Ballito boasts big conference centre
THE Ballito Exhibition and
Events Centre will launch
this month. A R1 million
investment will convert the
existing Ballito Home Gallery
in Moffat Drive into the largest
conference centre between
Umhlanga and Richards Bay.
The venue will be second
in size only to Durban’s
International Convention
Centre and will offer 1 000
sqm of exhibition space and
be able to accommodate up
to 600 delegates.
African Insignia Hotels
and its management arm,
African Origin Hospitality
Management, will both market
and run the venue. Lerina
McCall, director and co-owner
of the two companies, says
up to now there have only
been very small venues
available in the area, meaning
that conferencing companies
had to erect marquees to
accommodate larger groups.
According to Lerina, location
is key. “The new centre is
close to the highway and
the airport, so delegates
will not have to travel long
distances to and from
Durban. There is also plenty
of parking. At the same time,
this venue is close to the
Ballito town centre, shopping
and restaurant venues and
accommodation.”
It is believed that the
opening of the centre will
attract additional revenue to
the area. Jessica Nhleko,
director and co-owner of
African Insignia Hotels and
African Origin Hospitality
Management, says:
“According to the National
Conventions Bureau, business
tourism generates more value
than other tourism categories
in terms of average spend
per trip.”
New multipurpose venue for Durban
TSOGO Sun’s Southern Sun
Elangeni & Maharani Hotel on
the Durban beachfront now
features a multipurpose venue,
offering panoramic views of
the coastline and beachfront.
The venue, called Sky,
located on the 31st oor of
the Maharani Tower, is part
of a R220m refurbishment of
the hotel. Sky is a renovation
of Rafes bar and serves as
a venue for events, including
conferences, banquets, private
functions and celebrations. It
can accommodate up to 250
people with 300 sqm of oor
space.
Conference facilities at the
hotel include 17 meeting and
conference rooms and two fully
equipped business centres.
Tsogo Sun ceo, Marcel von
Aulock, says the group will
also undertake a R100 million
renovation of the Garden Court
Marine Parade, which will
include a refurbishment of all
rooms, public areas and the
conference space. This project
is scheduled to start next
month and will take about a
year to complete.
Date set for Skukuza Airport opening
THE runway at Skukuza
Airport in the Kruger
National Park has reopened
while the new terminal
building, currently under
construction, is on track,
Airlink has advised.
Rodger Foster, Airlink ceo,
told TNW the new terminal
would be completed in
time for the ceremonial
opening on June 2 when
Airlink will launch services
to Skukuza from Cape Town
International Airport and OR
Tambo International Airport,
Johannesburg. Airlink’s
scheduled services would
replace current charter
services between OR Tambo
and Skukuza, said Rodger.
He said the daily number
of ights to and from
Skukuza would be limited
and strictly controlled. “All
future charter operations
at Skukuza will require
prior authorisation
by Skukuza Airport
Management Company,
which will not be granted
without indemnication
and written undertaking
to comply with requisite
operational procedures
and standards for safety
and environmental
considerations.”
Once the new terminal is
open and Airlink’s services
are in place, Rodger said
lodge transfers would
primarily be by road to the
lodges within proximity of
Skukuza airport, while air
transfers would be offered
by Federal Airlines to lodges
further away.
Knysna Oyster Festival – what’s on
THE 31st annual Pick n Pay
Knysna Oyster Festival will run
from July 4-13. The festival
programme features more
than 100 events that donate a
portion of their proceeds to a
designated Knysna non-prot
organisation.
“This year will see the return
of events such as the Oyster
Shucking and Oyster Eating
competitions, the Knysna
Wine Festival and Night Food
Market, and the Pick n Pay
Flavours of Knysna gourmet
evening – but with a soonto-be
announced new twist,”
says festival manager, Nicci
Rousseau-Schmidt.
“Many fresh events include
the Junior Golf Tournament,
a new Triathlon and a Canoe
Relay event – all aimed
especially at teens.”
