ICT "disappointing", say exhibitors

THE first dedicated Incentives, Conventions and Business Travel Expo to be held in SA (ICT 2001) - which was held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng between February 22-24 - has drawn mixed reaction from its 180 exhibitors, most seemingly critical of the lack of corporate attendance, following organiser's "promises" that they would comprise the majority of visitors to the three-day event.
Travel Now spoke to a cross-section of exhibitors including representatives from Value Golf, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, and Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate all of whom voiced concern over the corporate issue and said that they would have to seriously consider whether or not it was worth exhibiting next year.
David Weitz, managing director of The Mantis Collection said that while he was happy with the product itself, the event was "disappointing".
"On the one side, we are new to this sector of the market, having made a strategic decision to enter the MICE arena and so did pick up a few new contacts, but there was a distinct lack of the promised corporates. I didn't even see any walking in the aisles. Also, there didn't appear to be anyone from the foreign markets there. My personal feeling is that it was very slow, but it was the first show and it can only - hopefully - get better."
On a more positive note, Rodney Weinrich of Recreation Africa and Jenny Rose of Weekends Away were both extremely pleased with the business they picked up both from PCOs (professional conference organisers) and from the general public on Saturday.
South Africa RAI, the organisers of the ICT Expo, hopes to grow the expo into an event which local and international buyers consider essential to visit.
But it would appear that the jury remains out as to whether or not ICT is set to become SA's 'Indaba' of business travel.
Owing to time constraints, Travel Now has not been able to obtain comment from RAI.

(Elizabeth Sheridan)