By 14h30 on Monday, May 10, 13 856 people had passed through the exhibition’s turnstiles. SAT lauded that there was every good chance that Indaba would top last year’s attendance figures.
 
“This has been an outstanding Indaba for many of us,” Thandiwe January-McLean, CEO, said.”It has been the Indaba at which we have collectively cast our minds to the future of our industry, and of our destination. The pace of business at Indaba this year, and the quality of delegates, both exhibiting and buying, indicate that we have every reason to be optimistic about South Africa as a destination after the 2010 World Cup. The brisk business that was conducted here this year gives us every confidence that our industry is on a sound footing for the future.”
 
She was especially pleased, she said, to note that buyers and visitors from the rest of the African continent had recorded good growth in delegate numbers.

There was a 100% increase in buyers from Angola; an 18% increase in buyers from Mozambique; and a 23% increase in buyers from Tanzania. Between them, these markets had sent 83 buyers to Indaba. With an almost 10% growth in exhibitor companies, January-McLean said it was a clear indication of bullishness and buoyancy in the industry.

One of the most exciting things for those attending the Tourism INDABA is an array of spectacular and creative stands. From large beaded sculptures, to moyo Restaurant staff walking around carrying moving bird and fish puppets, to African villages complete with exhibitors in traditional dress - INDABA 2010 had it all.

The ROARING 80's
1980 - WTM launch event at Olympia opened by Duke of Kent and Miss World, Kimberly Santos of Guam with 350 exhibitors and 7,753 trade visitors.
1981 - Princess Alexandra opened WTM to a near riot among Sun newspaper readers when a consumer promotion went wrong.
1982 - Massive 50% more participants than the launch show.
1983 - Paul Ryan Executive Director, Europe, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts was the first to construct a bi-level stand complete with a first floor.
1984 - Covered three Olympia Halls with each having its own entertainment stage.
1985 - Standing room only drawing its biggest crowd to date to watch Princess Diana opened the event.
1986 - Chairman WTM Fiona Jeffery joins WTM as Marketing Manager.
1987 - A ‘naked’ Lady Godiva riding a white horse on behalf of Coventry Tourism outside Earls Court caught the attention of delegates and passers by.
1988 - Indian Tourist Office hired an elephant from a local circus to parade up and down the WTM forecourt.
1989 - Princess Anne celebrates 10th anniversary by opening the 1989 event

The DYNAMIC 90's
1990 - Decision is made immediately after WTM 1990 to consider an alternative venue.
1991 - Gulf War came to an end in February the affects it had on the travel industry was huge.
1992 - Launch Meridian Club, for senior industry buyers at first Earls Court event with 6,907 members grown to 10,981 members in 2008
1993 - Fiona Jeffrey appointed Exhibition Director from position of Marketing Director, she had held since 1981.
1994 - Environment Awareness Day launched to encourage greater debate on green issues.
1995 - Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated immediately prior to WTM.
1996 - US exhibitors are the focus of attention as Bill Clinton is elected for a second term as president.
1997 - Egyptian Luxor massacre shocked the exhibition floor when it took place at the same time as the event.
1998 - Chairman Fiona Jeffery founded international water-aid charity Just a Drop on behalf of the travel industry. The charity has raised more than £1million and supported 900,000 people in 28 countries.
1999 - Just a Drop helps the victims of a catastrophic earthquake in Turkey with clean water and water purification packs.

MILLENIUM and BEYOND
2000 - 21st birthday with Tribute 21, recognising 21 of the travel industry’s top international business executives, including The Hon ‘Butch Gordon Stewart, Managing Director of Sandals Resorts; Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO Royal Caribbean Cruises; Dr Ralf Corsten, Chairman, TUI Group and Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group of Companies..
2001 - Programme was completely rewritten following the events of 9/11. A two minute silence was held to mark the terrorist attacks.
2002 - Moves from Earl’s Court to ExCeL London. Visitors welcomed by the then Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. Opening performed by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan. World-famous Irish dance group Riverdance provided the entertainment. 
2003 - Film superstar Michael Douglas made an appearance representing Mallorca, where he and his wife Catherine Zeta Jones own a holiday home.
2004 - 25th Anniversary. Environmental Awareness Day was renamed World Responsible Tourism Day.
2005 - Fiona Jeffery appointed as WTM Managing Director before becoming Chairman in 2008
2006 - First pan-industry conference to discuss bi-lateral tourism relations with China took place during WTM.
2007 - Hosts first UNWTO Ministers’ Summit on Tourism and Climate Change. 
2008 - Smashes its participant record with almost 50,000 (49,963) exhibitors, visitors, international media attending the event – an increase of 4% on 2007.

