Conference & Meetings World Issue 104 | Page 10

Advertisement feature The CTICC, the Platform for Knowledge Exchange Since its inception, 16 years ago, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has been the venue of choice for a myriad of congresses, major trade fairs, exhibitions and festivals. Choosing the CTICC as a location for these events seems only natural, as a leading venue in Africa, conveniently located in one of the worlds top destinations, Cape Town. The centre successfully maintains a steady stream of coveted international conferences and meetings. Over the years, the CTICC and Cape Town have garnered a reputation for being a top meeting destination, providing the ideal platform to advance knowledge in various sectors. The centre is strategically aligned the growth areas set out by the Western Cape Government and augmented by the catalytic sectors of the City of Cape Town. These sectors include tourism, oil and gas, agro-processing, including business process outsourcing, renewables, film, electricity, water ICT, logistics and financial services, as well as education and health. The international conferences that the centre attracts related to these sectors serve as pivotal drivers of the knowledge economy. Some of the largest and most significant conferences hosted during 2019 were the World Congress of Internal Medicine 2018 (WCIM); the 2019 YPO Global Leadership Conference (GLC); AfricaCom 2018, Africa’s largest telecoms, media and technology event; African 10 / C O N F E R E N C E & M E E T I N G S W O R L D / I S S U E 1 0 4 Peace Summit; and the 2019 Investing in African Mining Indaba, which is the biggest mining investment conference in the world and is hosted by the CTICC every year. The convention centre is a purpose built complex offering a wide variety of flexible spaces and state-of-the-art equipment, as such, the CTICC is able to host every conceivable event, from small meetings to 20 000 delegate conferences. The convention complex comprises of two light filled buildings connected by the Skybridge, allowing for a seamless eventing experience between all conference venues, auditoria, exhibition halls and breakaway rooms. The international conferences booked for the years ahead are a testament to the centre’s reputation as the centre prepares to welcome the 2020 World Ophthalmology Congress. This is the premier and largest international ophthalmic assembly with an anticipated 8 000 delegates from upwards of 130 countries expected. Additionally, the centre will be hosting the International Congress of Human Genetics in 2021, with an expected 7 000 delegates. While in 2022, the 18th International Congress of Immunology, is expected to attract 6 000 delegates, followed by the 76th Congress of the International Fiscal Association also in 2022, as well as the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union in 2024. Other future-focused events include two renewable energy trade fairs coming in 2020: Solar Power Africa and Africa Energy. The CTICC’s continued success can be attributed to integrating innovation throughout our business model, and the appealing value proposition Cape Town has to attract influential international conferences. As an industry leader, the CTICC facilitates the sort of economic growth integral to growing the South African economy while creating jobs. The focus on technological, medical and financial services sectors has assisted in the centre’s aim while enabling professionals to interact on a global platform, remain competitive and collaborate on market trends.