14 minute read
An all-round approach
Bheki ‘Ma-Events’ Twala, co-founder and executive director at the Township Events Business Council SA, has enjoyed a career in the events industry that spans 30 years. He talks to Meetings magazine on the importance of stimulating the local events sector.
Bheki Twala’s passion for events is tangible and, after spending three decades entrenched in the industry, he has become well known by Soweto’s community as ‘Ma-Events’ Twala.
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“It all started in 1990, when I was still at school. I started a youth club called the Best of Mates and registered it as an NGO,” he tells Meetings magazine.
In 1993, Bheki received the Community Builder of the Year Award in the Youth Category. The awards were one of Dr Aggrey Klaaste’s nation-building initiatives that were launched as a partnership between the then local television channel CCTV, Old Mutual and the Sowetan newspaper.
“The following year, I was asked to join Fabiq & Pead Marketing. At the time, they were responsible for the management of all Soweto’s nation-building events and projects, and it was here where I was then exposed to the professional events industry,” Bheki recalls.
SPREADING HIS WINGS In 1997, Bheki launched Zakheni Investments, his own events consulting business, after identifying the need for better representation and increased visibility of events taking place at a grassroots level.
“The township events industry is one of the major contributors to our local townships’ tourism and hospitality sectors, which in turn impacts GDP. This is also key because events have huge potential to create jobs and limit the social ills in communities,” says Bheki. Home-grown events are also a platform DID YOU KNOW? Dr Aggrey Klaaste was the editor of the Sowetan between 1988 and 2002. He was a strong proponent of the concept of nationbuilding and deeply committed to recognising a truly free and democratic South Africa. for promoting townships’ local brands and showcasing up-and-coming talent, Bheki explains.
“Township events play a massive and critical role in growing townships as tourism destinations of choice for both local and international business and leisure tourists,” he adds.
FRUITS OF HIS LABOUR Bheki is playing a role in driving the establishment of structures such as industry chambers and councils, starting with South Africa’s largest township, Soweto.
Bheki’s involvement within the live events sector in Soweto in particular has helped grow the local industry to where it is today. He has been part of launching many notable events, such as the Soweto Marathon and the Soweto Ink tattoo festival that took place last year. He now has his sights set on developing and rolling out training and education programmes centred on events, as well as building up the business events industry in Soweto.
“We are sharing our industry experience and expertise with aspiring event professionals, and I am using coaching as a strategy to achieve the objective of turning townships into attractive destinations for events,” Bheki notes.
His vision is to grow and preserve the industry for generations to come and to change the face and narrative of our townships.
“We know that the events industry has huge untapped potential and presents a unique opportunity for greater social
cohesion,” he concludes.
Follow Ma-Events on social media using the hashtags:
#WeAreTownshipEventsIndustry #WeAreTownshipEventsEconomy #IAmSoweto!
@Ma-Events Twala!!! +27 (0)63 539 3321
WELCOME TO THE HOTEL COVID-19 With Level 1 lockdown regulations coming into effect on 20 September 2020, Meetings calls on some of South Africa’s hotels to understand what guests can expect.
SUN CITY RESORT, RUSTENBURG, NORTH WEST
On 30 August 2020, Meetings magazine had the privilege of being invited as the first guests to experience the reopening of Sun City Resort.
With an early morning start accompanied by a delicious cappuccino and the tail-end of a cold front, we begin making our journey across Gauteng’s provincial border into the North West province – the furthest either of us have travelled in the five months of lockdown. We are greeted by staff at the entrance of the resort who take our temperatures and sanitise our hands. We are walked through a screening questionnaire on our general health before being directed through the gates to make our way to the Palace of the Lost City, all with our masks of course.
In the time we travel from the gate to the hotel, we see at least two dozen Sun International branded posters on street poles reminding us of the protocols in place at the resort. Upon arrival at the Palace, our luggage is sanitised and placed on a trolley ready to be taken up to our rooms. Our hands are sanitised at the entrance to the hotel, after which we
then proceed to reception to check in. Floor stickers are placed at a distance as a guide for social distancing between guests, with clear signage at reception to once again remind us of the protocols we can expect.
