Planning for Meetings Africa 2007 under way
Exhibitor bookings are streaming in for Meetings Africa, South Africa's annual business tourism exhibition, according to Carol Weaving, group managing director of the Thebe Exhibitions and Events Group, organisers of the show. "The majority of this year's exhibitors have indicated that they will return in 2007 and there is huge interest from first-time exhibitors [and also] from the rest of the continent," says Weaving.
Set to take place in 2007 at the Sandton Convention Centre on 28 February and 1 March, Meetings Africa is a one-stop shop for meeting planners, event organisers and incentive travel professionals. As was the case this year, Meetings Africa will be preceded by a one-day business tourism conference, to be held on 27 February.
In 2006, it was attended by more than 2500 visitors, of which 82 were international hosted buyers and 39 were media representatives.
Weaving says there will once again be an international hosted buyer programme next year, made possible by the Department of Trade and Industry. The selection of buyers, overseen by a specialist industry steering committee, has already begun.
Meetings Africa will also be promoted at the launch of the Asian leg of BusinessUnusual, South Africa's business tourism marketing campaign, in Singapore next week.
"We want Meetings Africa to be a perfect match between exhibitors and visitors so that real business is conducted," says Weaving. "We will build on the successes of 2006, which have already made the show a 'must attend' event for anyone in business tourism in South Africa."
Meetings Africa 2007 will be presented in conjunction with the Gauteng Tourism Authority and enjoys support from, among others, the Johannesburg Convention Bureau, the Department of Trade and Industry, the South African Meetings Industry Federation and South African Tourism.
To indicate interest to present a paper at the business tourism conference of 27 February 2007, contact Nicole de Klerk on tel +27 (0)11 549 8300 or email .
