The Event Issue 5

Issue 05 | 2016

016 2 A B INDA

+ CONFERENCING IN THE WILD Take a Break from the City

+ INDABA 2016

No Other Show Brings More African Exhibitors Together

+ ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT

Growing African Associations to Meet International Standards

AN ASSOCIATION OF ORGANISERS DRIVEN

BY ORGANISERS KEY BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP: ● Preferential rates from suppliers ● Mediation facility for exhibitors and organizers ● SARS VAT Ruling ● Show audits by accredited body ● Negotiation with Government bodies ● Exhibitor Training and workshops ● Industry Research studies and surveys ● Industry promotion WWW.AAXO.CO.ZA +27 (0)11 549 8300 INFO@AAXO.CO.ZA

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For membership inquiries: membership@aaxo.co.za

CONTENTS

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02.

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South Africa Enjoys Spike in Tourist Arrivals

04.

What Value Does Your Passport Hold?

INDABA 2016 The Event will be covering every moment of Africa’s biggest leisure trade show.

06.

IAPCO: Cape Town is the Destination of Choice for World’s Top PCOs

08.

INDABA 2016 Preview

10.

African Association Growth and Development

16.

Handy Guide for Business-Event Novices

ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT

18.

Conferencing in the Wild with Premier Hotels

Kim Muller unpacks the growth of Associations in Africa, and explores the ‘must-know’ information set out by our international counterparts.

& Resorts

20.

IT&CM China Review

22.

World Travel Market Africa 2016

24.

Ten Tips for Easy (and successful) Exhibiting

CONFERENCING IN THE WILD Premier Hotel The Winkler and Mpongo Private Game Reserve are ideal for blending business with the wild.

26.

Tech Talk: Meetings of the Future

28.

Ghana: An Atypical African Business Experience

30.

North West: Adventure, Entertainment and Wildlife Calls

32.

Events to Diarise

GHANA

34.

Associations News

Imogen Campbell explores the burgeoning business hub, and one of Africa’s unspoilt treasures.

36.

Directory of Advertisers

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NEWS

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SOUTH AFRICA ENJOYS SPIKE IN TOURIST ARRIVALS

© South African Tourism he number of tourists arriving in South Africa every month has shot through the one million mark for the first time since 2009, signalling the industry’s recovery from last year’s decline.

In January this year 1 012 641 tourists arrived in South Africa, 15.4% more than January last year. Month to month growth in arrivals began improving prospects for the sector in October last year.

“This is great news for everyone involved in tourism,” said Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom. “Operators of tourism businesses have proved their resilience during the recent lean times we faced, and now they stand to reap the rewards.”

Minister Hanekom said there was growing confidence in the sector that tourism would not only recover from the slump of 2015, but that travel to South Africa will grow strongly this year.

Positive growth was recorded from all regions in January 2016, with arrivals from Asia improving by a staggering

45.6% and overseas markets recording a total growth of 16.2%, compared to arrivals in January 2015.

Analysts attribute the growth to the revised immigration requirements that have started to make the visa application process easier for travellers from key source markets like China, international tourists taking advantage of the exchange rate, and the enduring strengths of South Africa as a tourism destination capable of serving the needs of tourists from around the world.

“The strength of our brand helps us to overcome difficult times. More and more travellers are expressing positive sentiments towards our country, and more are claiming they are likely to visit South Africa,” said Minister Hanekom.

“The efforts and resources that we have invested in developing our attractions, training our people, marketing our destination and making access easier are paying dividends for our economy. More tourists arriving here means more business for suppliers

across the entire value chain, including transport, accommodation, entertainment, hospitality and many other services.”

“All spheres of government, industry and communities must work together to extract the full benefit of the growth we expect. We must provide our guests with the best products and services that we are capable of, and make their experiences in our country truly memorable. They will market our country for us when they return home, and this will stimulate even stronger growth.”

The sharp increase in arrivals during January resulted from additional bookings made in October, November and December 2015, especially among key markets in Europe, when the rand was at its weakest against the pound, euro and US dollar.

Travel agents recorded a 30 – 40% growth in bookings during this period.

Early indications are that bookings made through travel agents and tour operators in key air markets will yield continuing growth in February and March.

Courtesy of the Department of Tourism

We must provide our guests with the best products and services that we are capable of, and make their experiences in our country truly memorable.

NEWS

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© Shutterstock (ollyy)

MIXING WORK AND PLAY IN TRAVEL

By Edward Frost, British Airways’ commercial manager for South and East Africa.

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leisure” travel is an awful contraction, but if industry experts are to be believed, a growing trend as business travellers add a little personal downtime at the start or end of work-related trips.

The reasons vary, from getting to know the culture in the cities or foreign countries where they do business, to coping with the stress of a connected, always-on world or simply as a reward for being away from home.

“I find that I’m able to concentrate and add more value if I’ve arrived a day before a big meeting or conference and given myself a little time to relax and acclimatise,” says Edward Frost, British Airways’ commercial manager for South and East Africa, who travels internationally at least once a month.

Adding a day or two at the end of a trip can also mean that you arrive back at the office feeling refreshed and enthused rather than wrung out and exhausted, he says.

It’s a trend that the hospitality industry has cottoned on to and is increasingly offering work-and-play packages. Many hotels now also offer guests a group meeting rate before and after conferences.

If there isn’t a group deal in place and you’re booking your own travel, using a site such as ba.com to combine an airfare, hotel and car hire deal is a convenient way of making all your bookings at once and avoiding any surprises as it shows you the total amount, including taxes and any other charges you need to pay.

You will also be eligible for any discounts or specials that are often available when booking through a single portal and, if you are a member of a programme such as the Executive Club or On Business, could benefit from the loyalty points you and your company may earn from each of the partners.

Frost says that while bleisure travel probably isn’t as defined a trend in South Africa as it is in the United States, South Africans may increasingly be inclined to mix business and pleasure to make their travel rands stretch further, particularly if they can get a few days relaxation at a corporate rate.

“We’d also expect to see more people who are travelling overseas on business taking their partners or spouses with them, either by making use of accumulated loyalty points or by taking advantage of corporate deals.”

British Airways’ five most popular bleisure destinations for South Africans, based on booking trends and customer feedback are: 1. London 2. New York 3. San Francisco 4. Los Angeles 5. Washington

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NEWS

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WHAT VALUE DOES YOUR PASSPORT HOLD? Ever wondered which passports are the most powerful for travellers? No more – The Passport Index shows just which countries have the most leverage internationally.

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ccording to the 2016 Passport Index, last updated in April, holders of German and Swedish passports can visit 157 countries without visas or receive visas on arrival at a destination, making them the most powerful in the world. The least powerful named were Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, with holders only able to visit 30, 27 and 24 countries respectively.

Other passport holders in the top tier include Finland, Italy, Switzerland, France,

Passport Power Rankings Seychelles | Power Rank: 24 | 123 countries Mauritius: Power Rank: 31 | 116 countries South Africa | Power Rank: 45 | 90 countries Botswana | Power Rank: 60 | 66 countries Lesotho | Power Rank: 60 | 66 countries Malawi | Power Rank: 61 | 65 countries Kenya | Power Rank: 62 | 64 countries Swaziland | Power Rank: 62 | 62 countries Gambia | Power Rank: 63 | 63 countries Namibia | Power Rank: 63 | 63 countries Tanzania | Power Rank: 65 | 61 countries Tunisia | Power Rank: 65 | 61 countries Ghana | Power Rank: 66 | 60 countries Zambia | Power Rank: 67 | 59 countries Morocco | Power Rank: 68 | 58 countries Sierra Leone | Power Rank: 69 | 57 countries

Spain and the UK, with holders capable of visiting 156 countries, while passport power ranking number 3 goes to Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Korea and Norway – all able to visit 155 nations without having to apply for visas.

The Seychelles tops the list of African nations in terms of passport power, with the ability to visit 123 countries sans visa, while Mauritius comes in at 166 countries with a ranking of 31. South Africa ranks 45 on the list, with the ability to visit 90

Zimbabwe | Power Rank: 69 | 57 countries Uganda | Power Rank: 69 | 57 countries Benin | Power Rank: 70 | 56 countries Guinea | Power Rank: 71 | 55 countries Senegal | Power Rank: 72 | 54 countries Cote d’Ivoire | Power Rank: 72 | 54 countries Mali | Power Rank: 73 | 53 countries Mauritania | Power Rank: 73 | 53 countries Burkina Faso | Power Rank: 74 | 52 countries Togo | Power Rank: 74 | 52 countries Niger | Power Rank: 75 | 51 countries Egypt | Power Rank: 75 | 51 countries Guinea-Bissau | Power Rank: 77 | 49 countries Algeria | Power Rank: 78 | 48 countries Mozambique | Power Rank: 79 | 47 countries Chad | Power Rank: 79 | 47 countries Gabon | Power Rank: 79 | 47 countries Madagascar | Power Rank: 79 | 47 countries Nigeria | Power Rank:

countries, while Botswana and Lesotho clock in at number 60 with the ability to visit 66 countries. Malawi comes in at a close 61, with Kenya following at 62 along with Swaziland, and Gambia and Namibia taking the position of 63 in the passport power rankings.

Although these numbers are significant compared with just a decade ago, it illustrates the need for Africa to open its borders and create stronger relationships with its international neighbours.

