Feedback from all quarters indicates that Meetings Africa has now established itself as a world-class business tourism exhibition.

 Presented by South African Tourism, Meetings Africa was held for the fourth time at the Sandton Convention Centre last week.

 Angeline Lue, General manager, Business Tourism at South African Tourism says the response from both exhibitors and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. 

 “After four years the quality of both exhibitors and buyers clearly sets Meetings Africa apart as the business tourism platform of choice. Meetings Africa is to business tourism what the annual Indaba is to leisure tourism. We are definitely on the right track. Business tourism in South Africa has found a home and we will grow the exhibition, in line with the Business Tourism Growth Strategy.”

 Some 230 business tourism companies marketed their products or services at Meetings Africa this year. A total of 85 percent of these were previous exhibitors – and some have already booked space for next year. Of the      2 600 quality visitors to the exhibition, 70 were international hosted buyers.

 Charles Drewe of Drewe Associates, international and domestic event marketing consultants, says the quality of the hosted buyers is improving every year, with this year recording an all-time high. “The appointment booking system is working exceptionally well – as good as at AIME in Australia – and both exhibitors and buyers should learn to use this to maximise business opportunities. I will be back.”      

 Carol Henning, Banqueting Co-ordinator of the South African Reserve Bank Conference Centre says the quality of the buyers was evident. “People visiting our stand were there to do serious business - thumbs up to the organisers.”

 Nina Freysen-Pretorius of The Conference Company says she will definitely recommend Meetings Africa to other professional conference organisers. “The online diary system worked perfectly, the quality of the buyers was good and there were many interesting leads to explore.”

 Meetings Africa enjoyed support from key industry players including the Gauteng Tourism Authority as destination host, the Johannesburg Convention Bureau and the City of Johannesburg as sponsors of the business tourism conference as well as the Department of Trade and Industry sponsoring international buyers. For more information visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za