Joburg Convention Bureau makes its mark ahead of Meetings Africa

With Meetings Africa 2014 now on, it’s all systems go for the Joburg Convention Bureau team, who are looking to make the most of an even bigger and better event in 2014, focused on attracting more business events to the City and to further enhance its position as the continent’s premier destination for business and business events.

Joburg Convention Bureau’s winning streak of successful bids continues unabated, as the city continues to make its mark as Africa’s premier business, meetings and events destination.

The ever-increasing line-up of high profile international events won for Joburg include:

• World Orchid Congress & Exhibition (2014)
• Africities Summit (2015)
• CIDESCO World Congress (2015)
• IPRA World Congress (2015)
• The Summit on Healthy Ageing (2015)

Recent highlights for destination Joburg include:

• A vastly improved position in its ICCA ranking – jumping 92 places to be ranked at 142^nd in the world and placed third  in Africa.   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.

• According to the third annual MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index released in June 2013, Johannesburg is set to be the most popular destination in Africa, with a projected 2.54 million international visitors expected to visit the city in 2013.
  • Despite a marginal 5.5% increase in the number of international visitors from 2012, Johannesburg’s substantial 53.6% growth in international visitors from 2009 to 2013 has propelled it into the Index’s top 20 fastest growing cities globally.
  • Johannesburg also comes out tops in Africa in terms of international visitor spending, with US$2.7 billion estimated to be injected into the city during 2013, a slight increase (1%) on 2012’s expenditure.

• As the tourism arrival figures for 2013 released by the National Department of Tourism indicate, South Africa continues to enjoy an above average growth rate (10.2% as opposed to the global average of 4%) and Johannesburg is certainly benefiting from this.  Visitor arrivals continue increasing year-on-year and the City’s leadership remains committed to enabling and facilitating ongoing growth and development in this sector.

• Joburg boasts impressive business events credentials in anyone’s book.  Aside from all the major international business and sporting events hosted here since the mid-90’s, Joburg is home to an abundance of superb convention facilities, all supported by a well established and growing service sector and impressive infrastructure.  This includes the Gautrain, Rea Vaya and of course, OR Tambo International Airport, which is the country’s travel hub.  Over 55 international airlines link Johannesburg to major centers worldwide, making it one of the easiest to access on the African continent. 

• The City of Johannesburg can comfortably host any event – from small professional meetings to mega events. There are approximately 130 venues in Johannesburg, varying in capacity, including the four biggest which are capable of accommodating over 5000 delegates.  Moreover, we have the accommodation stock to match – from ultra deluxe hotels to B&B’s.  We can do it all!

• With excellent infrastructure, unique transport features (like the high speed Gautrain and the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit system), increased hotel inventory, spectacular stadiums and magnificent architecture, we’re very proud that Johannesburg was voted the world’s 3^rd best city in UK-based Wallpaper Magazine’s Wallpaper Design Awards in early 2011.

• Johannesburg is increasingly being perceived in the global community as a destination of choice for investment, commerce and tourism.  An international survey of perceptions about the world’s 50 premier cities shows a significant improvement in perceptions about the City.
  • The 2013 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brand Index is now ranking Johannesburg in 44^th position, from a 45^th ranking. However, the City has shown the second biggest improvement in perceptions among the 5 000 people in 10 developed and developing countries who participated in the survey.
  • Simon Anholt from Anholt-GfK Roper observes that Johannesburg may be movingaway from the perception that it is violent and dangerous: “It now seems as if Johannesburg might be moving out of this reputational territory.”