80 | 46 countries Rwanda | Power Rank: 80 | 46 countries Central African Republic | Power Rank: 80 | 46 countries Liberia | Power Rank: 81 | 45 countries Angola | Power Rank: 81 | 45 countries Comoros | Power Rank: 81 | 45 countries Equatorial Guinea | Power Rank: 81 | 45 countries Cameroon | Power Rank: 82 | 44 countries Congo | Power Rank: 83 | 43 countries Burundi | Power Rank: 84 | 41 countries Djibouti | Power Rank: 84 | 41 countries Democratic Republic of Congo | Power Rank: 86 | 39 countries Libya | Power Rank: 87 | 37 countries Eritrea | Power Rank: 87 | 37 countries South Sudan | Power Rank: 88 | 36 countries Ethiopia | Power Rank: 88 | 36 countries Sudan | Power Rank: 88 | 36 countries Somalia | Power Rank: 90 | 32 countries

SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE POTENTIAL RELEASED

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NEWS

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CAPE TOWN: DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR WORLD’S TOP PCOS Cape Town has hosted the most successful International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) annual meeting in the association’s almost 50-year history.

Held at the CTICC in February, the meeting attracted two thirds of IAPCO members from around the world with half of those in attendance reporting that they would host a conference in Cape Town, or South Africa, in the future.

© CTICC

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APCO was founded in 1968, is registered in Switzerland, and represents more than 116 professional organisers, meeting planners and managers of national and international congresses, conventions and special events from 41 countries.

Collectively, its members organise in excess of 8 500 professional events – involving some 3.16-million delegates – annually and represent an economic impact of EUR 5.12-billion. As an international industry association, IAPCO works to uphold standards of service among its members and other sectors of the meetings industry.

Keith Burton, Managing Director of African Agenda, says: “We were proud to host the world’s foremost conference decision makers, and delighted with their

interest in Cape Town and South Africa as destinations. Arguably our most significant achievement was the perception change achieved among the delegates. Many had not been to South Africa before and their visit to our beautiful country – and firsthand experience of a flawless conference, and world-class conference infrastructure – firmly established Cape Town as an event destination of choice in the minds of this influential audience. African Agenda is the only sub-Saharan African member of IAPCO so we were representing not only the city and the country, but also the region.”

The meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry today. Burton says:

“The IAPCO members’ intent to host events in Cape Town and South Africa is important at a time when national and provincial tourism authorities are targeting the MICE industry as a key pillar of their efforts to drive sustainable growth.”

International conferences, expos, and other signature events are considered powerful marketing tools for host destinations, and deliver attractive economic impacts to an area. IAPCO attendees in South Africa for the annual meeting got great exposure to many facets of the country, from a destination workshop with the Johannesburg Convention Bureau, three days of meetings, social events and voluntourism activities in Cape Town, and a bespoke seminar presented at Meetings Africa in Sandton attended by conference professionals from across South Africa.

Burton concludes: “The MICE industry has much to offer with the CTICC alone contributing more than R22-billion to the economy since first opening its doors in 2003. And the feedback received from the IAPCO members points directly to the fact that a market exists and key decision makers would happily bring their events to the city. The opportunity for South Africa is to capitalise on all the potential and secure the business needed to help drive sustainable growth. At African Agenda we are already hard at work doing just that.”

- Source: African Agenda www.africanagenda.com

SPIER

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SPIER – A VENUE WITH A DIFFERENCE Conference on a historic wine farm, just 40 minutes from Cape Town.

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pier is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa with a recorded history dating back to 1692. While rooted in this heritage, Spier has a vibrant and conscious energy. Award-winning wine can be paired with fabulous food, grown either on the farm or by nearby farmers.

The winery is one of the most awarded in the country and the Spier Hotel and meeting facilities offer inspiring winelands getaways in the tranquility of nature.

The Spier Conference Centre includes the auditorium that seats 430 people (cinema style), as well as the four-star 153-room Spier Hotel to accommodate delegates. Three breakaway rooms can be used separately, or combined to seat 250 people. Conference rooms are adjacent to the Eerste River and have views of the Helderberg mountains.

The 1822 historic Manor House and its adjacent oak-shaded courtyard is ideal for top management getaways where teams can strategise in an intimate environment.

The elegant boardroom at the Spier Hotel is a convenient meeting space for business guests at the hotel, or groups requiring a smaller meeting facility.

There are three meeting rooms adjacent to the Spier Amphitheatre. These intimate rooms are ideal as breakaway rooms or for smaller gatherings.

Spier’s Conscious Conference package includes environmental and social components, supporting our sustainable business ethos. The Conscious Conference Package enables you to join us in supporting local industry, fair trade and our commitment to a sustainable planet. And your delegates will have a great experience in the process!

Village-style buildings, lush green lawns and spacious rooms situated next to the calming Eerste River are the defining characteristics of the 4-star Spier Hotel.

Our 153 rooms are clustered around six courtyards, with each courtyard boasting

its own swimming pool. The design is reminiscent of the Bo-Kaap or Mediterranean villages where pedestrians have right of way.

The hotel is a pioneer in responsible tourism and was one of the first in South Africa to be awarded the Fair Trade in Tourism SA accreditation in 2004. In 2015, Spier was voted 18th in the Condé Nast Traveler 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards list of the top 25 hotels in Africa.

Spier is committed to doing the right thing for the environment and communities, and is renowned for its responsible tourism approach. The farm has been recognised by various external organisations including Fair Trade in Tourism (FTTSA) and the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA).

In 2011, Condé Nast Traveler World Saver Award recognised the estate as the top international destination ‘Doing it All’.

Spier is a WWF Conservation Champion, organically certified and follows the

Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) criteria.

Spier’s environmental and social initiatives are many and varied, and include ways to reduce water usage. 100% of its wastewater, and over 80% of its solid waste, is recycled.

Spier supports local communities through the tree-preneur project, which encourages people in impoverished communities to grow trees in exchange for essential goods. The estate also supports entrepreneurs by helping them create micro-enterprises linked to Spier.

Tel: +27(0)21 809 1100 / +27(0)21 881 8400 Email: info@spier.co.za Website: www.spier.co.za

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SPOTLIGHT

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Tech Talks at Indaba 2015 © Reg Caldecott

Opening of Exibitor Wall © Reg Caldecott

INDABA 2016

No other show brings more African exhibitors together.

NDABA NDABAisisone oneofofthe thelargest largesttourism tourism marketing marketingevents eventson onthe theAfrican Africancalendar calendar and andone oneofofthe thetop topthree three‘must ‘mustvisit’ visit’ events eventsofofits itskind kindon onthe theglobal globalcalendar. calendar.

It showcases the widest variety of Southern Africa’s best tourism products and attracts international buyers and media from across the world. INDABA is owned by South African Tourism and organised by Pure Grit Project and Exhibitions Management (Pty) Ltd.

Why should I attend INDABA? • •

• • • •

It is Africa’s top travel and tourism exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere.

Keep abreast of global trends and new developments within the tourism and travel industry.

Meet industry stakeholders and decision makers face-to-face Conduct business with new and existing clients.

Gain competitive advantage with a view to becoming market leaders.

Meet with over 1200 exhibitors from a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors.

Not only can you meet and network with the industry’s key role players and decision-makers, but also consider all your South African leisure tourism options and negotiate the best deals on these products, all in one place.

•

Opportunity to network with key decision makers and stakeholders on an exciting and informative platform.

Show Dates • •

Show Days: 7 - 9 May 2016 International Trade Days: 7 - 9 May 2016 Local Trade Days: 7 - 9 May 2016

Not only can you meet and network with the industry’s key role players and decision-makers, but also consider all your South African leisure tourism options and negotiate the best deals on these products, all in one place.

•

Venue

Exhibitor Profile

Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (Durban ICC) and Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC), KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

INDABA brings together a showcase of Southern African tourism products and services for the international

Show Times • • •

9am – 6pm, 7 - 8 May 2016 9am – 5.30pm, 9 May 2016 Exhibitors can enter the halls from 8am

SPOTLIGHT

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Indaba 2015 © Reg Caldecott

travel trade. Exhibitors in the DEC (Durban Exhibition Centre) includes, provincial authorities, provincial products and African Countries. In the ICC (International Convention Centre), exhibitor categories include accommodation, tour operators, game lodges, transport, online travel, media publications and industry associations.

Outdoor exhibitors include transport, camping and safari companies.

Buyer Profile • • • • • •

Inbound Tour Operators Foreign Travel Agents Airlines DMC’s Online Booking Companies Transport

INDABA App Get the most out of your INDABA 2016 experience by tapping into the official INDABA App. Connect with the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products as well as a multitude of potential buyers from Africa and abroad in the palm of your hand.

Here are some of the features of the official INDABA 2016 app: • Stay up to date with all the latest INDABA news from South African Tourism • Access a detailed list of all exhibitors • Schedule the events you want to attend through our comprehensive calendar • Navigate through the expo with a detailed map • Set up meetings with other

• •

attendees in which special meeting rooms will be provided Book exclusive pre- and post-INDABA tours Join the social media #INDABA2016 conversation directly through the app

With so much going on at INDABA 2016, cut through the clutter and download the app right now! It’s your personal guide to Africa’s biggest travel show.

The app is available for both Android and IOS devices and is very easy to find, install and register.

Website INDABA: www.indaba-southafrica.co.za South African Tourism: www.southafrica.net

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FEATURE

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The 2015 UFI Congress in Milan. Image courtesy of UFI ©Marco Curatolo

Image courtesy of UFI ©Marco Curatolo

AFRICAN ASSOCIATION GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Are you covering all the areas of importance in your association? Are your core focuses adding value to your members? Kim Crowie answers these and other questions as she digs into the what, who, where, why and how of association development in Africa.

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frica as a whole has only in the last two decades joined the international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions arena. In the last five years, it has seen major strides as more and more congresses, association meetings, and mega sporting events take place on the continent. Africa has approximately 700 to 1 000 international associations operating on the continent, although this does not account for national and regional associations and societies.

South Africa has been leveraging its position as a business-events leader on the continent as a way to foster further relations and collaboration, and promote the region as a whole. Examples of these are not only prevalent in the hospitality and

tourism sectors, but on an organisational level as well. The Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) has a number of members across the SADC region, and the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) rebranded their local chapter to SITE Southern Africa fairly recently. But perhaps the most pertinent instance is the launch of the African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE). As the name suggests, it is a body that creates opportunities for executives to network and learn.

