Most Innovative Business Tourism Destination Award

Most Innovative and Sustainable Business Tourism and MICE Destination in Africa based on destination rating, number of classified hotels, value for money, value chain development, number of visitors vs socio-economic benefits to the destination and/or green credentials.

1
Egypt


Reason 1: Number of Classified Hotels: Egypt is home to many luxury resorts and hotels, especially in well-known cities like Cairo, Luxor, and Sharm El Sheikh. Business visitors and MICE events can find a variety of high-quality lodging options.

Reason 2: Socio-economic Benefits: Egypt's tourist sector contributes significantly to the nation's economy by creating jobs and promoting socio-economic growth. The industry supports local communities and livelihoods by making a considerable contribution to employment generation, particularly in regions where tourism is highly dependent.

Reason 3: Egypt has made action to improve its reputation as a green travel destination. Examples of projects to encourage sustainable practices include the preservation of coral reefs and marine ecosystems as well as the decrease of plastic trash in the Red Sea's coastal regions.

Website - www.egypt.travel

2
Mauritius


Reason 1: Value: Mauritius provides exceptional value for money when it comes to MICE amenities and business tourism. The island country offers a range of first-rate lodging options, meeting spaces, and recreational pursuits to make sure tourists get their money's worth.

Reason 2: The promotion of environmentally friendly tourism techniques has advanced in Mauritius. The nation has put in place a number of programs to safeguard its natural heritage, including the preservation of marine ecosystems, the promotion of renewable energy sources, and sustainable waste management.

Reason 3: Visitor Volume and Economic Benefits: Mauritius, despite its modest size, draws a sizable number of tourists every year. The tourism industry makes a considerable economic contribution to the nation by generating jobs, assisting small businesses, and enhancing the socioeconomic climate of the region.

Website - mymauritius.travel

3
Sandton Convention Centre


Reason 1: Innovation: The Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, which offers cutting-edge technology, adaptable event spaces, and contemporary amenities, is renowned for its innovative facilities and services. It continuously adjusts to the changing requirements of business travelers and MICE events, ensuring a smooth and successful experience.

Reason 2: The convention center regularly interacts with regional service providers and suppliers, which helps the local community's value chain grow. This strategy promotes local economic development, job creation, and skill development.

Reason 3: The Sandton Convention Centre is dedicated to environmental responsibility and sustainability. It has put into place a number of green initiatives, including water conservation measures, waste management plans, and energy-efficient lighting systems. The site also offers Eco-friendly solutions for events, such as using recycled materials and promoting sustainable culinary options, and encourages event planners and exhibitors to follow sustainable practices.

Website - Sandton Convention Centre

4
Kigali International Convention Centre (Rwanda)


Reason 1: Destination Rating: As a top business tourist and MICE destination in Africa, Rwanda has greatly benefited from the presence of the Kigali International Convention Centre, a top-notch facility. International organizations and event planners have praised its state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and competent services.

Reason 2: Benefits to society: The convention center has been essential to Rwanda's socioeconomic growth. It has fostered commercial growth in Kigali, attracting investment, and fostering economic prosperity. It has also provided a large number of job possibilities, particularly in the hospitality and service industries.

Reason 3: Sustainability was taken into consideration when building the Kigali International Convention Center. It includes environmentally beneficial elements including solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and energy-saving gadgets. During events, the venue also encourages sustainable behaviors such as water conservation, recycling, and trash minimization.

Website - Kigali International Convention Centre

5
Addis Abba Culture And Tourism Bureau


Reason 1: The value chain in Addis Abeba has expanded as a result of the city's tremendous progress in strengthening its business tourism and MICE sector. The location provides a selection of hotels, conference centers, and ancillary services that are well-known internationally, generating job possibilities and encouraging entrepreneurship.

Reason 2: The city of Addis Abeba has benefited socioeconomically from an increase in tourists. The increase in business travelers and MICE events has helped local businesses earn more money, create jobs, and grow related industries like transportation, lodging, and entertainment.

Reason 3: Ethiopia has demonstrated a dedication to sustainability and green techniques, particularly in Addis Abeba. The nation has started programs to encourage sustainable tourism, renewable energy, and environmental preservation. With the aim of lowering its carbon footprint, Addis Abeba has adopted waste management plans that include recycling operations.

Website - Culture and Tourism Bureau

6
Africa's Eden: KAZA Region (Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana)


Reason 1: Africa's Eden has been instrumental in the mobilization of tourism players and the promotion of sustainable tourism activities within the KAZA Region (Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana). The organization has employed cutting-edge technology and harnessed the power of technology to promote the region.

Reason 2: Africa's Eden has adopted an inclusive approach to tourism, ensuring that all players are represented (from the smallest operators i.e. curio dealers to the largest tour operators and accommodation establishments).

Reason 3: As a Private Sector driven initiative, Africa's Eden has the potential to become an integral part of the tourism sector in Southern Africa, (a) to lobby with governments for policies and legislation that promote conservation and sustainable business practices and (b) to drive innovation across the tourism sector.

