The Event Issue 11

ISSUE 11 | 2014

+ THE A-Z OF PCOs Part2

+ BOTTOMS UP! IntroducingAfrica'sFoodandBeverageLeaders

+ THE A-Z OF PCOs Part2

+ BOTTOMS UP! IntroducingAfrica'sFoodandBeverageLeaders

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The A-Z of PCOsKim Muller concludes this two-part series with a fascinating trip into the world of PCOs.

Spotlight on EIBTMExpect innovation galore at the leading international event for meetings, incentives, conferences and business travel on the industry’s calendar.

Bottoms Up!Some say African food is the most diverse cuisine on the planet. Turn to page 14 and find out why.

City of TshwaneSiyanda Bani gives us a look inside South Africa’s captivating capital.

CONTENTS | 01www.theevent.co.za

02. Tech Talk – Biometrics in Action

04. Tourism in SA sparkles at the annual Lilizela Awards

06. BestCities’ Partners Amongst World’s Most Innovative Cities

07. Expo Centre CEO Craig Newman Talks to The Event

10. The ABCs of PCOs – Part 2

14. Bottoms Up! Africa’s Food and Drink Leaders are Here

18. Banking in Events – Who’s at the Forefront and Why?

20. Meetings Africa Celebrates Its Tenth Anniversary in 2015

22. More Innovation in Store at EIBTM 2014

24. Motor Shows in SA: Bigger and Better

26. The Youth in Business Events

28. UFI: 13th Global Exhibition Barometer Results

30. City of Tshwane: The Captivating Capital

32. North Africa: Enchanted Authenticity

34. Event Greening Forum KZN visits Re- offices

35. 22nd IT&CM Asia and 17th CTW Asia-Pacific Review

36. Events

38. Associations

40. Directory

02 | TECH TALK WITH KIM www.theevent.co.za

When most people hear the word ‘biometrics’ one of the first things that come to mind is invasion of privacy.

“Why do they need anything more than my fingerprints?” I’ve heard people ask this in the UK when the idea of biometrics was first introduced a few years ago. These days, however, it’s difficult to get very far without a whiff of the word. Most corporates utilise a form of it to help keep fraud in check, while South African banks began to explore fingerprint scanning and other biometric tech for their mobile offerings earlier this year. Biometrics can be very useful in the events industry, too, although it may not easily be noticed. Here’s a countdown of how we can use biometrics for conferences, expos and everything in between.

1. Heartbeats as PasswordsFingerprint access to buildings is nothing new, but a new type of body scanner will soon be taking over the market. Nymi (www.getnymi.com) has successfully harnessed the uniqueness of the heartbeat to create password protected communication through digital devices.

to further their commercial interests” while retailers and other enterprises are in experimental stages. This could mark the end of conference registration as we know it, but not to worry – it’s still miles away from our current reality.

3. Iris RecognitionOptical or iris recognition is not a new concept, although it is used mainly in forensic circles. Delta ID recently announced that it had closed a US$5-million financing deal from Intel Capital and other strategic investors to focus on bringing biometric authentication to mass-market computing devices. Its patent pending ActiveIRIS is designed to offer convenient, fast and reliable recognition for mobiles and PCs. “Intel Capital’s investment will help accelerate the adoption of iris recognition by the ecosystem of device manufacturers, service providers and users,” Erik Reid, VP of Intel’s Mobile and Communications Group said. Airports are the first point of call for any regional or international delegate travelling to an event. These are often kitted out with the best security options like iris recognition, which has been rolled out in a number of larger airports in recent years.

TECH TALK – BIOMETRICS IN ACTION

Using your cardiac rhythm to authenticate your identity, Nymi allows you to wirelessly control your computer, smartphone, car and more, creating a clever, password and key-free environment. Now you’ll only ever have to misplace one device instead of dozens!

2. Facial RecognitionAlthough only in certain UK supermarkets like Tesco at the moment, it is inevitable that facial recognition advertising screens become the norm in a decade or so. Amscreen’s OptimEyes technology uses a face-detecting camera that gauges the age and gender of customers and combines it with location and time of day to determine what type of ads they see. Imagine how great this would be at an exhibition! Unique demographics and buyers can be targeted rather than simply creating one type of branding or ad for your stand. Biometrics specialists say that facial recognition will soon be taken to a whole new level. China is already on the brink of rolling out facial recognition software for day-to-day retail payments now that the accuracy of the technology has increased. According to Planet Biometrics, niche biometrics companies are “being snapped up by internet and social media behemoths

© Amscreen© Nymi

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© Flavio Takemoto (top), © rgbstock (below)

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04 | NEWS www.theevent.co.za

The South African tourism industry was all abuzz this October at the announcement of the glittering winners of the annual Lilizela

Tourism Awards. This prestigious event, created in 2013 by the National Department of Tourism in partnership with South African Tourism, gives recognition to the key players in the tourism sector. Celebrating the highest level of excellence across the industry, Lilizela award winners are chosen across four main categories – the Minister’s Award, Service Excellence with four sub-categories, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development, which includes three sub-categories.

Speaking at the award ceremony, held at Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg, Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom said that the nation’s reputation as a world-class destination has consistently grown. “All the finalists and award winners have done a fantastic job in advancing this important sector through their commitment to excellence in the products they have developed and the services they offer,” he said.

The Minister’s Award honouring an individual or business for noteworthy local and global contributions to tourism, was given to Mavuso Msimang, the CEO of the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation. Msimang was extensively involved in the transformation and restructuring of SA Tourism, South African National Parks, the State Information Technology Agency and the Department of Home Affairs.

2014 saw 22 winners in the Accommodation category, with Western

Cape establishments scooping up the most awards by far – a whopping 10 winners across a range of hotels, backpackers, lodges, guest houses and reserves. Maropeng Conference Centre and The Forum at The Campus both went home with a Lilizela for Service Excellence in the Meetings, Exhibitions and Special Events (MESE) category, while The Campus and Turbine Hall were both MESE finalists.

Four and five star hotel establishments that picked up gold Lilizelas include the Grand Café & Rooms, Fusion Boutique Hotel, Tranquility Guest House, Strandloper Ocean Lodge, Gaikou Lodge, Hyde Park Villas, Tanamera Lodge, Sarili Lodge, Orange Grove Farm, Dibiki Holiday Resort, De Doornkraal Historic Country House, Tenahead Mountain Lodge and Reserve, Lawhill Luxury Apartments and Tsitsikamma Backpackers.

Soli Deo Gloria in the Western Cape won the Universal Accessibility Award, while Limpopo Guest Manor went home with 1st place in the ETEYA Award race. The Western Cape bagged the most awards in the Imvelo category as well, with eight awards presented to the following: V&A Waterfront

Holdings Large, Southern Sun Newlands, Hotel Vrede, Spier Wine Farm, African Game Lodge, Aquila Private Game Lodge, The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa and African Impact.

The North West’s Thaba Tshwene Game Lodge was congratulated by the province’s MEC for Tourism, Desbo Mohono after the ceremony. “As the department charged with the mandate of improving the tourism sector in the province, we are proud of what Thaba Tshwene Game Lodge has managed to achieve at national level. This goes to show that our province has a lot of potential and can compete with other provinces in terms of offering the best tourism products,” she said.

The Visitor Experience Award was handed to seven establishments, from action and adventure to culture and lifestyle, with Maropeng picking up a double win at the award cerement with their Visitor’s experience in the Roots and Culture category. Isaiah Banda and Rob Caskie, both from Gauteng, took home the Lilizela for Best Tourist Guide, while Ubuhle Be Narha Tours and City Lodge Hotels Limited both received gold in the B-BBEE category.

Tourism in SA sparkles at the annual Lilizela Awards

MCs Unathi Msengana and Katlego Maboe

Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom presents Mavuso Msimang with a Lilizela Award

All im

ages © Lilizela Tourism

Aw

ards 2014

Unique refurbishments on the horizon at

CSIR International Convention Centre

CSIR INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE | 05www.theevent.co.za

The CSIR International Convention Centre (CSIR ICC) has begun refurbishing some of its restrooms with a fresh and exciting new look.

The refurbishments are aimed at creating a space which will provide subconscious cues to enhance conference delegates’ experience at the CSIR ICC. The CSIR ICC provides modern and attractive unique facilities to its clients such as its outdoor deck in the natural bush where conference lunches are served in order to allow delegates to refresh their minds during their lunch break. The innovative design of the new restrooms is aimed at providing an atmosphere that supports the Centre’s unique selling point which is its natural setting and the Centre’s marketing tag line, “Inspire Innovation”.

“While restrooms may seem like a strange place to invest funds in innovative design, we don’t forget any corner of our building in striving to provide a delightful environment for our conference delegates and other guests”, says Bronwen Cadle de Ponte, General Manager of the CSIR ICC. “From our front entrance through all of our venues, with our facilities, products and services, we like to wow our guests and keep their minds enthused – there is nothing worse for the outcome of a conference or meeting than boring, bland spaces and catering”, she said.

The refurbishments are part of continuous expansion and renovations the CSIR ICC does on an ongoing basis. The Convention Centre understands the importance of creating an

atmosphere that encourages conversations and offer escapism that stimulates creativity. A lot of fun was had by the team of architects and designers who conceptualised the unique new look restrooms.

“Understanding the pivotal role of ‘debate-stimulating facilities’ for meetings is one of our priorities. We strive to constantly implement new measures to exceed our clients’ expectations and to be on par, or even ahead of, international standards and trends”, shared Mrs Cadle de Ponte. The new look restrooms should be completed by the end of the year.

06 | NEWS www.theevent.co.za

BestCities is the first, and arguably one of most dynamic global alliance of convention bureaux. From five founding members in 2000 who believed in the

power of the collective, BestCities has opened its membership to six other convention bureaux in key regions of the world.

Today there are other global CVB alliances. We like to think of ourselves as the grand dame who has set the pace while remaining true to our core goal – to provide the best meetings experience to our clients while leveraging on the collective strengths and complementary skills of our partners.

We are a unique and innovative partnership among 10 top convention cities - Berlin, Cape Town, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, Houston, Melbourne, Singapore and Vancouver. Earlier this year we were proud to introduce our newest partner – Tokyo as our first Regional Affiliate Member.

All BestCities destinations are strategically located, have world-class conference facilities and accommodation options, excellent international access and amazing natural attractions, all of which make them ideal host cities for conferences and business events.

The BestCities global network allows us to conduct and share detailed event research to aid planners in creating innovative bid proposals. We work with local industry suppliers, public sectors, and other organizations to see that our client’s planning needs are met. We also provide on-site event

servicing such as complimentary visitor guides for delegates, and information on local services and amenities.

To save meeting planners valuable time, our ten award-winning BestCities’ partners also engage in a unique data-exchange process. Staff from across five continents share information to ensure that conference planning never starts from scratch when visiting any one of the BestCities’ bureaux. And because we know each other so well, we can provide planning assistance for the meeting planner’s next BestCities destination.

Proving that innovation knows no boundaries, six BestCities’ partners feature on Business Insider’s 2014 list of the ‘18 Most Innovative Cities in the World’ and all 11 partners are represented in the 2014 ‘Innovation Cities Index’ released by 2thinknow in Melbourne, Australia.

“Innovation can be defined as ‘finding a better way of doing something’ which as the world’s first convention bureau alliance, BestCities Global Alliance has been doing for more than a decade, delivering the best professional practices and service to the meetings industry,” said Karen Bolinger, BestCities Board Chair and CEO of Melbourne Convention Bureau. “Each BestCities destination demonstrates high standards of creativity and innovation across a broad range of traits and industries making them all worthy beneficiaries of the recognition bestowed by both organisations,” Ms Bolinger said.

Business Insider’s 18 Most Innovative Cities in the World Using a range of metrics from patents per capita to skyscraper height, Business Insider has captured how modern metropolises are pushing the limits of industry, design, and urban planning, while rethinking the way people live and work.

