Gauteng Hosts Meetings Africa 2011
This year’s installment of Meetings Africa, a gathering of business tourism specialists will be held at Johannesburg's Sandton Convention Centre from 21 to 23 February.
Meetings Africa is Africa’s grandest marketing platform for both local and international Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) professionals. Studies estimate the country’s 2009 business tourism arrivals at 500 000, translating to revenues in excess of R5 billion.
‘Business tourism is regarded as one of the highest yielding and most profitable inbound tourism segments due to distinct purchasing trends associated with it. Business tourists tend to be less sensitive to price than leisure tourists traditionally spending on average twice as much per day because their purchase decisions are influenced primarily by the ability to use time efficiently within their travel schedules. As many also tend to extend their business trips for pleasure, there is enormous potential in this market,’ says Dawn Robertson, GTA CEO.
‘The fact that Gauteng is the economic hub of the country and Africa as well as the diversity of our tourism product enables us to meet the interests of the MICE segment as well as our ability to entice conferences and incentive travel programs to Gauteng,’ Robertson concludes.
Hosted in Gauteng since its inception some 5 years ago, Meetings Africa is driven by SA Tourism and supported by Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) with a view to grow it into one of the premier exhibitions and conferences in the Southern Hemisphere.
‘Accounting for a 5% contribution of all foreign arrivals, the business travel segment is a decisive locational advantage for global positioning of Gauteng as a travel and gateway destination to South Africa,’ Nonnie Kubeka, GTA’s Destination Marketing Senior Manager, adds.
With tourism’s increasing focus on contributing towards meaningfully reducing the industry’s carbon footprint, this year’s conference will also introduce a focus on green initiatives in line with global standards.
Again there will be exhibitor categorization, where visitors will be assisted to navigate the exhibition’s greening initiatives in line with global standards.
Meetings Africa also boasts a strong developmental hallmark by providing an equal market-access opportunity to SMME players. This year will be no exception, as the GTA will be co-exhibiting alongside Mbokoto Guest Lodge & Spa, Intende Travel, USIBA Country Lodge & Spa, Mount Zion Tours & Travel, Leshala Cuisine and Vaal Nest Boutique Hotel, who will be showcasing their offerings. GTA will also host the Gauteng ETEYA Awards on 22 February 2011 from 2pm on at Stand No. 416 at Meetings Africa.
For more info contact GTAs Destination Marketing on (011) 639 1600 & www.visitgauteng.net
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