South African Tourism in partnership with Africa Business News is hosting a four part Business Tourism debate titled “Open for Business” on CNBC Africa as lead up to Meetings Africa 2012.

Below are outlines of already hosted debates:

What exactly is tourism and why should it be everybody's business? Using the FIFA World Cup as a departure point, tourism ought to be the next great business opportunity. Guests on the panel include: Roshene Singh - Chief Marketing Officer for South Africa Tourism, Gillian Saunders - Director at Grant Thornton and Ms. Mmatšatši Marobe - CEO of Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/embed/teniKGmKBcw?

Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/embed/4dzE-7fwrsg?

Open for Business: Part Two – Business Tourism, Conventions and Exhibitions

The year 2010 South Africa played host to no less than 60 international events. The industry accounts for about 5 percent of total foreign arrivals and is worth five billion rand to the economy. How can South Africa remain globally competitive, and will a National Conventions Bureau help in securing more of these lucrative events? Guests on the panel include: Amanda Kotze Nhlapo - Executive Manager of National Conventions Bureau; Lindiwe Kwele - CEO of the Johannesburg Tourism Company and James Seymour - CEO of Durban KwaZulu- Natal Convention Bureau.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/embed/3fpCWaZEX40?

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/embed/vtH9BA6-d0o?

Open for Business: Part Three – Preview to Meetings Africa 2012

As a lead up to the start of Meetings Africa 2012, the debate looks at the role played by business tourism in boosting South Africa's ambition in becoming one of the best business tourism destinations in the world. Guests on the panel include: Nomasonto Ndlovu - Global Manager of the Business Tourism Unit at South African Tourism, Mati Nyazema – CEO of the Sandton Convention Centre and Mike Waller – CEO of Dragonfly Africa.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/embed/CmYOK5Zww9I?

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/embed/86DkLzWIXZ8?

The final debate will take the form of a live panel discussion at Meetings Africa on Wednesday 29 February 2012 where CBNC Africa will facilitate a debate on the MICE industry amongst the BRICS group of countries. Panellists will include guests from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa

Meetings Africa 2011 has won the Best Trade Exhibition award in its category at this year’s Exhibition & Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) Awards. Scan On Show, who manages South African Tourism’s business tourism exhibitions, accepted the award at a gala event held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 3 November 2011.

The Exhibition & Event Association of Southern Africa recognizes top achieving exhibition organizers, stand builders and venues. In terms of judging criteria, Meetings Africa 2011 falls into the trade category for business to business exhibitions ranging from 3000 sqm to 6000 sqm in size.

Amanda Margison, MD of Scan On Show, said the Scan On Show team was very proud to have won this prestigious award, especially since this was the first year it had organised the event on behalf of SAT. ’It takes a lot more than just the organisers to make a show like this happen. Without the support of the exhibitors, sponsors and agencies behind the scenes, it would not be possible. To run a successful exhibition, one needs to pay attention to the small details and give it your personal touch. It’s a team effort,’ she said.

Meetings Africa is South African Tourism's marketing platform which aims to showcase the range of services and products in Southern Africa's MICE industry to local and international buyers.

Scan On Show has been contracted by South African Tourism to run its business tourism exhibitions until 2013, including Meetings Africa and the national pavilion at Imex Frankfurt.

The Scan On Show Team

Scan On Show Exec Management

EXSA Award

From a unique Golf and Lifestyle Safari Weekend, the introduction of the National Convention Bureau and cutting-edge new research, Meetings Africa 2012 offers exhibitors, delegates and visitors an unparalleled opportunity to conduct business, network and learn.

A record 130 influential buyers from around the world are expected at Meetings Africa 2012, Africa’s biggest business tourism trade show, which takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 28 February to 1 March 2012.

The event, which recently won the ‘Best Trade Exhibition’ award at the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) Awards, seeks to position South Africa amongst the best business tourism destinations in the world by showcasing the country as the ideal destination for associations and corporates looking to host major meetings, exhibitions, conferences and events.

While South Africa will host over 200 major international business tourism events set to attract over 300 000 delegates in the next five years, there’s considerable room for growth.

