In the spirit of writing new, more progressive and dynamic stories for Africa, for 2016 we’ve expanded our show floor to welcome the Innovation Zone, powered by Paypal.

The Innovation Zone has been designed to help you connect with selected forward-thinking brands who can add value to your business, from revolutionary technology to smart F&B solutions. Stationed on Level 00 (Ground Floor), there you’ll find dedicated information stations where you can find out more about each featured brand (more on those below).

Plus, check out the Innovation Zone timetable below or in the APP to catch presentations featuring innovative tips and tools you can use to enhance your company productivity and operations, which are happening in networking breaks throughout the show. Get this: there are also prize giveaways! Drop off a business card at the start of each presentation and you could win an iPad mini 2, courtesy of Paypal.

PAYPAL

TOURPLAN

Tourplan is a tour operator software technology platform designed for tour operators and destination management companies – from small right through to large enterprise organisations. Based across five continents, Tourplan offers complete flexibility with a modular approach integrating product, quotes, reservations, accounts and management information systems – plus web interfaces for agent, client and supplier transactions.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Located in Cape Town, South Africa, Under The Influence is a wine education and distribution business that caters to over 400 properties across 14 African countries. Operating as an e-tailer, they provide a gateway for buying and experiencing great wine through their tastings, unique offers, wine videos and courses. The company offers its clients an integrated and bespoke beverage solution which maximises their return on inventory and guest experience through a range of products and services on offer.

SATIB INSURANCE BROKERS

As the pioneering insurance cover for the travel and tourism industry, SATIB continues to stay ahead through innovation and regular consultations with clients and insurance providers. The company understands the needs of the industry – from the varied use of building materials (thatch, canvas and wood), to exposure to the natural elements, remote locations, food and beverage nuances, adventure activities and operators of all shapes and sizes. They know how colourful travel and tourism can be; as a result, they provide exceptional products that are tailored for the industry’s needs.

RESREQUEST

ResRequest is the ideal, efficient hospitality software suite that manages all aspects of central reservations, property management and customer relationship management. It handles multiple properties, currencies and users, all in one system. The software runs on online servers, which are hosted on the web and on offline servers at many locations. This interface links agents, tour operators and online travel channels to live availability and rates data from ResRequest Enterprise.

WETU

Knowing how big an influence the internet has had on the tourism industry, Wetu works to provide the traditional industry with the content and technology to compete effectively in the digital world, by building cutting-edge systems and creating tools to improve the buying experience of traditional industry clients. The company operates in over 20 countries across the African continent, offering packages to DMCs, operators, agents, suppliers and day tour providers.

John Segar