The Event Issue 12

Issue 12 | 2018

+ 2019 OUTLOOK

Lessons Learned and Future Insights

+ HIDDEN GEMS

Undiscovered Worlds Lie within South Africa’s Borders

BRING YOUR BRAND TO

LIFE AT SOUTHERN AFRICA’S LARGEST FULLY-CONTAINED EXHIBITION, CONFERENCE OVER Over AND EVENTS 100 100 000M2 000m OUTDOOR outdoor VENUE SPACE space

Over OVER 2 50 000m 000M2 50 INDOOR indoor SPACE space

24-HOUR SECURITY

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CONTEMPORARY CONFERENCE FACILITIES REGISTERED HELICOPTER LANDING SITE

30 MIN TO ALL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS EASE OF ACCESS

20 000 SECURE PARKING BAYS

5-STAR CATERING

CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HOTELS

CONTENTS

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01

02.

Ian Cawood Remembered

03.

UFI Releases Results on Women in Industry

LESSONS WE TAKE INTO 2019 Industry stakeholders share the lessons they have learned and their outlook for the future.

04.

Wesgro Launches ‘Nowhere Does It Better’

06.

Industry Snapshot

08.

Lessons We Take into 2019

12.

IBTM World Breaks Its Appointment Record

UNDISCOVERED WORLDS

13.

Some of the most beautiful hidden gems lie within South Africa’s borders.

14.

18.

AIRPORT HOTELS Fancy a conference with your flight? Convenience is king in this part of the industry.

THE LEGACY OF BUSINESS EVENTS An in-depth look at the MBA World Summit. In conjunction with the SANCB and The Iceberg.

22.

24.

POPI: What You Need to Know

Undiscovered Worlds within Our Borders

Fancy a Conference with Your Flight?

PCO Rounds Unpacked

Beyond Tourism: The Legacy of Business Events

27.

Event Trends for 2019

28.

Events to Diarise

30.

Association News

32.

Directory of Advertisers

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NEWS

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IAN CAWOOD REMEMBERED Industry stalwart Ian Cawood tragically passed away on 27 October of this year.

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awood had a 15+ year history in the event and live production industry across Africa, spent three years in property and structured finance, and two in the start-up ecosystem. Most recently, he was the Founder and CEO of Rainbow Chess, and MD at AV Alliance.

Fellow colleague and friend of 14 years, Kurt Johnson shares some heartfelt thoughts on his passing.

“Cawood…The last couple of days have been bitter sweet. I’ve gone through a whole host of emotions; anger, sadness and joy. Angry because you are such an asshole for going so soon! Sad that my brother is no longer here, and pure joy as I’m reflecting on our journey.

“I don’t know if anyone will truly understand the bond we shared. I can hear you saying, ‘Johnson, ABC,

Always be closing’. I have been in a truly great relationship with you. The pain that you caused me was the pain I needed to survive to learn to be happy.

“I always wanted you to find happiness, to find joy, to find fulfilment, but I guess some of us are just born with souls that struggle to find peace in this world. So I guess, in the end, you needed to find peace in another place. Rest well my brother!”

Says Jaco Swanepoel, “There will and always be just one Ian Cawood. Thank you for all the work and opportunities you have created, thank you for always taking a phone call, thank you for being you!”

The Event would like to extend our deepest condolences to his friends, family and colleagues as they mourn.

EXHIBITION OF EXHIBITIONS

SET FOR SUCCESS

AAXO’s third annual EoE will take place on 30-31 January 2019.

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he Exhibition of Exhibitions in 2018 drew crowds from across Africa to display exhibitions for the year that was, creative stand designs, latest exhibition technology, and world-class training for exhibitors, organisers and suppliers. Visitors experienced, learned and networked with the industry’s best.

In 2019, the event will attract organisers, suppliers, service companies, venues, marketing agents, creatives

and various other professionals.

AAXO is 80% booked for the upcoming EoE, which is set to take place on 30-31 January 2019 at the Blue Wing Conference and Events Venue, Ticketpro Dome.

AAXO ROAR Awards will take place at the Montecasino on 31 January. The awards acknowledge and recognise excellence in exhibition organisation. All entries will be judged on their successful exhibition strategy, and incorporates marketing, public relations, operations and activation.

Sponsors include Expo Guys, Pasco Packaging, ZF Cleaning Services, Alliance Safety, TwoWay Exhibitions & Events, Blue Wing Conference and Events Venue, Ticketpro Dome, Standscape Online, Seriti Security Services, Altor Medical Services, GR Plants, Decor 4 Hire, Screencom, Tis Expos, ChargePro, and Necta.

For more info on the ROAR Awards or the EoE, contact wesley@aaxo.co.za, aaxo@aaxo.co.za or call +27 11 835 1565

NEWS

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UFI RELEASES RESULTS ON WOMEN IN INDUSTRY

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the results of its Women in the Exhibitions Industry research at the 85th UFI Global Congress in St Petersburg in Russia.

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he study is a joint project between UFI and its media partner m+a, providing insights into the perception of women and men’s skills in the workplace, the potential for advancement for women within the industry, and details of the different female career drivers.

According to the results, a staggering 82% of over 200 global respondentsmostly women-highly appreciate working in the exhibition industry.

Despite being identified as having soft skills such as communication and empathy, as well as strong organisational skills, women still lagged behind men when it came to networking. More than half the female respondents did not feel treated equally when it comes to salary and career opportunities, and over one third felt they are held back from having more responsibility.

According to respondents, the industry would benefit from more female leaders and 61% already see active support for women – although 49% think quotas are the way to go.

Everyone went the extra mile and worked together with our team as ‘partners’ to ensure the success of our Annual Congress event.

Amanda Stops

CEO South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC)

According to the results, a staggering 82% of over 200 global respondents-mostly women-highly appreciate working in the exhibition industry.

“Women clearly make up the majority of the workforce in the trade fair industry, but they only represent a minority of the leadership. Both men and women agree that women can deliver diversity with a more creative approach when it comes

to solving problems, helping the industry to prosper,” says Dr. Gwen Kaufmann from Deutscher Fachverlag (Germany), who led the project.

UFI will continue to work on this topic in the coming year. The full results can be downloaded at www.ufi.org/research.

Nestling in the shadow of the majestic Table Mountain, and overlooking the spectacular Atlantic Ocean, the CTICC is a magical place where the imagined becomes real, visions turn into strategies, consumers become customers, and strangers from across the globe become colleagues, partners and friends.

So much more than a multi-purpose event destination, this African icon combines expansive venues, impeccable service, cutting-edge technology and the finest global cuisine, to transform your convention, conference, exhibition, banquet or meeting into an extraordinary experience.

For more information, or to book your event at the CTICC, call +27 21 410 5000, email sales@cticc.co.za or visit www.cticc.co.za.

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NEWS

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WESGRO LAUNCHES

‘NOWHERE DOES IT BETTER’

Cape Town and the Western Cape have launched a recovery plan to the drought with the ‘Nowhere Does It Better’ campaign.

Three of the white label campaign ads for #nowherebetter

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ape Town will always remain an iconic global destination, says SA Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona. “Through the difficult times over the last 18 months, we have displayed resilience and a willingness to challenge ourselves in coming up with innovative solutions to address the drought.”

To this end, Wesgro’s Destination Marketing Unit launched the #NowhereBetter campaign in midNovember. After significant negative messaging, the local tourism industry received a blow and international arrivals declined in 2018 when compared with the previous year. Government and key tourism stakeholders came together in an historic first to devise a plan to put the province back on the international tourism consideration list.

Showcasing the breadth and depth

of various activities within the Western Cape and the proximity these are to one another, the globally focused, white label marketing campaign is comprised of compelling videos showcasing the extraordinary offering in the destination.

Says Judy Lain, Wesgro’s Chief Marketing Officer for Tourism: “The purpose of this campaign is to re-ignite people’s passion in the destination.

We need to go back to basics and remind people why we are great and why they need to come and visit us!”

The recovery plan is not a ‘silver bullet’ solution to a complicated problem, but it is an active response and hopes to create a meaningful impact.

Industry stakeholders can download the complimentary marketing assets from www.nowherebetter-campaign.com, while interested visitors get an overview of the destination at www.nowherebetter.co.za.

“Tourism is a vital sector in the Western Cape economy, sustaining over 300 000 direct and indirect jobs. In the same way this industry came together during the worst of the crisis, it’s come together again as we find solutions. This campaign, funded from across the various spheres of the industry, is a reminder of everything the Western Cape and Cape Town have to offer,” says Beverly Schäfer, Minister of Economic Opportunities.

“What I truly love about the campaign is that it is a positive and ingenious way to reposition the Cape after the damage the water issue did to tourism to the region.

The campaign is underpinned and funded by a strong collaborative base of the public and private sectors. I hope this can act as a catalyst for a long-overdue national campaign that seeks to reposition South Africa as a cool place to come to for a holiday,” says David Frost, CEO of SATSA.

EXHIBITION VENUE

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ONE MILLION VISITORS CAN’T BE WRONG

The Johannesburg Expo Centre has been South Africa’s most beloved multi-purpose venue for decades – just ask its clients.

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ince the dawn of the new millennium, the Johannesburg Expo Centre has played host to more than one million visitors, delegates, and guests. Boasting an impressive CV of over 1 000 shows, the Expo Centre remains within the upper echelon of multi-purpose venues. Its roster of annual events could not be more diverse – from Electra Mining, to the ANC National Policy Conference, Automechanika, Bauma Conexpo Africa, Rand Show, to major political gatherings, and the inimitable Ultra Music Festival – the Expo Centre is the canvas to bring your event to life.

