African Tourism Partners (ATP), a Pan-African strategic marketing, brand management agency specializing in travel, tourism, hospitality and golf industry will run a Masterclass in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events/Exhibitions (MICE) in Johannesburg, from 20 to 23 February, 2018, with Grant Thornton as its lead partner.
Themed “Growing destination tourist arrivals through business and events tourism leadership development”, this professional development programme aims to refresh and enhance the skills of professionals and public officials in the Africa MICE sector. It will also focus on how tourist destinations in Africa can optimize the value of business and events tourism. Among the faculty members who will deliver the programme are Professor Ernie Heath, Emeritus Professor at the University of Pretoria, Gillian Saunders, Deputy CEO of Grant Thornton, South Africa, Ben Asoro, Marketing and Sales of Calabar Convention Centre in Nigeria, Dirk Elzinga, Managing Director at CIC Convention Industry Consultants (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town, Miller Matola, CEO Millvest and former CEO Brand South Africa, Esmare Steinhotel and Regional Director Africa, ICCA Africa Office.
“This MICE professional development programme is first of its kind in Africa. It is really refreshing to see the continent’s MICE sector, experts and Grant Thornton joining forces to commit to such an innovative initiative, impart knowledge, share experiences and learn from peers”, says Kwakye Donkor, CEO of ATP. Donkor further expressed that it is an opportunity for all attendees to learn from each other and experts with demonstrated experience. “We believe that the lessons to be learnt by the professionals and officials attending the programme is priceless”, he concludes.
Speaking from the University of Applied Sciences in Bremen, Germany, Emeritus Professor, Prof. Ernie Heath, the lead faculty member of the programme, expresses his enthusiasm to have Grant Thornton on board and commends the firm for supporting ATP to drive such a timely and relevant project. “I believe that Grant Thornton, faculty members and delegates will highlight and reinforce the strategic importance of the African MICE sector and come up with innovative and future-orientated initiatives and guidelines on how to substantially grow tourism arrivals in African states through appropriate business tourism”, he concludes.
As a gathering of distinguished MICE experts, professionals, government officials and MICE brand custodians, the programme is anticipated to provide the much-needed platform for meaningful professional development, knowledge-sharing, dialogue and Africa MICE sector networking. This has come at the right time when African states need to rise up and take advantage of improved business travel, business events facilities and opportunities to promote business travel to Africa aggressively.
For registration and enquiries, please contact Ms Maureen Bandama, Project Director: maureen@africatourismpartners.com or +27 (0) 61 097 8794.
