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Issue Number 2
24 February 2015
A decade of Meetings
Africa growth
South Africa National
Convention Bureau
Twitter @SA_NCB
#MeetingsAfrica15
MEETINGS
AFRICA
“Meetings Africa is behind the growth of Africa’s
desirability as a business events host region.” - Bruce
Redor of Gaining Edge.
“Meetings Africa has not only contributed to the
larger African economy these ten years, but also to
individual lives.” - Prisca Lete of Osiba Management.
2015 is a momentous year for Meetings Africa, a
year that Africa’s premier business events trade
show celebrates its tenth anniversary.
that business event delegates will comprise a
substantial percentage of total arrivals to the
Northern Cape in the future.”
While the South Africa National Convention Bureau
and all delegates take stock of how far Meetings
Africa has come, the 2015 edition of the show also
affords the industry an opportunity to look towards
the future.
Lorraine Jenks of Green Stuff (Hotel Stuff )
congratulates Meetings Africa in going from
strength to strength and for sustainable growth in
the last ten years.
“Back in 2005, very few of us could have predicted
that Meetings Africa would grow into the seminal
event it is today,” says Thulani Nzima, Chief
Executive Officer of South African Tourism.
“Yet ambition, vision, hard work and a spirit of
partnership across the continent has brought
Meetings Africa to where it is today. This has
ensured that Africa takes its place as one of
the most exciting and capable business events
destinations in the world.”
Delegates in attendance at BOND Day yesterday
congratulated Meetings Africa and its hosts on this
momentous anniversary and milestone.
Bruce Redor, Europe, Middle East and African
Partner at Gaining Edge says Meetings Africa is now
established as one of the most significant business
events trade shows in the world, thanks in no small
part to the role of Meetings Africa as a showcase
of the destination, and as a platform to network.
“We congratulate you on this 10-year milestone. As
Meetings Africa grows, this continent will become
one of the world’s preferred regions for business
events.”
Peter McKuchane of the Northern Cape Tourism
Authority says that it is fact that Meetings Africa,
under the South Africa National Convention
Bureau, has pulled the African business events
industry into a strategically-directed and ambitious
team.
“This year, in the tenth anniversary of Meetings
Africa, we congratulate Meetings Africa on
Advancing Africa Together, and look forward to
growing business event arrivals to our province.
Meetings Africa gives us the optimal marketing
and business platform, and I am without doubt
“It’s been ten years of Meetings Africa helping the
industry work together.” - Johnny Muteba of the
Kwame Nkrumah Institute.
To download the Meetings
Africa app go to www.
meetingsafrica.co.za/app/
Also read Meetings Africa
Daily News on
www.meetingsafrica.co.za
“It is especially exciting to see how Meetings
Africa has inspired the South African industry to
offer an increasingly sustainable, responsible and
green service to the global business event market.
Meetings Africa is, in fact, now seen as a benchmark
event for responsibility and sustainability in this
industry.”
Johnny Muteba, an event manager at Kwame
Nkrumah Institute, a holistic leadership
development organisation, says ten years is an
important milestone for Meetings Africa.
“It is milestone that is reckoned in terms of how the
show has assisted the industry to work together,
to grow and to reach its targets and ambitions.
Meetings Africa makes personal interaction with
the rest of the industry possible, and a pleasure.
I look forward to the next ten years of Meetings
Africa.”
Prisca Lete, a researcher at Osiba Management is
attending her third Meetings Africa, and says the
trade show “gets better every year”. It is thanks
to Meetings Africa, she says, that many people
– including herself– see a future for themselves
in business events. “Meetings Africa has not only
contributed to the larger African economy these
last ten years, it has contributed to individual lives,
too. This alone is worth all the celebration.”
“Meetings Africa will continue for many years
to offer the continental business events sector a
platform to engage and do business, both across
the continent, and with the world’s premier
business event buyers. We thank each exhibitor,
each buyer and every delegate for their role in this
burgeoning industry, and we look forward with
each of you to Meetings Africa’s future,” says Nzima.
MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015 | 1
Meetings Africa
Daily News 2015
Today’s Programme
The Meetings Africa Daily News, official
newspaper of Meetings Africa, is published by
Junxion Communications.
Time
Event
Venue
Attendees
We would like to hear from you ...
08:00 - 17:00
Registration
Exhibition hall 1 (level 0)
Open to all
06:00 – 09:00
Morning Live – live outside
broadcast
Exhibition hall 1 (level 0)
Open to all
08:30 – 09:00
Hosted buyer welcome
briefing
Bill Gallagher (level 2)
Hosted buyers
08:45 – 09:30
Opening ceremony
Sandton Convention Centre
foyer (level 0)
Open to all
09:30 – 17:00
Exhibition day 1
Exhibition hall 1 (level 0)
Open to all
10:00 – 11:00
Minister’s walkabout
Exhibition hall 1 (level 0)
By invitation
11:00 – 12:00
Media Face Off
Sandton Convention Centre
foyer (level 0)
Open to all
09:00 – 15:00
Corporate B2B speed
marketing session
Ballroom 4 (level 2)
By invitation
12:00 – 14:00
Hosted buyers lunch
Bill Gallagher (level 2)
By invitation
14:20 – 14:40
Meetings Africa media
conference: Calabar ICC,
Nigeria
Presentation area (next to
hosted buyers lounge)
18:30 – 19:00
Welcome drinks – Gala
dinner
Ballroom foyer (level 2)
19:00 – 24:00
Meetings Africa – Gala
dinner
Ballroom 1/50
• e-mail: [email protected]
Printed on environmentally
friendly Neostar Art
Matt 115g/m².
South Africa National
Convention Bureau
Twitter @SA_NCB
#MeetingsAfrica15
MEETINGS
AFRICA
To download the Meetings
Africa app go to www.
meetingsafrica.co.za/app/
Also read Meetings Africa Daily News
on www.meetingsafrica.co.za
Gauteng Convention & Event Bureau is a
leading business events destination that
markets and promotes Gauteng province
internationally, playing a direct role in
bidding and securing business events. The
Convention bureau offer expertise, support to
associations, conference organisers, exhibition
organisers, meeting planners and destination
management companies.
Address:
124 Main Street
You tube// visit gauteng
Cnr Main & Kruis Street
Johannesburg
Facebook// ilovegauteng
Tel: +27 11 085 2500
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Linkedln Group// gauteng-tourism-authority
2 | MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015
Twitter//visitgauteng
Registration open
Integration is key
for the future of
associations
Associations must evolve to match the needs of
their members and leadership structures must in
turn keep pace with these demands.
This is the view presented by Robin Lokerman,
Group President of MCI at the Bond Day hosted at
Meetings Africa 2015. Lokerman outlined some of
the challenges and opportunities available to small
and large associations with respect to the type
of leadership structures in the face of changing
member requirements driven by technology. He
emphasised that all organisations should remain
member driven.
“We are here to provide our members with benefits
but there are two ways of getting there,” explained
Lokerman. He described the approaches to
organisational structure as volunteer driven versus
staff driven.
“In volunteer driven organisations, the volunteers
are responsible for operations,” Lokerman said.
“The core responsibility lies with the volunteer
leadership even when there is a staff within the
organisation, they perform an administrative
function rather than an executive function. This is
typical of smaller organisations.”
Larger associations are moving away from that
volunteer driven model. They typically have bigger
budgets and more activities, in which case there is
a large staff complement and the volunteers play
more of a leadership role. They set the direction of
the organisation and develop policy.
According to Lokerman, the association of the
future is an integrated one.
“We are looking at a change in association
management,” said Lokerman. “In the past there
were three key functions in the association - the
president who was official spokesperson and
ensured efficacy, the secretary general who ran the
organisation and the finances were handled by the
treasurer.”
He explained that these office bearers were
supported by volunteer members on an ad-hoc
basis to deliver certain functions like educational
programmes. At conference time, the association
would often hire a local PCO who was often not
entrenched within the organisation. As a result the
organisation’s activities were disjointed and lacked
integration.
“However, in the last 10 to 15 years, there has
been a shift towards a more integrated approach
to association management,” said Lokerman. “In
Europe this concept is well established and it is
taking root in Asia. Africa is soon to follow.”
Lokerman outlined the components of the
integrated model saying that an integrated
organisation focuses solely on member needs
which include contributing to a professional
community and conferencing and publishing
activities.
In this new integrated model, the web is the
centre of the community and the activities being
delivered. Education programmes are moving
online. Industry relations do not simply consist of
sponsorship or advertising, but through technology
deeper relationships with corporate sponsors
can become part of the member organisations.
Similarly, institutional relations can be successfully
driven through this model where the association
becomes an advocate for the profession and
government starts to see it as a key resource.
Though there is more responsibility placed on
the staff to manage the integration process, the
advantages of the model are significant. The
association is able to focus on its core business of
delivering benefits to members and allows it to
outsource the management of the functions to
specialists.