But even the most standout venue can’t function at its best without strong and visionary leadership.

The Centre is owned by the UKbased Montgomery Group, black economic empowerment consortium Fluxrab (led by Andrew Mthembu), local entrepreneur Raymond Burke and CEO Craig Newman. Craig is an industry stalwart, and he has harnessed his extensive experience in the business-events sector to offer the Expo Centre’s clients and visitors a world-class service; and to ensure that their experience always exceeds their expectations.

Nobody expresses the Johannesburg Expo Centre’s professionalism better than the clients themselves: “Expo Centre hosted Electra Mining Africa for our 46th year edition in September 2018. The show was an overwhelming success. This is the perfect home for the show. No other venue allows for our needs like Expo Centre. The venue is in pristine condition, allows for the heavy machinery on display, has ample parking for our 30 000 visitors and more than 12 000 exhibitors’ staff. The exhibition halls are functional, spacious and conducive for doing business. Then there is the outside areas – these help create a carnival atmosphere. Outdoor exhibits, eating areas and exhibits on the Lake contributed towards creating an event that is like no other on the African continent. We highly recommend the venue as a place where people can meet!”

Gary Corin, Managing Director, Specialised Exhibitions

The Top 10 reasons to choose the Johannesburg Expo Centre has the home for your next event: 1. FLEXIBLE VENUE Indoor and outdoor multipurpose facilities 2. MASS EVENTS Over 150 000 m² of space 3. PARKING GALORE Over 20 000 parking bays 4. LOCATION Surrounded by choice 4 and 5-star hotels 5. AWARD-WINNING World-class facilities that have won the PMR.africa Award in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and again in 2018 6. HELIPAD ON-SITE Registered helicopter landing base 7. PROUD MEMBERS Affiliated to all major industry associations 8. EASE OF ACCESS 30 mins away from all major airports 9. EASE OF ACCESS Accessible from all highways 10. DEDICATED TEAM All service providers on site

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INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

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Durban ICC celebrates 21 years of changing lives © Durban ICC

The installation of the CTICC reverse osmosis plant © CTICC

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT We dig into the hot topics in the conferences, exhibitions and events, business travel and tourism industries across Africa.

EXHIBITIONS Compex Expands to the UK Compex, a leading SA-based exhibition and event infrastructure company announced on 9 November that they will be opening a second office in London. Compex has seen significant increase in contracts from international clients, which has led to the exploration of expansion opportunities.

Chief Operating Officer Nicole East says, “Our expansion into the United Kingdom marks a milestone moment…

It is envisioned that the South African operations will work very closely and collaboratively with the London office, providing customers new and old with the continued service they have come to know from our company.”

The United Kingdom represents an established exhibition industry with over 3 million visitors a year and £11.0 billion in spend, according to Eventbrite. Compex Director Dean Gunningham will lead the expansion and manage the London office.

“We strongly believe that we need to continue to engage and assist companies with their face-to-face marketing efforts, and our exhibition professionals remain passionate about

designing, building and delivering powerful experiences,” says Gunningham. dmg events Opens Egypt Office dmg events has strengthened it commitment to the Egyptian exhibition market by establishing a local entity in the country to facilitate continued expansion. dmg events successfully launched The Big 5 Construct Egypt in September 2018.

This will be joined by two more confirmed events for 2019. Ports Evolution caters for the booming Ports and Logistics market, while the Food and Hospitality Show Egypt on 24-26 June 2019 will support the turnaround in Egypt’s HORECA, food retail and food manufacturing sectors that began at the end of 2016.

The permanent base in Egypt will also support the growth of the firm’s established Egyptian brands. The new office joins dmg events’ established offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UK, Canada and Singapore.

ASSOCIATIONS Nonnie Kubeka Awarded The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has shone a spotlight

on the monumental contributions women have made to the meetings industry. Ten women from across the association’s global community were honoured at their Congress in Dubai with an Inspirational ICCA Women award presented by ICCA President Nina Freysen-Pretorius.

One of these women was Nonnie Kubeka, of the Gauteng Convention Bureau. Freysen-Pretorius, whose tenure with ICCA ends in 2018, paid individual tribute to each recipient. “I have continuously sought to champion and encourage the achievements of women in business events,” she said, “Gender equality in the workplace globally remains a challenge… Without female role models and champions..., women will not be able to take their rightful place in society at different levels.”

TRAVEL AND TOURISM African Tourism Board Made Official The African Tourism Board is a multinational body formed to promote the travel and tourism sector in Africa. The organisation was unveiled at a soft launch at World Travel Market in London. Created by the International Coalition of Tourism,

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

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which is based in Seychelles, Brussels, Bali and Hawaii, the Africa Tourism Board seeks to enhance and promote the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel on the African continent.

Former UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai welcomed the organisation, while Mauritius’ Tourism Minister Anil Kumrsingh Gayan reminded tourism leaders of the challenges the continent faces in connectivity. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism Memunatu B. Pratt shared her vision for African tourism. Carol Weaving, MD of Reed Exhibitions also voiced her support as a board member.

The body will be launched officially at WTM Africa in Cape Town from 10-12 April next year. For more info, visit africantourismboard.com Travel Agencies Join Forces against IATA ECTAA (The European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Association) and WTAAA (World Travel Agents Associations Alliance) have accused IATA of having unilaterally changed the dynamics of bargaining between airlines and travel agencies.

The joint note of the two organisations lashes out against the 41st Passenger Agency Conference that would have given the green light to the process of dismantling agents’ consultations on financial criteria, as well as the role of mediators between distributors and vendors.

Despite the strong opposition of travel agents, IATA has apparently approved a mechanism that allows it to review the financial criteria that the agents must meet to be accredited, without going through the agreements contained in the Agency Programme Joint Council. IATA is also overhauling the Travel Agency Commissioner role.

Whether this will affect the local or African travel industry in the future remains to be seen.

and the unemployment rate remains low, people will have the means to travel more frequently both for leisure and business,” says John McCarthy, President of The GO Group. “This will have a significant, positive impact on airlines, hotels and the overall hospitality industry and other related businesses.”

VENUE OVERVIEW Durban ICC Celebrates 21st Anniversary The Durban International Convention Centre celebrated its 21st anniversary in October together with high-profile stakeholders, political dignitaries, clients, service providers, industry partners, and celebrities who made up the 500 guests at the event. CEO Lindiwe Rakharebe said one of Durban ICC’s biggest feats is being a catalyst for economic growth, having contributed over R40-billion to the local economy since opening.

“The centre has been a trailblazer and Africa’s leading Convention Centre for over two decades,” she said, “The Durban ICC is a veritable engine room for the creation of jobs and has been responsible for creating and sustaining more than 100 000 jobs cumulatively over the past 11 years.”

CTICC Commissions Reverse Osmosis Plant The CTICC’s initiatives have resulted in a 30% saving of water over the last financial

Travel Sector to Receive Boost in 2019 The travel industry is set to see a boost next year according to a recently released survey conducted by The GO Group. Of the over 290 people who participated, 20% plan on travelling more for business in 2019 than in 2018, while 24% will be travelling more for leisure.

“As the economy continues to improve City Lodge Dar es Salaam © City Lodge

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year, and building on this success, the venue has commissioned a reverse osmosis plant. The plant is currently in its test phase of implementation. It will draw underground sea water using ultra filtration and reverse osmosis technology to produce fully potable drinking water that complies with the government’s drinking water standards.

“The plant, in conjunction with our water storage capacity, will provide five times our average daily water consumption, thus ensuring that the CTICC can offer 100% water-neutral events,” says CEO of the CTICC, Julie-May Ellingson.

City Lodge in Dar Opens City Lodge Hotel Dar es Salaam in Tanzania has opened its first batch of rooms (41 rooms) on the first and second floors. The hotel will have 148 rooms in total once complete. The hotel is located 13km from the Julius Nyerere International Airport and close to the city centre, embassies, Aura Mall, Botanical Garden, National Museum and other points of interest. The hotel has three multi-functional boardrooms accommodating between 10 and 18 people.

In SA, construction is underway on the 154-room Town Lodge Umhlanga Ridge in KwaZulu-Natal. City Lodge OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg has added 62 additional rooms. Once complete, the group will offer 7 902 rooms across 62 hotels in six countries in Africa.

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BUSINESS EVENTS INSIGHTS

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LESSONS WE TAKE INTO 2019

We asked industry experts and stakeholders to share the important lessons they have learned this year, and what they will carry with them into the future.

Devi Paulsen-Abbott Vice President at dmg events

“If you want to go far, go together” “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” (African Proverb) In 2018 we were reminded that as Africans, this concept is in our DNA. ‘Masihambisane’, a Nguni word loosely meaning ‘let us walk the path together’ reminds us that there is an undeniable power in numbers. If one person can’t accomplish something on his or her own, two or three or more people may be able to get it done even better. As a business, dmg events will continue to take into 2019 this important mantra – collaboration makes us all winners – and we so appreciate the amazing collaborative environment our partners, customers, competitors and suppliers have provided in 2018.

Minister Kganyago, Manager : Business Events Marketing at ATKV

“Bleisure is boss” What a year! So much to do, so little time was the daily situation for most of us trying to survive the rapidly changing and demanding business events world. No day is the same in this complex yet interesting industry. Hence it becomes almost very challenging to mention, in brief, the lessons learned in this eventful year of 2018.

But if I must focus on one lesson, it would have to be the lesson regarding the new industry term coined: ‘Bleisure’.