Part One: Professionalising an Organisation Once an association establishes itself as a true representative of an industry, they should already automatically be seen as

professionalised because of the role they are undertaking, although getting to that point can be a mission. Not only is dedication and passion needed, but patience above all, says Adriaan Liebetrau, CEO of SAACI, the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry. “In a corporate environment, each company has its own way of conducting business, they have their own culture. For associations, they need to navigate their way through a massive river of different corporate cultures – a real melting pot,” he says.

“It may sound simple but the association office needs to professionalise itself first, its corporate identity emailers and website…It then goes back to its members and the only way to

FEATURE

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UFI’s next congress will be held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre. Image courtesy of UFI ©Marco Curatolo

Image courtesy of UFI ©Marco Curatolo

achieve this is with education, hosting of programmes, workshops, sharing industry best practices, white papers and trends.”

sustainability practices. For me, the number one area countries can support associations is not really in a financial way, but more in acknowledging and respecting the role it has to play in society.”

But this kind of symbiotic relationship goes both ways, says Corne Koch, who heads up the Convention Bureau for Cape Town and the Western Cape. The bureau is a division of WESGRO, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. “In my opinion, countries can help associations by being aware of their existence (this can only happen of course when associations make themselves visible in the market place).

Should an association deliver a reputable product to their members, countries can form joint relations with associations to provide added benefits to members in the form of providing government resources or other linkage opportunities.”

Who should support the association?

Home countries are integral in creating an association-orientated environment for the business-events industry, particularly since many of these companies and organisations are responsible not only for marketing a particular sector, but for providing guidance in best practices, assistance in a range of areas, and most importantly, bringing in legitimate business and introducing key buyers to industry stakeholders.

Craig Newman of UFI says countries can help by making it easier for international businesses and visitors to operate in the country, citing the procurement of visas as a prime example. “We need to collaborate and work together with government in order to allow international exhibitors and visitors to enter the country

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without difficulty. This will help to speed up certain processes and ensure that we continue along the path of growth and development. Application for people to come to participate in these events is critical for the industry,” he explains, adding that the public-sector business-tourism bodies should also support and endorse associations, even if it’s not financially.

Although all associations have a number of roles to play within a country, international association bodies often receive more recognition than localised ones according to Liebetrau. “Often the role of an association is over looked by its local country or in some cases not heard of in the next. Country needs to support associations in various ways, and respect that it is a huge driver of the knowledge economy,” he says. “Associations are not just about the potential investments and future business its members can bring in, but it assists with legacy projects and

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FEATURE

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Jeffers Miruka, President of the African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE), adds that countries can show support by ensuring that NFP organisations have legal and financial protection to form and operate. They can also help promote the culture of giving and volunteering. “Countries should support the capacity growth and professionalism of association management and not for profit governance,” he says. “Finally, countries should encourage their citizens to get involved in their professional society or areas of interest at all levels and to seek leadership positions.”

Meeting Global Standards Although South Africa already plays a large role in furthering the continent’s meetings reputation abroad, we should still continue expanding out footprint. We need to be more involved with our neighbours – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe – and help them understand the potential within the business-events industry and business-tourism market.

“We must endeavour to spread the word about our industry capabilities, its successes, potential, and what it can do to help promote other industry sectors,” Newman explains, “As South Africans, we are relatively advanced in comparison to the rest of Africa, with regards to the value of exhibitions and conferences and what they bring to the economy. There are structures that are already in place from national through to regional and the municipalities. The next step is to approach our neighbours with these structures and invite them to be a part of it.”

Many associations – particularly those who have embraced rotational meetings around Africa have already reached this point, with global standards to match, says Miruka. “For others, it is about learning that association management is an area of professional knowledge, education, training, networking, credentialing and leading – both on the volunteer side as well as on the management side. Then gaining that knowledge and growing contacts, and this is the gap AfSAE intends to fill. Professionalising the management of associations and providing education and knowledge required is key to taking African associations to the next step of reaching global standards.”

A speaker addresses the 2015 UFI Congress in Milan, Image courtesy of UFI ©Andrea Centonze

Part Two: The Role of a Member in an Association Without its members, an association is useless, and as a result, membership growth strategies are important for any industry body of this nature. Relevance and engagement are also vital to an association’s health, and organisations should keep this top of mind when planning on starting or growing their membership.

SAACI CEO Liebetrau has some simple, practical advice for this: “Get proper

membership management software that is easy and functional. Define benefits of belonging to an association as members are looking for real tangible return on investments. If you have networking events, make sure there is a structured programme.

Don’t waste peoples’ time and don’t be disorganised. Everyone is busy and the only way to reach members frequently is via the media, so ensure you have a great marketing and communications plan – and stick to it.” Another thing to keep in

FEATURE

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Although South Africa already plays a large role in furthering the continent’s meetings reputation abroad, we should still continue expanding out footprint. We need to be more involved with our neighbours – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

AfSAE board members in action.

mind is that each association works differently, and as such, it’s important to tailor growth strategies rather than copycat what works for someone else.

How to build an engaged community Keeping an established association relevant is hard work, but as times change, so should an association, says Liebetrau.

In this day and age, as data analysis plays a much larger role in gauging our success, measuring member engagement is critical. A new survey by Advanced Solutions International shows increasing member engagement is a key goal for executives. The 2016 Global Benchmark Reports on Membership Performance and Fundraising Performance shows that engagement is one of the respondents’ top goals, and this, in turn is causing more associations to adopt engagementmeasurement techniques, responsive web design and mobile self-service.

Although only 31% of respondents currently have a strategy in place, the process starts with identifying how the organisation connects with its members and the degree of importance of each of those ways. These include face-to-face conferences, website resources, social media accounts, and volunteering, among others. Once an association can measure each individual member’s involvement and compare them, it can them group members and

use specialised engagement tactics and set a base from where to improve.

For online communities, things are a bit more tricky, but according to Ernie Smith of Associations Now, focusing on the foundation is the most important take-away point. Building stronger online communities is best done slowly and carefully, with involvement from everyone you’re building it for. “Community managers, the paid moderators who lead your community interactions, are your face to the community as a whole,” he says, “and the best ones know how to tell stories twelve ways from Tuesday.” Although topics matter, style and delivery are equally important in our social media age and good storytelling and creative content ideas are imperative for engagement.

He adds that all employees should at least know something about community upkeep. If everyone in the organisation is on board, this helps spread the wealth of customer interactions and workload.

Skills Development and Training A number of associations in Africa have seen the deficit in certain areas of the industry and as such have not only begun holding training days as part of their event schedule, but some – like SAACI and EXSA for instance – have gone as far as to create a new department within the organisation called an ‘academy’ where members can be upskilled through online

resources, courses and by other means.

This is integral in both raising and maintain the quality and standard of any industry, and if a sector is stagnating, perhaps the local association attached to it should research the options and find out how it can assist in bettering their chosen field.

Part Three: Association Congresses, Meetings and Events A substantial part of any association is its vibrant meetings and events calendar. Not only should this be planned well in advance, but for associations who have annual congresses, a lot more comes into play.

Firstly, knowing what you need and want – as well as your budget – is imperative.

From there, you move onto appointing a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) or a Destination Management Company (DMC), or both, and finally, a location and venue you’re happy with.

Special events such as networking mixers, skills development courses, or AGMs can be dealt with by the association itself and as the need for these sorts of functions arise. In fact, many AGMs take place during an annual congress, particularly when its membership is spread across a wide region.

Appointing the Right PCO According to the International Association of Professional Conference Organisers (IAPCO), appointing a PCO for your next

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FEATURE

conference is great – but a core PCO is better. A core PCO offers the same services as a PCO, but instead of a once-off event, it provides for either multiple events or on multiple-year tenures. Benefits include a longstanding relationship with a company that understands your needs completely – which eases the planning process. It also creates continuity in terms of delivery and for an association doing annual conferences and regular, this is ideal.

“In order to identify the most appropriate Core PCO for your needs, it is helpful to seek information from a number of companies. The process involves a number of steps including their geographical location, global or regional coverage, service offerings, ability to offer extended services, previous expertise, cost and added value. A tender document should also be produced and distributed, as well as some preliminary research into accredited PCOs. South Africa has a number of reputable conference and exhibition management companies that offer stellar services. If you’re at a loss as to who you would like to appoint as PCO, consider their track record, and ask around in local industry circles.

Using a DMC In a South African context, says Adriaan Fourie of SITE Southern Africa, association bodies should make contact with the National Convention Bureau or the provincial equivalent, who will then set up an invited tender process.

Jeffers Mikura of AfSAE agrees with this, saying a clear, fair RFP or selection process is needed, and “a specific, detailed contract on the terms and expectations.

Finally, managing them as with any partner – fairly and rigorously to get what you need accomplished,” he concludes.

Picking the Perfect Venue Before you can pick the best venue, knowing your audience – who will be attending, what do they want and need for this event to be successful, what their price points are, and what kind of location works for them – is of utmost importance, says Jeffers. “Then it is translating this information to the potential destinations and venues so that they can tailor a proposal to meet your needs. Again, having a fair selection process is critical for mutual trust. You want a destination that will work with you to help accomplish

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SITE Southern Africa had their annual conference earlier this year at Century City Conference Centre (CCCC). Courtesy of Tes Proos

Guests enjoying the UFI gala dinner dinner. ©Marco Curatolo

Image courtesy of UFI ©Andrea Centonze the objectives of the event. A real partner is invaluable to the event’s success.”

Corne Koch of WESGRO says local support is also important in ensuring an event’s success. She encourages associations to ask these questions: “Is there a convention bureau that can support your bid or research to consider the destination? Does the destination have the capacity and infrastructure to support the business-event requirements?