WTM Dates and website : 
8-11 Nov 2010 - Excel Centre, London - www.wtmlondon.com

The Gautrain is set to begin services between OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) and Sandton on June 8, just in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Commuters will now be able to use the airport link into Sandton to get into the hub of Johannesburg at a price lower than that of using a private vehicle, developers claim.

Costs for the Gautrain will be as follows: a trip between Sandton and ORTIA will cost R100; a single train trip plus a single bus trip would cost R22,50 from Sandton to Marlboro; R27 from Sandton to Rhodesfield and R24,50 from Marlboro to Rhodesfield.

Parking at any station would cost R9,50 for the first 24 hours or part thereof as long as the train was also used. Someone only using the parking would pay "substantially" more.

The train and bus service would run from Monday to Sunday between 05h30 and 20h30 every 12 minutes during peak times (05h30 to 08h30) and (16h00 to 19h00) and every 20 minutes off-peak.

She says the focus of the event is the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and never before has the country had such an incredible opportunity to showcase travel and tourism offering.
January-McClean also says it’s a good idea to look beyond the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and told the media that a team effort is essential in paving the way forward in terms of growth. “The industry and national bodies must collaborate and work together to grow arrivals if tourism is going to impact positively, and significantly, on economic growth and job creation,” said January-McLean.

No doubt, INDABA will provide the perfect stage for networking and putting our heads together to create a brighter future for all.

INDABA is the biggest and most influential meeting of tourism minds and leaders on the continent. This INDABA, a month before the World Cup, is going to be a definitive and energising event. It’s also going to offer brilliant networking opportunities and fascinating insights into the South African and African travel industry and where it’s headed after the World Cup.

INDABA takes place from 8 - 11 May 2010 at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

More than 47 000 consumers commented on approximately 1 300 AA Quality Assured or star-graded establishments across the country this year.
 
This year AA Travel Guides has also included electronic feedback, which constitutes about 15 per cent of feedback in total.
 
40 winners announced at the annual glittering Gala Awards Banquet on Sunday 9 May 2010 at the Durban City Hall. Categories included self-catering resorts, bed & breakfasts, township accommodation, game lodges and different types of hotels.  Guests commented on aspects such as service levels, ambience, food and the general quality of facilities.

The winners and finalists receive widespread exposure through the annual ‘South Africa’s Best’ accommodation guide, which is distributed at local and international travel fairs and through the media.  Lists of finalists and winners can also be viewed on www.accommodationawards.co.za.

The awards programme is supported by American Express Card, Sealy, BnB Sure and the Industrial Development Corporation.

ACCESS AFRICA on Show INDABA 2010 - ICC Durban South Africa 8-11 May 2010

WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA INDABA 2010 – Stand no. ICC B008

Meet the A-TEAM and Allow us to help you Access Africa ....... with ongoing wine tasting of the Cape's very best..........

The A-TEAM.....
•  Ros & Anton Potgieter - Big Blue Fishing Charters - www.bigbluefishingcharters.com
•  James McNicoll - SA Leisure & Hotels - www.saleisureandhotels.co.za
•  Christa Nel - Explore South Africa - www.capemedia.co.za
•  Jake Hoddinott - African Array - www.africanarray.co.za
•  Gloria Doepke - Breath of Africa Tours & Safaris - www.breathofafrica.co.za
•  Nerina Norval - eMobile Roaming - www.emobileroaming.com

•  Judith Benjamin - Access Africa Travel Market - www.accessafrica.co.za
representing
•  Southern Right Charters - www.southernrightcharters.co.za
•  40 Winks Guest House Green Point - www.40winksguesthouse.co.za

TASTE award winning BIZOE WINES at INDABA 2010 .....

NEW GIRL ON THE WINE BLOCK DRESSES IN GOLD AT THE INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE

In May 2009, the maiden vintage of winemaker Rikus Neethling’s premium white blend Henrietta was awarded a gold medal in London at International Wine Challenge (IWC), one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious wine competitions.

Favourable weather conditions during 2008 harvest produced concentrated flavours in the Franschhoek-grown semillon, which makes up 70% of this semillon-sauvignon blend. The wine was barrel fermented and matured for 7 months in French oak prior to bottling.

"I’m pleased the wine was recognised as a worthy gold medalist, especially as it is a more restrained classic style, with an agreeably moderate 12.5% alcohol.” says Rikus Neethling. “I also feel there is sufficient depth and structure for positive development of the wine in bottle over the next 6 years."