A term coherent with the shift we are currently experiencing in the industry, from product focus to experience focus. This is as a result of the growing demand where delegates want their business event travels packed with not just business objectives, but with experiences that will leave them with long-lasting memories. The term ‘Bleisure’ advocates that business events should allow delegates to mix business with pleasure. This necessitates that participants providing products and services in this part of the industry must apply a fresh approach to their thinking when packaging offers in order to satisfy this trending demand.

With this type of situation, we learned that unconventional ways of doing things become the norm, from setting up the meeting venue to running the programme. Delegates are also now given the power to influence the architecture of their business meetings or conferences. All in an effort to debunk the idea that conferences need to be monotonous. Something to take into 2019, if anything, would be the cognisance that business events, be it a meeting or conference, require good mixture of product, service and most importantly, unique and memorable experiences.

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Mediocre shows and events are no longer good enough. Customers are king and we need to re-invest time and money to ensure our events are sustainable and continue to grow despite the macro trading conditions.

Carol Weaving Managing Director at Reed Exhibitions

“It’s survival of the fittest” 2018 was a tough year politically and economically across the board. It’s critical to keep your team motivated and empowered.

Many entrepreneurs and companies have had great success starting up in a tough economy. Our industry is no different.

We have launched extremely successful events in a tough economy, such as Comic Con Africa, with a record breaking attendance which proves there are always opportunities. It’s critical that we must put the visitor or buyer first. If the visitor and buyer comes to our show’s so will the exhibitor. It’s essential that we use data to measure each events success to ensure we generate an excellent ROI for our clients.

Furthermore we need to continue to spread the word of why exhibitions are far superior to other marketing channels. 2019 will see survival of the fittest in my opinion. Mediocre shows and events are no longer good enough. Customers are king and we need to re-invest time and money to ensure our events are sustainable and continue to grow despite the macro trading conditions.

We recently ran a Black Friday promotion where we offered roller banners at a very good price. The uptake was high compared to what we would have seen a couple of years ago, when our target market wasn’t as value-sensitive.

Justin Hawes Managing Director at Scan Display

“Deliver value to clients” This has been a tough year in the exhibition industry as our clients have reduced their spend on exhibition stands and have also demanded greater returns from the exhibition medium.

At Scan Display, we introduced a fabric pop-up system which has significantly reduced the cost of exhibiting and the effort involved, as it is essentially a ‘do-it-yourself’ product. The system can be re-used over and over, making it a great ‘green’ product.

We’ve had a huge demand for this pop-up, showing us that the MICE industry is looking for value and, increasingly, eco-friendly solutions.

We recently ran a Black Friday promotion where we offered roller banners at a very good price. The uptake was high compared to what we would have seen a couple of years ago, when our target market wasn’t as value-sensitive. The positive response we received confirms how important value-for-money is in the MICE industry.

The main lesson we have learned this year is that we must continue to deliver the value our customers are after and provide eco-friendly product offerings.

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BUSINESS EVENTS INSIGHTS

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Corne Koch Head of Cape Town Convention Bureau

“Destinations cannot be isolated” During the past year, the Western Cape has been affected by its worst drought, which led to many challenges and negative perceptions that had to be managed in terms of marketing messaging. Tourism is a key economic driver for the Western Cape with over 300 000 direct, indirect and induced jobs. In an effort to ensure that the message, ‘the Cape is open for business’ is marketed, government and key tourism stakeholders came together in creating positive messaging about the crises and how visitors are still welcome to travel to the Western Cape. In addition, the ‘Nowhere Does It Better’ campaign, a further effort and driven by Wesgro, devised a plan to put the province back on the international tourism consideration list. This is a historic first, identifying that it is a shared responsibility to change the narrative about the destination, and that power of a single voice is more impactful than separate messages.

The key learning here is that destinations cannot be isolated from partnerships with their local tourism community, as this sector no longer operates in isolation. Due to fierce international competition, the success of destinations will be determined by how well that destination operates as a unit, in providing the same message to both travel buyers and visitors.

Going into 2019, the value meetings created beyond a business event will continue to gain momentum. More than ever, the business events industry and its professionals need to focus on advocating the stories of business events, and facilitating economic, professional, academic and community advancements created by a meeting.

More and more cities and destinations are creating knowledge hubs and centres of excellence around their key economic drivers. The business events sector will continue to play a crucial role in attracting business events to their destinations and cities which comply with the economic planning for that destination.

Lindiwe Rakharebe CEO of the Durban ICC

“Innovation is key” The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) industry is an important component to the South African tourism industry and the country’s economic development, as it contributes to a wide variety of sectors. For every individual attending a conference or exhibition, either as an exhibitor, delegate or visitor, there are positive economic spinoffs for local businesses.

The Durban International Convention Centre, as a trailblazer in attracting local and international events, has a mandate to be a catalyst for economic development and job creation in the City and KwaZulu-Natal. Despite an increasingly competitive marketplace both locally and globally, the Durban ICC contributed R4.7 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product last year. Furthermore, 9 474 jobs were created as a result of the Durban ICC’s activities over the past financial year. This clearly demonstrates that Durban is open for business; however, with regard to business tourism, more emphasis should be placed on marketing South Africa as a safe and easily accessible destination which offers world-class facilities and infinite possibilities - not only for African-related conferences but for international events and conferences as well.

Considering our trading environment in this Fourth Industrial Revolution, venues need to consider that the use of new technologies that are transforming the way we live and work have become increasingly important. Venues today do not only need to provide high speed internet connection and helpful apps, but also technologies that will ensure that the guest’s journey is easy and efficient throughout the entire event experience.

Innovation is key and one needs to constantly reinvent the business model in order to remain relevant. Other trends to look out for in 2019 include being open to developing innovative conference platforms and the use of modern technology to deliver a unique experience for our attendees.

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Shaun Bird GM of Sandton Convention Centre

“Back to basics” In 2018 we focused on several areas that are giving us the edge and will be carrying this strategy through to next year. Our focus areas included improved engagement with government and city authorities, such as tourism associations, roads departments, SAPS, among others. Sandton Convention Centre is paying particular attention to focusing on proactive engagement by working with the city role players at client enquiry stage in terms of ideas and suggestions for innovative solutions in meeting the requests and requirements of our clients. Sandton Convention Centre may not have the luxury of outdoor spaces, so we need to be creative in how we use our offerings by working closely with the relevant authorities in paving the way for productive relationships.

Environmental practices are also an ongoing priority for Sandton Convention Centre, as they are within Tsogo Sun as a group.

Sandton Convention Centre is increasing recycling efforts as well as water and electricity-saving initiatives. Apart from the positive impact these have on the environment, it also makes good business sense as water and electricity account for a large percentage of operational costs. Creative ideas are encouraged and any suggestions are considered on merit.

Operations-wise, Sandton Convention Centre is going back to basics by streamlining processes and systems and ensuring an improved customer-centric approach for all our events. We have a dedicated operational manager for each event, who is hands-on and fully customer-focused.

The convention centre’s world-class food offering also sets us apart, with creative customised menus and delivery, which includes everything from live cooking stations to street food type stalls and fine dining. Our offering is so diverse and can be tailored to suit each client’s needs. Our chefs are delivering fresh and flavourful dishes that are the mark of a luxury property and experience. All of this combined results in winning differentiators for Sandton Convention Centre.

Gary van der Watt Managing Director at Resource Design

“From green to sustainable” The past year was a bit of a roller coaster. Locally, internationally, financially, politically – and no less in our industry. Considering green in MICE it was good year but not game-changing.

There were, however, key shifts, in amongst others, social awareness concerning findings on microfibres in fabrics, the ditching of plastic straws, the 3R’s of green became 4, even Tesla outselling Mercedes-Benz in the USA. Overall global companies have added to, or replaced their mainstream offerings with sustainable options.

Having the privilege to engage internationally on sustainability in both Sweden and the Netherlands this year, we realised this clear shift from green to sustainable: an area where astute businesses are paying close attention going into 2019. Sustainability seeks to both protect the environment and be financially viable, but also improve quality of life for people. Greening has a more limited, short-term implication.

Business and government awareness of CSR, job creation and local content each form a fundamental link in a circular economy approach. Our forecast is that green thinking will evolve into sustainable thinking in SA – much as it has globally. The reason is mainly because greening has been largely superficial to date. LED lights, recycling at source, water awareness and the usual steps. The ‘usual’ being the most basic standards and expectation level – with no long-term value socially or economically.

Without fundamental and long-lasting change, greening runs the risk of degenerating into greenwashing.

As a green-economy company, we are very upbeat about 2019. The MICE industry has the power and capability to bring about substantive change. Go green, grow to be sustainable.

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BUSINESS EVENTS INSIGHTS

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Hard work pays off. Staying focused pays off and we intend to take these lessons with us into 2019. As a business, we need to stay on top of our game and continuously work on how we present our services and offerings to our clients. At the end of the day, you are only as good as your last event.

Craig Newman UFI President and CEO of the Johannesburg Expo Centre

“Hard work pays off” If there is one thing we learned this year it is that hard work pays off. Extensive effort went into planning in 2017 to ensure that as a venue we were busy during 2018, and that effort paid off. Hard work pays off. Staying focused pays off and we intend to take these lessons with us into 2019. As a business, we need to stay on top of our game and continuously work on how we present our services and offerings to our clients. At the end of the day, you are only as good as your last event. As always, we will go into 2019 on top of our game, ready to meet and exceed client expectations and secure new exciting exhibitions and events at our venue.

Watch this space.

IBTM WORLD

BREAKS APPOINTMENT RECORD IBTM World has broken the record for pre-arranged appointments.