Will it add value to the association to host the event in a [given] destination?

Would it increase membership or perhaps visibility of the association?”

Craig Newman of UFI reiterates a location’s significance when planning an

association event. He suggests using a quick checklist to reveal a destination’s shortcomings. “Is it close to an airport?

Does it have the space and facilities required to make your event a success?

Is there ample parking available and is there suitable lodging nearby for visitors needing to spend the night? Last but not least, the venue must fit your budget as well as the style and character of your event. The event must also be well-supported and well-attended by its members of the association.”

He uses UFI’s choice of the Expo Centre in Johannesburg for their 2017 congress as an example. “Africa represents the next frontier for growth and development for UFI

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Is there a convention bureau that can support your bid or research to consider the destination? Does the destination have the capacity and infrastructure to support the business event requirements? Will it add value to the association to host the event in a [given] destination? Would it increase membership or perhaps visibility of the association?

and a number of our partners have been working together to grow the continent’s share of regional, continental and global business events. South Africa, in particular, has the experience, the expertise, the knowhow and the infrastructure – all in one place and can become the official gateway for large global companies into Southern Africa. The Expo Centre, as a one-of-akind African venue, has the location, the facilities and the right team of people to make every association event a success.”

Part Four: Research and the Role of Digital in an Association As the digital world becomes more involved in our lives and as social media increasingly becomes the new norm in communication, research and analytics have been playing a much larger role in gauging an association’s interaction and success. Africa is one of the few places in the world where regular or annual research on industry sectors is not often available, and this is a key driver in determining what kind of growth is needed within an association, and indeed, how an association can better the industry in which its members operate.

Benefits of the Digital Realm A number of companies like PwC and Deloitte offer fascinating, in-depth research into global industries including the continent, but the dissemination of information and the aggregation thereof are greatly improved through the use of online platforms. Although it’s important to have an easily navigable website and social media platforms, ensuring their full functionality and understanding their insights will help you form a better idea of what your membership wants, what they’re interested in, and how you can further assist them.

Wolfgang Gruener, Director of Web and eCommerce at CompTIA, the IT industry trade association, recently told the Associations Network that digital expertise is a “critical business aspect of associations today”. Not only does it enable us to better interact and communicate with existing and future members, but it also allows us to build networks and exchange ideas faster and more efficiently.

“At the centre of a successful digital strategy is always a delicate balance of business goals and audience needs that are matched to a set of requirements,” he explains. “At the very core, digital strategy should include such areas as data analytics, content strategy and SEO, usability research and user interface (UI) design, data security, ecommerce analysis, as well as digital marketing. A key component that is often overlooked is a strong communication culture that overcomes ‘siloed’ communication.”

He encourages bodies to ask ‘what is it that makes my association relevant today and how do we communicate effectively that we are relevant?’ As many associations globally struggle with an aging membership, digital strategies are important for bringing in new members. Language, too, plays a part, with many shifting from a distant, lecturing tone to one that is much more direct and conversational.

Lobbying Stakeholders Every project and activity has stakeholders and associations are no different.

Understanding and managing stakeholders in an organisation essentially means influencing the right people at the right levels to get the outcomes you need.

Often this comes down to communication skills, relevant marketing, PR and even negotiating expertise, says Martin

15

Haworth, an international business management coach and trainer.

He cites Dale Carnegie’s now famous book How To Win Friends And Influence People, saying that it is within the arena of relationship building that the greatest successes often come. “Whilst this is not likely to shift those stakeholders who are very fixed in their position, great rapport with those you are trying to get the best of deals with, are the foundation to success,” Haworth explains, “When you are able to ‘get on well’ with those who could appear across a negotiating table with you, it’s an opportunity too good to be missed. Even if making the most of the one-to-one relationships that you have might seem minimal in the potential to change minds, in fact it’s been found many times that such relationships can so often be the missing piece in the jigsaw that can sway a decision.”

One of the ways Carnegie strongly recommends listening rather than talking too much. Find out what interests them, give them your full attention, be interested in them as people, he says.

Inviting White Papers A white paper is an authoritative report or guide informing readers concisely about a complex issue, whilst presenting the issuing body’s philosophy on the matter.

Although a number of African associations are aware of white papers and a number of companies and conferences often release a call for papers for upcoming events, this particular area of expertise sorely needs development. Not only does research into an industry further understanding for an association, but it also places the association in a position of empowerment. The association is automatically furthering the continent’s much-needed knowledge economy through research and dissemination.

AfSAE’s Miruka says in order to invite white papers, one needs to know in which topics submissions are needed.

“Then it is a question of reaching out to the right audience and being clear about what you are looking for, who is the audience this information is aimed at, what is the purpose of the submission and what is the process for submission and review. This all needs to be clearly articulated before you get started.”

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A HANDY GUIDE FOR BUSINESS-EVENT NOVICES The Event has compiled a nifty little guide for you as you embark on your first business event.

P

Starter Tips

reparation is key when participating in any multi-faceted event, whether you’re attending as a delegate, an exhibitor, a hosted buyer, or even the event management.

It’s important to know your goals and do your research. After much though, we’ve found there are four core elements one needs to remember when attending a business event, conference or exhibition: • Prepare, prepare, prepare • Be as flexible as you can • Enjoy yourself • Follow up on those contacts and leads

Useful Acronyms and Industry Terms Ever walked past a sign covered in a swathe of letters you just can’t comprehend? Never fear!

Here’s a comprehensive list of all the major business-event abbreviations and terms you’ll need: • AD: Account Director • ADR: Average Daily Rate, pertaining to how much a hotel is earning on a given night per room • AE: Account Executive • AGM: Annual General Meeting • AM: Account Manager • AV: Audio-visuals • B-BBEE: Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment • BEO: Banquet Event Order, detailing an event in a form that all departments at the host venue understand the services you are expecting

You should also take a look at the conference schedule ahead of time and map out which sessions you want to attend.

•

• • • • • •

•

•

Breakout Rooms: Small meeting rooms for specialised sessions during a larger meeting, conference or event CAE: Certified Association Executive CEM: Certified Exhibition Management CHA: Certified Hotel Administrator CMM: Certification in Meeting Management CMP: Certified Meeting Professional CRM: Contact Relationship Management, a shared online database system allowing an organisation to manage their interactions and communications with clients CSM: Convention Service Manager, essentially a hotel’s meeting planner CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility

Alyssa Gregory of About.com says researching the event is imperative. It’s good to know who the host is, what kinds of events have been managed before, and what you can expect of them.

“You should also take a look at the conference schedule ahead of time and map out which sessions you want to attend. With most conferences, you can do this before you even leave your house,” Gregory adds. Many conferences and exhibitions publish a list of attendees before the event, and some trade shows

• • • • • • • • • •

•

•

CVB: Convention and Visitors Bureau DMC: Destination Management Company DMO: Destination Marketing Organisation DMS: Delegate Management System Drayage: Transport and storage of freight and exhibits EMS: Event Management Software F&B: Food and Beverage FAM Trip: Familiarisation Trip FIT: Free Independent Traveller Gala Dinner: Primary social function of an event, often taking place in the evening Group Value Dates: Extra discounted guest room rates provided to attendees of a specific meeting Hospitality Suite: A meeting room or suite reserved to

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Be sure you have a full checklist of the chargers, cords and batteries you’ll need, as well as any power or plug adaptors when visiting certain foreign countries.

have such advanced meeting applications and services where you can request appointments or make initial contact with potential clients well before the event.

As both delegate and exhibitor, it’s important to know who you’re representing.

Always keep business cards and your company’s promotional material handy.

You never know who you might meet while heading from one conference session to another. “Make sure you prepare your ‘professional branding statement’ when someone asks, ‘What do you do?’” says Deborah Shane of

•

• • •

• •

•

entertain guests and encourage networking during the downtimes of an event; generally includes refreshments of sorts Hosted Buyer: A qualified, pre-selected planner who has submitted an application and was chosen based on their purchasing power, potential for business, geographical representation, etc., at an exhibition or trade show IBT: Individual Business Travel ICC: International Convention Centre Incidentals: All expenses or charges billed to a hotel guest’s account other than the room fee and applicable taxes Janus Board: Video display of daily schedule of events Keynote: Opening remarks or address, which often sets the tone or theme of the event Lectern: A stand designed to hold

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SmallBizTrends. “One sentence that opens

you have no control on how your network

the door and offers them something

evolves; the receptionist at a hotel today

they can remember about you.”

could end up being the GM of that very

She goes on to say the focus of the conference should always play into your social media strategy. Use LinkedIn to connect with people you meet, use Twitter and Google+ to tell people what you’ve learned, and use Facebook and Instagram to share the full experience in all its visual glory.

Something most folks don’t think of until they’re packing the night before is technology. Be sure you have a full checklist of the chargers, cords and batteries you’ll need, as well as any power or plug adaptors when visiting certain foreign countries. Although most conferences nowadays have charging stations, as the old adage goes, luck favours the prepared.

Peter-John Mitrovich of Grosvenor Tours offers some final tips for navigating an exhibition or trade show: “Build a strong network of relationships with service suppliers that you will work with, short and long term. Never sell what you have not physically experienced, or have verified through your trusted network of colleagues. Always treat your network with respect; it is the only way you will get the same respect in return. More importantly,

• •

• • • •

•

•

a speaker’s documents and papers during a presentation LOC: Local Organising Committee Media Event: A corporate event at which media are the primary guests, with the objective of generating press coverage of a company or its products MICE: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions NCB: National Convention Bureau PCO: Professional Conference Organiser PER: Post Event Report, detailing event history including number of attendees, no shows, total cost, etc.

Pre and Post-Show Tours: FAM Trips or Hosted Buyer trips that take place either prior to an event or after, often showing groups a particular city or region’s tourism attractions and offerings RFP: Request for Proposal

same hotel in 10 years’ time with whom you need to agree a special deal.”

