South Africa’s efforts of promoting the country as a premier business events destination are certainly not going unnoticed with the head of the South Africa National Convention Bureau receiving yet another nod of approval by the international business events industry.
Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer at the South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) has been recognised as a “Trailblazer” and named amongst “The 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry for 2016” by global business events magazine, Successful Meetings.
According to the magazine: “ these people were chosen because they have either contributed to the business of meetings, made it easier for meeting professionals to do their job, helped raise awareness of the industry, or, through their actions, have had a significant impact on meeting professionals.”
In April this year, Kotze-Nhlapo was also awarded the IMEX Academy Award 2016 for Africa and the Middle East.
According to IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom and Managing Director, Paul Flackett, who presented the prestigious IMEX Academy Awards at the 14th annual IMEX Gala Dinner held at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel, in Germany, Kotze-Nhlapo was given this award for her role in developing the status of South Africa as a world class destination within the Meetings Industry. As part of her contribution in growing South Africa’s business events industry, she has worked with the Best Cities Alliance as well as partnered with International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) on some key projects. She was among high-achieving meetings industry professionals from across the world that were honoured.
The IMEX Academy Awards represent the very best in the meetings and incentive travel industry, honouring outstanding individuals.
“These awards are confirmation that Amanda’s extensive experience and solid grasp of the business events industry have not gone unacknowledged. This industry is a great driver of economic development and South Africa’s business events strategy is focused on building its knowledge economy and accelerating its macro-economic benefits. We are therefore truly proud of her and her team’s efforts in ensuring that our work of marketing South Africa as a premier business events industry are paying off,” says Sthembiso Dlamini Acting Chief Executive Officer at South African Tourism.
A true achiever, more than a year ago Kotze-Nhlapo was elected geographical member for Africa to the ICCA board.
“I am thrilled at the recognition that we are receiving from the global business events industry. This is all thanks to the SANCB team effort,” adds Kotze-Nhlapo.
Kotze-Nhlapo’s team is responsible for the delivery of Meetings Africa, South African Tourism’s business events trade show. One of the key objectives of Meetings Africa, is to encourage and stimulate the rotation of meetings on the African continent and to use the exhibition as the ultimate platform for the regional business events industry to engage in a bid to attract more global and regional business events to Africa.
“Such accolades and awards certainly assist in drawing attention to our continent” concludes Kotze-Nhlapo.