After check-in, we are shown to our rooms, which have a sticker ‘sealing’ each room from contamination. Absolutely everything in the room, from the TV remote to the coffee and tea items, is covered or sealed, thus ensuring the ultimate safety of guests and staff.
DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT With an official welcome from Da Mamba, entertainer and MC, and a word from Ugen Govender, CFO at Sun City Resort, we are treated to a delicious lunch with an assortment of delectable dishes – ranging from a seafood bake to beef curry and stewed lamb. Chefs assist by opening covered pots of food and dishing up each of our preferences.
Juice, water and other drinks are sealed and opened by guests, with a sealed pack of cutlery, salt and pepper given to each of us. Desserts such as mini cheesecakes and
custards are beautifully laid out under a clear cover for us to make our selection.
After lunch, we are taken on a tour of Sun City Resort’s hotspots, including the Sun Vacation Club and one of the main attractions – the casino. The measures implemented here are impressive, with screens, wipes and strict social distancing at slot machines to allow guests to enjoy themselves while being reassured of their safety and well-being.
After the tour, we are treated to a game drive in the Pilanesberg National Park courtesy of Mankwe Game Trackers. Prior to the experience, we are sent a questionnaire and advised on Mankwe’s protocols, which require each person to wear a mask and ensure limited numbers in each vehicle, which is open on all sides. Although nerve-racking, we have a close-up encounter with a herd of female elephants and calves that’s not to be missed.
Overall, the experience is a real treat, particularly after being cooped up for so long during the stricter levels of lockdown. Guests are reassured that there is a measure in place at each potential point of exposure, and the management and staff of the resort should be commended on doing an exceptional job of implementing the various protocols currently being followed.
CLICO HOTEL, ROSEBANK, GAUTENG
Tucked away in the leafy avenues of Rosebank lies Clico Hotel – a boutique gem with just nine rooms. As we arrive at the hotel, our hands are sanitised and temperatures taken before we’re asked to fill in a form and provide details of both our residential and work addresses.Clico’s GM, Jaco Wheeler, explains that this is for contact tracing, should any guests or members of staff who exhibit symptoms of the novel coronavirus come in close proximity to each other. The hotel also has a strict ‘no mask, no service’ policy and all guests and staff are required to wear an appropriate face covering if they are outside of their rooms.
At the entrance to the reception area, Clico Hotel has a no-touch step sanitiser, many of which are found dotted around the venue at key entry and exit points. It is recommended that guests take up their own luggage but Clico will sanitise and bring this up to rooms on request. Guests and patrons are also advised on the hotel’s no-contact policy and, for this reason, much of the check-in process is handled electronically and ahead of arrival. Keys are then left in each room to minimise physical contact.
Conveniently, Clico Hotel owns a fogging business and all rooms are sanitised and sealed for 24 hours prior to a guest’s arrival. Workers are suited up in full PPE and will fog the room around normal housekeeping to ensure best practice in hygiene and cleanliness. Guests can then decide if they want their rooms cleaned every day or not at all. Small meetings of 24 people (typically 50 without social distancing) are possible at Clico, depending on the seating style. The hotel’s conferencing venue has an interesting modern-meets-rustic feel, and its use of heavy wood, unusual light fittings and hanging wallflower boxes gives the space a natural look and feel. The venue is also equipped with the conferencing essentials such as a projector, Wi-Fi and stationery, and catering is available through the Clico Restaurant.
Clico’s restaurant, like the hotel, has a ‘no mask, no service’ policy and screening is mandatory for each diner. The space can typically seat 42 people but with the current protocols in place, numbers are capped at 24 if all guests are indoors and 28 if using the area outside. The existing setup was already well suited to social distancing measures; tables are 900 mm x 900 mm, meaning that each person is at a sufficient distance from another. To limit exposure between diners at the restaurant and guests at the hotel, separate entrances are used. The restaurant has also expanded its service offering to cater for deliveries as an option for its regular patrons.
Upon each guest’s departure, their temperature will be taken again; should anyone feel unwell, Clico will advise them to be tested. They will then begin a contact tracing exercise if need be, thus ensuring the complete safety of each guest and staff member.