Website - www.africaseden.travel

7
Durban International Convention Center: South Africa


Reason 1: Opened by former president, Nelson Mandela in 1997, the Durban ICC was South Africa’s first International Convention Centre and has played a pioneering role in attracting international events to our shores since its inception. This world-class facility, renowned for its high standards of service excellence, has successfully staged some of the world’s most prestigious and complex events. This multi-award winning Centre has been voted “Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre” by the World Travel Awards no fewer than 17 times in 18 years and has been rated amongst the World’s Top 17 convention centres by AIPC.

Reason 2: The Durban ICC offers you the largest flat floor, column-free multi-purpose event space in Africa. Incorporating the Durban ICC Arena and Durban Exhibition Centre, the complex offers you 112,000m² of flexible exhibition and meeting space.Service excellence is the heart-beat of the Durban ICC team and this commitment to quality is expressed through its five-star grading by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa and its several international ISO Certifications.

Reason 3: The Centre maintains its ISO9001 certification for Quality Management in its operational systems, ISO14001 for its Environmental Responsibility, OHSAS18001 for Health & Safety and its ISO22000 certification ensures the highest standards of Food Safety.
The Durban ICC offers you first-world convenience and a proudly African meetings experience. The Centre is fully Wi-Fi enabled and connectivity is complimentary to its delegates and guests. The Centre is located 30-minutes from the King Shaka International Airport and over 3,600 Hotel rooms are within a 10-minute walk of the Centre. The Durban ICC Arena offers full technical capacity for live broadcasts as well as house lighting suitable for TV production filming. The Durban ICC houses four on-site generators which can fully power the centre in the event of power disruptions. The on-site business centre offers an internet café, as well as printing services for banners and marketing collateral. The Centre also includes an on-site Travel Agency and Travel Doctor.
The Centre is fully wheel-chair friendly and provides other facilities for the physically challenged, including the Braille Trail which provides directions for the sight impaired and blue strobe lights which are activated during emergency evacuations for persons with impaired hearing.

Website - Durban International Convention Center

8
City of Cape Town


Reason 1: The Mother City has a big draw card: Stunning scenery, a great lifestyle and the most friendly people. The easy and relaxed pace of life as well as the cosmopolitan mix of the city's inhabitants attract many people from around the world. Many come for the manifold opportunities which the modern city at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain offers.

Reason 2: The magical location, the refreshing sea breeze and the energising, dynamic multicultural vibe of Cape Town charm locals and foreigners alike. It is no wonder, that tourists and expats rank Cape Town consistently among the top cities around the world. Let us show you what makes Cape Town such a major attraction for the global community.

Reason 3: The awesome Table Mountain range with the Twelve Apostles mountains, the white sandy beaches and not to forget the vicinity of the lush green Cape winelands as well as the fabulous local cuisine usually come up first when you ask about what makes Cape Town so attractive. Now read here about the latest accolades and why Cape Town is such a glorious gem:Cape Town is the best destination in the world for events, conferences, expos and festivals according to the World Travel Awards. In 2019, the city was elected again as the leading events destination in Africa. Let's see if the city makes it to the top of the world rankings again. Watch this space!Cape Town is listed among the world's most innovative cities. It is categorised as 'hybrid' city between the new world cities and the emerging world cities and ranks in this category among other important and innovative world cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Budapest and Prague. (World Economic Forum, 2018.)Tourists and business travelers love to visit Cape Town and call this vibrant city one of the most favorite travel destinations in the world. Tourist numbers for Cape Town especially are growing well, with more than 300,000 people employed in the tourism sector in and around Cape Town in 2017 (Wesgro, 2018). Be assured some of these accolades will blow you away.

Website - www.capetown.gov.za

9
South African Tourism


Reason 1: Due of its: South Africa is a desirable location for business tourism.
- Diversified economy: South Africa's contemporary infrastructure and well-established financial industry make it a perfect place for enterprises to explore new prospects.
- An abundance of natural beauty may be found throughout the nation, including wildlife refuges, mountain ranges, and breathtaking coastal areas.
- Cultural diversity: South Africa has a distinctive culture that is unmatched by any other country, with 11 official languages, numerous religions, and diverse customs coexisting peacefully.

Reason 2: Due to a number of advantages South Africa enjoys over other nations, its tourism industry has experienced continuous expansion.
Natural splendor: Table Mountain, the Kruger National Park, and Cape Town are just a few of South Africa's many natural treasures. Visitors from all over the world travel to these places for sightseeing and adventurous pursuits.
Affordability - Compared to other travel locations, travellers can enjoy high-quality services at significantly lower costs thanks to the weak currency exchange rate. As a result, vacationers on a tight budget will find it appealing.
Security and safety - Over the years, South African authorities have made significant investments in law enforcement personnel and infrastructure enhancements in an effort to increase security. Tourists can visit the nation with confidence thanks to this.
These elements, along with effective marketing initiatives, have recently greatly aided in promoting South Africa as a top vacation destination.

