The Planner

Event App Bible LIVE: Ask the Experts
2021-04-28 17:00 - 20:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Online
Filled with thought-provoking discussions and bite-sized presentations from experts, this event is the must-attend event for anyone considering investing in events apps.
With hybrid events about to hit the mainstream, EventMB invite you to join us for this FREE event where they’ll unpack the latest trends in event apps.
Register

Soweto Freedom Day Roundtable
2021-04-27 09:00 - 16:00 | Sud Restaurant, 6877 Vilikazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Soweto & Surroundings Industry Chambers Councils Forum (SSICCF) is hosting a roundtable event to discuss how to unlock Soweto’s economic freedom and business opportunities for local SMMEs.
Speakers include Councilor Lawrence Khoze, the MMC of Economic Development, and Ms Jacki Mpondo-Hendricks, SAUBC CEO.
The cost is R200 per person.
To RSVP, please contact:
Tumi Mahlo
SSICCF Secretary General
076 430 7676
tumelomahlo.mdlalo@gmail.com

Responsible Revenue: How to Host a Profitable and Safe Hybrid Event
2021-04-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
Hybrid events are top of mind and planners need to make sure they are safe but also profitable.
The rethinking and redesigning of events as hybrid experiences brings with it challenges that require new ways of thinking about events. This webinar addresses these challenges and covers a range of revenue-generating concepts, many of which are different from in-person-only events.
On this webinar you will learn about:

What attendees and sponsors actually find value in and are willing to pay for
Ideas for sponsorable products and services that all contribute to the bottom line
How additional safety protocols can be used to offset costs
The best way to partner with your venue and hybrid event technology provider

Join this FREE webinar designed to help you elevate and expertly monetize your hybrid events!
Register

Webinar: Taking the leap into the wellbeing economy
2021-04-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
The South African Events Council and Event Greening Forum are proud to announce that the distinguished academic and world renowned proponent of the concept of a wellbeing economy Professor Lorenzo Fioramonti will be the guest speaker at our upcoming webinar.
Prof Fioramonti is a distinguished academic, world-renowned proponent of the ‘wellbeing economy’, as well as a sought-after and captivating speaker
During this webinar, he will talk on: Taking the leap into the wellbeing economy – redirecting the economy toward community, the environment & a sustainable future.
The Covid pandemic has made clear that there is no economic success without social wellbeing, which is founded on the health of people and ecosystems. When we imperil wellbeing, we demolish any economic activity, resulting in more poverty and destitution.
For over a decade, Prof. Fioramonti has been advocating a new theory and practice called “wellbeing economy” to demonstrate the shortfalls of our obsession with economic growth and to place personal and ecological wellbeing at the centre of development policy for governments and business alike. In this talk, he will discuss many tangible examples of how the “wellbeing economy” is the only way forward to achieve a sustainable and equitable future, as well as happier and healthier lives.
His talk will be followed by a Q&A session.
Register

Webinar: Addressing UIF Challenges for Tourism Sector
2021-04-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) will be hosting a webinar tackling the challenges that the tourism sector has been having in accessing UIF.
Joining TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa is Allan Ragavaloo, UIF Director Provincial Support.
Date: 15 April
Time: 10h00 to 12h00
RSVP: Click HERE to register

BoxIT launch event
2021-04-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Convention Bureau Italia, a non-profit organization that represents all the major players in the Italian MICE Industry and that promotes the country as a destination for major international corporate and association events, is launching BoxIT to the world on 13 April.
BoxIT is the free, intuitive digital platform developed and engineered by CBItalia during 2020’s lockdown that makes networking between selected Italian suppliers and top international buyers time-efficient and super easy. The Live Webcast will feature an in-depth tech demo of the platform.
BoxIT was designed with a dual goal in mind: on one hand to act as a ‘virtual window’ into Italy, giving users constant updates about reopening dates and the latest safety protocols, while also showcasing to buyers the latest trends and news in MICE in Italy, in order to give them a crucial edge when MICE will be back in business.
On the other hand, when things will be back to normal, BoxIT will act as the virtual beacon for MICE-related business in Italy, a powerful tool -without the complexity- that can overcome the physical limits of one-shot or once-a-year B2B events by digitally filling the gaps in between: a discreet business companion always at its users’ fingertips, supporting them in fulfilling their networking needs no matter where they are nor when they use it.
Register

