Latest news with #JoshuaLow
Zawya
10-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Specialised Exhibitions appoints Joshua Low as commercial director Africa to drive African growth
Specialised Exhibitions, a division of global independent exhibition organiser Montgomery Group, has appointed Joshua Low as commercial director Africa. This strategic addition to the leadership team comes as Specialised Exhibitions embarks on an ambitious phase of growth across the African continent. Joshua Low, newly appointed commercial director, Africa at Specialised Exhibitions Low brings a distinguished track record in strategic leadership, innovation, business growth, trade show acquisitions, tender wins, and event direction within the South African events industry. With over 16 years of board and senior management experience in both South Africa and the UK, he has held key leadership roles in several high-growth businesses. As managing director at international event company Messe Frankfurt SA, Low oversaw the growth of the business – from 2 to 10 large-scale exhibitions during his tenure. More recently, he served as vice president South Africa at dmg events, heading up their South African business and the transport and mining portfolio of events for the group. In addition to his corporate roles, Low is the co-founder and director of ESG Africa Conference, Africa's premier environmental, social, governance event that brings together thought leaders and senior executives from across the continent to explore and address the challenges of embedding ESG within their organisations. Commenting on the appointment, Specialised Exhibitions' managing director, Gary Corin, said: 'We are thrilled to welcome Joshua to the Specialised Exhibitions and Montgomery Group family as we pursue ambitious growth across our African events portfolio. His extensive experience, dynamic leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset make him the ideal person to lead our expansion strategy at this exciting time. Joshua is no stranger to Specialised Exhibitions – he previously made a significant contribution to our business as a portfolio director and board member. Now is a pivotal moment for him to rejoin the leadership team and help shape the next phase of our journey.' Low commented: 'I'm excited to be joining Specialised Exhibitions at this time of expansion and growth. The organisation's legacy and commitment to innovation are exceptionally compelling, and I look forward to working alongside the talented team to drive meaningful growth and deliver exceptional events across Africa.' Low will join Specialised Exhibitions from 1 July 2025.
IOL News
03-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Africa's hospitality boom forecast to reach $33. 54bn by 2029
According to forecasts by Statista , the African travel and tourism market will be worth $33.54 billion by 2029. Image: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers FUELLED in part by a surge in 'bleisure' (combined business and leisure) travel, the continent's hospitality sector is poised for significant growth in the next five years. According to forecasts by Statista, the African travel and tourism market will be worth $33.54 billion (about 601bn) by 2029, benefiting from a post-pandemic recovery in trip-taking, improved international connectivity and strong demand for high-quality accommodation. Hotels comprise the largest part of this, with an estimated market volume of $15bn by 2029. 'For local and international business owners, this is a prime opportunity to unlock growth,' according to Joshua Low, Vice President of dmg events South Africa. The company is organising the eighth edition of Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa, which will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from June 11 to 12 — its first time in the Mother City. The move seeks to capitalise on Cape Town's robust tourism and hospitality industry. 'African hospitality is unparalleled,' Low said. 'We have a lot to offer the world, from unique gastronomic experiences to rich cultural heritage and the expert creation of welcoming home spaces away from home. Savvy professionals are positioning themselves as part of this and putting their enterprises on the map.' 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 ✕ Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa will welcome more than 150 exhibitors and 4 000 visitors from across the industry, including a large number of top-tier executives and other key decision-makers. The event will provide an interactive platform to explore opportunities for investment and innovation, as well as keep abreast of the latest trends. It is part of dmg events' global hospitality showcase, which includes large-scale events in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. In a value-adding move, Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa will be co-located with the inaugural Africa Food Show, part of the acclaimed Gulfood series of international events. 'Our exhibitors stand to benefit from this strategic collaboration,' Low said. 'It provides an opportunity to showcase their products and services to a much wider, more diverse audience. The decision plays into the increased convergence we are seeing between the food, beverage and hospitality industries.' In a first for the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa, the event will include HORECA Connect, a special hub for professionals from the hotel, restaurant and catering sector. This significantly broadens the scope of the event, as well as the opportunities for businesses looking to expand their reach. With revenues exceeding $6bn in 2023 and more than 22.6 million diners served nationwide, the restaurant and bar sector is one of the fastest-growing in South Africa's hospitality market. A highlight of the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa will be the much-anticipated launch of the 2025 African Hospitality Confidence Index report, which reveals research-based insights into market sentiment, challenges, trends and innovation. It is considered a key planning tool in the industry. It will be launched at the Conference section of the event, which is supported by Santam. Other learning opportunities include presentations and panels by a high-level line-up of speakers, featuring names like Jacques Stoltz, Director: Tourism, Department of Economic Development, Western Cape Government; Enver Duminy, Chief Executive Officer, Cape Town Tourism; ; Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, Chief Executive Officer, The Tourism Business Council of South Africa; Darryl Erasmus, Chief Operating Officer, South African Tourism; Neil Hughes, Managing Director, Providence Hospitality; and Geri Flanagan, Development Manager, Accor Hotels, among many others. The Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa will also spotlight new products and demonstrations in a dedicated area, adding to the interactive nature of the event.
