A large attentive delegation discovered just what it takes to put an incentive programme together.
Consisting of two panel discussions plus a few stand-alone presentations, within a well-orchestrated venue such as the Hyatt in Rosebank, the morning sparkled with interesting updated information on just what makes the incentive travel industry tick.
For the Academy the major highlights amongst many were:
- Whether for a motor company, an agricultural seed organisation or a financial institution’s personnel recognition programme – the amount of time spent before possibly landing the business can be extensive;
- SITE world-wide changing their name ever so slightly from Society of Incentive Executives to Society of Incentive Excellence. Not only does the name change make a whole lot of sense – it is also likely the membership base from individual to include actual incentive and other types of allied companies may develop;
- The high regard of South Africans in the big picture of SITE was clear, in that not one but two South African company heads – Walthers Daryl Keywood & Uwin-Iwin’s David Sand are either world-wide President or immediate past President of SITE respectively. This surely can be interpreted into a recognition of outstanding incentive programmes from the foot of Africa.
- The panel on ‘Africa as an Emerging MICE Destination’ indicated the stunted and parrot- repeated knowledge-base of the travel/ incentive industry as far as the MICE industry is concerned. It was a wake-up call to discover the misplaced reliance on government and it’s institutions – who’s agenda differs significantly from that of any commercial interests. Hopefully David Sand’s hard-hitting comment that the industry were indeed regurgitating information over a number of years with limited action should not go unheeded. In this regard the MICE Academy will attempt to motivate a greater understanding of the MICE industry – with its diverse interests between corporate, association and public sector MICE undertakings.
- Corporate budget cut-backs were unanimously confirmed with the use of sub-contractors diminishing in certain aspects.
Not one moment on Friday 19th September could be regarded as dull – in fact SITE southern Africa should be justly pleased with this excellent morning in the city of gold. The high standard of information was indeed sparkling.