Build a strong network of relationships with service suppliers that you will work with, short and long term.

Never sell what you have not physically experienced, or have verified through your trusted network of colleagues.

• ROI: Return on Investment • SME: Small and Mediumsized Enterprises • SOE: Schedule of Events • Seller/Exhibitor: The seller, as the name suggests, is looking to create business with hosted and other buyers at a trade show on the exhibition floor, through prescheduled meetings, etc.

• Trade Show Manual/Exhibition Catalogue: A guide published in conjunction with a trade show or event, designed to provide attendees with all event-related information such as show agenda, exhibitor list, show rules, floor plan, etc.

• VAT: Value Added Tax • Webinar: A presentation or seminar conducted over the internet with the use of video conferencing and other technology. - Source: Joburg Tourism

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CONFERENCING IN THE WILD

Mpongo Private Game Reserve

Premier Hotel The Winkler

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or a conference experience with a difference, why not escape the hustle of the city and head for a venue that offers the facilities of a world-class meeting space, but is situated in the heart of the wild? A change in view is key to revitalising your thought processes, and what could be more juxtaposed to a desk in your office, than Africa’s abundant wildlife metres from your chair? Add to this the decadence of sumptuous meals; unspoilt, rolling terrain; copious opportunities for adventure; and what do you get? A once-in-a-lifetime chance to throw off the shackles of the corporate world, and get your creative and intellectual juices flowing.

Mpongo Private Game Reserve

Premier Hotel The Winkler

Mpongo Private Game Reserve, operated

by Premier Hotels & Resorts, ticks these boxes and more. Situated in the malariafree province of the Eastern Cape, Mpongo offers true African hospitality in a region known for its magnificent wildlife, such as lions, hippos, elephants, giraffe, buffalo, and plentiful bird species. Conference delegates and other guests can be accommodated in luxury at one of Mpongo’s exquisite game lodges, each with spectacular views. Be sure to watch the hippos wallow in the watering hole as you dine on authentic African cuisine. One trip to Mpongo Private Game Reserve guarantees lifelong memories, and tunes you in to Africa’s heartbeat.

Premier Hotel The Winkler is situated only 20 minutes from the world-famous Kruger National Park, where nature in all its spectacular glory plays out its ancient rhythms without interference from modernity or man. The Winkler allows guests to be privy to Africa’s wildlife, in a setting that marries luxury with business. Emerge from one of the hotel’s 87 well-appointed rooms, and relax into a locale that exists to bring comfort and convenience to your conferencing experience.

When the business of the day is done, guests can explore attractions like the Blyde River Canyon, Sabie Waterfalls and Pilgrim’s Rest.

Mpongo Private Game Reserve Venue

U-Shaped

School Room

Cinema

Banquet

Area m2

Mvuba

39

72

100

80

122

Nyala

33

54

80

70

104

Indaba

25

30

50

–

40

Buffalo Lapa

–

–

–

80

–

School Room

Cinema

Banquet

Premier Hotel The Winkler Venue

U-Shaped

Boardroom 1

10 (Boardroom)

–

–

–

Boardroom 2

10 (Boardroom)

–

–

–

Heron 1

35

50

80

50

Heron 2

35

50

80

50

Heron 3

35

50

80

50

Heron (below combined)

250

250

300

250

Kagiso

14

20

30

16

Hoopoo

16

20

34

20

Themba

50

60

80

108

Boma

–

–

80

–

Contacts Mpongo Private Game Reserve Macleantown District, N6 National Road, East London, Eastern Cape.

PO Box 18143, Quigney, 5211 Tel: +27 (0)43 742 9000/2/4 Email: info@mpongo.com Premier Hotel The Winkler R538, Numbi Gate Rd, White River, Mpumalanga, 1240 Tel: +27 (0)13 750 7300 Email: thewinkler@premierhotels.co.za

With a choice of 16 properties and over 80 co situated in the mainstream of regional business and Premier Hotels & Resorts offers unbeatable s technology, flawless organisation and onsite a

H OT E L S & R E S O RT S INTERNATIONAL

Whether you stay with us for business, leisure o Premier Hotels & Resorts’ wide range of qu offers you the best of all worlds

Visit www.premierhotels.co.za for more

onference venues d leisure destinations, service, up-to-date accommodation.

or a family holiday, uality destinations s.

e information.

With a choice of 16 properties and over 80 conference venues situated in the mainstream of regional business and leisure destinations, Premier Hotels & Resorts offers unbeatable service, up-to-date technology, flawless organisation and onsite accommodation.

H OT E L S & R E S O RT S

Whether you stay with us for business, leisure or a family holiday, Premier Hotels & Resorts’ wide range of quality destinations offers you the best of all worlds.

INTERNATIONAL

Visit www.premierhotels.co.za for more information.

Cape Town | Knysna | East London | Port Edward | Pinetown Richards Bay | Drakensberg | White River | Pretoria | Midrand Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport Central Reservations 086 111 5555 | www.premierhotels.co.za @premier_hotels

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Exhibition: Malaysia © IT&CM China

IT&CM CHINA REVIEW The 3-day 10th IT&CM China 2016 came to a close with over 14 000 business appointments as well as more than 70 business, education and networking activities concluded. The event received overwhelming feedback from delegates who shared how they had benefitted from the various aspects of this year’s show.

F

irst-time exhibitor Penang State Tourism’s Penang State Minister YB Danny Law said, “Our debut here at IT&CM China has yielded us awareness among the buyer delegates.

People know of Malaysia as a country, but not so much about Penang. We were able to introduce Penang’s heritage, culture and developments at the show,” Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store, another new exhibitor at this year’s show also expressed satisfaction with the event. “IT&CM China is a highly effective platform, from its prescheduled appointment system to its onsite organisation. The quality of media and buyer delegates further enriches

the effectiveness of the show,” said Emily Lee, Project Manager, Inbound Business, Merchandising Strategy Promotion Unit, Merchandising and Channel Development Division.

For returning exhibitor Japan National Tourism Organization which has been with IT&CM China for three years, the excellent profile of the Chinese buyers that the show consistently delivers keeps them coming back. “IT&CM China delivers quality buyers from China, and that is the main reason why we return year after year.

This platform gives us a great opportunity to meet with Chinese buyers,” remarked Tatsunori Naoi, Assistant Manager.

The memorable Opening Ceremony

and Dinner event on the first day of IT&CM China which starred a walk-about food fair dining concept by Shanghai Marriott Parkview was a highlight for Valentina Mognoni, Sales Executive of HNA Hospitality Group. “The Opening Ceremony successfully married the different culinary experiences of multiple destinations in one location, enabling an impressive international gourmet showcase of flavours, culture and traditions. This had been an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to promote and create greater awareness and exposure on this platform.

On this momentous 10th anniversary, we wish IT&CM China many more successful years ahead,” said Mognoni.

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Education Forum © IT&CM China

Exhibition: Tangla © IT&CM China

Business Appointments © IT&CM China

Exhibition: Guilin © IT&CM China

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The Opening Ceremony successfully married the different culinary experiences of multiple destinations in one location, enabling an impressive international gourmet showcase of flavours, culture and traditions. This had been an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to promote and create greater awareness and exposure on this platform. On this momentous 10th anniversary, we wish IT&CM China many more successful years ahead.

First-time buyer S. Kumar, Senior Pricing Consulting from Dnata shared, “My experience at this show has been really positive, having already met with a variety of suppliers, hotels and DMCs here. I hope to be able to deepen my relationships with them, and work towards a lasting partnership.”

Another new buyer He Huixia, Euro & American Director of Hunan Huatian International Travel Service Co. Ltd, concurred, “I’m very impressed with the convenient pre-scheduled appointment system and online diary. The face-toface business appointments allowed buyers and sellers to have an intimate session, with targeted and timely

engagement and communication.”

Sichuan World Travel Service Co. Ltd’s General Manager Wu Yong Hui said of her fruitful experience at IT&CM China 2016, “We were looking for high-end travel and luxury travel suppliers and new ideas. At IT&CM China, I found suitable suppliers like Castle and Wine French DMC. I also interacted with many good buyers from all over the world, and mutually shared ideas as well as experiences on how to arrange high-end events and groups.”

The IT&CM China experience continues for 25 selected international and Chinese buyers as they embark on the event’s first-ever post-show tour to Kyushu, Japan, from 9 to 13 April. Sponsored and

hosted by Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau alongside Meetings Place Fukuoka, the fully-subscribed 5 Day 4 Night FAM Tour aimed at promoting Kyushu as Your Meeting Place. Itinerary highlights include the natural and heritage attractions, culinary delights, venue visits as well as meetings with participating CVBs across several Kyushu destinations.

He Hui, Office Director of Shaanxi Northwest General Aviation Association who is attending the post-show tour to Kyushu said, “The post-show tour is timely as I have not been to Japan before. This trip will allow me to know more about Kyushu and Japan, experience its culture, facilities, cuisine and hospitality.”

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All images © WTM Africa 2016

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET AFRICA 2016 It’s ‘this success makes three in a row’ as the curtain closes on this year’s WTM® Africa 2016.

I

“

am so impressed with quality of the buyers”, “Made great contacts for my business” “Exceeded my expectations totally” These are just some of the superlatives heard in the aisles of a very busy third and final day at the CTICC as WTM® Africa drew to a close. The three jam-packed days of pre-scheduled appointments and conference seminars

produced over 20% increase in visitors (figures not yet audited) in what, by all indications, was a very successful 3rd edition of Africa’s leading B2B travel and tourism trade exhibition. This result is a positive indication that WTM® Africa is the must-attend event and is continuing to grow at a phenomenal rate with widespread local, regional and international interest.

