WE ARE BUILDING BACK BETTER

Publisher Jacques Breytenbach

3S Media

Production Park, 83 Heidelberg Road, City Deep, Johannesburg South, 2136

Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 www.3smedia.co.za

The Meetings & Event Planner 2023 © Copyright

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ISSN 978-0-620-68603-7

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The global MICE events industry is still very much in recovery, but seeing this edition of The Meetings & Event Planner come together has made me feel both inspired and a little in awe of what our local MICE sector is doing. We have exceptional and beautiful venues gracing our pages, all providing the perfect environment for various types, sizes and flavours of business events. Meanwhile, the industry associations section from page 92 demonstrates both the professionalism and professional scope of our full MICE value chain – from conferences and exhibitions (including organisers, services and suppliers) to professional designations and sustainable event management, we have it all.

Meet Our Local Destinations

A new inclusion in this issue is a showcase of South Africa's provincial convention bureaus and tourism bodies. Each of these shares the unique value proposition of their province as a business events destination and, again, I'm impressed by the huge range of what our country has to offer both local and international delegates. With our varied landscapes (think deserts to forests, wetlands and oceans) and wildlife (the Big Five and Small Five), to the different cuisines, cultures and activities on offer, we have a wealth of assets available to us. What's more, these bureaus and tourism offices are here to help grow the industry, and offer various support services, which they share with you here.

Uniting these efforts is the South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB), which collaborates closely with the provinces to ensure that, as a country, we maximise our opportunities and bring more events to our shores. Their overall aim in doing so is to grow our economy and boost industries, both of which are beneficial side effects of hosting business events. Find out more about the SANCB and their work on page 10.

The Meetings & Event Planner really is a fabulous resource, and I hope it serves you well in what looks set to be a busy year ahead.

and The

& Event Planner team