The Event issue 7- 2014 by Film & Event Media

DAMAGE DEPOSITS We Turn up the Heat

TOP TRENDS An Industry Leader Speaks Out

MARKEX 2014 in Review

CONTENTS | 01

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2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

‘Remarkable Rwanda’ attracts business worth millions at IMEX Century City to Compete with CTICC for Business Events IBTM America: New Dynamic Trade Show Format Gearing Up for SETE 2014 Zimbabwe Awarded Best Tourist Destination 2014 Damage Deposits: Effects on the Events Industry

10. Markex 2014 Transformed 14. Applying International Trends to Local Exhibitions

18. African Aviation – Is the Industry Ready to Carry the World?

21. Event Greening Forum: Tech and Greening Go Hand-In-Hand

Spotlight on Damage Deposits

Markex in Retrospect

A controversial and necessary talking point.

The gambles that paid off - and more.

22. Finalists Announced for Loeries/ Markex Competition

26. Almost a Million Dazzled by Madame Zingara

28. Brazil World Cup - Worth it? 29. Dinner in the Sky 30. Ghana: The Friendly Nation 32. Limpopo: A Taste of the Extraordinary

34. KW Conferences Partners with IT&CM India 2014

Top Trends in Business Events

African Aviation

An industry leader claims its space.

Are your tray tables properly stowed? It’s time for take-off!

36. Events 38. Associations 40. Directory

02 | NEWS

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‘REMARKABLE RWANDA’ attracts business worth millions at Imex Wins worth up to US$5-million could be secured following Frankfurt as nation aims to be ‘first middle-class country in Africa’

wanda’s emerging convention bureau got off to a flying start at IMEX in Frankfurt, netting up to US$5 million (£3m) in potential business leads. Rick Taylor, CEO of the Business Tourism Company, which is working with the Rwandan government to get the new bureau off the ground, said the show had been ‘amazing’ with a large amount of interest resulting from its 21 appointments. Rwanda is currently ranked 21st for Africa in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) league tables, but Taylor wants to see it enter the top five by 2020. He said people were keen to see the country brought to its knees by genocide two decades ago back on its feet once again. And with the Kigali Convention Centre opening at the end of 2015, and the appointment of Frank Murangwa as the MICE unit’s division manager, it is taking a number of steps in the right direction. “There is a calmness there which is quite intriguing, and there is this compassion which maybe adds to that calmness,” said Taylor. “The world will always be competitive, but there is this compassion which has become quite strong in the last three to five years.” Taylor admitted there had been ‘a lot of conversations’ at IMEX about safety in the East African nation, rebranded for the show as ‘Remarkable Rwanda’, adding: “We have a huge perception to overcome.” “The first thing everybody asks is safety, and I can look you in the eye and tell you it is absolutely safe; people walk everywhere at all times of day or night.” He is determined to steer Rwanda towards its aim of becoming one of the most affluent countries on the continent, and also to progress from its original gorillacentric tourism. “Rwanda is particularly investor-friendly - the dream is to be the first middle class country in Africa. And all these

ambitious goals are totally doable, it has got remarkable potential,” he said. Total revenues based on MICE tourism in 2013 reached US$49-million (£29.3-million), and this is projected to triple to US$150million (£89.5-million) in 2015 - equivalent to 16% of all national export earnings, and 34% of the overall tourism receipts. Taylor, who set up the Cape Town Convention Bureau in 1998, and was the first CEO of the South African Tourism CVB in 2004, has a three-stage plan to

implement for Rwanda to become a worldclass destination. Firstly, the Business Tourism Company will be working with corporate companies and associations at a regional level to bring business into East Africa, before widening its sights to attract events from across Africa. Then it will look to target the UK and European markets successfully within the next five years. “We are starting from scratch, with a blank piece of paper,” he added. “Really, the only way is up from here.”

04 | NEWS

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Image Courtesy of Rabie Property Group

CENTURY CITY TO COMPETE with CTICC for Business Events

entury City, one Cape Town’s largest shopping, business and lifestyle destinations, has announced the construction of a new 1,900-seater conference centre. It will provide extra capacity to the existing 450-seater, five-star conference centre at African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel and Spa, which is currently the second-largest centre in the Mother City. Danny Bryer, Director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue for African Pride Hotels, says that it will cement the area’s position as the city’s first one-stop business-events destination. “African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa opened four-and-a-half years ago with the express purpose of creating an executive property that offered a luxury conferencing experience hitherto unavailable in Cape Town,” Bryer says. “The hotel’s conference centre was so successful with both the domestic and international business events markets that we had to expand it fairly quickly to its current capacity of 450 delegates. There are often waiting lists for the nine executive boardrooms, but the jewel in the crown is the large conference and exhibition space overlooking the Grand Canal. It accommodates around 350 people and has been the frequent location of international

Image Courtesy of Rabie Property Group

car launches and similar high-profile events.” The Rabie Property Group, who is developing the Century City Conference Centre (CCCC), says that it should be completed by late next year. According to Rabie, the centre will have a total capacity of 1,900 in 20 venues and a 125-room hotels – all to be built around a new public square in Century City as part of a ZAR1-billion mixed use development. Three adjoining halls will have a total capacity of around 900 delegates cinema style, with a fourth hall accommodating a further 480 delegates. The multi-function venues will also be available for banqueting and exhibitions and the centre will reportedly have fibre-optic

broadband and specialised menus that cater to everything from low-carb diets to vegetarian eating plans. Bryer says that the new meeting space will certainly compete with the CTICC for market share. It will also create greater opportunities for Cape Town to host large-scale conferences and expos for the business events market. “African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa will continue to lead the market in Century City because it delivers five-star, personalised and bespoke meetings, events and conferences,” Bryer says. “The hotel is already positioned as the premier luxury meetings destination in Cape Town and that will not change.”

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IBTM America

New Dynamic Trade Show Format for Chicago 2015

BTM America 2015 is to be the new name for a transformation of the event that took place as AIBTM in Florida this week. The new concept is simple but dynamic. IBTM America will remove the costs associated with exhibiting at a trade show by designing a unique turnkey solution where an innovative pod design, completely integrated in an exhibitor meeting space, will give privacy to meetings between buyers and suppliers. In consultation with the industry, and members of the US Advisory Board, who identified the need for trade shows in this industry to prioritise the time given to meetings with premium buyers but in the most cost effective way, the new event will have now have a 1-1 ratio of buyers and suppliers. Exhibitors will pay one price for a modular booth design ready on arrival for them to start their business of meetings. IBTM America will have 250 suppliers who will meet with 250 of the most prestigious planners in the global MICE industry. Both buyers and suppliers will be doing business inbound and outbound from the US. Planners will be from the corporate, association, governmental and third party sectors. The exhibitors will be from all sectors of the MICE market and will be split 60% US and 40% international.

New for 2015: 1. 2.

Show layout – all exhibitors will be provided with an identical booth. The 8ft x 8ft turnkey exhibit pod will

be ready for the arrival of the exhibitor. There will be no more additional costs associated with set up or tear down, no freight or drayage giving a hassle-free way to exhibit. All exhibitors will be on a level playing field – each pod is the same, everything is included in the price. Exhibitors and Buyers will take part in a mutual match system for their appointment diary. This means both parties choose who they wish to do business with; the first time exhibitors have been given this option. Hosted Buyers will be rigorously prequalified, personally invited and the most senior decision makers with guaranteed purchasing power. Each Hosted Buyer will have 30 pre-scheduled appointments giving exhibitors a similar schedule of meetings over the course of the event. Building further connections, the community of IBTM America will join together for bespoke networking events, and the inspirational IBTM professional Knowledge Forum.

“We have created IBTM America to be a brand new trade show experience. It’s exclusive and private, similar to the two successful launches of the table-top 1-1 mutual match event concept with both IBTM India and IBTM Africa. Whilst we are in the early stages of design, we have extended the creative concept from a table top to a private booth with branding space that ensures an intimate environment, and a turnkey solution, that gives both buyers and sellers a focused face-to-face meeting space. Having received excellent industry feedback for this new trade show concept, we are excited about the opportunity it gives our customers in the US,” says Sallie Coventry, Portfolio Director, IBTM Global Events Portfolio. “IBTM America will now give the US meetings industry its own niche event that is focused on the business of meetings, no distractions, no time-wasting, and enabling both buyers and sellers to have their own community in one place for 2 days,” concluded Coventry. IBTM America will take place in Chicago in June 2015.

