The first Africa Travel Week – taking place in Cape Town from April 28 – May 3 – is set to deliver hundreds of travel buyers with proven intent of placing travel business within Africa. They will come from 40 countries and are being fully hosted by the organisers of WTM Africa, ILTM Africa and IBTM Africa, the events that form Africa Travel Week.
“The sheer volume of business opportunities for Africa as a result of all three events taking place simultaneously in one week is unprecedented. We believe the number of first time buyers we are introducing, the intense scrutiny of the qualification process and the investment in Africa’s tourism industry will bring significant new business to our exhibitors,” commented Carol Weaving, Managing Director, Thebe Reed Exhibitions.
Buyers hosted across all events will include both inbound and outbound travel professionals, tour operators, luxury travel organisers, meeting planners, association buyers, event organisers and incentives specialists. Pre-qualification for these Buyers is rigorous to ensure that everyone has proven business to place. Once qualified, they will meet with suppliers of their choice at each of the events and are expected to undertake some 12,000 pre-scheduled, targeted business meetings. In return, Thebe Reed will provide travel and 4-star or 5-star accommodation, as well as onsite education sessions and thought provoking, topical keynote sessions. At the same time, all those involved in the programme can attend the many networking events. Exhibitors will not only benefit from full business diaries during the events, but they will also be able to network socially with buyers at many additional functions throughout Africa Travel Week. These networking events will take place at some of Cape Town’s most prestigious venues all of whom will benefit from the inbound business of Africa Travel Week itself.
Africa Travel Week will also play host to the world’s media with some of the top Travel Editors from China, USA, UK, South America, Germany, India, Brazil, Japan as well as more than 50 of Africa’s travel media also attending.
“Africa Travel Week is set to provide the travel industry with a new event that focuses on consumer travel, luxury travel and business travel, where every aspect is dedicated to delivering real business opportunities in a focused format over a period of a week. We have also hosted many editors of the world’s top consumer travel publications including Financial Times (UK), Conde Nast from India, China, UK and the US, Travel + Leisure (US), Japan’s CREA Traveller, Panrotas (Brazil), Sunday Times (UK), and Traveller’s World (Germany) among others. Many of these key editors will also be adding pre and post tours to their visit enabling further promotion of the continent to their readers when they return to their desks. We are also expecting many local and regional African media to attend with a very good response so far.
“All of our stakeholders will receive the service that is expected of the global brands presented during Africa Travel Week and Thebe Reed is dedicated to providing an experience that will enhance their business objectives over a week at the CTICC,” concluded Weaving.
