Industry experts and corporate executives are gearing up for THINC Africa 2018, one of Africa’s tourism, hotel investment and networking conferences. It will take place from September 5-6 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town.
THINC Africa sees the industry’s leading experts engage on and debate the opportunities and challenges facing the tourism and hospitality sector on the continent.
According to Tim Smith, Managing Director of HVS, an independent global hospitality consultancy and asset management firm, as well as organisers of the conference, events such as THINC Africa play an integral part in growing tourism in Africa by positioning the continent as the next frontier in global hospitality growth.
“There’s a consistently negative stigma around travelling in Africa, which has been snowballing for years. It’s time to change this false perception. Africa is full of authentic experiences and opportunities, both from a business and tourism point of view. We need to position ourselves correctly and draw attention to the positive experiences that can be had here. This kind of mindset is exactly what THINC Africa aims to do and we encourage industry players to attend and add their valuable insights to the conversation,” says Smith.
He says at this year’s conference, attendees can look forward to a host of insightful discussions with high-level industry experts, including John Rabie, Director of Signatura, Tim Harris, CEO of Wesgro, and James Vos, South African Shadow Minister of Tourism.
The conference has been set up over two days with two main discussion formats including Plenary Sessions and Focused Panel Discussions. During the Plenary Sessions, speakers will discuss major industry trending topics, including business sustainability, growth and expansion issues, with operational leaders discussing trends and challenges currently being overcome in the industry, along with the role politicians need to play in boosting tourism on the continent while garnering investment interest to develop the tourism sector.
The in-depth Focused Panel Discussions between panellists and delegates, cover a variety of topics, including, the rise of branded serviced apartments, which of the African safari experiences is better – the Masai Mara in Kenya or Kruger National Park in South Africa. Further discussions will be had on the role of technology development in the industry and alternative hotel development concepts that are on the rise, as well as how women are playing a more integral role in the African hospitality sector.