06 | NEWS

Gearing Up for

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SETE 2014

he KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Durban Tourism are hosting the Sport and Event Tourism Exchange (SETE) for the third time since its inception in 2011. Organised by Thebe Reed Exhibitions, SETE is a vibrant business-to-business platform that is aimed at positioning South Africa as a sports and events tourism destination. It encourages collaboration between the sports, events and tourism industries who will showcase their product offerings to the attending international hosted buyers and SA corporates specializing in these sectors, and who are interested in bringing business to South Africa. SETE consists of a two-day conference

and exhibition with networking events. The event will attract visitors comprising senior decision-makers in the sports, events and tourism industry. Phillip Sithole, head of Durban Tourism, said, “The City of Durban has a reputation and proven track record of being Africa’s Sports and Events Capital, through the successful hosting of major global events such as AFCON, FIFA World Cup Soccer, Super14 Rugby and many more.” “SETE is without a doubt the most important trade show for sport and cultural events in Africa. The hosting of this event has provided Durban and the province of KwaZulu-Natal with an opportunity to showcase its wide range of sporting and other event-related venues and to engage with the wide range of local and

international buyers that attend this show. Durban has for example been shortlisted as a potential host for the Commonwealth Games. The national decision to bid for this event was made at SETE 2013,” said James Seymour the head of the Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau The SETE 2014 event will take place from 28-30 October and will welcome pre-selected high calibre International Hosted Buyers, a larger scope of services and products specifically related to tourism and sport and also expose Africa’s finest destinations to the sporting and event fraternity.

New Visa Rules May Hamper Tourism Industry

ince the end of May 2014, a new set of South African immigration and visa rules have been instituted by the Department of Home Affairs. Cape Town Tourism has joined those calling for a review of the new laws, with CEO Enver Duminy saying that the new regulations “pose a serious threat to tourism growth”. “Whilst many countries are doing their utmost to make travel user-friendly, we are building barriers,” he says, “This does not bode well for our efforts to attract developing markets and it will certainly be a deterrent to those wanting to enjoy extended stays in Cape Town.” Cape Town Tourism is working in conjunction with the City of Cape Town, WESGRO, Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA), Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) and various other representatives from and on behalf of the tourism industry to meet with the national Department of Tourism to “understand the

full impact of the new procedures, in order to evaluate the impact and assess the necessary reaction plan.” Among the key issues affecting tourism is the fact that in-destination visitors can only apply for a visa extension under new grounds from their country of origin, essentially prohibiting them from staying on. Another issue is that parents travelling with children are expected to produce an unabridged birth certificate – not the standard certificate supplied – which can take up to three months to procure. A grace period has been introduced to phase it in by October. According the new regulations, visas processed in India and China must now be biometrically created. Since there are only two biometric stations, would-be travellers must first go to the city where the system is housed, which may be a significant distance from the traveller’s place of origin. Cape Town Tourism has consulted with several stakeholders and found that youth travel, habitual European travellers, socially conscious tourism such as voluntourism,

family holidays and business and conferencing are all under threat. According to Global Migration South Africa, the new visa procedures could put ZAR1 billion in investment and 1,600 local jobs at risk. Rob Kucera, FEDHASA Cape’s new Chairperson says the organisation is worried by the amendments to the Immigrations Act. “We are concerned that we were not taken into confidence before the amendments were drafted and later approved. Consequently, this will have a negative business impact on tourism, which currently contributes more than ZAR93 billion to the country’s GDP and over 610,000 direct jobs.” Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba responded by announcing that South Africa is busy setting up eleven new visa facilitation centres, to be managed by VFS Global. The specialist service will run centres across SA’s nine provinces, automating the application process. This comes on the back of the Department’s introduction of high-volume missions abroad.

NEWS | 07

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ZIMBABWE AWARDED

World's Best Tourist Destination 2014 by UNTWO

European Union delegation recently arrived in Harare to award Zimbabwe after the nation successfully hosted the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) conference with Zambia last year. The delegation was led by European Union Council on Tourism and Trade President Anton Caragea, who said that the nation is now one of the best tourism destinations in the world. “Our main issue is to honour Zimbabwe as the best tourist destination for 2014,” he told journalists on arrival in the capital. “The country was elected and cherished for its diverse culture and natural beauty. Zimbabwe is a beacon of tourism and a symbol of the African renaissance.” He added that Zimbabwe was given the title of World’s Best Tourist Destination 2014 for successfully organising the UNTWO world event “despite tremendous

logistic and economic challenges” among other reasons. Caragea went on to say that it “proves without a doubt the capacity of Zimbabwe authority and tourism industry to organize world level events and to host all levels of tourism.” The UNTWO conference was cohosted by the nation’s resort town of Victoria Falls and Zambia’s Livingstone town from 24-29 August 2013. This award is a defining moment in Zimbabwe’s tumultuous history, giving the nation a chance to progress even further. In 2010, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) rated the Motherland as the thirdfastest growing tourism industry after Qatar and Lebanon. WTO projected that from 2011, its tourism economy would be second only to China. Although this didn’t quite happen, the country’s tourism potential has now been launched onto the global stage, which will no

Garybembridge Heroes Acre, Harare, Zimbabwe

doubt help Zimbabwe’s tourism sector reach its goal of a 15% contribution to the national GDP in 2014.

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DAMAGE DEPOSITS AND THEIR EFFECTS on the Events Industry

ilm and Event Media recently conducted the first of many round table discussions. Generously hosted by the Sandton Convention Centre, CEOs and Directors from South Africa’s leading event’s organisers, suppliers and venues took part in a robust debate on the subject of damages deposits and the effects they have on the events industry.

Attendees: Advocate Louis Nel Andrew Gibbs – Concept G Brad Alder – Octanorm Brad Hook – Thebe Reed Bronwyn Cadle Du Pont – CSIR Carl Mellors – The Event Craig Newman – Expo Centre Gary Corin – Specialised Exhibitions Gill Gibbs – Concept G Justin Hawes – Scan Display Katie Reynolds – Film and Event Media Mati Nyazema – Sandton Convention Centre Nigel Walker – Complete Exhibitions Ricky Da Costa – Tshwane Events Centre Sue Gannon – EXSA Taryn Fowler – Film and Event Media

Overview The general procedure for implementing a damage deposit is that the organiser and the venue conduct an inspection of the venue, usually with a representative from the organiser’s safety team. Existing damages are then listed, and an agreement is made that states that the organisers will be liable for any variation to the state of the venue during the running of the show. The problem arises when organisers bring in contractors and subcontractors, and then do not properly oversee the quality of their work. These so-called ‘rogue’ subcontractors often do not feel accountable for their actions, and do not have the integrity of the venue at heart.

Advocate Louis Nel and Film & Event Media’s Taryn Fowler

Damage is done to the venue that ultimately no party wants to take responsibility for.

The cores issues surrounding damage deposits: •

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Issue 1: Where does the ownership lie with regard to making sure the subcontractors do not cause damage? This must be clearly identified in all the contracts. Sub-issue: Contractors don’t have a contractual relationship with the organiser; they have one with the exhibitor. The best option would be to draft a diagram/process-flow chart depicting all the parties (e.g. who is contracting who; who is indemnifying these parties). This can be used at the proposed workshops. Issue 2: Organisers do not put aside enough time to do a thorough initial

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inspection, and are therefore not aware of the extent of the existing damage to a venue. This can lead to the organiser refusing to pay for damage because there is no consensus that the damage was caused by their team. Any such inspection should be minuted, photos taken and attached, and both these signed/initialled, forming part of the contract. Issue 3: Some organisers will scratch clauses off the contract because they are not willing to pay damage deposits. During the course of the discussion, one venue stated that they allowed organisers to do this, while another categorically stated that this was not allowed. Contract management: Ensuring all contracts are completed, each page and all addendums initialled, the last page signed by a duly authorised person, and an executive summary

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Comments in red are by Advocate Louis Nel The submission of a safety file should be (1) non-negotiable, (2) required in all contracts and (3) be a suspensive condition.

A basic outline of potential solutions •

Industry heavyweights drilled down into key issues aﬀecting the business events sector.

