Four 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.

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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 Tourism Update at the Meetings Africa show this week 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.