A YEAR TO END THEM ALL
2020 has, undoubtedly, proved to be the toughest of years for the MICE industry, so is it fitting to host a yearend function to conclude the end of it all? Meetings learns more.
The year 2020 is one that will not be forgotten easily. It is a year that has been a game changer, and as we start picking up the pieces of what was preCovid-19 life, we are reminded just how drastically the lay of the land has shifted. A year ago, if we were told that we would need to wear masks wherever we go and that by not seeing our friends and family, it would be the ultimate way to show we care for their well-being, it would have sounded preposterous. The practicality of living in
a pandemic era has, however, made this a reality.
Typically, during this time of year, event organisers, service providers and venues are abuzz with plans for upcoming year-end functions and specials. This year, however, is vastly different.
WE PUT IT TO YOU To delve deeper into where the sentiment is around year-end functions, we featured a poll on The Planner Guru’s Facebook page in early August, which revealed that 60% of our audience is likely to have a year-end function, while the remaining 40% is not. This shows that, while the majority has something in the works – for staff, clients or both – a significant grouping does not believe that the end of the year will be celebrated in the same way.
Understandably, budgets for ‘fun’ activities such as year-end parties may have been redirected towards ensuring businesses are able to stay afloat... but should provisions be made for an experience that concludes what has been a very difficult year?
BENEFITS OF HOSTING A YEAR-END FUNCTION According to South African entertainer Marcel Oudejans, here are seven benefits of hosting a year-end function:
1You have an opportunity to learn more about people outside of the typical ‘work’ environment. This means you can get to understand the person better and have a better chance of relating to him or her in the future. (This is true for both staff and clients.)
2You can really show people how much you appreciate their work or their support. Even though you can say thank you on the phone or via email, demonstrating your appreciation is very powerful.
3Your guests have the opportunity to discuss ideas, give feedback or make suggestions in an environment that is normally more ‘open’ than at the office. When people are relaxed and having fun, they’re more likely to offer an honest opinion, so keep your ears open for things that a person would not normally say. You may learn a thing or two!
4Use the event to re-affirm your company’s dedication to its purpose by ensuring that everyone is made aware of what you offer, and what the benefits of working with you are. This can take the form of a speech, presentation or even a video. Don’t waste this opportunity to capitalise on your audience’s attention! Since you’ve already spent the money on hosting the event, you must make sure that everyone remembers not only how much they enjoyed themselves, but also who you are and the reason for the event.
5Celebrate your achievements! Use the opportunity to share results, like your sales figures, special projects you’ve completed, or client video testimonials. Inspire your staff and clients by demonstrating the advantages of working with your company. Remember that we live vicariously through others, so a few honest testimonials from satisfied customers will encourage clients to continue their relationship with you, prospects will see the value of doing business, and your staff will see the ‘bigger picture’ of how their work impacts on their customers.
6Differentiate your company from your competition by making a special effort to give something personal and entertaining, so that everyone has fond memories of the event. “Same is lame,” and if you don’t make the effort to make your function at least a bit special, your guests are unlikely to have any recollection of even having attended. Considering how much money you’re probably spending, you’ll agree that it is of utmost importance that everyone leaves with a special reason to remember you and your company.
7Being part of an event is FUN! We know that happy employees are more productive and the idea of having a company-sponsored celebration can be a good motivator for you and your staff. It’s something to look forward to, and the promise of being able to experience something fun and different can be a good reason to reach your sales targets or to cut unnecessary expenses. Remember, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!”
MARCEL’S TOP BUDGET TIP:
If you are particularly experienced in event planning, or are meticulous about planning a budget, you may very well work within the estimated figures; however, it is not unreasonable to plan for a 10-15% variance on your original budget
THE DECIDING FACTOR While the benefits of hosting a year-end function cannot be denied, together with a rapidly evolving landscape, year-end parties and celebrations involving any group are going to have to change for the foreseeable future.
For those who are fortunate enough to be in a position where they are able to host a year-end function, innovations in technology can address the formalities associated with this type of occasion, such as speeches and presentations, while personalised deliveries can be made to ensure there is a more tangible element for your guests.
With thanks to magician and corporate entertainer Marcel Oudejans for sharing his thoughts. For more information, visit www.corporatemagician.co.za.
