Top 10 conference venues in Joburg
Locating a conference venue in Johannesburgis not hard to
do, but finding one that offers a convenient location, excellent service and
state-of-the-art facilities can be difficult. Business Traveller has identified
ten of the best conferencing venues the city has to offer.
1.) Sandton
Convention Centre
This multi award-winning venue offers unlimited potential
with over 22 000m² of state-of-the-art meeting, exhibition and special event
space. Purpose-built to international
standards, it offers some of the most advanced technology available for
convention and exhibition centres anywhere in the world.
Location: Located in the heart of Sandton’s hotel, business
and entertainment district, its central position in Sandton provides easy
access to OR Tambo International Airport in 25 minutes, the Sandton CBD, major
hotels and shopping centres. The centre offers easy access to more than 5 000
hotel rooms (ranging from economy to deluxe).
Facilities: Multiple events can be staged simultaneously on
four main levels and 10 000 visitors can be accommodated at any one time. The Ballroom can accommodate up to 1,500
guests for formal dinners, or, as a conference venue, can hold up to 2,400
delegates in cinema-style seating. The five versatile Committee Rooms can be set
up in various configurations to accommodate up to 200 people. The magnificent
Bill Gallagher Room, named after one ofSouth Africa’s most celebrated chefs, is
ideal for press conferences. The Pavilion can accommodate up to 5,000 delegates
for cocktails, or seat 2,500 in schoolroom style for a conference. Adjacent to
the main conference level are seven boardrooms accommodating as few as 10
delegates or up to 180, for anything from high-level meetings to
sub-conferences and breakaway sessions.
Perfect for: Meetings, conferences, exhibitions and special
events of virtually any size and nature.
Contact details: +27 11 779 – 0000,
2.) Misty Hills
Country Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa
This charming property is set in lush, landscaped gardens.
It is an affiliate of the Warwick International group of hotels and has, over
the past 15 years, been converted into a country hotel and conference centre
that captures the ethos ofAfrica.
Location: Nestled at the foothills of theSwartkopMountains,
on the threshold ofKromdraaiValley, and only about a 30 minute drive from
Sandton and 45 minutes fromPretoria.
Facilities: Conference facilities include 19 uniquely
African conference and event venues, the largest of which, the Pelindaba, seats
600 people cinema-style. There is also a lapa for outdoor gatherings and a
variety of small breakaway rooms. Misty Hills Country Hotel, Conference Centre
& Spa recently partnered with the Carnivore Restaurant to launch four
conference venues that offer a relaxed, yet professional, environment. The
venues are fully equipped with audiovisual equipment.
Perfect for: Business meetings, training, teambuilding
exercises, small gatherings, informal gatherings.
What’s new? Last month the hotel opened a new 1000 m² air-conditioned
exhibition centre that comfortably accommodates 55 exhibitor stands. It is
ideally suited for small to medium-sized events. A catering service is also
available.
Contact details: +27 11 950-6000 or 0861 732 237,
3.) Indaba Hotel
The hotel’s country style, tree-lined lanes and white-washed
walls welcome all visitors to a secure and tranquil environment. Apart from the
extensive conference facilities, the hotel comprises 260 en suite bedrooms,
restaurants, Mangwanani Private African Day Spa, two swimming pools, outdoor
chess and more.
Location: Corner William Nicol Drive andPieter Wenning Road,
Fourways. It is about 45 km from OR Tambo International Airport and 15 km from
Lanseria and Sandton Central.
Facilities: There are over 20 conference venues that can
accommodate anything from five people for a boardroom conference, to 800
theatre-style seating, or 450 for a dinner-dance. The venues include an
auditorium and smaller breakaway rooms. Indaba has an outsourced audiovisual
company who permanently have equipment and a technician on site.
Perfect for: Almost any function including weddings, matric
farewells, corporate functions, launches, conferences, etc.
Contact details: +27 11 840-6600,
http://www.indabahotel.co.za/
4.)
InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport
Situated at the OR Tambo International Airport, the hotel is
an oasis of calm at this busy hub. The conference rooms are designed to create
a luxurious and hushed environment that meets the needs of discerning business
travellers, conference organisers and meeting planners.
Location: Opposite the international arrivals terminal at
the OR Tambo International Airport, only 68,7m from the terminal.
Facilities: There are eight meeting rooms available, the
largest accommodating 100 delegates in theatre-style, and the smallest
accommodating eight in boardroom style. The equipment available includes a 35mm
slide projector, cable modem, DVD player, digital projector, flipchart and
markers, LCD projector, laser disc, lectern, microphone, modem lines, overhead
projector, stage lights, VCR and whiteboard.
Perfect for: ‘Fly-in-meet-fly-out’ business meetings without
the problems of transport, congestion and missed flights. The executive
boardrooms are ideal for health professionals to fly in, meet and fly out,
especially over weekends.
Contact details: +27 11 961- 5400,
5.) Focus Rooms
Established primarily as a training facility in May 2008,
the rooms were soon sought after for conferences. Focus Rooms is affiliated to
five, five-star guesthouses within close proximity of the venue, and also
offers shuttle services to these properties.
Location: Corner Kikuyu and Leeuwkop Streets, Sunninghill.
It is 500m from the N1 highway and in close proximity
toSunninghillHospital,MegawattPark, Montecasino and four major shopping
centres. Focus Rooms is about 30 km from OR Tambo International Airport
andLanseriaInternationalAirport.
