17 October 2005
The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) is to add 1 200 square metres of exhibition space as part of a R125-million development that will significantly expand the centre's capacity.
Construction on the 15-storey office tower - which will include retail space and three parking levels - will start by the end of 2005, with the added exhibition space due for completion by December 2006 and the rest of the structure in 2007.
According to managing director Dirk Elzinga, the new building will provide much needed extra space for Africa's most successful conferencing and exhibitions venue.
In 2004/05, its second year of operation, the centre hosted 50 more events and drew 70 000 more visitors than in 2003/04.
A study by the Graduate School of Business of the University of Cape Town estimates that by 2010 the CTICC will have contributed R10.4-billion to South Africa's gross domestic product. Its contribution in 2004/05 alone was R1.2-billion.
"More than 360 events - including 89 international conventions - are booked up to 2014," Elzinga said. "In the past year alone, the CTICC has held 367 events, including 47 international conferences, 29 national conventions, 62 individual banquets and 14 special events such as the musical Mamma Mia and the Cape Town Jazz Festival."
The centre generated 1.2-million visitor and delegate days in 2004/05, Elzinga said, about 60 000 more than in its first year of operation.
Approximately one-third of all visitor and delegate days are from international visitors, with international visitors frequently accompanied by their spouses and eager to use the opportunity to book pre- and post-event tours.
"The increasing number of international congresses (from 32 to 47), exhibitions (from 16 to 21) and other events, as well as the growth of several of these events, resulted in an average occupancy of the CTICC exhibition halls of 42.2% in 2004/05, up from 34.9% in 2003/04," Elzinga said.
"International practice shows that an occupancy rate of 55-60% is about the maximum achievable."
Demand for the CTICC, Elzinga said, was driven "not only by the fact that we can organise just about any event anyone can imagine, but delegates often choose Cape Town because of its spectacular range of tourism opportunities within the city and close proximity to CTICC."
SouthAfrica.info reporter