“Most well-managed associations are looking for
outsourcing partners,” explained Lokerman. “There
is a small HQ team and strategically outsourced
publishing and PCO activities. Some associations
go even further and outsource all their activities to
an association management company.”
Most associations in the US with budgets of less
than USD 3 million are managed by association
management companies. There are more than 600
of these in the US. In Africa, there is only one. Herein
lies the opportunity for growth on the continent.
“Association Management Companies bring
in a team of experts that works on a part-time
basis for the association. They provide training,
management and development for these people
so that they can have a career out of managing
associations. This, I believe, is the future for
associations,” said Lokerman.
“The association of the future is an integrated one” Robin Lokerman, Group President of MCI
African
associations are
agents of change
Associations are a key driver of growth for the
meetings industry on the African continent.
This emerged at the second annual Association
Day presented by ICCA at Meetings Africa 2015.
Speaking at the opening event, Chief Convention
Bureau Officer of the South Africa National
Convention Bureau, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo said:
“In the words of Nelson Mandela, African’s time has
come.”
“Meetings Africa is now 10 years old. We have
spent a number of years developing our strategy
and setting our goals. Now we know who we are
and what we want. We have come to realise that
we cannot be everything to everyone but we can
be the right destination for organisations looking
for solutions to complex problems facing our
continent.
“We hope that Meetings Africa will give all of us
the opportunity to speak about the growth of
Africa and you, our association buyers, are the most
important participants in this conversation,” said
Kotze-Nhlapo.
Nina Freysen-Pretorius, President of ICCA, echoed
her sentiment saying that Africa has the potential
to change the world and this can be achieved when
organisations openly discuss the issues that affect
not only their organisations, but the globe.
“The meetings industry is facilitator for discussions
that drive society forward,” says Freysen-Pretorius.
“The role of meetings organisations is to create
the right environment for decision makers to share
knowledge and leave a lasting legacy.”
In discussing the role of leadership in the meetings
industry, Freysen-Pretorius drew on the work her
organisation had undertaken to ensure that good
governance practices were followed. “Transparency
is a key measure of good governance,” she said.
She said that members of ICCA were given
the opportunity to vote on issues such as the
registration fee, approve the budget and vote for
board members.
In addition, the organisation had developed an
association portal through which it was able to
converse with its association members and in so
doing was able to better understand where the
associations’ aspirations lay and how best these
could be supported.
Conference delegate, Brian Ssennoga of the Free
Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa
said that hearing from professionals who help
associations to define their strategies had been
extremely useful.
“Associations have the power to drive change, in
that together we can persuade governments on
the continent to put in a place a favourable legal
regime for associations to thrive,” he said.
MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015 | 3
The brightest
future minds
gather at
Meetings Africa
Networking was the name of the game as the
IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum kicked off this
year’s Meetings Africa programme with an agenda
that included industry experts, professionals and
public sector officials.
Continuing with the theme of networking, a
selected group of expert meetings industry
professionals was on hand to offer their time for
informal career and professional development
conversations.
“The Future Leaders Forum has been developed
to encourage the best and brightest students
to develop successful careers in the meetings
industry,” says IMEX Group Knowledge and Events
Director, Dale Hudson,
Each expert represented one industry specialty
giving the future leaders an opportunity to meet
with their chosen professionals. Also available for
the Future Leaders to interact with was Evelyn
Holtzhausen, a former journalist in South Africa,
the UK and Scandinavia, a former editor and one of
South Africa’s leading reputational risk specialists.
“Over 110 forums have taken place globally since
2003 with more than 6 500 students participating
to date.”
She gave students background on the forum as
well as networking tips that they could apply
during their attendance of Meetings Africa 2015.
For more information go to
www.meetingsafrica.co.za and follow SA_NCB on
Twitter.
On Thursday, 5 March, 40 cyclists will arrive at The
Table Bay at the Victoria& Alfred Waterfront, having
completed a gruelling 1 749 kilometre ride from
Sun International’s Sun City resort in South Africa’s
North West Province.
The cyclists will not only donate money and
products to charity organisations, but will also
support the World Bicycle Relief Organisation and
promote the sport of cycling by donating bicycles
to previously disadvantaged individuals en route.
The cyclists, part of the 13th Annual Sun City to
The Table Bay Charity Cycle Tour, will hand over
R150 000 to deserving local charities while they
are in Cape Town. They will also participate in
the prestigious Cape Town Cycle Tour before
commencing the journey back to Sun City.
Over the past 12 years, the cycle tour has donated
approximately R6,5 million to various charity
organisations. These include amongst others
CANSA, The Sun City AIDS Orphanage Housing
Project, Sinothando Children’s Home, the Deaf
Institute, Moira’s House, Grace Centre for abused
Woman and Children, Nazareth House and the
Saartjie Baardman Centre for Abused Woman and
Children.
In total, the Sun City to The Table Bay Charity Cycle
Tour will donate over R500 000 to various charities
supported by Sun City Resort, the Flamingo Casino
in Kimberley, the Golden Valley Casino in Worcester
and the Table Bay Hotel.
The wait is over…
“Ninety percent of students surveyed said they are
likely to enter the industry as a result of attending
a forum,” she said.
Group President of the MCI Group, Tamlynne
Wilton, Director of Business Development &
Marketing at MCI South Africa, Robin Lokerman
and Managing Director, MCI South Rashid Toefy,
Africa were also on hand to discuss such important
issues, such as how this buoyant, valuable and
expanding industry is viewed by its employers and
employees around the world, especially in these
troubled economic and political times
The wait is over for the 10th edition of Meetings
Africa, the continent’s premier business tourism
lekgotla in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom will officially
open the show this morning at 10:00 and then do a
walkabout to meet exhibitors and delegates on the
exhibition floor.
The Media Face Off, a discussion on the business
events industry in South Africa and on the rest of
the continent, follows at 11:00.
Also on the agenda was the International University
Challenge.
“The University Challenge was created in 2009 to
encourage students to showcase their ideas and
talent and is held at six selected Future Leaders
Forums around the world,” said Hudson.
This premier business tourism expo draws a host
of top local and international buyers, trendsetters
and decision-makers for a supreme showcasing
of services, products, facilities and related fields.
Meetings Africa 2015 kicked off with a business
networking opportunity day and association day
yesterday, in conjunction with the International
Congress and Convention Association.
“Regional winners are invited to present their bid at
the finals at IMEX in Frankfurt, competing against
other universities for the grand prize sponsored by
the MPI Foundation.”
In this session, the three selected students - Anzelle
Vorstmann, Tanya de Jongh and Marne Schouwstra
- were each given ten minutes to present their bid
to a jury of industry professionals. Vorstmann was
chosen as the winner.
Cyclists to hand
over R150 000 to
local charities after
1 749km ride from
Sun City
A highlight of tomorrow is a local corporate buyer
event hosted by the Unique Speakers Bureau.
Anzelle Vorstman (left), winner of the International
University Challenge, was congratulated by Dale
Hudson, Director of the IMEX Group.
Bright young
things
“In alignment with the South Africa National
Convention Bureau, the Gauteng Tourism
Authority and the Joburg Convention Bureau,
that is responsible for bringing major events to
the city, has over the past ten years gone from
strength to strength,” says Johannesburg Mayoral
Committee for Economic Development Member,
Ruby Mathang.
“Today the bureau is a fully fledged team of
professionals dedicated to attracting new business
to the city. We are proud to be the home of
Africa’s most advanced financial sector and of the
Johannesburg Securities and Bond Exchange, the
largest stock exchange on the African continent.
“Johannesburg is the centre for a diverse range
of local and multinational banking, financial and
industrial companies because of our top rate
economic and social infrastructure. The city is
proud to host the 10th Meetings Africa, the premier
business tourism expo that brings a big boost to
the city and provides a global stage for our own
local value chain.”
Johannesburg has a reputation for successfully
hosting major global events. The line-up of
business events to be hosted in the city in the
next 18 months include the Breakbulk Africa 2015,
CIDESCO World Congress from 20 to 25 May, the
Summit on Healthy Ageing from 30 July to 2 August,
the Johannesburg International Motor Show from
14 to 25 October and the 2016 Africa & Middle East
Conference of Junior Chamber International from 4
to 6 May 2016.
Anzelle is Africa’s IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leader
Anzelle Vorstmann, a student at North-West
University in Potchefstroom yesterday won first
prize at the IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum at
Meetings Africa 2015.
Anzelle won ahead of two other shortlisted
candidates for her project - Being artistic as
meetings professionals - that examines the
great value creativity brings to the meetings,
conferencing and events component of the
business events industry.
Jurors who evaluated the finalists say Anzelle’s
project stood out for its innovation and fresh,
out-of-the-box thinking and ideas that have the
potential to add great value to the business event
service offering.
As Africa’s regional winner, Anzelle will be taken to
IMEX in Frankfurt in May to represent Africa in the
global Future Leaders Forum.
“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Anzelle said. “I’m
4 | MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015
incredibly excited and grateful for this honour
and this chance to represent my country and my
professional passion at a global forum.”