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Cape Town gears up for 2025 Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa
The eighth edition of Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa will make its debut in the Mother City at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 11-12 June 2025. Fuelled in part by a surge in 'bleisure' (combined business and leisure) travel, the continent's hospitality sector is poised for significant growth in the next five years. According to forecasts by Statista, the African travel and tourism market will be worth $33.54bn by 2029, benefiting from a post-pandemic recovery in trip-taking, improved international connectivity and strong demand for high-quality accommodation. Hotels comprise the largest part of this, with an estimated market volume of $15bn by 2029. 'For local and international business owners, this is a prime opportunity to unlock growth,' says Joshua Low, vice president of dmg events South Africa. The company is organising the eighth edition of Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa, which will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 11-12 June - its first time in the Mother City. The move seeks to capitalise on Cape Town's robust tourism and hospitality industry. 'African hospitality is unparalleled,' says Low. 'We have a lot to offer the world, from unique gastronomic experiences to rich cultural heritage and the expert creation of welcoming home spaces away from home. Savvy professionals are positioning themselves as part of this and putting their enterprises on the map.' What to expect? Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa will welcome more than 150 exhibitors and 4,000 visitors from across the industry, including a large number of top-tier executives and other key decision-makers. The event will provide an interactive platform to explore opportunities for investment and innovation, as well as keep abreast of the latest trends. It is part of dmg events' global hospitality showcase, which includes large-scale events in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa will be co-located with the inaugural Africa Food Show, part of the acclaimed Gulfood series of international events. 'Our exhibitors stand to benefit from this strategic collaboration,' says Low. 'It provides an opportunity to showcase their products and services to a much wider, more diverse audience. The decision plays into the increased convergence we are seeing between the food, beverage and hospitality industries.' In a first for the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa, the event will include HORECA Connect, a special hub for professionals from the hotel, restaurant and catering sector. This significantly broadens the scope of the event - as well as the opportunities for businesses looking to expand their reach. With revenues exceeding $6bn in 2023 and over 22.6 million diners served nationwide, the restaurant and bar sector is one of the fastest growing in South Africa's hospitality market. 2025 African Hospitality Confidence Index Report A highlight of the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa will be the launch of the 2025 African Hospitality Confidence Index report, which reveals research-based insights into market sentiment, challenges, trends and innovation. It is considered a key planning tool in the industry. It will be launched at the Conference section of the event, which is supported by Santam. Other learning opportunities include presentations and panels by a high-level lineup of speakers
The Star
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Shaping the future of food and beverage with Africa's local and global brands at the forefront
Staff Reporter | Published 4 hours ago Welcoming more than 350 exhibitors and 6000 visitors from more than 25 countries, the inaugural Africa Food Show is poised to become Africa's premier event for the Food and Beverage (F&B) industry. The B2B event, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from June 10-12, is considered to be the continent's most influential when it comes to F&B sourcing and innovation. With a large number of people coming from abroad, and showcasing 15 international pavilions, the Africa Food Show is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for African businesses looking to tap into global markets. According to the African Development Bank, the African F&B market is expected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030, on the back of rapid economic and urban growth on the continent. In support of this development and the needs that arise from it, dmg events in partnership with the Dubai World Trade Centre, are launching the Africa Food Show as part of the highly regarded Gulfood series. The Africa Food Show will build on the success of Gulfood - the world's largest F&B exhibition in Dubai, as well as the acclaimed Saudi Food Show. 