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• Andrew and Gill Gibbs of ConCept G

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prepared and implemented. No workshops should be started before this is done. Issue 4: What is the chain of responsibility? Is it venue to organiser, organiser to exhibitor, exhibitor to contractor, contractor to subcontractor? Issue 5: Organisers are circumventing the exhibitor with regard to damage deposits; they directly approach the contractors, which in turn leads to a break in the supply chain. The contract should contain a circumvention clause. Sub-issue: Many believe that the association body does not have the

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necessary authority to enforce the lines of communication in the supply chain. This should be included in the code of conduct so as to be binding on nonmembers as well. Issue 6: Venues are stating one thing but implementing something else, for example, up-to-date and comprehensive safety files. Sub-issue: There was a claim during the debate that all contractors are not dealt with in the same way. In some instances international stand builders get away without providing a safety file as organisers find it too difficult to engage them on the issue.

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Potential solution 1: Blacklisting irresponsible contractors (however this must be done in consultation with the organiser and the exhibitor) This must be a term of the contract and must not fall foul of the National Credit Act. Potential solution 2: A formal accreditation and verification process for contractors and sub-contractors whereby they have to apply to become a ‘recognised’ service provider to the industry. Credible contractors receive ID badges. Sub-point: Every stand-builder would need to be a member of the same industry association to administrate this effectively at an industry level. The onus remains with the organiser to ensure effective precautionary control measures are in place to track safe working practices on each site at each event Potential solution 3: On-site stakeholders ‘policing’ the contractors. Potential solution 4: Performance bonds across the board. This is a good idea as it frees up cash, but they must be linked to contract and adequate insurance. Sub-point: This cannot be a blanket approach to the issue, and relates back to the question “should the organiser make the contractor or the exhibitor pay a damage deposit?” Potential solution 5: Signing of tighter contracts with exhibitors upfront. Potential solution 6: Educating clients and exhibitors more through briefings and communication.

Film and Event Media encourages readers to engage with us further on this topic. Please direct all feedback to katie@filmeventmedia.co.za

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MARKEX 2014 Transformed!

he Event sat down with Leatitia van Staden, Marketing Director and Leigh Miller, Marketing Manager of Specialised Exhibitions, to chat about the Joburg show.

What was different this year? We rebranded, and it’s a big rebrand if you knew our previous logo! We also swapped the halls, so the trade hall was below, and that seems to have worked very well this year. From a marketing point of view, we’ve got new partners on board and we are tapping into new members. We’ve also focused on social, SMS and email campaigns, and the online registration on our website was great. This year we did the USB seminar theatre, which was free to attend for visitors. And then we also partnered with the MICE Academy, where if you attend their workshops you got CDP points and then a certificate. The handing out of the certificates took place on the show floor. We also had Everlytic workshops (free to attend) which looked at the current digital marketing landscape, and where you could

learn about the value of email, mobile and social marketing in South Africa We also did a new product display of about seventeen glass cabinets featuring new products, so everyone can have a look at the new products and then go find the exhibitors in the hall. Markex is a fun brand and a fun show, and this year it was as vibey as ever! The stands and branding were so beautiful.

What do you think were the major successes of this year’s Markex, and what will you do differently next year? • Visitors • New products display • Quality of exhibitors For 2015 you will have to wait and see…

Feedback from Markex 2014 exhibitors: • “Our experience this year was very positive, we met a lot of clients that we don’t usually get the time to talk to during a working year. It’s been very positive to spend quality time with different clients in one place and also getting a chance to show them new samples”- Andrew Murray of Mass Supply • “We had a dynamic year at Markex, a lot of fresh faces and it’s good to connect with new clients. There’s been a lot of new leads, it’s good to see different types of customers coming through as well, which is really good” Paul Collins from Fruit of the Loom • “I’ve had a good experience, it’s a great marketing platform to come and exhibit. I’m a religious Markex exhibitor

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“ •

Markex is a fantastic platform to showcase what our company is about. I think we’ve met a number of relevant leads which we’re excited to convert to loyal customers.

and it’s the only marketing exercise that we do. It seems to work for me and the company” – Les Karon of I-Touch Exhibitions “From a business point of view, making new contacts and meeting people in the same industry doing things that we do, our experience has been rewarding. We’ve made a lot of contact in terms of people that we could use in the industry, which is fantastic. I think that the range of exhibits

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has been really good, with a couple of extra categories I didn’t spot last year” Belinda Denzler of Oomph Africa “Markex is a fantastic platform to showcase what our company is about. I think we’ve met a number of relevant leads which we’re excited to convert to loyal customers. It’s a great opportunity to see what other exhibitors have to offer too” - Louise Cameron of Monster Productions & Events

12 | CONCEPT G

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PROPER PLANNING prevents poor performance...

he definition of PLANNING is: “A basic management function involving formulation of one or more detailed plans to achieve optimum balance of needs or demands with the available resources.” A PLAN is “A scheme, programme, course of action or method worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of an objective. A systematic arrangement of elements or important parts; a configuration or outline.” Says Andrew Gibbs, MD, ConCept G Exhibitions & Events, “From the onset of our planning processes, we identify the goals or objectives to be achieved, as well

as our strategy to attain them. We study the scope of work and what is required to achieve the deliverables beyond expectation. It is somewhat like conducting an orchestra - we gather the group, check that all involved have the correct instruments and requirements, we follow the scope of work and formulate the plan, we implement, direct, conduct and monitor all the project steps in their proper sequence to achieve project collaboration.” As far as ConCept G Exhibitions & Events is concerned, project planning is part of project management and planning is a discipline. Says Gibbs, “From the project inception, we break down the project,

The German Pavilion at Africa Health

then plan and set up schedules in order to monitor the project progress, allocating tasks to the relevant responsible project managers and team leaders within a given timeline. Throughout the project process, the progress schedules are updated and the allocated project managers and team leaders must report on their progress within the project environment. We are hard task masters and we do not accept second best.” The report back system ensures effective management of any project snags that may arise - and anyone in the business of temporary or permanent architecture will verify that snags do occur - and how the solutions are achieved. This could

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be anything from materials being out of stock with the industry suppliers to that of certain materials that have been specified from an overseas client that are not available locally. Alternatives are sourced and communicated to the client accordingly. The effective planning processes and team experience allow for these occurrences to be pre-empted.

Why PLANNING is so important: Planning increases the efficiency of any business and ensures its longevity. Planning ensures proactive work. Abraham Lincoln said, “If I had 60

minutes to cut down a tree, I would spend 40 minutes sharpening the axe and 20 minutes cutting it down.” For every minute spent planning, you save 10 minutes in execution- ConCept G takes the time to make the time. The discipline of PLANNING inherent to ConCept G, came to the fore when they were awarded the bespoke German Pavilion for Africa Health, held at Gallagher Convention Centre, from 29 to 31 May. Successful Pavilion realisation was achieved through the team’s dedication, experience and discipline in project management and planning. Says Gill Gibbs, CEO, “A project of this nature deserves adequate time for planning and execution. Fortunately, our client is an OSPI member and is fully versed in the exhibition and event arena. We were given the correct project timelines and OSPI support to achieve successful project realisation.” OSPI (Octanorm Service Partners International) comprises skilled partners with country-specific exhibition stand expertise in more than 50 countries across five different continents, a partnership that is founded on trust, reliance and reassurance. The philosophy of Octanorm Service Partner International is ‘’cooperation based on trust in the area of exhibition stand construction no matter where in the world’’. It is true to say that OSPI is more than just the natural anodized aluminium system, Octanorm and its R&D – OSPI is about trust, reassurance and deliverables. This is emphasized by the fact that the German Pavilion was predominantly bespoke, with a few System elements, being

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If I had 60 minutes to cut down a tree, I would spend 40 minutes sharpening the axe and 20 minutes cutting it down. For every minute spent planning, you save 10 minutes in execution - ConCept G takes the time to make the time.

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Octanorm showcases and lockable counters, with white powder-coated aluminium profiles. When asked what contributed to the successful realisation of the German Pavilion, says Andrew, “Attention to detail, breaking down the project into sectors with full team allocation, fully accountable for their areas of responsibility. Proficient PLANNING, constant communication with the client, consistent reassuring, asking the right questions and using our experience and expertise to execute adeptly.” Closing off a project is as important as the project planning and execution. How you close is crucial in the interests of sustainability and longevity of an organisation. Project Management can be studied and trained, however it is completely effective when experience is prevalent to back up the training and qualification. The team at ConCept G has many years of experience in the fi eld and this makes all the difference for them in the respect of going beyond the ordinary.

14 | SPOTLIGHT

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APPLYING INTERNATIONAL TRENDS to Local Exhibitions Justin Hawes, Managing Director of Scan Display Solutions, a leader in the Southern African exhibition and display industry, gives a perspective on current industry trends.

