After postponing its Women in MICE Awards in 2020, 3S Media, together with Meetings magazine and theplanner.guru, officially launched this year’s Awards during a virtual event hosted on GoToWebinar.
The launch took place on 11 March 2021, during which the categories, theme and judges for the 2021 Women in MICE Awards were announced. The event was co-hosted by Shanna Jacobsen, managing editor of Meetings magazine, and Thami Nkadimeng, message architect and Women in MICE ambassador. Thami thanked all women within the industry for their contributions, particularly over the past year under very difficult circumstances.
In addition, the organisers welcomed participation by a stellar line-up of speakers, including the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane. Voicing her support for the MICE industry, she highlighted the important role that this plays within tourism.
The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, voiced her support for the MICE industry, highlighting the important role that this plays within tourism.
“I’ve joined this meeting here today to talk about one of the sub-sectors of tourism that has been most affected by the pandemic, where the restrictions that have been put in place to curb the spread of the pandemic have curtailed the meetings, incentives, conferences and events sector,” noted the Minister, adding that gender inequality has been worsened by the effects of the pandemic, especially for women-owned businesses who have also had to find new ways of providing services.
Ellen Oosthuizen, chairperson for both the SA Events Council as well as the PCO Alliance Network, delivered an address to the audience where she revealed some of the projects and initiatives that she has been part of to showcase the MICE industry’s ability to host live events safely and according to all government regulations.
“In March 2020, the SA Events Council was formed and I represented the PCO Alliance – this kept me very busy! We’ve been meeting every Thursday since then,” explained Ellen, also acknowledging all Women in MICE. Ellen was a Women in MICE winner in 2017.
Angelique Smith, co-founder of Event Synthesis was the final speaker of the day and she spoke on leadership and development within the MICE industry in the context of the Women in MICE mentorship programme that she is part of.
“We started the programme during Covid and I think for the seven candidates who are part of the programme, it was a breath of fresh air for all of us to be in that environment during such trying times.”
“As soon as I heard about the programme, it was something I wanted to get involved in, and when the call was made, I immediately applied. We started the programme during Covid and I think for the seven candidates who are part of the programme, it was a breath of fresh air for all of us to be in that environment during such trying times,” said Angelique.
Ahead of the announcement of the categories, theme and judges, members of the audience were treated to a delightful dedication by local rock band, Prime Circle with their song, Love to Hate Unplugged.
Speaking on the theme of the 2021 Women in MICE Awards was Shanna Jacobsen, managing editor of Meetings magazine: “Our theme this year is The Power of the Collective. No matter how small, every effort counts and much like a mosaic, each tile is part of a much larger picture – showing us just how important collaboration and networks are to our industry.”
“No matter how small, every effort counts and much like a mosaic, each tile is part of a much larger picture – showing us just how important collaboration and networks are to our industry.”
The categories for the 2021 Women in MICE Awards are as follows:
- Service Provider Representative of the Year
- Venue Representative of the Year
- Collaborator of the Year
- Industry Contribution of the Year
- Innovator of the Year
- Certification and Qualification
- Provider of the Year
- Mentor of the Year
- Enterprise Team of the Year
- Health and Safety Standards
- Recognition Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Corne Koch, Head of the Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency
Nonnie Kubeka, Head of the Gauteng Conventions & Events Bureau
Sonto Mayise, Acting General Manager, KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau
Sonto Ndlovu, Destination Brand Strategist at Transnet
Vanessa Perumal, Manging Director at JT Communications
The judges for this year are:
- Corne Koch, Head of the Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency
- Nonnie Kubeka, Head of the Gauteng Conventions & Events Bureau
- Sonto Mayise, Acting General Manager, KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau
- Sonto Ndlovu, Destination Brand Strategist at Transnet
- Vanessa Perumal, Manging Director at JT Communications
Nominations are now open here and close on July 9. Vote for your Women in MICE heroines today!
