Industry Face-Off: Kagiso Exhibitions & Events vs Thebe Exhibitions
24. Apr, 2009
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Recent Nielsen research results showed that the South African exhibition industry is fifth on the list of media ad spending after TV, print, radio, and outdoor advertising. Based on the total direct expenditure of R74, 3bn, it is estimated that during a full year the exhibition industry contributes R159, 5bn to the national economy.
The exhibition industry in SA is fast becoming a significant player in business tourism. In the light of the above, we profile two of South Africa’s main exhibition companies. Don’t forget to vote for the company you feel might edge slightly ahead of the other by the end of this year. For this reason we focus on Kagiso Exhibitions & Events vs Thebe Exhibitions.
Kagiso Exhibitions & Events: CEO: Gordon Metz
Overview of the company
We own and manage some of the largest events on the African continent. The company was formed in February 1999 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kagiso Media Ltd, itself a subsidiary of Kagiso Trust Investments, one of South Africa’s leading broad-based empowerment groups.
How big is the staff complement?
We have a dedicated staff of over 150 people in three major cities of South Africa; Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, enabling us to expertly offer an all round seamless service, from concept design and creative through to infrastructure and technical.
What makes you unique?
Kagiso Exhibitions & Events is the only exhibitions and events company in South Africa which offers the complete spectrum of exhibition services in-house including:
- Concept development
- Programme development
- Exhibition & Graphic Design
- Interactive Audio-Visual Design
- Infrastructure and Logistics
- Travelling Exhibition Services
- Marketing
- Media Planning & Management
- Exhibitor Management
- Visitor Management
- Event Management
- Financial, Legal and Risk Management
What is your capacity regarding large events?
We are fortunate to have staff that is dedicated to organising and managing large exhibitions and events. At the same time we have a network of trusted specialist service providers that we regularly call on to deliver on specific requirements. Kagiso Exhibitions and Events have managed some of the largest government related exhibitions, conferences and events including:
- World Climate Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2006
- World Summit of Sustainable Development (2002)
- United Nations world Heritage Conference and Exhibition (2005)
- X111 International Aids Conference.
Which are some of events do you currently own?
- Rand Show
- Auto Africa
- Johannesburg International Motor Show
- South African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX)
What is perhaps your largest or best known acquisition or event?
The annual Tourism Indaba, the continent’s premier travel trade exhibition, showcasing the best the Southern African region has to offer the international tourism trade.
What does Kagiso Exhibition’s immediate future look like?
Kagiso Exhibitions & Events has been contracted to design and develop the NECSA Visitor Centre. This will include project managing the renovation of the exterior of the Visitor Centre building and the precinct into the mini-science park, developing a temporary exhibition area and auditorium, and developing the new NECSA Nuclear Science Centre, all to be complete by the end of 2009.
Thebe Exhibitions & Events: Managing Director: Carol Weaver
Overview of the company
Thebe Exhibitions & Projects Group is one of Southern Africa’s most forward thinking and successful exhibition and event organisers. In the business of linking people with a common interest, TEPG, since its inception in South Africa in 1997, has steadily increased market share in an industry that promotes the ultimate form of communication – direct personal contact.
Thebe Exhibitions & Projects Group shareholders and Thebe Tourism Group, the heritage-based tourism division of the Thebe Investment Corporation, who has 70% stake in the Group. In order for the exhibitions and events industry to sustain growth in South Africa and expand into the neighbouring regions we recognised a well matched BEE partnership as essential to future business opportunities.
How big is the staff complement?
We have 55 staff members of which are 25.1-50% female shareholders, female executive directors/ senior management: 25.1-50% and female staff members: 50.1%-100%
What makes you unique?
Our motto says it all: “Winning and creating miracles in Exhibition & Project Management is not a sometimes thing; it’s an all-the-time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit.”
What is your capacity regarding large events?
The Thebe Exhibitions and Projects Group (TEPG) has been admitted as a full member of UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry. In addition, the group’s flagship exhibition, Decorex Joburg, has been granted the status of a “UFI approved event.”
UFI represents 529 member organisations in 203 cities worldwide and its members include exhibition organisers, venue managers, associations, and partners of the exhibition industry. Members represent more than 4 000 trade fairs and exhibitions in which more than one million exhibitors participate each year, with attendance of some 150 million visitors.
Which events do you own?
Thebe’s portfolio includes 17 well-known titles such as Decorex, Gardenex and the World Holiday and Travel Fair. It also manages Meetings Africa on behalf of South African Tourism. The group’s venue management division is responsible for the management of the Coca-Cola dome, one of South Africa’s top exhibition and events venues.
What is perhaps your a largest or best known acquisition or events?
EXSA – Decorex Cape – Best Trade and Consumer Show (3 consecutive years); eVentage Exhibition of the Year; Top 100 Companies.
What does Thebe Exhibition’s future look like?
Thebe Exhibitions & Projects Group seeks to strengthen and to grow its position as the premier Exhibitions & Project Management Company in Africa, leading to sustainable and long term benefits to the community in which we serve. We are committing all of our experience and resources to inspiring and harnessing the most fundamental form of communication that exists – direct personal contact. Our mission is to invest in quality people and products, and to provide a level of service unsurpassed in Africa.
Please feel free to suggest any industry players or leaders in their field to be included in our Industry Face-Off.
About Author
Leoni Benghiat has a keen interest in travel-related topics and dabbles in all kinds of journalism newspapers, magazines, websites, whatever publishing opportunity presents itself. Being a patriotic South African she feels the need to tell the whole world that South Africa has much to offer, even though some days might seem dark. And the wonder of the internet has made this possible with the help of all the other South Africans in the travel industry, of course. Email her on: benghiat@sagateway.com
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My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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