Reason 3: The awesome Table Mountain range with the Twelve Apostles mountains, the white sandy beaches and not to forget the vicinity of the lush green Cape winelands as well as the fabulous local cuisine usually come up first when you ask about what makes Cape Town so attractive. Now read here about the latest accolades and why Cape Town is such a glorious gem:Cape Town is the best destination in the world for events, conferences, expos and festivals according to the World Travel Awards. In 2019, the city was elected again as the leading events destination in Africa. Let's see if the city makes it to the top of the world rankings again. Watch this space!Cape Town is listed among the world's most innovative cities. It is categorised as 'hybrid' city between the new world cities and the emerging world cities and ranks in this category among other important and innovative world cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Budapest and Prague. (World Economic Forum, 2018.)Tourists and business travelers love to visit Cape Town and call this vibrant city one of the most favorite travel destinations in the world. Tourist numbers for Cape Town especially are growing well, with more than 300,000 people employed in the tourism sector in and around Cape Town in 2017 (Wesgro, 2018). Be assured some of these accolades will blow you away.

Website - www.southafrica.net

10
Cape Town International Convention Centre


Reason 1: The Table Mountain backdrop of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) provides one of South Africa's most stunning settings for world-class amenities.
The CTICC continually provides outstanding experiences thanks to its cutting-edge architecture, rigorous attention to detail, excellent services, 5-star hotel facilities, and committed staff.

Reason 2: The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), which is situated on Cape Town's lovely northern waterfront, provides top-notch amenities in one of South Africa's most spectacular settings, with Table Mountain serving as the backdrop. The CTICC continually provides outstanding experiences thanks to its cutting-edge architecture, rigorous attention to detail, excellent services, 5-star hotel facilities, and committed staff. In its exposition center, the CTICC can accommodate up to 10,000 delegates theater-style. Two auditoriums with excellent acoustics, cutting-edge technology, and ergonomic seats with writing tablets are just a few of its many amenities. Large formal meetings, seminars, award ceremonies, and even theatrical productions are perfect for these settings.

Reason 3: Any function is enhanced with a variety of equally fashionable landings and conservatories. The strelitzia and jasminum, two multipurpose dining spaces, are both reachable from various events and show halls.
To enable effective delegate registration, the registration foyer has been designed.
One of the most cutting-edge kitchen facilities in the Western Cape is found at the CTICC, where hundreds of top-notch meals are served every day by staff that has received international training.
The CTICC can provide packages of completely integrated technological solutions since it has cutting-edge audiovisual equipment and a reliable information technology infrastructure.
As part of its commitment to being a leading environmentally friendly convention center, the CTICC has implemented cutting-edge sustainable initiatives and adopted environmental responsibility in all parts of its operations.

Website - www.cticc.co.za

11
Gauteng Convention Beurea


Reason 1: A division of the Gauteng Tourism Authority, the Gauteng Convention & Events Bureau (GCEB) is committed to assisting the business events industry and putting strategic plans into place to maintain the region's status as one of the top meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition (MICE) destinations in the world.

Reason 2: The GCEB collaborates closely with major stakeholders in the industry to promote Gauteng as a commercial hub and an alluring MICE destination. Every region in Gauteng has the infrastructure needed to promote the province as a top destination for events, business, and leisure. Gauteng is the province to do business with and do business in, with cutting-edge convention facilities, hotels that accommodate every business traveler's demands, and high-speed meeting rooms for some of the most effective networking sessions to take place! We bring global business to Gauteng and our business contacts to the world thanks to the region's ideal location near the country's major international airport.

Reason 3: The Gauteng Convention & Events Bureau (GCEB) offers information and assistance to meeting and incentive planners, the media, corporates and association buyers who show interest in one of the five regions that it promotes in order to increase the province's high-yield business tourism market. Standard bid support materials, venue and lodging procurement, and utilizing networks to secure local association and promotional assistance are all examples of support services. The bureau can offer interested parties top-notch services because to its broad roster of essential stakeholders, which includes airlines, hotels, venues, travel operators, and government protocol offices.

Website - www.gauteng.net

12
Rwanda Convention Bureau


Reason 1: The Convention Bureau presently serves as Kigali's primary MICE organizing organization. It connects the supply and demand of business tourism services and advertises Rwanda as an attractive national, regional, and international meeting location. In this approach, it supports both the 2011 National Export Strategy and the government's medium-term Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS). The Convention Bureau established a bridge between the public and private sectors and reoriented the MICE space towards businesses.

Reason 2: One of the first nations in East Africa to set up a convention bureau was Rwanda, which has already started to influence the industry. As a result, it is now ranked third on the continent, behind South Africa and Morocco, in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) 2016 business tourism rankings. In 2015, Rwanda was rated seventh in Africa out of 39 nations. Among the best cities on the continent for meetings, congresses, and events, Kigali came in fifth.

Reason 3: In order to better target its future initiatives, the Convention Bureau has also established a research desk to compile data and predict the duration of delegate stays, spending levels, and pre- and post-initiative impacts on the entire value chain.

Website - www.rcb.rw