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BTM World has surpassed its previous record for pre-arranged meetings. A total of 77 651 business meetings were booked ahead of this year’s event, up by 5% since last year, which saw over 74 000 pre-scheduled appointments. There has also been a 9% increase year-on-year in the average number of appointments per exhibitor. Research shows that 54% of Hosted Buyers participated in the Hosted Buyer programme for the first time in 2018, an increase of 20%. 50% of Hosted Buyers were completely new to the IBTM portfolio, 20% of which were corporate buyers.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to announce such strong results for our customers,” says David

Thompson, Exhibition Director, who adds that this points to the event being a “highly successful opportunity for exhibitors in terms of the volume of quality opportunities to do business with completely new contacts.”

Buyers at the event included Moet Hennessy, Netflix, Salesforce, Hewlett Packard, Amway, Toyota, Inter IKEA, Procter & Gamble, Siemens Ltd. and SONY, as well as returning brands such as Tourism Promotion Board Philippines, Tourism New Zealand, Global Passenger Network, and Rosewood Hong Kong. The South Africa National Convention Bureau was also present.

IBTM World took place from 27-29 November at Fira Barcelona.

DATA SECURITY

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POPI: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The Protection of Personal Information Act has been created to combat the rise in global information theft and data breaches. Here’s how it affects the local industry.

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or event organisers and businesses working in this sector, the Protection of Personal Information Act, which comes into effect next year, will radically change the way we as an industry use contact information. No longer can one use delegate’s emails for future marketing purposes without specific and explicit consent from the subject. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect, how you can protect your company, and what your employees should know.

The Purpose of POPI The POPI Act was created to manage and protect customer data. It makes it mandatory to ask for consent before electronic direct marketing or communication is sent to a person for the first time. It also makes it almost impossible to sell a person’s private information to a third party without their permission.

The act brings South Africa in line with existing data protection laws worldwide, and enforces an individual’s right to privacy.

It is also meant to safeguard individuals against data breaches and to ensure as much cyber security as possible.

What the Act Entails Section 69 of the POPI Act says that should you wish to send electronic direct marketing communication to someone that has never before received it from you, you must first contact them to ask for consent. This consent is not a simple verbal ‘yes’ or the click of a button.

According to the Regulator, it is a twopage form, and not in plain language.

The form requires a physical signature despite this being unspecified legally.

Who Will Regulate This?

An Information Protection Regulator will be appointed to administer the law, and companies are expected to have 12 months to comply. Once the

administration of POPI begins, those in breach of the Act are subject to: • Imprisonment for between 1-10 years • Up to R10 million in penalties and fines • Enforcement notice requiring organisation to stop processing personal information • Civil action on behalf of individuals or groups – including damages for financial and non-financial harm.

The Road to Compliance Companies like Trustwave, for instance, offer expertise and compliance assessments.

Their downloadable White Paper, How to Comply with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act, offers detailed information on the industry, where it’s at, and how to become compliant. According to the paper, many South African companies already strategically think about POPI. One of their main recommendations is to appoint a trusted partner as an Information Officer. “In organisations without an information officer, the CEO becomes responsible by default. It is unrealistic to expect that the organisation’s CEO take on the responsibilities of the information officer to ensure and enforce compliance within the organisation. The first step therefore would be for organisations to appoint a dedicated information officer,” they explain.

Companies should ready themselves by analysing and structuring their work streams. There are several crucial points to take into consideration: management accountability, budget for compliance programmes, and resources for IT security or a compliance expert. They should conduct a gap analysis to identify what areas need POPI compliant controls within the organisation. Strict data protection policies and regulations should be put in place that outline how personal customer data is stored, processed and secured.

Regulations should also outline the procedure in the case of a data breach.

Securing the access points to data is also important. Consider changing passwords frequently, or monitoring employee logins.

Train your team to be vigilant and aware of potential cyber-attacks.

In Case of a Breach 1. Notify the Regulator 2. Notify identifiable data subjects 3. Notifying should be done as soon as reasonably possible of becoming aware 4. One should notify even if there is a potential of a breach

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BUSINESS TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Cathedral Peaks Hotel’s Executive Honeymoon Suite

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The Chef at Cathedral Peaks Hotel

UNDISCOVERED WORLDS WITHIN OUR BORDERS

From the beauty of Cathedral Peak to the unexplored heritage and stories of !Khwa ttu, Kim Crowie unpacks some of SA’s hidden gems.

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outh Africa is jam packed with hidden destinations, beautiful nooks, and breathtaking experiences just waiting to be explored. These range from incredible natural attractions and scenic getaways, to adrenalin-filled adventures, safaris of all kinds, and city breaks with delectable cuisine and unforgettable memories waiting to happen. We take a stroll off the beaten path to discover some of these gems that are worth getting to know.

Irresistible Event Venues South Africa has an extraordinary number of venues, from the very large to those that host just ten delegates at a time. Aside from the handful who receive regular attention in the media, there are a host of incredible event spaces ready and willing to host functions, conferences, exhibitions and team builds with great versatility and creativity.

One such venue is Cathedral Peak, which, as its name suggests, is perched amongst the Drakensberg’s breathtaking mountain range. With picturesque views to boot, this gorgeous destination is an ideal getaway for special events, corporate retreats and conferences for up to 200 pax, and comes with a choice of five venues. Since 1987, as the first Drakensberg events and conference venue, the hotel has offered business clients an astounding experience with luxurious accommodation, exceptional service, sumptuous buffet meals and an extensive range of on-site facilities and activities. Most recently, Cathedral Peak hosted an awards ceremony for 180 people held outdoors on their bowling green. “For this we hired a transparent roofed marque,” says Samantha van der Riet, Assistant Operations Manager.

“Drinks and canapes were served whilst delegates relaxed on couches on the lawn overlooking the Umlambonja

river valley. A buffet style banquet was provided by our Top Chef and a dancefloor and stage were setup for a live band and DJ, allowing guests to party the night away under the stars.”

Cathedral Peak hosts between 35 and 45 conferences a year, and also offers a range of teambuilding and other engaging experiences tailored to guests’ needs. Delegates can enjoy a host of sports activities, including tennis, squash, trout fishing, bowls, floodlit mini-golf, volleyball, quad bikes, mountain bike trails and a gym with steam room. “Our real differential is not our venues and technology but how we can assist you in getting the most out of our incredibly beautiful and rich surroundings,” she adds.

Another gorgeous venue just a few kilometres outside of Cape Town is Aquila Private Game Reserve. Not only is this getaway ideal for an array of visitors who wish to have a safari

BUSINESS TRAVEL AND TOURISM 15

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Aquila Private Game Reserve © Stephan Busch, FrozenMotion

experience – full day, half day, overnight or fly-in safaris are offered – but the facilities also include a conference centre for up to 80 pax, a spa, infinity pool, cigar lounge, wet bar, and children’s entertainment area. Aquila has invested over R1 million in building a large outdoor sanctuary where once doomed ‘canned lions’ can live out their lives. It is also home to rescued leopard and cheetah breeding pairs and many other species from time to time. Their ‘Saving Private Rhino’ initiative hopes to provide the most comprehensive integrated anti-poaching solution available to every private game reserve in Africa. Aquila is the first game reserve to re-introduce the Big 5 for the first time in 250 years to the Western Cape.

Soak Up The Natural Beauty A settlement that forms the gateway to the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park,

Hole In The Wall, Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape

iSimangaliso Wetland Park © Scott N Ramsay

St Lucia is part of SA’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unparalleled wildlife experiences await the intrepid traveller to these parts – humongous hippos, bush and boat safaris, roaring lions and even turtle tours. Half or full-day game drives are a must in order to take in the sheer magnitude and splendour of the flora and fauna of these parts.

Hole in the Wall in Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape, is untouched natural beauty at its best. An unspoilt heaven for fishermen, it offers visitors a quiet getaway that promises the most spectacular of sunrises and sunsets, complete with clear, starlit nights. Although getting there is a bit of a mission – the roads can be rough – most say it’s worth the effort. The place has a hotel of the same name with a comfortable bar, restaurant and wellness spa. In the surrounds one will find attractions such as abseiling, fishing, and horse-riding.

For Local History And Culture Buffs South Africa is known for its fascinating history, and places like Qunu or Robben Island – Nelson Mandela’s birth place and place of imprisonment – are often on visitors’ to do lists. One of the lesser known places worth exploring is the Slave Lodge in Cape Town. Built in 1979, it is the second oldest existing colonial structure of the Cape.

Although it is steeped in sordid history, it is now managed by Iziko Museums and audioguided tours can be rented for a nominal fee. The upper galleries of the Slave Lodge are open to the public, and showcase the likes of ceramics, silverware and Egyptology collections that draw links to SA’s heritage and history.

Iziko Slave Lodge (via CapeTown.Photos)

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VENUE

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CATHEDRAL PEAK HOTEL

Cathedral Peak Hotel Meeting Space

Area (m2)

Cinema

Classroom

U-Shape

Cocktail

Herring-bone seating

Umlambonja

214,5

200

180

66

220

180

Mafifiyela

105

80

48

24

80

40

Cathedral (can also be combined with Ndedema and / or Nyosi)

66

40

32

24

60

32

Ndedema

66

40

32

24

60

32

Nyosi

51,5

30

24

20

40

-

ABOUT THE VENUE Nestled in the unspoiled surroundings of the Drakensberg mountain range (a World Heritage Site) lies Cathedral Peak Hotel, an award winning 4-Star Hotel. Located 250km from Durban and 400km from Johannesburg, this premier resort offers business clients an extraordinary experience with luxurious accommodation, exceptional service, sumptuous buffet meals, and an extensive range of facilities and activities.