“Meetings Africa is more than just an exhibition to showcase our wares to the local and global market. It is a catalyst to grow our market share and an opportunity for us to support industry players, business tourism product owners and service providers and meeting professionals to grow their businesses,” says South African Tourism’s Chief Marketing Officer, Roshene Singh.

Next year’s event is significant as it will see the launch of the National Convention Bureau (NCB) following the appointment in November of Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo as the NCB’s Executive Manager, marking a major milestone in the industry’s efforts to present a consolidated approach to growing business tourism to South Africa.

“The United Nations Climate Change COP17 Conference, currently underway in Durban and being attended by over 20 000 delegates, once again proves that we have the mettle to tackle the most complex of events. It is now time to consolidate and bring even more large global meetings and conferences into South Africa. The National Convention Bureau will offer the broader industry a forum to work together, to share ideas and to collaborate on specific bids for large international meetings,” says Singh.

Meetings Africa 2012 also boasts an exciting new networking opportunity with a unique Lifestyle Golf and Safari Weekend (from 24 to 26 February) kick-starting the programme at the renowned Legend Golf & Safari Resort at the Entabeni Safari Conservancy in Limpopo. The weekend offers delegates game drives, spa treatments and of course lots of golf, including the famous ‘Extreme 19th hole’ – the longest and most dramatic par three in the world, with a tee accessible only by helicopter and a green 396 metres down below in the shape of the map of Africa.

“We are very excited by this new addition to the programme as it offers an excellent opportunity for us to showcase what really sets South Africa apart – that is the spectacular leisure tourism attractions that complement its proven business tourism offering. Be it wine farms, safaris, beaches, mountains, cosmopolitan cities or fantastic golf courses, South Africa has what it takes to make an international conference or meeting truly memorable,” Singh said.

Other highlights of Meetings Africa 2012 include an extended and improved two-day Association Lekgotla, to better equip associations to be in the position to bid for events. Another highlight is the release of exciting and important association research findings conducted by South African Tourism in conjunction with the internationally-acclaimed Headquarters Magazine. It will provide findings on associations headquartered in Africa; the type of meetings South African associations should be targeting; and how global planners and buyers prioritise destinations when they are in the market for finding a host country.

Meetings Africa will also feature a corporate breakfast and the popular educational workshops will once again be hosted in collaboration with the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI). A special Student Leadership Programme has been developed to ensure that students get the most out of the event.

Adriaan Fourie, Board member of the South African chapter of the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives says: “Meetings Africa is the best platform for the incentive tourism industry in South Africa and our members have had good success from their interactions over the years with hosted buyers and other delegates. It is always a dynamic and useful platform for our industry.”

The Meetings Africa 2012 Business Matchmaking^TM System is now live! Participants, both buyers and exhibitors are able to go online and pre schedule appointments for Meetings Africa, taking place from 28 February - 1 March 2012, at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

As a hosted buyer to Meetings Africa 2012, you have been registered in the Business Matchmaking Programme, giving you access to specific meetings with your targeted market.

To view your profile, matchmaking report and diary, log onto your Meetings Africa account with your original username and password.

You are then able to do the following:

• Edit your profile (matches are linked to the data that you provide) and available times for meetings
• View your individual matchmaking report (also see companies that have been matched to you)
• Select who you would like to meet
• View your calendar (view the status of your meetings you have received and/or requested)
• All confirmed meetings with contact details will be visible.

The matchmaking report will continuously be updated with new companies. Please ensure that you visit the website on a regular basis and select new companies you wish to meet.

With buyer interest for Meetings Africa 2012 surpassing all expectations, exhibitors are urged to set up their meetings now for Africa’s biggest business trade show.

Almost 200 international buyers from around the world are expected to attend Meetings Africa 2012, which takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 28 February to 1 March 2012 and features the cream of Africa’s conference, meeting, exhibition and events businesses. In order to capitalise on this interest, exhibitors are encouraged to take advantage of the customised Business Matchmaking^TM System, which is now live, to set up and plan their meetings in advance.

