As a result of a collaborative effort by the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and the Cape Town Convention Bureau, Cape Town has won two international conference bids. The recent wins will jointly contribute R 48 million to the citys coffers.
According to CTICC Chief Executive Officer, Rashid Toefy, Cape Town was selected as the preferred host destination for the 16th International Congress of Infectious Diseases and the International Urogynecological Association 2016, which will be taking place in 2014 and 2016 respectively. The two conferences are expected to generate 16 500 delegate days and contribute to the creation of 370 direct and indirect jobs across South Africa.
Cape Town bid against Melbourne for the 16th International Congress of Infectious Diseases and against Vancouver for the International Urogynecological Association 2016. The fact that Cape Town secured these bids is further testament to Cape Towns desirability as a leading conference destination adds Toefy.
A lot of hard work, perseverance and dedication went into securing these two conferences. Winning these bids illustrates the importance of building relationships during the bidding process as strong working relationships amongst the partners were crucial to us winning these bids adds Toefy. As the CTICC gears up to double its exhibition capacity, it becomes pivotal that we up the ante in terms of pitching for more international conferences. By 2016 the CTICC aims to host in excess of 40 international conferences per annum says Toefy. The hosting of such prestigious events will ensure that Cape Town cements its position as one of the worlds top long-haul conference destinations he adds.
Cape Towns convention bureau is a proud member of the BestCities Global Alliance, a unique and innovative partnership amongst the worlds top convention cities, and were delighted to have secured these valuable business events for the destination, says Cheryl Mulder-Verbruggen of The Cape Town Convention Bureau. She goes on to explain that the Alliance attracts and shares hundreds of client referrals and has developed its own set of Client Service Standards that have been praised by international meeting clients. Cheryl continues As a member of this Alliance, we operate to service standards that are certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), guaranteeing clients of international service standards. Of course, this system also enhances our competitiveness both as a global alliance and as an individual Destination Marketing Organisation for business events.
Toefy concluded by saying that the recent wins brings the total amount of bids won by Cape Town and the CTICC, since January last year to 21. Other prestigious international conferences lined up for 2013 include the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba 2013, which kick-starts the year in February, and which is expected to attract in excess of 7000 delegates and the International Conference on Aids and STI in Africa, which will see over 10 000 delegates descend on the shores of Cape Town in December.
Additional bids secured include the following:
ICTD – Information and Communication Technology Development Conference in December 2013
4th World Conference of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy in 2014
IFED World Congress of International Federation of Esthetic Dentistry in October 2015
15th Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology in October 2015
World Internal Medicine Congress in October 2018
International Confederation of Dietetics Association Congress in September 2020
