The 16^th Annual General Meeting took place at The Michelangelo, Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton on the 26^th July 2012. The afternoon session was comprised of TBCSA members, TOMSA levy collectors and industry stakeholders.

AGM proceeding started with a report by outgoing Board Chairman, Mr Tommy Edmond, in his absence the report was read by Chief Executive, Mmatšatši Ramawela. This was followed by the CEO’s report, reviewing the performance of the organisation in the 2011 financial period and also highlighting various industry developments to date.

AGM Decisions and key highlights from member`s deliberations are as follows:

• The meeting noted that the TBCSA had received an unqualified audit. The annual financial statements as contained in the TBCSA Annual Report were approved.
• Members voted to not increase membership fees for 2013. This decision was concluded by recognising the current economic recession that is negatively affecting many businesses.

· The meeting noted TBCSA’s active participation within Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), as a one of the ways the organisation is constantly finding means to profile the role of travel and tourism in the broader economy.

· The meeting noted that TOMSA reached the 2011 collection target despite the ongoing economic recession

· TBCSA’s successful hosting of the 6^th Hotel Investment Conference Africa (HICA) alongside Indaba was lauded

· The meeting also lauded the first anniversary of the TBCSA FNB Tourism Business Index

Following the an announcement prior to Tourism Indaba in May, members formally acknowledged the appointment of Mr Mavuso Msimang as the new TBCSA Board Chairman.

the following were raised as affecting the industry, also noting a number of opportunities to be explored:

Challenges:

· Rising input costs - fuel and other operations costs

· Legislation – transport-related legislation concerning

· Reduced demand in leisure and business travel

· Airlift and Air Access - need to revision of SA aviation policy &

· delayed implementation of Yamoussoukro Declaration

· Tourist access issues – VISA and delayed SADC Univisa

· Access to capital – money is tight

· Destination marketing – marketing vs. sales

• Impact of the economic recession on businesses
• Rising input costs
• Legislation which presents challenges to business operations
• Reduced demand in leisure and business travel
• Airlift and Air Access
• Tourist access issues
• Access to capital
• Destination

Opportunities:

· Hosting DIRCO workshops to educate SA representatives in foreign missions

· AU Commission Chair occupied by SADC/South Africa

· New Minister and Deputy in Department of Transport to address our challenges

· New President & Chairman linked to sector at BUSA

· Government’s infrastructure plans

· Growing Niche Markets in following areas:-

Ø Sports Tourism opportunities - African Nations Cup in January 2013

Ø Educational Tourism – SKA in Northern Cape

Ø Heritage and Cultural Tourism – story telling, the arts, etc.

Ø Marine Tourism and Leisure – cruise tourism, coastal/shoreline utilization

The meeting concluded with the Board Chairman thanking all the members for their attendance and input during the meeting.

TOMSA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2012:

The CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), Mmatšatši Ramawela, provided a brief presentation about the administration of TOMSA in the previous financial year. She also highlighted some of the challenges to date and future plans for TOMSA.

Key highlights from the CEO’s presentation were the inclusion of Travel and Tourism in Government’s New Growth Path Plan and also the launch of the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) She also highlighted that in the year under review, TOMSA continued to strengthen relationships with both the National Department of Tourism and South African Tourism. SA Tourism and TOMSA continue to have bi-lateral meetings on a quarterly basis.

While 2011 was one of the most difficult years for many in the industry TOMSA collections remained steady. This was mainly attributed to improved administrative procedures and efforts. Total collections for 2011 amounted to R96 183 million excl VAT vs. R 97 829 million in 2010. Total collections paid to SA Tourism by end
of 2011 amounted to R91 618 816 million.

Challenges affecting TOMSA
The challenges affecting TOMSA were discussed - The most pertinent of these being collector resignations due to dissatisfaction with SA Tourism’s marketing activities.

Secondly, a significant number of tourism products that are eligible for levy collection and are possibly collecting the levy are not paying the funds over to TOMSA. In some cases Local Tourism Associations have introduced their own version of the tourism levy collecting levy, adding pressure to TOMSA. It is important to be mindful of the fact that with no support for TOMSA, we will be inviting calls for the levy to be mandatory, which could mean less funds being ploughed back into the industry.

Lastly, misguided perceptions around TOMSA remain a major concern.

TOMSA Takes Action
TOMSA management has instituted a number of initiatives to address some of the challenges mentioned above:

Firstly, TBCSA is engaging Local Tourism Associations to determine how to can establish mutually beneficial partnerships. “We believe that LTAs have an important role to play in ensuring that all tourism operators in the respective regions, big and small, support TOMSA instead of establishing their own as some are already doing”.

Secondly, through, TOMSA and the TBCSA have joined forces with SA Tourism to launch a pilot project, aimed at boosting tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom. The project entails the appointment of an ‘in market’ Sales Conversion Consultant, who will work side by side with SA Tourism’s UK office to strengthen the promotion and sale of South Africa as a tourist destination.

Lastly, TOMSA will also endeavour to urge greater awareness and support for its efforts through a targeted awareness campaign and will continue to meet with SA Tourism on a quarterly basis to address the challenges and concern facing the industry and our levy collectors.