Anzelle is presently in her fourth year at North-West
University, completing her BComm (Honours) in
Tourism Management.
“This industry is my passion. There is a great future
for young people in tourism in general, and in
business events in particular. It really is fantastic to
be recognised in this way.”
The IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leaders Forum formed
part of BOND Day at Meetings Africa yesterday with
an agenda that included presentations by industry
experts, professionals and public sector officials.
“It was a day of extensive networking, idea-sharing
and mentoring that gave every young delegate
a priceless opportunity to learn from some of
the sharpest minds in the business events sector
today,” said Anzelle.
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom will meet Meetings Africa exhibitors and delegates this morning.
How green is my CTICC ensures
conference?
accessibility
for all
The Cape Town International Convention Centre
(CTICC) achieved its first universal accessibility
audit, with an outstanding result of 83 percent for
mobility accessibility from the Tourism Grading
Council of South Africa.
“We are committed to providing accessibility for all
our clients and patrons, especially those who have
special requirements. We were delighted with our
result of level 3 which is the highest classification
that one can obtain,” says Chief Executive Officer,
Julie-May Ellingson.
For the past five years the CTICC has been assessed
by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa and
has maintained its 5-star rating. Due to a recent
government mandate, all hospitality institutions
were assessed for their universal accessibility on
mobility – this was the first time that CTICC was
evaluated and was able to achieve remarkable
results.
Cameron Alcock, South Africa’s 12-year old ambassador for Plant for the Planet, says one tree will bind 10 kg of
CO2 per year.
The eight speakers at the Green Events Forum at
Meetings Africa shared one belief - the meetings
industry must become greener, or clients will move
to organisations that share their values about
sustainability.
The benefit is unlikely to be restricted to just one
event. Businesses play a transformative role in the
way society evolves, says Michele Caldera of Blue
Moon Communications.
Speaking at the forum, Caldera outlined a
programme that saw Blue Moon Communications
reduce its audited carbon footprint by 60 percent.
A number of employees became so passionate
about the programme that they introduced
recycling at home, some of them going as far
as paying for it. Today, failing to reduce waste is
regarded as a mortal sin in the company.
water to make one kilogram of paper.
Andrej Vladar of Lumi Technologies says going
paperless offers more than a way out. It simplifies
the administration of the event and introduces
new benefits. Using smartphone apps before and
after the event raises awareness. Tracking uptake
of the apps makes response to the conference
measurable. And the technology is reusable – not
just recyclable, making it particularly good for the
environment.
“The audit findings stated that the CTICC provided
‘excellent mobility facilities’. This affirms CTICC’s
ethos of creating exceptional experiences,
through our ability to ensure the safety, comfort
and accessibility for our clients and patrons,”
says General Manager: Operations and Food and
Beverage, Aage Hansen.
The CTICC was designed to meet the needs of
people with disabilities, and strives to ensure that
all feel welcome. The building has features that
live up to universal accessibility standards and
the South African national building regulations
standards.
The world-class facilities at the centre offers full
wheel-chair access, designated drop-off points and
parking bays for people with disabilities, toilets
have been specially designed for the physically
challenged, elevators with Braille inscriptions
and tables and chairs which adhere to universal
accessibility requirements.
The width of all external and internal doors has
been designed to accommodate wheelchair access
and lift buttons are placed to allow easy access by
those in wheelchairs. Auditorium 1 is also equipped
with designated seating sections for wheelchair
occupants.
The CTICC has been the venue of choice for a
diverse group of meetings and events since its
inception. On 14 February 2014, the centre hosted
the Disability Employment Summit, which aimed
to raise awareness, especially among business,
government and other sectors of society, on the
challenges and opportunities of employing people
with disabilities.
Events hosted previously include the International
Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual
Disability in 2008 which had 800 delegates and
the Disability Workshop Development Enterprise
International Small Business Conference in 2009
which was attended by 200 delegates.
Hosting an environmentally responsible event may
include using a venue known for its eco credentials,
while certification as environmentally responsible
is set to become a requirement. Look out for more
about these topics tomorrow.
Having employees who are aware of
the environment is one matter, but a
scarcity of guidelines can make hosting
an environmentally responsible event
daunting. Yet if you know where to look,
resources and organisations to partner
with can make the job much easier. One organisation that makes carbon
offsetting easy is Plant for the Planet (www.
plantfortheplanet.org). Cameron Alcock,
South Africa’s 12-year old ambassador for
Plant for the Planet, says one tree will bind
10 kg of CO2 per year.
Plant for the Planet makes it easy to engage
guests in the process. Guests can receive a
tree voucher which they use to go on line,
virtually ‘plant’ a tree and then learn where
their specific tree will be planted.
A benefit of hosting an environmentally
responsible event is that is makes guests feel
good. Partnering with the Food Bank can
erase all feelings of guilt. While the events
industry does not generate enough food to
feed the 11 million South Africans who go
hungry, the Food Bank’s virtual food bank will
allow organisations on its database to collect
food directly from the event organisers.
The virtual food bank is currently being
piloted in Polokwane and signs are that it will
be very successful.
Reducing the carbon footprint and impact
of an event can have unintended benefits.
Flowers as centrepieces can be replaced by
items made by local craftspeople, creating
jobs in the process. Energy saving technology
is kinder to the planet and can improve
reliability. Use technology such as LED lights,
a tablet instead of laptop and a camping fridge
instead of an ordinary one, and you can use
solar energy as power source for an exhibition
stand. This brings freedom from an unreliable
power grid.
South Africa’s paper producing forests
are certified as sustainable, but the paper
manufacturing process still needs 342 litres of
Invitation: Meetings Africa Press Conference: Calabar ICC, Nigeria
Tuesday 24 February 2015, 14:20 – 14:40, Hosted Buyers’ Lounge, Sandton Convention Centre,
Johannesburg
Set to open in the Second Quarter of 2015, the Calabar International Convention Centre [Calabar ICC] is
not only the first dedicated convention centre in Nigeria and indeed West Africa, but also the only new
conference centre in Africa opening this year.
Nigeria’s entry, with Calabar ICC, into the international business events industry is significant, not only
because of the country’s large population, but also for its projected continuous economic growth.
Paul D’Arcy, CEO of Calabar ICC and Ben Asoro, Director of Marketing and Sales Calabar ICC will begin
the session with presentations and discuss the topic: “What does Nigeria’s entry with Calabar ICC mean
to Africa’s meetings industry?”
MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015 | 5
How to use the
Meetings Africa
App
SCC wins bid for
global JCI conference
The Meetings Africa App is based on a world class mobile
event platform.
The Sandton Convention Centre, in collaboration
with Junior Chamber International South Africa and
the City of Johannesburg, has won a bid to host the
Africa & Middle East Conference of Junior Chamber
International in 2016, a prominent global platform
for young business leaders. This is the second time
since the inception of the conference in 2005 that
Johannesburg is the host city – the only city to have
been appointed to host the event more than once
to date.
“It’s a real feather in the cap of the city and the
SCC,” says Dr Mati Nyazema, executive director
of Sandton Convention Centre. “It’s an indication
of the position that we hold as a world-class city
with world-class facilities. The city is also easily
accessible from anywhere in the world and the
Convention Centre is conveniently located in
Sandton, South Africa’s business hub, with easy
access to the Gautrain.”
Did you know tips
†You can Bookmark the sessions you want to
attend and add them to your own agenda for
Meetings Africa
†You can download the App from the Android’s
playstore or Apple App store, search for
Meetings Africa
†You can follow other attendees and interact
with them in the App
†You can rate and review the exhibitors through
the App
†You can interact with the exhibitors directly on
their profile’s activity feed
†You can upload your photos which will appear
on your timeline and the activity feed
†You can submit your question(s) to the sessions
speakers through the App
†You can view the Event App overview video the
by clicking on this link http://bit.ly/1zbQJTo
†You stand a chance to win a prize for the being
selected the most socially engaging user of
the Meetings Africa App. Terms and conditions
apply.
A unique aspect of the bidding process was the
speed with which the decision was made. Yoshni
Singh, international sales manager for Sandton
Convention Centre, said the request for bids was
received in mid-April – and within a month the bid
had been awarded.
The Africa & Middle East Conference of Junior
Chamber International will take place from 4 to 6
May 2016, with 1 000 delegates. The conference
will include breakaway rooms, cocktail events, and
other special events.
Linda Ben, national president of JCI South Africa,
says presenting Johannesburg as the host city made
logistical sense for the local chapter as the city is the
most active region of JCI in the country. “Added to
that, all our bidding partners wholeheartedly came
on board and fully supported the bid throughout
the entire process, making it that much easier to
present the winning bid.”
Nyazema said: “The Sandton Convention Centre’s
ideal location in the Sandton business hub,
adjacent to a wide range of accommodation,
shopping malls, restaurants and entertainment, is
likely to have been a factor in the decision-making.
As of course is the venue’s extensive facilities and
excellent track record in hosting top global events.”
