F
OUR companies have
expressed an interest
in becoming a strategic
partner for one or more
of the trade shows SA
Tourism owns and manages
– namely, Indaba and
Meetings Africa – as well
as a third show that SA
Tourism believes is needed
for the luxury segment. They
are Thebe Reed Exhibitions,
Pure Grit Project and
Exhibitions Management,
Outlaw Events Management
and Synergy Business
Events.
Thebe Reed Exhibitions is
the organiser behind Africa
Travel Week, consisting
of World Travel Market
Africa, International Luxury
Travel Market Africa and
Incentives, Business Travel
& Meetings Africa.
Pure Grit is the current
organiser of Indaba and is
also the organiser behind
SA Tourism’s presence in
international trade shows
such as WTM London and
ITB in Berlin.
Outlaw Marketing and
Events’ past projects
include Ironman South
Africa and the Proudly
South Africa – Expo and
Conference. Synergy
Business Events describes
itself as an experienced
exhibition organiser. Its
past clients include SAA
and Rovos Rail, while it
lists Meetings Africa (2010-
2015) on its website under
‘projects’.
SA Tourism published
a call for expressions of
interest in September last
year, with a closing date
of October 9, 2015. In
the call for expressions of
interest, SA Tourism said it
was looking for a strategic
partner for each or both of
the two events as well as
a third show. The strategic
partner would jointly
execute the shows. More
than one partner could be
chosen if a partner was not
suitable for all three shows.
“In addition, SAT has
concluded that a third
show, a luxury market
show is essential for
South Africa. Therefore
to maintain its profile,
be more impactful and
to realise the potential
to provide a business
operational platform for
the industry, the strategy
is a triangle of exhibitions
encompassing all three
areas of leisure, business
and luxury,” the call states.
The successful partner
would need “extensive
tourism trade exhibition
experience” and would
“provide equity investment
as well as share risk and
profits”.
Minister of Tourism,
Derek Hanekom, told TNW
at the recent Meetings
Africa show that the
tender process to select
a strategic partner had
not yet been concluded.
“We were hoping that the
strategic partner would be
found last year already,”
he said, adding that the
process was under way.
According to the Minister,
the aim is for the partner
to come on board for the
2017 edition of Indaba.
This year’s show will be
organised by Pure Grit and
again hosted in Durban.