All Images Courtesy of Scan Display

ne thing we all know for certain is that ‘the only thing constant in life is change.’ Today, in the 21st century, this seems like an understatement, as we are experiencing what feels like an avalanche of change with the incredibly rapid development of technology having a profound impact on our lives. The world is smaller and we know so much more. And of course the commercial world, especially the marketing field, is at the forefront of it all. This is where exhibitions, integral to the marketing mix, enter the equation. Things are changing rapidly in the exhibition industry too and we constantly see new trends emerging at shows and in stand design.

The latest trends Earlier this year Scan Display sent a team of nine staff members to Euroshop 2014 in Düsseldorf, Germany. This is the largest retail trade fair in the world, showcasing the latest international exhibition and display trends. This year’s show included 2 226 exhibitors from 57 countries, attracting more than 109 000 trade visitors from 110 countries. Of course the Scan team came back invigorated with new ideas! Our first opportunity to apply some of the Euroshop trends was at Markex Jhb, where we made a great effort to bring exhibition design closer to nature.

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Earlier this year Scan Display sent a team of nine staff members to Euroshop 2014 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the largest retail trade fair in the world.Of course the Scan team came back invigorated with new ideas!

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The majority of our stand had a natural wooden finish, in line with the trend of using natural, untreated and uncoated finishes. We are seeing the introduction of ‘earthy’ elements with driftwood, concrete and construction pallets being used on stands. At Markex we displayed iPads on wooden logs, with the juxtaposition between natural material and sophisticated technology creating an impact.

16 | SPOTLIGHT

We had limited printed marketing collateral on our stand. Instead, we adopted the international trend of using audio visual marketing material, displaying our product range on iPads, 32 inch touch screens and 40 inch LCD screens. Our stand had no traditional printed panels with graphics and text, as the audio visual tools presented more comprehensive product information. Show visitors are also a lot more ‘techno-savvy’ these days and are not afraid to use new ways to access the information they need.

Our commitment to greening For some time now, Scan Display has been committed to using greening practices both within the company and externally, for the stands we design and build for clients. We have appointed four ‘green teams’ – two in Johannesburg and one each in Cape Town and Durban - to promote eco-friendly practices throughout the company. We have

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also led the way in producing eco-friendly exhibition stands and displays in Southern Africa. We were instrumental in the formation of the Event Greening Forum, an association formed to promote sustainable and ethical business practices within the events industry in South Africa. Last year we won a sustainable development award from UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, for the South African Climate Change Response Expo hosted at COP17 in Durban in 2011. UFI, which has more than 600 members in 85 countries, selected Scan as the winner of the ‘Best Innovative Environmental Initiative’ award based on “Scan Display’s full approach to sustainability in this challenging project, which started from a parking lot and ended up as a comprehensive concept.” Other UFI environmental award winners were the Cape Town International Convention Centre and Amsterdam RAI. We are proud to be up there with the best!

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For example, in the open meeting areas at Meetings Africa this year we concentrated on recycling, including untreated wooden floors and benches, and even recycled car tyres with a fresh coat of paint for seating.

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We apply sound environmental principles to every project we undertake. For example, in the open meeting areas at Meetings Africa this year we concentrated on recycling, including untreated wooden floors and benches, and even recycled car tyres with a fresh coat of paint for seating. We have recently launched our latest portfolio publication, which was printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. It is important to remember with greening that there is no single winning formula. According to the latest UFI report on the Status of Sustainability in the Exhibition Industry, one of the challenges of sustainability is that there cannot be a standard ‘check-list’ of actions, as it is up to each company to assess its priorities, given its own environment. Flexibility is required and it is important to involve the entire supply chain.

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Many of the most popular stands at Euroshop used their spaces socially. Visitors could sit down and relax, drink coffee and speak to the exhibitors. In line with this trend, Scan Display teamed up with Grind Mobile Coffee at Markex Jhb, serving complimentary coffee and SA’s latest craze, Bubble Tea, to visitors.

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Experiential stands Although so-called ‘green’ exhibitions continue to be the biggest industry trend, we also applied other trends at Markex Jhb. This included incorporating social media on our stand. We ran a competition where visitors could take a photo with a Scan Display team member and post it to Facebook or tweet it. The person with the most shares and re-tweets won a two-night stay for two at the Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Spa resort, courtesy of Gooderson Leisure. Every entrant also qualified for the lucky draw for an iPad Mini. People who take the trouble to attend an exhibition – remembering that there are so many ways of purchasing products or services these days – expect to be entertained and educated. There is far more movement and interactivity on stands, with the more formal layouts a thing of the past. Many of the most popular stands at Euroshop used their spaces socially. Visitors could sit down and relax, drink coffee and speak to the exhibitors. In line with this trend, Scan Display teamed up with Grind Mobile Coffee at Markex Jhb, serving complimentary coffee and SA’s latest craze, Bubble Tea, to visitors. I believe South Africans are generally innovative, creative and smart and that our exhibition and display industry often compares with the best in the world. The

challenge is not to get complacent, but to reinvent constantly. At Scan Display we are always striving for better, more efficient and

sustainable ways of doing things, and we plan to continue making our mark on the exhibition industry and helping to introduce new trends.

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AFRICAN AVIATIONIs the Industry Ready to Carry the World?

he aviation industry in Africa is still in its infancy, despite almost every African nation developing their flag carriers as well as a number of regional airlines. Despite its youth, aviation across the continent has grown in leaps and bounds – although it has gone through some rocky patches in the last few years. In December 2012, The Event ran an article on the sheer number of government bailouts the industry had received. These included hundreds of millions of US dollars in bailout for South Africa Airways, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir, Precision Air (Tanzania), Air Zimbabwe, Air Nambia and Air Arik (Nigeria). Some of these bailouts have helped the carriers, while some are beyond repair.

South African Airways (SAA), for example, recently announced that it was planning to enter the West African airline business though a stake acquisition in a Togo-based carrier and setting up its regional operation base in Ghana. South Africa also signed an agreement with Swaziland ained at building essential aviation infrastructure that will “unlock and stimulate regional economic activity”, according to African Aerospace Online News Service. Ethiopian Airlines – now the fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa – recently also secured financing for four new Boeing 777-200LR freighter aircraft, to be delivered between 2014 and 2015, and have also signed a technical support agreement with RwandAir.

Ethiopian also announced the start of four weekly flights to Vienna, Austria, starting in early June. Kenya Airways also recently commenced service in a Nairobi-Paris route with its first B787 Dreamliner. “We are in the process of modernizing our fleet, which is already one of the most modern on the continent at the moment. It is one of the ways through which we aim at consistently providing a world-class experience to our customers across our network of destinations,” Titus Naikuni, Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, said. On the other end of the spectrum, Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi called for the government to subsidise its troubled

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O.R. Tambo International Airport, Courtesy of SA Tourism Cape Town International Airport, Courtesy of SA Tourism

airline. “I have not experienced a national airline in Africa that is viable unless it is subsidised by government,” Mzembi said, mentioning that it was necessary for government to come up with a model that would support the airline’s viability. “At best we should say Air Zimbabwe shall operate at a break-even level,” he said. But analysts say Air Zimbabwe must be recapitalised first as a debt overhang of over US$110 million makes it unattractive for investors. Also in danger of liquidation is Libya’s Afriqiyah Airways, where a merger between Afriqiyah and Libyan Airlines has been suspended as the flag carrier’s home market struggles to contain a simmering civil war. But how does the business events industry deal with this aviation rollercoaster?

Can meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions withstand the pressure of so many ups and downs? Gary Corin, Managing Director at Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, says they can and do – although it can seriously affect delegates. “One of the biggest challenges is if flights get cancelled,” he says, “Our exhibitions are on specific dates annually or even biennially so if a flight is cancelled or delayed it can have a very negative impact on the event.” He goes on to say that delegates prefer global carriers to regional low-cost carriers (LCCs): “Global carriers tend to be more reliable in particular on long-haul routes. Many of our international visitors are quite happy to use local low-cost carriers to venues like Cape Town and Durban, however.”

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We have tremendous competition coming from the Gulf carriers. Dubai is only three and half hours away from Addis, Abu Dhabi and Doha the same. They have been doing very well and now Africa is also in their centre of strategy.