The Sandton Convention Centre has an impressive
line-up of international events that it has and is
hosting, which include Power Africa from 2009
to 2015, Africa Energy Indaba from 2010 to 2015,
Totally Concrete from 2013 to 2015, Africities in
2015, CIDESCO – World of Beauty and Spa Therapy
in 2015, the phenomenally successful Days of the
Dinosaurs in 2014, the World Orchid Conference
and Show in 2014 and many others. “More than
60 per cent of the convention centre’s bookings
are repeat business, indicating a strong degree
of satisfaction with our overall offering,” Nyazema
said..
“As Africa’s largest purpose-built convention and
exhibition centre, the Sandton Convention Centre
is looking forward to pulling out all the stops to
ensure the Africa and Middle East JCI conference in
2016 will be the best one ever,” Nyazema said.
Cape Town’s New Conference Centre Transcends Convention!
With world-class fibre-powered Wi-Fi,
20 versatile venues, 1 350 parking bays,
540 hotel rooms within 500 metres, and
the CBD 10 minutes away, we’re redefining
Cape Town’s conference landscape.
Cutting-edge technology, flexible applications
• A total capacity of 1 900 delegates across 20 different venues
• Catering for 20 to 1170 guests in meetings, expos & banquets
• Featuring first-world fibre-optic & Wi-Fi connectivity throughout
Hi-tech, hi-touch hospitality
• A six-storey hotel comprising 115 rooms and 10 suites
• Adjoins the Conference Centre & spills out into the Square
• Signature ground-floor lounge to refresh, recharge & reconnect
Dynamic, multi-function public square
OPENS FEBRUARY 2016
“Inspiring communication”
Enquiries: Glyn Taylor c 072 394 7014 e [email protected] www.ccconferencecentre.co.za
6 | MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015
7072 MACHETE.CO.ZA
• 1 200 square metres of sunny, sheltered public space
• Lined with restaurants, coffee shops & water features
• Perfect for outdoor exhibitions, events & concerts
STAND
202
Association conferences • Corporate events • Incentive trips
‘We pull strings for you’
tel: +27 11 4822835 | [email protected] | www.ripcord.za.com
Mayor’s award
for Nina
ICCA President Nina Freysen-Pretorius recently
received the mayor of Ethekwini’s excellence award
for the promotion of tourism.
Mayor James Nxumalo’s annual awards recognise
individuals and organisations that have done
extraordinary things for their neighbourhoods and
the city of Durban.
Freysen-Pretorius, who matriculated at Hoërskool
Durban North and studied public relations at
the Durban University of Technology, is the chief
executive officer of The Conference Company,
which specialises in arranging conferences for local
and international associations. The Conference
Company, founded in 1997, also has offices in Cape
Town and Durban.
“I am hugely honoured to receive this mayor’s
award and very proud to be recognised by the city
in which I live and work,” says Freysen-Pretorius.
“By bringing major events to our city and exposing
delegates to its incredibly diverse tourist offering,
we contribute to the city’s economy and the
prosperity of its people.”
Palazzo
still best
in Africa
Freysen-Pretorius serves on the Tourism Grading
Council of South Africa and is a former board
member of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.
She is a former chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal
branch of the Southern African Association for the
Conference Industry, as well as a former national
chairperson of the association.
Highlights of her career include being project
manager for the COP17 climate change conference
held in Durban in 2011, professional conference
organiser for the International Confederation of
Midwives in the same year and being the Zambian
Ministry of Tourism’s project manager for the UN
World Tourism Organisation’s world congress at the
Victoria Falls in 2013.
Tsogo Sun’s Palazzo hotel has once again been voted
Best Luxury Casino Hotel on the African continent
in the coveted World Luxury Hotel Awards. This is
the fifth consecutive win for the Palazzo, which was
first recognised in 2010. Five years later, the Palazzo
remains a force to be reckoned with in the luxury
hotel sector in South Africa and across Africa.
Held annually, the World Luxury Hotel Awards is
an exclusive tribute given to exceptional luxury
hotels worldwide. Founded in 2007, the World
Luxury Hotel Awards is recognised as the pinnacle
of achievement for luxury hotels worldwide – a
celebration of ultimate achievement in service
excellence that recognises and rewards hotels
that have excelled beyond the normal standards
of quality and service. The winners are selected
from votes cast by guests, tour operators and
independent travel consultants globally. For the
winners, these awards signify excellence, while
for travellers they provide assurance of top class
quality and exceptional experiences.
Last-minute preparations for this morning’s opening of Meetings Africa 2015
were still being done late yesterday – hats off to the South Africa National
Convention Bureau.
The Palazzo has, in the 14 years since it opened,
found a special place in the hearts of the
people who come to enjoy its luxurious rooms,
which range from the 600m2 penthouse to the
luxurious executive, deluxe and superior rooms,
its spectacular setting with a distant view of
the Magaliesberg mountains, its ideal location
within the Montecasino precinct and burgeoning
Fourways, and its welcoming and personalised
service. With much to offer the business and leisure
traveller, and the uniquely personalised service to
which every one of the 180 staff are committed
to delivering, the Palazzo is an authentic hotel in
every possible way.
All 246 rooms of the Palazzo underwent a
refurbishment recently – ensuring that the hotel’s
high standard of refined elegance and opulence
that have been the hallmarks of the property
since it opened in November 2000 is maintained.
The refurbishment includes an addition of a
new function venue in the garden alongside the
colonnade leading through to the Montecasino
complex. This venue, aptly named ‘Rosa’, ensures
that The Palazzo can accommodate the demand for
additional restaurant and function space.
The Palazzo is perfectly located in the upmarket
suburb of Fourways, Johannesburg, a mere
15-minute drive from Sandton, South Africa’s
business hub, 40-minute drive from O.R Tambo
International Airport and 20-minute drive from
Lanseria Airport.
MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015 | 7
8 | MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015
Are you
tapping in to
the ‘braggie’
brigade?
Whether you’re stalking the ‘selfie’ squad, ‘braggie’
brigade or those who simply have to hashtag
their way to social media heaven, visual usergenerated content like photos and videos has
become a powerful way to showcase destinations
and tourism products and increase their brand
awareness.
You’ve probably at one time or another been
guilty of the odd braggie or selfie to show off your
glamorous life and make your friends jealous.
You know the type: “Look at me. I can see a herd
of elephant from the verandah of my luxury safari
villa. Bet you wish you were here…” or most likely
“Bet you wish you were me.” It’s such a chore to
work in travel, isn’t it?
Unsurprisingly, and understanding the draw and
real-time influence visitor content such as images
and reviews can have on the image of a destination
or product, travel brands have jumped on to the
selfie, braggie and hashtag bandwagons, throwing
incentives at guests who deign to tag their lodge
or destination on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and
other social media platforms.
Marketers leveraging this trend are fuelled by
the belief that personal recommendations and
opinions from family, friends, peers and even
locals remain among the most important drivers
of destination or tourism product selection. And
as most of us already know, they are incredibly
powerful.
One in particular has in fact gone as far as creating
a Selfie in Paris package. The Mandarin Oriental
package offers guests luxurious accommodation
and the chance to share their best selfies in the City
of Lights. In addition to a stay at the luxury hotel,
guests are given the use of a private car and driver
for three hours for a personalised journey through
Paris, complimentary in-car and in-room WiFi and
a list of insider tips on some of the best Parisian
photographic locations at which to take the perfect
selfie.
sharing and contributing that fuels social media
engagement.
And of course, not to be outdone by overseas
counterparts, Cape Town for its part has erected
giant yellow frames around the city that perfectly
frame Table Mountain from well-known and
unusual views, including the V&A Waterfront,
Signal Hill, Eden on the Bay in Blouberg, Lookout
Hill in Khayelitsha, Cape Town Station and Heritage
Square in the City Bowl.
These structures provide visitors with an
opportunity to smoast (yet another social
‘mediaism’ short for social media boasting) about
their perfect holiday, make their pals back home
green with envy and, as a side, show off the most
beautiful, most iconic views of the city.
The message is clear. It is no longer up to the
destination marketer or marketing manager of
tourism experiences to manage the reputation of
their destination or product. In the age of social
media, Joe Public has usurped that role and
when you get it right, they become your brand
ambassadors and dynamically shape how their
networks connect with and view your brand.
Today’s tourism marketers are in the inspiration
business. They have to make it as attractive and
easy as possible for visitors and locals to share
their brand. They have to identify those perfect
photo opportunities and provide the optimal
environment to make it easy for travellers to share
their experiences and, yes, that means free WiFi.
But that’s not all. They have to enhance that
experience much like our friends at the Mandarin
Oriental have and then they have to join in the
conversation and engage with those who have
taken time to engage with them. What are you
waiting for? #getsharing
Natalia Rosa
Sticking to its reputation for going big, Visit
Dallas has provided its visitors and locals with an
opportunity to showcase the destination on its
behalf. The Destination Marketing Organisation has
positioned giant ‘B’ and ‘G’ letters at strategic points
across the city inviting people to step in and be the
‘I’. The #dallasbig hashtag is strategically placed to
encourage them to share their image with their
social media networks.
