SAT launches new website

SOUTH African Tourism (SAT) has launched a new business tourism website at IMEX, the world’s premier, annual travel show for international buyers and sellers of business meetings and incentives offerings which recently ended in Frankfurt Germany.

Accessible via the www.southafrica.net/businesstourism, the business tourism site is, as contained in a press statement endorsed by the General Manager, Business Tourism at South African Tourism, Ms Angeline Lue, said it is highly interactive with robust search functionality.

“It has been designed from the point of view of the prospective user. The users include meeting planners, professional conference organisers, in-house corporate meeting and event planners, government, destination management companies and association management companies,” Lue said.

The manager also said that the new site has been designed to meet the demand for current and relevant information and to equip the trade to better sell South African as a Business Tourism destination.

Lue equally said that the feature-rich website would be made operational in two phases, with phase one featuring product information through a search tool on a range of relevant elements including our world-class venues and accommodation choices, activities and attractions, news, events, testimonials and case studies.

As said by her, the first phase also would include details of the unique business unusual proposition that allows planners to include single or multiple elements of management concepts indigenous to South Africa with universal application to events and meetings.

She cited some examples to include using drumming as a team building exercise to pairing international captains of industry with their South African counterparts and/or using local cultural concepts like Ubuntu with respect for the dignity of all and an emphasis on partnerships.

Resources, she said, such as online brochures, presentations, activities and itineraries as well as the capability to customize itineraries.

Equally, the tools such as a currency calculator, e-brochures and maps, as well as events calendar and quarterly newsletters, industry contact information, and searches via three methods: keyword, location and an interactive map.

“We are very excited about the search optimisation and the easy-to-use navigation. Phase two will focus on the creation of easy-to-use wizards for professional conference organisers and meeting planners, and another wizard for incentive houses. These will provide them with a set of tools and guides to put together plans, itineraries and motivations for holding their meeting or event in South Africa. Phase two is scheduled for launch in September this year”’ says Lue

ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D