Sandton Convention Centre has taken the coveted top award in the Best Venue category at this year’s Exhibition Association of SA (EXSA) Industry Awards,as well as the Best Venue Employee – Lorraine Strydom – for the third year running.
EXSA’s GM, Sue Gannon, says the Awards – dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the industry – are a celebration of the best companies and individuals in the industry. “Winners are chosen through an independent voting system by EXSA members only, with each member having only one vote each, so it’s hats off to Sandton Convention Centre for coming out tops in both those categories.”
These wins represent Sandton Convention Centre’s absolute commitment to excellence at every level, says Neil Nagooroo, Sales and Marketing Manager of the SCC. “We’re extremely honoured to have been voted best venue by members in different sectors within the industry – we believe it is a tribute to hard work, an understanding of the needs within the industry, a willingness to go the extra mile, a world-class food & beverage offering, and excellent facilities throughout.”
Nagooroo also commended Lorraine Strydom, Sales Manager of Exhibitions at Sandton Convention Centre, on winning Best Venue Employee Award for the third year running. “Lorraine is an absolute credit to the SCC – she is tireless in her efforts to ensure that we deliver beyond customers’ expectations and has clearly made a name for herself as an achiever in the industry. Congratulations to her.” Sandton Convention Centre, which was purpose built 15 years ago to international standards, and features over 22 000m2 of state-of-the-art meeting, exhibition and special events space, has had an excellent 2015 and is looking forward to an even better 2016.
In 2015, Sandton Convention Centre hosted the high level African Union Summit in June, which was attended by heads of state and government, ministers, and representatives from the 54 member countries; the successful Ice Age Exhibition, which featured 45 moving, life-size animals in 12 scenes, and 11 animals in an interactive play area; the massive Africities Summit 2015, the mouthpiece for Africa’s 15 000 local governments from all regions of Africa at the end of November; and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Heads of State Summit and Sixth Ministerial Conference on 4 and 5 December; among many other top local and international consumer and trade events.
The event line-up for SCC for 2016 is as also varied and influential, and includes CITES CoP17, the inaugural Arnold Classic South Africa sports festival, and much more.
