Meetings Africa 2022 gears up to reignite Africa’s business events industry

Registration for the 16th instalment of Meetings Africa is officially open. Following the announcement by South African Tourism (SAT) last year that the trade show will be staged in a physical format after an absence in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meetings Africa is set to reignite Africa’s business events industry.

The show promises to offer an array of exhibitors and buyers from across Africa and the world, an opportunity to meet as they partner to contribute to rebuilding the continents business events industry.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the global business events industry, however, as the business events industry on the African continent, we remain optimistic and we are thrilled to invite global buyers to come network and do business with our exhibitors from across the African continent,” says Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Bureau Officer at the South Africa National Convention Bureau.

“There has been a resounding call for face-to-face business engagement from our industry players, and we are confident in executing a safe event. While we understand the severe blow that has been dealt to the industry, we are also confident in creating a conducive platform for our participants. Buyers who will not be able to travel to South Africa due to travel restrictions will be accommodated through a minimal virtual platform. Meetings Africa is a representation of the unrelenting spirit of an African industry that forges ahead and opens its doors to the world,” adds Kotze-Nhlapo.

Meetings Africa celebrated its 15th anniversary in February 2020 before the world closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hosted 324 exhibiting companies from across the continent.

At Meetings Africa 2022, the SANCB, in collaboration with its valued partners, will implement a revamped, globally bench-marked hosted buyer programme to ensure a successful exhibitor-buyer trade show experience. The show will take place in a physical format at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 28 February to 2 March 2022, with BONDay (Business Opportunity Networking Day) hosted on 28 February.