Continued positive recovery was experienced when SAACI attended the in person Let’s Travel Workshop yesterday, which was hosted by C&L Travel Collection at The Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Johannesburg.
The event attracted a number of Travel Agents and MICE Organisers eager to engage with products and service providers at the event. The SAACI CEO, Glenton de Kock discussed the importance of the recovery for the Business Events Sector and opening up the event industry, magnifying the Health and Safety aspects taken into consideration when planning an event.
He noted that the pandemic allowed for the Business Events Sector to communicate more effectively and collaboration became easier once the SA Events Council was established.
Glenton further stated that, “The biggest joy today was to see people in person and be able to speak to human beings in a live setting. There were no technological interruptions which allowed for constant engagement with each other.”
This week SAACI and our partner associations within the SA Events Council continued our positive engagement with the Department of Tourism team tasked by the Minister, the South African National Convention Bureau to work with our Association and industry on areas that affect the Business Events and Exhibition Sector.
Key areas to highlight from this week’s engagement are the following:
- The industry recommended an adjustment to the current regulations on the number of pax for indoor and outdoor venues. We proposed with support from our colleagues to allow for the usage of 50% capacity of venues. This would drop the current restriction of the 250 indoors and 500 outdoors.
- Our recommendation on the move to 50% capacity at venues, instead of limitations on number of pax, aims to simplify this operational area, when organising business events and exhibitions.
- The industry recommended that a set of Event Safety Protocols are Gazetted. We are seeking alignment and clarity for our members, and the broader Business Events & Exhibitions Industry. With the City of Johannesburg releasing its’ JOC Compliance Document this week as well, we are working to ensure that the sector has a clear set of Safety Protocols that are covered within the Events Safety Protocols.
- The Events Safety Re-Opening Guidelines is a key document that will be used and consulted as we work with the government team to get this into the regulations prior to gazetting by the Minister.
We will continue to keep members up to-date on the progress on the work we are doing in driving the recovery of the Business Events and Exhibition Industry.
As the calendar year draws to close, we will also be in communication with members on membership fees and the plans the Association has for the 1st Quarter of 2021.