Global Meetings Industry Day: Virtual broadcast
2021-04-08 14:00 - 2021-04-09 02:00 | Online
Join MPI in association with Meetings Means Business for a very special Global Meetings Industry Day: Virtual designed specifically to “Meet Safe.”
In 2020, nearly 11 000 of your global peers connected digitally to buoy support and signal hope for an industry in crisis. This year, MPI is looking forward — seeking the opportunities of tomorrow and mapping recovery for individuals, organizations and economies.
Join your global industry peers and leaders as they share victorious stories, conquered challenges and forge the path ahead for an industry preparing for its critical return to the world stage. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish together.
This free digital experience will feature education and activities worth 12 clock hours of continuing professional development.
Register

Africa Travel Week
2021-04-07 - 2021-04-09 | Online
Africa Travel Week (ATW) focuses on inbound and outbound markets for leisure tourism, luxury travel, LGBTQ+ travel, economic development, investment and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
This year’s event involves a blend of both live and virtual events across 365 days, which includes:

WTM Africa and ILTM Africa will both take place virtually from 07-09 April 2021
Africa Travel Week: Connect in the City Live will take place in Cape Town from 1-3 September
Educational webinars will run from May to August
A series of virtual masterclasses will run from September to November

Register

WTM Africa
2021-04-07 - 2021-04-09 | Online
WTM Africa will go ahead from 07-09 April 2021 as a fully virtual event, delivering a much-needed platform for connection between tourism industry stakeholders engaged in bringing business to Africa, and Africa to the world.
Find out more about this event here.
Mirrored on WTM flagship events WTM London and Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, WTM Africa delivers a proven mix of hosted buyers, Buyers’ club, media, pre-scheduled appointments, on-site networking, evening functions and invited travel trade visitors.
Register

Spier Easter Weekend Celebrations
2021-04-02 - 2021-04-05 | Spier Wine Estate
Spier is offering a number of amazing opportunities to spend some special quality time with your family this Easter. These include:
Easter Sunday feast
Enjoy a decadent three-course lunch on Spier’s terrace, next to the Eerste River while the Supernova band serenade you. The meal includes gourmet salads and freshly baked bread to start, followed by a selection of mains such as slow-braised brisket, roasted leg of lamb, smoked ocean trout, a cheesy butternut pasta bake, bacon-flecked charred broccoli and aubergine & tomato melanzane. You’ll also be able to sample the Estate’s fine wines at the Spier Wine Tasting Station.
Easter Weekend braais
From 2-4 April, a daily pop-up braai station on the Spier Werf will be open from 11:00-16:00. On the coals will be lamb tacos, pickled fish tortillas and curried sosaties.
Keep the kids entertained
Throughout the Easter Weekend (2-5 April) children are invited to attend a 1-hour workshop at 9:30, where they will make their own rabbit ears and a basket for collecting Easter eggs. The costs is R100 per child.
Kids can also enjoy grape juice while they decorate their own Easter Bunny cookie at the Tasting Room, for just R40, while adults can indulge in some chocolate and wine tasting for R70 per person.
Additionally, the Spier Hotel Kids’ Clubhouse will be offering a full programme of exciting Easter activities with extended open hours (08:00-19:00) throughout the long weekend.
Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery’s Easter treats
Vadas’s will again be serving up their famous hot cross buns, as well as many other treats such as Easter Egg croissants and mosbolletjie bread. It’s best to pre-order to avoid disappointment: either phone 021 809 1137 or email info@vadas.co.za.
Family picnics
Relax under the ancient oaks of the Spier Werf with a picnic basket packed with deliciousness, including gourmet salads, a charcuterie and cheese selection, a baguette with various dips, harissa grilled chicken strips and more. Every kid’s basket will also include a chocolate-filled Easter cracker.
Weekend stay-overs
Spier is offering South African residents a special Easter rates for the Easter Weekend, from R1 015 per person per night. Use promo code EASTER21 when you make your booking to receive a complimentary Easter Egg hunt kit for your kids, so you can create your own egg hunt in the farm’s expansive gardens.
For more information and bookings please visit www.spier.co.za

How to Solve the Challenges of Networking in Virtual and Hybrid Events
2021-03-30 20:00 | Online
One of the big challenges of virtual and hybrid events is how to facilitate networking opportunities between participants. Recreating what comes easy for in-person events is challenging to do for virtual and hybrid events; as a result, attendee expectations are rarely met.
In this webinar, they’ll dive into the value of creating deep networking opportunities and how to bring the fidelity of in-person to virtual and hybrid events. Creating a better networking experience is possible and it may be simpler than you think.
This webinar features the number one advocate for deep networking, Lawrence Coburn, who will guide us through the power of deep networking and explain how to bring it to event participants who are yearning for high-quality networking opportunities.
Register
EventMB is accredited by the Events Industry Council to provide clock hours for webinars. If you are working on your Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) accreditation and want to earn CEs, you can add one clock hour by attending this webinar.

