Get up to date with the latest MICE – Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Events news out of Africa with this weekly news wrap-up.
The countdown to Meetings Africa 2024 has begun
Meetings Africa, is set to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 27 to 28 February 2024, with Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay) preceding the show on 26 February 2024 and delegates from all over the world are now invited to register and book their spot at this all-important trade show. In 2023, Meetings Africa brought together 273 hosted buyers and 355 exhibitors from 22 African countries and all partners are looking forward to welcoming even more delegates in 2024. To read more about the event, click here. For registration to participate as an exhibitor, please contact the Meetings Africa exhibition management and sales teams who are on standby to assist. For more, visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za or contact the Exhibition Sales Team on exhibitor@meetingsafrica.co.za
Jane Goodall Kick Starts “40 Years 40 Events” in Tanzania
Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) and Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) have forged a partnership to inculcate conservation values to the youth, as TATO seeks to payback to the community and nature, as part of its 40 years anniversary. Founded in 1983, TATO has witnessed tourism development and tourist streams in the country surged from 54,000 tourists in 1983 to 1.5 million in 2022, with the foreign currency earnings rising from $12.8 million in 1983 to $2.5 billion in 2022. Kicking off a first out of 40 planned events, as part of celebrating an incredible journey of 40 years, TATO announced to work with JGI’s Roots and Shoots project that seek to nurture young people to affect positive change on conservation drive in their communities.
Plan for major Convention Centre in Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Airlines Group and Addis-Africa International Convention and Exhibition Centre (AAICEC) have signed an equity investment agreement to establish an international convention centre in Addis Ababa to host multiple business events. The centre, built by and named AAICEC, is one of the airline’s major national projects to transform the country’s image after it recently held a grand opening of the largest hotel on the African continent – Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines is participating in this project through equity investment to boost conferences, tourism, and trade in the country. The AAICEC will include indoor and outdoor exhibition venues, multi-purpose halls, a conference centre, auditoriums, office space, shops, a restaurant and café, and a children’s playground, amongst other facilities.
Rwanda’s Kwita Izina 2023 fast approaching
Rwanda is preparing for the annual Baby Gorilla Naming Ceremony, KWita Izina. Kwita Izina is modelled off a centuries old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends. In 2005, Rwanda began officially naming mountain gorillas in what has become a global celebration of nature. By giving a name to these majestic animals, we give them a value they undoubtedly deserve.
The ceremony is an opportunity to thank the communities that live around Volcanoes National Park, our research partners, vets and the dedicated conservationists, rangers and trackers who protect the gorillas.
The 19th Kwita Izina will be held on Friday, 1 September 2023, and will celebrate the country’s commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism.
Kenya to boost lead in tourism, MICE with new convention centre
The Kenya government has announced plan to establish an ultra-modern convention centre in Nairobi, the capital city. The convention centre is to help the East African leading economy position itself as a MICE, diplomatic, and commercial hubs. In a news release announcing the decisions, the statement said ‘’To position Kenya as the destination of choice for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, and to cement her place as a diplomatic and commercial hub, cabinet approved the establishment of the Bomas International Convention Centre (BICC).’’
Anantara weddings in breath-taking African destinations
A private wedding with your closest friends and family or a big-scale affair, whatever a dream wedding looks like, a destination wedding is a must. Anantara Hotels in Mozambique and Zambia provide dream-like wedding destinations, from the turquoise Indian Ocean of Mozambique to the wondrous backdrop of the Victoria Falls in Zambia. An Anantara wedding at one of these venues is sure to be remembered for iconic views and meticulous attention to personalised detail.
Newark Hotels off MICE venue in Nigeria
Newmark has just entered Nigeria in Lakowe Lakes, just outside of Nigeria in a pristine estate including a championship golf course. The property is a fantastic destination for a West Africa MICE event. Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate is located Forty (40) kilometres from Lagos’s Victoria Island Central Business District in the new Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, and is set within a 308-hectare expanse of nature, manicured gardens, palm groves and more than thirteen (13) lakes. The gated estate offers upscale residential villas to rent, luxury lodge-style accommodation and a signature 18-hole championship Lakowe Lakes Golf Course designed by world-acclaimed Golf Course Architect, Robert O’Friel. The address provides a sanctuary from the urban bustle of Lagos and offers the global citizen blue chip property investment opportunities, estate lifestyle living, world-class hospitality including accommodation, spa, bespoke event and meeting spaces and immersive nature experiences.