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Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, has warned that reliance on global carriers – Gulf carriers in particular – could mean the end of Africa’s aviation industry. Speaking at the Aviation Club in London, Gebremariam said, “We have tremendous competition coming from the Gulf carriers. Dubai is only three and half hours away from Addis, Abu Dhabi and Doha the same. They have been doing very well and now Africa is also in their centre of strategy.” He said that Europe’s failure to respond to the threat by Gulf carriers has made it very difficult for airlines to operate in Europe. “For passengers travelling from South and North America to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, the only way was through Europe. But now that hub and

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spoke is moving to the Middle East and unfortunately and inadvertently European governments and politicians are helping them move the centre of gravity to the hubs in the Middle East. “We are growing very fast but we have a serious challenge when considering that 80% of traffic between Africa and the rest of the world is controlled by nonAfrican carriers – All of us - Kenya Airways, Ethiopian, South African, Egyptair, Air Morocco, TAG Angola, CAM Air, Rwandair, Arik Air and so on –put together - we only have 20% of the market. This is a big, big challenge if we don’t do something to at least maintain 50% of the market. Otherwise we are going to be swallowed and they are going to have us for their lunch.”

Exorbitant tax rates and fuel prices are also holding African airlines back. In April, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on African governments to work with the aviation industry. “The African industry cannot fulfil its potential if it continues to be weighed down by high costs,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Buying aviation fuel in Africa is about 21% more expensive than the global average, while direct taxes on tickets also have an impact on airlines. “We see a combination of ‘solidarity’ taxes, tourism taxes, VAT, and infrastructure development fees, each of which reduces the ability of aviation to drive economic benefits and generate jobs. Governments must carefully weigh the income generated against lost economic opportunities. There should be a joined-up policy framework that is focused on the benefits of connectivity which would grow in a more favourable tax environment,” said Tyler. Improvements have, however, been realised in Angola, Uganda and Ghana. Tyler also challenged airlines on their safety procedures. “World-class safety is possible in Africa. The safety record of African carriers on the IOSA registry tells us that the key to this is integrating the best safety practices of the industry as captured in the IOSA standards. IATA is committed and actively engaged in helping to enhance African aviation’s safety performance to reach worldwide levels based on the African Strategic Improvement Action Plan,” he said. Elijah Chingosho, the Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) recently said that Africa’s aviation industry was slowed by closed air policies. “The growth of the aviation industry in Africa has been hampered by closed air policies and visa requirements by countries on the continent,” he said. According to him, this is a major concern, as governments favour non-African airlines at the expense indigenous airlines. Whether there will be such a thing as ‘African Aviation’ in the next decade remains to be seen. Ultimately, it is largely up to governments and airlines themselves rather than their business class passengers to band together and create a continental system that services both regional LCCs and international flights. Unity, a clear strategy and continental standardisation will be the only things that sustain African airlines and take them into the future.

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HOW TECHNOLOGY AND GREENING E

go hand-in-hand at exhibitions xhibitions, by virtue of their temporary nature, tend to be wasteful. However the global surge in the use of smartphones and tablets has created opportunities for exhibitors to go green. Adding technology to the exhibition experience not only helps to save the planet but will also get people engaged and excited about what you are offering. Here are some ideas for marrying face-to-face exhibiting with technology, and ensuring that your stand is green.

Before the show You need not wait until the show starts to integrate technology into your exhibition stand. Create a buzz about the upcoming event through social media like Facebook and Twitter. You can even create a once-off website for the upcoming event, or a Facebook page, where you can hear from prospective clients what they expect from the show.

Hand out press kits with a digital edge One should not overlook the value of the press. A good press kit should include quotes, promotional material, a video and photos pre-loaded to a disk or saved onto a flash drive (USB). These are easy to carry around and pass on to other people to share.

Use eco apps to go green Technology can be used to streamline the ordering process used on your stand. One app that does this is Handshake, which can be downloaded free of charge for a trial period. The Handshake Sales Order Manager makes order sales a short task. The IMEX Group and QuickMobile recently released their first annual mobile event technology research study. It revealed that 63% of meeting planners say that

Octanormâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhibition app

visitors expect a mobile app at an event, while 60% of event planners have used an app for at least one of their events over the past two years. It is important to remember to set time aside before the show to upload images and product specs to an app. Staff may also need to practice using the app. Some apps may need to be purchased or require an Internet connection to work. These expenses will need to be budgeted for but are well worth the time and paper saved at shows. EXSA predicts that apps will take over the distribution of exhibition contracts, exhibitor manuals, newsletters, invitations etc and emails will become a thing of the past.

Online is always available Most printed materials are great information resources but unless someone stops by your stand at a show, they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the information. If you publish your information on your website or through social media, prospective clients can find it and share it before, during and even after the show. By choosing the right social media tool

for the job, companies can ensure that they reduce their carbon footprint whilst at the same time reaching a larger audience.

Conclusion Technology can give your company the edge with new ways of connecting with prospective customers. Furthermore it can create a sense of excitement and make your exhibition stand memorable while minimising your environmental impact. The world of exhibitions and technology are both changing at a rapid pace. However, face-to-face marketing is here to stay!

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Vodacom

Competition Finalists Announced for

LOERIES/MARKEX Stand-Building Competition

his year Markex has teamed up with The Loeries and The Event to encourage exhibition stand designers to enter their work to be judged in South Africa’s most prestigious brand communication awards, The Loeries. Congratulations and good luck to KLCK and 3D Design, who will be going up against the very best stands that this continent has to offer at The Loeries in September. The stands are…

Company: Vodacom Creative Agency: 3D Design Stand builders: 3D Design Name of Show: My Broadband Exhibition Stand description: Vodacom’s dynamic image and advertising thrust is aimed at the

youth market and targets life style choice for the young leaders who are looking for the best in technology style, trends and fashion. The inspiration for the design was the Vodacom logo and its organic shape. The circular shape of the stand that could be accessed from all sides was the main draw card for exhibition show visitors. Interactive touch screens were used to maintain interest once visitors were on the stand as well as give a ways such as free beverages. The CNC pattern panels used and circular shape of the stand, creates flow and unifies the overall design. The red LED’s used on the stand made the design glow and enhanced the logo on the ceiling with the added halogens to provide overall soft lighting to the rest of the stand. The use of the bright red colour,

ties in with the Vodacom’s corporate colours and became a demanding point when viewed amongst other stands. The rope curtain created a young and energetic feel to the stand which encircled a chilled lounge feel, allowing the client to interact more informally with its everyday target audience at a more social level of interest. Graphics and a LCD screen were used to provide the target audience with a more detailed description of Vodacom’s services and new products being launched. The reception counter allowed the visitor to be welcomed in a friendly manner and introduced the brand itself. The cylindrical feel of the Vodacom logo and the lifestyle of the targeted youth were all demonstrated through the innovative exhibition stand, reaching Vodacom’s overall purpose.

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Company: Liberty Corporate

Stand description: Liberty Corporate needed a platform on which to engage with decision makers such as fund managers, union representatives and CFO’s at this conference as they aim to position their brand as a key player in the group fund space. Market research showed that they are well known and trusted in the retail market, yet although they have a reputable offering in the group fund space, they are not known there. The brand speaks of “Putting our Knowledge to Work”, speaking of an attitude of pro-active thinking and the knowledge to take the necessary action. The creative solution paired the support of existing CSI activities of the Liberty Foundation

at the Vusukukhanya Primary School in Kwa-Zulu Natal, with the engagement of the conference delegates. Instead of handing out yet another corporate gift with a smart message on, the creative solution gave delegates a meaningful reason to visit the Liberty Corporate stand, providing them with the opportunity to participate in a drive to raise R40 000 towards supplying learning materials for the school’s grade R – 3 pupils for a whole year. Excitement and interest was created by building a tower with polystyrene bricks, forming Liberty’s distinct Beaming Light over the three days of the conference. Delegates had to register at the stand, where after they were allowed to write their names onto a brick, which rock climbers then place onto the tower. The end product is a 7-meter tower, building futures by education. For every brick being placed, Liberty Corporate together with the Liberty Foundation committed to contribute R32 to the Vusukukhanya Primary School’s learning materials.

expertise in the challenging mining environments in Africa as one of the elements that differentiate them from competitors. A coffee shop, selling coffee named after their values. Clients can engage with the DRA project managers while enjoying a cup of their favourite warm beverage: Can-do Attitude Cuppachino, Reliable Red Espresso, Achievement Americano, Collaboration Hot Chocolate and Safe and Sound Laté. This theme was pulled through in the client touch-point strategy from invitation to post-launch communication. Clients and potential clients on the database were invited by and e-mail in the new colours, but with the old logo, saying “Something is brewing and

you’re invited…” In addition to this launch campaign, DRA hosted a breakfast at the time of the Mining Indaba at the coffee shop Truth, where special clients were invited with a personalised packaged coffee, send to their physical addresses. The container was re-used from the previous year’s idea, which is suited to the mining industry as an on-site office feel, really speaking to the can-do attitude and DRA’s way to find out-of-the-box engineering solutions that are practical and fit the budget of the client. This was the brainchild of Kyle Young from DRA and his stand Builders 3D Cape in 2013 and was used as the basis from which KLCK was briefed for the new year.