Virtual Speaker Training Session
2021-03-30 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
Many of us have experienced how difficult it can be to speak at a virtual event, whether we’ve been the ones in the hot seat or by helping our speakers get over their nerves.
However, with the right tips and training, event speakers can learn how to make an impact and develop a powerful virtual stage presence.
Join Will Greenblatt – actor, educator, and co-founder of the OutLoud Speakers School – for this very special, 1-hour free Virtual Masterclass inside the EventMobi Virtual Space.
In this workshop, you will learn:

How to warm up your face, body, voice and mind for your big talk
Learn daily exercises to improve your vocal and physical power and clarity
How to learn and control your “Speech Settings”, to make your audience hear, understand, care, remember and believe in you
How to tell stories to increase engagement and CTA’s from your audience
How to handle Q&A’s with confidence
And much more…

Register

Jurni Masterclass: How to make your property Covid-safe
2021-03-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
If you run a guesthouse or small hotel in South Africa, this free masterclass is for you.
Jurni is offering its first masterclass on 29 March at 3pm.
The panelists will answer your questions around the new health and safety protocols and how to implement them. They will also share insights and practical tips on how to adopt the TBCSA protocols, overcome challenges related to them, and flag which protocols are likely to stay in place after the pandemic has passed.
The panelists are:

Sandile Ntseoane – GM SAVRALA and Chairperson Jurni Advisory Panel
Boitumelo Moleleki – TBCSA Client Relations Manager
Rosemary Anderson – National Chairperson of FEDHASA

Please send your questions to jurni@bigambitions.co.za.
Register

Webinar: Managing Africa's Reputation
2021-03-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
The labelling of new variants and how African countries are handling the pandemic have been the subject of much discussion locally and internationally in recent weeks. What impact does this have on the continent’s travel and tourism sector?
Join Africa Travel Week (ATW), for a webinar on ‘Managing Africa’s Reputation’, focused on this and the impact of the vaccine rollout in international media on the continent’s travel and tourism sector. During the panel discussion, industry experts will also get to grips with the so-called SA variant and ways destinations and tourism products can counter negative reporting to ensure Africa’s tourism recovery.
Register

AHIF Marketspace
2021-03-25 12:00 - 18:00 | Online
Preparations for the agenda for AHIF (Africa Hospitality Investment Forum) Marketspace is underway. The event will showcase why hospitality investors should look at investing in Morocco, key performance indicators for the region will be shared and the measures that have been put in place by governments to support and reboot the economy will be discussed.
Programme highlights include:

A conversation with HE Nadia Fettah Alaoui
Marketspace Presentations
Is the future bringing us new operating models?
Conversation with the investors

Register

Uphill Challenge 2021
2021-03-20 | Paarl, South Africa
On 20 March 2021, it will be just about one year since lockdown was announced.
Our mission with the Uphill Challenge is to create awareness and exhibit tour operators, wheel operators and event organisers who all promote our country and beautiful destinations, but due to a challenging year, had no income. We want to educate locals and change their mindset to rather use inbound operators to help them plan their holidays, this will create jobs/income during these tough times.
Participants will run/walk uphill for 8.5km to Paarl Rock (this is the official challenge part of the event) and then hike back down for 5km to the Taal Monument, where they will finish and receive a medal.
Participants who are slightly less fit and do not want to do the 5km hike downhill, can catch a lift back to the Taalmonument from Krismis Camp with one of our tour operators, but this will only happen after the last participant has arrived.
Register
This event is supported by the SA Events Council.

Spier Light Art 2021
2021-03-19 19:30 - 2021-04-18 22:00 | Spier Wine Estate
Get ready for the third edition of Spier Light Art, hosted at Spier Wine Farm from 19 March to 18 April 2021. This night-time adventure is suitable for the whole family to enjoy, as you wander around this historic Stellenbosch estate to admire interactive artworks that use light, sound and video – illuminating the present moment to help us imagine where we might be headed next!
Entrance to the event is free, and the lights are switched on at dusk.
The Sunday Times Neighbourhood supplement wrote this about Spier Light Art 2019: “What a spoil to walk around safely in near darkness… the beautiful surroundings merging with the night skies, and, interspersed with the pristine gardens, an array of light art surprises…”

