The annual Hospitality Industry Think Tank will take place on July 31 at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. This year’s event will gather key stakeholders in hospitality and tourism at a time when the industry faces some its fastest moving challenges yet.
Launched by Dream Hotels & Resorts in 2023, the Think Tank is now in its fourth year with “Oracle: A Senate of Visionaries Shaping the Future Together” as its theme.
The keynote speaker is Johnny Goldberg, Chairman of Global Business Solutions, who will speak about inspiring entrepreneurial behaviour through great leadership.
The agenda will tackle topics such as:
- Geopolitics and trade: The economic impact of the ongoing Ukraine and Gulf conflicts and how shifting trade tariffs are pushing Southern Africa eastward.
- Technology and artificial intelligence (AI): Progress since last year’s conversation on training your AI tools and simplifying interfaces between different systems.
- Industry associations and government: FEDHASA, SATSA, VOASA, SASTRA and TBCSA on their relevance amid the upcoming municipal elections and ongoing engagement with government.
- Climate risk and sustainability: Preparing for changing weather systems, managing risk and cover and funding environmental grading requirements.
- Supporting environmental and social impact: Feedback from current Think Big Academy learners.
The day will conclude with a gala dinner with Jesse Clegg as the headline act and supporting performances by the Wits Performing Arts Department and non-profit organisation Moving into Dance. DJ and radio producer Kyle Cassim will be MC.
“When we launched the Think Tank four years ago, the goal was simply to get the industry talking. What’s remarkable is how much that conversation has had to grow with us. We’ve gone from sharing best practice to grappling with global trade shifts, the pace of AI and a changing climate. The landscape is moving quickly and it’s never been more important for hospitality and tourism to collaborate. None of these challenges can be solved by a single property or brand on their own,” says Chris Godenir, Touching Dreams Ambassador and General Manager of the Peninsula All Suite Hotel.
All event proceeds will benefit Touching Dreams, a non-profit company that aims to empower members of the hospitality industry to create a measurable impact in the local communities and natural environments where they operate.
Reserve your space at the conference by clicking here and for the gala dinner here.
