Latest news with #GlobeWatch2024BusinessAnalyticsReport
The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Cape Town among the top global destinations for this kind of event
Cape Town continues to grow in popularity with visitors. Image via Pixabay. Home » Cape Town among the top global destinations for this kind of event Cape Town continues to grow in popularity with visitors. Image via Pixabay. Cape Town is growing in popularity with business travellers. In fact, a new report shows that the city is now one of the world's top destinations for international conventions. That's according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) GlobeWatch 2024 Business Analytics Report. The report provides insight into global association meetings, including the favourite destinations for such conferences. Cape Town has risen 15 spots in the ICCA GlobeWatch 2024 rankings for international association meetings. It now ranks 35th globally. The city also ranks in the top 10 globally for average attendance per event. 717 delegates attend the average event in the city. Cape Town hosted 58 international meetings in 2024, up from 42 in 2023. Smaller towns like Stellenbosch also hosted multiple events, reflecting a province-wide trend. South Africa as a whole remains the top country in Africa for international meetings. The country hosted 98 international meetings in both 2023 and 2024. The business events industry generated over R2 billion for the national economy in that period. The rise is attributed to strategic bidding, strong public-private partnerships, and increasing interest in the region as a hub for knowledge-sharing and innovation. Wesgro, the official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, welcomed the news. In a statement on Bizcommunity, CEO Wrenelle Stander said: 'This ranking shows that Cape Town and the Western Cape stand shoulder to shoulder with global conference hubs such as Dubai, Barcelona, and Melbourne. We are particularly pleased that smaller towns across the province are experiencing the benefits of business events.' Stander added that Wesgro secured 36 new conference bids for 2024/25, projecting an impact of R745 million and over 27 000 delegates through 2028. Cape Town's rise in the rankings was also celebrated by Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer. Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, also welcomed the news. The Mother City's popularity is by no means slowing down. Cape Town will host a plethora of conventions in the next few years, including: International Communication Association Congress (2026) World Congress on ADHD (2027) World Congress of Entomology (2028) Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Town's impressive leap in global conference rankings highlights economic growth
Cape Town's status as a global meetings destination has improved in the world rankings. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Cape Town and the Western Cape have solidified their status as Africa's premier destination for international association meetings, as revealed by the recently released International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) GlobeWatch 2024 Business Analytics Report. The city has surged to an impressive 35th position globally, a leap of 15 places from the previous ranking. The report highlighted that Cape Town hosted 58 international association meetings in 2024, a notable increase from 42 in 2023, and places the city among the top 10 worldwide for average attendance per event, with an average of 717 delegates per meeting. Stellenbosch, a key player within the Western Cape, has also demonstrated ongoing success in the rankings, hosting seven meetings last year. Over the past decade, it has become a welcome fixture in the international conference landscape, having successfully hosted 100 meetings from 2013 to 2024. Smaller towns like George, Grabouw, Knysna, and Paarl are beginning to carve out their niches as attractive venues for international events, further spreading the benefits of business tourism across the province. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Nationally, South Africa continues to dominate as the top-performing country on the continent, with an increase in international meetings from 84 in 2021 to 98 in both 2023 and 2024. This growth is projected to deliver over R2 billion in revenue to the national economy, validating the significance of international meetings in contributing to economic development. 'This ranking shows that Cape Town and the Western Cape stand shoulder to shoulder with global conference hubs such as Dubai, Barcelona, and Melbourne. We are particularly pleased that smaller towns across the province are experiencing the benefits of business events," said Wesgro CEO, Wrenelle Stander. She noted that the Cape Town and the Western Cape Convention Bureau secured 36 new conference bids in the 2024/25 financial year alone, which is expected to generate R745 million in economic impact and attract over 27 000 delegates through to 2028. The impact of these international meetings was further underscored by Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC, Ivan Meyer. 'These outstanding results reflect the Western Cape's global competitiveness and the tangible economic impact of business events. Every international meeting we host fuels job creation, investment, and innovation - while positioning our region as a hub of knowledge and expertise,' he said. Supporting the positive narrative, mayco member for Economic Growth, James Vos, said Cape Town's impressive rise in global rankings reflects the city's world-class infrastructure and skilled workforce, buttressed by public-private partnerships. 'Business tourism remains a key pillar of our economic growth strategy - each international meeting not only boosts hotel bookings and restaurant traffic, but also significantly enriches our local economy. "This is why we proudly fund the Convention Bureau, as we recognise how strategic support can unlock tremendous benefits for our communities,' Vos said. With Cape Town climbing the ranks as a desired global venue for international meetings, its future as a thriving business tourism hub shines bright, paving the way for economic prosperity and community enrichment across the region. Cape Argus
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Town climbs global rankings, establishing itself as a premier destination for international meetings
Cape Town's status as a global meetings destination has improved in the world rankings. Image: Unsplash Cape Town and the Western Cape have solidified their status as Africa's premier destination for international association meetings, as revealed by the recently released International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) GlobeWatch 2024 Business Analytics Report. The city has surged to an impressive 35th position globally, a leap of 15 places from the previous ranking. The report highlighted that Cape Town hosted 58 international association meetings in 2024, a notable increase from 42 in 2023, and places the city among the top 10 worldwide for average attendance per event, with an average of 717 delegates per meeting. This upswing not only strengthens Cape Town's presence in the global arena but also boosts its economic prospects and reputation as a vibrant hub for business events. Stellenbosch, a key player within the Western Cape, has also demonstrated ongoing success in the rankings, hosting seven meetings last year. Over the past decade, it has become a welcome fixture in the international conference landscape, having successfully hosted 100 meetings from 2013 to 2024. Smaller towns like George, Grabouw, Knysna, and Paarl are beginning to carve out their niches as attractive venues for international events, further spreading the benefits of business tourism across the province. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Nationally, South Africa continues to dominate as the top-performing country on the continent, with an increase in international meetings from 84 in 2021 to 98 in both 2023 and 2024. This growth is projected to deliver over R2 billion in revenue to the national economy, validating the significance of international meetings in contributing to economic development. 'This ranking shows that Cape Town and the Western Cape stand shoulder to shoulder with global conference hubs such as Dubai, Barcelona, and Melbourne. We are particularly pleased that smaller towns across the province are experiencing the benefits of business events," said Wesgro CEO, Wrenelle Stander. She noted that the Cape Town and the Western Cape Convention Bureau secured 36 new conference bids in the 2024/25 financial year alone, which is expected to generate R745 million in economic impact and attract over 27,000 delegates through to 2028. Moreover, bid submissions for events extending into 2032 are already in progress, suggesting a robust pipeline for future opportunities. The impact of these international meetings was further underscored by the words of Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism. 'These outstanding results reflect the Western Cape's global competitiveness and the tangible economic impact of business events. Every international meeting we host fuels job creation, investment, and innovation - while positioning our region as a hub of knowledge and expertise,' he commented. Also supporting the positive narrative is Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth in the City of Cape Town. He emphasised that Cape Town's impressive rise in global rankings reflects the city's world-class infrastructure and skilled workforce, buttressed by public-private partnerships. 'Business tourism remains a key pillar of our economic growth strategy - each international meeting not only boosts hotel bookings and restaurant traffic, but also significantly enriches our local economy. "This is why we proudly fund the Convention Bureau, as we recognise how strategic support can unlock tremendous benefits for our communities,' Vos added. With Cape Town climbing the ranks as a desired global venue for international meetings, its future as a thriving business tourism hub shines bright, paving the way for economic prosperity and community enrichment across the region.
