Business

Cape Town is one of the top business cities in the world – with a variety of excellent hotel and conference facilities and so many fantastic attractions, you’re spoilt for choice!

When it comes to business, the Mother City means “big business”. Cape Town is a superb location for international and local companies looking for meeting venues, conference facilities, exhibition space, trade shows, team building opportunities, incentives and major events.

The Cape Town Convention Centre (+27 21 410 5000, www.capetownconvention.com) is one of the most popular conference venues in the country. This convention centre, situated on Cape Town’s foreshore, consists of two auditoriums, gargantuan exhibition space as well as the elegant Grand Ballroom and a number of smaller breakaway rooms. The CTICC is home to a number of annual international fares including the popular Cape Town Book Fair.

Another excellent venue is the Good Hope Centre situated just off the highway, alongside one of Cape Town’s most distinguished landmarks – The Castle of Good Hope.

In terms of capacity, Cape Town has over 21 000 hotel rooms within a 45-minute drive of the central business district, with more accommodation to come before the 2010 FIFA World Cup – and we’re not even including bed and breakfasts and guesthouses into the mix. The city is currently home to nearly 50 000 beds and this will increase to just over 70 000 by 2010.

For international travellers, conferencing in Cape Town is a synch. The city falls into the same time zone as Europe which means no jet lag and no time waiting about for the rest of the continent to wake up. The most time difference you'll experience with Europe is two hours depending on the country and its daylight-saving programme, making video/phone conferencing with most of Europe is a pleasure.

If you'd like advice on organising an event or conference in Cape Town, please contact Cape Town Tourism directly (+27 21 487 6800, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).

If you’re coming to Cape Town on business, try to make time for a few days of leisure either before or after your business trip. If you’re limited on time, both half-day and full-day sightseeing trips are available.

If your spouse is with coming with you on a business trip to Cape Town, there is so much on offer for him or her. There are fantastic spas including some that specialize in unique African spa experiences that incorporate wellnesss, entertainment and social responsibilitity. Try out the Mangwanani Private African day Spa at Zevenwacht. For some fun in the sun, there are excellent beaches on offer, including Clifton and Camps Bay.

Partners will also love the fact that Cape Town is a shop ’til you drop destination. Why not while away the hours at Canal Walk, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cavendish Square or how about a trip to the festive Greenmarket Square in the city centre, where you'll find unique Cape Town curios and clothing?

When it comes to accolades, there is lots for Cape Town to brag about:

• 3rd Best City in the World, US Travel and Leisure magazine (July 2008).
• Best City in Africa & Middle East – US Travel and Leisure magazine (July 2008).
• 4th Top City in the World – Conde Nast Reader’s Choice Awards (October 2008).
• Best City in Africa & Middle East – Conde Nast Reader’s Choice Awards (October 2008).
•  3rd Best City in the Top 10 World Food Cities – Lonely Planet Blue List (October 2008).
• Best Destination in Africa – World Travel Awards (May 2008).
• Best City to Live in, Africa & Middle East – Mercer Quality of Living Survey (2008).
• One of the “Places of a Lifetime” – National Geographic Traveller (July 2008).
• One of the World’s Most Sustainable Cities – Ethisphere Institute (September 2008)

For leisure time, the city boasts superb sightseeing attractions. The "Big 6" – must-sees for any visitor – are: Robben Island, the Constantia winelands, the V & A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Cape Point and the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway.

You should contact Cape Town Tourism to find out more about the unique and authentic activities, attractions and experiences on offer too.

Or simply browse through the full list of Cape Town Tourism's Top 100 attractions and pick a few that take your fancy.

If you love the great outdoors, there are also superb golf courses on offer – try out the greens at one of the superb courses including Erinvale and Mowbray Golf Course.

The city is also known for it’s excellent restaurants – whether you are having a business lunch or a quiet supper for two at the end of the day. 2008 Eat-out award-winning restaurants include La Colombe on Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate, Jardine’s and Bizerca Bistro (www.eatout.co.za).

Cape Town is the pulse of the medical, creative and fashion fraternities. The world’s first heart transplant took place at Groote Schuur Hospital in 1967 and a visit to the Transplant Museum is a must. To this day, Groote Schuur is known as one of the world’s finest medical facilities.

When it comes to creativity – look no further than the Mother City. It is here that the fashion, film, advertising and television industries come to play and shoot their movies, commercials and Vogue covers. You might be lucky enough to bump into Brad Pitt, Nicholas Cage or Leonardo Di Caprio – who have been spotted in town in the past couple of years.

Cape Town has the capacity to handle the big events such as the Cape Argus Cycle Race – the world’s largest individually timed cycle race, the J&B Met – one of the most prestigious horse races in Africa; The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.