Meetings Africa – Some Final Exhibitor Views

During the week of Meetings Africa, the Mole spoke with a number of exhibitors – here are some more that you may find of interest:

An African Anthology

Gary Nielsen markets and represents lodges in South Africa and Botswana.  Core to the African Anthology business is the inbound market, however local corporate runs a close second.

An African Anthology is actively targeting the Aussie market and there has been a large increase in visiting Aussies in the last (fiscal) year.

One lodge is particularly worth mentioning as it sounds the real McCoy….  Ivory Tree is the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa and can host around 120 delegates.

It has the “Big 5” game animals, and it involves less travel (two hours driving from Johannesburg and 30 mins from Sun City). Similar to Lion Sands, it seems the game animals come to you, not vice-versa.

The lodge is built in a natural amphitheatre, in a U-shape. Nielsen says that wild game, including frequently visiting elephants move into the space inside the ‘U’ providing the chalets (that make up the lodge) all around the U a first row view.

The lodge can sleep 120, with conferencing facilities for the same number, though it is actually part of a larger national park, they have their own gates, which means that should some delegates go for some high-rolling at nearby Sun City, they can make it back to their chalet any time of the day or night – and they may very well see elephants, though not of the pink variety!!  Add to this the fact that the area is malaria free and no wonder it is popular with the corporate sector.

Guests have the additional benefit of seeing a wilderness area of the park that is not open to the general public.  Ivory Tree guides also monitor game so that guests should see plenty of game on their private game drive.  Too add a little spice, bush dinners are held complete with guards to ensure you don’t end up on something else’s menu.  These can be themed, and are usually silver service, must be quite surreal looking through the candelabras to try and spot something you’ve just heard rustling through the trees…..!!

There is also a ‘wellness centre’ and Nielsen is enthusiastic about their version of the Amazing Race.  With GPS, the objective is to log as many way points as possible whilst learning about the bush – races have even started from Johannesburg Airport.  Contact Gary at [email protected]

Africa Tour

There is an enthusiastic and great double-act at Africa Tour – Michelle Caskie and Sonja Dickson.  Both know African culture intimately, and combined with a focus on diving and adventure, their unique grass-roots approach for pre and post show tours should ensure that an incentive or conference is long remembered.

Africa Tour is an eco-tourism operation that encompasses ‘big 5’ safaris, cultural, ethnic and golf tours, team-building experiences and for all those who have seen perhaps one medical TV show too many, a unique veterinary safari.

Yep! Pull on that pith helmet and dart your own Rhino!  As the company is adventure-based, other similar experiences also await, such as walking with Rhinos (ie when they have not been darted!) shark cage diving and wreck diving.  Scuba Diving Safaris are a particular area of specialisation.

If white water rafting down the Zambesi, sandboarding or bungi-jumping is what you want, Michelle & Sonja are the ladies to call.  From a Mole-point of view, when people are passionate, understand what service is all about and simply love making people feel good, it’s a winning combination.

This is more common to owner-run operations such as Africa Tour and it can be a key differential for organisers and planners when considering future gigs.  Having spoken to Michelle and Sonja during both the official functions and trade show, I would feel extremely comfortable recommending that, at the very least, people should contact them to explore possibilities for a tailor-made South African package for their next meeting or conference.  

Africa Tour incentive programs appear to be well designed to capture the best that South Africa has to offer. They were runners-up in the 2006 Women in Business Award for Entrepreneurs.

The Amazing Zulu Race sounds like a classic, with clues, physical challenges, building challenges and problem solving tasks.  There are also a host of ‘Zulu Survivor Events’. These can range from who scores the most soccer goals against a local Zulu goalie to eating various ‘African delicacies’.  In the latter, a technicolour yawn will lose you a point! You can also improve your short game by playing the new South African craze called ‘Cross Golf’.

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

North West Province

It took the mole a moment to realise that ‘North West’ is the name of one of South Africa’s nine provinces, as well as a compass direction!  Not sure whether this may end up becoming something of a barrier – business cards are an example, they are headed “North West Parks & Tourism Board”. Initial thoughts are “er… of where?!  This may reflect the fact that some provinces are relatively new in the political re-structuring of South Africa, North West being one of them.

North West is a province that is around the size of KwaZulu-Natal and it shares its eastern border with the smallest South African province called Gauteng (with its provincial capital Johannesburg).

Be that as it may, North West is working closely with South African Tourism to develop business tourism.  The most well known destination in North West is Sun City which is no stranger to the MICE market.

Karabo Moshoete, the Sales & Information Manager for North West Parks & Tourism Board says that North West is focusing on turning visitors into ambassadors for the province and building relationships with key markets.  A detailed strategy has been completed and plans are now in place to grow business.

The infrastructure is good and North West promotes themselves as the safest destination in South Africa.  There is a strong Botswana influence in the province, with many coming over to shop! Moshoete also says that accommodation is now being grown to ensure that the province has a good range of accommodation to suit all categories of traveller.

History buffs can enjoy visiting Mafeking and the winter months are mild, which means it is an all-year destination.  There are two big 5 (Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, Lion & buffalo) parks and 10 smaller ones and North West is malaria free.  So, with North West actively seeking to become a big player in the MICE market, there may be some good partnership opportunities worth following up.

Email: [email protected]

Sun International

The Sun International Group probably needs no introduction, with Sun City being the location for its most well known hotel member!  It is all about luxury, with championship golf courses all around, fine dining, shows, and more.

Belinda Pedersen, the International Sales & Marketing Manager – Resorts explained to the Mole that the group had experienced 35% growth in the incentive travel market and that a new resort has been developed in Egypt, which is twice the size of Sun City.

Sun is actively engaged in both the Chinese and Indian markets and views Australia as a mature market for Sun City.  Expansion plans will see the group develop 3 Star, 5 Star and 5 Star Deluxe accommodation, to expand gaming as well as to focus on family holidays in the sun (and at the beach) and the increasingly important MICE markets worldwide. 

South African Breweries (SAB)

SAB is a subsidiary of SABMiller plc, one of the largest brewers by volume in the world and SAB is indirectly responsible for over 400,000 jobs in South Africa.

Head Office for SAB is in Newtown, Johannesburg. Newtown is an area undergoing significant urban renewal, known as the Newtown Cultural Project.  SAB has made a multi-million rand investment in the project – could be a real opportunity here for Tooheys to help Newtown in Sydney to become a ‘sister trendy suburb’ with its Johannesburg counterpart! Just needs some beer money….

SAB has some very well appointed conference rooms and pleasant outside areas for refreshment breaks.  A new auditorium is planned and there is also a panoramic city view from ‘The Tap Room’.  Many South African companies, organisations and government departments use the conference facilities at SAB. There are in-house caterers for your event/conference and of course, er… refreshments!

The SAB ‘World of Beer’ provides a showcase of brewing, and it will also be updated in the next few months to further enhance the experience.  Naturally The Mole thought it would be in the best interests of his readers to make a field visit to SAB after Meetings Africa.

This resulted in The Mole tickling the ivories in the ‘honkytonk pub’,  checking out a traditional Soweto Shebeen and admiring the full-scale brewhouse on his way to an appointment with John Ndlovu, the SAB Hospitality Manager, and er… some amber nectar in The Tap Room.

John Ndlovu would love to hear from Aussie and New Zealand corporates who are considering a meeting in Johannesburg and he can be reached on [email protected].

Report by The Mole