Amongst their list of 18, the following six BestCities’ partners were featured:“Singapore has the best infrastructure in the world, including an airport complete with a butterfly garden, rooftop pool, movie theatres, hotels, spas, showers, and even a four-story slide. Copenhagen, boasts some of the most efficient nationalized healthcare on Earth, with both maternity and paternity leave. Cape Town makes it easy to get off fossil fuels, by making solar water heaters available to citizens. Vancouver has set a mission to become the greenest city in the world by 2020, which has already led to a 20% decrease in water consumption. Plus, 41% of people walk or bike to get around. Dubai features strikingly innovative architecture, like the 160-story-tall Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on earth.”

Regional Affiliate Member Tokyo also made it onto the list for launching the world’s first cap and trade system in 2010 which now has 1,100 participating facilities.

BestCities’ partners ranked amongst the most innovative cities in the world

The V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

© C

ourtesy of Brenda Jones

NEWS | 07www.theevent.co.za

The Event: Congratulations on your appointment! Is this something you’ve had your eye on for a while?Craig Newman: Absolutely, yes.

With UFI being the leading exhibition body in the world and the affiliation to UFI being so wide, with North America, South America, Asia and of course Europe being a major player. I just felt that Africa needed

representation in that governing body, but also that they need to start paying attention to what Africa can offer. The perfect way to do that is from within.

The Event: What are your short-term goals in this position?Craig Newman: The short-term goal with UFI is to help them understand that Africa is ready; we’re alive and kicking in the exhibitions and events industry! I also want to look at opportunities from the Western world in order to partner and match-make with emerging companies and organisations from Africa.

The Event: UFI offers educational training programmes through workshops and seminars, is this something you will be involved in?Craig Newman: Absolutely. My first intention will be to familiarise myself with UFI’s educational programmes, and what the criteria entails. Once I get to grips with that, I can look at how we can adapt what UFI offers for a South African and African audience. We are by no means unskilled, but we need to appreciate where our strengths and weaknesses lie when compared to our international partners.

The Event: There is a lot that we can learn, but what do you feel are the key things we can teach our international partners?Craig Newman: The African way! Fortunately, I’ve been involved in three matchmaking mergers with regard to companies from Europe buying into businesses and events here in South Africa, and the one common thread is the differences in the way we do business. We can teach them about the African way; African culture and how to deal with African businesspeople. As Africans, we have so much to offer, but we do it our way!

Craig Newman, CEO of Expo Centre, appointed to UFI board of directors

The short-term goal with UFI is to help them understand that Africa is ready; we’re alive and kicking in the exhibitions and events industry!

“

“

Craig Newman, CEO of Expo Centre

NEWS | 07www.theevent.co.za

The Event: Congratulations on your appointment! Is this something you’ve had your eye on for a while?Craig Newman: Absolutely, yes.

With UFI being the leading exhibition body in the world and the affiliation to UFI being so wide, with North America, South America, Asia and of course Europe being a major player. I just felt that Africa needed

representation in that governing body, but also that they need to start paying attention to what Africa can offer. The perfect way to do that is from within.

The Event: What are your short-term goals in this position?Craig Newman: The short-term goal with UFI is to help them understand that Africa is ready; we’re alive and kicking in the exhibitions and events industry! I also want to look at opportunities from the Western world in order to partner and match-make with emerging companies and organisations from Africa.

The Event: UFI offers educational training programmes through workshops and seminars, is this something you will be involved in?Craig Newman: Absolutely. My first intention will be to familiarise myself with UFI’s educational programmes, and what the criteria entails. Once I get to grips with that, I can look at how we can adapt what UFI offers for a South African and African audience. We are by no means unskilled, but we need to appreciate where our strengths and weaknesses lie when compared to our international partners.

The Event: There is a lot that we can learn, but what do you feel are the key things we can teach our international partners?Craig Newman: The African way! Fortunately, I’ve been involved in three matchmaking mergers with regard to companies from Europe buying into businesses and events here in South Africa, and the one common thread is the differences in the way we do business. We can teach them about the African way; African culture and how to deal with African businesspeople. As Africans, we have so much to offer, but we do it our way!

Craig Newman, CEO of Expo Centre, appointed to UFI board of directors

The short-term goal with UFI is to help them understand that Africa is ready; we’re alive and kicking in the exhibitions and events industry!

“

“

Craig Newman, CEO of Expo Centre

10 | FEATURE www.theevent.co.za

THE ABCS OF PCOS: PART 2by Kim Muller

“Being a black belt contract negotiator is number one on my list of qualities of the successful event manager,” says Kevin R Johnston, CMP – CEO at Advantage Event Group. “Ultimately, the event measurement is two-fold: satisfaction and budget. A great

event with superior satisfaction is often viewed as unsuccessful when the finances are all in.” This simply means that among other things, a PCO needs to understand the business case and the financial outcome required for the event. They then use this

knowledge to find strategic solutions and provide leadership for the entire team including vendors, stakeholders, clients and staff, whilst negotiating an outcome of fair profits, fair deadlines and fair expectations for all parties involved.

Professional Conference Organiser is a word that’s flung across the event space quite often. The name itself – better known as PCO –

is pretty self-explanatory and needs no dictionary definition. But what exactly does a PCO do and why are they pivotal to the industry? Tamlynne Wilton, Director of Business Development & Marketing at MCI South Africa says that PCOs are

important for the same reason that a professional architect and builder are an important part of the construction process. “The role of a PCO is multifaceted,” Wilton explains, “We are knowledge and technology partners, project managers, creative experts, trend spotters and setters, quality controllers and meeting designers. While you can organise your own conference, it is much the same

as building your own house. PCO’s are the experts in this field and ensure that your event is not just a meeting, but that audiences are engaged and energised while ensuring the triple bottom line principles are embraced.” With this in mind, The Event excavated a plethora of information from industry specialists on the subject, from letters N to Z on the subject. This is part two of The ABCs of PCOs.

The programme or structure of a conference has a number of characteristics. These include the conference schedule, keynote speakers and related networking events, as well as the exhibitor’s programme, i.e. hosted buyer

meeting schedules and when exhibitors need to be set up and on the floor. Dinners, galas and special award ceremonies should also be included on the official conference programme, according to Conference Manager.

The company offers this advice: “Put photos and descriptions of social events and tours on your website. Online registration provides flexibility for your delegates and keeps you up-to-date with their requirements.”

All PCOs will agree that one of the main elements needed to be a successful conference organiser is excellent organisational skills. “You need to have strong project management skills, financial and business acumen, negotiation skills

and a network of phenomenal suppliers, partners and staff behind you to make it all happen,” says Wilton. Bennett gives similar advice saying, “You should know how to multi-task but you should be able to plan your day in a way that gives you blocks of

time where you can focus solely on the project at hand. Your end product will be much more thorough. You should also be organised so you don’t waste time looking for things and reinventing forms or files, etc.”

According to a recent piece that theSquad’s Owner Kelly McGillivray wrote for BizCommunity, an event manager’s level of creativity can determine its overall success. Quintessential, luxury and mind-blowing events not only help retain current clients, but are key to attracting prospective ones,

too. “In essence, creativity means going beyond the brief to satisfy the client by identifying opportunities, running with them and still being able to utilise all available resources within the budget,” McGillivray explains.

Reed Exhibitions’ core values echo

this sentiment towards absolute quality of experience. “Everything we do is driven by our customers’ needs,” the expo mogul states on its official website, “We want to be their indispensable partner and have a passion for understanding and exceeding our customers’ expectations. We are


THE ABCS OF PCOS: PART 2by Kim Muller

“Being a black belt contract negotiator is number one on my list of qualities of the successful event manager,” says Kevin R Johnston, CMP – CEO at Advantage Event Group. “Ultimately, the event measurement is two-fold: satisfaction and budget. A great

event with superior satisfaction is often viewed as unsuccessful when the finances are all in.” This simply means that among other things, a PCO needs to understand the business case and the financial outcome required for the event. They then use this

knowledge to find strategic solutions and provide leadership for the entire team including vendors, stakeholders, clients and staff, whilst negotiating an outcome of fair profits, fair deadlines and fair expectations for all parties involved.

Professional Conference Organiser is a word that’s flung across the event space quite often. The name itself – better known as PCO –

is pretty self-explanatory and needs no dictionary definition. But what exactly does a PCO do and why are they pivotal to the industry? Tamlynne Wilton, Director of Business Development & Marketing at MCI South Africa says that PCOs are

important for the same reason that a professional architect and builder are an important part of the construction process. “The role of a PCO is multifaceted,” Wilton explains, “We are knowledge and technology partners, project managers, creative experts, trend spotters and setters, quality controllers and meeting designers. While you can organise your own conference, it is much the same

as building your own house. PCO’s are the experts in this field and ensure that your event is not just a meeting, but that audiences are engaged and energised while ensuring the triple bottom line principles are embraced.” With this in mind, The Event excavated a plethora of information from industry specialists on the subject, from letters N to Z on the subject. This is part two of The ABCs of PCOs.

The programme or structure of a conference has a number of characteristics. These include the conference schedule, keynote speakers and related networking events, as well as the exhibitor’s programme, i.e. hosted buyer

meeting schedules and when exhibitors need to be set up and on the floor. Dinners, galas and special award ceremonies should also be included on the official conference programme, according to Conference Manager.

The company offers this advice: “Put photos and descriptions of social events and tours on your website. Online registration provides flexibility for your delegates and keeps you up-to-date with their requirements.”

All PCOs will agree that one of the main elements needed to be a successful conference organiser is excellent organisational skills. “You need to have strong project management skills, financial and business acumen, negotiation skills

and a network of phenomenal suppliers, partners and staff behind you to make it all happen,” says Wilton. Bennett gives similar advice saying, “You should know how to multi-task but you should be able to plan your day in a way that gives you blocks of

time where you can focus solely on the project at hand. Your end product will be much more thorough. You should also be organised so you don’t waste time looking for things and reinventing forms or files, etc.”

According to a recent piece that theSquad’s Owner Kelly McGillivray wrote for BizCommunity, an event manager’s level of creativity can determine its overall success. Quintessential, luxury and mind-blowing events not only help retain current clients, but are key to attracting prospective ones,

too. “In essence, creativity means going beyond the brief to satisfy the client by identifying opportunities, running with them and still being able to utilise all available resources within the budget,” McGillivray explains.

Reed Exhibitions’ core values echo

this sentiment towards absolute quality of experience. “Everything we do is driven by our customers’ needs,” the expo mogul states on its official website, “We want to be their indispensable partner and have a passion for understanding and exceeding our customers’ expectations. We are

FEATURE | 11www.theevent.co.za

“Exhibitions, by virtue of their temporary nature, tend to be wasteful,” the Event Greening Forum wrote in a recent article in The Event, “However the global surge in the use of smartphones ad tablets has created opportunities for exhibitors to go green.” Although some waste is unavoidable, it is especially important in this day and age that any PCO considers their impact on the environment. This process often begins early on when

integrating technology into exhibition stands. Are there ways in which to lessen the electricity load whilst still keeping your event cutting edge? What’s happening to the rubbish? Are there various recycling options in place? Printed marketing material can also be kept to a minimum with alternatives like flash drives, CD’s or regular website updates.

Eco-friendly event apps have become a hit with conference goers, with the IMEX

Group and Quickmobile recently releasing their first annual mobile event technology research study. It revealed that 63% of meeting planners say visitors expect a mobile app at the event, while 60% of event planners have already used at least one app for their events. EXSA also predicts that apps will soon take over the distribution of exhibition contracts, exhibitor manuals, newsletters and invitations, with email becoming a thing of the past.

