The CTICC, Africa’s leading conference venue, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) today in Cape Town. Against a backdrop of severe travel restrictions and regulations limiting the size of indoor gatherings, the CTICC leadership team and staff faced a challenging year in 2020/2021. While 2021 saw the start of the vaccine roll-out and the easing of some restrictions, the CTICC’s business was still severely curtailed. This called for agility and forward thinking to mitigate the restrictions’ financial impact on the CTICC. Due to this, the CTICC team fully embraced its theme for 2020/21 – “Promoting forward thinking” and its chess motif. “Like many businesses, we were faced with uncontrollable challenges and obstacles, but we used these hardships as opportunities to trigger growth,” explained the CEO of the CTICC, Taubie Motlhabane. “The red queen on the front cover of our Integrated Annual Report represents the characteristics that got us through a challenging year, these being passion, innovation and agility. Her red colour also talks back to the Red Queen Hypothesis, a theory that suggests one has to run twice as fast and work twice as hard to stay on top, which was undoubtedly the case for us in this year under review. Like in a chess game, every piece matters – this is why we made teamwork and community a priority in the 2020/21 financial year. To succeed, we had to act strategically, together, because every move we make impacts all of our futures”, she continued. Annual results across the board Annual turnover of R43m Annual revenue of R52.1m R439.3m contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a cumulative contribution of 53.2bn to GDP since 2003 R500.3m contribution to Gross Geographic Product (GGP) and a cumulative contribution of R45bn since 2003 EBITDA loss of R93.7m (32% improvement on the target set for the financial year) 143 282 jobs created nationally since inception Future-proofing the CTICC Based on the lessons learnt in the past financial year, the CTICC team shifted their mindset and actions to a more proactive approach and focused on shaping their future. This approach included several critical improvements to their existing policies, and the implementation of new ones. The changes included: The upgrade of their health and hygiene protocols in line with Covid-19 best practice The implementation of a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy The launch of the Covid-19 screening app that all staff and visitors to the CTICC use as part of their sign-in process The development of their proprietary Venue Capacity Management tool that adapts capacities of event space within the CTICC to the changing Covid-19 regulations and ensures that the correct social distancing is adhered to The Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, expressed his support for the CTICC and its leadership in his foreword in the CTICC 2020/21 Integrated Annual Report. He highlighted the strong partnership between the Western Cape Government and the CTICC throughout the pandemic and how it has supported the well-being of Western Cape residents. Two ways the CTICC has supported the community started with hosting the Hospital of Hope in CTICC 1, which closed its doors on 21 August 2020, having helped 1 500 patients. This was followed by hosting the Vaccination Centre of Hope, where over 100 000 citizens received their vaccinations. Alderman Dan Plato also highlighted the progressiveness of the CTICC team and its support of the community in his foreword in the CTICC 2020/21 Integrated Annual Report. “The CTICC has continued to be forward thinking and community-focused in response to these realities and has continued to maintain its triple-bottom-line commitment to people, planet and profit.” A year of sobering and hopeful statistics During the 2020/21 financial year, the CTICC only hosted 53 events (a decrease of 86.6% from the 2019/20 financial year), with a 98.3% drop in-person attendance rate from the 2019/20 financial year). Many of these events were hybrid, showcasing the CTICC’s ability to seamlessly integrate in-person and virtual events. Notable events include the Western Cape Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards and The Spar Challenge International Netball Tri-Nations Tournament. The centre also provided a safe environment for over 600 trainee accountants to write their exams and 600 UNISA graduates to receive their degrees. The CTICC also reported that 88% of the total procurement spend was with B-BBEE businesses and that 44% of the entire procurement spend was composed of women-owned enterprises, up 2% from the previous financial year. Additionally, 80.7% of spend was with local providers. The CTICC also continued its commitment to the environment and sustainability during the financial year. Energy, water and waste management continued to be of a high priority for the CTICC, and it managed to: Reduce municipal water usage by 54.9% Decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 37.8% Drop energy consumption by 37.4% 6 metric tonnes of waste was diverted from landfill The CTICC’s next move As the board chairman, Deon Cloete, said poignantly in his foreword in the 2020/21 Integrated Annual Report, “the future of events will never be the same for the CTICC”. The CTICC has wisely used its time during the year under review to re-strategise and reimagine its event offering for a new and better tomorrow. This forward-thinking approach has led the CTICC to: Focus on its hybrid event platform, CTICC Engage, by expanding its offerings via the platform. The new offerings include a digital studio with green-screen and various audio-visual facilities Focus on Own Events. The business model for Own Events allows small businesses to be part of large consumer and trade shows at an affordable price, hosted at a world-class venue that attracts both domestic and international visitors. Current events include the CTICC AllSport Expo in September 2022. This expo is the only consumer exhibition that showcases every one of the City’s favourite sports under one roof. Other Own Events include the popular CTICC Gift Fair and This is Art, held in November and the Ultimate Beverage Show, which is coming up on 27 – 29 January. Strengthen its partnerships on the African Continent and its ties with leading African
CTICC works with local partners to help drive a tangible change through job creation and education.