WESGRO Business Week: Event Safety Workshop - Afternoon session
2021-03-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Spier Wine Estate
This hybrid event will be held at Spier Hotel and online, and forms part of the WESGRO Business Week.
The theme of the session is Customer Centric: Practical implementation & building trust
Safety is a process, and as such, needs to be managed, and being customer centric by having clarity on the health and safety requirements under the current regulations. By using the Events Re- Opening Guidelines that the Event Safety Council published in 2020, these will help to inform you on how to implement processes safely while COVID-19 is prevalent.
Join SAACI, PCO Alliance and the Event Safety Council in partnership with the SA Events Council to understand the needs, requirements, tips and best practices using the resources available to us to create and practically implement a viable health & safety program. The event is sponsored by Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau a division of Wesgro.
The event is aimed at senior management, supervisors, employees, event professionals, venues and industry stakeholders. Let’s empower ourselves, our staff, our teams.
For more information, and to view the programme, click here.
Register

WESGRO Business Week: Event Safety Workshop - Morning session
2021-03-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Spier Wine Estate

SA Tourism Speed Marketing Session: Mpumalanga Province
2021-03-18 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
South African Tourism through its business unit, Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, continues to create a platform for new and existing tourism products to showcase themselves to local and international tour operators, with the aim of building a quality visitor experience through Virtual Speed Marketing sessions.
Speed Marketing is a market access platform created to provide tourism businesses an opportunity to interact and forge business relationships between products and buyers (Tour operators and DMCs who are already packaging and selling the destination or have interest in doing so).
In the sessions, representatives of the South African products, establishments or experiences are given the opportunity to market their products and experiences using a presentation. Speed marketing focuses on bringing the supply and demand of business to business and consumers and products together.
The first sessions for 2021 are taking place via Zoom.
If you would like the platform to showcase your tourism product, establishment or service, please contact Thabo Mpotu via email on thabomp@tourismgrading.co.za or mobile 0781691406 to book a slot.
Register

SA Tourism Speed Marketing Session: Free State Province
2021-03-16 15:00 - 16:00 | Online

Fab Bridal Expo 2021
2021-03-13 09:00 - 2021-03-14 16:30 | KwaZulu-Natal
FAB, the Cape’s longest standing, most renowned and glamorous bridal show, is happening for the 12th year, once again at the beautiful and upmarket Venue D’Aria, Durbanville in 2021.
FAB brings together service providers and products from across the Cape all under one roof and puts visitors in touch with the various experts they need in order to plan their wedding or host a successful event. Attending the expo ultimately saves money, time and possible frustration as visitors will be able to gather advice and inspiration to cover almost every aspect of their planning.
Where else can you pick a venue, book your honeymoon, meet a dress designer and discuss designs for your event stationery all in one location? Even those in need of a special garment or unique piece of jewellery will benefit. Highly experienced and creative experts in their different fields will be available over the two-day period to answer questions, assist with queries, or to be of general assistance to visitors.
Not only will visitors be able to see a wide selection of static displays of stunning gowns by most of Cape Town’s well known and up-and-coming designers, but FAB-goers will also get the opportunity to see and experience three daily fashion shows at 11h00, 13h00 and 15h00.
Entry costs just R100 per person, which includes:

viewing of the fashion shows;
live music, and entertainment;
exhibitor competitions and demonstrations;
restaurant area to buy good food, wine and coffee;
a chance to win-4-your wedding lucky draws after each fashion show;
and 100 exhibitors to view.

The show will run on from 9h00-16h30 on both Saturday & Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the expo or at Webtickets.
If you would like more information or if you’d like to exhibit, please contact: Desiree Kleynhans at Donato Events, on 084 596 1753 / 021 910 2779 or desiree@donatoevents.co.za.

2021 Women in MICE Awards launch
2021-03-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
After a challenging year that saw the postponement of the Women in MICE Awards in 2020, the organisers and hosts of the awards, Meetings magazine and 3S Media, invite you to the virtual launch of the 2021 instalment of this prestigious event.
During this hour, we will unveil the theme for the 2021 Women in MICE Awards and hear from some of the industry’s top female players on how they have navigated the challenges and obstacles of the past year, and what we can look forward to in the future.
Register
For further any queries, please contact Shanna Jacobsen on shanna.jacobsen@3smedia.co.za or +27 (0)70 884 6939.

