Ndaba Dlamini
24 May 2004
The Sandton Convention Centre is rapidly establishing itself as a leader in the convention industry in Africa following direct dealings with the government and a growth in the number of world-class conferences and exhibitions scheduled for 2004.
The venue, according to the centre's executive director, Nomaxabiso Majokweni, will see an estimated growth of 14.2 percent and six percent in conferences and exhibitions respectively in 2004.
Majokweni said new trends in South Africa's convention industry would see an increase "in the scope and participation" of exhibitions, more government-related conferences in both an African and international context, and more "big events" - major international events the size of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development - being held at the centre.
At the moment, Majokweni said, only 12 percent of meetings held here were government-related, but this was likely to increase.
A prime example of this trend was the 23rd regional conference for Africa of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, which the Department of Agriculture hosted in March.
"Although there were only about 600 delegates, the conference lasted for six days instead of the average conference duration of three days", Majokweni said.
The centre was also the successful bidder for another prestige conference, the 49th World Conference of the International Council for Small Business, to be held in June with about 3 000 delegates in attendance.
The R400-million convention centre, located at the heart of business, hotels, restaurants and shopping complexes in the high-tech metropolis of upmarket Sandton, can host up to about 10 000 people at a time.
The centre's success is largely due to its technological advancement and its world-class amenities, Majokweni said.
It offers a huge range of venues, from the smaller committee room and boardroom to large exhibition halls, a pavilion and a ballroom. The centre also boasts the latest range of mobile and desk telephones, video conferencing, web hosting and advanced communication technology intended to make the life of an event organiser or exhibitor much easier.
One such client was the organiser of the recent Computer Faire, which besides its usual focus on information technology, saw the integration of electronics and telecommunications sectors and a name change to Futurex.
In order to accommodate the increased security needs and special room and on-site office arrangements required for "big events", Majokweni said a new section for such events had been created, with Janine Meyer at the helm.
"My vision is that we must offer more than just a venue", Majokweni said. "We must add value, make an event an experience for delegates, and we must ensure that they are given individual attention."
Majokweni, who was appointed as the centre's executive director in May 2003, has brought a wealth of marketing experience to the centre, gleaned when she was working for the South African government in Hong Kong and the US as a foreign investor.
Putting it in a nutshell, Majokweni said: "My vision is to give delegates who visit the centre a total experience of the bundle of services the centre can offer, to establish the SCC as a leader in the convention industry and make it Africa's preferred venue experience."
Source: City of Johannesburg website
