Steering committee members include Eddy Khosa, chairman of the South African Meetings Industry Federation (SAMIF), Marietta Lee, newly appointed Business Tourism Manager at South African Tourism, Allison Christian of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and provincial tourism representatives. The committee met for the first time this week.
Group managing director Carol Weaving says Thebe Exhibitions fully realises the importance of buy-in from industry leaders into Meetings Africa, as a collective effort to market business tourism in South Africa will benefit everyone involved: "While Thebe Exhibitions will obviously stage the entire exhibition, it is important for us to steer Meetings Africa into a direction that, strategically, will completely satisfy the industry we serve and help it reach its goals."
Meetings Africa was held for the first time this year and is the only marketing platform of its kind in South Africa. Exhibitors from five African countries including Kenya and Tanzania participated in the show and participation from the rest of the continent will be extended next year.
According to Weaving, Meetings Africa will again see a hosted international buyer programme in 2006, sponsored by the DTI: "However, upon advice from the steering committee, these buyers will be grouped into categories, as association buyers want different inspection tours to incentive buyers. We are liaising closely with provincial tourism authorities to arrange targeted inspection tours.
"We will also target more local associations to visit Meetings Africa next year, specifically those that are affiliated to international bodies. In addition, there will be a far stronger focus on the local corporate market."
