Jozi gears up for 12th edition of Meetings Africa trade show

25 January 2017

 

The crème de la crème of local and international buyers, trendsetters and decision-makers will descend on Johannesburg in February for the 12th edition of Meetings Africa, the popular and growing annual Pan-African business tourism lekgotla.

 

The lekgotla, to be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from February 27 to March 1, is expected to attract more than 600 international, local and regional buyers keen to uncover and discover venues, services and other offerings in the business tourism sector. 

 

Cllr Sharon Peetz, the City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, said the business-to-business marketing platform was also expected to draw the attention of the global travel media and enhance continental collaborations to “advance Africa together as the world’s premier business events destination”.

 

“As we look forward to once again hosting Meetings Africa in February, it is all hands on deck, with the Convention Bureau team tackling 2017 with renewed vigour, focused on entrenching Johannesburg’s position as not only Africa’s most-visited city but also the continent’s premier business events destination,” she said.

 

Cllr Peetz said Joburg Tourism, the City’s tourism promotion entity, had been part of the annual trade show since 2009. She said this year was aimed at growing Meetings Africa even further.

 

“Joburg Tourism is focused on growing Meetings Africa and securing Johannesburg’s position as the permanent home of Africa’s premier business events trade show. Joburg Tourism takes the lead to ensure growth in the number of international buyers and exhibitors who attend the event to increase arrivals and length of stay,” she said.

 

She said in recent years the global meetings industry had begun to increasingly recognise Africa as a sought-after destination as Meetings Africa provided an exclusive platform to showcase the continent's diverse offering of services and products where African associations and African meetings industry professionals could partner to help transform our continent.

 

“Things are going from strength to strength. I’m extremely positive and believe that the trend will continue and that 2017 will be a great year for business events in Johannesburg, South Africa and indeed the entire African continent,” Cllr Peetz said