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B M & T ••• May/June 2018 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42 If you haven't been to Cape Town recently, then you haven't been to Cape Town. From bustling Century City, one of the 10 largest shop- ping destinations in South Africa, to a world-class convention center, the Mother City continues to evolve into one of South Africa's most popular and impressive M.I.C.E. destinations. What makes Cape Town so attractive to meet- ing and incentive planners? Not only is it a modern, sophisticated city with a wide choice of high-tech meeting venues and top-of-the-line accommodations to meet every price point, but history and culture are around every corner, and attractions galore are within striking distance of city center. Anchoring the city's meeting industry is the sprawling Cape Town International Convention Centre. The recently upgraded and expanded facility has host- ed nearly 7,000 events since its 2003 opening, supporting a total of 107,000 jobs. The CTICC has a total of 133 book- ings for events, with 58 international con- ferences secured and 75 national events contracted until December 2023. The CTICC is a flexible venue that accommodates a wide variety of func- tions, with the capacity to host virtually any convention, exhibition, product launch, film shoot or fashion show. If you can imagine it, they can host it. The facility's spacious venues can be sub-divided and customized with the option of being arranged into separate areas for smaller exhibitions, banquets or conferences. Features include over 120,000 sq. ft. of column-free exhibit space, a Grand Ballroom able to accom- modate 1,300 for sit down banquets, a 1,500-seat auditorium and a 612-seat auditorium, a spectacular Roof Terrace Room and Balcony, perfect for confer- ences and upscale cocktail receptions for groups as large as 400, six meeting and conference rooms accommodating up to 330 delegates and sub dividable into sep- arate meeting rooms, and 13 meeting suites for more intimate gatherings. Plus there are the Centre's Main Foyer, Registration Foyer, two multi-functional dining areas, and a three-story gallery that spans the entire length of the CTICC, connecting venues and enhanc- ing flow to provide visitors and delegates with easy, more efficient traffic flow. Many of Cape Town's hotels offer meeting space as well. In addition to boasting 125 rooms, the Century City Hotel is versatile and fully equipped, accommodating up to 1,900 guests across 20 different venues, providing the ideal location for all events. Everything from corporate conferences and product expos, to gala dinners, concerts and more. The property's Conference Centre fea- tures four large halls, three of which may be combined, a spacious, open-plan foyer suitable for exhibitions, launches and cocktail parties, 11 meeting rooms, rang- ing in size from 323 to 753 sq. ft., an 80- seat business lounge with boutique buffet refreshments, and Century City Square, an event venue of 13,000 sq. ft. Other possibilities include StayEasy Century City Conference Venue (each CAPE TOWN'S PR OWESS AS M .I.C.E. D E STI NATI O N O N TH E R I S E BY SOLOMON J. HERBERT Cape Town, South Africa Bathhouses,Muizenberg, Cape Town Photo Credit:Sorcerer44