The Sandton Convention Centre (SCC) is proud to host Africa’s leading meetings industry event, Meetings Africa, from 24 to 26 February 2020, and play a role in helping to grow the business tourism industry.
Shaun Bird, GM of SCC, says he has noticed the impressive growth of the show over the years, specifically in terms of the number of meetings and the number of hosted buyers, thanks to the efforts of SA National Conventions Bureau, SA Tourism, and other participating organisations. “Over and above that, we have seen a marked improvement in the quality of buyers attending the event, which has contributed to business tourism in South Africa and further into Africa,” he adds.
“In 2018, Meetings Africa highlighted that the business tourism industry which contributed R115 billion to the country’s economy in one year alone.”
Bird says that he is optimistic that the industry growth that Meetings Africa has nurtured will continue, and adds; “We’d like the global business tourism industry to recognise that South Africa is open for business. We might have challenges, but at the end of the day, business will be done in South Africa – we’re hard-working, we thrive under adversity, and we pay attention to detail. We pride ourselves on how far we’ve come and how much we’ve achieved. Business is here to be done – not only to benefit the sector in South Africa, but also through to the social fabric of the country.”
In 2018, Meetings Africa highlighted that the business tourism industry which contributed R115 billion to the country’s economy in one year alone. However these is an opportunity to increase this. Each year, more than 300 million business travellers travel the globe, of which only 58 million come to Africa. A key focus of Meetings Africa 2020 will be attracting more of these travellers to our continent.
Bird believes that what the SCC is the ideal venue for Meetings Africa because of its convenient location, and its “world-class facilities and services, venues of all sizes, and accommodation right here at InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers, Sandton Sun, and Garden Court Sandton City – providing convenient space for all activities and interactions” under one roof. He adds that their client-focused approach is another advantage, which has meant the venue has become increasingly flexible and open to experimentation in order to consistently improve their offering.
