Participating in global trade shows, such as IMEX America in Las Vegas last week, continues to yield returns for the South African business sector, with Cape Town and the Western Cape Convention Bureau, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) scoring a massive conference for May 2026.
The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) will host its annual conference, expected to draw over 5 000 delegates at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in May 2026.
This comes on the back of a meeting that took place at the SANCB stand during last year’s IMEX America in Las Vegas when the ISMRM representatives visited the SANCB stand to ask for a proposal.
“This is an illustration of the value and economic benefit of participating at global business events trade shows. From breathtaking event venues, luxurious accommodations, and state-of-the-art conference facilities to unparalleled natural beauty, South Africa offers a unique and enchanting experience to both international and domestic visitors,” said Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer, Zinhle Nzama.
With almost 15 0 00 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 to cement South Africa’s position as a top-tier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions at this year’s event – held at Mandalay Bay from October 17 to 19.
“As an emerging global player in the business events sector, South Africa left an indelible mark at IMEX America where 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,” noted Nzama.
She highlighted that the SA team held close to 500 meetings, over 10 group presentations and generated close to 200 leads. “We are looking forward to hearing testimonies from our exhibitors about converted deals over the coming months.”
Nzama added that 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 on February 27 and 28, 2024.
Watch SA Tourism's IMEX America 2023 video below:
