South Africa's Conference Growth Puts Spotlight on Hospitality Workforce
South Africa secured 52 bids for international business events during the 2025/26 financial year, expected to contribute nearly R1 billion to the economy and attract more than 33,000 delegates. This follows 53 international conventions secured the previous year, with events such as Meetings Africa and Africa's Travel Indaba alone generating a combined R1.3 billion in economic impact. According to Statistics South Africa's Tourism Satellite Account, the tourism sector supported 953,981 direct jobs in 2024 and contributed 4.9% to GDP - figures further strengthened by the country's growing conference pipeline.
However, industry observers warn that winning bids is only the first part of the equation. Sustaining South Africa's position as a preferred business events destination will depend on the hospitality sector's ability to consistently deliver service standards that international delegates expect - particularly during periods of peak demand when venues face rapid increases in staffing requirements. Writing for Bizcommunity, Anthony Joss, Managing Executive of Zest Hospitality by Adcorp, argues that access to skilled, adaptable hospitality workers - supported by professional staffing solutions - will be critical to converting growing international interest into long-term confidence and repeat business.
Source: Bizcommunity
