News
CTICC’s cashless system means hassle-free fun for festival-goers
The Cape Town International Convention Centre is always looking at ways to improve the experience for visitors and clients. To ensure seamless events, the CTICC incorporates the latest technological advances. “Last year, besides making sure that the jazz festival was...
read moreThe Westin Cape Town Hotel shows off flagship projects
The Westin Cape Town opened their newly renovated rooms to media in February. Sustainable practice Listed as one of Green Destination’s Top 100 Sustainable Destinations, Cape Town has a long history of responsible tourism. But local tourism attractions and hotels need...
read moreTechnology on tap
The advent and adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the internet of just about everything has accelerated the pace at which all industries operate. For events, it has, in fact, been revolutionary. From automation to apps that manage each...
read moreSharing knowledge and support is key to women advancing in MICE industry
The Women in MICE initiative held a breakfast event at Meetings Africa 2019 to launch the Top 40 Women in MICE Awards. The event, held at the Sandton International Convention Centre, Johannesburg, on Wednesday, 27 February 2019, brought together influential women from...
read moreTable Bay’s Dalise Stynfaard shows off baking prowess in prestigious culinary competition
The Table Bay has selected aspiring pastry chef, Dalise Stynfaard, to join the team of four that will represent the hotel in the prestigious 2019 Cape Legends Inter Hotel Challenge. This is the first time that Stynfaard will be participating in the multi-faceted...
read moreNew CEO takes the FEDHASA helm
The Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) has announced the appointment of Lee Zama as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Zama, who is the first female CEO appointed at FEDHASA, has taken up the position as of 1 March 2019. FEDHASA is the...
read moreA gateway to the unexpected
Have you considered Ekurhuleni as your MICE destination of choice? Many don’t, and yet it offers a number of attractive benefits and options. The name Ekurhuleni means “place of peace” in Tsonga, yet the name defies the bustling reality of this metropolitan...
read moreSandton Convention Centre hosts 14th Meetings Africa
Sandton Convention Centre is proud to host the 14th Meetings Africa expo, the continent’s annual iconic business tourism showcase, from 25 to 27 February 2019. Meetings Africa is a pivotal platform in Africa’s MICE industry, where top players from the sector showcase...
read moreCTICC collaborates with mining sector to highlight event greening and environmental sustainability
An environmental sustainability collaboration between the Cape Town International Convention Centre and Investing in African Mining Indaba has diverted 24 000kg of wood from landfill. “We are passionate about finding ways to not only reduce our impact on the...
read moreInnovative visitor experience design holds the key to tourism growth
Visitor attractions form the backbone of tourism, but to ensure continued growth in visitor numbers tourism destinations will need to stay on the forefront of global visitor attraction trends and technologies. Tourism is one of South Africa’s most reliable economic...
read moreHilton Sandton welcomes award winning exec chef
Hospitality company, Hilton Sandton has appointed Andrew Atkinson as the new Executive Chef. Atkinson has performed many roles outside of the kitchen, including several culinary television programs. He is no stranger to success and has represented South Africa on a...
read moreScarce veggies are growing on The Palace rooftop
With a keen interest in sustainability, nutrition and adding extraordinary flavours to his dishes, The Palace’s Executive Chef Hanroe Erasmus is growing his own vegetables. But, these are not ordinary vegetables typically found in local supermarkets; nor are they...
read moreSkhumba Hlophe to perform his one man show #IMeanBizniss at Blackrock Casino
Newcastle’s best entertainment destination, Tsogo Sun’s Blackrock Casino, is bringing much-loved South African comedian, actor and TV presenter, Skhumba Hlophe, to perform his brand new one-man special “#ImeanBizniss” on 22 February 2019. Best known for using his...
read moreSandton Convention Centre is once again Best Venue at industry awards
Sandton Convention Centre proudly notched up two big wins at the prestigious combined 2018 Exhibition Association of Southern Africa’s EXSA-llence Awards and the Association of African Exhibition Organisers’ (AAXO) Roar Awards, held on 31 January 2019, as voted for by...
read moreSun City hosts cultural events with ease
It’s not often that we are able to experience other people’s cultures or celebrate non-commercial holidays with them. Fortunately, Sun International takes the initiative to be more inclusive and their array of facilities make it possible. We have a huge asian...
read moreThe Regency Apartment Hotel in Menlyn Celebrates Launch of their Platina Restaurant
The Regency Apartment Hotel launched in Menlyn, Pretoria in 2018 and has enjoyed steady growth with the high-end traveler. The luxurious 4-star hotel caters for both leisure and business travelers in the busy Menlyn node and recently celebrated the launch of their...