Facilities: There are eight rooms that can accommodate
between four and 120 delegates (cinema style). The rooms include a patio and
executive boardroom. All rooms are equipped with overhead projectors, screens,
PA systems, DVD/CD combos, video and teleconferencing facilities and Wi-Fi
access.
Perfect for: Corporate functions, award ceremonies,
cocktails, business meetings, training.
What’s new? The owners are in the process of acquiring
larger facilities within the same centre to allow for bigger conferences,
banqueting gala evenings and mini exhibitions.
Contact details: +27 861 115 314,
6.) Eskom
Convention Centre
The Eskom Convention Centre is a sophisticated and practical
venue, landscaped with indigenous trees. Accommodation is available on the
property in 551 rooms. Various recreational facilities are offered including,:
squash courts, swimming pool, sports fields and a sports bar.
Location: On a 105 hectare farm in Midrand, situated about
23 km from OR Tambo International Airport.
Facilities: There are 13 syndicate rooms which can
accommodate smaller meetings or workshops from as few as ten people. There are
also five conference rooms seating up to 80 delegates, two auditoriums seating
up to 350, and an executive boardroom with video conferencing facilities.
Function venues include restaurants, a lapa and boma, and a carpeted exhibition
area.
Perfect for: conferences, exhibitions, elections, banquets,
computer trainings, teambuilding, and private functions.
Contact details: +27 11 651-6111,
7.) Birchwood Hotel
and OR Tambo Conference Centre
The hotel opened as a one-conference and 80-guest bedroom
hotel and has since grown exponentially to offer over 40 conference rooms and
450 bedrooms, and various other on-site additional services. Considered to be
the largest conferencing facility inJohannesburg, it specialises in executive
accommodation and conferencing.
Location: Located 7km from ORTamboInternationalAirport and
5km from theEastRandMall. It is easily accessible from the R24, R21 and N3 and
can be found onViewpoint Road,Bartlett, Boksburg.
Facilities: There are 50 conference rooms and various
recreational facilities available. The conference centre can cater from board
meetings of between four and 12 people, to training sessions of up to 1500
delegates. Some of the other facilities and services available include: three
on-site restaurants, a spa, gym, business lounge, shuttle service, tour
operator, car hire and more.
Perfect for: Business meetings, training, launches,
teambuilding, banquets, etc
What’s new? Last year saw the opening of the African Theme
restaurant, Phomolong. By June this year, Birchwood will add on another 212
rooms, making the total 662 rooms.
Contact details: +27 11 897-0000,
8.) Halfway Toyota
Fourways @ The Arena
This property was originally established as Extreme Sixteen,
before being taken over by Nissan. In October 2007, Halfway Toyota took
occupancy of the venue, and it is now known as Halfway Toyota Fourways @ The
Arena.
Location: Corner William Nicol and Leslie Roads in Fourways.
The venue is about two minutes from Montecasino, 15 minutes fromSandtonCity,
and 30 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport.
Facilities: State-of-the-art auditorium that holds up to 50
delegates, and two boardrooms seating 14 and 12 delegates. All of the rooms
have screens, projectors and sound. The venue offers in-house catering, a café
and an African-themed restaurant.
Perfect for: Corporate events, private functions and
executive meetings, teambuilding.
What’s new? Video conferencing equipment was recently
installed and the 4×4 track was renovated to make it technically advanced.
Contact details: +27 11 317 8825/28,
9.) MTN Expo Centre
The MTN Expo Centre is the largest exhibition, conference
and events venue inSouthern Africa, offering over 42 000 m² of indoor floor
space and over 40 000 m² of outdoor multi-purpose space. It is recognised as
the ‘home ground’ of the annual Rand Show.
Location: Corner Rand Show and Nasrec Roads, easily
accessible from main highways and only 30 minutes from OR Tambo International
Airport.
Facilities: The indoor space includes six exhibition halls
and more than ten conference facilities that can seat anything from ten to 10
000 delegates.
Perfect for: The venue was designed to host an array of
events, from exhibitions and conferences, to concerts and sporting events.
What’s new? The venue underwent a major refurbishment in
preparation to host the International Broadcast Centre during the 2010 World
Cup. The refurbishment included installation of up-to-date telecommunication
systems and high definition televisions. All the hall entrances have been
enclosed with glass, and lighting has been enhanced. The Bateleur and Black
Eagle conference facilities have been upgraded and the landscaping in and round
the venue has been revamped.
Contact details: +27 11 494 1920,
10.) Gold Reef City
Located in theGoldReefCityTheme Park, the Oppenheimer
Conference and Banqueting Centre provides a unique venue that whisks guests
away into a bygone era when gold was first discovered inJohannesburg. The park
offers a range of entertainment options including theme park rides, South
African history and culture, an operating gold mine, a 4D theatre and a number
of shops and restaurants.
Location: TheGoldReefCityTheme Park is located in the south
ofJohannesburg. It can be found on Northern Parkway Drive in
Ormonde,Johannesburg.
Facilities: The Oppenheimer Conference and Banqueting Centre
offers three conference venues to suit just about any event. The rooms can
cater for small groups of about 10 delegates to larger groups of up to 400. The
Oppenheimer Gold Room features its own bar and can also be used as a breakaway
room for bigger conferences.
Perfect for: Cocktails, breakfasts, conferences, banquets,
launches, teambuilding and weddings.
Contact details: +27 11 248 6860,
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