This is according to Rhonda Brewer, President 2015
of the SITE International Board of Directors.
“2014 was an incredible year for SITE. Under
the leadership of president Paul Miller we also
accomplished a successful, major re-branding,
grew and strengthened our strategic partners,
introduced a new sponsorship prospectus and
developed a new education curriculum.
“Serving as SITE president 2015, I’m very much
looking forward to continuing all the great work
started by my predecessors. Our timing could not
be better as incentive travel is on the move!”
Strategic priorities for 2015 include • S trengthening the value proposition for
members and building SITE’s brand and reach
beyond the incentive travel industry
Help us to ensure that Meetings Africa remains the greenest show in South Africa.
Green Tip # 3
Reduce your use of energy
by choosing energy-efficient
technology for your stand,
such as LED lighting or
energy-efficient plasma
screens. Also consider
switching off your power to
the stand at night.
Green Tip # 4
Use public transport to get
around, where possible.
Encourage your staff to use
the Gautrain, buses or a car
pool when travelling to and
from the show each day.
A member of the SITE Board for four years,
Brewer led the educational efforts for 2013 and
sponsorship refresh in 2014. She also managed
the SITE Nite sponsorship in 2010 and 2011, led
sponsorship for the SITE Classic in 2011 and 2012
and participated on the education committee for
the SITE international conference in 2011. She
holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Missouri
State University.
• D
eveloping market-specific regional plans
and a global chapter strategy to strengthen
communications and value delivery across all
chapters and regions
• S trengthening alliances with strategic partners,
other industry associations and academic
institutions
Brewer leads a volunteer board comprised of 15
members from the USA, Mexico, UK, Ireland, Italy,
Spain, South Africa, China and India that bring an
unparalleled level of experience and ingenuity
to the incentive travel industry. The board’s focus
this year will be to continue to implement the
association’s ‘Painted Picture’ and also add a
human element or “heartbeat” to SITE by raising
awareness of issues related to the adverse effects
of international travel.
Brewer, Vice President of Sales, Maritz Travel
Company, helps to lead the company’s global
“Incentive travel is on the move!’ – SITE President
Rhonda Brewer
Hilton Worldwide scales
new digital heights
Geraldine Calpin, global head of digital at Hilton
Worldwide, said: “Digital check-in and room
selection puts our guests in the driving seat and
gives them unprecedented choice and control
across their entire stay. Never before have guests
been able to check-in, select their room from a
digital floor plan and customise their room ready
for arrival. We are truly revolutionising the industry
and this is just the tip of the iceberg for digital at
Hilton Worldwide.”
Green tips from the Event Greening Forum
strategic planning and sales efforts. With more
than 24 years of travel operations experience,
Brewer joined Maritz in 1990 as a travel coordinator
and has served in several higher-level positions
including project manager, vice president of
operations, vice president of business development
and industry relations, vice president of strategy,
communications and administration and vice
president of channel management and operations
in the business solution group.
• E xpanding delivery of education and creating a
certification programme focused on incentive
design and experience management
Through the Hilton HHonors accounts, guests are
able to check-in and choose their exact room from
digital floor plans, or lists, on desktop, tablet and
mobile devices. They can also further customise
their stay by requesting upgrades or making
special requests with the simple click of a button.
VisitDenmark similarly has identified 50 points of
interest, or as they term it “shareable locations”
across the country, providing signposts with
specific hashtags that travellers can use to
share their photographs and feel that they are
contributing to sharing what the destination has
to offer. A clever tactic, since it is this sense of
Green Tip # 2
Reduce your waste to landfill
by aiming to reduce, re-use
and recycle as many products
or materials from your stand
as you can.
The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE)
expanded its global membership with over 45
percent of the membership now located in 84
countries outside of the US mainland.
Hilton Worldwide has announced that its
pioneering digital check-in and room selection
technology is now live across more than 4 100
hotels spanning 11 brands worldwide. This
includes 53 hotels in the Middle East and Africa
region. A first for the hospitality industry, the scale
of the digital roll-out marks the largest of its kind to
date across the sector.
Last year, the Hilton Hotels Group offered the
chance of winning a two-night stay at any of its
hotels worldwide if fans shared an image from their
own travels tagged #HiltonStory on their social
networks. And destinations have cottoned on to it
too.
Green Tip # 1
Embrace eco-procurement
Buy locally-produced
materials for your stand.
SITE president
shares key
priorities for 2015
To coincide with the global roll-out, Hilton
Worldwide has also launched an update to its Hilton
HHonors iOS app, which will provide a stunning
new interface, as well as improved functionality.
Simon Vincent, executive vice-president and
president, Europe, Middle East & Africa for Hilton
Worldwide, said: “As a business, we have always
prided ourselves on leading the pack – we were
the first to put televisions in hotel rooms and
now we are the first to let you choose your room
– right down to the exact room number. With a 95year history of delivering industry-transforming
offerings, Hilton Worldwide will continue to enrich
the guest experience on a major scale across our
brands and regions. Hot off the tails of the US
launch, we look forward to our guests across the
region benefiting from the most personalised
digital service yet.”
Earlier, Hilton Worldwide announced that mobile
key technology, which gives guests the ability
to unlock their hotel room doors with their
smartphone and to go straight to their rooms upon
arrival, will be available in the US across four of its
brands in 2015 – Hilton Hotels & Resort, Canopy
by Hilton, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, and
Conrad Hotel & Resorts. By the end of 2016, this
technology will be available across the majority of
rooms worldwide.
This latest announcement forms part of a wider
digital strategy which has seen Hilton Worldwide
launch bookable websites in 22 different
languages along with enhanced customer service
via social media. For example @HiltonSuggests
helps travellers on Twitter explore a destination
by providing insider tips – from restaurants
and attractions, to hotels – via a team of local
contributors from across Hilton Worldwide’s global
network.
To experience the new digital check-in and room
selection functionality, simply download the Hilton
HHonors app here and join the free Hilton HHonors
guest-loyalty programme. Hilton HHonors
members that qualify for a free upgrade will also be
able to request this via the new Hilton HHonors app
in advance of their arrival, subject to availability.
The industry-leading loyalty-programme offers
more than 41 million members more ways to
earn and redeem points, enabling them to create
experiences worth sharing at more than 4 200
hotels in 93 countries and territories.
MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015 | 9
10 Ways to
save costs on
association
meetings
Cape Town’s
design evolution
goes beyond
World Design
Capital title year
1. Don’t Go Crazy with F&B Fads
The Watershed in the V&A Waterfront - continuing the legacy of World Design Capitol 2014.
Walk in the attendees’ shoes—with a plate in one
hand and a glass in the other. This means not
offering food that’s difficult to eat without making
a mess, or just difficult to eat, period, even if it is the
latest gustatory craze. One example: Those hardchocolate-coated deserts stuffed with delicious
creamy delights, topped with swirls of various
exotic syrups. They look gorgeous, but how the
heck do you eat them? This editor has seen an
entire table abandon these delectables after trying
to attack them with butter knives and forks and
being unable to break through that hard shell.
What a waste of the event organizer’s money and
the venue’s food, not to mention a frustration to
attendees.
2. Play it Straight With Your Venue
Starting with the site selection and contract
negotiation stages, share your objectives for
the conference and your budget with everyone
involved. The venue folks may have some great
ideas they’ve seen other groups use at low or
no cost. They may have relationships with local
suppliers they can use to help shave costs. The
catering manager and the chef will be particularly
useful in coming up with ideas that will work within
your budget, so talk with them early on. Be honest
about your budget, and don’t limit yourself to
what’s on the preset menus.
3. More Interactive Formats Also Mean Less AV
Interactive sessions not only are good for learning
and engagement—they also can help save costs.
A lecture requires a lot more audiovisual support
than a roundtable discussion session, for example.
4. Less Labour, Lower Cost
Especially when it comes to food and beverage,
an easy way to cut costs is to choose less labourintensive items—think whole fruit instead of sliced,
for example. It adds up.
5. How Close is the Venue to the Airport?
After all, even if you’re not providing a shuttle
service for attendees, you still will be shuttling your
staff, speakers, entertainment, and everything else
you’re bringing in for the event. If your venue is an
hour from the airport, those constantly moving
shuttles are going to cost you.
6. Use Ambient Entertainment
Choose sites and venues that have some built-in
attractions so attendees can entertain themselves,
saving you the cost of providing entertainment.
10 | MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015
If your event is downtown, encourage attendees
take advantage of malls, theatres, museums, and
other local attractions and you can avoid the cost
of cocktail receptions and entertainment.
7. Use Local Transportation
Copeland told of one recent event in Washington,
D.C., where the organizers handed out passes for
the Metro instead of chartering buses to transport
500 people. Yes, attendees had to walk a block to
the Metro station, but they got to go where they
wanted to go at a fraction of the cost to the event
organizers.