Official event sponsors and partnerships can be incredibly beneficial for PCOs wanting to bolster the budget through trade deals. “Whether you’re hosting a trade conference, wedding show or even charity event there’s a good chance that, in order to be profitable, you will have to get sponsors involved in proceedings,” Kelvin Newman writes on Event Manager

Blog. “Typically when organising events it’s easier to think about your end customer being the attendee, delegate or whatever the nomenclature of choice is in your sector, but whether sponsors are you main source of revenue, or secondary to other streams, you need to see them as your customers.” He goes on to say that this will have an impact

on how you programme events and will ultimately affect both the sponsors’ and the delegates’ experience. Knowing where you add value will also ensure you don’t sell yourself short. “Leverage sponsors and partners by encouraging them to contact their clients but do not depend too much on them,” says Robin Lockerman, CEO of MCI’s Institutional Division.

committed to providing demonstrably superior products and services with the

highest level of quality and excellence. Plus, we strive to be professional in all our

customer dealings and are highly valued and respected by our customers.”


Although this topic is closely connected with venue sourcing and renewability, much can be said about the utilities department. Most large conference venues have their own specified instructions on which utilities are available and how to use them. In the Cape Town International Convention Centre’s client manual for instance, it states that there are several power systems available for use. This

includes normal power, UPS power, which is used to drive all essential equipment and control evacuation lighting during emergencies. Then there’s emergency power for electric failures and a clean power system with a separate earthing system for all audio visual power supply points. Finally, there’s the exhibition power which can supply approximately 250 exhibitors with 2KVA per stand.

The CTICC’s water systems are also impeccable, with dual water flushers in the toilets for conservation and additional facilities available for sourcing and installing if needed. Ultimately, each venue’s utilities will differ slightly, but it is a PCO’s job to know exactly what is available – often with a thorough site check – and what their clients are looking for before making final decisions.

“The venue for your meeting is key to the success of your event,” The Association Specialists shared in a recent online piece. One of the first items on a PCO’s agenda is sourcing the perfect venue. Venue research and evaluation needs to take place before final decisions are made. After this, the

PCO will manage the negotiations until an agreement is decided upon between all parties involved.

“An adequate number of rooms must be available for the conference in order to accommodate large open sessions and smaller limited interest or working

sessions,” the International Association of Sound & Audiovisual Archives (IASA) says in their conference guidelines. How much exhibition space and how many meeting rooms are needed will vary from event to event, but the PCO should always be on top of this. Other factors that are considered

Part of a PCO’s job will be to assess whether the conference, exhibition or event is local or international and if translation services are needed. Ludovic Béchard of IEBE, an interpretation service located in Johannesburg, says that there are a number of different categories of services under language translation. “Interpreting services involve highly competent professionals (simultaneous interpreters) who provide language translation simultaneously – in real-time or at the same time the orator is making his or her speech,” says Béchard. “Conference simultaneous interpretation requires acquired academic skill and an ability to be able to work under considerable amount of pressure. It is important to note that this is a spoken exercise! Often clients

misunderstand there is a difference between translation services and interpreting services. One is written and the other is oral or spoken.”

Simultaneous interpreters usually work in teams of two in a sound proof ISO booth. There are also international criteria that conference organisers should adhere to. “For instance, according to these, there should always be a booth for the floor language and an additional booth per additional language required,” says Béchard. “An orator should not exceed 120 words per minute and all documents, especially speeches and technical presentations that are read aloud should be provided to the interpreters in their own language beforehand. But it is not well known in

South Africa and certainly not consistently adhered to.”

Brian Prowling, also of IEBE, says that it is extremely important to work with PCOs that are able to meet clients’ needs for interpreting services. “One of the PCO’s roles is to understand what is required for every service provided. Ours is not a complicated service but it is often misunderstood, we can’t just provide a system without knowing what the client wants.” He goes on to say that as a country and destination, South Africa has to compete even harder for international work. “This then presents us with the challenge to also deliver at the same or at a higher standard than what is offered internationally in order to bring in the business.”

include meeting dates, venue and contact details on the opening page, the agenda and information on the speakers, registration information and online registration forms. It’s also good to include a page on who should attend and the benefits of attending – as motivation for potential delegates – as well as the meeting’s goals


Youths are often ignored in the Meetings, Incentives, and Conference and Exhibition industries but in recent years, so-called ‘millennials’ have become an obsession for businesses in this sector. One of the main reasons for this is that about 65% of Africa’s entire population are below the age of 35, while over 35% are between 15 and 35 years of age. Tapping into this market is difficult but doable, and even PCOs need to be cognisant of the fact that today’s youth are essentially the next generation of conference organisers. Because of this, the industry needs to begin thinking of innovative ways to attract Africa’s youth.

TEDx has a brilliant model for incorporating youth into events. TEDxYouth events are designed and organised by youth for youth and through this, young adults are empowered and inspired. “It was amazing to see how engaged youth team members were with the whole event and how thankful they were to be given such an incredible opportunity as being part of a TEDx event,” said an organizer.

Social media also plays a key role in attracting millennials, Jeff Barrett, President and CEO of Status Creative told Meeting Minds. “It’s important to

recognize that this is the first generation that grew up immersed in social media,” he explained. “There are more options than ever, so if you’re trying to get the attention of the millennial, you have to do something that’s loud enough to rise above the noise.” Another important thing to note is that millennials are looking for peer interaction at conferences. Recent research done by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Education Foundation found that one of the primary drivers for youth to participate in events was if it provided career networking opportunities.

Having a zealous attitude is a necessity in the conference industry. “A successful event manager needs to be enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. Enthusiasm and passion bring about creativity and

generate excitement,” says Chris Catoggio, an Independent Event Services Professional. Kevin Johnston, CMP – CEO at Advantage Event Group agrees, “If it’s just a job or a pay check, any event planner will be viewed

as average. The passion to make it more productive, more exciting, more, more, more is what drives this business. Otherwise we’d all be eating on white table cloths with votive candles and parquet dance floors.”

The definition of ‘xenial’ is of, relating to or constituting hospitality or relations between host and guest. Although it is used especially in connection with the

ancient Greeks between persons of different cities, it can just as easily be applied to a PCO’s context. The PCO plays host to an innumerable amount of both international

and local delegates – not to mention the many other people they have to host and accommodate throughout the duration of the conference as well.

An official website is often the first point of call for anyone who might attend an event. Because of this, it is imperative that the website is well-managed and constantly updated to attract traffic. According to Conference Manager’s guidelines, a type of online conferencing software, there are 10 must-haves for an event website. These

and objectives. The website is also one might find information for sponsors and exhibitors, accommodation, local and travel information and a call for papers if applicable. There should also be a dedicated news hub for both delegates and media, while social media links and hashtags should be easily visible.

include delegate accommodation locality, if the venue is in a safe, attractive area and whether there are places of interest nearby – not everyone will be at the conference all day, every day.

According to Wilton, PCOs in Africa need to be in tune with the fact that the continent is a long-haul destination for the most part.

“Destinations for scientific conferences should be selected based on relevancy of subject matter rather than convenience,” she explains, “and it is for this reason that I think Africa has so much to offer. We are however, thought of as a long-haul destination for many of our source markets and we urgently need to address visa issues

that are negatively impacting travel from these countries. In addition to this, we need to shift public perception around crime and corruption on the continent. Challenges aside, we have first-world infrastructure, award-winning venues and suppliers, strong convention bureaus and highly skilled, friendly personnel.”


Mandala Offering

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Today, African food is the most diverse cuisine on the planet, says Food Editorials. “Africa’s history is rich and so is its cuisine. With

influences from so many other countries – Dutch, English, Asian and Indian, Africa’s new cuisine is the newest global food trend.” The continent’s food and beverage industry has exploded on the back of these influences, most recently with a mixture of gourmet delight and real, raw food cooked in your ma’s back garden. This move toward the organic is never more present than in Africa – one of the few places on this earth that hasn’t yet been swallowed by food corporates. Although South Africa has been teetering on this ledge for almost a decade now, one leg in the GMO sector and the other in nature, this hasn’t held the country back in its culinary innovation. It is still first and foremost the country of boerewors and biltong, but even this is beginning to change as so many other unique trends arise.

One of the most noticeable trends in food has been the proliferation of tasting menus across the globe. Africa is no less immune to the ‘tapas’ phenomenon, with many roadside restaurants and gourmet eateries embracing the economical outworking of a tasting menu. “The smaller the menu, the easier it is to maintain and rotate,” explains Warick Thomas, Executive Chef at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). “You can always put specials in to upscale things, so it’s not about elaborate menus anymore. You can make something quick, sustainable, easy to access and different for the person’s palate.”

Consumers are also flocking to fresh

farmers markets or upscale ‘food halls’ with ‘artisan’ menus. In fact, the world seems to have caught the green bug, with health food investments finally paying off as niche markets become mainstream. According to a recent countdown on News24, more than half the points had holistic food themes such as provenance, craft beer and sustainability. “Craft beer is simply booming. It’s become hip and trendy and no one brings a six-pack of ‘normal’ cold ones anymore,” said Caro de Waal.

Along with a growth in wholesome foods, the Farming Portal also reported that 2014 would be the year of the remarkable. “Both food ingredients and prepared foods will be more remarkable,” they wrote. “Did you see the lemon Buddha’s hand in the produce aisle? Or the purple potatoes? Or the mango salsa? Or the super-green mixes for salad? Or the heirloom tomatoes? Or the balsamic vinegar that is now turned into a glaze and flavoured with pomegranate? Everyone wants something remarkable.”

Speaking of remarkable, the growth in unique ice cream parlours is incredible. The Creamery, based in Cape Town, offers ‘classic’ flavours like peanut butter and sea salt caramel, but also has a host of seasonal flavours. Their October selection includes lemon curd swirl and bitter almond, while artisan ice creamers like Papa San and Izakaya Matsuri create the likes of Japanese salt plum ice cream and deep-fried ice cream desserts. NitroCreamy – which uses liquid nitrogen to attain the smoothest textures – brings unusual flavours like cardamom, avocado pear and beetroot and ginger to the table.

Mixing Game and Gourmet The gourmet game reserve phenomenon is nothing new, but the culinary innovation at five-star reserves is worth a mention – especially as South and East Africa see more tourists flocking towards the continent in search of the perfect safari holiday. This rings true for five-star hotels as well, where visitors expect their taste buds to zing with every bite.

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness and Wellness Retreat’s Executive Chef, Floris Smith, says that his philosophy is not linked to any particular trend or cuisine. “For me it’s all about good food and I enjoy using elements from various types of cuisine, whether South African, Italian or Asian – to mention but a few! I like to challenge and seduce the palate,” he explains. The retreat brings simplicity together with quality ingredients to create a “taste profusion of gastronomic, healthy or home-style comfort foods, made from the best local fresh products and harvested daily from the organic gardens at the lodge.”

Another culinary killer is Gondawa Game Reserve in Mosselbay. The establishment provides a great, malaria-free game experience along SA’s popular Garden Route, with Jakob Christoffel as the new Head Chef. Known as the ‘MacGyver of the Kitchen’, JC has always wanted to be a chef. “The sights, smells, and social atmosphere of the open markets drew me in,” he says of his beginnings. “I learned of the terroir philosophy from my uncle; meaning ‘of the earth’ and is translated to enjoying the food of a region and using what is fresh and in the moment. Creativity comes easily when the food is the star and flavours are in full bloom.”

This move towards fresh, seasonal, local produce has become less of a trend and more of a revolution in the foodie realm, with hipsters and old fogies alike joining the movement. Even Pietermaritzburg’s Karkloof Safari Spa has joined. The boutique lodge


BOTTOMS UP! Africa's Food & Drink Leaders Are Hereby Kim Muller

Africa is no less immune to the ‘tapas’ phenomenon, with many roadside restaurants and gourmet eateries embracing the economical outworking of a tasting menu.