Creative Agency: KLCK (pronounced as klick) Stand builders: Sugo Projects Name of Show: Institute of Retirement Funds Africa (IRFA) Conference, Durban ICC, August 2013

Liberty Corporate

Company: DRA Creative Agency: KLCK (pronounced as klick) Stand builders: 3D Cape Name of Show: Mining Indaba 2014 Stand description: DRA seized the opportunity to launch their new brand on the platform of the world’s largest mining investment event and Africa’s largest mining event. DRA is a South African owned Global Mining Engineering Company founded in 1984. For the celebration of their 30 years of Engineering Excellence, DRA aims to position its brand to match the capabilities and expertise that have earned them their well-deserved global recognition. It is their people’s values and way of doing that provides them their unique selling point: the DRA WAY. The DRA WAY is rooted in its values of PERFORMANCE-driven projects undertaken SAFELY through mutually beneficial RELATIONSHIPS between clients and suppliers always adopting a CAN-DO ATTITUDE to complete the projects RESPONSIBLY and appropriately, CUSTOMISED to client’s requirements. The DRA stand had to create a platform to engage with existing and potential clients. Provide a space for meaningful engagement, as well as include the DNA of DRA in the setting in a subtle way. DRA also focuses on their extensive

DRA

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Liberty Properties

Creative Agency: 3D Design Stand builders: 3D Design Name of Show: SAPOA (South African Property Owners Association) Stand description: This 36m2 stand was built for Liberty Properties at the South African Property Owners Association to provide and share a source of information, useful to their clients at various levels, from entrepreneurs, government to property developers and the industry as a whole. The idea was to give the clients a feel and understanding of useful and creative design from recyclable products; all the while staying true to the business nature of the show. The main structure of the stand comprised of a glass meeting room which incorporated a Zen like feel. The bulkhead of the stand was constructed with mdf and finished in a textured organic theme and hint of Liberties Properties blue tone. Each pillar contained an interactive information

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The eccentric lounge area featured recycled elements and hand crafted chandeliers. For the young at heart, a fun, yet not so easy putting green was incorporated as entertainment and a draw card to potential clients who had the opportunity to win prizes.

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Company: Liberty Properties

screen, allowing the client to interact more about the products available, with the option to discuss the product in detail. A locker bench was specifically designed for comfort and storage in this area. Liberty Properties called on the expertise of young designers to assist in creating interesting features such as the eccentric lounge area, which featured recycled elements and hand crafted chandeliers. The handmade brochure holders were strategically placed to allow easy and accessible traffic flow on the stand, which also created artistic vision. For the young at heart, a fun, yet not so easy putting green was incorporated as entertainment and a draw card to potential clients who had the opportunity to win prizes The creation of the stand was to build strategic key relationships with property developers and enhance liberty’s brand image, which was accomplished by the use of their CNC cut logo and corporate colours. This made the stand visible and attractive from all areas within the exhibition hall, all the while showcasing South Africa’s young talented entrepreneurs

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Rosatom

Creative Agency: 3D Design Stand builders: 3D Design Name of Show: Mining Indaba 2014 Stand description: To fit in with their cutting edge appeal, the stand was designed using a draw card, such as an interactive augmented reality area which was achieved with a variety of graphics and the use of an iPad. To showcase the client’s industry solutions, videos were shown on a LCD screen. The overall eye catching, flowing lines of the stand created a new innovative look on its own, by using the design of the logo as the main inspiration for the stand. The walls and structure of the stand was constructed out of mdf and chipboard with a textured roller finish. This contrasted well with a matt satin vinyl pattern finish, which

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A comfortable lounge area provided a meeting area for clients to interact with Rosatom, and a private area for the more prestigious stakeholders was also included.

was used on the walls. The circular edging of the graphic panels was used to create unified flow. The CNC panels with cut out of clients logos and used as the focal point of the stand, which brought a creative futuristic feel to the stand. A comfortable lounge area provided a meeting area for clients to interact with Rosatom, and a private area for the more prestigious stakeholders was also included. Ergonomics was used for space planning, allowing for easy and accessible traffic flow on stand

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Company: Rosatom

Brand awareness was achieved by using Rosatoms corporate colours and the company name, which could be seen from all sides of the exhibition. Storage was needed for client’s giveaways and other forms of marketing materials, such as leaflets, and thereby a subtle unit was built into the structure of the design. The modern flowing futuristic feel of the stand allowed the design to successfully stand out and allow Rosatom to reach its goal of obtaining further brand recognition.

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Almost a Million South Africans

Madame Zingara, Theatre of Dreams ÂŠ Anton de Beer

DAZZLED BY MADAME ZINGARA

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Madame Zingara Tent, Theatre of Dreams © Anton de Beer

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Oﬀering a much-needed escape from daily life, guests are invited to leave behind the mundane and escape into a magical world of glitter and stardust from their very ﬁrst step into the whimsical world of the Madame.

t’s been just over seven years since the 80-year old Belgian Spiegelpaleis (Victoria) arrived on South African shores and became the venue for Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams. Since its inception, this unique dinnercirque spectacular has completely transformed the concepts of both dining out and entertainment in South Africa. Offering a much-needed escape from daily life, guests are invited to leave behind the mundane and escape into a magical world of glitter and stardust from their very first step into the whimsical world of the Madame. And, with over 2000 shows, 800,000 tickets sold and a whopping 3.2 million courses served in the last seven years, they must be doing something right. The road hasn’t always been easy, however. After braving the international market and sending the entire crew to England at the end of 2008, the global economy crisis affected Madame Zingara as

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severely as it did so many other businesses, forcing it into liquidation. But it wasn’t long before the irrepressible Zingara rose from the ashes, opening an eclectic restaurant in Kloof Street, Cape Town in 2009, aptly named The Bombay Bicycle Club. The success of the business led to the resurrection of the Theatre of Dreams and in 2010 The Love Magic Tour launched with an overwhelming response from thrilled audiences – confirming the credibility of the Madame’s secret recipe. The current show, The After Forever Tour, is housed at the popular Montecasino in Fourways and has seen sold out shows month after month. After deliberation, the Madame has decided to extend her stay and plans are set to head for Durban early in 2015. A fairy-tale success story and a proudly South African founded company, Madame Zingara has proved time and again that perseverance and passion can overcome any obstacle.

Madame Zingara, Theatre of Dreams © Anton de Beer

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Brazil: Biting Off More Than It Can Chew?

hether the World Cup safely reaches its end on July 13 this year is something no one can predict. But based on the outcome of this event, it’s safe to say that Brazil has a very long way to go in order make the 2016 Olympics a success. Only the second country after the US to receive a double bid in large sporting events, the South American nation was awarded the Olympic 2016 bid on the back of what experts thought would be a major boost for its economy. And it’s no wonder – the World Cup is the largest sporting event on the planet with almost a billion TV viewers – up by 400 million since South Africa’s FIFA 2010. According to sports economists and sources inside FIFA, Brazil is the most expensive World Cup ever, at an estimated cost of US$ 11.3 billion in infrastructure preparation despite constant reports of delays, protests, cost overruns, strikes and even cyber-attacks in the run-up to and during the hosting of the World Cup. But that’s not all. A number of small cities will host a few games, but many of them are not ready to take on an event of this magnitude. Manaus, for example, is a remote city in the Amazon that’s largely inaccessible by road. It received an oversized stadium at the cost of US$270 million. Despite the enormous spend, the stadium was not completed satisfactorily and the poor conditions of the playing field in a number of stadiums including Manaus could cause injuries to athletes. “The criticism is, we could have done without the stadium in Manaus and other stadiums in small cities,” Paul Setero, Director of the Brazil Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Centre, told International Business Times. “FIFA told Brazil it should have only offered eight stadiums, but it was Brazil’s initiative to

offer twelve because Brazil is the country of soccer and in 2007 the economy was going pretty well.” Although Brazil’s World Cup and Olympic dreams seem rather grim and far-removed, mega-events the world over might be at stake right now. Reuters Reporter Stephen Eisenhammer says that the nature of the bidding process means countries able to splurge on state-of-theart stadiums will still attract support, but that there is also a growing sense among the populations of cities and nations considering being hosts for major sporting events that bigger is not always better. “I think we are at a turning point in the history of mega-events and I think the turning point will lead to a very much reduced ambition towards infrastructure connected with these events,” says Wolfgang Maennig, a professor at Hamburg University who specializes in

sports economics. Making matters worse is FIFA’s debacle. The world soccer organisation is facing corruption allegations over match-fixing claims and the way in which Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup. This leaves even fewer countries keen to host big events, with some sponsors even beginning to question the “halo effect” of associating with them. “The minute soccer moves from the sports pages to the political pages I think sponsors have to get concerned because their message is getting crowded,” says David Carter, Director of the Sports Business Institute at the University of Southern California. “People are flat-out nervous. The last thing you can afford when you’re investing hundreds of millions of dollars into a global sports opportunity is to have to cross your fingers and hope for it to turn out alright.”

