Cape Town International Conference Centre: off to a flying start.

With an already impressive track record of successfully hosting major international conferences, expositions, and trade fairs, Cape Town, South Africa, is consistently growing its profile as a leading convention destination. Cape Town is Africa's most popular meeting destination and was ranked in 2002 by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) as the 30th most popular convention destination in the world. The city's profile has risen since the opening of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in June last year.

Ideal setting for international conferences

Dirk Elzinga, managing director of CTICC, says that the centre will strengthen Cape Town's position as a destination of choice for international conference organizers. He predicts that by 2010 the city will be rated among ICCA's top 10 most popular destinations. The centre's results for the first six months of operation indicate that CTICC is on the right track for achieving that goal.

"We ended 2003 on a high note with impressive results. Compared to our original estimates, we have far exceeded our own expectations by hosting 196 events between June and December last year," says Elzinga. "No less than 290,246 visitors and delegates attended events at the centre over that period. This number comes very close to the originally targeted 300,000 visitors for the first full year."

From the outset, bookings for international conferences have been strong. In the second half of 2003, CTICC hosted 16 international conferences with nearly 7,500 international delegates. According to Elzinga, the centre is a pivotal driver of business tourism in South Africa. "International delegates spend an average of 2,000 rand per day (US$290) and the international conferences at CTICC in 2003 represented at least 31,810 conference delegate days. The direct economic value of these events alone is calculated at an impressive R63 million (US$9.14 million)," he says.

Elzinga predicts a bright future, with Cape Town attracting international events, including the 8th ICCA Annual Congress, 14th International Zeolite Conference, 5th International Glaucoma Symposium, 28th Congress Society Internationale d'Urologie, 2nd World Autism Congress, Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics World Congress, 22nd International Mineral Processing Congress, International Commission on Occupational Health Congress, and International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities Conference.

A most flexible facility

CTICC covers a gross floor area of about 55,000 square meters. A range of subdivisible, multiuse facilities allows a variety of events to occur simultaneously. The 10,000 square meters of dedicated, column-free exposition and trade fair space on its ground floor is divisible into five smaller exposition halls. An adjacent 5,000 square meters marshalling yard allows easy access for buildup and breakdown of expositions.

The ground-level entrance foyer, accessed off Convention Square, houses a registration lounge, three restaurants, a coffee shop, a business centre, and a convenience store. The first floor main auditorium has 1,500 raked seats. The 2,000-square-meter ballroom can seat 1,500 people, and a smaller auditorium has 620 raked seats. Smaller rooms and meeting suites on this level overlook the ground floor exposition halls.

Meeting rooms on the second floor can accommodate 30 to 300 people. The Roof Terrace Room is a 400-square-meter space with an outside balcony that takes advantage of sweeping views of Table Mountain and an inside balcony overlooking the centre's atriums.

The basement of the centre hosts a 1,400-square-meter, fully equipped kitchen. Plus, with nine satellite kitchens throughout the building, CTICC can cater small and large events, serving up to 7,000 people at a time.

Accommodations

At least five of the city's luxury hotels, providing more than 3,000 rooms of three-star quality and above, are within walking distance of the convention centre, including the 483-room, five-star Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel, directly accessible from the convention centre's gallery.

More than 16,000 rooms in hotels, auberges, and guest houses are within a 45-minute radius of the city centre. As an added service to its clients, CTICC offers complimentary hotel service to assist conference organizers with accommodations.

Although the new Cape Town International Convention Centre is still in its infancy, all indications are that it is well prepared to handle the conferences, expositions, and other meetings already booked for the years ahead.

Contact

Angeline Lue, Sales & Marketing Manager

Phone: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Web site: www.capetownconvention.com