Guests are accommodated in spacious rooms which range from Standard, Superior and beautiful Executive Suites to the exclusive Mponjwane Presidential Suite.

The restaurant is famous for its superb cuisine and has vast experience catering for themed evenings, gala dinners and braais. Harry’s Bar offers a pool table, dart board and big screen TV for sporting events, while Albert’s Bar is perfect for enjoying a relaxed drink or conversation with panoramic views.

Interactive and engaging experiences

include the golf course offering 9 holes and 18 tees; the on-site helicopter service for thrilling incentives or for effective transfers; guided walks and horse rides for the more adventurous, and for those less active, relax as you’re pampered in our Wellness Centre, or laze beside the heated or cold outdoor pools.

Cathedral Peak Hotel offers you the ideal balance between business and pleasure.

FACILITIES • • • • •

Interactive experiences include the golf course, helicopter and horse rides.

• • •

CONTACT US Address: uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, R394, Winterton, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, 3340 Tel: +27 36 488 1888 Email: events@cathedralpeak.co.za Website: www.cathedralpeak.co.za

Five venues seating up to 200 delegates in the largest venue Boardroom and breakaway rooms Multi-variable seating arrangements PA systems, microphones and data-projectors Controlled heating, lighting and air-conditioning Dedicated conference co-ordinator Accommodation for up to 254 guests in 104 rooms Wi-Fi

BUSINESS TRAVEL AND TOURISM

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!Khwa ttu offers San guided tours © Planeterra

Segway tours at Spier are a great way to take in the vineyards

For those in search of even more thrills, Cape Town Tandem Paragliding is worth a try.

Paraglide from Lion’s Head or Signal Hill with highly experienced tandem flight instructors for an unforgettable experience that lasts up to 30 minutes.

Another place worth a visit is the !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre in Yzerfontein.

With sweeping views, tracks through nature, and delicious home-cooked meals, this place is an underrated gem for visitors to explore. A unique San Heritage Centre, it has San guided tours, a guest house and tented camps, conferencing facilities, and game and bird-watching options – not to mention the only heritage centre in the world dedicated to the San. Those who pop in can expect a friendly welcome and an organisation with a strong ethos founded on responsible tourism and giving back to the local community.

Cape Sidecar Adventures

Epic Experiences South Africa has any number of remarkable adventures to take on, from bungee jumping and surfing, to shark-cage diving and hot air balloon trips. One of the lesser known activities is the sidecar tour. Feel the wind whip through your hair without the drama of focussing on the road! Take in all the scenery, from the Winelands to Cape Point with companies like Cape Sidecar Adventures or Ural Sidecar Tours.

Segway tours are a great way to take everything in without the hassle of walking, and in SA, this form of transportation is taking flight. Spier Farm offers an hourlong tour, a two-hour vineyard tour, and a sunset tour, while Tsitsikamma Forest

in the Garden Route offer fully guided tours exploring the local flora and village. Other places one can find Segway tours are Gauteng, KwaZuluNatal, Sun City in the North West, and along the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast.

For those in search of even more thrills, Cape Town Tandem Paragliding is worth a try. Paraglide from Lion’s Head or Signal Hill with highly experienced tandem flight instructors for an experience that lasts up to 30 minutes. An added bonus is that the company captures the moment with GoPro cameras – and offers them as an optional extra in a convenient 4GB SD card with an adapter and plastic housing.

Cape Town Tandem Paragliding

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AIRPORT MEETINGS

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Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre - Boardroom

The swimming pool at Premier Hotel OR Tambo

FANCY A CONFERENCE WITH YOUR FLIGHT?

Convenience is king when it comes to airport hotels and meeting rooms. But what are the other reasons for gathering in these facilities? Kim Crowie reports.

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our flight is in three hours, but there’s that one important client that you still need to see. Do you rush over to their offices and risk missing your flight? Or do they come to you? In a fast-paced world where faceto-face meetings are still the order of the day (no matter what Gen Z says) there’s nothing more convenient than hosting a small conference or business meeting at hotels that are in close proximity to

InterContinental at OR Tambo © Tsogo Sun

airports. Not only are they nearby, but they also offer versatility, and when called upon, a last minute place to lay your head down in both comfort and style.

One such venue that has constantly been innovating in this space is Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre.

According to Commercial Director Lloyd Marshall, they are regularly upgrading and adapting their offering based on the feedback and needs of business

travellers. “We are able to cater to small and large groups in both conference venues and accommodation. We also offer added convenience selection of four onsite restaurants, free and fast Wi-Fi, a gym, a Mangwanani Spa, transport on the grounds and free shuttles to and from the airport and the East Rand Mall every hour,” he adds.

The hotel has over 60 different meeting venues on their 53 hectares of ground,

AIRPORT MEETINGS

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Hotel Verde near Cape Town International Airport allowing them to cater to multiple gatherings of various sizes – on average at least 100 a year. “We have unique spaces for meetings, conferences, exhibitions, banquets and training, and can accommodate anything from as little as two and up to 3 000 people in just about any seating style.” They recently hosted an event for Makro that included a 3 000m2 exhibition as well as a beautiful outdoor evening in their gardens. They also played host to the Airports Company South Africa’s awards evening for over 500

delegates, complete with a live satellite link to events in other provinces.

Another venue making waves on the conservation front is Hotel Verde, located adjacent to the Cape Town International Airport. It is the first hotel in Africa to offer high-end carbon-neutral accommodation, and conferencing with minimal environmental impact.

Their largest space can hold up to 124 pax cinema-style, and their conference packages allow companies to offset between 49.24kg (half-day) or 98.48kg (full-day) of carbon, confirmed by

an auditable certificate that can be used in sustainability reports.

Some of the energy efficiencies include wind turbines, LED lighting, and regenerative drive elevators.

Hotel Verde also has sustainability built into its design, such as counter tops containing recycled content, an optimised building energy model, and carpets with high percentages of rapidly renewable wool. They naturally use a grey water recycling system, dual flush toilets and collect rainwater, among other water-saving techniques.

Guests can also earn Verdinos – an in-house currency rewarding visitors for their involvement in the hotel’s sustainability and in making green choices. One Verdino is equivalent to R5.

Additional Airport Meeting Facilities in Cape Town • • • • Hotel Verde’s Green Pool and surrounding gardens.

Zenith Airport Conference Venue Mbalentle Guesthouse GrandWest City Lodge or Grand Hotel Vineyard Hotel

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VENUE

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THE BIRCHWOOD HOTEL & OR TAMBO CONFERENCE CENTRE

The Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre Meeting Space

Area (m2)

Cinema

Classroom

U-Shape

Banquet

The Terminal

3 000

3 000

2 000

N/A

1500

OR Tambo

1 250

1 200

700

N/A

750

King Shaka

345

300

220

100

150

Cape Town

225

180

120

60

80

Rand Boardroom

35

10

10

10

10

ABOUT THE VENUE South Africa, booming with business potential, hosts close to a million business delegates every year. Situated just 7km from OR Tambo International Airport, the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, is a trusted and popular choice in Johannesburg for business travellers.

Convenience and comfort are not only central to the business model, but enable us to ensure that your meeting, conference, exhibition or banquet makes a positive impression on your guests.

With over two decades of experience, consecutive Lilizela Awards in the Meetings, Exhibitions and Special Events (MESE) category, and repeated Best of Ekurhuleni Awards for Best Conference Venue, Best Function Venue and 2018 Best Local Hotel, our passionate team are experts in understanding the trends and needs of a modern business traveller. We offer guests convenient extras such as a

broad selection of on-site restaurants, free and fast Wi-Fi, and free shuttles to and from the airport and the East Rand Mall every hour; giving you value for money.

The Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre consists of over 60 meeting, banqueting and conferencing facilities catering from 3 to 3 000 people with up-to-date audio-visual technology, touch screens and built-in video

FACILITIES • • • •

Unwind at the Mangwanani Spa Fit in your work out with our onsite gym Enjoy a refreshing swim in our pool Find your flavour at one of our onsite restaurants – The BC Café, The Grill at OneTwenty, Phomolong or The Boma

conferencing kits, as well as a further three selections of accommodation (665 rooms) catering to a variety of needs and budgets – Birchwood, Silverbirch and ValuStay.

Allow us to have the pleasure of making your next big business event memorable and successful!

CONTACT US

Address: Viewpoint Road, Bartlett, Boksburg, 1459, South Africa Tel: +27 11 897 0000 Email: reservations@birchwoodhotel.co.za Website: www.birchwoodhotel.co.za

Relax, do business!

AIRPORT MEETINGS

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Step off your plane and into your meeting at OR Tambo with InterContinental. The hotel has seven flexible boardrooms, two conference rooms, and can accommodate up to 80 guests. In addition to their ability to cater to any type of event, the conference centre is also open seven days a week, and 24 hours a day, with a dedicated event planner on call.

Another venue of convenience is Premier Hotel OR Tambo, located just 500m from the Rhodesfield Gautrain station and 1.2km from the airport. The hotel offers 8 multi-functional conference rooms for between 10 and 800 delegates, as well as 275 comfortable rooms, a wellness spa and a poolside restaurant.

Adapting for the Business Traveller According to the South Africa National Convention Bureau, the country hosts around 1 million delegates each year, supporting over 250 000 jobs both directly and indirectly. In 2017, the industry contributed R115 billion in total annual GDP – 9.4% of the country’s GDP. Naturally airport meeting venues play a role in this thanks to their proximity and ability to host world class events, although it is hard to quantify says Birchwood’s Lloyd Marshall. “Business tourism is essential

According to the SANCB, the country hosts around 1 million delegates each year, supporting over 250 000 jobs.