The matchmaking tool profiles all participants according to their company profile and business category enabling both exhibitors and buyers to view all participants beforehand and request meetings to be set up for the period of the show.

"Ensuring that the right exhibitors meet the right buyers is critical to the success of Meetings Africa. Without matchmaking there would be no show," says Global Manager for Business Tourism at South African Tourism Nomasonto Ndlovu.

"The Business Matchmaking^TM System is an excellent tool to ensure that exhibitors get the return on investment they deserve from Meetings Africa. It allows them to find the right buyers and to start interacting with them in advance, greatly increasing their chances of conversion," she explains.

The customised system, which was launched at last year’s event, has been enhanced to ensure an improved and seamless approach to the meetings and diary process for Meetings Africa 2012.

Matchmaking went live on 20 January 2012 and registered participants can access the tool by logging on at www.meetingsafrica.co.za. Any new participants joining Meetings Africa in the next few weeks will be added to ensure they are part of this exciting process.

The matchmaking team will continue to work with all diaries and confirm these meetings prior to the show and provide each participant with their own personalised real-time online diary.

"Given the substantial interest shown, we urge local visitors to register in advance for Meetings Africa in order to take advantage of the matchmaking tool and avoid disappointment," says Ndlovu.

Beyond the matchmaking sessions, Meetings Africa 2012 will provide participants with numerous other networking opportunities, including a pre-event Lifestyle Golf and Safari Weekend (24 to 26 February) at the renowned Legend Golf & Safari Resort in Limpopo, a Networking Function on 29 February and a Corporate Day which will feature a speed dating session between exhibitors and companies.

More information

For more information on how to register as an exhibitor, visitor or buyer at Meetings Africa 2012, visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za.

For further information contact: Jermaine Craig at South African Tourism Tel: +27 11 895 3000 or 083 2010 121 Email: jermaine@southafrica.net Website: www.southafrica.net

Inquiries at Ireland Davenport can be directed to: Allison MacDonald at Ireland Davenport Tel: +27 11 463 2252 or 082 771 2541. Email: Allison.macdonald@ireland-davenport.co.za

CNBC Africa (DSTV channel 410) will be broadcasting the next episode and repeats of "Open for business" Business Tourism debate on the following dates:

Today 02 February 2012:     18h00
Saturday 04 February 2012: 09h30 (repeat)
Sunday 05 February 2012:    11h00 (repeat)

Today's episode focuses on Meetings Africa 2012 with the following people on the panel:

• Nomasonto Ndlovu, Global Manager, Business Tourism, SAT
• Mati Nyazema, CEO Sandton Convention Centre
• Mike Waller, Dragonfly, (Destination Management Company)

Also please note that Nomasonto will be interviewed this afternoon on Kaya FM's Kaya Bizz show with Stevie B at 17:20 to talk about Meetings Africa.

The city of Durban and province of KwaZulu-Natal will be showcased under the banner of the 'Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau’ for the first time at next week’s Meetings Africa.

This significant step has been made possible with the support of both Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

“We are particularly upbeat about Meetings Africa as the convention bureau alone has more than 40 meetings with international meeting, exhibition and incentive buyers over the three days. We are convinced this will lead to an increased awareness of Durban and the rest of KZN’s business tourism product and the actual conclusion of future meeting deals'', stated James Seymour CEO of the Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau.

The Convention Bureau has also been given the opportunity to present the successful bid proposal that they put together with the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Southern Africa (WESSA) and ICC Durban to secure the International Wildlife Management Conference in Durban. The event will be hosted in Durban later this year, and is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates and generate in the region of R20million for the city of Durban and province of KwaZulu-Natal.

"The purpose of this presentation will be to demonstrate the manner in which convention bureaus can assist professional associations in preparing bid documents and the other forms of support they can provide. These events are building the professional capacity of the residents of KwaZulu-Natal and are raising the profile and awareness of our province,” he said.

‘Partnership is key to South Africa’s business tourism growth’, says Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk as he opens Meetings Africa 2012

SOUTH AFRICA has made great strides in elevating its big event host status and is fast becoming one of the world’s favourite destinations for big events, meetings, conferences and exhibitions, South Africa’s Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said as he opened Meetings Africa 2012 today.