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SKY EVENTS: Taking Dinner to Brave New Heights

ver wondered what dinner looked like from 60 metres above the ground? Now you needn’t! Dinner in the Sky is a unique event that transforms an ordinary meal into a “magical moment”. This exclusive event option is available to parties of up to 22 and currently resides at the Fairway Hotel and Golf Resort in Randpark Ridge. Operated by Sky Events, this genius idea has fast become a worldwide phenomenon, operation in over thirty countries including the United States, Canada and Australia. Dinner in the Sky is ideal for private hire, especially

for corporate meetings and exclusive VIP hospitality experiences, and can change location to suit event plans. Sky Events has hosted a wide range of events including live radio broadcasts, product launches, corporate functions, birthday or engagement parties, business meetings, sports events, charity events and weddings. Although only open to the public on certain event dates, Dinner in the Sky still offers guests a range of luxury experiences. Early risers can book in for a 45-minute breakfast at ZAR320 and enjoy a selection of cold meats, fresh

sliced fruits and cheese as well as frittatas, potato, beef bangers, bacon and mushroomfilled tomato. Lunchtime is 60 minutes in the air and includes duck leg confit topped with forest mushrooms and red wine jus and complemented with cappuccino cake, while dinner is 90-minutes long with three hefty courses. Snack options of 30 minutes are also available for those plagued with vertigo. The lofty dinner table also has a bar on board and food is plated from the ground and sent up. Its sturdy seats rotate 180 degrees, allowing guests to take in the scenic view on all sides.

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GHANA:

The Friendly Nation

By Siyanda Bani

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hana is famous as a very friendly country, the people are generally very helpful and welcoming, to add to that; Ghana has an abundance of beautiful beaches, rich cultures, panoramic scenery on the mountains and great wild life. A popular feature of Ghana is the great festivals held around the country, for the most joyous affairs when locals dress up in their finest traditional attire and tourists are welcome to join in. These usually take place on different villages around the country. Rich in agricultural resources, timber, gold and other valuable minerals, abundant with educated skilled people; Ghana is a great place to conduct business conventions/workshops.

What’s happening now? AITEC Banking & Mobile Money West Africa exhibition & Conference is a showcase for technology manufacturers and vendors to demonstrate their latest products and systems to enhance West Africa’s rapidly growing financial services sector. From journalist, marketers, technologists and the likes; will be gathering at Accra International Convention Centre on the 9th-10th of July.

Venues Ghana Trade Fair Centre World class exhibitions and festivals have been hosted at the Ghana Trade Fair Centre which was initially built for hosting Pan African events and is situated in Accra. Each pavilion can seat up to 4000 but if catering for a smaller crowd the main hall has up to

400 seats. What makes the Trade Fair Centre even more pleasurable is the plenty parking space, you can also hire a translating machine for any language berries during the workshop/conference. Accra International Conference Centre With ready access to Kotoka Airport; Accra International Convention Centre comes with six conference halls, the main seats 1,600 people; there are also two committee halls accommodating 205 persons each and three meeting halls (each accommodating approximately 50 delegates).

Getting to Ghana by Air Several international airlines, including British Airways and Delta Airlines, operate regular scheduled flights from Ghana to major cities in North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Kotoka airport is the premier airport in the country situated in Ghana’s capital Accra. you will see “AKWAABA” as soon as you land and you will hear it from the very friendly locals as soon as they realise you are a tourist, it means Welcome.

Did You Know? Volta Lake is the largest reservoir by surface area in the world, and the fourth largest by water volume. Volta Lake created by the damming of the River Volta at Akosombo in the mid 1960’s to provide a source of electricity to Ghana now also provides a wonderful viewing point from the dam itself or trips out onto the lake itself or you can take a trip on the River Volta instead at Ada.

not continuous throughout the day. Be sure to pack light washable clothing.

Population 25.37 million 2012 (World Bank)

Climate

Need to Know About

Ghana is mostly warm in all four seasons; the South Western part is located within the warm wet forest zone similar to the Amazon. Accra, the capital, is located in the dry equatorial cones. The climate is warm and tropical all year round with temperatures are between 21 - 31°C. The rains are usually restricted to specific times each day during the rainy season; they are

Remnants of thriving civilisations can be seen in the Northern region, at both the Larabanga mosque which dates from the 15th century and the 16th century Nalerigu Defence Wall. With the growth in power and prestige of the Ashanti Kingdom in the 17th and 19th Centuries, the capital Kumasi also grew and now contains a number of historic sights.

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LIMPOPO: A Taste of the Extraordinary By Siyanda Bani

impopo is a region of contrasts, from true bushveld country to majestic mountains, primeval indigenous forests, unspoilt wilderness and patchworks of farmland which are great for outdoor activities. In the eastern region lies the northern half of the magnificent Kruger National Park, a nature reserve teeming with African wildlife. Limpopo is ideal for team-building getaways as well as business workshops, as many of the safari lodges offer great business conference centres.

What’s happening now?

In the month of July, the Wine Show attracts wine lovers from all over to come and sample some of the top wines in the country. This is a dynamic event to network and make connect with fellow wine connoisseurs. Chat to exhibitors, learn more about the wines and taste your way through the show. It is happening on July 25 at the Meropa Casino & Entertainment World, Polokwane.

Key Venues Tzaneen Convention Centre This convention centre combines outstanding conference facilities; the venue caters for the special needs of business, incentive groups and corporate meetings. Five different venues that can accommodate up to 500 people are ideal for intimate business workshops and conferences. Kruger National Park Hosting a conference or an event at one of Kruger National Park safari lodges will afford delegates and guests the opportunity to experience the best of this magical province. Each conference or event is tailor-made to suit individual needs, and professional facilities are offered for all conferencing or event sizes, from 50 to 500 guests.

Getting to Polokwane by Air Flights in and out of the province is a breeze as Polokwane International Airport, named after the province’s capital city, has

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scheduled flights to Johannesburg; with five flights on weekdays, one flight on Saturday and two on Sunday. The airport is situated 5km outside of Polokwane. South African airways is the carrier.

Population: 5.4 million (Statistics SA, 2011 national census)

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Climate:

Need to know

Limpopo’s climate is quite hot since the area is bisected by the tropic of Capricorn. The temperatures in summer between March and October are between 27 and 32 degrees, with short thunderstorms. Even in winter, the province experiences plenty of sunshine with gentle cool air.

The sunny sky and bushveld landscapes make the Limpopo region ideal for golfing, and if you have no problem coming face to face with Africa’s big five, then Zebula golf estate is perfect for business networking with a difference.

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Did You Know? Major international mining operations contribute 20% of Limpopo’s economy, making mining the primary driver of economic activity after government services. Substantial mineral reserves include platinum group metals, diamonds, coal, chrome, iron ore and copper. Limpopo’s diverse mining activities include diamonds, iron ore, coal, copper and phosphates.

