Travel Corporation holds global conference in South Africa

Martinus Van Schalkwyk opened the conference

One of the world’s largest privately owned travel and tourism companies, recently brought over 350 of the world’s tourism business leaders to Cape Town on a mega FAM

The Travel Corporation, one of the world’s largest privately owned travel and tourism companies, recently brought over 350 of the world’s tourism business leaders to Cape Town, South Africa, for a one-week business conference and mega-FAM.

Designed to act as a powerful force for sustainable, equitable growth of South Africa’s tourism industry, and overtly leveraging the global awareness of the destination created through the nation’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the TTC conference focused on the theme "We Are Family" and sought to make lasting connections between South African Tourism, the Travel Corporation, and the residents of South Africa.

The Tollman family, who originally are from South Africa, chose South Africa as its 2010 conference destination not only to reinforce the strong need for global attention in South Africa, but also to emphasize the importance of giving South Africa a return on the investment it made on the 2010 games. The TTC Conference was directly focused on establishing Destination South Africa as a year-round, leading travel attraction through delivering solid tourism industry results by selling the country globally.

According to Gavin Tollman, Chairman, The Travel Corporation, South Africa, "We are going out of our way to support South Africa – an important destination for global tourism and TTC, and also our home nation. We want to ensure that leaders of the travel trade who significantly influence traveler movements are able to experience South Africa for themselves. A number of our global companies are focused in South Africa, including Lion World Tours, New Horizons, and African Travel Inc. We are fully committed to making this joint venture truly ‘work’ for the destination, mobilizing TTC’s unparalleled strength of reach, expertise, service, and experience across the globe for the benefit of our homeland."

The Travel Corporation is composed of a number of leading global touring, cruising and hotel brands including Contiki Vacations, Trafalgar, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Insight Vacations, and Brendan Vacations. Africa travel specialization is through Lion World Tours, African Travel Inc., Creative Holidays, and New Horizons. Within South Africa, The Travel Corporation proudly includes such award-winning properties as Bushmans Kloof, The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, and The Oyster Box. In addition, the company owns over 80 percent of Cullinan Holdings, which includes such leading South African brands as Thompsons, Hylton Ross Touring, and Pentravel, as well as being the largest shareholder in Wilderness Safaris.

The 2010 conference took the form of an incentive trip for over 350 of the company’s A-List business leaders and vital decision-makers for destinations seeking to compete and win on the global tourism stage. The conference served as an extended, extensive exposure of South Africa through the keyhole of Cape Town and the Western Cape. In addition to business discussion and debate with some of the world’s most powerful business thinkers and sellers in the travel and tourism sector, delegates had the opportunity to truly experience Destination South Africa.

The conference was exciting and inspiring for all the delegates. The Opening Address was made by The Honorable Minister of Tourism, Martinus Van Schalkwyk followed by a video welcome address by The Honorable Archbishop Desmond Tutu. This set the tone for what proved to be an uplifting and educational week successfully instilling excitement and enthusiasm about The Travel Corporation’s commitment to South Africa.

In addition to working with South African Tourism, The Travel Corporation, showed how a global travel company can reach out and make a positive impact on local communities. Working hand in hand with the Amy Biehl Foundation, TTC conference delegates from all the sister companies stepped out of their meetings and presentations and picked up tools to build ‘Wendy Houses’ for disadvantaged families in Cape Town’s surrounding townships. A total of 21 of these small four-wall homes were constructed and then donated to local communities, providing a significant step up for families in need.

As stated by Gavin Tollman, "We brought our global delegates to South Africa not just to create business impact, but to create social impact. The creation of these twenty-one homes by the delegates of the conference will touch the lives of these communities. And clearly, from the emotion seen in delegates through the building and hand-over ceremony, Project Wendy House has touched their lives."

Even delegates currently not directly selling the destination left personally impacted. This will undoubtedly prove an invaluable destination endorsement when they speak to friends, families and colleagues back home of how their time in South Africa opened their eyes and hearts. As shared by Richard Launder, President of The Travel Corporation USA, "Coming to Cape Town and reflecting on our project day-how something so simple as building a Wendy House would carry so much value to others – has made me realize how much more I could really do to help.

This is the proof that the gift of giving is so much more valuable than of receiving. In our busy lives, what a great reminder this time in South Africa has given me!"

In addition to building houses, TTC delegates hosted 600 young school children at a local theme park, giving these children a day of smiles, laughter and love which will stay with them far longer than the gifts of clothing and ‘Relate’ bracelets they also received before they went home.

The experience in South Africa has shown all involved – conference delegates and local communities – that the travel industry can have more than an economic impact on the regions in which it operates. It can build understanding and touch the lives of the local people in a meaningful way. The Travel Corporation looks forward to a new and meaningful relationship with Destination South Africa.

Valere Tjolle
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Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite: EXTRA SPECIAL OFFER at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1144671.php