Meetings Africa, the premier business events trade show hosted annually by South African Tourism has this year, attracted the best minds in the global business events industry for its eleventh edition due to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre from the 22nd to the 24th February.
The business events industry cuts across the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) sectors. Positioned as, Advancing Africa Together, Meetings Africa is the perfect platform hosted by the South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB), a unit of South African Tourism.“The business events industry is a great driver of economic development and South Africa’s business events strategy is focused on building and accelerating its knowledge,” says Acting Chief Executive Officer at South African Tourism, Ms Sthembiso Dlamini.
The SANCB has over the past few years, increased and continued its investment in utilising Meetings Africa.A new and exciting element at this year’s Meetings Africa is the addition of the European Cities Market (ECM) Summer School scheduled to take place from the 19th to the 21st of February. Usually hosted only in Europe, the Summer School in Johannesburg is a tailor-made course for partner organisations .
Speakers include:
• Jonathan Cohen, owner of the destination marketing specialist company Azimuth Marketing Communications in the United Kingdom(UK)
• Barbara Jamison, Head of Business Development at the London Convention Bureau;
• Mark Spivey, Director of International Sales at Maritim Hotels in the UK
• Anja Loetscher, Director of the Geneva Convention Bureau in Switzerland
• Anne Wallin Rodven, Convention Director of Oslo Promotion – Visitors and Convention Bureau in Norway
• Italy’s Pier Paolo Mariotti, Meeting manager at EURAC Research and managing director of the EURAC and TIS Convention Centre
“With knowledge economy and innovation top on the agenda, Meetings Africa 2016 also boasts a high number of international and regional buyers under one roof. We are very thrilled by this,” says Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer at the SANCB.On Sunday, February 21, the African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE), which was launched at Meetings Africa last year, will officially open its Johannesburg office.The first official day of the actual trade show (22 February) also known as BONDay (Business Opportunities Networking Day) will be held as well.
Other events on BONDay include:
• IMEX-MPI-MCI Future Leader Forum Africa
• Business Events Associations Joint Conference
• The IAPCO Bespoke Seminar (International
• Corporate Business to Business Speed Marketing Sessions
On Tuesday, February 23, Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom will officially open the show.The final day of Meetings Africa features the Green stand Awards ceremony for the top green stands at Meetings Africa.For more information on Meetings Africa 2016, please visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za to register to attend.