And as South Africa looks to aggressively pursue a bigger share of the global business tourism market, Minister van Schalkwyk said the newly-established National Convention Bureau (NCB) at South African Tourism would be critical in harnessing national business tourism efforts.

Established in November 2011 and headed up by its Executive Manager, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, the NCB will act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for independent information and assistance, giving neutral advice on all aspects of hosting and organising any business tourism-related event in South Africa. The NCB will co-ordinate national bidding, undertake research and collaborate with national convention centres and the business tourism industry to present a united front for destination South Africa.

“The National Convention Bureau will add considerable value to the country’s business tourism industry. It will strengthen and support efforts already being made to drive expansion in business tourist arrivals to make South Africa a truly global force. Through confidently staging major events like the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the United Nations’ COP 17 Climate Change Conference, South Africa has proven its credentials to host events of any magnitude and is well-placed to play host to any local or international Meetings, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) event, with world-class business and conference facilities complemented by excellent leisure tourism attractions and hospitable, welcoming, skilled and competent people,” said Minister van Schalkwyk at Meetings Africa 2012, the country’s premier gathering of all the products and components of South Africa’s business tourism industry, currently being held at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre (SCC).

The NCB will offer the following services (amongst others):

• Pre- and Post Bid support - Bid promotion; Handling of Request for Proposals
• Provide Destination Expertise - Meeting Planner Website; Meeting Planner Guide; Expertise on Local Products and Services; Access to Local Industry & Government Contacts
• Building Attendance
• Convention Planning Support - Site Inspections (bid and convention planning)
• On-site Event Services

South African Tourism has prepared an 18-month implementation plan for the bureau, including the preparation of a national bidding policy and guidelines for the selection of suitable events. The NCB, through an extensive stakeholder engagement process, is now working collaboratively with the business tourism industry on the Bureau’s activation strategy and business plan.

Over the next five years South Africa has already secured over 200 international conferences, which is estimated to attract 300 000 delegates and provide an economic boost of more than R1.6 billion. The NCB also set a target for 2012/13 of supporting at least 30 bids, with a potential of 18000 delegates and R162 000 000 direct economic spend.

“South Africa already boasts a 40% return of delegates as leisure visitors (Melbourne has a 23% return), with 43 % of all delegates bringing an accompanying person (leisure tourist, who spends R1000 p er day during their visit), therefore the profiling of our destination to the conference delegate through i.e. delegate boosting, our e-marketing strategy, amongst other aspects, is very important in the service delivery of the NCB. We will encourage business travellers to stay longer to explore our country’s tourist offerings and of course to return with their families, therefore the National Convention Bureau is an important addition to our work at SA Tourism,” said Minister van Schalkwyk.

“We want to, through the NCB and through the continued growth of the Meetings Africa platform, make our destination more competitive in this market. We want to grow our global market share, which will require government and the private sector to work closely together as partners to shape the future of business tourism, to grow business tourist arrivals, and to fulfill the rich potential of destination South Africa as a business tourism destination. We are currently gaining important advice and input from a range of stakeholders as we roll out the NCB. They include specialists who service the business tourism industry; specialists from each of the major regional convention bureaus, the provincial tourism authorities and the private sector. These people, collectively, hold a wealth of knowledge and experience that can benefit our destination and we want to take their experience on board,” Minister van Schalkwyk added.

The NCB will officially start to operate in April 2012, but its work will be introduced at Meetings Africa to give all stakeholders an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Bureau; to learn more about its role as a strategic facilitating platform that enhances their work.

More than 200 international hosted buyers are attending Meetings Africa this year, engaging with the South African and regional industry to conclude deals that seeks to grow business tourism arrivals.

The buyers, hosted by South African Tourism, come from 18 markets which include the United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Kenya, Germany, Netherlands, China, Brazil and Nigeria.