read moreKnowlege Hub
Marketing your venue: 7 practical tips to attract new clients
Whether you are marketing your venue full-time or whether acquiring new venue clients only forms part of your list of daily tasks, there are countless fresh marketing ideas you could make use of. The question I would like to ask you today is whether you are making full use of all your marketing opportunities or are you missing some amazing opportunities while you stick to the same old strategy?
read moreCool event décor ideas
Whether you are organising a party, fundraiser, awards dinner or other event, budget is one of the biggest things to keep in mind. You want to create an amazing look and feel, but not overdo it from a cost perspective. One of the great things about décor and...
read more12 tips to finding the perfect event venue
Selecting the right venue is critical and according to event professionals on LinkedIn, when asked what they would consider the most important points to keep in mind for choosing a venue for their events, here are the most frequent responses: Budgets - Cost is usually...
read more10 tell tale signs you are in events management
A tongue in cheek note from a local events manager - see how many of these apply to you too. Wardrobe filled with mostly black clothing? You are not boring or funereal. Nope, you are an events manager. You can totally rock black every day for the next 3 weeks, without...
read moreDifferent types of conference attendees
Everyone attending a conference has a reason to be there. Although this article is written tongue in cheek, there are some truths to these different types of attendees – see how many you can recognise. I know as a conference organiser I have met almost all of these in...
read moreEvent management software
If you are lucky enough to be able to afford professional events management software to track tasks, develop programmes, handle registration and marketing etc then there are a variety of options available to you – but we suggest doing detailed research and reading up...
read moreApps for events planners
In the last few years the use of apps and smart phones has increased vastly. We now read our emails, check our messages and can basically operate an entire office off of a tiny little device that fits in to our pocket or hand bag. So it only makes sense that event...
read moreLacto-ovo whatinism?
From Banting to Veganism – there are so many different types of dietary requirements out there – how on earth does one know what to cater for and where to draw the line when catering for large groups? There are two main streams of dietary requirements – belief based...
read moreSupplier News
Splendid Inn Bloemfontein opens in 2019
Premier Hotels & Resorts continues to cement its presence as one of the fastest growing, independently owned hotel chains in South Africa. Starting off with 40 bedrooms, the group now plans to expand and add 13 new hotels to their portfolio over the next 5 years...
read moreExhibitions as focused marketing tools
Sometimes, we at Travelbags see ourselves as a mini events team. Any event, exhibition or meeting is only as successful as its organising team. Exhibitions are one of the fastest growing industries in South Africa. Exhibitions are focused marketing tools; they offer...
read moreUsing beacons at your next event
I always get asked what the next great thing in event technology is going to be. Among other things, my answer always includes the integration of beacons. I found an interesting blog about this that I would like to share with you. Apple first introduced beacon...
read moreCTICC achieved recording breaking revenues
On the 11th of December, CTICC Chief Executive Officer Julie-May Ellingson announced the convention centre’s 2017/18 Annual Financial Results, which showed that not only had the CTICC achieved recording breaking revenues and impressive operating profits but...
read moreWin a Jodi Deerling Box
Giving and receiving incentives is very important. Everyone wants to feel valued, whether they're employee, colleagues, partners or managers. So why not take the initiative and give them something to smile about? Win 1 of 2 Jodi Deerling Boxes, It's easy! How to...
read moreRisk mitigation in booking business travel
Businesses booking corporate travel for executives focus on every itinerary detail, from flights to accommodation, dinners to entertainment. But is risk mitigation considered when transfers between events are simply listed on the itinerary as “transfer by taxi” or...
read moreBest service for VIPs at Montecasino
Greg Lotriet is reaching a dream that started as a teen when he first saw the classic Al Pacino movie, Casino. As a gifted people’s person, he is thriving in his new position as VIP Services Manager at Montecasino, overseeing the Privé and ensuring memorable guest...
read moreFlock Platform adds value to MTN App of the Year Awards
Recent studies show that the average person is exposed to up to 10 000 brand messages a day. With consumers switching between screens – television, laptop, smartphone and tablet – this equates to 21 times an hour, which correlates with Microsoft’s claim that the...
read moreCurating Luxurious Dining Experience
Luxury dining is a multisensory experience that takes one through a journey of enjoyment, from the harmonious surroundings and the exquisite tastes on one’s palate, to the satisfaction that lingers long after the meal. Marika Nikolaidis, Restaurant and Bar Curator at...
read moreThe Transition of Taste
No fine-dining experience is complete without an unforgettable dessert. Chef Chelsea Logan, who helms the pastry team at InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, said, “Dessert plays a defining role in rounding off the overall dining experience; it cleanses the palate and...
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