6th FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit
2021-03-08 - 2021-03-09 | Online
Since its inception in 2016, the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit has been a platform bringing together a unique collection of female leaders and trail-blazers from across Africa and the world.
Held a year after the first reported COVID-19 case in South Africa in March 2020, the 2021 summit will reflect on the most disruptive period in recent history through the collective anecdotes and shared experiences of contrarians and corporate powerhouses, also recording for posterity the measurable solutions that will reset Africa.
This year’s event is adapting to the ‘new normal’ by embracing the latest technology. So, in honour of International Women’s Day, the 2021 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit, presented by Mastercard, will be held, for the first time, as a free-to-attend virtual event and across two days, 8 and 9 March, anticipated to draw an audience of more than 2 000 attendees from across the world.
This year’s theme, Africa Reloaded: The Power of The Collective, will, through hard-hitting talks, fireside chats and insightful panel sessions, look back on the year that changed everything, but look forward to a new path of recovery, growth and inclusivity on the continent, as a single market where Africa trades with Africa.
Register

Prime Circle: Music in Empty Spaces
2021-02-28 16:00 - 17:30 | TicketPro Dome, Northumberland Rd and Olievenhout Ave, North Riding,, Johannesburg, South Africa
Prime Circle is returning to the Ticketpro Dome, the arena they call home, for a 90-minute global streaming event called “Music in Empty Spaces” on 28 February at 16h00.
The award-winning band launched their career at this venue 18 years ago, when they opened for Live on their Birds of Prey Tour.
Cynthia Penprase, portfolio director of Ticketpro Dome says, “The beauty of the Ticketpro Dome is that we have always been able to adapt our vast and versatile infrastructure to suit all our client’s needs. For more than 23 years we have hosted some of the biggest international and local concerts, exhibitions, conferences and corporate events and this time, in our current climate we are doing it again, with Rock Royalty Prime Circle. We are thrilled to be hosting South Africa’s premier rock band at our venue and promise the fans an unrivalled streaming sensory experience, a huge production and all the hits you love.”
For more information, please go to: www.computicket.com

Sunday lunch buffet at Wild Coast Sun
2021-02-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2021-02-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Wild Coast Sun, Main Bizana Road,, Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Take the time to break bread with your loved ones and sit down to a traditional Sunday lunch at Chico’s Restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean, at the family-friendly Wild Coast Sun Resort.
The buffet lunch boasts an array of roasts, stews and curries, accompanied by fresh salads and seasonal vegetables, followed by desserts such as pecan pie, cheesecake and cakes.
Due to Covid-19 health and safety protocol, all visitors to the hotel must book in advance and undergo a screening at the resort entrance upon arrival.
For bookings and enquiries, please contact (039) 305 2759 / 4501 or wcs.events@suninternational.com

High tea and cake at the Wild Coast Sun
2021-02-27 13:00 - 17:30 | Wild Coast Sun, Main Bizana Road,, Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Treat yourself to High Tea at the Wild Coast Sun, served every Saturday between 13:00 and 15:00 or 15:30 and 17:30 in the tropical-themed Lagoon Bar.
A delectable buffet will feature a selection of pastries and cakes including caramel cake, cupcakes, chocolate eclairs, scones, and lemon crunch, as well as savoury treats like samosas, chicken roulade, a selection of wraps, smoked salmon balls, and, when in season, the ultimate High Tea item of strawberries and fresh cream.
Tea is served with a selection of Ceylon, Rooibos teas and other speciality teas or coffee.
The cost is R150 per person (adult/child).
Due to Covid-19 health and safety protocol, all visitors to the hotel must book in advance and undergo a screening at the resort entrance upon arrival.
For bookings and enquiries, please contact (039) 305 2759 or wcs.events@suninternational.com

NPOwer Connect webinar: Anxiety & Depression in the Events & Entertainment Industry
2021-02-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
SACIA, the South African Communications Industry Association, is hosting a webinar in partnership with SADAG, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, to explore the impact and effect of this pandemic on our mental wellbeing.
They will discuss:

Self-help tips to get through significant changes in our life (such as grief/ loss/ retrenchment);
The warning signs of depression and anxiety, and how individuals experiencing these can get help and support;
How the NPOwer helpline works, and we’ll identify other support services that are available to you.

The focus will be on “positive changes” to manage the impact of this pandemic on each person.
Speakers include Nickolas Chapman – MD of Showcom; Jodi Peddie – Chair of the Professional Speakers Association and MD of Resillient People; and Tracy Feinstein – Senior Counsellor at SADAG.
Register

SATIB Webinar: Don't let Decision Fatigue put your business at greater risk!
2021-02-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
The weight of Covid-19 on our lives and businesses has us constantly assessing the risk and benefit of daily choices – to the point of paralysis. How can you prevent decision fatigue? What tools can you use to manage decision fatigue when you feel unable to make a clear decision?
This and more will be unpacked in this SATIB-sponsored webinar, with the following speakers:

US strategist and decision fatigue expert, Jodi Hume;
General Manager at SATIB Insurance Brokers, Natasha Parry;
Andrew Booth, Owner of KZN Trail Running.

Register
