For 25 years, we've believed in warm welcomes. Today, we have a new name and a new look-and this year alone, over 40 more global locations joining our more than 250 hotels worldwide. We've changed some big things, to bring the best amenities to today's traveler. But we haven't changed the little things - the friendly, thoughtful service that begins with the warm cookie that greets every guest. We're DoubleTree by Hilton.DoubleTree.comAMERICAS EUROPE AFRICA ASIA© 2011 HILTON WORLDWIDEWhere the little things mean everything.TM

South AfricaISSUE 65 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 75impetus peter out. Chief Director of South Africa's Department of Sport and Recreation, Professor Paul Singh, has said the investment made by the government for the World Cup needs to be sustained for the next 20 years, with smaller-scale sports events also significant, "given that they require little additional infrastructure investment and offer a greater net benefit to local communities," he said.Cape Town markets also as part of the BestCities Alliance, the world's only alliance of certified convention bureaus, which includes Dubai, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, San Juan, Melbourne, Singapore and Vancouver.JohannesburgIn addition to Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg is home to many chain hotels and also the business and financial capital. It houses three-quarters of the country's corporate headquarters.Johannesburg has good international flight connections and a bidding partnership with the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC), Gauteng Tourism Authority and Sandton. "The synergies allow for bidding profiling, quick turnaround of approvals and resources to support the bids," said Sandton Executive Director Mati Nyazema.Nyazema believes the World Cup mitigated the effects of the recession on South Africa and is confident of 7,387 business meeting requests were turned into viable leads BY 2001 MEETINGS AFRICA EXHIBITOR AND DELEGATES80%Above: The Gautrain averages 50,000 passengers per weekSouth Africa is famous for its 'Big Five' and there are plenty of game reserves that offer pre- and post-conference tour opportunities for delegates. The Kruger National Park and the numerous private reserves offer wildlife in natural surroundings and can sometimes provide 'boutique' meeting facilities.There are mountain walks and shark cage-diving, and the country has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Cradle of Humankind and Robben IslandFor wine tours, Stellenbosch is worth a visit in the Cape Winelands.South Africa was voted Best Leisure Destination at China's Travel Weekly Travel and Meetings Industry Awards and nominated in the long-haul MICE Destination category.There are plenty of secondary destinations outside of the directly accessible centres of Johannesburg, Cape Town and now Durban, offering good value and plenty of spectacular scenery, too. Outside the meetingwas more often lack of quality hotel space, now hoteliers bemoan over supply. CEO of Protea Hotels, Arthur Gills, says a post-World Cup hangover has left Cape Town hotels "bleeding", with occupancy rates as low as 10 per cent and room prices "dropping through the floor". That said, there could be bargains for event organisers, with three-star hotel rooms available for R240 a night.Cape TownCape Town, as well as being the country's top tourism hotspot, offers a variety of conference venues including the Vineyard in Newlands. It's next to the cricket ground and overlooked by Table Mountain.Major events booked into the city include the International Congress of Psychology in July 2012 (6,000 delegates); and the 17th IUPHAR World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, July 2014 (10,000).Both events will be hosted at Cape Town ICC. This venue recently hosted the inaugural Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (SETE), an event designed specifically to build on the 2010 FIFA World CupTM legacy. SAT's Global Manager of Events, Sugen Pillay, has said SETE was a showcase for a new generation with the skills, infrastructure and knowledge to attract a wide range of sports events to the country. A SETE steering committee will now drive the country's sports events strategy. There is a clear desire not to let the World Cup