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offers the finest organic cuisine in the world, at any time of day. Using local produce combined with game and fish, the chefs create culinary masterpieces paired with a variety of exquisite wines and champagnes. The menu for each meal is customised every day depending on availability and guest preferences.

Food in the Events IndustryThe events industry, too, has been inspired by the green revolution. Warick Thomas is a well-known face in South Africa’s culinary circles, although most regular folks will probably know him for his appearance in Ultimate Braai Master Season 1. He’s raked up an incredible amount of experience in the kitchen, travelling across the country, opening eleven restaurants as well as a

stint at Sandton Convention Centre. He currently runs the kitchens at the Cape Town International Convention Centre as Executive Chef. Thomas says that the trend toward healthier eating has moulded the way he caters to large events and banquets.

“It’s been a long process to get there,” he explains, “which is hard to say because it [the organic movement] probably started about 10 years ago and it didn’t get any lift-off because there wasn’t a lot of backing towards it. Now throughout the world TV pushes a lot of sustainability. It’s not just organic anymore, it’s really how it’s grown, how it factors into people providing work, jobs – it’s a holistic thing. People are a lot more informed and adventurous.”

He says that this gives him more scope for creativity with foods. “Ultimately, I would say the biggest trend is flavours – how

flavours are married together. It’s not all about appearances. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the most appealing thing, but if the tastes and flavours are good, you’ve almost won another battle.” Although flavours in general are a trend, Thomas says that there aren’t any in particular that are making the rounds. “It goes from your classic, sort of Indian flavours where you’ve got masala through to using coconut oil. Banting [synonymous with the Tim Noakes Diet which refers to going on a high fat, low carbohydrate diet] is playing a big role in South Africa at the moment. Most chefs still believe in a holistic meal, but because your guests are saying, ‘This is what we want,’ we’re kind of having to adapt some of the menu items to incorporate it. A long time ago you would never have seen a vegetarian menu, even a vegetarian on a menu. Now


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Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour

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probably 50% of a menu is vegetarian. ”He goes on to say that the interaction

between drinks and food plays a large role in the development of flavours. “Before, the chef just cooked the food and that was it. Now, how you get the drink and the service in, how your table is set and what the plate looks like make a big difference to the meal.”

The rise in pop-up restaurants, wholesome food markets and organic health fairs also begs a mention. These small-scale events are what really shape the food industry and set trends. “Pop-up stores, pop-up restaurants and smaller retailers are proving really popular,” says Rob Payton, Food Performance Director at WeShootFood. “Also because of their diminutive size, they are being very clever in the way they use social media to market and advertise.”

Food Trucks for Foodies It’s sufficed to say that the food truck phenomenon has taken over South Africa – vintage and gourmet trucks, that is. Lady Bonin’s Tea Parlour, which launched the trend in 2010, was South Africa’s first food truck and the world’s first mobile tea room. The caravan was a solution to limited funds, but has now become Lady Bonin’s lucky mascot. Jessica Bonin, the founder and owner of the tea room says, “The caravan began as a dream, and that dream has continued to expand. I never reach the ‘go-to’ place because the goal posts keep shifting.” Most recently she’s been on a ‘Gonzo Tea Trek’, a six-day journey “to bring tea to the world and explore the world through tea.” With dazzling, hipster-esque packaging, she speaks to a young, urban market, thirsty for her unique blends. According to the description they are “a rainbow cascade of herbs, fruit and spices blended to suit personalities, feelings, emotions and intentions.”

The food truck movement is steadily on the rise, with the Cape Town Food Trucks housing over 30 gourmet vehicles under one banner, allowing for simpler event

bookings. The Limoncello food truck, established by Luca Castiglione, offers Italian cuisine and comes complete with an oven for baking pizzas and pasties. Chef Bertus Basson owns Die Wors Rol, which caters gourmet hot dogs at events. He feels that the country’s public is ready for the food truck concept, especially with so many popping up. In fact, food trucks now face fierce competition for space and market share, especially from restaurants that have recognised the opportunity and created their own. Overcrowding aside, there’s always room for more. Says Basson: “Word of mouth on social media keeps bringing us new customers.”

Styling Food in the Digital AgeA picture paints a thousand words, or so the saying goes. This has never been truer than in the 21st century. The entire digital age is driven by visuals, from foodie blogs and social media to MacDonald’s latest television ad, smoking hot, sculpted food is all around us. Food Performance Director at WeShootFood, Rob Payton has been filming in the industry for many years. He’s worked with Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey and a slew of other name brands in the food industry. “As a director and cinematographer, food filmmaking is fascinating. You are trying to evoke the senses of taste and smell, both of which are the most strongly linked to emotions and memories and neither of which can be shared through a TV or computer screen,” he explains.

He, too, has seen organic themes running throughout the industry in 2014. “The vast majority of storyboards I receive these days carry a message of provenance, and quality,” Payton says. “People really want to know where their food comes from. Companies that are open in their adverts about what they put in their foods are going to gain consumer confidence.”

“The one common theme with all food

advertising is the need for food imagery,” he continues, “whether it is a multinational like McDonalds who now operate in 116 countries, or a one-man craft beer seller in Greenpoint. I love the idea of food trucks – The Jon Favreau movie Chef is a must see for all food truck fans.” He explains that pop culture and the internet has had a massive impact on marketing food. “There are over 11,000 food bloggers with followers in excess of 1,000, and nearly 60% of all the images on Pintrest being food related – that shows the scale of the opportunities. Retailers are also engaging consumers through cooking schools online, offering everything from recipe selection to printable shopping lists.”

But it’s not just online technology that’s changing the landscape of the food and beverage industry. Warick Thomas, Executive Chef at the CTICC says that technological advances in the kitchen have fundamentally changed the role of modern day chefs. “Google is one of the greatest influences,” he says, “because you can access anything within a matter of seconds. But it doesn’t end there. We chefs use the internet a lot for trends, how to cook products and how to integrate products with other things.” He uses sous-vide as an example. This is a method of cooking food sealed in airtight plastic bags in a water bath or in a temperature-controlled steam environment for longer than normal cooking times. “It’s boiled in a bag, essentially, but now there are techniques where you can integrate the internet with sous-vide. So, say you have a person who wants a whole meal, because we have specialised ovens [at the CTICC], we can programme our ovens through the internet, we can link to our sous-vide through apps to ensure they are cooked at exactly the right time.” He says this also helps the kitchen save time and energy when the pressure’s on.

Whatever the case may be, the trend toward fresh, seasonal food that’s grown sustainably is here to stay. “Simplicity of preparation seems to be the key message food advertisers want to get across in 2014,” says Rob Payton. And what of next year? “Through the web, kids are becoming exposed to global cuisines and flavours much earlier on; this is giving the retailers great opportunities. International cuisine is expected to be a huge growth trend in 2015.”


Ultimately, the biggest trend is flavours – how flavours are married together. It’s not all about appearances. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the most appealing thing, but if the tastes and flavours are good, you’ve almost won another battle.

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providing a secure user experience – and making it rather popular among clients. ABSA’s mobile app is also available to iOS, Android and BlackBerry users, with a variety of features that are easily navigable. The company has also recently revamped the app, introducing their new and improved online services on 31 July 2014. FNB’s banking app, which won the Best Overall App Award for MTN App of the Year 2012, offers a safe, simple and convenient experience for users. Not only do customers have access to ATM locators, free calls to FNB and no need for a One Time PIN, benefits also include geo payments among a host of other features. FNB, as with all the others, also offer nifty mobile ATMs for users at events and areas where fixed ATMs are not easily accessible. Event organisers can hire these simply by contacting their chosen bank.

Over the past two to five years, banks have been scrambling to keep up with Africa’s mobile revolution. Not only do most

major banks offer a secure mobile banking app, but many have recently begun to change the events industry, too. Advances in quick payment technology are spearheading this metamorphosis, with IT News Africa reporting that by 2016, 25% of the top 50 banks will have launched banking app stores to host the increasing number of banking apps from each provider. “As more banks deploy app stores, it will put competitive pressure on those that do not,” the article explains. But not only banks are exploring the world of online payments. There are so many other innovative start-ups and fresh, new faces working with the tech these days.

Before we continue, however, let’s first roll out the basics. Four of South Africa’s


BANKING IN EVENTS:Who's at the forefront and why?

biggest banks – Standard Bank, ABSA, First National Bank (FNB) and Nedbank – all have their own version of personal banking apps with various features. In August, Standard Bank overhauled their banking app, creating a new update for both iOS and Android users. The new application has a similar user interface as its predecessor, making the transition easier for customers. This update was announced almost five months after Standard Bank released its drastically overhauled banking app for tablets. In 2013, Nedbank App Suite won MTN’s App of the Year Award for Most Innovative App or Best Android App. The application, which was rolled out the previous year, provides clients with a “one-of-a-kind, customisable and accessible banking, financial services and lifestyle mobile experience.” The app leverages world-class digital certificate technology,

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providing a secure user experience – and making it rather popular among clients. ABSA’s mobile app is also available to iOS, Android and BlackBerry users, with a variety of features that are easily navigable. The company has also recently revamped the app, introducing their new and improved online services on 31 July 2014. FNB’s banking app, which won the Best Overall App Award for MTN App of the Year 2012, offers a safe, simple and convenient experience for users. Not only do customers have access to ATM locators, free calls to FNB and no need for a One Time PIN, benefits also include geo payments among a host of other features. FNB, as with all the others, also offer nifty mobile ATMs for users at events and areas where fixed ATMs are not easily accessible. Event organisers can hire these simply by contacting their chosen bank.

Over the past two to five years, banks have been scrambling to keep up with Africa’s mobile revolution. Not only do most

major banks offer a secure mobile banking app, but many have recently begun to change the events industry, too. Advances in quick payment technology are spearheading this metamorphosis, with IT News Africa reporting that by 2016, 25% of the top 50 banks will have launched banking app stores to host the increasing number of banking apps from each provider. “As more banks deploy app stores, it will put competitive pressure on those that do not,” the article explains. But not only banks are exploring the world of online payments. There are so many other innovative start-ups and fresh, new faces working with the tech these days.

Before we continue, however, let’s first roll out the basics. Four of South Africa’s


BANKING IN EVENTS:Who's at the forefront and why?

biggest banks – Standard Bank, ABSA, First National Bank (FNB) and Nedbank – all have their own version of personal banking apps with various features. In August, Standard Bank overhauled their banking app, creating a new update for both iOS and Android users. The new application has a similar user interface as its predecessor, making the transition easier for customers. This update was announced almost five months after Standard Bank released its drastically overhauled banking app for tablets. In 2013, Nedbank App Suite won MTN’s App of the Year Award for Most Innovative App or Best Android App. The application, which was rolled out the previous year, provides clients with a “one-of-a-kind, customisable and accessible banking, financial services and lifestyle mobile experience.” The app leverages world-class digital certificate technology,

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Sale) has been making waves in the industry. The application processes credit debit and chip card payments through your cell phone by swiping the card on a PocketPOS credit and debit card device. It is then used to read the card information or print the voucher whilst using your phone to submit the transaction information to the bank. Nedbank recently released their version of this app, which is available to both Nedbank and non-Nedbank clients. Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, it saves up to 50% on traditional card acceptance costs and reduces admin due to a built-in reconciliation and transaction history. WAPPOINT also offers a Cell Terminal on which to process credit card transactions on a mobile through a secure banking app. Sadly, it can only work on certain handsets and networks at present.