The Event team was there to witness WTM Africa’s success from beginning to end, and caught up with a very happy exhibitor, Wakanow.com. The online travel portal launched a new platform called DestinationsAfrica, which is focused solely on African holidays. Says Ekezie: “We’ve been able to consolidate different African destinations and it also comes with a travel

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David Frost, CEO of SATSA, an association partner, had this to say about the partnership: “WTM Africa has been incredibly supportive of SATSA, and it is a partnership that goes from strength to strength.”

Stand awards were announced for those exhibitors whose efforts stood out in the form of their exhibition stand.

Congratulations to the following winners: • Most Responsible Stand: Fair Trade Tourism • Best Stand Innovation: Hotelbeds • Best Stand Personnel: Hotel Verde • Best Stand Feature: Incredible India • Best Stand for Doing Business: Dubai Department of Tourism • Best Stand Design: Maldives

show that will be showcased on Ebonylife TV on DStv. We expect to screen that across other markets like the UK, the US, etc. Our main objective is to showcase Africa in a different light. Most of the images about Africa have been about war and poverty and strife, but Africa has tremendous tourism destinations,” says Founder and Managing Director Obinna Ekezie.

He explains that it wasn’t easy to consolidate all the incredible tourism opportunities across the continent, but now that it’s been achieved, “we expect that it’s going to be a global site and people that are interested in coming to Africa would come and find it useful.” Wakanow offers a range of packages and through the DestinationsAfrica platform, they will also offer on-the-ground services, from pick-ups to activities. “We want to make sure that the experience for the customer is world class, and we provide

this service end to end,” Ekezie says.

Some exhibitors have already booked their spaces for next year’s event taking place at the CTICC 19-21 April 2017. Alan Fogarty, from Alan Tours said: “the organisation of this show has been fantastic; I have had back-to-back quality meetings and business is great.” Alan Tours has already signed up for next year’s WTM® Africa.

There was no slowing down on the last day with the event programme delivering really great content for all to benefit from including the generation gap seminar, the experiential travel presentation, a seminar explaining how attendees could measure their digital marketing, and the responsible tourism panel discussions lead by Prof Harold Goodwin, Professor of Responsible Tourism at Manchester Metropolitan University and Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism.

“It has been a remarkable three days in which we have seen the best of WTM® Africa in action. Simply, we aim to deliver a quality event that facilitates real opportunities for business growth. It is satisfying to achieve these objectives, and exceed expectations.

The 2016 show, had over 600 exhibitors, showcasing our continuous annual growth.

WTM® Africa has come of age, and we will continue striving to meet the needs of our travel and tourism partners to deliver an annual event that is even more relevant, topical and productive. This is the largest show we have had to date, with quality participation surpassing our predictions.

I cannot wait for the 2017 show, where WTM® Africa will continue to grow as the leading B2B travel trade exhibition on the continent” said Chardonnay Marchesi, General Manager of Africa Travel Week.

WTM Africa 2016, is proud to have partnered this year with; the Host City of Cape Town, , Gauteng Tourism Authority, Hylton Ross, South African Airways, Travel Massive, Beluga, One World, Tsogo Sun, Turkish Airlines, Pepperclub Hotel & Spa, One&Only, BMW, Caffeluxe and the Quirio.

“WTM® Africa is unique in its brand, as it has added the responsible element to their trade show; to help save our planet” explained Grant Fowlds, from Rhino Art, a charity partner of WTM® Africa. Rhino Art is conservation Awareness programme for the Youth of the World which aims to gather the largest number of children’s ‘Art Voices’ ever recorded to fight the war against poaching.

Save the date for WTM® Africa 2017: 19-21 April.

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© Scan Display

TEN TIPS FOR EASY (AND SUCCESSFUL) EXHIBITING In a busy marketplace, a face-to-face meeting with a potential client can be priceless.

Exhibitions offer remarkable opportunities to meet with new clients and market your products or services. The question is, how do you make sure your exhibiting experience is both easy and successful? Justin Hawes, Managing Director of Scan Display, simplifies the process in these ten easy tips.

1. Choose the right show It’s easy to just pick a show and say “let’s do it”, but it’s much harder to make sure it’s the right show for your business. Take a look at what the show’s objectives are: who is visiting the show, who else will be

exhibiting, and are the dates right for you.

“There’s little point in booking an exhibition stand during your peak business period in the year,” advises Hawes. “Make certain you will have the capacity and the resources to dedicate to the chosen

exhibition before booking your space.”

Hawes stresses the importance of looking at an exhibition’s statistics from the previous year to get a feel for how busy the show will be, and if possible, a breakdown of the visitor profile.

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2. Determine your objectives After selecting your exhibition, Hawes recommends narrowing down your objectives for your time at the exhibition. “If you don’t have focus, you could end up wasting precious time (and money) or concentrating on the wrong things,” says Hawes.

Decide what it is you want to get out of the exhibition and narrow it down even further to create clear objectives.

Do you want to attract new clients, build brand awareness, launch a new product, enhance your image as a company, drive sales or find new suppliers and recruits?

3. Start early By getting a head start on booking and building your exhibition stand, you’re not only more likely to benefit from better rates, but also have a clearer idea of what needs to be done beforehand. Leaving everything to the last minute will probably result in your not being able to secure what you need for your stand to look and function at its best.

4. Select the right exhibition contractor When looking for the perfect contractor to build your exhibition stand, Hawes advises three points: Don’t contact too many; choose local; and don’t select somebody who subcontracts.

“By getting too many quotes from contractors, you’ll end up confusing yourself and trying to compare quotes that may not be comparable. Stick to three contractors for quotes and choose from that small pool,” says Hawes.

By choosing a local contractor, your business not only supports local economy,

Make sure to keep a lead generation book at the stand to capture requirements and contact details from the visitors. This makes following up after the event easier, allowing you to target each lead in a proactive manner.

If your stand has the ability to draw people, allowing your staff to connect with them in a fun way, then that’s half the battle won. but it means that somebody will be nearby should something go wrong. “You don’t want to be stuck for hours trying to sort out an audiovisual problem while losing business on your stand, as you wait for a technician to come to site.”

Similarly, choosing a contractor that doesn’t subcontract will ensure your supplier is able to help out with any issues a lot faster than waiting for another contractor to arrive on site.

If you wish to decrease costs in the long term, it’s advisable to work with a contractor who can suggest reusable elements for future shows.

5. Staffing is critical It is absolutely essential that your staff members on the stand are the right fit. Each member of the team on your exhibition stand must be aware of and understand the objectives you have set out for the exhibition. A staff roster detailing shifts and breaks is important to make sure there is always somebody in attendance.

“It’s imperative that each member of staff on your stand has been trained to deal with any likely queries that may be directed to them, so they feel equipped to answer confidently,” says Hawes.

A team leader or even a top member of management should also be present at all times during very important shows.

Clients like to know they’re dealing with the correct people at an exhibition.

6. Make your stand interesting If you want to stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to make sure your stand is different both in how it looks and how it engages exhibition visitors, advises Hawes.

“If your stand has the ability to draw people, allowing your staff to connect with them in a fun way, then that’s half the battle won.”

Include social media elements, or something fun such as a photo booth,

25

coffee or ice cream bar, or a competition that involves collecting contact details. This will make it easier for your staff to connect with people who visit the stand and make your business a talking point for visitors.

7. Take a walk During the quieter moments on a show, make sure to get off the stand and take a walk around your selected exhibition.

This will give you the chance to evaluate what your competitors are doing on their own stands, as well as get ideas for future exhibitions. You may also find some new suppliers along the way!

8. Follow up fast After you’ve packed up your stand and headed back to the office, it’s important to follow up with all the leads that were generated at the event, advises Hawes. “Make sure to keep a lead generation book at the stand to capture requirements and contact details from the visitors. This makes following up after the event easier, allowing you to target each lead in a proactive manner.”

9. Analyse the exhibition After an exhibition, you need to establish whether it was worthwhile for your business. Go back and take a look at your initial objectives for the exhibition and, as a starting point, examine whether those were achieved.

Once you’ve determined whether your objectives were met, it’s important to also evaluate what went right, or wrong, at the exhibition. A short analysis will help you make better decisions for your next exhibition, and will shorten the planning process too.

10. Time to experiment Once you have a clear idea of what went right for you, and what could be improved upon, it’s time to get creative. Look for ways to improve on what went wrong, and how to make good ideas even better in future.

“Take a look at changing the layout of your stand, or selecting a different area in an exhibition hall. Perhaps the show didn’t attract the right audience for your objective. In this case re-think your objective for the next show, look to other shows or try your hand at something new like mall activations,” concludes Hawes.

26

TECH TALK

www.theevent.co.za

MEETINGS OF THE FUTURE Each month Kim Crowie explores new technological advances in the business-events industry. This Tech Talk, we delve into what meetings will look like in the future.

I

received a very interesting email from IACC Meeting Room of the Future recently. The International Association of Conference Centres’ new initiative published their first research in a bid to improve meeting dynamics through a global collaboration of leaders in conference room design, audiovisual technology, hospitality, academia and conference management. The global survey results were unveiled at IACC America’s Connect in New York City mid-April.

“While the overall objectives and goals of meetings have generally remained constant, there are clear indicators that the adoption and use of technology, the physical design of meeting space and the emphasis on experience creation will be increasingly important,” says Mark Cooper, IACC CEO. Here are some of the research highlights.

1. Rapid Change is Afoot The report underlines that the meetings industry is transitioning at a rapid pace. As this industry landscape continues to evolve and expand, planners will need to continually evaluate all elements of the meeting experience. This will ensure they provide the most relevant environments to foster collaboration, ideas exchange and relationship building.

2. Creating Experiences 75% of responding meeting planners report that their current role involves more ‘experience creation’ compared with two to five years ago. This is a bit of a no-brainer. We as consumers continually look towards meaningful

The top three technologies implemented at meetings in the past five years are conference apps, social media campaigns and audience participation apps.

experiences across the board these days, so why should our meetings be any different? When implementing this practically, it should be dealt with from a holistic perspective.