'The Africa Food Show will highlight the untapped potential of the continent and help businesses discover the myriad opportunities that exist in the local and international F&B sector. By highlighting trends and challenges, the event will help provide a roadmap to elevate Africa's offerings to the global stage,' said vice-president of dmg events South Africa, Joshua Low. Exhibitors will showcase their products at the African Food Show, including a diverse range of international pavilions. Among these will be Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Canada, India and Singapore, to name but a few. Major South African brands will also be on the lineup, including Catercorp,, Barry Callebaut, Fair Cape, Unilever, Karan Beef, Beef Master, Excellent Meat Market, Atlantis Foods, Econofoods, Rhodes Food Group, Ina Paarman's Kitchen, Petit Forestier and Fairview. 'The show is an opportunity to give amazing local products and techniques the spotlight they deserve. Africa is aligning itself with the future of food and forward-thinking businesses are looking for ways to leverage emerging trends for sustained success,' added Louw. Exhibitors will showcase their products at the African Food Show, including a diverse range of international pavilions. Among these will be Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Canada, India and Singapore, to name but a few Image: Supplied The Africa Food Show will run concurrently with the Africa Food Summit, a three-day conference exploring the future of African F&B, with a focus on 'transforming healthy foods for climate and health'. Attendees can look forward to talks by highly decorated speakers like Maxwell Gomera, Director, Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services Branch at the United Nations; Stacy Saggers, Commercial Growth Director South Africa at Kantar; Lorraine Makura, Head of Research and Development at McCain South Africa; and Miles Kubeka, Founder of Wakanda Food Accelerator, among many others. The results of the highly anticipated 'Industry Index' will also be revealed at the Africa Food Summit - this is a survey run by the Africa Food Show in partnership with Circana, with the aim of collecting feedback from the broad F&B sector on a range of topics and trends. Additional special features at the Africa Food Show include the perennially popular South Africa Bakers Challenge, run in partnership with the South African Bakers Association and the Game of Chefs, Global Pizza Challenge and National Burger Challenge, hosted in partnership with the SA Chefs Association and Econofoods. Winners will be rewarded with cash prizes. The Africa Food Show will be co-located with the 8th annual Hotel and Hospitality Expo Africa, the continent's largest event for the hotel, restaurant, bar and café sectors. This event will welcome more than 150 local exhibitors and present a range of interactive features. Africa's culinary scene is undergoing a remarkable transformation and at the heart of this evolution is the inaugural Africa Food Show 2025. This event promises to be a vibrant celebration of food, culture and innovation, offering lifestyle media a wealth of engaging stories and interview opportunities. The Africa Food Show is more than just a trade event, it's a sensory experience and attendees can explore a global marketplace of flavors, from the rich spices of India to the artisanal cheeses of the Netherlands. South Africa's culinary prowess will be on full display, with renowned brands such as Ina Paarman's Kitchen, Fairview, Rhodes Food Group and Unilever showcasing their latest offerings. This is a unique opportunity to delve into the stories behind these household names and discover the innovations driving their success. Attendees can immerse themselves in the excitement of live competitions, including the South Africa Bakers Challenge, Game of Chefs, Global Pizza Challenge, and National Burger Challenge. These events not only entertain but also highlight the creativity and talent within Africa's food scene.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Shaping the future of food and beverage with Africa's local and global brands at the forefront
