THE STATE OF CONFERENCING

Natasha Skoryk asked some of the business event sector’s major players what the state
of conferencing is in 2018 South Africa.

Despite plenty of economic woes, a decline in international events, and shrinking budgets, experts in the industry all appear to agree that the future of conferencing in South Africa looks bright. It is vital for the industry to innovate – by integrating technology and ‘greening’ one’s practices – and to continue building “brand Africa” to
ensure that we become a more attractive destination for foreign international events. Government spending on the industry also needs to increase in order to see growth in the sector.

Bronwen Cadle De Ponte
General Manager, CSIR ICC
“The meetings sector is South Africa is currently characterised by a rapid rise in the number of new conference venues coming onto the market. As a country we need to improve our destination marketing in order to attract a bigger share of the global meetings market to ensure that the investment in new facilities is sustainable and contributes positively to economic growth. The market is also currently characterised by price wars which is going to have a negative effect on the industry in the long-term as price slashing can very easily lead to a general drop in the quality of the products and services the country provides and is reputed for.

Click here to continue reading in Event Issue 07.

AVOIDING AND MITIGATING DISASTER

Natasha Skoryk chats to industry experts about the planning that goes into avoiding and mitigating disasters.

South African law is fairly strict when it comes to safety regulations. “An event safety management plan must comply with the requirements set out in SANS10366,” says George Skazikis of Event Solutions. This means that safety officers already have a pre-determined starting point when they start to plan for any event: “We have a basic template we work on and tailor it to each event. Depending on the event, we may have to do additional research in order to cover the event needs. There are many different types of events with different hazards and planning needs.”

Some of the other laws and regulations to consider, according to Leniese Van Der Merwe of Gallagher Convention Centre, include but are not limited to: the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act No. 85 of 1993), Compensation for Occupational Injury and Diseases, Construction regulations, Sports and Recreational Events Act (2009), Gas Installation Regulations, Food Safety & Hygiene Regulations, SANS10085 Scaffolding, SANS50362 Personal Protective Equipment against falls from heights, SANS1475 Portable Fire Extinguishers, SABS0400 National Building Regulations and, of course, the extensive local by-laws. These stringent government measures ensure South African venues and event providers are always held to account – and that visitors to events are protected.

Click here to continue reading in Event Issue 07.

FIVE GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND SAACI 2018

SAACI is focused on raising the bar in the business-events industry across all member interactions and in doing so, creating true, tangible value to our members and the greater industry in Southern Africa.

This congress brings together professionals from a variety of conference industry sectors including conference and event organisers, events management companies, service providers and industry stakeholders representing government, venues, destinations and more.

1. Learning opportunities:
Thought leaders, industry experts, the latest in best practice, case studies and success stories will be shared across a range of sessions. Walk away feeling inspired, motivated and encouraged to implement new ideas into your business.

2. Networking with peers:
The SAACI Congress brings business experts, industry leaders, colleagues and prospects all together under one roof, providing you with the perfect place to meet people and form new relationships from which you could benefit in the future.

Click here to continue reading in Event Issue 07.

BUSINESS EVENTS MADE EASY: EASTERN CAPE

This vast, largely rural province should be on your radar as a prime business-event
destination.

It is hard to imagine a more varied or beautiful area of South Africa than the Eastern Cape. The province is home to a number of climatic zones, has stunning wildlife, culturally-rich rural areas and bustling cities. Solid infrastructure and a fast-growing economy, combined with a number of attractive incentive travel products, ensure that the Eastern Cape is a very attractive business-event destination.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) has been responsible for promoting businesses and events in the area and has assisted in hosting a range of conferences, meetings and gala-style events. The upcoming Bay H2O Conference and Exhibition, which focuses its attention on South Africa’s water scarcity issues is hosted by the NMBBC and promises to draw more well-deserved attention to this gorgeous part of the country. Key Venues East London International Convention Centre. The ELICC is situated 15 minutes from East London’s airport and within walking distance of the beach. It provides world-class facilities for delegates and a very large number of luxurious rooms for on-site accommodation. An auditorium, exhibition area, a press room, restaurants, two boardrooms and a number of conference rooms are available.

Click here to continue reading in Event Issue 07.