Have you considered Ekurhuleni as your MICE destination of choice? Many don’t, and yet it offers a number of attractive benefits and options.
The name Ekurhuleni means “place of peace” in Tsonga, yet the name defies the bustling reality of this metropolitan municipality in Gauteng. At its heart lies O.R. Tambo International Airport, Africa’s biggest and busiest airport, which has the capacity to handle 28 million passengers a year. It’s also one of only four airports in the world that fly scheduled non-stop services to all six inhabited continents (the other three being Abu-Dhabi, Doha and Dubai).
Unsurprisingly, because of the airport, Ekurhuleni has become the gateway into and out of Africa and South Africa, and a stopover for many travellers. This has resulted in a multitude of businesses and industries growing up around it – including a thriving hospitality and business tourism sector.
While it’s not an obvious choice when considering where to host your next event, this is what makes Ekurhuleni an intriguing location. It’s a relatively unexplored region, with a surprising number of diverse attractions to experience. Combine this with the first-rate facilities and services available to cater to business travellers, on both a large and small scale, and you have a winning combination of quality assurance and the novelty factor.
4 REASONS TO HOST YOUR NEXT CONFERENCE IN EKURHULENI
- It’s conveniently connected
Ekurhuleni is readily accessible for delegates, whether they are coming from abroad or down the road. Those who fly in will land at O.R. Tambo International Airport, situated in the centre of this sprawling municipality. A number of premier venues are within a stone’s throw of the airport. However, it’s equally fast to move around, as the airport is linked to the rest of Gauteng with an efficient network of freeways, and to busy nodes with the high-speed Gautrain.
- You can take your pick of venues
With more than 200 venues to choose from, you will find the perfect space for your next event – regardless of whether you’re looking for an intimate, boutique set-up with a five-star grading, or need to accommodate 3 000 guests in one place. Most venues also offer accommodation, or you can choose to book with one of the many first-class hotels or even budget backpackers, all within a short distance.
- It has a wealth of natural beauty
Despite being an industrial centre, Ekurhuleni also boasts many unspoilt natural attractions, including 206 biodiverse and rare wetlands, which are home to over 360 different species of birds. (Perhaps these are the spots that inspired the name “place of peace”.) These, with the Germiston Lake, Benoni lakes, numerous dams and hiking trails all present unique opportunities for the wellness trend.
- There are endless leisure options
Just like the abundance of venues, there are a great many leisure activities to choose from. For example, there are no fewer than 16 signature golf estates, including the five-star Glendower – the official host of the South African Open Golf Championship. There’s also a rich heritage of South Africa’s past to explore at the OR Tambo Narrative Centre based and Thokoza Wall of Remembrance, as well as museums for aviation and dynamite manufacturing. And when the sun goes down, the nightlife beckons with great restaurants, casinos, and regular shows and entertainment on offer at hot spots such as Carnival City and Emperors Palace.