3. Interactivity Galore Over 77% of respondents report access to interactive technologies like audience participation and collaborative communication platforms are more important now that in the last several years. As more and more Millennials take to the business-events industry, I predict this trend will continue to grow. It’s already seen through social walls, smartphone tech like Beacon, and eventing apps to improve interaction between attendees as well as staff. In fact, much the same way as crowdfunding has become a platform for interaction prior to a film or project being released, more and more delegates of the future will want to have a say in how the events they enjoy are produced.

4. Flexibility is King 47% report the importance of flexible meeting space. this is actually the most important element for choosing a venue, followed by access to interactive technology and networking spaces adjacent to the meeting or event space.

Although meeting planners predict

an increased emphasis on select venue elements, access to interactive technology is projected to surpass flexible space in coming years.

5. Communication and Connections Technology is slowly but surely becoming of critical importance when selecting a venue. Planners have reported an increasing percentage of budgets being devoted to securing and implementing new technologies. Now and well into the future, IACC predicts venues to have enough bandwidth to accommodate all their delegates’ technological communication needs.

The top three technologies implemented at meetings in the past five years are conference apps, social media campaigns and audience participation apps. According to the report, Generation X’ers were the most likely to implement new technologies with 82% of this demographic reporting the introduction of these technologies into their events.

Jeff Loether, MD of Electro-Media Design notes, “The best investment for venues is in infrastructure to handle any flavour of interactive technologies requested by event planners.”

To download and read the full report, visit www.iacconline.org.

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BUSINESS EVENTS MADE EASY

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Elephants at Mole park ©Stig Nygaard

GHANA An atypical African business experience with historical sites, scenic vistas and innate African traditions – by Imogen Campbell.

G

hana, located in Sub-Saharan West Africa, is slightly smaller than Ecuador. It is bordered by Cote d’ Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso and Gulf of Guinea. It is considered safe and relatively prosperous; it doesn’t have landmark tourism sites, but it offers an atypical African experience to the intrepid business traveller. Its business hub and capital is Accra, where the distinctive and soughtafter Kente cloth is easily sourced.

The country boasts scenic vistas like that of the lush Volta Region, beaches, historic castles, some wildlife in its reserves and national parks, though not known as a safari destination as counterparts in East and Southern Africa. Mole National Park is the largest game reserve and where one can expect sightings of baboons, antelope, buffalo and warthogs and is the only Ghanaian location where elephant sightings are possible. Lake Bosumtwi is said to be a lake formed from the largest

meteorite impact in Africa, whilst Lake Volta, is the largest man-made lake by surface area worldwide. Oddly enough, the country also has more than 1 000 species of butterflies – North American and European figures combined.

Key venues:

Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra Situated in Accra’s central business district, this five-star hotel boasts top-notch business and conference facilities. They have five meeting rooms with a capacity to host 650 delegates. The Ballroom, which can be suitably configured, accommodates 480 guests in a banquet-style and 750 delegates in a cocktail seating arrangement.

The Accra International Conference Centre Constructed in 1991, it was built to host the Tenth Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement. Used for large events, it has hosted major conferences and summits by UN organisations.The capacity for the centre is as follows: •

6 000 delegates,

•

Six conference halls,

•

Main conference hall accommodates 1 600 people.

•

Two committee halls accommodate 205 persons each

•

Three meeting halls accommodating about 50 persons each.

Lake Bosumtwi is said to be a lake formed from the largest meteorite impact in Africa, whilst Lake Volta, is the largest manmade lake by surface area worldwide.

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Airlines and major airports The major airlines in Ghana are Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Kumasi Airport and Tamale Airport. The major airlines operating in Ghana are as follows: • • • • • • • • • •

South African Airways Emirates British Airways Ethopian Airways KLM Royal Dutch Arik Airways Turkish Airlines Kenya Airways RwandaAir EgyptAir

Kakum National Forest’s Canopy Walk ©Stig Nygaard

Currency The official currency is the Ghanian Cedi and the exchange rate against major currencies on 20 April 2016 is as follows: Major Currencies 1 ZAR (Rand) 1 US dollar 1 GBP 1 Euro

Ghanian Cedi 0.27 3.83 5.52 4.35

Population

© The Accra International Conference Centre

26,327,649 - World Factbook

Pre and post tours

carpenters of Ga produce stupendous

The Kakum National Park, comprising a

coffins shaped to suit the departed;

coastal forest, is home to Africa’s only

Porsches, sport shoes and pens are

rainforest canopy walkway. This, its main

common. The Ashanti kingdom is home to the largest ethnic group in Ghana as well as its second largest city, Kumasi.

The city hosts the popular, largest outdoor market in Africa, Kejetia Market.

attraction, is made up of six tree platforms that reach the height of 30 metres above the forest floor. Discover all things chocolate in a country that even has a National Chocolate Day (14 February).

Cape Coast Castle commemorating

Contact

the slave trade in West Africa on

Ghana Tourism Authority

the Atlantic Ocean is a sombre, but

Tel: (233) 302 222153/244794 Email: info@ghana.travel Website: www.ghana.travel

informative visit. For the macabre, secure a visit to Teshie where the renowned

Climate The climate is tropical, although mild for the latitude and with climatic variations across the country. An interesting phenomenon is the harmattan, a wind blowing in December and January, from the Sahara Desert into the Gulf of Guinea.

29

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BUSINESS EVENTS MADE EASY

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The Palace

NORTH WEST PROVINCE An unconventional destination sprinkled with adventure, entertainment, wildlife and endowed with minerals and amazing weather – by Imogen Campbell.

A

ptly named, the North West Province is nestled between Botswana and South African provinces Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo and Northern Cape. Its southernmost part forms part of the Kalahari Desert and it is a relatively flat province filled with grassland and speckled with trees.

It also boasts the magical Magaliesberg Mountain range with scenic waterfalls and ravines. Its capital is Mahikeng, however, Rustenberg, Klerksdorp and Vryburg are the main economic hubs whilst Potschefstroom is the academic centre.

It is known as the “Platinum Province” due to its production of more than 80% of the world’s platinum. It also produces 25% of South Africa’s gold. It is a vital breadbasket and a valuable cattle region in the country. It is renowned for game reserves featuring the Big Five and the

world-famous Sun City Entertainment Complex within its confines. Experience the cultures of the people at the Lesedi Cultural Village or visit its two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Vredefort Dome and the Taung hominid fossil site, part of the Cradle of Humankind.

reflects an African theme. The major conference venues are Protea I and II, as well as the Orchid I and II, which can each accommodate 80 people theatre style. All meeting rooms open onto the Elephant Atrium featuring the bronze sculpture known as Shawu.

Key Venues:

Sun City Hotel Conference Centre It is situated on the main floor. The Baobab room has a capacity of 450 people. The Acacia and Jacaranda individually can accommodate a minimum of 80 guests.

Sun City Resort Palace of the Lost City This opulent venue is elegant and

Its southern-most part forms part of the Kalahari Desert and it is a relatively flat province filled with grassland and speckled with trees.

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The Lost City Convention Centre It is situated in the Entertainment Centre and comprises the following major venues and capacities: The Lost City Convention Centre Venue

Theatre

Classroom

U-Shape

Pilansberg (A and B)

1 200

550

140

Royal Ballroom

1 100

750

180

Climate The weather in the region is characterised by hot summers accompanied by cool, but sunny winters. Rainfall occurs in the summer months.

Safari Lodge - Hotel & Convention Centre Located in the mining town of Rustenburg, it is also in close proximity to Gauteng and one of the few hotel and full service convention centres in the surrounds.

It is incredibly flexible allowing a number of configurations to suit a specific event, from a conference to product launch. Major venues and capacities include: Safari Lodge - Hotel & Convention Centre Venue

Theatre

U-Shape

Classroom

Banquet

Thaba (1 and 2)

150

120

120

150

Kagiso 1

200

150

150

100

Kagiso 2

200

150

150

100

Kagiso Centre (1 and 2)

500

300

300

320

Pre-and Post Tours The game reserve, Pilanesberg National Park, is in fact a provincial park and like its counterpart the Madikwe Game Reserve, had formerly been farmland.

After redevelopment, they now function successfully as malaria-free game reserves.

Besides the attractions of the Palace of the Lost City, Valley of the Waves water theme park and Superbowl venue, Sun City Resort also hosts two fantastic golf courses for the golfing enthusiasts: the Gary Player Country Club hosting the annual Nedbank Golf

Lesedi Cultural Village

Challenge and the Lost City Golf Course with its ominous thirteenth hole water hole housing to 30 Nile crocodiles.

Hartbeespoort is a town in the eastern corner of the North West province on the border with Gauteng.

The Hartbeespoort Dam is popular with locals and neighbouring Gauteng residents to enjoy water and recreation activities, including the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway and abseiling. For a heightened experience, enjoy a hot air balloon trip.

31

Airlines and major airports: SA Express operates flights into both Pilanesberg and Mafikeng Airports. SA Airlink operates in Mafikeng. Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg is an hour and half’s drive away.

Getting around the city

Car hire companies operate services in the province and most can be booked online. The province has introduced a mobile app, Bokone Bophirima Tour app for tourists which provides relevant information.