SureSwipe is another South African addition to the SME business banking app market. It offers a number of unique features to users, from accepting mobile card payments to offering loyalty cards, gift cards, prepaid vouchers and more. Then there’s America’s ZipZap – the world’s first iPad-based, gesture-driven and fully mobile business phone system, which was launched in September this year. Its features include conference calling, various SMS, voicemail, email, fax, social media capabilities and much more. “The old, clunky office phone hasn’t changed in nearly 30 years, despite incredible advances in mobile devices. With ZipZap, we’re excited to deliver a solution that transforms the iPad into a fully functional, sleek and highly mobile business phone system,” Kirk Waldfogel, ZipZap CEO, said on the launch. ZipZap South Africa also offers a POS system for business on the go, which allows for easy exhibition use with its fast and secure online application. Finally,

Banking apps also allow event organisers to benefit from the technology – and although the ‘Big 4’ has the clientele, they are certainly not winners in this particular race. Finantix is a company that creates Retail Banking Apps (among other things) that can be used by meet-and-greeters, sales-focused employees, and account managers to offer responsive service and superior customer experience. At conventions, these potentially allow those at registration to access information in an easy way on their iPad or tablet, or help busy hosts of larger events to find info or stats at the touch of a button.

WAPPOINT has been the exhibition industry’s preferred supplier for credit card facilities since 2004. The device is a Wireless Authorisation Payment Point, more commonly known as a SpeedPoint, and these machines are all over – from local cashiers and waiters to expo stalls and everything in between. More recently, however, WAPPOINT’s PocketPOS (Point Of


the winner of the 2013 MTN Business App of the Year Awards has been hugely popular with South Africans of late. SnapScan, an app powered by Standard Bank, is available for use in over 10,000 stores across the country and works by scanning the SnapCode – sort of like a QR code – at the checkout with your bill. From there, you enter the amount you’d like to pay on your mobile, et voila!

Much can be said about mobile money, especially since M-Pesa has taken off in East Africa. Stafford Masie, an entrepreneur who released the new Thumbzup Payment Pebble device in April this year, has his own opinion on the subject. The Payment Pebble is one notch up from the PocketPOS, SureSwipe and ZipZap, with a much more convenient and easily transportable ‘pebble’ that hooks right up to your mobile phone. It uses the patent pending world-first PIN entry method to ensure maximum security, it can be integrated into mobile applications, and is compatible with all major mobile operating systems. Says Masie of mobile money in South Africa: “I think that when you start innovating in this world of next-generation payments, you start understanding what the banks have put in and how valuable that is. It’s one of the hardest industries to innovate around, but more so because the consumers have moved along with them. They’ve brainwashed us into doing payments in certain ways. I don’t think people want electronic wallets. I don’t think we all want to do payments in an M-Pesa way. We all have cards. Cards work really well. You jump on a plane, you land in Italy, put your card in a machine, and it works. If someone comes here from overseas, it works. What we think is that consumers are going to continue adopting card and we built a device to leverage that, and not to mitigate that.”

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a rallying cry that has endured in both strategy and practice, and has seen South Africa become a significant contender as a globally competitive business event destination.

Meetings Africa now offers exhibitors from across the continent the single best platform to meet quality buyers. It offers buyers the cream of the continent under one roof. The show’s value as a business platform for the industry is solid and celebrated.

With Meetings Africa as the flagship for the continent, global competitiveness is assured; Africa’s share of the market is growing; and Africa is advancing. There is much to celebrate.

Meetings Africa 2015 takes place from 23 – 25 February at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. For more information visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za

MEETINGS AFRICA celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2015

20 | SANCB www.theevent.co.za

Stand by for an extra special Meetings Africa business events trade show in 2015. Meetings Africa celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2015. It’s an

occasion that will be marked by looking back on how far the South African business events sector has come in that time, and how well-equipped it is to take growth and success to the next level.

Meetings Africa has grown from a small and insignificant show into the continent’s premier and best represented business event exhibition. It is now recognised, and heralded around the world as the place to do business with a continent that’s capable, competent and absolutely committed to service excellence and delivery.

South Africa’s achievements as a business events sector, through Meetings Africa, have been great. Today, South Africa holds the 34th place on the global ICCA rankings. The advance up the rankings has been steady and sustainable and it’s this industry’s ambition to see South Africa occupy a place in the top 30 ICCA destinations.

Meetings Africa has been an excellent platform for marketing South Africa as a business event host. It will continue serving this purpose well into the future… as the premier show on the continent.

It’s significant that Meetings Africa celebrates its tenth anniversary a year after South Africa celebrates 20 years of freedom. The destination’s stature as a business event host has grown enormously these last 20 years. This growth had as a highlight the very first Meetings Africa ever at the Sandton Convention Centre in 2005.

Since then, the East London International Convention Centre and the Boardwalk International Convention Centre (in Port Elizabeth) have opened for business. The South Africa National Convention Bureau was launched in 2012 with its call to the South African industry to ‘Win as One’. This has been

Meetings Africa celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2015 by taking stock of a united industry; excellent growth; consolidation of efforts; and renewed vigour for future success.


EIBTM, the leading international event for the meetings, incentives, conferences and business travel industry, is back in November

this year with some exciting things on the line-up. Reed Travel Exhibitions’ flagship gathering for IBTM events expects to welcome international visitors from over 150 countries to Barcelona, Spain, for three days of exhibiting, conferencing and doing business. Taking place from 18-20 November, the event will see over 4,000 high-level, industry decision makers, planners and buyers from associations, major corporates and MICE agencies make more than 65,000 pre-scheduled appointments during this whirlwind of a show.

But the sheer size of EIBTM and the leverage that it wields is not its most exciting of features this year. Neither is its business and social environment with over 15,000 industry professionals, nor its cutting edge Knowledge Programme with expert-led sessions. For the first time in 2014, through the new Hosted Buyer platform, exhibitors have been given the option to self-select appointments with buyers of their choice. This means that even more opportunities are in store for attendees, while exhibitors also have the option of blocking appointment slots to facilitate private meetings that are arranged outside the EIBTM appointment system.

“EIBTM is a classic example of where

big is great, but we need to remember that we’re delivering specific propositions to specific audiences and segmenting those audiences, all the time trying to get down to exactly what they need,” says Graeme Barnett, Senior Exhibition Director at EIBTM.

Buyers can now also provide more detail of the business they want to place, while the dedicated Spanish Hosted Buyer Programme has been amended to facilitate business with international and regional suppliers. 2014 also sees the launch of EIBTM’s My Association, My Club initiative – a new, flexible itinerary for association meeting planners, while the 2nd Meetings Leadership Summit will be taking place at a new venue on 17 November: the beautifully

More Innovation in Store at

EIBTM 2014

EIBTM Welcome Area


restored, 19th century Modernista Hospital de Sant Pau complex. The Innovation Zone will also be redesigned with a new look and feel, including a digital showcase of leading industry innovations in action, as they are applied to real situations.

“Whether one-to-one discussions, informal chat over coffee, product demonstration, educational sessions or EIBTM social events, the Innovation Zone facilitates connections that matter across Technology and Innovation and offers an educational, entertaining and inspirational experience. Exhibitors can show the meetings and events industry what they have to offer, spread the word on their innovative products and services, meet future partners

and be seen as a key player by an influential global audience,” says Barnett.

Eric Francois, COO of TOPI, attended EIBTM last year and was overwhelmed by the Innovation Zone. “This was our first participation at EIBTM and I would recommend it as a ‘must’ for event professionals and technology companies. EIBTM offered the ideal combination of learning and networking and our presence in the Innovation Zone provided a wonderful international exposure with event planners, potential partners and media outlets. As a young U.S. technology company, we would not have achieved this level of visibility and connections without the incredible support of EIBTM’s Innovation Zone. We forged relationships with a diverse group of talented professionals and I know these dialogues will continue for a long time.”

Exhibitors are also in for a treat this year with the addition of Knowledge Sessions specifically designed to appeal to them. These include ‘Neuromarketing for the Event Industry’ with Wenda Kielstra, CEO of Consumatics, and ‘It’s Not All about Size: Passion Wins!’ featuring speakers from European Cities Marketing (ECM) and the International Association of PCOs.

The South Africa National Convention Bureau will also be attending the event as part of a delegation from the country. They will have a dedicated South African Pavilion at the show, allowing local businesses to showcase their wares under the national banner.

But what exactly can Africans expect at EIBTM? And is the international industry turning an eye to the continent yet? David Sand, CEO and Founder of Uwin Iwin and a recognised MICE industry consultant, says that the tradeshow is key for African business travel solution providers. “Today there is more potential for growth for Africa that any continent on earth,” he explains, “DBS Africa will be one of those new African destination business solution providers that will use this platform to tell the emerging story of Africa. Showcasing North, East, West and South African competencies. EIBTM is also a key place to grow personally with great education, experiences and networking. I have always found this accelerated learning within one of the global professional associations, particularly ICCA and SITE. For Africa to truly reach its potential, I encourage all professional or want to be professionals to invest the time and attend.”

EIBTM offered the ideal combination of learning and networking and our presence in the Innovation Zone provided a wonderful international exposure with event planners, potential partners and media outlets.

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Networking at EIBTM

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MOTOR SHOWS IN SA: Bigger and Better

24 | SPOTLIGHT www.theevent.co.za

Motor shows are almost always spectacular events, whether they come in the form of a race or a car expo. Motor shows

present audiences with an opportunity to see cars from the world’s best manufacturers, the latest car accessories; and if the show includes drifting around the course, then the smell of burning rubber too. The organisers of these events have to go to great lengths to create the perfect space for the exhibitors to showcase their products and communicate key points to their consumers. Grand venues, big budgets, massive infrastructure and the right personnel are a huge part of what it takes to pull off a successful show. In South Africa, one of the leading car shows is the Durban Motor Show, which was founded in 1992 by the Veteran Car Club and the Durban Early Car Club. Their first event was held at Westridge

Tennis Stadium. In 2012, the Durban Motor Show returned after a three-year hiatus due to the global economic crisis. And now the show plays a notable role in adding value to the local economy and increasing revenue of the KZN tourism department. Michelle Lewis, Marketing Manager of the Durban Motor Show, says that “The Durban Motor Show attracts visitors from all over to the city of Durban. The Durban Motor Show boasts arguably the largest collection of dealerships

under one roof at a South African owned and run show. Attendees travel to Durban to see the event, thereby driving business for local hotels, therefore surrounding tourism-focused businesses benefit.” She continued to emphasise that in order to bring the show to life, a great team of experienced organisers are involved in putting the show together, saying “the key element is experience and having a great attitude because it can get stressful at times.”

By Siyanda Bani

Car enthusiasts attend the shows for their love of motor sport, the different designs in the vehicle interiors and all the accessories that they come with.

“ “

The Durban Motor Show 2014

Courtesy of The D

urban Motor Show

MOTOR SHOWS IN SA: Bigger and Better


Motor shows are almost always spectacular events, whether they come in the form of a race or a car expo. Motor shows

present audiences with an opportunity to see cars from the world’s best manufacturers, the latest car accessories; and if the show includes drifting around the course, then the smell of burning rubber too. The organisers of these events have to go to great lengths to create the perfect space for the exhibitors to showcase their products and communicate key points to their consumers. Grand venues, big budgets, massive infrastructure and the right personnel are a huge part of what it takes to pull off a successful show. In South Africa, one of the leading car shows is the Durban Motor Show, which was founded in 1992 by the Veteran Car Club and the Durban Early Car Club. Their first event was held at Westridge

Tennis Stadium. In 2012, the Durban Motor Show returned after a three-year hiatus due to the global economic crisis. And now the show plays a notable role in adding value to the local economy and increasing revenue of the KZN tourism department. Michelle Lewis, Marketing Manager of the Durban Motor Show, says that “The Durban Motor Show attracts visitors from all over to the city of Durban. The Durban Motor Show boasts arguably the largest collection of dealerships

under one roof at a South African owned and run show. Attendees travel to Durban to see the event, thereby driving business for local hotels, therefore surrounding tourism-focused businesses benefit.” She continued to emphasise that in order to bring the show to life, a great team of experienced organisers are involved in putting the show together, saying “the key element is experience and having a great attitude because it can get stressful at times.”

