As the economic powerhouse of South Africa, accounting for a third of the country’s gross domestic product, Gauteng is home to many of the country’s premier conference venues. Gauteng contributes heavily in the financial, manufacturing, transport, technology and telecommunications sectors, amongst others. It also plays host to a large number of overseas companies requiring a commercial base in Africa. Although Gauteng is the smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces (it covers only 1.4% of the country’s total land area) it contributes over a third of its gross domestic product. Indeed Gauteng generates up to 10% of the GDP of the entire African continent.
Gauteng is home to many of the country’s most prestigious educational institutions and scientific institutes. There are about 10 000 firms involved in the province’s manufacturing sector, employing over half a million people. The principal industries are appliances and electrical supplies, basic iron and steel, chemical products, electrical machinery, fabricated and metal products, food, machinery, motor vehicle parts and accessories. Gauteng’s economy is moving away from heavy industry to high value-added production, such as information technology, telecommunications and other high-tech industries.
Seen as the new commercial hub of South Africa, Sandton has become Gauteng’s leading business centre. Over just the last 15 years, much of the financial focus has shifted from the Johannesburg central business district to Sandton. Johannesburg’s stock exchange relocated its offices to Sandton from the Central Business District in the late 1990s.
Gauteng Conference Venues
A combination of rustic style, modern facilities and exceptional service make Stillpoint Country Manor the perfect conferencing venue in Sandton. Stillpoint Country Manor offers five different venues, catering for a variety of functions from leading business and corporate conferences, audio-visual presentations and exhibitions, formal banquets and weddings, to smaller board meetings and intimate cocktail parties. The larger venues are able to seat up to 120 people.
Located in the leafy suburb of Bedfordview, The Nicol Hotel Conference Centre promises delegates a luxurious, comfortable and convenient conferencing experience. Facilities that delegates can enjoy at The Nicol Hotel Conference Centre include the impressive heated out-door swimming pool, the fully equipped gymnasium & secure undercover basement parking. Conference facilities include a 140 seater conference room, two boardrooms ideal for smaller conferences or meetings and wi-fi internet access in all public areas. The Nicol Hotel Conference Centre’s interior and exterior design offers modern uncluttered clean lines.
Situated at the heart of a 9-hectare property off Garsfontein Drive in Pretoria East, the Leribisi Lodge conference venue offers a tranquil setting for conferencing. The venue has a variety of conference rooms and halls, all conveniently separated to ensure each group’s privacy. The boardroom is ideal for groups from 2 to 12 delegates while the main conference hall is able to accommodate up to 150 delegates (depending on seating style). Two additional conference halls comfortably accommodate groups of 10 to 40 and 20 to 80 delegates alternatively. All their conference venues are equipped with air-conditioning.
Set to become the cultural and corporate hub of Gauteng in South Africa, Maropeng Conference Venue is situated just off the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, 45 minutes drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria. Its conference facilities are housed within the Tumulus building, a true architectural icon. There are three conference venues within the Tumulus building, which can be combined to create an overall seating capacity of up to 500 delegates (theatre style)..
The exhibition and conference centre at Emperors Palace provides a diverse range of exciting, multi-purpose venues, as well as small executive breakaway rooms. The entire venue has extensive technical resources and is equipped with modern apparatus. Emperors Palace excels in three key ingredients of successful conferences and entertaining – superb cuisine, impeccable service and an elegant atmosphere.
Quest Conference Estate is located in a quiet business sector of the Vaal Triangle. It is the perfect destination for any business conference, gala dinner, year-end function, presentation, social event or dream wedding. The conference facilities are inherently flexible and offer private conference rooms, breakaway rooms, a VIP Executive boardroom with private restroom facility adjacent to the Executive Lounge, with full bar facilities, a Conference Lounge accommodating up to 120 delegates with full bar facilities and Function Halls accommodating from 60 to 800 delegates. All facilities are air-conditioned and equipped with the latest technology.
Image Source: Nico Roets