TOMSA Board Elections

Being an election year, directors to the TOMSA Board were elected as follows:

• Lance Smith, Executive Director of Sales of AVIS
• Alistair Dooley, Divisional Director of Financials at City Lodge Hotels
• Dale Pretorius, Marketing Manager for Value South Africa
• Franco Jordaan, MD of Court Classique Hotels
• Kobus Tait, CEO of Forever Resorts
• Nic Griffin, CEO of The Thornybush Collection
• Nils Heckscher, MD of Winchester Mansions Hotel
• Paddy Brearely, MD of Legacy Hotels & Resorts
• Mavuso Msimang, TBCSA Board Chairman
• Mmatšatši Ramawela, TBCSA CEO

In accordance with the TBCSA Constitution, the Board is elected for a two year period and that both the Chairman and Deputy Chairman will be elected at its next seating later in October.

Conclusion

The day ended Thulani Nzima, SA Tourism CEO, presented the South African Tourism 2013 -2014 Business Plan followed by the inspirational strategist who’s mind works like the mind of a fox, Clem Sunter.

The 15th Annual General Meeting of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa took place at the Southern Sun Hotel, OR Tambo International Airport, on the 4th August 2011.The day started with a closed session for the TOMSA Annual General Meeting, followed by another closed session for the TBCSA.

It is pleasing to not the significant increase in the numbers of member who were in attendance. Being an election year, a key highlight of this session was the election of the new TBCSA Board.

Proceedings started with a report by the current chairman of the Board, Tommy Edmond, followed by a report on the performance of the organisation by the TBCSA Chief Executive, Mmatsatsi Marobe. Marobe also reported on various challenges facing the industry and outlined some of the organisation`s plans for the 2011 financial year.

• The meeting noted that the TBCSA had received an unqualified audit. The annual financial statements as contained in the TBCSA Annual Report were approved.
• The proposed TBCSA membership fee structure for 2012 was approved. Additional members agreed that the TBCSA must develop a non-paying membership category. This new category will accommodate smaller associations which could not afford to pay the normal membership fees but want to be part of the TBCSA membership structure. This will also address the concerns on widening industry representation within the TBCSA.
• Improvements on the administration of TOMSA were ongoing with several notable changes being reported - the implementation of a new financial system, relocating the TOMSA bank account to FNB and the appointment of the new TOMSA manager.
• The meeting noted the strengthened relations between the TBCSA and the National Department of Tourism (NDT). Furthermore it was felt that there is still a need to build relationships with other government departments to receive and give more input in matters that affect the tourism sector.
• The launch of the TBCSA FNB Tourism Business Index (TBI) was highlighted as one of the key projects for the TBCSA. Members were encouraged to support the project and participate in the surveys when invited.
• The meeting TBCSA`s membership within BUSA (Business Unity South Africa)

• Impact of the economic recession on businesses
• Apathy in the Travel & Tourism industry
• Skills development
• Airlift & Air Access
• Visa issues
• Post- world cup slump in demand from local and international tourists
• Sector support within the broader corridors of government
• Amendments being carried out in the constitution. The final constitution will be circulated to all members.

Following the member deliberations, the session proceeded to the election of a new Board. A total of 22 industry leaders, including representation from the various trade associations and corporate business, were elected to the Board.

Mr. Peter de Bruin	Head of Tourism	First National Bank
Mr. Graham Wood	Managing Director	Southern Sun Inns, Hotels & Resorts
Mr. Clifford Ross	Chief Executive Officer	City Lodge Hotels
Mr. Tommy Edmond	Chief Executive Officer	Tourvest
Mr. Theunis Potgieter	GM: Commercial Operations	South African Airways
Mr. Ross Kata	Regional Director: Africa	Expedia
Mr. Glenn Phillps	Managing Executive: Tourism & Marketing	SANparks
Ms. Marilyn Lewis	Chief Executive Officer	Thebe Tourism
Dr. Salifou Siddo	Chief Executive Officer	Tourism Enterprise Partnership
Ms. Jennifer Seif	Executive Director	FTTSA
Mr. Bart Bender	Chief Executive Officer	Proserv International
Ms. Robyn Christie	Chief Executive Officer	ASATA
Mr. Michael Tatalias	Chief Executive Officer	SATSA
Mr. Brett Dungan	Chief Executive Officer	FEDHASA
Mr. Chris Zweigenthal	Chief Executive Officer	AASA
Ms. Adene Pringle	General Manager	SAACI
Mr. Paul Pauwen	General Manager	SAVRALA
Mr. Charl Fouche	National Chairman: Tourism Committee	AHI
Mr. Churchill Mrasi	National President	SALTHA
Ms. Caroline Ungersbock	Acting President	NAA-SA
Mr. Gavin Eyre	Managing Director	SAYTC
Mr. Jaco Venter	General Manager	NOW

In accordance with the TBCSA Constitution, the Board is elected for a two year period and that both the Chairman and Deputy Chairman will be elected at its next seating later in Octobe