalue sales were made. While the Propak Africa exhibition might have been smaller in terms of exhibitor and visitor numbers, the
calibre of both was outstanding. The level of the local industry in terms of technology and innovation was world class, and the local exhibitors really got to shine. Following global trends, exhibitions are adopting more technology and moving to hybrid events. While exhibitions remain a face-to-face event, technology makes the exhibition experience more enjoyable, driving many aspects of the live exhibition – from registration to the live-streaming of events, and more. The UFI’s latest Global Exhibition Barometer Report reflects trends that will drive the format of exhibitions in the coming years: • Covid-19 has confirmed the value of face-to-face events and survey respondents anticipate the sector to bounce back quickly • there is a push towards hybrid events with more digital elements at events • virtual events are NOT replacing physical events.
38 • MEETINGS l MAY/JUNE 2022 www.theplanner.guru