By Siyanda Bani

Car enthusiasts attend the shows for their love of motor sport, the different designs in the vehicle interiors and all the accessories that they come with.

“ “

The Durban Motor Show 2014

Courtesy of The D

urban Motor Show

SPOTLIGHT | 25www.theevent.co.za

Indoor Car ExhibitionsOne motor show that also requires a special set of skills to organise is one that chooses to use a shopping mall as a venue. Amid all the packed stores, glossy ceramic tiles and busy restaurants; shopping malls all over Africa organise car exhibitions for their shoppers. Juanita Vorster, Marketing Sales Executive in Canal Walk shopping centre in Cape Town, insists that the biggest challenge in organising these events is the access and space for larger vehicles in the mall as well as fire regulations. “Every show being organised in the mall always has the high risk of damage to the venue and as well as the vehicles”, which is why most venues choose to ask for a damage deposit beforehand and of course both exhibitor and venue ought to have public liability insurance. Car enthusiasts attend the shows for their love of motor sport, the different designs in the vehicle interiors and all the accessories that they come with. This is why Canal Walk has made it a bit more exciting by having race cars racing on the rooftop car park of the centre. Marketing is

a big part of organising an event. Shopping malls already have the market as the visitors are there, which means the show spreads by word of mouth mostly. And because it involves a big audience, radio stations like to get involved as media partners and they do live broadcasts from the shows. “We find that radio works best and we use in-house marketing tools such as our social media platforms and mall posters and TV screens” said Juanita.

The Gauteng Motor Show, which has been running for 11 years, accredits the steady growth in attendance to the fun element added to the show. General Manager of Thebe Reed, Rene Staack, said “It’s grown year-on-year in visitor numbers but we have also started expanding on the entertainment element. Families look for events that have entertainment to keep both the adults and children occupied for most of the day out and we feel this is an element we will keep focusing on and expanding.” And the most rewarding part about successfully putting together an event of this magnitude “is

when it all comes together, all the late nights planning and year-long “wheeling and dealing” – then the gates open and it’s show time and crowds come racing through the door and you can’t believe you and your team and all your suppliers pulled this off.” says Rene.

Room for growthThe Johannesburg International Motor Show takes it further by including a Truck and Bus Show alongside the so-called Auto Shop, which can be compared to a mobile mechanic, where different car-parts are sold. Motor bikes, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, trucks and buses; visitors have the chance to compare the different manufacturers on side by side exhibitions. The show is described as “a unique market place of innovations where both specialists and enthusiasts can revel in hands-on experiences.” Motor shows seem to be getting bigger and better with time which means that organising them will not get simpler, but the African market is growing which makes room for even more innovative shows in the future.

The Canal Walk Motor Show The Gauteng Motor Show

The Gauteng Motor Show

© Thebe R

eed Exhibitions

Courtesy of The C

anal Walk M

otor Show

organisers, PCOs, event organisers and their respective exhibitors, visitors and delegates.


33

Johannesburg Expo Centre Marketing and Sales Executive

Diligent, Attentive, Driven

Automechanika SA, Ultra Fest, Rand Show, Loveworld Festival of Music and Arts, BAUMA, and Johannesburg International Motor Show. Actually, I look forward to all exhibitions, conferences and events taking place next year because of their uniqueness, and most importantly, the amazing relationships we build through each one.

What do you do at Expo Centre? Please describe a typical day: Although my primary role is business development for Johannesburg Expo Centre, it is of the utmost importance that I grow existing relationships and continue to provide all clients, no matter how big or small, with a world-class tailor-made service and experience.

What do you feel are the major aspects of the business-events industry that need to change or evolve? I feel that our mindset, not just within the industry but as a nation, with regard to service delivery needs to evolve. We still have a culture of self entitlement and that very much impedes on our ability to grow. Although competition is healthy, I would like to see more cohesion within the industry through our peers.

What are you doing to inject vitality and fresh ideas to an industry that is mainly dominated by the older generations? We at all times try to implement new

technologies and services that will create memorable experiences for our exhibition

THE YOUTH in Business EventsThis month, The Event is looking at the up-and-coming Millennials that are making waves in the industry.

We at all times try to implement new technologies and services that will create memorable experiences for our exhibition organisers, PCOs, event organisers and their respective exhibitors, visitors and delegates.

““

Dan Correia: Head of MediaMax Seifert: Graphic DesignerMaritza Boucher: Senior Editor

MS: 27 and only growing younger. DC: 33 going on 45… seriously, getting lots of grey hair.MB: I’m a wee lass of 26.

MS: Loyal, Ambitious, maXtraOrdinary. DC: Calm under pressure!MB: Open-minded, detailed, a risk-taker.

MS: I really thought the zombie apocalypse was this year. I look forward to every event, big or small ... especially those with an after party!DC: My leave in December ’14! That is a major event - I get to re-introduce myself to my family.MB: Business Women Awards - My company gave me the privilege of being a guest at the evening’s spectacle and I absolutely loved it. A highlight for me was listening to my hero,


Thuli Madonsela speak and her speech was so inspiring and thought-provoking.

What do you do at Showgroup? Please describe a typical day: MS: There is no such thing as routine, perhaps my cup of strong coffee to kick-start the day, the rest is visual magic as I click clickedy click. DC: ‘A typical day’ - There’s no such thing! We’re in the business of making every one of our clients really happy by taking their ideas and translating them through lights, camera and magic! But I guess that’s exactly what makes this job worthwhile.MB: I get to do what I love every day and no day is the same. I am allowed to be creative and play in my job, how many people can say that?

What do you feel are the major aspects of the business-events industry that need to change or evolve? MS: Like they say, there is nothing new under the sun, that’s simply because we have selective sight, views and a conservative approach to change. Business is a theoretical ball game, but the industry is the exact opposite and I believe change is inevitable as we evolve as an industry. DC: We’re quietly waiting and hoping for the economy to begin an upward curve. Until then, any innovation we come up with will always be countered by the bottom line. So right now, patience is the operative word …MB: Sometimes ideas can become stagnant

and the norm, but by bringing in new blood and fresh eyes we are continuously evolving ideas and being creatively competitive for our clients. Implementing all the vast amounts of information out there and moulding these into new ideas can be beneficial and can add proper value to this industry; any industry in fact.

What are you doing to inject vitality and fresh ideas to an industry that is mainly dominated by the older generations? DC: There’s a difference between an older generation and ‘old’ thinking. And innovation will always be measured against affordability. So to remain relevant in the current market, the only option is to be keenly aware of what new tech can offer your company and most importantly, your client. And by offering Outside-In thinking, a competitive price point and solid working knowledge of the latest tech out there renders a sustainable competitive edge… this type of approach is definitely working for us. MB: I come from a film and TV background, which allows me to incorporate a new dimension of creativity and style into the event world. MS: Understanding how the ‘old school’ operated is quite vital, however… we understand the savvy world better, and this puts us in a position to innovate, recycle and NOT replicate. I try to equip my brain with new trends, tech and share ideas on how to ‘take over the world’.


IntroductionSince 2009, UFI has regularly assessed the impact of the economic downturn by developing a “Crisis Barometer” based on the perceptions of UFI members in 84 countries and including, for the USA, an identical survey conducted by SISO (Society of Independent Show Organizers). The scope of the survey has since been broadened

to include members of AFIDA (Asociacion International de Ferias de America) in Central and South America and of EXSA (Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa).

Gross TurnoverThe 13th Barometer surveyed the evolution of participants’ turnover expectations for 2014

and the first half of 2015 as compared to their expectations during the same period the year before (regardless of possible biennial effects).

Survey results indicate:• The outlook since 2011 remains positive

with a majority of companies in all regions declaring turnover increases and

UFI: 13th Global Exhibition

BAROMETER RESULTS

Images ©

All-free-dow

nload.com

Operating Profits: 2013 - 2014








projections indicate that this is expected to continue in the coming year.

• An average 7 companies out of 10 in all regions declare increases for 2014, except in the Middle East & Africa where 8 companies out of 10 do. A slight slowdown is currently anticipated for the first of 2015, with only 6 companies out of 10 from all regions declaring an increase of

their turnover.

When looking at detailed country results for the coming year:• An average 8 companies out of 10 declare

increases in the USA, 7 out of 10 in Germany, Turkey and South Africa, 6 in China and 5 in Russia. For Singapore, this rate appears to change from 9 companies out of 10 for the second half of 2014 to only 5 for the first half of 2015.

• It should be noted that a significant level of uncertainty exists in several countries for the projection in the turnover for the first half of 2015: 33% in Singapore, 29% in Turkey, 27 in Russia and 25% in China.

Operating ProfitsThe 13th Global Barometer survey questioned the evolution of operating profits for 2013 and 2014 as compared to the previous year. The results show that:

Roughly 4 companies out of 10 in all regions declare an increase of more than 10% in annual profits in 2013 and 2014. These results apply to the 3 major national markets where a large number of answers were received: 50% in Germany and in the USA and 41% in China;

When looking at detailed country results changes can be identified for several countries:• The situation between 2013 and 2014

improves significantly in the USA (from

• “State of the national/regional economy” (25% in the current survey)

• “Local/national competition from the exhibition industry” (19% in the current survey)

• “Internal management challenges” (17% in the current survey)

• “Global economic uncertainty” (17% in the current survey).

ConclusionThe 13th Global Barometer survey, conducted in June 2014, was completed by 210 companies from 63 countries. The results, combined with those of previous surveys, provide a general overview of the impact of the economic crisis on the exhibition industry since the end of 2008. Detailed national results, evaluated for the first time by countries with a significant level of replies, give further insights. At a global level: - The situation appears solid with a majority of companies declaring an increase in their turnover. Almost one company out of two declared an increase of annual profit of more than 10% since 2010; - However 56% of the respondents declare that the impact of the “economic crisis” on their business is not yet over, though most anticipate its end in 2015; “Local competition” and “internal management challenges” were also considered significant. At the national level, significant variations are noted: - 72% believe that the “economic crisis” is now over, or will be by the end of 2015. Environmental challenges are also high on their list of issues. - The general outlook is more positive in the USA where 50% of respondents project an increase of more than 10% of their annual profits in 2014 and 80% of respondents anticipate an increase of turnover in the coming year. 7 companies out of 10 in the USA declare that the impact of the “economic crisis” is now over.

22% to 50%) and Turkey (from 14% to 62%) and slightly in South Africa (from 33% to 39%) and Germany (from 46%

to 53%)• The situations appears to slowdown in

Russia (from 70% to 13%) and China (from 52% to 25%) and, to some extent, in Singapore (from 66% to 57%).

Perceptions of Economic CrisisCompanies were asked their views on whether the impact of the “economic crisis” on their business was over or not. Around one company out of two from all regions except in Europe now consider that the “economic crisis” is over. In Europe, only 3 to 4 companies out of 10 do.

Those who consider that it is not yet over, shifts again when compared with the results of previous surveys. The number of companies who believe that the crisis will end in 2015 has increased from 42% a year ago to 52%. 43% now believe that the impact of the economic crisis will only end after 2015.

When looking at detailed country results, different levels of optimism appear, with the following proportions of respondents declaring that the impact of the “economic crisis” on their business is now over: 86% in Singapore, 70% in the USA, 50% in China or Turkey but only 47% in Germany, 40% in South Africa, 36% in China and 18% in Russia.

Most Important Business IssuesAs in the earlier Global Barometer Surveys, companies were asked to identify the three most important issues for their business in the coming year from a proposed list of seven issues. The results are remarkably stable in all surveys, with around 80% of all answers relating to the following 4 issues:


projections indicate that this is expected to continue in the coming year.

• An average 7 companies out of 10 in all regions declare increases for 2014, except in the Middle East & Africa where 8 companies out of 10 do. A slight slowdown is currently anticipated for the first of 2015, with only 6 companies out of 10 from all regions declaring an increase of

their turnover.

