The ICCA rankings are out – and Joburg Tourism’s Convention Bureau team is celebrating the city’s momentous climb, by improving its rankings an astonishing 92 places since 2012!
“We’re thrilled to announce that in this year’s ICCA rankings Joburg is ranked 142nd in the world and is placed third in Africa. We were ranked at 234 last year, so this is excellent news for us,” says Phelisa Mangcu, Acting CEO, Joburg Tourism.
ICCA Rankings are announced annually by the International Congress and Convention Association, based on the number of rotating international association meetings hosted in a particular destination. ICCA now is one of the most prominent organisations in the world of international meetings. It is the only association that comprises a membership representing the main specialists in handling, transporting and accommodating international events. ICCA’s network of over 950 suppliers to the international meetings industry spans the globe, with members in 88 countries.
“Joburg’s dramatic improvement in its ICCA rankings is thanks to a collaborative effort with our industry partners, peers and stakeholders,” says Mangcu. “Last year our Convention Bureau embarked on an intensive consultation with the industry during the course of refining our strategy related to hosting business events in Joburg. This has resulted in better understanding, collaboration and sharing of information crucial to the ranking process. So a big thank you to all involved, it’s onwards and upward from here on!”
FORTHCOMING GLOBAL SUMMITS AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS TO BE HOSTED IN JOBURG
In association with stakeholders, our Convention Bureau continues with its sustained bidding efforts and there is no doubt that these are bearing fruit, contributing substantial economic benefits to our local industry.
• Mayors and decision-makers from the world’s largest cities will converge on Johannesburg in July 2013 for the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Metropolis organisation.
• The meeting of Metropolis will be the most important gathering yet of representatives of major metropolitan areas to discuss issues regarding the impact of urbanisation on the world. The five day event will and coincide with a meeting of the Forum of Metropolitan Mayors. Metropolis (The World Association of Major Metropolises) is the leading organisation that represents more than 120 of the world’s leading cities with a population of more than one million people. Among the prominent cities that belong to Metropolis are Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Berlin, Paris, Bangkok, Dubai, Cairo, Toronto, Sydney, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur, Atlanta and Dakar.
• The City will also play host to the One Young World Summit in October 2013, a global forum of young leaders which is expected to attract some 1 000 delegates from every continent. One Young World was established in 2010 to ensure issues affecting the youth are receiving global attention. Among its patrons are Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Young leaders can now apply to attend the next One Young World Summit, which takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2-5 October 2013. One Young World delegates are 18-30 years old and have demonstrated their leadership potential. Many have already had an impact in their home countries on a range of issues, including the role of business in society, transparency in business and government, the impact of climate change and global health and hunger relief. Visit www.oneyoungworld.com for more details.
• The C40 Summit on Climate change will take place in January 2014, bringing together global leaders, activists and innovators to discuss environmental issues relating to the urban environment.
BUY SELL INVEST VISIT JOBURG
This year, the City of Johannesburg’s Department of Economic Development is organizing the first Buy Sell Invest Visit Conference and Expo in June 2013. Part of the City’s Buy Sell Invest and Visit initiative, this flagship programme that aims to bring together people from the BRICS and Southern African Development Community blocs to partner with private and public organisations.
This programme is part of the city’s 2040 strategy, which outlines the growth of Johannesburg over the next three decades into a sustainable, prosperous and resilient place to live and work. It aims to not only attract new investment into the city, but support existing businesses and help them to expand.
Envisaged as an annual calendar event, this three day conference is targeted at 1000 prominent local, provincial, national and international business stakeholders. Its purpose is to attract investment, seek markets for our products and maintain top of mind awareness of Joburg as a tourist destination, while showcasing our infrastructure capabilities.
The impressive line-up of forthcoming Business Events in Joburg includes:
2013
• World Credit Congress [14 -16 May]
• Pan African Franchise Federation Conference [9 -10 May]
• Pan Pacific Association Business Congress [3 – 6 June]
• Chattered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Global Challenge [26 – 30 August]
• 59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Congress [28 August – 6 September]
• 26th International Council of Management Consulting Institutes [23 – 28 September]
• World Agility Championships [10 – 13 October]
• WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) Congress [9 – 6 November]
2014
• 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association [1 – 5 September]
• 21st World Orchid Conference and Show [8 -12 Sept 2014]
2015
• World Congress of Healthy Ageing [21 – 26 March 2015]