34 | IT&CM INDIA

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KW Conferences - India's First Accredited Professional Conference Organiser-

PARTNERS IT&CM INDIA KW to front the debut of 2014 event’s Association Day and Corporate Performance Forums

W Conferences, India’s first accredited Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) has joined hands with IT&CM India to lend its over 20 years of expertise to develop and deliver the show’s inaugural Association Day and Corporate Performance forums. Slated on 20 and 21 August 2014, expert speakers from various industries will present on topics catered specifically for attending association buyers and corporate travel professionals from India or with operations based in India. Educational topics such as “The Importance of Professionalising Association Management”, “Best Practices – Developing Middle Level Association Professionals” and “Benefits of Attracting International Meetings to India” aim to provide attendees with an in-depth understanding of association management in India. Ooi Peng Ee, General Manager of TTG Events said, “With the success garnered at IT&CM China and IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific’s Association Day and Corporate Travel forums, we are sure that we will be able to replicate the proven and tested format at IT&CM India. The unique valuable proposition of IT&CM India’s educational tracks will be absolutely tailored for the Indian market.” He went on to add, “Participants will be able to benefit immensely from expert

speakers well-versed with the unique landscape of the India association and corporate performance market segments. Topics will cover key issues important for Indian corporations, as well as expert advice on tackling the challenges of the Indian market.” Monimita Sarkar, Managing Director of KW Conferences expressed, “KW Conferences is extremely delighted to announce this strategic partnership with IT&CM India. This is an excellent opportunity to engage India’s Association Executives and Corporate Performance professionals on a deeper level and further enhance their growth and relevance both locally and globally.” “With KW Conferences’ two decades of experience in the meetings management industry and in-depth knowledge of the Indian market, coupled with IT&CM Events’ conference and exhibition platforms, we are certain that the Association and Corporate Performance market segments can reach new horizons,” she continued. In addition, KW Conferences will also be leading a delegation of 50 Indian buyers from across the MICE, Luxury, Corporate and Association market segments. Sarkar believes that IT&CM India is an important platform for their Indian buyers to get in touch with top notch international and domestic suppliers.

IT&CM India will take place from 19 to 21 August 2014. For more information on IT&CM India, visit www.itcmindia.com

About IT&CM India 2014 The Leading International MICE Event in India IT&CM India is an international MICE business, education and networking event that advances opportunities of “Promoting India to the World and the World to India”. The event delivers both international and Indian delegates across exhibitors, buyers and media categories, thus promoting business opportunities on all fronts – inbound, outbound and domestic. Launched in 2012, the 3-day event embodies the proven IT&CM programme formula comprising of structured business appointments, exhibition showcase, seminar sessions, official networking functions and tours. The show has been incorporating Luxury Travel since its inauguration. IT&CM India is part of the IT&CM Events series organized by TTG Events, a business group of TTG Asia Media.

36 | EVENTS

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JULY 33RD ANNUAL SOUTH AFRICAN TRANSPORT & EXHIBITION 7- 10 Pretoria CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT SUMMIT 9 - 10 Cape Town INSPIRE TRADE EXPO 2014 10 - 12 Johannesburg COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE EXPO 17 - 20 Johannesburg MINE ENTRA ZIMBABWE 23 - 25 Zimbabwe, Bulawayo INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THERMODYNAMICS 28 - 1 Durban ALGOA FM HOMEMAKERS EXPO 31 - 3 Port Elizabeth

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EVENTS | 37

AUGUST Baba Indaba 1-3 Cape Town DECOREX JOHANNESBURG 6 - 10 AFRICAN FARMERS WORKSHOP & EXPO 4-7 Limpopo FACTORY SHOP EXPO 9 - 10 Cape Town AFRICAN FARMERS WORKSHOP & EXPO 12 - 14 Johannesburg WORLD CONGRESS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY 25 - 29 Durban THE SPRING SHOW 27 - 31 Pretoria MERCURY WINE WEEK 27 - 29 Durban

Johannesburg Sundeck, Courtesy of SA Tourism

38 | ASSOCIATIONS

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New chairman for the Loeries jury Arno Lindemann has been appointed as the Loeries jury chairman for Print, Outdoor and Collateral Media Lindenmann has been in the advertising business for over 25 years, and started out in the most creative agencies of Germany, such as Springer & Jacoby and Jung von Matt. At the age of 27, he became the youngest ever Creative Director at Springer & Jacoby, where he worked for clients like Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola, Manager Magazine and many more. Then he joined Jung von Matt, before starting his own creative agency named Lukas Lindemann Rosnski . He went on to win nine Lions at Cannes in his first year. His agency was named Newcomer Agency of the Year and since then, has ranked in the Top 10 of Germany’s most creative agencies every year. Arno Lindemann has been judging in all major national and international awardshows and is still enjoying this “extra work”, because he loves to see great ideas born. The 2014 Loeries judging will be held during the Loeries Creative Week in Cape Town - taking place from 15 - 18 September at the historic City Hall.

ASSOCIATIONS | 39

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ICCA International association meeting sector continues strong growth and Paris is leading

The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) hosted a Career Youth Day at the centre in order to pay tribute to the South African National Youth Day, June 16. “The purpose of the Career Youth Day was to empower the youth through education in order to successfully integrate them into the working environment”, says Megan Arendse, CTICC General Manager: Commercial and Business Development. The centre partnered with one of its community partners, the Mitchells Plain School of Skills on this initiative. Over 150 students from the Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain School of Skills participated in an interactive workshop, career-guidance sessions and inspirational talks, where various CTICC staff also shared their career journeys and success stories with the students. “When you provide an environment for individuals to prosper and learn, the opportunities are endless”, says Arendse.

The CTICC is committed to uplifting the communities in which it operates and to contributing to skills development and knowledge transfer. “CTICC recognises the importance of investing in the development of people, especially the youth, our future leaders. Providing a platform to facilitate knowledge exchange will not only advance and up-skill the hospitality industry, but will also contribute to a sustainable economy”, adds Arendse. Since opening its doors in 2003, the CTICC has been a pivotal driver of economic growth and job creation in the Western Cape. “As a result of the events hosted at the centre over 7000 direct and indirect jobs are created in South Africa annually”, she adds. “With the centre’s imminent expansion the CTICC’s contribution to job creation and economic spinoff is set to exponentially increase”, concluded Arendse.

ICCA is a global meetings industry association and the leader in the international association meetings sector. ICCA represents the main specialists in organising, transporting, and accommodating international meetings and events, and comprises almost 1,000 member companies and organisations in over 90 countries worldwide With the release of the 2013 Top 20 Rankings for countries and cities, ICCA is reporting another year of continued strength in the international association meetings market. 11,685 regularly occurring association events that rotate between at least three countries were identified by ICCA members and ICCA’s in-house research team as having taken place during 2013, 535 more than identified a year previously. Vienna, which has been the number one city in the ICCA rankings each year since 2005, has lost its 1st place to Paris, which was 2nd last year and previously shared 1st place with Vienna in 2008. Madrid, 4th in 2012, is now 2nd and Vienna 3rd. Barcelona climbs one place to 4th and Berlin moves from 3rd to 5th place. Singapore remains 6th and London fell from a shared 6th place to 7th. Istanbul climbs one place to 8th and Lisbon and Seoul, both newcomers in the top 10, share 9th place. ICCA CEO Martin Sirk said: “It shouldn’t be surprising that our 2013 figures have demonstrated the strength of the international association meetings sector, since the overall picture for our industry is significantly better than has been the case for quite some time.” The report is available in detail online at www.iccaworld.com

CTICC invests in future leaders

40 | DIRECTORY LISTINGS

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ADVERTISERS COMPANY

TELEPHONE

WEBSITE

Blu Cube Exhibition Design Studio

+27 861 blucube

studio@blu3.co.za

www.blu3.co.za

ConCept G Exhibitions & Events

+27 11 708 7991

info@conceptg.co.za

www.conceptg.co.za

CSIR International Convention Centre

+27 12 841 3820

bcadle@csir.co.za

www.csiricc.co.za

Event Greening Forum

+27 74 369 6369

lynn@eventgreening.co.za

www.eventgreening.co.za

Expo Centre

+27 11 494 1920

info@expocentre.co.za

www.expocentre.co.za

Idea Lab

+27 11 880 0058

diego@idealabevents.co.za

www.idealabevents.co.za

Intercape

+27 21 380 4444

andries@intercape.co.za

www.intercape.co.za

IT&CM India

+65 6395 7575

contact@itcmindia.com

www.itcmindia.com

Riverside Hotel & Spa

+27 31 563 0600

reserve@riversidehotel.co.za

www.riversidehotel.co.za

Sandton Convention Centre

+27 11 779 0000

scc.info@tsogosun.com

www.saconvention.co.za

Showgroup

+27 11 888 5000

info@showgroup.co.za

www.showgroupworld.com

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