Since 2003 the CTICC has worked with partners in the local community, investing in initiatives such as education, feeding schemes and urban gardening projects. We call this initiative the Local Community Partners (LCP) Programme. The programme’s purpose is to work with local partners in a meaningful and measurable way that can help build a better future for Capetonians. Every three years, community-based initiatives are selected to be part of the LCP Programme through a staff-driven process. While the CTICC provides support and donation in the form of venue hire, catering and goods, staff and stakeholders are also encouraged to work with and volunteer at these LCPs. This approach has been one of the critical factors in the CTICC building a sustainable and transformative programme with measurable societal impact. “Over the past 18 years, we’ve learnt a great deal about how to make a measurable impact in under-resourced communities. And how this impacts our staff as well. Not only does our team get to be part of purpose-filled activities through volunteering, but they also get to see the social impact of these initiatives. The impact such as inspiring a child to learn to read or helping a parent provide for their family by supporting their small business.” says CEO of CTICC, Taubie Motlhabane. For the next three years, Call 2 Care, help2read, and iKhaya le Themba will be the CTICC’s LCP Programme partners. The relationship between the CTICC and its LCP partners remains central to the business’ CSR programme. Call 2 Care Call 2 Care is a non-profit organisation (NPO) located in Cape Town with a mission to improve lives and make a sustainable difference through holistic community development, educational outreach projects and socially conscious volunteer events. The organisation encourages independence, and many of its projects aim to provide people with the tools they need to empower themselves and inspire others. help2read An NPO and English literacy programme, help2read, has been in operation since 2006. It targets underprivileged primary schools across South Africa, providing children who struggle to read with one-on-one attention. The organisation recruits and trains unemployed literate adults from township communities to be literacy tutors who, in turn, assist with teaching and running the programme in township schools. The tutors receive an income and participate in personal development and work readiness programmes, helping secure a better future for themselves and their families. iKhaya le Themba iKhaya le Themba is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in 2003 to empower communities and support families and children. Operating from a purpose-built campus in the informal settlement of Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, iKhaya le Themba provides resources for after school programmes, home-based care, community pantries, urban farming, and general home maintenance. “By laying a foundation for impact measurement from the start has ensured that the CTICC has driven a transformative community support programme. Further by embedding this into the core values of the business and the team’s mindset is invaluable,” says Chairman of Convenco, Deon Cloete. For more information on our Local Community Partners, contact the CTICC Sustainability Officer, Clare Nichols, by emailing now@cticc.co.za. For more information on the CTICC, go to cticc.co.za, connect with us on LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. #ExperienceExtraordinary #BringIt2CTICC End Issued by: Media Office, Cape Town International Convention Centre Media enquiries: media@cticc.co.za, +27(0) 21 410 5000
Cape Town’s CTICC proves its mettle as an essential public service site and key partner for the Western Cape’s proposed vaccination and tourism recovery programs.
It was always the intention of the CTICC’s founders to create a vital hub of social, civil and economic value for the city and its surrounds – and its current status as a highly efficient public vaccination centre is certainly crucial to the Western Cape reaching its goal of achieving a 70 % vaccinated population. Since July 2021, the iconic Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has been home to one of the Western Cape’s largest vaccination centres, the Vaccination Centre of Hope, where over 90 000 people have received their Covid-19 vaccinations. The vaccination centre is a partnership with the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Government, Discovery Health, and the CTICC to accelerate the vaccination programme within the Western Cape. Currently, close to 2,000 citizens are vaccinated each day at the centre. This impressive achievement is thanks to the medical and administrative staff of the Western Cape Province, who have worked tirelessly with the team at the CTICC and their partners. The CTICC staff and suppliers have been instrumental in the day-to-day operations of the vaccination site. The team provides ushering, cleaning, maintenance of sanitization stands, electrical and lighting, ensuring the air-conditioning systems are working correctly, technical support, and a friendly welcome. The CTICC’s reliable and fast internet connection also allows for the management of bookings and registrations. Taubie Motlhabane, Chief Executive Officer of CTICC, said, “the recovery of tourism is highly dependent on the ability of people to be able to meet safely. Any support we can give to assist in a faster recovery of the tourism industry is of paramount importance to us,” Taubie further adds, “we are also extremely proud to say that so far, 87% of our entire staff compliment of 155 have received their first jab. 100 of the 155 staff are fully vaccinated.” By combining public and private sector resources and capacity, the Vaccination Centre of Hope offers access to the Covid-19 vaccine to both medical scheme members and uninsured citizens, free of charge, through payment agreements between the Department of Health and medical aids. The CTICC’s current function as an essential health resource and support centre is indicative of its role and intention to remain a key player in the city’s landscape – and an ever-evolving hub of innovation and resourcefulness. “The only way to get ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic is to work together. This project started back in March 2021 and came online when our citizens needed it most. The CTICC is proud to be part of this equal opportunity effort. Together, we can safeguard our communities and make a difference in many people’s lives,” Deon Cloete, Chairperson of the Cape Town International Convention Centre Company (Convenco), said. The Vaccination Centre of Hope is open Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm. It is safe, easy to access and parking is available. For more information on the CTICC, go to cticc.co.za, connect with us on LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. #ExperienceExtraordinary #BringIt2CTICC #jabs4tourism #eventsprofs #meetingprofs End Issued by: Media Office, Cape Town International Convention Centre Media enquiries: media@cticc.co.za
