CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS

New-look Meetings Africa attracting wide interest from key players

By our News Team | 2023

More than 300 exhibitors representing 15 African countries are already registered, along with 275 buyers from 45 countries.

Meetings Africa, a gathering of Africa’s various stakeholders in the meetings, incentives conferences and exhibitions sector, will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 27 February to 1 March 2023.

Speaking at the Meetings Africa 2023 media launch, South African Tourism Acting CEO, Themba Khumalo, said: “The entire global tourism sector has been through a really rough time in the last two years due to the [pandemic], but we are back with a renewed energy and we are motivated to build and grow our sector to pre-pandemic levels and beyond.

Photo courtesy of SA Tourism

“Meetings Africa aims to contribute to helping African business events players restart and grow. We want to create opportunities for Africa’s business events sector so that we can all grow back more vital than ever before. Our new look represents this new injection of energy and is an emphasis on the importance that we place on connections.

”Meetings Africa has a global, hosted buyer programme that aims to provide optimal interaction between buyers and exhibitors.

Familiarisation tours for travel buyers and mediaIn addition, SA Tourism has partnered with all nine provinces within the country to host Meetings Africa familiarisation tours for hosted buyers and media. This will enable key players in the sector to experience SA’s business events facilities and establishments.

In keeping with the spirit of renewed energy, the 2023 Meetings Africa will also, for the first time, host the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) Summit.

“This summit will help African venues to benchmark themselves against the global standards, to brand and position themselves based on what people are looking for in an internationally recognised venue,” Khumalo explained.

To date, 275 buyers representing 45 countries have been approved to participate at Meetings Africa 2023, with almost 450 applications being vetted. A total of 305 exhibitors representing 15 African countries are currently registered to showcase their wares.

Woman at a podium giving a talk avani sign backdrop with african marketing confederation logos large blue conference slide screen behind her

World Marketing Council takes its first steps on the global stage

First Vice President outlines vision to champion professional excellence, ethical practice and innovation in marketing worldwide.

Group of people at a celebration raising a trophy together on a stage ceremony

AMC confirms Ethiopia will be the host of the 2027 conference

Zambian organisers of the 2026 gathering officially hand over the baton to an ecstatic Ethiopian delegation. Rwanda to host in 2028.

Conference hall stage with a man in a blue suit speaking at a podium on a large screen ticon africa banner visible'shaping the future of ict in africa'

Landmark gathering gets underway with delegates from over 30 countries

Opening plenary hears that securing Africa’s economic future requires businesses to discover new customers and cross-border opportunities.

Pre-conference masterclass discusses taking African brands to the world

Participants challenged to identify, articulate and commercialise the cultural assets that make their brand ready for a global audience.

Three people stand side by side in front of a sports direct backdrop the woman in the middle holds a blue and orange 'sports direct' sign

Africa’s first Sports Direct retail store opens its doors in Nairobi

Second outlet planned for Nairobi before year end, with Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco said to be future target markets.

Person wearing a beige sweater holds a phone with a translucent search bar reading 'search' and microphonecamera icons in the foreground

Search is fragmenting – credibility and trust create the new visibility

Online search behaviour has changed significantly with the rise of AI. How can African brands adapt to this new marketing landscape?

Person shopping at a deli counter holding an orange shopping basket in a cheese section of a supermarket

The move toward future-ready food packaging where materials meet AI

Researchers propose a framework for packaging that senses, learns and acts – making packaging an active, AI-powered tool against food waste.

Conference stage with a woman in a patterned dress speaking to an audience large screens display '' logos and banners for a marketers conference with 'institute of marketing in malawi' branding on stage panels and backdrop

Malawi’s marketers urged to put trust at the heart of the profession

Country needs marketers to build recognition and consumer trust around Malawian products and national brand, says Deputy Minister.

Lingerie brand creates street-stopping advertising in Manhattan

Fashion brand suspends giant lingerie high above the city’s streets, using shadows to create a moving billboard for pedestrians and motorists.

We know AI influencers aren’t real – so why do we trust them?

Researchers describe AI influencers as having a ‘dual identity’. Consumers evaluate both ‘person’ and ‘technology’ identities at once.

Hotel receptionist assisting a guest at the check in counter with a gray suitcase nearby behind the desk

Why trust has become a critical asset for hotel industry marketers

Reputation and trust, once modest influences on hotel choice, have become some of the strongest predictors of patronage, study finds.