SINCE its inception in January this year, the Sandton Tourism Association (STA) has achieved 90% of its potential primary accommodation membership, with hotels as far as Midrand and Pretoria showing interest.
This according to STA chairman, Deon Viljoen, who told Travel Now that membership had grown to 32 hotels, with a potential membership of 35.
"What is really encouraging is how well all these potential competitors are working together in their collective goal to promote Sandton as a conference destination."
He says that members are in constant communication with each other, sharing information on potential business and on safety and security incidents.
"We are becoming very active on the operational side, working closely with the Sandton Tourist Ambassador Initiative, to clean up the streets and create a safe, pristine environment for conference attendants and tourists."
The STA has also obtained the support of several key stakeholders in the industry, including the Sandton chapter of the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the Gauteng Tourism Authority, Tourism Johannesburg and the Big Five Tourism Initiative led by Paul O'Sullivan of the Randburg Waterfront.
Viljoen, who is also the executive director of the Sandton Convention Centre, says the STA is also launching its secondary membership campaign this month, to be targeted at the local retail sector.
(Adele Mackenzie)
