LEADING African tourism and leisure group, Sun International, has appointed Dubai based Fusion Marketing Management to manage its marketing and public relations communications in the GCC region, as well as execute a holistic campaign to promote Sun International properties to the MICE segment in the GCC.
“Working in tandem with Sun International, we will develop a programme that will position and sell South Africa as a favourable destination,” said Nicki Page, executive director, Fusion Marketing Management. “Over the next few months our aim is to dramatically increase MICE business for Sun International properties from this region.”
Currently the GCC accounts for three per cent of the group’s annual room nights with most of the visitors arriving from Saudi Arabia. In total, about 7500 room nights originate from this region.
“Our mission is to increase MICE travel from the GCC and we are fortunate to have secured the talents and experience of Fusion Marketing who will be instrumental in driving this type of business to our properties,” said Ruth Hulatt, sales and marketing manager, Inbound & Middle East Sun International.
With an average GDP of some 4 per cent, Africa is growing at a faster rate than any other developing region, and South Africa, by common consent, has performed consistently well in recent years.
The country’s reputation as a top-class MICE destination grows internationally because of quality facilities such as the Sun International properties which boast a portfolio of 14 hotels in the resorts division.
Popular hotels are Sun City with 1301 rooms and conference facilities for up to 1200 people and Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town with meeting facilities to cater to 250 people.