Beyond Asia: South Africa; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE; and Yekaterinburg, Russia

TTGmice's weekly round-up of MICE developments outside of Asia-Pacific.

Aerial view of Cape Town
Aerial view of Cape Town

CTICC confirms 100 international conferences up to 2026
Over 100 international conferences, which are expected to bring over 127,000 delegates to Cape Town, have been confirmed by Cape Town International Convention Centre up until 2026.

The most recent events confirmed at the CTICC includes World Dairy Summit 2020 which is expected to attract 1,200 delegates from 65 countries, and The Entrepreneurs Organisation Global Leadership Conference 2020 which will bring together 188 member chapters from 58 countries and 2,000 participants. The latter will take place in Africa for the first time.

“Having secured 105 international conferences up until 2026, these events will have a significant impact on the Western Cape and South African economy. With South Africa’s economic growth prospects at 1.2% in 2019, securing international events can only positively affect our economy and bolster much needed job creation,” said Julie-May Ellingson, CEO at CTICC.

Raki Phillips placed at helm of Ras Al Khaimah tourism
Hospitality veteran Raki Phillips will lead the next phase of Ras Al Khaimah’s – one of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE – tourism development, as CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA).

He takes over from Haitham Mattar, and has been tasked with implementing RAKTDA’s Destination Strategy 2019-2021 and supervising a number of key projects, with notable development projects on Jebel Jais including multiple zip lines, adventure park hiking trails, the Bear Grylls Survival Academy and a luxury camp.

The authority’s recently announced Destination Strategy 2019-2021, which aims to attract 1.5 million visitors to the Emirate by 2021 and three million by 2025.

Previously, Phillips worked for global brands including Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Universal Studios Orlando.

New Congress Hall opens for business in Ekaterinburg
Ekaterinburg’s new Congress Hall at Ekaterinburg-EXPO International Exhibition Center has held its first event – the general meeting of the Russian Convention Bureau (RCB).

Alexey Kalachev, director of the Russian Convention Bureau, said: “The new venue must become one of the flagships of the Russian event industry, intended for business events at the highest level.”

Kalachev noted that Ekaterinburg has consistently ranked second place for five years in a row, in terms of event destination appeal, according to R&C Market Research Company.

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