The African Bureau of Conventions has strategically accepted the membership of the Tshwane Events Centre, due to the fact that the Bureau is currently bidding, and in some instances has been shortlisted for 8 large, international association conventions of over 4 000 delegates.  Most notable are three conventions that will attract in the region of 15 000 – 20 000 delegates per event.

Hence, the need arose to have a member that could accommodate the mega conventions and events that are being secured for South Africa.

“With over 82 000 m² of covered exhibition space and open and multi-purpose areas - all accessible from multiple entrances - the Tshwane Events Centre can accommodate 50 000 visitors simultaneously in style and comfort,” says the centre’s Marketing Manager Ricky Da Costa.

“The eleven exhibition halls that vary in size, can accommodate multiple functions of any description, from large-scale indoor exhibitions to music concerts and sporting events. The main arena can accommodate 25 000 people, which is ideal for national and international concerts.

Sharon Peetz, Director of the African Bureau of Conventions stated that the, “State-of-the-art infrastructure services include banking facilities, telecommunication services including wireless internet access, top class catering facilities and easy access and secure parking for up to 3 500 vehicles, made the venue ideal for the requests that were being submitted by clients in the bidding phases.

“The centre is ideally well-equipped to handle large events.  On World Aids Day 2009, the centre was the focus of international news headlines when President Jacob Zuma announced bold and life changing policies for people living with HIV and Aids from the centre. 

“The same seamless operations were offered to the Independent Electoral Commission’s operational results centre during the 2009 national and provincial elections - for the fifth consecutive time. 

“The Results Operations Centre opened its doors a week before the national and provincial elections on 22 April.  Twelve thousand square metres of empty flooring were transformed into a world-class centre within a mere three weeks.  State of the art information technology made data available to political parties, the media, Independent Electoral Commission staff and provincial operational centres. All information was displayed on two huge projection screens.

“The centre boasted 450 personal computers, 300 telephones and more than 22 km of data and telephone cabling. It also accommodated seven radio stations, five television broadcasters, seven newspapers and 26 political party offices.

“We are proud that we could be part of a team that delivered free and fair elections with timely results to the people of South Africa,” says Da Costa.

In conclusion, Sharon Peetz stated that, “Tshwane Events Centre is a multi-faceted events centre and organising company, but focuses on offering a full turn-key solutions to their clients – full logistical services, from the draping to the flowers to the accommodation, this is all managed and coordinated by the staff of the Tshwane Events Centre.