Meeting News - November 10, 2008 - (Page 4F)

nent’s brightest stars. It can easily accommodate the very largest gatherings by reconfiguring space into one large hall that can seat 5,000 or that can provide 7,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space. Working in tandem with the adjacent Durban Exhibition Centre, the ICC can accommodate groups as large as 10,000. Large gatherings already on the books include the 2,500-attendee 57th Session of the International Statistical Institute in 2009 and the 5,000attendee World Federation of the Deaf Congress in 2011. The Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg’s chic Sandton neighborhood, is ringed by the best hotels in the region and is close to the city’s financial and industrial centers. Its 236,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space includes a 31,403-square-foot ballroom, two exhibition rooms, and the 50,992-square-foot Pavilion. There are 1,000 rooms within walking distance (with 15 more hotels a short drive away), and two excellent shopping malls are nearby. SPRINGBOK ATLAS EVENTS BLENDS LUXURY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOKIA GROUP Last April, 86 incentive travelers from five countries arrived in Cape Town, courtesy of Nokia Solutions, on a South African odyssey that would blend luxury, local flavor, and social responsibility in a way that won kudos from everyone. Luxury was top of mind when the weary travelers arrived, according to PeterJohn Mitrovich, divisional manager for meetings and incentives for Cape Townbased Springbok Atlas Events, which organized the incentive. Couples were picked up by chauffeur-driven limousines and were presented with champagne and strawberries as they set out for the posh Western Cape Hotel and Spa, an hour outside Cape Town. Mitrovich explains that Springbok Atlas kept four factors in mind throughout the planning: to reward attendees, provide enough free time, stage nice dinner events, and foster social interaction with the local people. That last element proved to be an important key to the event’s success. “On the first evening, we brought in people who make South African products, such as hand-beaded shoes, fabric, carvings, and three-dimensional ‘township art,’” Mitrovich says. Each attendee received “Cash for Your Souvenir Stash” to make purchases. Music was provided by an African vocal group, a marimba band, and drums. The buffet featured typical Cape Indian, Malay, and African fare. The next day, the group took a township tour that showed how people lived under apartheid and how they are progressing toward change. After that, luxury kicked in with a culinary and vineyard tour—and a chance to taste authentic South African ginger beer. The day ended with a choice of golf or a spa treatment at the hotel. That evening, 45 vintage cars transported attendees to Bouchard Finlayson, a boutique winery in Walker Bay, for dinner. Coming Soon . . . A New Convention Center in Mpumalanga Partly to tie in with the 2010 soccer World Cup and partly to capitalize on its location adjacent to the border of Kruger National Park, the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (Mega) has announced construction of a new international convention center, with the capability to host larger conferences, exhibitions, and trade fairs. The convention center is targeted for completion by 2010, to coincide with the completion of a 45,000-seat multi-purpose stadium that will be built to house the World Cup soccer events. Day three choices included cycling along the coastline or a visit to two wine estates. After an evening dine-around, each attendee received a safari bag, complete with binoculars. A wine tasting was offered on the next day’s charter flight to Kruger-Malanga International Airport. Upon landing, two vintage aircraft were waiting to transport attendees to Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, where the group was divided among three small, luxurious game lodges. The game drives were fabulous, but one of the great favorites over the next few days, according to Mitrovich, was the visit to a local primary school. The school lacked running water until Nokia drilled a well for the community prior to the incentive group’s arrival. The incentive attendees were there for the

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Meeting News - November 10, 2008

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