Western Cape Business Events Support Programme launchedThe Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, a division of Wesgro, the official Tourism, Trade, Film and Investment Promotions agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, is excited to announce the Western Cape Business Events Support Programme - a support programme aimed to stimulate short-and-medium term national business events in the Western Cape. Source: www.pexels.com The Western Cape Business Events Support Programme focuses on local or national business events, comprising of meetings, incentives, conferences or exhibitions, presented in person or hybrid. It is designed to reignite confidence in holding in-person or hybrid business events, by assisting eligible event organisers with funding, which can be used to cover event-related costs, such as accommodation, venue hire, food and beverage, transport and other event-related expenses, and with 50% of this funding being paid prior to the event to support upfront expenses. Expression of interest is now open, and submissions for business events will be assessed against the following eligibility and mandatory criteria:
"The South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) welcomes this initiative by the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau. These types of initiatives will assist our industry to reintroduce face-to-face engagement to our clients as a viable platform to advance the business objectives of their organisations. Business events are crucial to the economic development of our country, and we need to assist our clients to venture away from their screens safely and to again embrace the unique value face-to-face engagements can provide,” said Chief Convention Bureau Officer at South African Tourism, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo. Acting Wesgro CEO, Yaw Peprah, concludes: “Business events are catalysts for change, and despite the sector being one of the hardest hit as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a continued interest in hosting conferences, meetings and incentive travel in Cape Town and the Western Cape. As the premier business events destination in Africa and an inspiring place to meet, there is no better time than now to showcase our commitment to supporting the business events industry and demonstrate that our destination is ready and prepared for business events to resume safely and responsibly. So I urge all business events planners to seize this opportunity and showcase their ability to adapt and innovate.” Should regulations based on the Disaster Manager Act gazette be amended to prevent events taking place in person, the approved funding of 50% will still be honoured to successful applicants. |