G20 Summit puts spotlight on SA's hospitality skills gap and opportunities

SOUTH Africa has just come through its most demanding tourism year since the 2010 FIFA World Cup as Johannesburg hosted the G20 Summit.

- LOUISE WISEMAN

JOHANNESBURG welcomed global leaders for the G20 Summit.

(TIMOTHY BERNARD Independent Newspapers)

The event brought heads of state, ministerial teams, security units, media crews and technical staff to the country, who depend on reliable logistics and high-quality service, which placed real pressure on hospitality, tourism and events businesses that must deliver at a global standard while managing the usual seasonal peaks.

Consider the magnitude of the G20 as an operation; delegations travelled with specialist staff, protocol requirements, and strict security expectations.

As such, hotels had to balance full occupancy with seamless guest handling, conference venues had to deliver consistent technical and service execution, and restaurants and travel companies had to accommodate fluctuating demand while maintaining speed and accuracy.

This was the moment where a country’s operational competency became visible to the world.