SATSA has launched a new tiered membership structure, which was voted in by members at the association’s general meeting at the recent Spier Conference in August. The new structure will apply for the financial year 2015.
Under the new structure, there will be three categories of members, determined by annual turnover, while an introductory level of membership has been introduced to cater for SMME businesses.  
The first category will be for businesses with a turnover of less than R20 million per annum. Annual fees for this tier would be R5 000 (excluding VAT) per annum.  The second tier would encompass businesses with a turnover of between R20 million and R100 million and the fees here would be R15 000 (excluding VAT) per annum.  Businesses with a turnover in excess of R100 million would fall into the third tier and fees here would be R35 000 per annum. 
The new fee structure has been introduced because the current membership and fee set-up do not generate sufficient funds to cover the operating expenses of the organisation and because of equity. “Large tourism players are paying the same fees as far smaller players. Moreover some hotel groups have affiliated all their properties as component members, whilst others have not,” the association said in a statement.
The introductory category will apply to emerging businesses and aims to enable SMMEs to join the SATSA family and to ultimately grow to full membership status. In order to qualify for this category, prospective businesses must qualify for membership of the Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP). Annual Fees of R3 000 (excluding VAT) per annum will apply.
Companies in the introductory category will enjoy all the benefits of SATSA membership but will not qualify for the bonding scheme, nor will they be able to vote at the AGM. Companies eligible for qualification will be accommodated for two years in this category. They will be expected to move to first category membership in the third year.
The association has also announced that the date of its AGM will be moved to coincide with the date of the annual SATSA Conference.