Welcoming more than 350 exhibitors and 6000 visitors from more than 25 countries, the inaugural Africa Food Show is poised to become Africa's premier event for the Food and Beverage (F&B) industry. The B2B event, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from June 10-12, is considered to be the continent's most influential when it comes to F&B sourcing and innovation. With a large number of people coming from abroad, and showcasing 15 international pavilions, the Africa Food Show is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for African businesses looking to tap into global markets. The African F&B market is expected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030. Image: Supplied According to the African Development Bank, the African F&B market is expected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030, on the back of rapid economic and urban growth on the continent. In support of this development and the needs that arise from it, dmg events in partnership with the Dubai World Trade Centre, are launching the Africa Food Show as part of the highly regarded Gulfood series. The Africa Food Show will build on the success of Gulfood - the world's largest F&B exhibition in Dubai, as well as the acclaimed Saudi Food Show. 'The Africa Food Show will highlight the untapped potential of the continent and help businesses discover the myriad opportunities that exist in the local and international F&B sector. By highlighting trends and challenges, the event will help provide a roadmap to elevate Africa's offerings to the global stage,' said vice-president of dmg events South Africa, Joshua Low. Exhibitors will showcase their products at the African Food Show, including a diverse range of international pavilions. Among these will be Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Canada, India and Singapore, to name but a few. Major South African brands will also be on the lineup, including Catercorp,, Barry Callebaut, Fair Cape, Unilever, Karan Beef, Beef Master, Excellent Meat Market, Atlantis Foods, Econofoods, Rhodes Food Group, Ina Paarman's Kitchen, Petit Forestier and Fairview. 'The show is an opportunity to give amazing local products and techniques the spotlight they deserve. Africa is aligning itself with the future of food and forward-thinking businesses are looking for ways to leverage emerging trends for sustained success,' added Louw. Exhibitors will showcase their products at the African Food Show, including a diverse range of international pavilions. Among these will be Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Canada, India and Singapore, to name but a few Image: Supplied The Africa Food Show will run concurrently with the Africa Food Summit, a three-day conference exploring the future of African F&B, with a focus on 'transforming healthy foods for climate and health'. Attendees can look forward to talks by highly decorated speakers like Maxwell Gomera, Director, Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services Branch at the United Nations; Stacy Saggers, Commercial Growth Director South Africa at Kantar; Lorraine Makura, Head of Research and Development at McCain South Africa; and Miles Kubeka, Founder of Wakanda Food Accelerator, among many others. The results of the highly anticipated 'Industry Index' will also be revealed at the Africa Food Summit - this is a survey run by the Africa Food Show in partnership with Circana, with the aim of collecting feedback from the broad F&B sector on a range of topics and trends. The Africa Food Show will be co-located with the 8th annual Hotel and Hospitality Expo Africa, the continent's largest event for the hotel, restaurant, bar and café sectors Image: Supplied Additional special features at the Africa Food Show include the perennially popular South Africa Bakers Challenge, run in partnership with the South African Bakers Association and the Game of Chefs, Global Pizza Challenge and National Burger Challenge, hosted in partnership with the SA Chefs Association and Econofoods. Winners will be rewarded with cash prizes. The Africa Food Show will be co-located with the 8th annual Hotel and Hospitality Expo Africa, the continent's largest event for the hotel, restaurant, bar and café sectors. This event will welcome more than 150 local exhibitors and present a range of interactive features. Africa's culinary scene is undergoing a remarkable transformation and at the heart of this evolution is the inaugural Africa Food Show 2025. This event promises to be a vibrant celebration of food, culture and innovation, offering lifestyle media a wealth of engaging stories and interview opportunities. The Africa Food Show is more than just a trade event, it's a sensory experience and attendees can explore a global marketplace of flavors, from the rich spices of India to the artisanal cheeses of the Netherlands. South Africa's culinary prowess will be on full display, with renowned brands such as Ina Paarman's Kitchen, Fairview, Rhodes Food Group and Unilever showcasing their latest offerings. This is a unique opportunity to delve into the stories behind these household names and discover the innovations driving their can immerse themselves in the excitement of live competitions, including the South Africa Bakers Challenge, Game of Chefs, Global Pizza Challenge, and National Burger Challenge. These events not only entertain but also highlight the creativity and talent within Africa's food scene.
