SAACI Official

On behalf of the SAACI Board, Secretariat, and the broader Southern African MICE community, may 2025 be a prosperous and eventful New Year! #HappyNewYear2025 #MICE

As we approach the close of a successful year, we’re excited to share an exclusive opportunity for our valued members to save on membership fees for the upcoming 2025/2026 cycle. Here’s what you need to know: 🔹 Membership Fee Adjustment To continue delivering the high level of value, advocacy, and professional development you’ve come to expect, an 8% membership fee increase will take effect from 01 March 2025. 🔹 Early Bird Discounts We’re offering two opportunities for you to lock in your membership at a reduced rate: ▶️ 15% discount for payments received between 05 December 2024 and 31 March 2025 ▶️ 10% discount for payments made between 1 April 2025 and 30 April 2025 Take advantage of these savings and secure your membership at a reduced rate before the increase takes effect! ℹ️ How to Claim Your Discount: Request your invoice from Sarina at members@saaci.org. ⏰ Plan Ahead: Please note that the SAACI National Office will close on Friday, 13 December 2024, and reopen on Monday, 13 January 2025. We encourage you to arrange your payment before the holiday break for a hassle-free experience. Thank you for being part of the SAACI community!

The date and venue for SAACI’s National Annual Conference 2025 have been announced! Save the date, mark your maps, and plan your travel to make sure you don’t miss a single second. 📅 When: Sunday, 27 July 2025 – Tuesday, 29 July 2025 📍 Where: The Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town 🔍 What: Over three days, attendees will have access to a dynamic program of expert-led discussions, workshops, and networking sessions designed to shape the future of our industry. The conference theme and registration details will be officially revealed at Meetings Africa in February 2025. Keep an eye out for updates as we unveil the vision behind this year’s event. #SAACIConference2025 #SaveTheDate #BusinessEvents #Networking #IndustryInsights #MICE

At the SAACI Annual Congress in July, Head of the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau, Corne Koch, highlighted why the Western Cape stands out as a prime location for business events. From exceptional infrastructure, access to stunning destinations like the Garden Route and West Coast, rapidly growing economic sectors, and leading academic institutions, Cape Town has much to offer the MICE industry. “Cape Town has a lot of sectors that are growing and because of the key economic potential that comes with it, the Western Cape gets a lot of meetings that’s attracted to sectors. So it’s not just tourism that’s on offer, we’re also using the knowledge economy that’s available in the province,” she said in an interview with patron member South Africa National Conventions Bureau (SANCB) on the sidelines of the Congress. Watch the video to hear more about the initiatives attracting business events in Cape Town, including Wesgro’s air access strategy. View more videos from the 2024 SAACI National Annual Congress on the South African Tourism website, here: https://lnkd.in/d2Tt8iZX

Miller Matola, CEO of Millvest Investments, shared his thoughts at the SAACI Annual Congress in July 2024 on the opportunities and growth trajectory of the #MICE sector in Africa. “Africa is increasingly becoming a competitive player in the global events market,” he told patron member South Africa National Conventions Bureau (SANCB) in a video interview, pointing out that Africa currently holds just 2% of the nearly $800 billion global MICE market. “We have organisations such as the African Union, Africa Continental Trade Area Agreement Secretariat and other multilateral organisations that actually help host hundreds of events on the continent. There is an opportunity for African countries to collaborate with these multilateral organisations to grow the mice market on the continent,” he called on the industry. Watch the video to find out more about why South Africa is becoming a leader in the MICE industry. View more videos from the 2024 SAACI National Annual Congress on the South African Tourism website, here: https://lnkd.in/d2Tt8iZX 

