Get up to date with the latest MICE – Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Events news out of Africa with this weekly news wrap-up.
G20 presents huge opportunities
South Africa’s G20 presidency in 2025 presents a host of opportunities for the country’s tourism and hospitality suppliers as the government needs the industry’s help to showcase the best of what it has to offer. So said Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille in her keynote speech opening the SATSA Conference 2024 at the Arabella Hotel Golf and Spa in Kleinmond, Western Cape, last week. She pointed out that over 125 meetings would be held in South Africa next year, culminating in the G20 Summit in November, expecting more than 40 global heads of state.
Cape Town Conference Centre gets massive revamp
The Century City Conference Centre has undergone a R15 million refurbishment and unveiled a new venue, The Verve, which includes an additional 500sqm of conferencing space. Both The Verve and the refurbished business lounge and surrounding public spaces are designed to cater to the needs of clients in search of high-end venues. The refurbished business lounge now features bespoke workstations to enhance productivity and connectivity, private meeting booths, sound-proofed, air-conditioned pods for confidential discussions, and intimate dining pockets for working lunches. Ergonomically- designed seating ensures comfort and efficiency for delegates.
Durban Street Food Festival set for September
This year’s Durban Street Food Festival will take place at The Pavilion Shopping Centre from 6 – 8 September 2024. The festival will offer a diverse lineup of food, crafts, music, and entertainment. There will be over 60 food and craft vendors as well as a music stage with over 20 artists performing live.
Cape Town at the centre of global space economy
Cape Town recently hosted the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly, the first time in over 100 years that the event was on African soil. Running from 6 – 15 August 2024, the event attracted over 1,800 delegates (80% of whom were first-time visitors to the city). This influx is expected to significantly benefit local industries, particularly tourism and hospitality.
Held every three years, the IAU General Assembly brings together leading astronomers from around the globe to advance the field of astronomy through international collaboration. In 2018, the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau, powered by Wesgro, secured the event. Business events like this are pivotal to the Western Cape’s economy-boosting visitor numbers and showcasing the region’s expertise across various sectors. These gatherings directly influence foreign investment, export opportunities and tourism growth, with conference delegates estimated to spend around R6 400 (€322) per day, according to Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander.
Unusual conferencing experiences in demand
Conferencing is undergoing rapid change as customer expectations for “unusual” experiences transform the sector. During a recent meeting of professional conference organisers at The Vineyard in Cape Town, key role players discussed trends shaping the industry and showcased innovative new conferencing options.
Belinda Morrison, Head of Sales for The Vineyard, says conferences are increasingly being shaped by heightened expectations of sustainability, wellness and innovation.
“Leading conference venues are integrating eco-friendly practices such as energy efficiency systems and waste reduction to meet growing demand for sustainable meeting options. Wellness is now a core tenet of modern conferencing experiences with many featuring activities such as mediation, fitness sessions and health-conscious catering to boost attendee wellbeing.”
The meeting of industry professionals at The Vineyard included discussions about wellness, artistic expression, presentation skills training and team building. The day started with a grounding and meditation session before moving to the scenic lawns for mentally stimulating team-building exercises.
Stellenbosch MICE sector boom
Stellenbosch is positioning itself as a serious player in South Africa’s MICE (Meetings, conferences and exhibitions) tourism sector, with increased tourism numbers driven by demand for second-tier cities and improved air access into Cape Town. Speaking during the Meet Stellenbosch conference held last week, Jeanneret Momberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch said there was a growing sentiment that “Stellenbosch is a serious force to be reckoned with in the meetings space”. This is reflected in growth in the number of international meetings the town has hosted, reaching nine in 2023, up from five in 2022.
Discovering the next chapter of Sun City
Experience the transformation at Sun City with fresh spaces, modern amenities, and enhanced experiences. From sustainable solar panels and revitalised vacation homes to upgraded hotel rooms and new padel courts, Sun City is embracing a greener future and offering more activities for everyone. Visit the Retail Centre for new delights like Krispy Kreme, Ben’s Bubble Tea, and Lego Wonderland. Get ready for an elevated holiday experience. Read more here.