8. Profit from Your Non-profit Status
Most non-profits go into contract negotiations
thinking that they’ll be treated the same as any
other type of organization. It can pay to ask the
venue what benefits it can offer specifically to your
organization because it is a non-profit. Copeland
said that he has been able to get lower rates at
almost every venue he has contracted with as a
representative of a non-profit.
9. How Much Is Negotiable?
Just because something’s in the initial contract
doesn’t mean it isn’t negotiable. The venue may
include charges for Wi-Fi connections, parking, and
meeting rooms, but all of these, and more, may
actually be negotiable. It never hurts to ask—early
and often. For example, if the in-house AV team will
be handling all your AV needs, you may be able
to use that to negotiate down Wi-Fi fees. Know
your total expected spend, based on history, and
communicate it up front so the hotel can see where
it will make up for any concessions.
10. Prep Your Volunteers to Be Marketers and
Managers, Not Just Extra Bodies
The more training you provide to volunteers
ahead of time, the more they will be able to do
for you. Whether you contact the local university’s
hospitality program to find volunteers, or put out
a call to your organization’s members, create and
distribute job descriptions, timelines… everything
you would provide a paid employee. “Really invest
in your volunteers and they will invest in you,” said
Copeland. “If you empower them, they can lead
your event.” And save you quite a bit on staffing,
time, and resources as they market your meeting
through their social networks—live and online. In
return, thank them for their work with reduced or
free registration.
Source: MEETINGSNET
Cape Town’s World Design Capital status was won
based on the city’s emerging use of design-led
thinking but with the 2014 title year now behind
it, Cape Town is showing her true colours with
dozens of projects, events and experiences still in
the making.
Cape Town has always been a creative city, but
among its citizens there has been a fundamental
shift from thinking to doing. Creativity has spilled
over from the design studio into the streets.
Cape Town Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Enver
Duminy, believes there is a strong legacy behind
World Design Capital.
“The journey to redesign Cape Town continues
in 2015 and beyond, as we overcome our past
challenges to create a new city landscape that
every citizen can be proud of. Our hope is that
every visitor can experience this transformation
first hand during their stay, never forgetting it as
they leave our shores to return home.”
The design experience of Cape Town is a
quintessential facet to any visit. From exploring
the abundant street art and clever recycle-wares
to the bespoke and interesting art, furniture, street
art, fashion, clothing, pop-up bars and restaurants
– design is key to unlocking the Mother City - edgy,
inventive, self-searching - and often - beautifully
unexpected.
City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member
for Tourism, Garreth Bloor says World Design
Capital has been an instrument for change locally,
opening up opportunities in the design sector for
many talented and creative young people.
“More importantly, also encouraging those
outside the traditional design arena to use design
to transform their lives. It has ignited a process
whereby we look to new innovative ways of doing
things, improving service delivery and using that
creativity to transform the lives of Capetonians.
This is the real legacy of World Design Capital that we now encourage innovative solutions that
will transform the daily lives of those living in Cape
Town.”
the African continent. Last year, Guild entered the
playing field - bringing absorbing international
work to Cape Town, whilst also showcasing local
work and connecting creatives globally. The
city’s annual Open Design adds great energy and
creativity to the mix, whilst other events celebrate
public art (Infecting the City), multimedia, paint
and sculpture (Cape Town Art Fair) and the city’s
ever-expanding gallery and fringe scene (First
Thursdays and Thursday Late - a monthly evening
event in the City Centre and Woodstock).
Key projects of the World Design Capital with
lasting tourism legacy include The Watershed in
the V&A Waterfront – a warehouse of carefully
curated South African designed and manufactured
wares. The Watershed will open its Workshop 17
co-working/innovation hub in April 2015. Another
legacy project is the Langa Township Arts Gallery
Tour – an art tour that takes visitors through the
homes of talented residents in the culturally
historic Langa township.
A real game-changer for Cape Town will be the 2016
completion of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary
Art Africa. The extraordinary architecture by
Thomas Heatherwick will reimagine the city’s
waterfront area, connecting it to the central city
through a cultural precinct. Zeitz’s collection, under
the curatorship of Mark Coetzee, will be definitive
in telling the contemporary art story for the African
continent.
From the everyday unexpected discoveries to
the extraordinary cultural adventures that are
unfolding, tune in to Cape Town’s ongoing design
evolution.
Explore Cape Town Tourism’s round-up of design
destinations –
www.capetown.travel/blog/entry/inspiringdesign-spaces-to-visit-in-cape-town
Check in with these apps and tours to see the city
through cultural and design eyes –
http://mapmyway.co.za/placecategory/
livedesigntours/
Design in action
http://coffeebeansroutes.com/category/capetown-tours/
Cape Town’s annual events calendar is now
crammed with creative events – some of which
launched in the World Design Capital year.
https://voicemap.me/walk/cape-town/my-designdistrict
Design Indaba continues to draw global sway with
its annual conference and expo of design from
Visit www.capetown.travel.
Conferencing
trends in
2015
WTTC celebrates South
Africa tourism potential
and commends promised
visa laws review
“South Africa is leading the world in many areas of
its travel and tourism development and President
Zuma’s commitment to reform visa regulations
should enable the country to maximise the
industry’s potential for economic growth and
social advancement”, said David Scowsill, President
& CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council, during a trip
to the country last week.
Meeting professionals are starting to place a much higher value on the power of human connection and the
impact that meeting face-to-face brings to the table.
Face-to-face still critical
Senior leaders now know what needs to be
communicated in meetings and exactly why these
meetings are important. They have dissected
different platforms including virtual meetings,
teleconferences and WebEx and discovered they
cannot replace the benefits of a face-to-face
meeting. In today’s multitasking work world, it is
important to create a more focused environment
with fewer distractions.
In the hyper-connected world we live in, business
professionals, CEOs, meeting professionals and
others are starting to place a much higher value on
the power of human connection and the impact
that meeting face-to-face brings to the table. A
study conducted by IMEX Group in partnership
with the Meetology Group found that on average,
face-to-face meetings generate 30 percent more
ideas than their virtual counterparts. In 2015, we
anticipate seeing an even higher value placed on
networking in-person and the strong impact it can
have on reaching business objectives.
Engaging audiences inside and outside events
We have seen a shift toward considering the
complete attendee experience when planning
events and meetings. As an example, we know
more and more travellers are looking to adopt
or continue healthy habits while on the road.
Professionals can no longer just focus on the
logistics of an event, but instead, have to think
holistically about the attendees to ensure they are
getting the most out of the experience.
The 24/7 work environment is leading the trend
to do more with less time. Content is presented in
shorter sessions, and more audience engagement
tools are being used. It is important to be able to get
the attendee to be ’in the moment’ and enthused
to be there. The use of images will continue to be
seen, and the use of shorter video will be on the
rise. Attendees are seeking to be actively engaged
versus being passive listeners. Facilitation of
discussion and participation through room setups
is being seen to encourage engagement.
We also anticipate a growing recognition of the
importance of many small meetings. In an industry
used to planning meetings at a mass scale, this trend
requires us to shift our thinking and evolve what we
are offering. In order to advance our relationships
with customers, we need to understand that
meeting professionals need to be successful, no
matter the scale of their event. For most small
meetings this means maximising efficiency and
streamlining the customer experience
Creating special events, ones that the attendee
could not do on their own, are being sought-after
to create distinctive experiences. The experience
is carried from start to end to help keep the event
alive through the year. This helps the attendee to
remember the event – and be excited to come back
next year. Local elements are tied into the event to
create a sense of place for the attendee. Offerings
of farm-to-table produce, regional cuisine and
engagement in local volunteer opportunities and
outside activities are seen.
Technology opportunities
While face-to-face meetings remain a critical
component to moving businesses forward, the
growth of virtual and hybrid meetings will continue
to adapt, creating more opportunities for those
who cannot travel due to limited time or money
to participate in meetings. Mobile technology and
social media platforms will continue to rank high
among the growing resources for planners and
suppliers to both conduct and market meetings
more successfully.
Travel and tourism contributes nearly 10percent
of GDP and over 1,4 million jobs to the South
African economy, making a bigger employer than
banking, mining and the telecommunications.
The industry also fosters national unity, pride and
identity and has played a fundamental role in social
advancement over the last two decades.
In his State of the Nation address on 12 February
2015, President Jacob Zuma committed to prioritise
the review of visa regulations “to strike a balance
between national security and growth in tourism”,
following changes implemented last year which
were having a detrimental impact on the country’s
travel and tourism industry.
Scowsill said: “For many years, South Africa has had
a near unrivalled commitment to the development
of its travel and tourism industry, with the
industry represented at the highest levels of
government and with policies encouraging longterm, sustainable growth that is socially-inclusive
and addresses social economic development
challenges at the same time.
“Growth doesn’t happen by itself and South Africa
has done so much right in recognising our industry’s
role in providing the environment for social and
economic advancement. President Zuma’s swift
commitment to review recent changes to visa
regulations is yet another example of how the
country acts decisively to maximise the economic
and social potential of our industry. The private
sector has spoken loudly in encouraging this
review as these were the companies experiencing
the detrimental impacts to the immediate changes
that were imposed. We stand in full support of this
review.”
