“Can sustainability and luxury co-exist? How can timeless, authentic design fuse with innovation to deliver aesthetics and functionality? These are just some of the questions asked, and answered, by high-calibre speakers and experts wanting to find intelligent ways of leveraging technology and transformation to meet changing market needs and expectations.”
Key trends discussed at the event include artificial intelligence (AI) and the role of emergent and relevant technologies; sustainability and social responsibility; driving tourism in dollars and moving beyond the singular destination; unlocking new revenue opportunities; OTA versus direct booking engines; personalisation and big data; the growth of the bleisure industry; and attracting investment.
‘Wave of innovation’
“AI is affecting every business, everywhere, and hospitality has an opportunity to step forward and into its wave of innovation to create sustainable change that affects personalisation, decision-making, and growth,” says Peters.
According to her it is also one of multiple trends and shifts in customer needs that’s shaping the future of the sector. “The African Hospitality Confidence Index 2024 found that 92% of customers fit into the bleisure category, 53% use dynamic pricing to optimise revenue, and 89% believe ESG is key to long-term success. Having these conversations is critical to ensuring longevity for the industry as well as opening the doorway to opportunity,” highlights Peters.
The speakers, thinkers, and decision-makers gathering to discuss the reality of hospitality in Africa are some of the leaders in future forward thinking and industry insights.
Jeff Blackbeard, Director of Sectors and Markets at Moore Global, and Lee-Anne Singer, Marketing and Sales Director at The Singer Group, lead the keynote address, focusing on exploring the churning landscape of hospitality in Africa.
They’re followed by Bronwen Auret, Chief Quality Assurance Officer and Acting Chief Marketing Officer of South African Tourism; Steven Louw, CEO of Steyn City; Brett Hendricks, CEO of Motsamayi Tourism Group and Daphne Kruijsse, Area Manager of Booking.com, amongst many others.
“There is a strong demand for quality accommodation but there is also a need for the industry to focus on sustainability and technological transformation. We need to talk about the trends determining Africa’s hospitality journey as a vibrant international destination, capitalising on the growth felt in 2023,” says Blackbeard.
Industry professionals
The event is bolstered by the 2024 Advisory Board which comprises a distinguished collective of industry professionals committed to creating a substantive and well-rounded programme for Hotel and Hospitality Expo Africa.
This year, the Advisory Board is made up of some of the key thought leaders and trend makers that include Neil Hughes, MD of Providence Hospitality; Lee-Anne Singer, Chairperson at FEDHASA Cape; Glyn Taylor, CEO of Oasis Life; and Leoni Andereya, Curator at Radisson Red, amongst many others.
The Advisory Board members are selected for their expertise across key areas that include Chief Operations Officers, General Managers, Chefs, and Interiors.
A full list of speakers and the agenda, as well as registration information, can be found here.
