Mystery surrounds SA Tourism’s choice of strategic partner for future Indaba and Meetings Africa trade shows.
At Indaba earlier this month, Acting CEO Sthembiso Dlamini said SA Tourism had found a suitable partner and was in the final stages of negotiation.
However, the majority of the bidders that have expressed an interest in partnering for the shows have had no definitive response from SA Tourism, while some have had no engagement, raising the question of whether another player may have entered the picture.
Last week, an insider at SA Tourism told Tourism Update that “SA Tourism needs to make an announcement at the end of May.”
According to a notification on SA Tourism’s website, four companies submitted expressions of interest for the role of Event Strategy Partner in response to SA Tourism’s tender last October. In March, three of them - Pure Grit Project and Exhibitions Management, Outlaw Events Management (Pty) Ltd, and Synergy Business Events - said they had not had any subsequent discussions with the tourism board.
Late last week, Justin Hawes of Synergy had still not had further advice, while Outlaw could not be reached by landline or email. CEO at Pure Grit, Zaida Enver, also said no further communication had been received from the tourism board and no presentation had been made following submission of their proposal. Pure Grit’s contract for the organisation of Indaba came to an end with the conclusion of this month’s Indaba.
The fourth company and the only one with an existing travel trade expo, Thebe Reed Exhibitions (Pty) Ltd, reported in March that they had met with SA Tourism. At the time, MD Carol Weaving said the conversation was positive and she was hopeful of another meeting. She revealed that her proposal would bring Indaba and Thebe Reed’s WTM Africa, together.
However, last week Weaving advised Tourism Update that she had heard nothing further and had nothing to report. In the meanwhile, WTM Africa has announced dates for its 2017 show, which will take place April 19 – 21 in Cape Town.