Bizoe Henrietta is hand-wrapped, bottled in classy Burgundy bottle and packed in cases of six. A total of 2,700 bottles were made, and is available from selected retailers at around R160 a bottle........ www.bizoe.co.za 

The awards, described by the Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the global travel and tourism industry, revealed who are the ‘best of the best’ in the region.

World Travel Awards 2009 EUROPE Winners:

• Lufthansa - Europe’s Leading Airline
• Marriott Hotels Resorts & Suites - Europe’s Leading Hotel Brand.
• Lisbon, Portugal - Leading Destination
• Carlson Wagonlit Travel - Europe’s Leading Travel Management Company
• Viajes Iberia - Europe’s Leading Travel Agency
• Virgin Atlantic Airways - Europe’s Leading Marketing Campaign for their ’25 Years Still Red Hot’ campaign.
A number of national category awards were also presented throughout the evening.

Full list of winners for World Travel Awards Europe www.worldtravelawards.com

Nearly 1500 travel companies were nominated in 177 categories in the prestigious ceremony, held in partnership with Marriott Praia D’El Rey, Bom Sucesso, TAP Portugal and Turismo Do Oeste. Senior management and decision makers of Europe’s travel and tourism industry came together to celebrate their achievements during the ceremony.

Graham Cooke, President, World Travel Awards commented: “The past 12 months have brought several challenges, namely the economic downturn and the outbreak of swine flu, which has impacted travel and tourism worldwide; today’s winners have remained focused on their long term objectives, and continued to deliver above and beyond the call of duty, setting an industry example.”

Throughout the evening, winners were presented with their prestigious awards by key industry figures, with live entertainment which included performances from disco legend George McCrae and international comedian and actor Bobby Davro hosted the evening.

Cooke explained: “This year’s winners can display the official World Travel Awards symbol with pride on their sales and marketing literature, offering travellers a cast-iron assurance that what they are buying is a guarantee of travel excellence.”

Each winner has automatically been put forward for the spectacular WTA Grand Final which will take place at the five-star Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel in London on Sun 8 No 2009, immediately before World Travel Market 2009 (9- 12 Nov 2009 - Excel Centre, Docklands, London).

Despite the global financial crisis there was a positive mood among exhibitors, who were satisfied with business at ITB Berlin. According to a representative survey carried out by Fachhochschule Eberswalde during the fair, six out of ten exhibitors said the recession had had no impact on their business. However, they said that travel behaviour would change.

52 per cent of exhibitors expected tourists to take even shorter trips, 60 per cent believed local tourism would boom, and 68 per cent expected demand for last-minute travel to increase. More than half of the exhibitors claimed they were currently adapting their products to suit changing conditions, for which ITB Berlin is the ideal venue. According to a survey by an independent market research institute, more than 87 per cent (85) of exhibitors obtained a positive impression of the fair. As in 2008, even before this year’s fair had ended, 91 per cent said they would be back next year at ITB Berlin.

Dr. h.c. Fritz Pleitgen, General Manager of Ruhr.2010 GmbH: “We are very grateful that ITB Berlin had the courage to accept us as their partner region – and are pleased we could fulfil the high expectations. We ourselves were curious as to whether we could keep up with the exotic countries at the fair, but things went extremely well. We received a lot of praise for our opening ceremonies. Interest in our region increased noticeably. There were significantly more people at our stand than at our individual displays in previous years. Coming to Berlin was worth our while. I always say that if you can make it there you can make it anywhere.“

Klaus Laepple, President of the German Tourism Industry Federation (BTW) and of the German Travel Association (BTW): “This year there will be huge challenges facing the global economy. Against this backdrop it is impossible to offer any sound predictions for tourism this year. What is certain is that the tourism industry has already overcome many crises, and this is where ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade show, plays a major part. This is the venue where during the last few days the foundations were being laid for the future. There was short-term as well as long-term business in particular being concluded. Equally, there were discussions about companies finding strategies and measures to react to the current situation and about stimulating the market by optimising products and quality. In such difficult times it is especially important to maintain existing relations and networks, and build new contacts, for which ITB is ideal. This year ITB Berlin once again gave a clear signal, and as such the industry is well equipped to face the future.”

Trade visitors extremely satisfied
Trade visitors’ reactions to the range of products and services at ITB Berlin were even more positive than last year. 79 per cent (77) rated it either “excellent“ or “good“. 94 per cent (93) were satisfied with their visit to the fair and 95 per cent (94) would recommend it to friends or colleagues. At 92 per cent, the proportion of trade visitors planning to return to ITB Berlin next year increased (2008: 88).

