Orchid growers pick Joburg

HOT on the heels of news that Johannesburg will be hosting top international conferences such as One Young World in 2013, comes the announcement that more global conferences will be landing in the city of gold.

JTC CEO Lindiwe KweleJTC CEO Lindiwe Kwele: Conference will benefit the cityThe World Orchid Conference is due to touch down at the Sandton Convention Centre in September 2014, when it will return to South Africa for the first time since it was held in Durban in 1981.

“An indication of the confidence that associations, PCOs [professional conference organisers] and events organisers have in Joburg as a destination is the line-up of international events – with an estimated economic benefit to the city in excess of R200-million – set to take place in Joburg over the next three years,” says the chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Tourism Company, Lindiwe Kwele.

Joburg has also posted an increase in the number of overseas incentive groups visiting and spending time in the city, Kwele adds. For instance, within the last six months it has hosted three contingents of medical professionals from India on incentive trips to South Africa.

“The increased business we’ve seen in the recent past gives credence to our positioning of Johannesburg as a sought-after lifestyle destination with diverse product appeal,” she says. “Joburg is certainly making strides in its reputation and developments of this nature indicate that it is indeed on the radar as an appealing destination among DMCs [destination management companies] and international associations.”

Species
South Africa has a diverse population of orchids, with about 550 species throughout the country, which makes it well-placed to host the event. Gerrit van Ede, the chairperson of the bid steering committee for the conference, explains that two distinctive climates within the country – winter rainfall and summer rainfall – leads to high levels of diversity.

Winter rainfall orchids flower in spring, while summer rainfall orchids flower mostly in mid-summer.

Growing orchids as a pastime started in the late 19th century, although the first South African society devoted to growing orchids only began in 1956. This society still exists and is now referred to as the Cape Orchid Society. A national body to look after the interests of orchids was also created in 1968.

Orchids are also gaining prominence in tourism terms, and seeing the orchids in full bloom on top of Table Mountain in Cape Town is a growing attraction.

“Our theme for the conference and show in 2014 will be Orchids: Gold in the Green Age,” Van Ede says. “With this area forming the nucleus of our ageing mining industry, the theme pays tribute to this while drawing inspiration from conservation as the only way forward.”

It will be hosted by the three Gauteng orchid societies in Johannesburg, Edenvale and Pretoria.