Depending on the size and theme of your event, there is the unique possibility to choose out-of-city venues, creating a memorable experience which goes beyond the actual meeting.
Diverse conference and event venues from a South African perspective
With its first-world infrastructure, balmy climate, breathtaking scenery, world-class hotels and excellent restaurants,South Africa is an ideal location for international congresses and conventions. Known for its melting pot of cultures, beautiful coastlines, the Big 5 and spectacular mountain ranges, South Africa remains in the top 15 long-haul business event destinations in the world.
Our three BIG city conference venues are:
Sandton Convention Centre
South Africa’s leading event venue, offering prestigious multi-use event spaces in the financial hub of Johannesburg. Conveniently located in the vibrant business district of Sandton and within easy reach of the Gautrain and O. R. Tambo International Airport, the SCC is flanked by a number of leading hotels, sophisticated shopping centres and entertainment complexes.
Johannesburg contains more conference venues per square kilometre than all the rest of Africa combined. A selection of four and five star conference venues serves the needs of major international business head offices, the Stock Exchange and government departments.
Cape Town International Convention Centre
With the iconic presence of Table Mountain in the background and a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean, the CTICC is designed to amaze you with possibilities. Providing highly advanced technology services, large-scale capacity venues, fully equipped boardrooms and on-site five-star accommodation.
Cape Town is the gateway to South Africa, voted ‘Best Destination in the World’ (TripAdvisor Jan 2012) and, ‘Africa’s Best Travel Destination’ (World Travel Awards, July 2010), World Design Capital and host to some of the largest conferences on the globe.
The Durban International Convention Centre
Is a versatile venue of enormous dimensions. Situated in the hub of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban is on the eastern seaboard of the country and epitomises all that we have to offer with the additional benefit of the warm Indian Ocean and boasting an average of 320 sunny days a year. The climate alone is a major draw-card for conference delegates.
With up to 5000 ships visiting the port every year Durban harbour is not only the busiest harbour in Africa with the largest container capacity, it is South Africa’s main port of entry and the centre of KZNs business and social sphere.
Now lets go rural…
Your delegates, whoever they might be, won’t want to attend another boring round of talks and workshops in dull city buildings. Get to know your target audience – think about how they will get to your conference venue, where they will go during breaks, what they will eat and then consider how to ensure they enjoy every minute of the event.
Safari lodge conference venues
Offer an exciting dimension to conferences, meetings or incentives. Small, intimate and each one unique, safari lodges are best for executive level groups, or for corporate team-building. Escape the ‘same old conference’ syndrome. Here, you are assured of absolute privacy, the best quality service and discreet handling of guest lists.
On game reserves, safari lodges have low capacities. So while one lodge may have the conference facilities, and accommodate some delegates, other delegates will be accommodated at lodges nearby, on the same reserve. South Africa is blessed with every kind of lodge, camp, game reserve and National Park. Even the simplest conference can be enjoyed in the wilderness where delegates can get to know each other around a camp fire and see wildlife at close range.
Wine Farms
The Western Cape is the home of wine and brandy production in South Africa. There are about 20 different wine routes to choose from and excellent conference venues in all areas. Opulent décor, scenic surroundings and steeped in history, these venues embody all the luxury and ambience associated with country wine estates, catering for top level executives and smaller delegate capacities. They are ideal for low-key conferences, themed product launches and client entertaining in a subdued environment. You will discover a new way of handling business meetings or presentations just by experiencing the energy of this fresh country environment.
Gold or Diamond Rush Themes
Gold Reef City in Johannesburg is a very popular themed conference venue and has multiple attractions for all ages; also Pilgrim’s Rest on the Mpumalanga Panorama Route offers an authentic village and living national monument of early gold rush days surrounded by spectacular attractions; Cullinan Diamond Mine in Dinokeng near Johannesburg and Kimberley, Northern Cape are places to go to relive the make or break days of diamond mining. The journey is part of the event, encouraging delegates to review difficult decisions, opportunities or planning, away from their familiar surroundings.
The question remains – city or rural?
The city obviously has many benefits when it comes to booking a venue, but the fact is that most rural venues offer all of that now and a lot more too, the added advantage of enjoying your event in a rural setting is the peace, quiet and potential opportunities to make it something special. In the city there are plenty of things that can distract from a quiet working environment, but choosing an out-of-city venue allows you to focus on getting the most out of your time and investment. There are plenty of options to try something different in and around your booking, given the longer time period, events can be more leisurely when running workshops or training when interaction is needed.
Organisers need to be creative and, in a rural setting you can enjoy the flexibility of moulding the event into something that suits not only your delegates but your business too. Enjoying something a little aside from the norm can often be a winning formula.
Guest post by: Ruby-Gay Martin (bailiwick.co.za)