ITB Berlin – where politics and the media meet
ITB Berlin is an international media event. In addition to international news agencies some 7,7000 journalists from 87 countries were at the fair. Representatives of politics and the diplomatic services attended the world’s largest travel trade show in large numbers. 178 (176) members from 100 countries representing politics and the diplomatic services attended ITB Berlin, among them 77 ambassadors, 85 ministers and 16 state secretaries.

Next ITB Berlin : Wed 10 to Sun 14 Mar 2010, with Turkey as its partner country.

With this marketing tool, establishments are poised to take advantage of the upswing that will come. In today’s environment people are looking for safe choices and research shows that traditional trusted brands are suffering far less than new brands. People want to be sure and that they are spending money wisely.

AA Quality Assurance offers this peace of mind as one of the most powerful brands in tourism worldwide. AAQA programme commenced in 2000. Establishments inspected by a qualified assessor and endorsed as AA Recommended when reaching stringent minimum requirements that offer basic, neat, clean accommodation, with wonderful hospitality. Presently, there are more than 2 000 members across South Africa, representing establishments across full accommodation spectrum.

For more info: Marilynn Cavendish-Davies or Vanessa Sand tel 011 713 2000 or e-mail to aaqa@aatravel.co.za

THE WINNERS...... announced at Indaba 2009

All-Suite Hotel : The Courtyard Eastgate Joburg B&B
Guest House Style - Large : Summerwood Guest House Stellenbosch
B&B Guest House Style - Small : Akademie Street Guesthouses Franschhoek
B&B Homestay : Santa Lucia Guest House St Lucia
Boutique Hotel : Forever Resorts Blue Mountain Lodge Kiepersol
Caravan &/or Campsites : Dibiki Resort Mossel Bay
Country Commercial Hotel : Ghost Mountain Inn Mkuze
Country-Style Retreat Large : Kievits Kroon Pretoria
Country-Style Retreat Small : Welgekozen Lodge Piet Retief
Cultural Experience : Matsamo Cultural Park Jeppes Reef Border Post
Family Resort : Umngazi River Bungalows Wild Coast
Farm Accommodation : Dusk to Dawn Piet Retief
Full Service Hotel : Premier Hotel Pretoria
Game Nature Reserve : Botlierskop Private Game Reserve Mossel Bay
Game Lodge : Nedile Lodge Welgevonden Game Reserve

Guest House Dinner by Arrangement - Large : Boschdal Guest House Rustenburg
Guest House Dinner by Arrangement - Small : Lupus Den Country House Addo
Full Service Large : Feathers Lodge Cape Town Guest House
Full Service Small : Aloe Inn Port Edward

Heritage Accommodation : Royal Hotel Pilgrims Rest
Hotel/Guest House Garni : Victoria Place Guest House Pietersburg

Leisure Hotel : The Nest - Drakensburg Mountain Resort Hotel
Luxury Lodge : Hitgeheim Country Lodge Addo
Luxury Resort with Varied Accommodation : ATKV Goudini Spa Rawsonsville
Resort - Varied Accomm : Forever Resorts Badplaas

Selected Service Hotel : Nelspruit Town Lodge
Selected Service Hotel Budget : Randburg Road Lodge
S/Catering Cottages : Forest Edge Retreat Knysna
S/Catering Resort - Large : Forever Resorts Swadini Hoedspruit
S/Catering Resort - Small :Houtkapperspoort Houtbay
S/Catering Suite Apartments : La Cote D'Azur Margate

Small Hotel/Inn : Eendracht Hotel Stellenbosch
Suburban Cultural Experience : Sangweni Lodge Alice
Township Accomm - Modern : Tumie's B&B East London
Township Accomm - Original : Magora's B&B Joburg Township
Heritage Accommodation : Maski B&B Pretoria

HALL OF FAME - AA AWARDS 2009

Cycad Lodge and Chalets Nelspruit
Paxton Hotel Port Elizabeth
Kleine Eden Guest House Bloemfontein
Indaba Hotel Conference Centre Johannesburg
Tonquanie Lodge & Spa Knysna
Road Lodge Rivonia Johannesburg
The St James of Knysna
Botle Guest House Johannesburg
Batabia Boutique Hotel Stellenbosch
Pumula Beach Hotel Umzumbe
Willow Park Conference Centre East Rand
Kruger Park Lodge Hazyview
The Retreat Groenfontein Calitzdorp
River House Guest House Malalanes Kruger Park
Granny Mouse Country House  Balgowan