It’s the singer not the song that draws attention, and four presenters at the SATSA (SA Tourism Services Association) Gauteng gathering this week did just that.
Major sponsors to SATSA – Bidvest Bank, Sprout Consulting, SATIB and Vodacom – took turns in explaining how to drive real value to a member’s business and each knew their subject and articulated their offerings both clearly and succinctly.
Talks during the excellent snacks and drinks following the presentations proved that members had already calculated the financial benefits – which would more than cover their membership fees. The Academy regards these sponsor benefits as true member value.
Key highlights proved the disparities between political and economic interests. SATSA CEO David Frost showed real stats on the serious erosion of tourists primarily from the East due to visa restrictions and Ebola. This in turn has a detrimental bottom line return on the South African tourism industry.
Keynote speaker Sylvain Bosc SAA’s chief commercial officer certainly is a highly knowledgeable aviation Frenchman – who has been with SAA less than a year but had thoroughly researched his employer’s see-saw reputation and operations.
The information imparted during his address left no one in the crowded room under any illusion as to the challenges within SAA. With an over-staffed complement of some 3000 – Sylvain Bosc is unlikely to have time to put his feet up on the desk any time soon. Yet if there is anyone who can have a major turn-around effect on the organisation – the members were confident it would be Sylvain Bosc.
The meeting place Marion-on-Nicol certainly proved an excellent choice with well-trained personnel and crisp clean lines throughout and a very good member turnout.
