The amazing progress being made by the youth of South Africa has been brought sharply into the media spotlight by the visits of two of the world’s leading female icons – Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. The country is also emerging as the frontrunner to host the One Young World Summit in 2012, as BTN finds out.

Having recently returned from a delegate boosting trip to St Petersburg, Russia for the CIC Conservation and Hunting Congress - scheduled to take place in Johannesburg in 2012 - the Johannesburg Tourism Company’s Convention & Events Bureau (CEB) has announced a string of successful bids awarded, with estimated economic benefit to the city of more than R200 million.

With Indaba 2011 just around the corner, BTN catches up with Lindiwe Kwele, Chief Executive, Johannesburg Tourism Company Johannesburg, to find out what the City of Gold has planned to build its reputation as Africa’s leading, global, year-round destination for business, lifestyle and mega-events.

The city of Johannesburg is poised to add another feather to its illustrious business cap when it steps up to host the 2010 Hospitality Investment Conference Africa. The move reflects the City of Gold’s fast-growing reputation as the business capital of Africa with 19 new hotel openings in the past two years, plus a host of infra-structure upgrades.

The city of Johannesburg is building on its post World Cup sporting legacy by hosting one of Africa’s most prestigious polo tournaments. The 2010 Inanda Africa Cup will be held in Sandton and promises to offer a superb blend of sport, glamour and culinary flair with an African twist.

Johannesburg is the world’s best value city to live, according to the latest annual listing from the consultants Mercer, replacing Asunción in Paraguay in the ranking of 143 cities.