New event space set to open in upmarket JHB suburb
The Forum Company is set to open a new events space, The Forum Hyde Park, by mid-October. This was announced by The Forum Company MD, Glynis Hyslop, at a recent media and trade event. According to Hyslop, the Forum Hyde Park – located within the Hyde Park Shopping Centre – is set to be an urban sanctuary featuring sophisticated green and white marble, roof-top gardens, and adaptable spaces suitable for both leisure and corporate events.
MICE industry has bounced back
South Africa’s MICE industry has bounced back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Gary Koetser, CEO of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels in Cape Town.
In an interview with Tourism Update, Koetser said the MICE industry “took a hell of a knock during COVID”, and that there was much talk at the time that conferencing would never be the same again. However, in retrospect, there were many positives for MICE that came out of COVID, Koetser believes. One of these positives was that people realised the critical need for in-person meetings and interactions.
Franschhoek gears up for Bastille Festival
Franschhoek gears up for popular Bastille Festival Franschhoek Tourism has announced that its Bastille celebration, in partnership with global financial services business, Prescient, will take place at Franschhoek High School’s rugby field on July 13-14. As Franschhoek is also known as the Cape’s French outpost, the weekend festival will highlight gastronomic delights, exquisite wines, and all things French. This year’s event will introduce a venue change aimed at enhancing the comfort of guests amidst the anticipated crowds and sold-out attendance.
Uganda prepares for POATE 2024
Uganda is preparing for The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE), an annual tourism and travel trade show that is organised by the Uganda Tourism Board. Each year, the expo brings together tourism value chain actors and stakeholders under the Business to business and Business to Consumer formats, for networking opportunities, business deals.
POATE 2024 will be held at the brand-new venue – Speke Resort and Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala from 23rd to 25th May 2024. For the eighth time, Uganda’s doors will be open to 70 hosted buyers, over 5,000 trade visitors and consumers during the three-day expo in the heart of Kampala. Both Leisure and MICE tourism will blend seamlessly, with a direction skewed towards global emerging trends.
ANEW Hotel & Convention Centre OR Tambo Johannesburg opens
The ANEW Hotel & Convention Centre OR Tambo Johannesburg marks an important step into the large-scale conferencing and convention sector for the group. The property – previously known as The Lakes Hotel & Conference Centre – is on the banks of Swan Lake in Benoni on the East Rand, and will join the group’s portfolio on July 1.
Positioned just 10km from OR Tambo International Airport, the new property’s key highlight is its conferencing and events venues. With 16 venues capable of accommodating up to 4,000 delegates, the property is a great choice for conventions, expos, conferences, product launches, weddings, and gala events. The versatile venue spaces are designed to cater for a variety of occasions, offering state-of-the-art facilities and the latest technology.
Essence of Africa date change
Africa’s newest travel trade event, Essence of Africa, has switched to a December date to avoid coinciding with the Magical Kenya Travel Expo taking place from October 2-4.
Essence of Africa, developed by On Show Solutions in collaboration with ATTA’s events division Experience Africa Events, will now take place from December 2-4 at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi. The decision to secure new dates in December came after careful consideration and consultation with the event’s advisory board, comprising prominent figures in the African tourism industry, said ATTA President Nigel Vere Nicoll, President of ATTA.
Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2024
The Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) is gearing up for the 2024 Event and Kenya Tourism Board looks forward to welcoming you on 2nd – 4th October 2024 at the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Nairobi.
This year’s expo, will showcase over 300 exhibitors and 3,000 tourism professionals providing an unparalleled opportunity for industry leaders and stakeholders to ignite new collaborations and opportunities within East Africa’s thriving tourism sector.
To register as an Exhibitor, click here. To be considered as a buyer, click here.
WTM Africa 2025 Save the Date
WTM Africa bids farewell to the remarkable 2024 edition, filled with fruitful business meetings, engaging conversations, captivating speakers, and joyful reunions.
As WTM Africa looks towards the future, they ask you to mark your calendar now for next year’s event to be held in Cape Town from 9-11 April. You can register your interest here.
If you have any MICE news, please send it to our editor at hello@africabeat.com.au