Contact The North West Parks and Tourism Board Tel: +27(0)18 397 1500 Email: info@tourismnorthwest.co.za Website: www.tourismnorthwest.co.za

Lion at the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve

32

EVENTS TO DIARISE

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MAY

JUNE

INDABA 7-9 DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

SAACI CONGRESS 5-7 MANGAUNG, SOUTH AFRICA

SIGN AFRICA CAPE TOWN 11 - 12 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

ATF INTERNATIONAL APPAREL, TEXTILE AND FOOTWARE TRADE EVENT 7-9 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

AFRICA PRINT 11 - 12 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA AFRICAN UTILITY WEEK AND CLEAN POWER AFRICA 17 - 19 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA EAST AFRICA COM 18 - 19 NAIROBI, KENYA CHINA TRADE WEEK 18 - 20 DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA SECUREX 2016 24 - 26 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA A-OSH EXPO 24 - 26 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA AUTOMECHANIKA 31 - 3 JUNE JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

AUTOEXPO AFRICA 2016 10 - 12 NAIROBI, KENYA OIL & GAS AFRICA – EAST AFRICA 10 - 12 NAIROBI, KENYA NIGERIA OIL & GAS CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 13 - 16 ABUJA, NIGERIA IBTM AMERICA 15 - 17 NASHVILLE, USA KENYA INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXHIBITION 16 - 18 NAIROBI, KENYA AFRICA’S BIG SEVEN 2016 19 - 21 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA RETAIL SOLUTIONS AFRICA 2016 19 - 21 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

AGRIBUSINESS TRADESHOW & CONFERENCE 27 - 28 ABUJA, NIGERIA AFRICA RAIL 28 - 29 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA SIGN AFRICA NELSPRUIT 29 NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA AFRICA PRINT-NELSPRUIT 29 NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA SABC EDUCATION AFRICAN EDUWEEK 2016 29 - 30 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

JULY AIPC ANNUAL CONGRESS 3-6 NANTES, FRANCE MARKEX 2016 6 - 7 JULY JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA THE MONEY EXPO 2016 8-9 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA OIL & GAS AFRICA 13 - 15 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA POWER-GEN AFRICA 19 - 21 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

EVENTS TO DIARISE

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ANNUAL TELECOM CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, LOYALTY AND RETENTION SUMMIT 4-5 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA FUN & BIZ AFRICA 5-7 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 100% DESIGN SOUTH AFRICA 5-9 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA INTERBUILD AFRICA 2016 17 - 20 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA THE COMMERCIAL UAV SHOW AFRICA 2016 23 - 24 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

SEPTEMBER EYE FOCUS AFRICA 6-8 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA IBTM CHINA 7-8 BEIJING, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IBTM LATIN AMERICA 7-8 CIUDAD DE MEXICO, MEXICO SIGN AFRICA & FESPA AFRICA 7-9 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP & FRANCHISE EXPO 8 - 11 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

NOVEMBER

ELECTRA MINING AFRICA 12 - 16 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

WATER AFRICA AND WEST AFRICA BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION NIGERIA 2016 8 - 10 ABUJA, NIGERIA

FOOD & DRINK TECHNOLOGY AFRICA 2016 14 - 15 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

UFI CONGRESS 9 - 12 SHANGHAI, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

MICE ASIA 23 - 24 SINGAPORE CITY, REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

55TH ICCA CONGRESS 13 - 16 KUCHING, MALAYSIA

OCTOBER THE DIGITAL EDUCATION SHOW AFRICA 4-5 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA AFRICA AIR EXPO 12 - 14 ACCRA, GHANA IMEX AMERICA 18 - 20 LAS VEGAS, USA AFRICA OIL WEEK/ AFRICA UPSTREAM CONFERENCE 31 - 4 NOVEMBER CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

12TH TANZANIA TRADE SHOW 2016 24 - 27 DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA ibtm world 2016 29 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER BARCELONA, SPAIN

© Dmitrii Vaccinium

AUGUST

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34

ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

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EXSA – THE EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS AND CONVENTION ASSOCIATION (ICCA)

SOUTHERN AFRICA TOURISM SERVICES ASSOCIATION (SATSA)

The Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa’s (EXSA) core strategy is to actively grow and develop the exhibition and events industry within Southern Africa.

The Association strives to increase the significance of exhibitions and events as part of the marketing mix.

Face-to-Face is simply better. This is achieved through promoting the unique benefits offered by exhibitions and events and raising the profile of our members who comprise of venues, organisers and suppliers/services.

Hosting exhibitions enables South Africa to develop and showcase advances in both trade and technology, to create new networking and business opportunities and therefore create more jobs and open the doors for direct investment. Business tourism provides positive publicity for the country, as well as high levels of return both for more business and leisure travel. A business tourist will come back for sure with their family! Domestic exhibitions prove equally popular.

With world-class exhibitions centres, high-tech convention centres, beautiful ballrooms scaling down to quiet, serene meeting rooms there is a venue in South Africa for everyone and every event.

Visit the EXSA website www.exsa. co.za and use an EXSA member for all your exhibition and event needs.

ICCA highlights the global nature of association meetings industry on Global Meetings Industry Day ICCA’s worldwide membership facilitated the effort to create a global campaign on Global Meetings Industry Day. They raised awareness that the campaign needs to have local roots in order to succeed in every market. ICCA, therefore, introduced a campaign to identify “Meetings Mean Business” equivalent slogans in every language used by its members.

ICCA CEO Martin Sirk, explained that “Meetings Mean Business” is a good English slogan, but loses impact and meaning in translation.

To combat this and ensure that it retains impact, ICCA members created slogans in their respective languages that were hard-hitting in their region and reflected the requisite nuances.

Meanwhile, it also announced a record number of association meetings in 2015. It had collected information of almost 12 000 international association meetings.

The ICCA Association Database now includes 220 000 meetings, 20 000 regularly occurring meeting series and 11 500 international associations.

The Kenya Tourism Board invited South African-based SATSA members who specialise in outbound sports and adventure tourism to a free training workshop in May 2016.

The aim of the workshop serves to educate sales team delegates on the sport and adventure tourism activities Magical Kenya has to offer. It would thus enable them to start selling packages to customers and club members.

Space is limited to 60 delegates in Johannesburg, 30 for Bloemfontein, 40 for Port Elizabeth and 60 in Cape Town.

Dates are as follows: 3 May – Johannesburg / Pretoria 4 May – Bloemfontein 5 May – Port Elizabeth 6 May – Cape Town

ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

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IACC UNDERGOES RE-BRANDING AND LAUNCHES A NEW LOGO

A new Venues Forum representative has been appointed to the SAACI Board: Rudi van der Vyver is currently the National Sales Manager of Orion Hotels and serves on the group’s executive committee. With 10 years’ extensive and diversified experience, coupled with broad training foundation and an exemplary career at leading organisations.

The IACC is the only global association to represent small to medium-sized meetings-focused venues and has experienced phenomenal growth in membership and global reach. It has identified that a brand update is required in order effectively represent 378 members in 22 countries.

Member venues include conference centres, seminar houses, day meeting venues, corporate universities and meetings-focused hotels and resorts.

After extensive research with members and industry stakeholders across four continents, its new brand incorporated the needs of a dynamic, albeit shifting market place, while leveraging the brand equity built over 35 years. It therefore created a set of brand pillars, which are aligned with its core values.

Additionally, the association will no longer refer to itself as the International Association of

Conference Centres, but will simply be referred to as IACC. The new logo is designed to reflect a sense of symmetry, while the four symbols represent the four brand pillars critical to the IACC experience.

EXHIBITION INDUSTRY TO HIT NEW PEAK IN 2018 The Centre for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)’s 2016 CEIR Index Report predicted a new peak for the global exhibition industry in 2018. The Index analysed the 2015 exhibition industry and anticipated the outlook for the next three years.

The US economy showed important signs of strength in 2015, despite initial pessimism. The growth was led by personal consumption and residential construction and offset by the deterioration of energy development and net exports resulting in a real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 2.4%.

CEIR’s current projections show that they expect 2016 to be the same or slightly weaker, but then will accelerate in 2018. The report proposed that GDP will be sustained by consumer and private business sectors; government contributions to growth will be small in the near future.

CEIR economist, Allen Shaw, who is also the chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates noted that economic and job growth should continue to drive expansion in the exhibition industry. The report showed that growth is expected to accelerate to 2.7% in 2017 and 3% in 2018. This performance represents: 1. The fastest sustained growth in the history of the CEIR Index, 2. By 2018, the total index of the overall exhibition industry is expected to climb above its previous peak in 2007 by about 3.5%.

A forecast update of the CEIR Index will be presented at the CEIR Predict Conference on 14 – 15 September 2016.

Pexels © Daniel Nanescu

SAACI APPOINTS VENUE FORUM BOARD REPRESENTATIVE

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EXSA

SAACI

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CONTACTS Cover Image: Mpongo Private Game Reserve, Courtesy of Premier Hotels & Resorts Publisher: Lance Gibbons lance@filmeventmedia.co.za Executive Editor: Katie Reynolds-Da Silva katie@filmeventmedia.co.za Head of Design: Sheree Steenkamp sheree@filmeventmedia.co.za Writer: Kim Crowie kim@filmeventmedia.co.za Assistant Designer / Illustrator: Lauren Smith lauren@filmeventmedia.co.za Editorial Assistant: Imogen Campbell info@filmeventmedia.co.za Sales Manager: Coleen Tapson coleen@filmeventmedia.co.za Brand Manager: Rhoda Farrant rhoda@filmeventmedia.co.za Production and Traffic Manager: Nazeera Hartley Roach nazeera@filmeventmedia.co.za Production and Traffic Co-ordinator: Basheera Hartley bash@filmeventmedia.co.za 57 2nd Avenue, Harfield Village, Claremont, 7708, Cape Town, South Africa Tel: +27 21 674 0646

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B I G IDEAS NEED A BIG CANVAS When you need to express yourself, you don’t want constraints.

Expo Centre Johannesburg has all the space you’ll ever need.

With over 50 000m² under cover and another 100 000m² outdoors, we can create any size exhibition, event, conference or function.

Call us and let’s put down some ideas.

@jhbexpocentre1

Johannesburg Expo Centre Nasrec

Johannesburg Expo Centre

Johannesburg Expo Centre

Johannesburg Expo Centre

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MEETING your Demands.

EXCEEDING your Expectations.

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