Into Africa focus on Sustainability and Learning in MICE
Into Africa was thrilled to be involved in the Entrepreneurs Organization Global Leadership Conference. Their role was to conceptualize and deliver on a series of learning experiences, that related to the conference content with a particular focus on innovation, social entrepreneurship, advocacy, arts, culture and sustainability. The event was made up of 1600+ people which were divided into 67 groups. Delegates visited Robben Island, took lessons from the Green Economy, visited the streets of Salt River to see the impactful work being done by Baz- Art, visited Philippi Village which is an integrated community hub that aims to help young entrepreneurs thrive, joined the Innovation City workshop, learnt about wine business at Klein Goederust and attended an event at Breakwater Lodge for a Roundtable discussion focused on reimagining business as a force for good and understanding how businesses are not only a driver of economic growth, but a driver for social impact.
South Africa’s MICE growth strong
South Africa’s MICE sector is expected to grow from the U$6.9 billion in revenue recorded in 2019 to an estimated US$10.2 billion in 2028. This was highlighted by Acting CEO of South African Tourism, Nomasonto Ndlovu, speaking at Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) MICE Masterclass held in Johannesburg recently. She added that the sector’s revenue slumped to US$1.6bn in 2020 and climbed to US$2.6bn by 2021. Ndlovu said, of the four MICE segments – meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions – meetings remained the key growth area.
Meetings Africa 2024 open for registrations
Meetings Africa, is set to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 27 to 28 February 2024, with Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay) preceding the show on 26 February 2024 and delegates from all over the world are now invited to register and book their spot at this all-important trade show.
Meetings Africa is a Pan-African trade show, where African associations and meetings industry professionals come together to showcase Africa’s diverse offering of business events services and products to global buyers. At Meetings Africa, delegates also come together to share knowledge as they partner to contribute to transforming and growing the continent’s business events sector. To register for the show, please visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za
APTA Global Forum
APTA will host its first-ever Global Forum on the African continent from September 26-30, 2023, at The Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. The theme of the 2023 Global Forum is “Africa: Where It Begins,” which pays homage to the importance of Africa to the travel and tourism industry. The event will include two days of member networking and educational sessions on the latest products, services, and tourism trends in Africa. The forum will bring together travel industry leaders, tourism boards, and travel advisors to discuss the future of tourism in Africa and explore new opportunities for growth and development in the region. Register now here.
WeTravel’s Tech & Innovation Summit
WeTravel is hosting travel and tech thought leaders and industry experts for our inaugural virtual Tech and Innovation Summit. The tools and systems that support our industry are evolving faster than ever before. With so much new technology at our fingertips, how can you ensure that you’re leveraging the innovations you really need in order to grow your business? With six sessions exploring the technologies, trends and innovations that are forging the travel industry’s future, this free one-day summit will be packed with actionable insights and key learnings to take away. Save your virtual seat HERE!
No Magical Kenya Travel Expo in 2023
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) wishes to inform all stakeholders that the 13th edition of Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) 2023 wil not take place this year. Kenya will instead host the 3rd edition of the East African Regional Tourism Expo (EARTE). EARTE is a regional travel fair showcasing the region’s diverse tourism offering to consumers, trade, media, and buyers. The expo is scheduled to take place from 17 to 21 November 2023, in Nairobi. EARTE is held on a rotational basis by member states of the East African Community. The United Republic of Tanzania (URT) hosted the first EARTE in October 2021 in Arusha and the Republic of Burundi hosted the second edition in September 2022 in Bujumbura. The implementation of EARTE is anchored to the East African Community Tourism Marketing Strategy (2021-2025), which is geared towards positioning and marketing the East Africa Community as a leading sustainable tourism destination in Africa.
If you have any MICE news, please send it through to our editor at hello@africabeat.com.au