Conferencing - Premier Hotel OR Tambo

The Reception at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre to the sustenance and growth of the country’s economy, which is why we believe customer feedback is one of the most important aspects in the hospitality and conferencing sectors,” he explains, “Every year we analyse feedback and engage with both local and international guests as to what their needs are. We then sit down as a team and adapt our offering accordingly, ensuring that we never fall behind and that our guests’ stay is convenient, comfortable and impressionable.”

The modern traveller is far more tech savvy than ever before, and these days connectivity and AV capabilities are must-haves. “To adapt to this requirement, we now offer free uncapped Wi-Fi, have updated our signage to digital, and have enhanced our audiovisual systems with touch screens and built-in video conferencing kits.” Other

offerings are free shuttle services to and from the airport, free on-site transportation, and upgrades to their restaurants, conference venues and accommodation. “Development is never stagnant at Birchwood,” Marshall says.

Additional Airport Meeting Facilities in Johannesburg • • • • • •

Africa Centre Airports Leisure Hotel Airport Grand Hotel Garden Court Joburg International Airport Pembi OR Tambo Conference Centre Protea Hotel by Marriott Transit OR Tambo Southern Sun OR Tambo

Birchwood Team (from left to right) Founder Kevin Clarence, Director Jazzman Mahlakgane and Commercial Director Lloyd Marshall

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CONFERENCE ORGANISERS

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PCO ROUNDS UNPACKED We speak to local PCOs to find out what their experiences are when bidding for an event, and explore the correct procedures and best practices. Part 1 of 2.

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or those who are wet behind the ears, a PCO round is essentially when a group of professional conference organisers are invited to bid for an event by an event host city, a government organisation such as a convention bureau, or by an event owner.

A trusted Event source recently came forward to share their concerns on this topic, and wishes to remain anonymous due to its sensitive nature. They say that although there used to be great transparency and fairness in the selection of PCOs to present at these PCO rounds in previous years, of late, the same small group of PCOs are being invited. This is worrying, and means that some organisers are left at a disadvantage and cannot

procure large-scale jobs in the businessevents sector in the way that they were able to in the past. Having been shut out of their livelihoods, they have been forced to close shop, scale down, or find other avenues of work in order to survive.

Nina Freysen-Pretorius is a renowned industry stakeholder, and The Conference Company is known for its ability to organise events of all sizes. She says that it is imperative that due process, proper procedures and credibility be followed both in the case of tenders and PCO rounds.

“Local industry association is important in most sectors, and in the business events industry it is, in fact, paramount,” she says. “In past years the South African Association for the Conference Industry

used to have a grading structure that they used for PCO’s. Sadly this has fallen away and now a list exists that has everyone on one spreadsheet. This is a challenge and weakness for our sector. It is important for the client to know and be given guidance on the type of services and experience that a PCO has. The reality is also that without experience and industry knowledge, the event risk profile is elevated. Having a PCO that is new and has no previous experience working on, for example, an international meeting means that the bad experience will portray an unprofessional service and cast doubt on all other PCOs. This is a huge reputational risk for our country as a destination.”

CONFERENCE ORGANISERS

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PCO rounds are an opportunity for the client to meet their potential service provider face to face, says FreysenPretorius. This allows them to get a sense of whether they are compatible. “The relationship between client and PCO is the foundation of a successful event.

Without mutual respect, understanding and collaborative engagement the event cannot be a success.”

“Furthermore, PCO rounds need to be conducted in a manner that is compliant with international industry standards and norms. Only PCOs with relevant experience and an understanding of the support needed should be invited,” she adds. “Convention bureaus or convention centres who are the host and maybe the coordinator or introducer of the meeting between parties cannot be party to this meeting or be expected to judge or adjudicate. This will take the independence and impartiality away from the process. In addition, should things go wrong, this will also slant the relationship that they have with the client.”

This concern is echoed by our source, who said they have been in rounds where representatives of convention bureaus are part of the judging and scoring process, and as such, this has the potential to create deep bias or a perception of bias in who is chosen to organise a business event.

According to the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau, they take their relationship with PCOs “very seriously” and always recommend local service providers where possible. “Different destinations use a variety of methods on how they manage this process and there is not one standard solution,” says Adriaan Fourie, Business Development Manager: Conventions and Meetings at the Bureau.

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“Some cities operate on a membership model, others appoint a number of PCOs for a period of time and work exclusively with these, or others use PCOs who are members of international associations.”

The process of selecting a PCO in the Cape begins during the bidding phase and in the first meetings with clients.

There are discussions on what needs are, experience, the personality of different companies, and what the clients most prefer. Once the client has received a full list of possible PCOs, a shortlist of companies are asked to present. PCOs first need to submit a written submission to outline services and experience, followed by a short interview. “In most cases, a further shortlist will determine the final companies for selection. Although the convention bureau guides this process in consultation with the clients, the final decision is always theirs,” Fourie says.

PCO rounds are an opportunity for the client to meet their potential service provider face to face, says Freysen-Pretorius. This allows them to get a sense of whether they are compatible.

The relationship between client and PCO is the foundation of a successful event. Without mutual respect, understanding and collaborative engagement the event cannot be a success.

Although the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau is involved at every level to ensure smooth sailing for the client, this does mean that their biases inevitably become part of the process. The Event’s PCO source suggests that a way to create more fairness and opportunities for all PCOs is to reintroduce a previous system, where PCOs are selected on rotation. This means that every PCO who wins a job through these rounds is not included in the following round. It ensures a wider reach and opportunities for organisers. It also means that the smallest segment of PCOs isn’t receiving the largest market share – and if they are, there is still room for others to enter the industry.

Part two of this article deals with incongruity in the tender process. It will be published in the following issue of the Event. Should you wish to share your thoughts on this topic, please get in touch.

How to get into PCO Rounds • •

• •

Get to know your local and national convention bureaus.

Ensure that they are aware of your company details, and updates and recent successes.

Make an appointment to discuss opportunities and challenges.

It is about team work. Explore how you can work together in identifying opportunities.

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LEGACY UNPACKED

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BEYOND TOURISM

THE LEGACY OF BUSINESS EVENTS In conjunction with the SANCB and The Iceberg initiative, the Event brings you a case study on the MBA World Summit 2018.

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onferences and exhibitions drive industries, propel business and contribute significantly to the global GDP. In South Africa, they contribute over R115-billion to the national GDP. They are a transformative strategy for countries looking to boost their knowledge and creative economies. In March 2018, the MBA World Summit was held in Phillipi, the largest township in Cape Town, South Africa, where local entrepreneurs were partnered with international MBA students to help them grow their businesses through

skills transfer and knowledge sharing. The MBA World Summit is a perfect example of how business events are the catalyst for large-scale socio-economic impacts, not only on tourism, but also on deal making, business transactions, training, research, development and education.

The Summit is an annual platform, held in a different destination each year, that aims to explore the unique opportunities within that country. It plays host to 100 of the brightest MBA students from around the world. In 2018, the MBA Summit was held

on African soil for the first time, and quickly proved to be a driver for participants to act as global change makers and tackle the key social challenges faced in Africa and other emerging markets around the world.

Involving Local Entrepreneurs On the third day of the summit, the international MBA students were be paired up with 30 local entrepreneurs, which marked the starting point of a one-year legacy programme. In a 2-hour facilitated workshop, the invited entrepreneurs had the opportunity

Nina Freysen-Pretorius, owner of The Conference Company

LEGACY UNPACKED

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The business and professional events industry is actually a transformative strategy for countries that are trying to develop their knowledge and creative economies.

Gary Grimmer, Owner of GainingEdge

to present current challenges and obstacles faced on a daily basis in growing their business, in a context of a business environment. The MBA students gained a clear understanding of the challenges faced by the 30 local entrepreneurs as well as a good understanding of the infrastructural, financial, social, and knowledge deficit or challenges faced. The rest of the day was then spent working in small groups developing solution-approaches for the entrepreneurs in order to create short, medium and long-term practical solutions.

Tabisa Zaza, Owner of Tours4Purpose, was invited to attend the Summit and meet with a small group of MBA students who were hand-selected to facilitate the growth and success of her business. She explains: “With Tours4Purpose, the aim is that we will do tours and a percentage of our tours go towards funding townships and empowering entrepreneurs.” She says her experience at the Summit has been rewarding. “I think that it is the experience of having like-minded people in a physical space to co-create, learn from each other, and ask the right questions that help us to advance our entrepreneurial journeys.”

Yannick Reiss, Co-Founder of the MBA World Summit, felt that the team was lucky to be given the opportunity to host the event on African soil. “I think

it’s a great chance to really generate improvement and have an impact on the local businesses here in Cape Town, which can also, in the long term, have an effect on Cape Town and Africa as a whole.”

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quantify in economic terms the value of the number of flights and bed nights booked, the average spend of an attendee while at a conference or meeting, the catering costs, and the tours embarked on. “We can get those statistics, we know the budgets that events work with. But it’s not only about the conference being in our country for three days, or the planning that happened, or the investment from the private and public sectors. What is the real value of international meetings? What was the tangible, knock-on effect of hosting that meeting?” she asks.

Creative and Innovative Solutions

About GSB Solution Space

It is through business events that creative and innovative solutions take seed. It is through communication and collaboration between people of diverse backgrounds and with varied skillsets and experiences – both professional and personal – that brings about tangible results. This according to Raymond Ledwaba, a member of the Local Organising Committee, and a key driver of the Summit. “It takes events like the MBA World Summit to bring the world together and to create a platform for people to learn about different problems and how you can come up with different solutions,” he explains. “It was very important for me to bring the Summit here because the impact of conferences goes beyond the days that we spend here.