“South Africa’s capability and infrastructure for business tourism is superb. Besides the three big national convention centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, our destination is home to numerous other facilities that give the world’s meetings and conference organisers the same quality, variety and choice that South Africa offers across the larger tourism sector. Meetings Africa is a resource for the entire industry to network, exchange ideas, learn from global leaders in the industry and to conduct deals to grow both their own insights into trends and developments in the industry, as well as grow arrivals for the destination. It has become the biggest and most important resource for the industry, and an event we all look forward to with immense excitement and anticipation,” said Minister van Schalkwyk.

Meetings Africa this year features an Association Lekgotla; a corporate speed-dating session to introduce the variety of products; a Presentation Theatre featuring an array of expert speakers and a series of Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) educational workshops.

Meetings Africa 2012 is held at the Sandton Convention Centre from Tuesday, February 28 to March 1, 2012. The exhibition is owned by South African Tourism, national destination marketing organisation of South Africa in partnership with Gauteng Tourism, Joburg Tourism and Sandton Convention Centre.

For media accreditation please register online at www.meetingsafrica.co.za.

Formal meetings and attendance records shattered at Africa’s biggest business tourism exhibition

MEETINGS AFRICA 2012 has been hailed as an undoubted success for the South African travel and business tourism industry and also for the local and foreign buyers, exhibitors and visitors who flocked to the show in record numbers this year. When the exhibition closed last night, overall attendance (at 3 452) was 20 percent up on attendance in 2011 (2 637), with registered international visitor numbers nearly doubling from 106 in 2011 to 205 in 2012 (up 93 percent).

A major success for what is primarily a business-to-business trade show is that a total of 8 906 meetings were requested during the three-day show through the Meetings Africa match-making electronic diary system, giving real substance to the show’s usefulness as a business-enabling and revenue-generating environment.

While there was good business tourism interest from South Africa’s core tourism markets, there was a noticeable heightened interest at Meetings Africa this year from emerging markets, with a lively BRICS panel discussion on the show’s penultimate day highlighting the potential and interest in South Africa from China, India, Brazil and Russia.

There were 68 percent more international journalists at Meetings Africa this year (37 in 2012 compared to 22 in 2011).

“There is no doubt looking at the numbers that this has been the most successful Meetings Africa show yet. It shows that there is keen interest in destination South Africa and bodes extremely well for our plans to grow business tourist arrivals, entrench our status as Africa’s leading business tourism destination and increase our share in the global business tourism market,” said South African Tourism Chief Executive Officer, Thulani Nzima.

Elena Demidova, a hosted buyer from Russia who has been working for three years with destination South Africa said it was important to co-opt the professional services and the interest of as many Russian buyers as possible. “Meetings Africa gives us a great opportunity to bring our best specialist people to South Africa from Russia. This has been the first time that our market has been exposed to your destination on this scale and to this extent. It makes people talk about South Africa. It’s been a great business opportunity, and we look forward to the rewards it brings for all of us.”

James Costello, a hosted buyer from Atlanta in the United States was visiting South Africa for the first time. “It’s chin-droppingly beautiful,” he said, “and every single one of my expectations has been exceeded.”

His visit to Meetings Africa (and the tour he went on that included the Western Cape and what he calls the ‘safari belt’) opened his eyes, he said, to the many different ways South Africa can be packaged for incentive tourism – his own special interest in the global industry. “I have sophisticated clients who are well travelled. South Africa is ideal for this market group as you have it all here. And the various combinations of experiences that you offer put this destination at the top of my inventory list. Yes, I am definitely planning to do business in South Africa very soon. And I’m going home to recommend South Africa as central for the marketing and incentive plans of my clients.”

Lin Wang, a hosted buyer from Shanghai was also impressed. She had visited South Africa before, and remained as impressed as ever with the variety of establishments and experiences the destination offers. “We are able to take this variety and package it into different itineraries for our specialist local agencies. It’s a fantastic business opportunity for us in China. I have enjoyed Meetings Africa. I like the clean and fresh South African air. But most of all I like the South African people – so nice and friendly.”

Meetings Africa is held each year at the end of February in the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Meetings Africa 2012 closed yesterday at 17h00. For more information on Meetings Africa, visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za