Meetings Africa – Exhibitor Views (Part One)

I thought it would be interesting to list some of the exhibitors that the Mole visited for their views on South African Business Tourism:

Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Willie Williams, the PR Manager for Eastern & Southern Africa described the South African Market as very strong, particularly the domestic market.  Like many hotels, 9/11 had a significant impact, with many international reservations cancelled.  Starwood is now giving equal focus to the domestic and international markets and the group are looking to expand their presence in the South African market.

Ubuntu Kraal

This is a wedding and conference venue that can securely host up to 1,000 people – in Soweto! A venue with a difference! Soweto actually covers a very wide area with numerous suburbs, one of the newer ones is the ‘Orlando West Extension’.  The traditional view of hectares of humpies, in reality, has to be adjusted. These have steadily disappeared to a point where they are in isolated pockets – there are now even blocks of flats which the growing younger middle class rent.

This is not to say that all is rosy in Soweto it is just an indicator that things are improving.  Nancy Nxumalo, the Executive Director of the Venue would like to invite planners and organisers from Australia & New Zealand to throw their support behind the venue and both Nancy and her colleague Veronica say “Come to Soweto!!”

Eastern Cape Tourism Board

The Eastern Cape province is an area that has not really promoted itself to the outside world.  The capital is Nelson Mandela Bay, formerly Port Elizabeth, the other large centre of population being East London (yep!).

With the impetus of 2010, they have adopted a strategy that focuses on business tourism, with a large Convention Centre, now in the planning stages, which will rival Durban and Cape Town.  They plan to leverage business tourism to also help build the numbers of leisure tourists.

Zukiswa Ntwasa views the growth of Business Tourism in South Africa as key to the future success of Eastern Cape Tourism.  The destination is relatively unknown and offers “authentic experiences for pre and post show tours.

Sandton Convention Centre

The venue for Meetings Africa.  Janine Meyer, the International Sales Manager says that Sandton is focusing on the international market, particularly the long-haul markets of Australia and New Zealand.

Currently they have a mix of corporate, government and local organisers and planners, and it is such a huge, state of the art complex, that many in South Africa believe it only hosts larger events and exhibitions.  Nothing could be further from the truth, Sandton can accommodate 10 people, up to 10,000 people.  Multiple events/functions/meetings can be happening simultaneously on every floor.

It is certainly an impressive facility, and Meyer’s goal is to have 40% of Sandton’s business derived from overseas markets by 2011.  They already have events on their books up to 2016.  Given this goal of 40%, there are some real opportunities here, particularly for Aussie & Kiwi associations, which make up a significant part of Sandton’s track record and experience.

Lion Sands

Every so often you are told about a place so graphically, you decide you just simply have to put it on your ‘100 things to do before I cark it’ list. Lion Sands, a private game reserve on the Sabi River, has certainly made it on to my list after speaking with Peter Scott, the Marketing Manager for Lion Sands.

I could in turn wax lyrical, but as I haven’t actually having been there I think the next best thing is to list some points to whet the appetite, as told by Scott:

Animals come to view you (unlike the larger parks & reserves where it can take a little while to find the so called ‘Big 5’ and other general game)

You have your own observation deck or bathroom, and from the pool.  One guest swimming in the pool looked down on the nearby river and saw a croc bring down an antelope!

Animals roam freely, at night you are not allowed to walk without a security guard! Not for people either…..

Highest concentration of leopards in Africa (all cat activity “phenomenal”)

Safety first approach by family-run reserve, guides/guards are trained to recognise animal agitation so it is unlikely that you will become a savannah lunch

Ivory lodge sounds like the lodge from heaven, the chalets are very popular with honeymooners and 40 & 50 yr wedding anniversaries

Bush brekkies in hides along the river so you can enjoy your bacon & eggs whilst watching hippo

Two tree houses – literally a platform with 4 poster bed, some netting and the great outdoors all around (er… plus a radio if it rains or you become a little paranoid!!  Probably not best for those people who wake their partners up at 3am and say “Whats that noise??!!)

Scott says that incentive groups and wedding packages are their core business.  Asked about the Australian market, he said that Aussies were a lot different to their image.  Certainly the Aussies expect a certain level of service, but they are easy to deal with and make up a significant proportion of all international visitors.

Aussies are seen as very similar to South Africans (a recurring theme from many discussions!) in lifestyle, attitude and SPORT! So they love nothing better than entertaining us.

One fantastic thing is a school they have set up for local orphans from AIDS mainly, which now has 250 kids.  Scott said that one person’s wages supports 30, so it is important to give back and support the local community.  This model appears to be growing strongly throughout South Africa and is a big step up from a ‘hand-out’ culture, it is more about integrating and improving life for all – gets my vote!

More Exhibitor views shortly – the mole is all moled out…..