It is the whole idea of catalysing change in small ways, and how we shift the way we think and the way we see problems.”

Nina Freysen-Pretorius, Owner of The Conference Company and ICCA President, understands and acknowledges the longterm benefits along the entire value chain of the business-events industry. One can

The majority of the workshops and events were held at GSB Solution Space, based in Philippi Village, Cape Town. All of the organisations that are based at Solution Space are centred on having an impact within the local community. It is spearheading engagement beyond the traditional spaces of the University of Cape Town – the organisation that funded the space.

The Philippi hub offers students, alumni, clients and local entrepreneurs in the community a place to meet and engage. Additionally, the Solution Space supports entrepreneurs to learn and grow, providing them with access to resources, corporate partners, mentors, advisory services, co-working space, speakers and partnerships. All GSB students across most academic programmes are encouraged to take at least one course on the Philippi hub.

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LEGACY UNPACKED

“Without a meeting of minds we actually cannot achieve anything, it’s essential to growth,” says TinaShe Makwande, a business strategist, digital media expert and MBA graduate, who was selected as one of the top 100 most inspiring MBAs in the world.

Dinao Lerutla, a Director at FutureGrowth Asset Management, was one of the standout speakers at the Summit. Sharing with a packed room of 100 of the finest business students in the world and a consort of local, ambitious entrepreneurs, she succinctly unpacked the real-world benefits of connections borne from business events.

“The construct of an economy as we’ve known it has got to change and it has got to change fast. The ideas that you are exposed to at the Summit while you are in Phillipi, will trigger some of those kinds of ideas about how you can contribute to being global leaders.” The benefits are that once these solutions are in place, it will be far easier for government to finance projects because they see tangible evidence that they are working. And it is through collaborative problem-solving and brainstorming that emerging entrepreneurs can make something of their lives. Dinao provided a real-world example of a problem that could be solved through the outputs of a business event: “Imagine if you had a centre that was training kids that are coming out of Matric to actually qualify in coding, where there is serious need for that skill in South Africa.”

The Way Forward Ty van der Linden, an MBA student studying at Harvard, felt that the MBA World Summit was a positive experience for everyone involved. “For those here in Phillipi Village,

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and the entrepreneurs, hopefully they have a really meaningful experience getting to meet people from different countries and different cultures. That can be a catalyst to spur them on, and equally on the side of the 100 of us MBAs that are attending.”

“This event gives the entrepreneurs a sense of how ‘doable’ things are, and how markets can be accessed,” says Sisa Ntshona, CEO of SA Tourism, who also spoke at the Summit. “I am told over and over again that South Africa’s secret weapon is not its mountains or its wildlife, it is its people. We want to make sure that even in a place like Philippi, where tourism engagement levels are low, people here can feel like they are part of the sector. For instance, if a local entrepreneur produces a specific garment, and that garment would sell well in a country like Sweden; what does tourism do? It brings Sweden to the front door of that small business. We want growth, but we want this growth to be inclusive.”

Gwynneth Matthews, Managing Director of Southern Cross Conferences – the Professional Conference Organiser that brought the MBA World Summit to life – was inspired to take on the event because of the potential she sees in local SMEs. “Entrepreneurs in South Africa and small businesses contribute to over 30% of South Africa’s GDP, so that is where this country is going to change in the coming years. Southern Cross Conferences is a female-owned and led PCO – we are the part of the rising tide of empowered women of colour who are going to contribute to the long-term sustainability of this country.

The MBA Summit is just one example of how SMEs are being empowered in South Africa, and I am determined to do my part to ensure their success. The importance of business events to the GDP and to nation building cannot be overstated.”

The MBA World Summit was made possible by the tremendous efforts of the local organising committee, and by the support of the South Africa National Convention Bureau (the SANCB). Watch the accompanying legacy video of the MBA World Summit on www.theevent.co.za.

For more info on the SANCB, visit businessevents.southafrica.net, for more on the Iceberg, visit www.the-iceberg.org.

Raymond Ledwaba looks back on the MBA World Summit 2018 “Reflecting on the event and the strides that have been made since then, I feel the objectives of the Summit have been met. We have been able to connect MBA students from various parts of the world with each other and with local entrepreneurs from Cape Town. We have also built a growing community of students and entrepreneurs who will definitely make impactful contributions in their countries from an economic, political and social perspective in the near future. Regarding the long-term economic impacts of the event, I believe that connecting the international MBA students with the local entrepreneurs has increased the social capital of both groups.

If the relationships are maintained, businesses can be co-developed among the participants of the Summit. The measurable societal impacts since the event are that the local participants went on to graduate from the UCT Impact Venture Incubation Programme at the Solution Space in Philippi.

In fact, the MBA World Summit was used as an opportunity for UCT to kick start the Impact Venture Incubation Programme.”

TRENDS WATCH

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EVENT TRENDS FOR 2019 From retro looks and content design to slow ticketing, here are some of the trends to expect in the coming year.

Retro looks remain popular © Juan Manuel Núñez Méndez

Content Design According to EventMB, transformative experiences are the order of the day, and content is the vehicle through which change takes place. “In a conference, for example, the largest chunk of your content is your programme, this is where we fail attendees and stakeholders constantly,” they explain in a report called 10 Event Trends for 2019. Bottom line? Invest in content design and you’ll have better results. Tell a story, do activities, and create a memorable knowledge exchange outside of the usual conference session formula.

Data Integration and Analytics According to Corbin Ball, who chairs the IBTM World Tech Watch Awards, the top event technology trend for 2019 will be significant advances in data integration and analytics from event tech providers.

“Major player such as Cvent and Aventri are making substantial advances in integrating their wide range of products, while smaller, cloud-based companies are putting effort into interoperability and analytics with other event tech companies and with CRM systems such as Salesforce.

The result will be that the attendees likes or interests before, during and after the event can be precisely quantified and then brought back into a customer or member record,” he told Conference News recently.

Globally speaking, this will improve future events and make mid-course corrections

The demand for unorthodox spaces is on the rise. © Truth From Africa Photography

during existing events. On an individual basis, it will lead to better personalisation for marketing to an attendee.

Slow Ticketing An event is often defined as successful when tickets sell out quickly – but this doesn’t have to be the case. Taylor Swift showed us this recently with her Reputation Tour, which didn’t sell out but is becoming the highest grossing tour in history. “Increasing value should be the objective and getting attendees to pay more, rather than less, should be the desired outcome,” says EventMB. Going down in price is not sustainable in the long term, and slow ticketing means managing demand and creating opportunities to upsell.

Revving Up the Retro According to Kelly Rehan of Special Events, the retro style of the 70s and 80s will remain popular in event design, with creatives digging even deeper into the past for inspiration. This includes anything from art nouveau and art deco, to hippie chic and Hollywood glam. The biggest trend they see taking hold, however, is a colourful tropical vibe – think palm trees, jungles and lush green designs with organic shapes.

Venues See Surge in Creativity According to the 2019 Meetings & Events Future Trends report by CWT, the demand for unorthodox spaces and activities

are on the rise, particularly for mature incentive markets. Places like treehouses, rooftops, and even islands will become more popular, while museums, galleries, sports venues and historic buildings will continue to combine tech, design and experience in new ways. “Traditional midscale and luxury meeting hotels are ramping up their offer to meet the expectation of delegates,” the report says. Emma Chamberlain, Global Supplier Manager for the UK Ireland and Benelux, CWT Meetings and Events, says venues selection in 2019 is “about being adventurous, creative, and having the space not to have to sit on a chair all day. Attendee experience is driving that completely, to ensure each delegate has a successful, creative meeting.”

Budgets Shift to Events With fewer opportunities to market organically on social media and other online networks, marketers are looking at face-to-face as the most effective channel to engage once again. These days, running a series of events is both more affordable and more measurable, says EventMB. “The convergence of martech and eventtech is also highlighting how live experiences deliver on clear business opportunities,” the report explains. That said, strong business acumen and strategies are needed to capitalise on this trend and to deliver great experiences for attendees.

