By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has congratulated Durban and Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) for scooping major awards at the World Travel Awards held in Dubai.
The World Travel Awards aim to honour travel excellence and industry leadership has, for three decades, been recognising organisations that consistently elevate the standards of the global travel and tourism sector.
This prestigious accolade marks a remarkable milestone for the Durban ICC as it celebrates this achievement during the 30th-anniversary edition of the World Travel Awards.
It was revealed that the Durban ICC’s dedication to providing world-class services and facilities for meetings and conferences has made it a natural recipient of this prestigious title.
The ICC walked away with Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre and Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destination Awards, beating the likes of Accra (Ghana), Lagos (Nigeria), Marrakech (Morocco), Nairobi (Kenya), Zanzibar (Tanzania), Kigali (Rwanda), Cape Town and Johannesburg in both awards.
Dube-Ncube said the awards are a great vote of confidence by the global travel and tourism sector in KZN province, the City of Durban, and the Durban International Convention Centre facility.
“We appreciate this honour but importantly value the sterling and untiring work put in by our entity, KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau for continuously attracting business events to our province. Such achievements are not a given nor come to us for free, we have to work hard to achieve them” Dube-Ncube said.
The Premier also noted with excitement that in the 23-year history of Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre Award category, the Durban ICC has won this title for the 18th time.
“This vote of confidence by the World Travel Awards organisation in the Durban ICC is as bold and significant as the establishment of the Durban International Convention Centre itself. During the formative years of our democracy the city’s fathers took a daring and futuristic view of making the Convention Centre one of the single largest investments in the future growth and development of the city.”
“Today we are reaping the rewards of such decisions. Naming it after Africa’s first Nobel Laureate, Inkosi Albert Luthuli is indicative of the global stature of this facility. Hosting these awards in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC will be a befitting tribute to the vision of our forebears,” the Premier said.
Durban ICC chief executive officer Lindiwe Rakharebe expressed her gratitude and excitement.
“We are immensely proud and humbled to be named ‘Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre’ in the 2023 World Travel Awards. This achievement reflects the tireless dedication of our team and our unwavering commitment to providing a world-class platform for meetings and events,” said Rakharebe.
She extended her gratitude to all ICC clients, partners, board members and stakeholders who have played an integral part in this journey of excellence, adding the centre remains steadfast in its mission to provide exceptional services, inspire innovation, and contribute to the growth of South Africa’s meetings and events industry.