Into South Africa – part two!

Meetings Africa is a partnership between South African Tourism and Thebe Exhibition & Events. The show opens on February 28th 2007 at the Sandton Convention Centre, and finishes after two full days, on March 1st.

It is aimed at anyone who organises events, incentives, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, functions – basically anyone who organises any gathering of people for any specific purpose, from showcasing new products and services to educating, rewarding, celebrating or simply wanting to have a business meeting with a difference.  It is the marketing platform for Africa’s business tourism industry.

“So what!” you may say, and yes there are a number of trade shows like this around the globe, however, this one has something unique – South Africa. 

This is where you may find something a little different from the norm, something exotic and adventurous for your next shindig. 

A corporate hiking adventure in the Aussie or Kiwi scrub can be fabulous, but equally watching lions play ‘spot the tourist’ in the African savannah on a post conference tour can be very exciting!

There will be nearly 200 exhibitors at the Meetings Africa exhibition, all vying to show visitors new and interesting ideas for events in Africa.  Meetings Africa enjoys huge tourism industry support and it is promoted as the only one-stop shop for conference, event and incentive travel organisers, meeting planners and corporate buyers.  Basically, the best that the industry can offer.

The 2007 Business Tourism Conference

Preceding and running in parallel to Meetings Africa is The 2007 Business Tourism Conference, which commences tomorrow (February 27th).  This years Business Tourism Conference has been sponsored by the Johannesburg Tourism Company (one of its divisions is the Johannesburg Convention Bureau which is focused on the MICE market, attracting meetings & conventions to the city) and The Sandton Convention Centre.

International speakers include Australian David Hall, one of the world’s most broadly experienced and widely consulted authorities in relation to the meetings industry, Dr Sheila Flanagan, head of the School of Hospitality Management and Tourism at the Dublin Institute of Technology, and Tony Rogers, Chief Executive of the British Association of Conference Destinations.

The Conference will encompass all sectors of the Business Tourism industry, where participants can learn how to do business in key business tourism markets including Australia and New Zealand.  Interestingly, Australia is one of the top ten long-haul outbound markets in the world, and there has been strong growth in Australian arrivals into South Africa.

With Australians’ disposable income amongst the highest in the world (at the moment!!), and increasing numbers of Australians travelling overseas, Australia has become an attractive market for South African Tourism.  But The Mole digresses….

The Business Tourism Conference comprises a full day on February 27 and Industry Breakfast Seminars each morning of the Meetings Africa exhibition.  As ever, there should be some great networking opportunities for delegates who will also learn about current industry trends.

Social Gatherings

The social highlight of both the Business Tourism Conference and Meetings Africa (er… the official one!) also happens tomorrow (27th), it is an evening function hosted by South African Tourism, namely the inaugural ‘Best in Business Tourism Awards, recognising and rewarding outstanding achievement, excellence and creativity in marketing business tourism.  More on these awards later!

There will also be the usual round of formal and informal gatherings, including a Cultural & Heritage Experience with the Gauteng Tourism Authority (with official function following), a Johannesburg Urban Sightseeing Tour courtesy of the Johannesburg Tourism Company, the odd cocktail function and some post show tours.

As for the more informal get-togethers, the mole will be strolling! Hopefully he can pick up some juicy (OK realistically, some’ reasonably’ juicy) titbits.

In conclusion……….So there you have it – Meetings Africa is all about marketing South Africa’s unique business tourism propositions, domestically and internationally.  All the components needed to create an event or conference in South Africa can be found at Meetings Africa,

The beauty of a show like this is that companies and people can network, network & network! And negotiate deals face-to-face.

Professional conference organisers, meeting planners, corporate travel agents, associations, corporate and government buyers will all be visiting Meetings Africa with an eye on their next event.  International buyers can join the hosted buyer programme. In 2006 the exhibition was attended by more than 2 500 visitors, of which 82 were international hosted buyers and 39 were media representatives.

For more information visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za

Exhibitors will be promoting themselves to both domestic and international buyers and in return they will be finding out all about the unique needs of these buyers. 

If you are an industry professional looking for something different and exotic for your next event, Meetings Africa is the place to find it. There is still time to book your flight!

Meetings Africa report by The Mole