When looking at detailed country results for the coming year:• An average 8 companies out of 10 declare

increases in the USA, 7 out of 10 in Germany, Turkey and South Africa, 6 in China and 5 in Russia. For Singapore, this rate appears to change from 9 companies out of 10 for the second half of 2014 to only 5 for the first half of 2015.

• It should be noted that a significant level of uncertainty exists in several countries for the projection in the turnover for the first half of 2015: 33% in Singapore, 29% in Turkey, 27 in Russia and 25% in China.

Operating ProfitsThe 13th Global Barometer survey questioned the evolution of operating profits for 2013 and 2014 as compared to the previous year. The results show that:

Roughly 4 companies out of 10 in all regions declare an increase of more than 10% in annual profits in 2013 and 2014. These results apply to the 3 major national markets where a large number of answers were received: 50% in Germany and in the USA and 41% in China;

When looking at detailed country results changes can be identified for several countries:• The situation between 2013 and 2014

improves significantly in the USA (from

• “State of the national/regional economy” (25% in the current survey)

• “Local/national competition from the exhibition industry” (19% in the current survey)

• “Internal management challenges” (17% in the current survey)

• “Global economic uncertainty” (17% in the current survey).

ConclusionThe 13th Global Barometer survey, conducted in June 2014, was completed by 210 companies from 63 countries. The results, combined with those of previous surveys, provide a general overview of the impact of the economic crisis on the exhibition industry since the end of 2008. Detailed national results, evaluated for the first time by countries with a significant level of replies, give further insights. At a global level: - The situation appears solid with a majority of companies declaring an increase in their turnover. Almost one company out of two declared an increase of annual profit of more than 10% since 2010; - However 56% of the respondents declare that the impact of the “economic crisis” on their business is not yet over, though most anticipate its end in 2015; “Local competition” and “internal management challenges” were also considered significant. At the national level, significant variations are noted: - 72% believe that the “economic crisis” is now over, or will be by the end of 2015. Environmental challenges are also high on their list of issues. - The general outlook is more positive in the USA where 50% of respondents project an increase of more than 10% of their annual profits in 2014 and 80% of respondents anticipate an increase of turnover in the coming year. 7 companies out of 10 in the USA declare that the impact of the “economic crisis” is now over.

22% to 50%) and Turkey (from 14% to 62%) and slightly in South Africa (from 33% to 39%) and Germany (from 46%

to 53%)• The situations appears to slowdown in

Russia (from 70% to 13%) and China (from 52% to 25%) and, to some extent, in Singapore (from 66% to 57%).

Perceptions of Economic CrisisCompanies were asked their views on whether the impact of the “economic crisis” on their business was over or not. Around one company out of two from all regions except in Europe now consider that the “economic crisis” is over. In Europe, only 3 to 4 companies out of 10 do.

Those who consider that it is not yet over, shifts again when compared with the results of previous surveys. The number of companies who believe that the crisis will end in 2015 has increased from 42% a year ago to 52%. 43% now believe that the impact of the economic crisis will only end after 2015.

When looking at detailed country results, different levels of optimism appear, with the following proportions of respondents declaring that the impact of the “economic crisis” on their business is now over: 86% in Singapore, 70% in the USA, 50% in China or Turkey but only 47% in Germany, 40% in South Africa, 36% in China and 18% in Russia.

Most Important Business IssuesAs in the earlier Global Barometer Surveys, companies were asked to identify the three most important issues for their business in the coming year from a proposed list of seven issues. The results are remarkably stable in all surveys, with around 80% of all answers relating to the following 4 issues:

30 | REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT www.theevent.co.za

Formerly known as Pretoria, The City of Tshwane is the capital of South Africa and is one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities

in the country. Tshwane is adorned with beautiful architecture and an abundance of historical buildings. With museums, grand sculptures and nature reserves, the city is full of things to do and see. Tshwane holds a prominent position in South African history and is also home to the official government office and most foreign embassies are stationed in the city.

What’s happening now?Road accidents reach an all-time high during the holiday season in South Africa, which is why ITC is hosting the 6th Annual Road Safety Summit at the CSIR International Convention Centre. This is an opportunity for road stakeholders to come together and hold discussions on how to improve road safety in South Africa and save lives. MECs from all provinces attend this summit, which will be taking place from 4-5 November 2014. For more information visit: www.roadsafetysummit.co.za/

VenuesCSIR International Convention CentreThis is Tshwane’s biggest and busiest convention centre, hosting over 700 events a year. Perfectly located in the city centre, this convention centre can host events for as little as 10 delegates to as many as 1 000; the venue is that flexible. State-of-the-art equipment is made available including video conferencing facilities. CSIR is ideal for conferencing, workshops, seminars and it comes with great catering services.

CITY OF TSHWANE: The Captivating Capitalby Siyanda Bani

30 | REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT www.theevent.co.za

Formerly known as Pretoria, The City of Tshwane is the capital of South Africa and is one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities

in the country. Tshwane is adorned with beautiful architecture and an abundance of historical buildings. With museums, grand sculptures and nature reserves, the city is full of things to do and see. Tshwane holds a prominent position in South African history and is also home to the official government office and most foreign embassies are stationed in the city.

What’s happening now?Road accidents reach an all-time high during the holiday season in South Africa, which is why ITC is hosting the 6th Annual Road Safety Summit at the CSIR International Convention Centre. This is an opportunity for road stakeholders to come together and hold discussions on how to improve road safety in South Africa and save lives. MECs from all provinces attend this summit, which will be taking place from 4-5 November 2014. For more information visit: www.roadsafetysummit.co.za/

VenuesCSIR International Convention CentreThis is Tshwane’s biggest and busiest convention centre, hosting over 700 events a year. Perfectly located in the city centre, this convention centre can host events for as little as 10 delegates to as many as 1 000; the venue is that flexible. State-of-the-art equipment is made available including video conferencing facilities. CSIR is ideal for conferencing, workshops, seminars and it comes with great catering services.

CITY OF TSHWANE: The Captivating Capitalby Siyanda Bani

Toscana Lodge and Conference VenueToscana Lodge and Conference Venue is a five star venue perfect for gala events, conferences and seminars. Free wireless internet, fixed data-projection screens and skilled staff will help make any event a success. There are seven different venues that can host small to medium events, and the Rubica Room, which is the largest room, hosts up to 180 delegates.

Tshwane Events CentreFrom hosting national and provincial elections, conventions, exhibitions, trade shows and the like; Tshwane Events Centre is the ideal space for any kind of event. With 40 000 square metres of indoor exhibition space and 45 000 square metres for outdoor exhibitions, it’s pretty obvious why this venue sees more than 1.4 million visitors coming through its gates each year.

Getting to Tshwane by AirOR Tambo International Airport is a distance of about 50 kilometres from the CBD area in Tshwane. The high-speed Gautrain is the preferred mode of traveling to the airport because it is fast and affordable. The Gautrain aims to alleviate traffic congestion on major routes within the Gauteng province. It was launched around the time

of the 2010 FIFA World Cup “for people on the move” and both locals and tourists agree it is a more convenient option for commuting through Gauteng. Lanseria is a privately owned airport and is closer to Tshwane, is located on the northern part of Johannesburg, and has domestic flights landing in and out of the airport to the major cities in the country.

Population2,921,488 (Statics SA, 2011)

ClimateThe summer season in Tshwane is hot and sunny, frequented by thunderstorms in the afternoons, or a brief downpour of rain to cool off the warm weather before the sun sets. The long summer days average about 29 degrees Celsius. Winter time, which is between June and August, is moderately cool but temperatures drop drastically at night, reaching lows of four degrees or less.

You need to know aboutDinokeng Game Reserve is one of the only game reserves where you can find the Big 5 on one reserve. Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Leopard and Lion can be seen roaming freely within the game reserve, which is not far from the city centre.

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT | 31www.theevent.co.za

Did you know?On the 9th of August 1956, tens of thousands of women from all walks of life marched to the Pretoria Union Buildings protesting against the carrying of passes by women. This was one of the biggest marches to be held in the country, the date was since declared a public holiday, named Women’s Day.

© SA

Tourism©

Shutterstock

32 | COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT www.theevent.co.za

North African countries share a rich and complex history, they are also idyllic and play host to a great deal of tourists because

of their hospitality industry and great authentic cultures that can be explored. On the outermost part of North Africa are Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, among a few other countries with picturesque landscapes and adventures to be discovered.

EgyptEgypt has a bountiful tourism industry and most of it can be attributed to the great pyramids of Giza. These iconic monuments have been tourist attractions since the 1800s. Situated in the capital of Egypt, Cairo, their enchanting majesty makes them the centrepiece of the nation. Cairo also has spectacular meeting venues that include views of the Nile River.

Cairo Marriott Hotel & CasinoApart from the luxury accommodation, this is the perfect meeting place for medium to large workshops, with maximum seating capacity of 1 020 delegates and state-of-the-

Egypt has a bountiful tourism industry and most of it can be attributed to the great pyramids of Giza. Situated in the capital of Egypt, Cairo, their enchanting majesty makes them the centrepiece of the nation. Cairo also has spectacular meeting venues that include views of the Nile River.

“

“NORTH AFRICA: Enchanted Authenticity

by Siyanda Bani

Egypt; picturesque at low light

Moroccan Cuisine

© w

ww

.freeimages.com

© w

ww

.freeimages.com

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT | 33www.theevent.co.za

art equipment for a successful conference or workshop.

MoroccoIn the Maghreb region of North Africa is Morocco, outlined by the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastline with waves to surf, or you can enjoy laying on the sand and gaze at the turquoise water of the Atlantic. Hiking, paragliding and mountain biking are some of the options available for the adventurous. The Middle and Upper Atlas Mountains reach a summit of up to 4 000m, which is more than appealing for team building and incentive travel. Morocco is no stranger to expo’s and hosting big conferences, as it offers a wealth of suitable venues to choose from.

International Rabat Convention & Exhibition Centre Mohammed VIInternational Rabat Convention & Exhibition Centre Mohammed VI provides a wide range of meeting facilities, with great technical personnel and state-of-the-art equipment. The expo hall is 13 550 square metres, has a 528-seat auditorium, and a ballroom that can accommodate more than a 1 000 delegates, and a large conference room that can be divided into three 200-seat areas. It comes with easy highway access, and this convention centre is a 35-minute drive from the Rabat-Sale International Airport.

TunisiaThe northernmost country in Africa, Tunisia is also the smallest country in the Maghreb region. In 2011, this small nation held an uprising against the autocratic rule of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali which has seen Tunisia progress to a full democracy and has set an example for other North African countries. The Sahara desert offers the most idyllic views and landscapes and because of its Mediterranean location. Tunisia is also known for its beach resort holidays, and it doubles up as a perfect incentive meeting place.

International Trade Centre Tunis – TunisiaInternational Trade Centre Tunis boasts three exhibition halls, a trade centre, a storage area and plenty of parking, not to mention a 5 000 square metre area that can accommodate up to 4 000 visitors. It is located only a few kilometres from the city centre, and other attractions include restaurants, a snack bar and coffee shop.

What’s happening now?From 9 - 11 December 2014, the 7th Offshore Conference & Exhibition will take place in Alexandra, Egypt. This conference is organised by the Egyptian Petroleum Sector in partnership with IES International Exhibition Services and will see more than 7 000 visitors attending this year, as well as 220 exhibitors plus over 1 600 delegates. This conference targets all the North African countries with special focus on the Southern Mediterranean shore. The inception of this conference was in 2000 and has since been growing in leaps and bounds, seeing it become an exhibition of global standards in the oil industry.

