MICE experts select their top airport venues
OR Tambo International Airport
JOHANNESBURG offers
a wide variety of airport
conferencing, says
Harry Epskamp of Dumela
Conference Solutions.
The Birchwood Hotel and
OR Tambo Conference
Centre
With over 60 venues set in 52
hectares of beautiful gardens
and only 7km from the airport,
this venue is a firm favourite,
says Harry. Versatile and able
to meet specific prerequisites,
the range of venues can
handle anything from two to
3 000 delegates.
The Premier Conference
Centre
Situated on the retail level
in Terminal B at the airport,
this venue is as close to
the airport as one can get.
Offering three meeting
rooms that can seat 10,
12 and 14 delegates
respectively, the venue also
has seminar facilities that
can handle groups of 25
or 50 and a conference
venue for groups of 60 or
120. An assortment of
catering options is also
available.
Emperors Palace
This world-class convention
and exhibition centre is located
alongside ORTIA. Not only does
the venue boast four awardwinning
hotels, ranging from
five-star suites to three-star
rooms, but it also houses the
Convention for a Democratic
South Africa (Codesa)
Walkway, where delegates
can breakaway. The Emperors
Palace Convention Centre has
29 venues and provides touchpanel
user-interface technology,
giving presenters control of
presentations, volume and
lighting at their fingertips.
Complimentary uncapped
WiFi is also available to all
guests and delegates through
the entire entertainment
complex. Free shuttle services
to and from ORTIA are also
available for delegates and the
Gautrain Rhodesfield Station is
nearby.
Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town and Durban
have fewer offerings than
Johannesburg when it comes
to airport venues, says
Megan Mcilrath of Event
Affairs. But within 10km one
can find a range of facilities
to suit almost any need.
She suggests the following
conferencing venues around
Cape Town International
Airport.
Airport Conference
Centre
Situated in the southern office
block alongside the domestic
terminal (Terminal 5)
at the airport, the venue can
handle anything from six to
80 delegates. Four rooms
are available and vary from
an executive boardroom to a
spacious conference area.
Grand West Casino
Possibly Cape Town’s largest
entertainment centre,
Grand West is only 11km
from the airport. Six fully
equipped conference venues
are available that can be
configured in a variety of
styles. The Good Hope
suite can host up to 170
people, while the Grande
Arena is a 2 250-sqm multipurpose
space that can
hold 5 000 people seated
or 7 000 standing. Sun
Exhibits can accommodation
6 500 people, while the
Market Hall caters for 900.
Hanover Street is perfect
for networking events and
holds 500 delegates, while
the Roxy Revue Bar is ideal
for presentations and office
meetings with a twist. It can
seat 160 delegates.
Hotel Verde
Known as one of Africa’s
greenest hotels, this venue
is just 400 metres from the
airport and boasts eight
state-of-the-art conferencing
and events venues. High-tech
audio-visual equipment is built
into each of the venues and
is included in the rate, as well
as free WiFi and parking. In
line with its green practices,
the venues offer carbonneutral
conferencing at no
extra cost.
King Shaka International Airport
Durban holds an allure of
its own, says Megan. Whilst
several of the venues require
a short trip, they are well
worth the journey, offering
not only excellent facilities
but also spectacular views.
There are three great
conference venues close to
KSIA.
Latitude Conference
Centre
This venue in Dube City is
only three minutes from
the arrivals terminal at the
airport and caters for up to
300 delegates. With various
Durban holds an allure of
its own, says Megan. Whilst
several of the venues require
a short trip, they are well
worth the journey, offering
not only excellent facilities
but also spectacular views.
There are three great
conference venues close to
KSIA.
Latitude Conference
Centre
This venue in Dube City is
only three minutes from
the arrivals terminal at the
airport and caters for up to
300 delegates. With various
seating configurations and
rooms that can be used
for both conferencing and
breakaways, the venue is
fitted with modern audiovisual
equipment. Dube
Square – an open-air
space – is also available for
events and can hold 1 000
delegates.
Fairmont Zimbali Resort
Situated only 16km from
the airport, this luxury
resort offers world-class
conference meeting facilities
that include an executive
boardroom and flexible
ballroom with pre-conference
and courtyard space. There
is more than 5 000sqm
of meeting space, fitted with
state-of-the-art technology.
An onsite conference team
is on standby at all times
to advise or assist in the
planning of an event.
Kingfisher Conference
Centre
Overlooking the waters of the
Mount Edgecombe Country
Club Estate, this conference
centre is a mere 15 minutes’
drive from the airport. The
multi-functional centre has
four dedicated and purposebuilt
conference rooms that
can be configured in several
different ways, with space
for up to 160 delegates,
dependent on the style. Each
room is equipped with stateof-the-art
technology and free
WiFi while there is ample
parking available on site.
Birchwood upgrades its facilities
THE Phomolong Restaurant,
set within Birchwood’s
gardens, has been renovated
to improve its facilities and
update its appearance.
During the process,
Birchwood’s head chef
and top-tier management
team created a new menu
with a focus on providing a
unique dining experience for
both in-house guests and
conference delegates. The
restaurant officially opens
in May.
In other news, since
launching in 2016, ValuStay
@ Birchwood has been
a popular choice for
cost-conscious business
travellers and groups on
a budget. The 94 rooms
provide guests with access
to all Birchwood’s facilities,
including three restaurants,
the Hi-Flyer Aviation Bar, pool,
Mangwanani Boutique Spa
and gym, while also providing
the in-room features such
as DStv, a desk and coffeemaking
facilities.
Birchwood has decided
to undertake a complete
renovation and refurbishment
of the rooms, beginning
in May, which will further
enhance the offering while
keeping the value-for-money
concept.
25% off at Vic Falls resort
The 221-room AVANI
Victoria Falls Resort in
Zambia’s Mosi-oa-Tunya
National Park is offering a
25% discount for bookings
of 25 rooms or more, valid
until July 31. The resort’s
conference centre can be
divided into separate areas
and can accommodate
up to 450 delegates. The
resort also offers themed
banquets in unusual venues,
such as dinners aboard
the Royal Livingstone
Steam Express, or alfresco
barbecues and candlelit
ceremonies in the Boma.
