Agility Will Be Key During G20 Summit

The upcoming G20 Summit presents a significant opportunity for South Africas travel and tourism industry, with a surge in demand expected across hospitality, transportation and business services.

However, for travel many, this also signals an urgent need to act fast. With high-profile delegations descending on Johannesburg and Cape Town, normal business travel will face displacement, and securing accommodation and transport will become increasingly challenging.

The Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille , said that the G20 Summit, comprising about 135 meetings with delegates from 19 sovereign states, would generate heightened demand for travel services, much like previous large-scale international events.

According to the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry SAACI, during the 2023 BRICS Summit, Johannesburg's hospitality sector showed remarkable adaptability, with Sandton's hotel district recording occupancy rates near 100. Additionally, premium properties experienced RevPAR increases exceeding 100, and average daily rates across key business districts rose by 85-95.

'These figures reflect not just pricing dynamics, but our sector's ability to scale operations,' notes Glenton De Kock , CEO of SAACI.