Population: Egypt – 85,294,388 Morocco – 32,649,130 Tunisia – 10,835,873July 2013, CIA World Factbook

Climate In summer, the hot Saharan desert temperatures are felt between Egypt and Morocco while Mediterranean Tunisia is bit

Did you know? Imilchil Marriage Festival is a very popular occasion in Morocco; parents bring their unwed daughters to search for husbands. These young women adorn themselves with their finest jewellery and cosmetics to search for and select their future spouses. Each year, the surrounding tribes of Aït Sokham and Aït Bouguemmaz celebrate the Imilchil Marriage Festival, also known as September Romance as it takes place in the ninth month of every year.

cooler. The Atlas Mountains that span Egypt and Morocco make the winter season a great deal colder. Summer in North Africa is dry and winter is bitterly cold and wet; even the Saharan areas experience wet monsoons in winter.

You need to know aboutFor the charging of laptops, cellphones and all things electronic remember to pack a Type C plug and socket, which are 220 volts.

Charming Morrocan Architecture

Mediterranean Tunisia

© Shutterstock

© Shutterstock

34 | EVENT GREENING FORUM www.theevent.co.za

A key element of event greening is waste minimisation and sustainable management. Recognising the importance

of this, on Friday, 15 August 2014 the Event Greening Forum (EGF) KZN Team and friends visited the Re- head office in Prospection, Durban for a tour of their facilities. Shades of Green Events organised the site visit.

Re- is a national waste management solutions company that offers its clients innovative solutions to Reduce, Re-use, Recycle and Recover product to ensure that sound waste management practices are implemented, thereby promoting environmental sustainability. A sustainability solution from Re- means less waste to landfill, less resource consumption and less harmful emissions. Their innovations include composting and biomass engineering of organic material, outlets for raw materials and diversion of suitable materials to animal feed, extraction of product for biofuel manufacturing and use of material as an alternative fuel resource. Re- focuses on the concept of circular economy; nothing wasted, everything repurposed.

Their approach fits within an increasing global trend to reduce, re-use, rework, recycle and recover waste products. One

person’s waste can now become another person’s valuable raw material. Considering the cost, and sometimes limited availability of original input materials - the demand for recovered waste products is increasing. Whereas basic waste management focuses on removing waste from the living and working areas in an environmentally-acceptable fashion (including waste storage, collection, transport and disposal), this new approach promotes sustainability through providing creative waste solutions that divert waste from landfill, and truly sees disposal as a last resort.

In terms of event management, this highlights the importance of effective planning of waste minimisation and management. Event organisers should aim to minimise waste through evaluating opportunities to prevent waste in the first place (practical examples include no bottled water where drinkable tap water is available, no paper napkins, serving food buffet style rather than boxed lunches, electronic registration processes, and so forth). Waste minimisation often results in financial savings, which clients of course approve of.

Thereafter the event organiser can focus on the effective management of waste through re-using products (i.e. USB flash drives made from recycled materials or

biodegradable materials such as bamboo or printed branding materials that can be re-used), and putting effective recycling processes in place (i.e. recycling bins to collect paper, plastics and so forth). The event organiser should also arrange for the recovering of waste that cannot be re-used. Again, disposal should remain a last resort.

Finally, to ensure your event is successfully hosted as a green initiative (including effective waste minimisation and management), develop a communication plan that will see you engage with delegates, service providers and others to create awareness of the greening interventions and goals of the event.

Article courtesy of Jenny Kervarrec: Event Greening Forum member and co-owner of Shades of Green.

EGF KZN TEAM visits Re- offices

The 22nd IT&CMA and 17th CTW Asia-Pacific was held at Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld Bangkok, Thailand from 30th

September 2014 to 2nd October 2014. Taryn Fowler from Film & Event Media attended and was pleasantly surprised by the warm Thai hospitality and very well organised press conferences at the show. “It was such a pleasure to be greeted by Olivia Ng and the media team on my arrival at the Grand Centara Hotel. I was greeted with all smiles at the conference and was provided with a detailed explanation of the important events and press conferences which I was to attend over the following days. Olivia and the team happily took our publications and offered to handle all distribution in the media centre”.

The show opened with over 800 exhibiting delegates including new destinations such as Cambodia and Switzerland. More than 10,000 business appointments took place over the two day exhibition, with over 80 business, education and networking sessions with an expanded two-day Association Days at IT&CMA and it was further strengthened by new partnerships with MPI International and World PCO Alliance. SITE has also joined the supporting association line up and they are developing and delivering content for the Corporate Performance educational forums.

Tes Proos from Crystal Events attended the show as a hosted buyer, “The recent IT &CMA show in Bangkok proved to be really worthwhile to attend. Whilst it is a small show, the quality of product and service providers was excellent. In addition Bangkok is an experience in itself with so many nuances, from ancient Buddhist temples to thriving street markets and five-storey shopping malls selling anything from cheap gadgets to designer garments. Thaifood is brilliant – just watch out for the hot dishes if you are not a chilli fan! The kindness and generosity of the Thai people is something to behold and to me, the best experience of the country.”

The opening ceremony and welcome reception was a spectacular affair which was hosted by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, and themed “Absolute Happiness”. Guests were treated to many different Asian foods to taste and entertained by an array of singers, dancers and fruit carvers. The show continued to provide its delegates with a line-up of top class events like the cabaret show at Sukisol Hotel followed by a

Full Moon Party at Sofitel So Bangkok. Taryn says “There was an endless supply of catering, refreshments and entertainment throughout the show which was coupled together with warm hospitality and endless smiling faces from the Thai people, a pure delight”.

“IT&CMA and CTW Asia Pacific continues to add value by consistently delivering valuable industry segments of MICE, Association, Luxury Travel and Corporate Travel, year after year, the immense interest and robust support in this year’s event is undoubtedly a reflection of trust and confidence which the international MICE and Corporate Travel industry has pledged to Bangkok, and to Thailand as a top Business Events destination,” commented Darren Ng, MD of TTG Asia Media.

After the show, the hosted buyers and media delegates all went off to enjoy a three day post tour of their choice between Cambodia, Phuket and Chiang Rai. Taryn opted for the Phuket tour entitled “Pearl Paradise of The Andaman Sea” and she was treated to various charming venues which included Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, Gibbons Rehab Project, Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort and Spa, Bimi Beach Club, Kan Eang @ Pier Restaurant and an Elephant Siam Safari tour.

Film & Event Media would like to invite outbound incentive tour operators, South African exhibitors and potential hosted buyers to participate at next year’s IT&CMA shows, which includes India, Thailand and China. For more information, please contact [email protected].

IT&CM ASIA AND CTW ASIA-PACIFIC | 35www.theevent.co.za

22nd IT&CMA and 17th

CTW ASIA-PACIFICREVIEW

36 | EVENTS www.theevent.co.za

WINDABA3Cape Town

LAGOS INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR4 – 14Lagos, Nigeria

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION (IFEA)5 - 7 Sandton, Johannesburg

AGRIWORKS FARMERS EXPO6 – 8Stellenbosch, Western Cape

FOOD QUALITY & CONSUMER TRUST CONFERENCE5 – 6 Sandton, Johannesburg

DURBAN MOTOR SHOW7 – 9Durban, Kwazulu Natal

ABSA VUKA SHOWCASE7 – 9Cape Town

THE 5TH ANNUAL ENTREPRENEUR EXPO AND CONFERENCE18 – 19Cape Town

RETAIL CONGRESS AFRICA 201418 – 19 Sandton, Johannesburg

16TH INTL APPAREL, TEXTILE & FOOTWEAR TRADE EXHIBITION- ATF 19 – 21Cape Town

SOWETO FASHION WEEK26 – 29Johannesburg

MAMA MAGIC, THE BABY EXPO JOBURG27 – 30 North Riding, Johannesburg

NOVEMBER

36 | EVENTS www.theevent.co.za

WINDABA3Cape Town

LAGOS INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR4 – 14Lagos, Nigeria

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AND EVENTS ASSOCIATION (IFEA)5 - 7 Sandton, Johannesburg

AGRIWORKS FARMERS EXPO6 – 8Stellenbosch, Western Cape

FOOD QUALITY & CONSUMER TRUST CONFERENCE5 – 6 Sandton, Johannesburg

DURBAN MOTOR SHOW7 – 9Durban, Kwazulu Natal

ABSA VUKA SHOWCASE7 – 9Cape Town

THE 5TH ANNUAL ENTREPRENEUR EXPO AND CONFERENCE18 – 19Cape Town

RETAIL CONGRESS AFRICA 201418 – 19 Sandton, Johannesburg

16TH INTL APPAREL, TEXTILE & FOOTWEAR TRADE EXHIBITION- ATF 19 – 21Cape Town

SOWETO FASHION WEEK26 – 29Johannesburg

MAMA MAGIC, THE BABY EXPO JOBURG27 – 30 North Riding, Johannesburg

NOVEMBER

EVENTS | 41www.filmmakerafrica.co.za EVENTS | 37www.theevent.co.zaC

ape Town, South Africa, C

ourtesy of SA Tourism

KAMERS VOL GESKENKE2 – 7Pretoria

FESTIVAL OF WHITE LIGHTS5Cape Town

ALBERTON DAY & MUSIC FESTIVAL5 – 7Alberton, Johannesburg

INDIA COLD CHAIN SHOW10 – 12India

INDIA COMPOSITES SHOW 10 – 12India

SILLY SUMMER26Port St Johns, Eastern Cape

SMOKING DRAGON FESTIVAL29 – 31 Bergville, Durban

DECEMBER

38 | ASSOCIATIONS www.theevent.co.za

Cape Town Convention Centre is taking client experience to new heightsCape Town Convention Centre (CTICC) has launched a digital interactive feature that lets users have a 360 degree virtual tour from their smart phones or tablets. This new feature also includes a series of multi-media client testimonials and experience videos that aim to improve user experience and client engagement. Potential clients can ‘tap’ and get a virtual tour of the venue from every angle and every floor. CTICC General Manager of Commercial & Business Development, Megan Arendse, said, “With just a few clicks, users can select the venues they would like to tour and access pertinent event-related information. Interactive menu features and “hotspots” were designed to enrich the user-experience and allow for seamless navigation.”

Exhibitors will now be able to get a panoramic view of their preferred space for their stands or the look and feel for hosting an event at the click of a button. Clients can engage with their visitors from the shared testimonials of their experiences, these videos can also be viewed on the CTICC’s YouTube channel. This special feature is available on CTICC website, visit www.cticc.co.za for more info

ASSOCIATIONS | 39www.theevent.co.za

African Business Travel Association to host new conferenceAfrican Business Travel Association (ABTA) is hosting its very first African Business Travel Conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria. Travel professionals from all over the globe are invited to attend this educational conference that will inform, enlighten and create networks with industry peers during interactive discussions with influential panels.

The line-up include discussions and debates that will focus on Air and Hotel Industry Updates; Travel Data and Technology; Centralised versus Decentralised Travel Partners and Policies; Traveller Safety and Duty of Care; African Country Educationals; Service Delivery and Skills Development and Payment Trends and Solutions. This event is for travel delegates who are looking for

solutions for the betterment of the travel and hospitality industry and want to keep abreast with industry trends.

The long awaited Neema African Business Travel and Buyer Benchmarking Research Paper will also be launched at the conference. The paper has Sub-Saharan African travel buyers contributing their experiences, challenges, identifying trends and coming up with solutions to improve the travel industry in Africa. ABTA Founder Monique Swart said, “This represents an opportunity for those involved in buying or managing travel to contribute to this unique piece of research which will help further develop our industry in this region. In return, contributors gain access to pertinent information on how their peers are dealing with similar trends and challenges within the African business travel environment.” This document will arm delegates with real solutions they can implement to achieve success and improve client experience of travelling and staying in Africa. The inaugural ABTA Conference is taking place from 2-4 November 2014.

Egypt © w

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.freeimages.com

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The Event Issue 11

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