South Africa, as an emerging global player in the business events sector, has left an indelible mark at the just concluded IMEX America that held last week at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
IMEX America is the largest trade show in the US for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry.
With almost 15,000 confirmed participants on the show floor, of which over 5,000 were buyers, the exhibition was a great platform for the 20 South African exhibitors who partnered with the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) to cement South Africa’s position as a top-tier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.
The show floor was buzzing with excitement as buyers learned about the array of immersive and unique tourism products that make South Africa stand out from the rest.
During the event, the South African delegation presented an array of immersive and unique tourism products that make South Africa stand out from the rest.
Both the South African exhibitors and buyers from across the globe found the show to be an ideal platform for networking, collaboration, and the exploration of exciting future business opportunities.
The Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer, Zinhle Nzama, commended the South African exhibitors for representing the country well, adding that they are now ready to host global quality business events.
“The South African exhibitors represented the country very well. South Africa meant business. Team South Africa had their hands full as they moved from one meeting to the next and the message was clear: South Africa is ready to host quality business events, with world class “infrastructure fit for global meetings, events and incentives travel
“The exhibitors were overwhelmed by walk-in clients over and above the scheduled meetings, which augurs well for our tourism industry and injection to our GDP.
“The SANCB team was also busy recruiting buyers for Meetings Africa, South African Tourism’s Pan African business events trade show, which will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from the 27th to the 28th of February 2024.
“2023 IMEX America was fantastic, and as our team and our valued partners depart Las Vegas energized by the quality of buyers and their enthusiasm for the destination, we held close to 500 meetings, over 10 group presentations and have generated close to 200 leads.
“We are looking forward to hearing testimonies from our exhibitors about converted deals over the coming months.” she said.
It was also stated that the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) will host its annual conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in May 2026.
This is following a meeting which took place at the SANCB stand during last year’s IMEX in Las Vegas when the ISMRM representatives visited the SANCB stand, engaged with the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, a unit within Wesgro and the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) team with a request for proposal, and within a short period of two months, the deal between the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, CTICC, SANCB and ISMRM was signed and converted.
This conference will see over 5000 delegates from over 55 different countries coming to explore South Africa.
Chioma Kalu
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