Business Tourism’s growing importance to South Africa’s tourism industry will be in the spotlight when the annual Meetings Africa is held at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre from 21-23 February 2011.
Business tourism brought 500 000 visitors to South Africa in 2009, representing 4.7% of total arrivals to the country and contributing more than R2,4 billion to tourism’s foreign direct spend.
South African Tourism (SAT) is looking to grow this market even more and establish South Africa as an attractive, viable and world-class business tourism destination. And for SAT Meetings Africa 2011, Southern Africa’s flagship business tourism marketing platform for the local and international Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, is critical to achieving this objective.
Meetings Africa 2011 will reinforce South Africa’s infrastructural and organisational capacity to host the world’s biggest events, conferences and exhibitions and also showcase the variety of services and products on offer in this industry in the country. It targets anyone who travels to and within South Africa for business, as well as organisers of events, conferences, meetings, team incentive trips or team building activities.
“South Africa has become a premier meetings destination and Meetings Africa is the most important platform to learn about and discuss new ideas, trends, products and innovations in the major meetings, conferences and exhibitions industry. If you or your company are planning a major meeting or conference, South Africa is undoubtedly amongst the best destinations in the world and attending Meetings Africa is essential,” said Ms Nomasonto Ndlovu, South African Tourism’s Global Manager: Business Tourism.
Meetings Africa 2010 broke its own attendance records for international hosted buyers, overall visitors and exhibitors. Meetings Africa 2011 promises to be bigger and better, introducing a range of new initiatives such as:
• Revised show days running from Monday to Wednesday, allowing 3 full days for interactions
• Meetings Africa Golf Day and a Corporate Brunch for additional networking
• Exhibitor categorisation to help visitors navigate the show better and maximize limited time
• Exhibition Greening in line with international standards

• Matchmaking Programme delivering guaranteed pre-scheduled appointments run via a an online diary system fully integrated into MS Outlook
Meetings Africa is focused on increasing the number of local corporate visitors, while building strong networks, an educational platform and enriching the international hosted buyer programme.
The Association Day once again promises a quality learning and sharing platform for national associations, followed by the official networking function.