Meetings Africa Celebrates 10 years in Johannesburg
02-02-2015
Meetings Africa – the continent’s premier business tourism lekgotla – returns to Johannesburg in February for the 10th time in 10 years.
Jozi – which has proved to be the preferred destination of global and regional conferences, exhibitions and other events – has effectively become the home of Meetings Africa, the annual must-attend event that showcases some of the continent’s diverse business tourism services and product offerings.
The three-day exhibition also serves as a global networking platform, where African meetings industry professionals can partner and discuss industry innovations. The main of the aim of the exhibition is to expose international meeting buyers to the African business events industry and to secure business for the continent.
“As the home of Meetings Africa, the continent’s leading business tourism expo, the City of Johannesburg takes pride and pleasure in celebrating the 10th anniversary of this lekgotla, in conjunction with partners such as SA National Convention Bureau, Gauteng Convention Bureau and the Sandton International Convention Centre,” says Pumla Ntsele, head of the Joburg Convention Bureau.
Meetings Africa 2015 takes place at the Sandton International Convention Centre from 23-25 February, bringing together business events products, services, facilities as well as experts needed to stage meetings and events of any size and stature, all under one roof.
The exhibition takes place at the Sandton International Convention Centre about a month after the venue hosted the Joburg-FMDV Conference.
International conference organisers and exhibitors repeatedly choose the City of Gold as a destination for their events.
Beyond its rich variety of business and meetings offerings, Johannesburg provides a unique atmosphere that makes it a truly cosmopolitan and vibrant destination, where various cultures interact and celebrate side by side.
Johannesburg’s multifaceted music, arts, heritage and culture are also some of its unique attributes.
“Being the home of Meetings Africa contributes to cementing the City’s position as the economic capital and the heartland of trade and economic activity in Africa. We are proud to be the home of most local and multinational companies in banking, finance and industry due to our world-class economic and social infrastructure, which is essential to big business,” said Ntsele.
Ntsele adds that Johannesburg’s status as a global city trusted to host major international events is constantly being reaffirmed.
The City has recently received several accolades from many global players.
Last year MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index rated Johannesburg as the most visited city in Africa.It was also ranked by the Good City Index as the most inspiring city in the world, just below Hong Kong.
“Being home to Meetings Africa and celebrating as well as hosting other top international events is an affirmation of our status as a world-class African city.
“However, we could not have achieved this without the support and professionalism of the tourism, leisure and hospitality industry in our city,” said Ntsele.
Some of the mega events Johannesburg has hosted in the recent past include the C40 Cities for Climate Change Summit, One Young World Summit and the World Orchid Conference and Show.
For more information on Meetings Africa 2015 log onto www.meetingsafrica.co.za