The Planner Guru Industry News Wrap | 04 October 2021

WATCH: Welcome back to The Planner Guru’s Industry News Wrap, with Shanna Jacobsen presenting the latest news highlights from the world of MICE.

On the 27th of September, the Department of Health and the British High Commission Pretoria issued a joint statement that experts from both the United Kingdom and South Africa would meet to discuss their respective measures put in place to manage and mitigate against the spread of Covid-19. This follows an announcement made during the recently concluded Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit by South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu, that she had met with the British Deputy High Commissioner to discuss the matter. The Tourism Business Council of South Africa says that the national economy loses approximately R26 million each day the country remains on the UK’s red list.

Positive news abounds for the Western Cape province as the Cape Town International Convention Centre has noted that it has secured 15 international conferences, which it says will bring an estimated 22 000 delegates to the Mother City and generate around R594 million for the economy over the next six years. One of its key partners, the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, has meanwhile announced the launch of the Western Cape Business Events Support Programme, which is aimed at stimulating business events in the province in the short- to medium-term.

The Radisson Hotel Group has revealed that it has seen a record number of African signings over the past 12 months, adding 2 500 rooms to its portfolio with 13 new hotel deals. From a single hotel 20 years ago, the Radisson Hotel Group now has almost 100 hotels in more than 30 countries across the continent, making it the largest hospitality provider in Africa. With no sign of slowing its growing appetite, Radisson hopes to grow its portfolio to 150 hotels by 2025, with a strong focus on key markets such as Egypt, Morocco and South Africa.