“According to WTTC forecasts, travel & tourism in
South Africa is due to add almost 350 000 jobs in
the next ten years. This seems a long way off, but
it is vital that government and the private sector
act now to ensure that the policies are in place to
create proactive and careful talent management
in our industry. Our research shows that too many
countries in the world are not implementing the
right policies, programmes and partnerships to
generate the appropriate skills and knowledge to
support future growth. South Africa has a fantastic
opportunity to be a world leader in one of the
world’s great industries.”
The embracement of technology will continue
to be seen in 2015 with more items being done
digitally. Less printed material will be used, further
pushing the industry forward into a paperless trend.
Websites, apps and social media will continue to be
used to push information out to attendees. These
technological platforms offer the opportunity for
rich analytic data to be compiled, which will help
make business decisions to improve customer
interaction.
Social media, mobile technology and other tools
have brought a new level of personalisation to
people’s lives, and attendees demand the same
from meetings and events. They do not want just
to attend meetings; they want to be part of an
experience.
In the year ahead, the industry will see continued
growth in meeting personalisation and the
integration of mobile technology.
Sustainability becomes critical
As we begin to plan for 2015, a trend that is truly
becoming a pillar in the meetings industry is the
focus on sustainability and CSR. Client requests
prove that programmes addressing energy, water
and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and
the supply chain are no longer just a preference, but
a requirement when selecting meeting locations.
Sustainability efforts continue to be a key
component in the meetings and conventions
industry as planners and show organisers realise
the environmental impact their events have on
the local community. They have come to expect
a certain level of environmental consciousness
from their venues and assistance in implementing
greener practices to reduce waste and energy.
CHOOSE HILTON WORLDWIDE FOR YOUR
NEXT MEETING IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
For more than 92 years we have welcomed the world. Today, Hilton Worldwide
has five hotels in Southern Africa, each offering consistently high standards in
hospitality for business travelers and leisure quests alike.
Hilton Cape Town City Centre
Hilton Windhoek
Hilton Sandton
Conrad Pezula
Hilton Durban
To find out more visit hiltonworldwide.com
Source: Bizcommunity
MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015 | 11
SAACI
launches new
innovative
website
Speed marketing at
its best - Corporate
buyers B2B event
The Southern African Association for the Conference
Industry (SAACI) has announced the launch of a
new interactive website. The new website www.
saaci.org, in conjunction with YourMembership,
will go live on 15 March 2015.
Adriaan Liebetrau, Chief Executive Officer of
SAACI says: “Launching our new website is one of
the biggest milestones for the year and I am sure
that our members are going to enjoy all the new
features.”
YourMembership is regarded as the number one
association management software solution in
the world with over 30 per cent of all associations
in America using this platform. The website is
structured in 12 modules with many advanced
features. The main module of the new website is
the members profile - each company will have
its own dedicated profile with its representative
profiles linked to the company profile.
YourMembership is an American owned company
and powered by One Zone in South Africa.
The website will serve as a fully integrated
membership and financial management system
as it is able to interface with Pastel online software
and a website with log in functions to get access to
the association’s knowledge base.
Liebetrau says:
“Our partnership with
YourMembership reaffirms our commitment to our
members and the industry at large, offering a one
stop solution that will not only allow us to reach
more members across the Southern African region
but also assist our members to grow their business
through better member to member connectivity.
Going live with the new website is phase one.
Phase two will focus on interfacing pastel online,
SAACI CEO Adriaan Liebetrau says the association’s
new website will serve as a fully integrated
membership and financial management system.
our financial software, to the system and phase
three will include a number of advanced features.
By next year we believe the website will form an
integral part of our members’ day to day business
operations.
“Over the next few months SAACI will launch
numerous additions to the website as members
convert and become used to the new way of
connecting with each other,” he says.
One of the key strategic objectives of Meetings Africa is to create a platform to do business. The partnership
with The Unique Speaker Bureaus corporate buyers programme has made a new exciting turn in the form of
the inaugural VIP local corporate “B2B” speed marketing event. This platform will assist exhibitors to do more
business – with 50 exhibitors having the opportunity to meet 50 of the top regional corporate companies. The
event takes place today and tomorrow in Ballroom 4.
Tomorrow The Unique Speakers Bureau will host the corporate buyers showcase. This is the second time the
event is being hosted at Meetings Africa – following phenomenal feedback from event planners last year.
This showcase brings together over 40 professional speakers including international and local speakers and
other leading providers to the conferencing industry including venues, travel and destinations throughout
Southern Africa. If you are in the business of planning corporate events and meetings, this show is a must
attend!
For more information or any queries contact Tendai on 011 476 5104 or email [email protected]
Convention Bureau
12 | MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015
Over one billion tourists
travelled abroad in 2014
International tourist arrivals reached 1,138 million
in 2014, a 4,7 percent increase over the previous
year.
This is according to the latest United Nations World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism
Barometer for 2015.
UNWTO forecasts international tourism to grow by
3 to 4 percent, further contributing to the global
economic recovery.
The number of international tourists (overnight
visitors) reached 1,138 million in 2014, 51 million
more than in 2013. With an increase of 4,7 percent
this is the fifth consecutive year of above average
growth since the 2009 economic crisis.
“Over the past years, tourism has proven to be a
surprisingly strong and resilient economic activity
and a fundamental contributor to the economic
recovery by generating billions of dollars in
exports and creating millions of jobs,” says UNWTO
Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.
“This has been true for destinations all around the
world, but particularly for Europe, as the region
struggles to consolidate its way out of one of the
worst economic periods in its history.”
By region, the Americas (+7 percent) and Asia and
the Pacific (+5 percent) registered the strongest
growth, while Europe (+4 percent), the Middle
East (+4 percent) and Africa (+2 percent) grew at
a slightly more modest pace. By sub-region, North
America (+8 percent) saw the best results, followed
by North-East Asia, South Asia, Southern and
Mediterranean Europe, Northern Europe and the
Caribbean, all increasing by 7 percent.
As in recent years, the growth in international
tourism receipts in 2014 is expected to have
followed that of arrivals fairly close (the 2014 results
for international tourism receipts will be released in
April 2015). In 2013, international tourism receipts
reached US$ 1,197 billion, US$ 230 billion more
than in the pre-crisis year of 2008.
Positive outlook for 2015
For 2015, the UNWTO forecasts international
tourist arrivals to grow between 3 and 4 percent.
By region, growth is expected to be stronger in Asia
and the Pacific (+4 to +5 percent) and the Americas
(+4 to +5 percent), followed by Europe (+3 to +4
International
wellness
guru Deepak
Chopra
heads to
Durban
The Durban International Convention Centre
(Durban ICC) is delighted to host international
wellness guru, Dr Deepak Chopra during his second
South African tour in next month.
The prestigious tour is presented by Oval
International, a registered Private Institute of
Higher Education, in partnership with the Durban
ICC.
Chopra will inspire and enlighten guests on “The
Future of Wellbeing” through his insightful seminar
covering areas such as your physical, emotional,
spiritual, career, community, ecological and
financial wellbeing.
The aim of his visit to South Africa is to present a
roadmap for audiences for “higher health” and in
support of his theories, will offer practical ways to
experience higher consciousness, transformation
and healing. He will showcase his latest findings in
alternative and mainstream medicine in his plight
to create understanding and awareness of how the
conscience can enhance the holistic wellbeing of
human beings.
Durban ICC Marketing, Sales and Events Director,
percent). Arrivals are expected to increase by +3 to
+5 percent in Africa and by +2 to +5 percent in the
Middle East.
“We expect demand to continue growing in 2015
as the global economic situation improves even
though there are still plenty of challenges ahead.
On the positive side, oil prices have declined to a
level not seen since 2009. This will lower transport
costs and boost economic growth by lifting
purchasing power and private demand in oil
importing economies. Yet, it could also negatively
impact some of the oil exporting countries which
have emerged as strong tourism source markets,”
said Rifai.
The positive outlook for 2015 is confirmed by the
UNWTO Confidence Index. According to the 300
tourism experts consulted worldwide for the Index,
tourism performance is expected to improve in
2015, though expectations are less upbeat than a
year ago.
Europe consolidates its position as the most
visited region in the world
Mala Dorasamy says: “It is an honour for us to
partner with Oval International in bringing such
a world-renowned luminary to our shores. The
Durban ICC has always been on the cutting edge
of thought-leadership in South Africa and we are
looking forward to the insights which Dr Chopra
will impart at this event.”
Attendees will be afforded the opportunity to
interact with Chopra and address specific topics
at the seminar. The programme includes a list of
questions that Chopra will address such as: Are we
in the midst of a major paradigm shift in science?, Is
there an ultimate reality? and Does consciousness
conceive, govern, construct and become the
physical universe?
Chopra is acknowledged by TIME Magazine as ‘one
of the top 100 hero icons of the 20th century’ and
Globe In acknowledges him as ‘one of the top most
influential spiritual leaders around the world’.
