South Africa Tourism honours SA Specialists in Lagos

· As Essence Festival debuts in Durban, November

As part of its three city road show in Nigeria, where Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja were slated to feel the impact of the rainbow nation, the South Africa Tourism board were at hand for the Lagos edition which rallied travel and tourism trade buyers to a day trade session.

The session which lasted for hours displayed a broad spectrum of packages and offers for business and leisure seekers in and around the nine provinces in South Africa.

Taking turn to visit each table at the event, the South African team displayed a range of spectacular and sophisticated products and services that make one see things in a new way.

The team took time out to give a person to person presentation of different offers which include hotel brands, destinations’ products and services as it appeals to and inspires individual, group or family.

SAT also used the road show in Lagos to honour SA Specialists graduates with certificates for their successful completion of online specialist modules.

As part of the programme, five lucky SA Specialists graduates, in a raffle draw won an all-expense-paid trip to experience the sight and sound of the hospitality of the rainbow nation.

For the best dressed tradition attire category, a female and a male participant emerged winners and both will be joining other SA Specialists on an all-expense-paid trip to South Africa.

However, the session also avail participants the privilege to be informed of the debut of Essence Festival in Durban in November 2016.

For well over two decades the Essence  Festival has established itself as a must-attend event that draws more than 450,000 attendees from across the globe to New Orleans, LA year after year. The multi-day entertainment, empowerment and cultural event has an economic impact of more than $200 million on the local economy and now Essence  is expanding the franchise internationally.

Signing a three-year partnership with eThekwini Municipality, Essence Festival will not only take place in New Orleans over Fourth of July weekend (June 30- July 4) but also in its sister city of Durban, South Africa in 2016 and 2017.

Essence Festival Durban will follow a similar format of the annual New Orleans event, presenting international performers and speakers to entertain and inspire, as well as a host of local artists and experts.

The multi-day event will bring exciting and informative ideas to equip small businesses through empowerment seminars across various sectors, including career guidance workshops and other empowerment initiatives aimed at the youth.

A number of women-owned businesses will also be selected to trade at the Durban edition of Essence Festival, which will boost their profile and drive sales for the company.