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EVENTS TO DIARISE

DECEMBER FRANSCHHOEK CAP CLASSIQUE AND CHAMPAGNE FESTIVAL 1–2 FRANSCHHOEK, SOUTH AFRICA WORLD SME EXPO 1–3 HONG KONG INTERATIONAL LUXURY TRAVEL MARKET 3–6 CANNES, FRANCE GULF TRAFFIC EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE 4–6 DUBAI, UAE POWER GEN INTERNATIONAL 4–6 ORLANDO, USA MONEY FAIR SHANGHAI 14 – 16 SHANGHAI, CHINA THE SOUK TRADE FAIR 21 – 1 JAN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

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JANUARY NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL AGRO CHEMICALS AND AGRO EQUIPMENT EXHIBITION 4–6 ABUJA, NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL CES 8 – 12 LAS VEGAS, USA THE LONDON TEXTILE FAIR 9 – 10 LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM MEETINGS MOROCCO 10 – 11 MARRAKECH, MOROCCO PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL EXPO 13 – 17 LAS VEGAS, USA WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT 14 – 17 ABU DHABI, UAE WFES SOLAR 14 – 17 ABU DHABI, UAE WFES WATER 14 – 17 ABU DHABI, UAE WFES ECOWASTE 14 – 17 ABU DHABI, UAE NEPCON JAPAN 16 – 18 TOKYO, JAPAN

THE HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW 18 – 20, 25 – 27 BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND; DUBLIN, IRELAND INTERSEC 20 – 22 DUBAI, UAE SHOWCASE, IRELAND’S CREATIVE EXPO 20 – 23 DUBLIN, IRELAND WORLD OF CONCRETE 22 – 25 LAS VEGAS, USA

EVENTS TO DIARISE

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INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY TOKYO 23 – 26 TOKYO, JAPAN FITUR 23 – 27 MADRID, SPAIN BRIDAL EXPO 26 – 27 KRUGERSDORP, SOUTH AFRICA ARAB HEALTH 28 – 31 DUBAI, UAE ECOMMERCE EXPO PRAGUE 29 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC IHS ENERGY SOUTH AFRICAN COAL EXPORTS CONFERENCE 30 – 1 FEBRUARY CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

FEBRUARY INVESTING IN AFRICAN MINING INDABA 4–7 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA GEORGE OLD CAR SHOW 9 – 10 GEORGE, SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL EXPO 9 – 10 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ESMO SUMMIT AFRICA 15 – 17 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA ICMIMT 15 – 17 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA CAPE TOWN ART FAIR 15 – 17 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN IN ENERGY CONFERENCE 18 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA UGANDA TRADE EXPO 19 – 20 KAMPALA, UGANDA AFRICA ENERGY INDABA 19 – 20 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA AFRICA SOLAR SHOW 19 – 20 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

AFRICA LIGHTING EXPO 19 – 20 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA AIR CARGO AFRICA 19 – 21 KEMPTON PARK, SOUTH AFRICA SIGN AFRICA 20 NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA MY BUSINESS EXPO JOBURG 20 – 21 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA KZN CONSTRUCTION TRADE EXPO 20 – 21 DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA CLARENS CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL 22 – 23 BETHLEHEM, SOUTH AFRICA MEETINGS AFRICA 25 – 27 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT 25 – 28 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA DESIGN INDABA 27 – 1 MARCH CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA HOMEMAKERS EXPO 28 – 3 MARCH JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Image by Matthew Essman via Unsplash

PROMOTION TRADE EXHIBITION 23 – 25 MILAN, ITALY

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ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

UFI LAUNCHES 2019 AWARDS IN FIVE CATEGORIES UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has launched the 2019 UFI Awards. Organisers, venue operators, and service providers are all encouraged to take part and share their best practice cases for five separate categories: HR Management, Digital Innovation, Marketing, Operations & Services, and Sustainable Development.

This year, UFI has aligned timelines for the awards, resulting in a shared deadline for all applications of 1 March 2019.

For 2019, the respective themes for the UFI Awards are: • HR Award: Employer branding: How to attract and retain key skills • Digital Innovation: What is digital innovation for you • Marketing: Best influencer campaign • Operations & Services: Productivity improvements in operations and services using SMART technology • Sustainable Development: Best sustainable development communication UFI Awards are open to both UFI members and non-members.

Participation is free of charge for members. For more info, visit www.ufi.org/awards

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Rudi Van Der Vyver Chief Executive Officer at SAACI

CHOOSING STAFF IS MORE THAN JUST FILLING A ROLE The business events industry is and has always been a very client-facing industry. We are in the business of creating experiences and these experiences start from the very first interaction between a client and your staff and also from the first experience of a delegate with your staff.

This being said, how do you recruit staff? We often step into the trap of looking at certain roles within our companies as low ranking or entry level positions. These are usually positions like receptionists, security staff, housekeepers and waiters, to name a few, but are they really that low level in terms of client and/or delegate interaction? The answer is NO, they are not at all. The very people tasked with these roles are responsible for the first interaction a client or delegate will have with your company. Is it then not a huge risk to put people in these positions who aren’t properly equipped or experienced to deal with clients in a manner reflecting your brand promise, just because they aren’t identified as crucial roles? Imagine your own experience when entering a venue’s premises and the security guard is rude or doesn’t understand English properly.

What is the first impression created by this staff member with a client or delegate? They say first impressions last, and this is very true for the business events industry, based on experience creation as well as the hospitality industry, who’s supposed to have their main focus on just that…hospitality.

To sum this all up, be careful how you rate and view roles within your organisation. When identifying the requirements a candidate should have

for a role, ensure that you link this back directly to the path a client or delegate would follow. Who will really be carrying your brand and brand promise from the first interaction to last and ensure that these roles are fulfilled by people with the desire and skills to serve, create and strengthen the experience you want to create from a brand perspective? Service is the main driver for excellence in our industry and this is often the only differentiating factor in a tough economic environment. Don’t get caught out!

ASSOCIATIONS NEWS

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The Tourism Business Council of South Africa welcomes the announcement of investment commitments totalling R294 billion at the recently concluded inaugural Investment Conference hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Sandton. TBCSA believes that the commitments, once converted into live investment, will go a long way towards the realisation of the creation of 275 000 jobs identified by the President at the Jobs Summit, held earlier this month in Midrand.

“South Africa’s tourism sector presents a number of investment opportunities. Business tourism is one of the fastest growing areas of the sector. We have over 1 000 high-quality conference and exhibition venues that are supported by a National Convention Bureau. There are also attractive opportunities for commercial ventures in eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and sports tourism,” says TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa.

Leatitia van Straten Chairperson of AAXO

CREATIVITY AND DESIGN ARE VITAL TO EXHIBITION STAND SUCCESS Ever wondered why visitors gravitate towards certain stands and not others?

It has to do with the clever design of the stand! (And sometimes an incentive to go there, like the free coffee.) It takes real talent and creativity to design an exhibition stand that meets the clients’ objectives, is practical and looks good. But some stands just have that something extra that attracts visitors like bees to honey; gravitating towards something friendly or inviting. This can be achieved through the artful use of design, colour, props and products on display.

These tools subconsciously trigger certain associations and reactions. By incorporating pastels or neutral shades, you can replicate a feeling of calmness (think bedrooms, living rooms, etc).

For a business stand, dark blue implies trust, and is prevalent in especially the finance, security and health sectors. Warmer colours like red and orange engage a visitor’s excitement and energy and are often used in entertainment and sports.

Essentially, your stand should represent your brand. Therefore to have an amazing stand, spend a little more time planning with your design team and get the use of design and colour just right to meet your objectives.

For reputable stand design and build, contact any of the AAXO-approved suppliers on www.aaxo.co.za or EXSA members on www.exsa.co.za

ICCA BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW CEO The ICCA Board has selected and approved European Affairs Recruitment Specialists as the agency that will be assisting in the selection and evaluation process of a new CEO for the organisation. Applications opened on 26 October and close on 15 January 2019. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed endJanuary and February 2019, with an expected start date of April 2019.

ICCA has created a detailed overview of the CEO job description and expectation of the position on their website. Key areas of responsibility include the successful implementation of ICCA’s worldwide strategic management, which includes drafting strategy for discussion and approval by the Board of Directors, overseeing overall financial performance, delivering strategic objectives, and representing the association’s interests to third parties.

The role is ideal for someone with robust leadership skills and comes with a high level of exposure on strategic projects, with a strong focus on financial governance. For more info, visit www.iccaworld.org.

Potential candidates can send their resume and motivation letter to Anna Koj: anna.koj@theears.eu.

Marlin Jackson via Unsplash

TBCSA WELCOMES INVESTMENT INTO ECONOMY

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DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS

AAXO PAGE 31 T.

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E. info@aaxo.co.za W. www.aaxo.co.za Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo

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E. info@expocentre.co.za W. www.expocentre.co.za

Conference centre PAGE 20 T. +27 11 897 0000 E. reservations@birchwoodhotel.co.za W. www.birchwoodhotel.co.za Cathedral Peak PAGE 16 T. +27 36 488 1888

IBTM Arabia OUTSIDE BACK COVER T. +44 20 8910 7743 E. anna.keeton@reedexpo.co.uk W. www.ibtmarabia.com

E. samantha@cathedralpeak.co.za W. www.cathedralpeak.co.za CTICC PAGE 03 T.

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CONTACTS

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Cover Image: The #NowhereBetter campaign was launched by Wesgro’s Destination Marketing Unit in partnership with key stakeholders in the tourism and travel industry.

The cover image depicts Cape Town and the Western Cape’s vibrant night life. © Wesgro Website: www.nowherebetter.co.za Publisher: Lance Gibbons lance@filmeventmedia.co.za Managing Editor: Katie Reynolds-Da Silva katie@filmeventmedia.co.za Editor: Kim Crowie kim@filmeventmedia.co.za Head of Design: Sheree Steenkamp sheree@filmeventmedia.co.za Graphic Designer: Liam Abrahams design1@filmeventmedia.co.za Business Manager: Gary Randall gary@filmeventmedia.co.za Business Development Manager: Brett Alexander brett@filmeventmedia.co.za Production Manager: Katlego Molele katlego@filmeventmedia.co.za Digital Manager: Cheri Morris digital@filmeventmedia.co.za Production & Digital Assistant: Molele Molele molele@filmeventmedia.co.za 2 Dingle Avenue, Kenilworth, 7708 Tel: +27 21 674 0646

JOIN US www.theevent.co.za DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in The Event do not necessarily represent the official viewpoint of the editor or the publisher, while inclusion of adverts/ advertising features does not imply endorsement of any business, product or service. Copyright of this material is reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, The Event and/or its employees may not be held liable or responsible for any act or ommission committed by any person, including a juristic person, referred to in this publication. It and they furthermore accept(s) no responsibility for any liability arising out of any reliance that a reader of this publication places on the contents of this publication.

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