Statement by Minister David Maynier: We are ready to welcome business travellers to Cape Town and the Western Cape
With our innovative hybrid conferencing and meeting facilities, world-class attractions and strict health measures in place, we are ready to welcome business travellers back to the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape. Today (16 September 2020), Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, visited some of the Western Cape’s top facilities in the business events sector, comprising of Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE), and was joined during the day by the City of Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato and Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos to showcase the readiness of the business events sector as we re-open and begin rebuilding our economy and saving jobs in the Western Cape. The value of the business events sector to the South African economy cannot be underestimated, as it contributed R115 billion to the economy in 2018 and attracted 11,4% of foreign tourism to the country in 2019. The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape has, over the last 10 years, hosted the most international association conferences in Africa. In 2019, the Western Cape hosted 57 international association meetings with approximately 21,000 delegates and an average of 3,6 days per event with international congresses, and during the 2019 fiscal year, the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau secured bids with an estimated economic impact of R1 billion for the province. Minister Maynier’s first visit was to the Spier Wine Farm to visit the Mosaic Centre and see their new hybrid conference facilities. Minister Maynier also welcomed members of the tourism trade taking part in an event organised by the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau to showcase the meeting and conferencing products available in the Western Cape. During his visit Minister Maynier said: “I am impressed with the high standard of innovation and adaptation I have seen today at our attractions and experiences in the Western Cape. These businesses have shown great resilience and, in fact, have used the time during the Covid-19 restrictions to adapt in ways that provide opportunities to offer unique local experiences, be competitive in the global market and create jobs during a very challenging time. There is no doubt that the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape is open and travel ready.” Next, Minister Maynier joined Mayor Plato and Alderman Vos at the V&A Waterfront to meet with CEO, David Green and Executive Manager of Marketing, Tinyiko Mageza, to see how this world-class attraction has implemented health and safety measures and adapted to the new normal. Alderman Vos said: “The visitor economy is everyone’s business and it is my mission to work with all stakeholders to make sure that we get back to business, safely. The Tourism Task Team, which I established early on in the Covid-19 crisis, focused on co-ordinating the interventions needed to minimise the devastating effect that Covid-19 has on tourism and related industries. This strategy includes the Six Pillar marketing and communications approach, lobbying national government to reopen international travel as soon as possible, and domestic campaigns targeted at locals and marketing Cape Town as a quality and affordable destination. Cape Town is a destination of choice for many and there is a reason our city has been voted the best in the world seven times in a row – it is precisely because we have so much to offer, no matter what a visitor is looking for. I will continue to work to keep the Mother City top of mind as we welcome back our domestic visitors and hopefully, our international visitors, very soon. ” The final stop of the day was the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) where Minister Maynier, Mayor Plato and Alderman Vos were taken on a tour of the new hybrid conferencing facilities by CEO, Taubie Motlhabane, who welcomed the guests, saying: “The retrofitted studio offers clients flexibility in terms of layout, with a customised set design and a LED green screen wall. These spaces can be used for panel discussions, lectures, webinars, a demo kitchen or even a full band for music performances. Clients can broadcast from an on-site facility to a remote, off-site audience. Cape Town remains one of the world’s top destinations for both leisure and business tourism, and the offerings we have are geared towards the CTICC once again contributing to regional economic growth. ‘We are open’, and we are ready and look forward to welcoming events to the CTICC again” The CTICC has taken a number of measures to adapt to the new normal such as launching an app for screening purposes and ensuring 1.5 metre physical distancing is applied in all venues. These efforts, together with the new hybrid conferencing facilities, have resulted in 74 events and over R53 million in revenue secured from October 2020 to June 2021 at the CTICC. Concluding the day, Mayor Plato said: “Cape Town is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and plays a major role in attracting many international conferences to our city. I am glad to see how the facilities in our City are being adapted to welcome guests safely once the borders are re-opened. Tourism is a crucial economic driver in Cape Town, with thousands of job opportunities being created, so I am looking forward to seeing the many international visitors once again returning to our beautiful city in the very near future.”