He is the author of more than 80 books translated
into over 43 languages, including twenty-two
New York Times bestsellers in both the fiction and
nonfiction categories.
Europe (+4 percent), the most visited region with
over half of the world’s international tourists, saw
an increase of 22 million arrivals in 2014, reaching a
total of 588 million. Thanks to these results, tourism
has been a major contributor to the European
economic recovery. Northern Europe and Southern
and Mediterranean Europe led growth (both
+7 percent), while results were more modest in
Western Europe (+2 percent). Arrivals in Central
and Eastern Europe (0 percent) stagnated after
three years of strong growth.
International tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific
(+5 percent) increased by 13 million to 263 million.
The best performance was recorded in North-East
Asia and South Asia (both +7 percent). Arrivals in
Oceania grew by 6 percent, while growth slowed
down in South-East Asia (+2 percent) as compared
to previous years.
The Americas was the best performing region in
relative terms with growth of 7 percent, welcoming
an additional 13 million international tourists and
raising the total to 181 million. Growth was driven
by North America (+8 percent), where Mexico
posted a double-digit increase, and the Caribbean
(+7 percent). Arrivals to Central America and South
America (both +6 percent) grew at double the rate
recorded in 2013 and well above the world average.
increase of one million arrivals. The region reached
56 million tourists. While arrivals to North Africa
were weak (+1 percent), Sub-Saharan Africa saw
international tourist numbers rise by 3 percent
despite the Ebola virus disease outbreak in a few
West African countries. Data for Africa and the
Middle East should be read with caution as it is
based on limited and volatile data.
Demand from traditional source markets picks
up
A pickup in expenditure on international tourism
from traditional source markets compensated
for the slowdown of the large emerging markets,
which had been driving tourism growth in previous
years.
The total number of trips abroad from China is
estimated to have increased by 11 million to 109
million in 2014. Expenditure was up by 17 percent
in the first three quarters of 2014, a strong result
but slower than in previous years (40 percent in
2012 and 26 percent in 2013, respectively). China
is the world’s largest outbound market since 2012
with a total expenditure of US$ 129 billion in 2013.
Among the other two main emerging markets, the
Russian Federation (-6 percent) clearly lost strength
in 2014, while Brazil still grew by 2 percent, despite
the appreciation of the US dollar against the
Brazilian real and slower economic growth. Beyond
the top ten, some smaller emerging markets saw
expenditure grow substantially, with Saudi Arabia,
India, the Philippines and Qatar all reporting
increases of 30 percent or over.
A pickup in demand from traditional source
markets compensated for the slowdown of the
large emerging markets. Expenditure from the
United States, the second largest outbound market
in the world, grew by 6 percent. Noteworthy is
also the rebound of France (+11 percent), Italy (+6
percent) and the United Kingdom (+4 percent).
Useful links UNWTO World Tourism Barometer
Infographic: International Tourist Arrivals 2014 (per
region)
Infographic: International Tourist Arrivals 2014
(growth per region)
Infographic: Why Tourism Matters
UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2014 Edition
International tourism in the Middle East (+4
percent) shows signs of rebound with good results
in most destinations. The region attracted an
additional 2 million arrivals, bringing the total to
50 million. Africa’s international tourist numbers
grew by an estimated 2 percent, equivalent to an
MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015 | 13
World Congress on Heathy
Ageing in SA this July
Registration is open for the second World
Congress on Healthy Ageing which will be held in
Johannesburg from 30 July to 2 August 2015.
Themed ‘Bridging the Ageing Divide’, the congress
will be a global forum for internationally renowned
experts to address healthy ageing issues with a
specific focus on how they apply to the African
region.
The first World Congress on Healthy Ageing was
held in Malaysia in 2012.
Dr Ryan Fuller, psychogeriatrician and Scientific
Chair of the congress, says the event will address
all issues related to healthy ageing including
managing non-communicable diseases, diet,
strategies for healthy ageing and how technology
will advance ageing solutions.
Speakers confirmed for the World Congress on
Healthy Ageing include Dr Yen Choo, molecular
biologist and member of the UK Stem Cell Steering
Committee, Prof Suresh Rattan, head of the
Laboratory of Cellular Ageing of the Department
of Molecular Biology at the Aarhus University
in Denmark, Prof Bradley Wilcox, well-known
Physician-Investigator in Geriatrics and Prof Melvyn
Freeman, Chief Director for Non-Communicable
Diseases at the National Department of Health.
The congress organisers are advised by an
international advisory panel of experts.
Fuller says, however, that the congress will not
only consist of high-level scientific discussions.
“A programme of public workshops will be held
parallel to the scientific programme with topics
such as safeguarding the older person, key
health determinants of successful ageing and the
importance of sexual health as you age.”
People who will benefit from the World Congress
on Healthy Ageing include medical and healthcare
professionals, academics, caregivers, legislators,
community service personnel, city planners and
people interested in the science of healthy ageing.
The congress is supported by the City of
Johannesburg, Dementia SA, the South African
Society of Psychiatrists, Alzheimers South Africa,
the Southern African Neurological Rehabilitation
Association and the Malaysian Healthy Ageing
Society.
For more information visit www.wcha2015.com.
2015 EXSA board announced
Following the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa’s Annual General Meeting held on 18
February, the association’s new board has been announced.
Board members are:
Chairman:
Immediate Past Chair:
Treasurer:
Venue Forum:
Venue Forum:
Organiser Forum:
Organiser Forum:
Organiser Forum:
Organiser Forum:
Suppliers Forum:
Suppliers Forum:
Western Cape Forum:
KZN Forum:
Young Professionals Forum:
Brad Alder, Octanorm
Nigel Walker, Compex
Jason King, Hypenica
Lindy Cambouris, CTICC
Lorraine Strydom, SCC
Andrew Binning, Inkanyesi Event Organisers
Amanda Margison, Synergy Business Events
Carol Weaving, Thebe Reed
Leatitia van Straten, Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery
Graeme Marshall, IHVTM
Doug Rix, DK Designs
Karen Healey, Resource Design
Clive Shedlock, Conker Exhibitions
Bronwyn Mathias, Seatworks
Chairman Brad Alder said that an exciting year lay ahead and that the new board is ready to tackle head-on
the challenges that face the industry.
For more information visit www.exsa.co.za.
14 | MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015
Century City
Conference
Centre and Hotel
to open in
one year
Century City Conference Centre and Hotel will offer
the business events industry a very attractive venue
option in Cape Town – one of the most sought after
meeting destinations in the world.
The Rabie Properties R1 billion development is
under construction by Murray and Roberts in the
Bridgeways Precinct, Century City and is scheduled
to open in February 2016.
The centre will offer versatility with 20 different
venues to choose from including four large halls,
a ballroom, a spacious open-plan foyer suitable
for exhibitions, launches and cocktail parties and
twelve meeting rooms.
There is also an 80-seater business lounge available
as additional meeting space. The Urban Square is
an exciting outdoor entertainment area suitable
for a variety of events. The square will provide
a safe public space with 24hour security and
an opportunity for community socialising and
relaxation.
The venue has adopted a flexible approach to
events with tailor-made hospitality suitable for 20
to 900 guests. Another draw card is Century City
Connect - Century City’s open access fibre optic
network offering delegates and guests worldclass fibre optic and wireless connectivity. The
centre will have a fibre optic backbone running
throughout the venue in strategic positions, giving
guests the best possible experience in connectivity.
Conference delegates and other guests can enjoy
the convenience of a 125-bedroom hotel in close
proximity to the conference centre. The trendy
hotel will provide comfortable accommodation
and a functional, welcoming environment for work
and play. Other facilities within a safe walking
distance include Virgin Active Health Club, the
Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Ratanga Junction
Theme Park, a variety of restaurants and food stores
and some other hotels.
Century City Conference Centre and Hotel
and neighbouring buildings share an overall
environmental strategy that encompasses
transport, health, energy, water, and waste.
The mixed use development will include offices,
showrooms, residential apartments and service
retail and a five level parking garage with direct
access to the conference centre. The entire
development will be set over a super-parking
basement, which, together with the structured
parking, will provide a total of 1300 bays.
The project is an example of New Urban planning
and implementation combining residential,
commercial and leisure components in a beautifully
landscaped setting on the banks of eight kilometres
of picturesque waterways and canals.
S(c)ene at Meetings Africa
MEETINGS AFRICA DAILY NEWS 2015 | 15
A SPACE TO
SHAPE IDEAS
Welcome to Africa’s preferred multi-purpose
venue, the Sandton Convention Centre.
Our state-of-the-art venue provides a platform
for people to share new ideas, inspire
progressive thinking and project innovative
solutions regarding local and global issues.
If you’re looking for a proven leader in the event
industry, give us a call on +27 11 779 0000.
SANDTON
CONVENTION CENTRE
sandtonconventioncentre.com
JOHANNESBURG
| SOUTH AFRICA
POTENTIAL RELEASED