Gauteng Tourism Authority CEO Sthembiso Dlamini shared insights on how South Africa’s MICE sector can stand out globally with patron member South Africa National Conventions Bureau (SANCB) during the SAACI Annual Congress in July 2024. “South Africa has the relevant infrastructure required to support the mice industry. We do have experts in various fields or various sectors of the economy, which is [another] huge advantage to attracting mice events into our destination,” she said. “But the other thing that is unique about us, which I think we have to be unapologetically take a position on is our creative industries and how they contribute to the uniqueness of our destination as South Africa.” Dlamini emphasised: “We should be able to find ways to infuse issues of culture, issues of heritage and arts in how we host events and how we showcase our destination.” Watch the full video to find out how. View more videos from the 2024 SAACI National Annual Congress on the South African Tourism website, here: https://lnkd.in/d2Tt8iZX

On the sidelines of the SAACI Annual Congress in July 2024, patron member South Africa National Conventions Bureau (SANCB) interviewed some of the #MICE industry’s top leaders to find out what the future of the industry has in store. In his interview, The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) Chairman, JERRY MABENA, said: “When you are planning for your next event – whether music or conferencing – please consider South Africa as your destination to come and have the event, either in the desert or on a safari. And if we don’t have the accommodation, we will build it for you.” Watch the video to see what he had to say. View more videos from the 2024 SAACI National Annual Congress on the South African Tourism website, here: https://lnkd.in/d2Tt8iZX

During the SAACI Annual Congress in July 2024, the Southern African events industry came together to talk about the future of the #MICE industry and how it can go #beyondeventing. On the sidelines of the event, patron member South Africa National Conventions Bureau (SANCB) conducted interviews with some of the leaders in attendance, starting with our chairman Jaques Fouche. "In South Africa, there are lots of opportunities to conference in conventional ways, as well as in unconventional ways – outside in the bush with beautiful nature and great weather all around," he said, encouraging international organisations to host their events here. Watch the video to see what he had to say. View more videos from the 2024 SAACI National Annual Congress on the South African Tourism website, here: https://lnkd.in/d2Tt8iZX

NYIKO FILTER Maluleke will be in charge of Networking and Events for SAACI’s newly established Limpopo branch. With over 12 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality sectors, Maluleke brings a passion for advancing business tourism (MICE) in the province. He has done extensive research concentrating on the MICE industry, including marketing, tourism business management, and the public sector. He also engaged in several National Tourism Research Seminars under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Maluleke’s career spans roles in both private and public sectors, including time at Limpopo Economic Development,Environment &Tourism (LEDET), where he contributed to tourism planning and transformation initiatives. He founded the Limpopo Youth in Tourism Association, an initiative aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs in the province, and a successful local travel agency specialising in corporate travel, which has earned multiple government service awards. He’s also part of the Interim Committee adopted by the LTA - Limpopo Tourism Agency. The new branch was elected on 31 October and will present its plans for SAACI Limpopo at the LPTA Strategic Meeting (19–20 November) and the Provincial Marketing Forum (21 November). #SAACI #Limpopo #Committee #Support #Partnerships #Growth #MICE #Opportunity #Advocacy #Assocation

Lerato Sekgobela joins SAACI Limpopo’s new board as the Secretariat. A woman with many hats, titles and achievements, some of her most notable roles at the moment include Chairperson of Capricorn District Tourism Association, Chairperson of Limpopo Women in Tourism, Deputy Chairperson of POLOKWANE TOURISM ASSOCIATION, Deputy Secretary of Limpopo United Business Forum, and National Chairperson of Women in Tourism – amongst many others. Mohale’s entrepreneurial instincts have carried multiple companies through rapid growth, leading to her winning the 2018 Limpopo Business Woman of South Africa under Youth Entrepreneurship category award. She was also the third runner-up of the 2019 Standard Bank Top Women Awards, and winner of 2020 Best Media Company: Rain Queen Modjadji Achievers Awards. As the founder of Discover Limpopo Magazine, she has provided critical exposure to Limpopo’s tourism offerings, both locally and internationally. Her efforts have supported job creation and highlighted the province’s unique attractions across Southern Africa. In her new role at SAACI Limpopo, she will continue to drive growth for the local tourism industry. #SAACI #Limpopo #Committee #Support #Partnerships #Growth #MICE #Opportunity #Advocacy #Assocation