Durban International Convention Centre in Rivertown wins best convention centre again!

The Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban’s Rivertown Precinct is alive and kicking, with an enviable events calendar this year as the city begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming events include the World Table Tennis Championships 2023, an event which has not been held in Africa since 1939 and has never been held in South Africa! Other events include a variety of industry specific conferences, tradeshows and exhibitions.

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The Durban International Convention Centre also won the award for Africa’s Best Convention Centre for the second year in a row at the World MICE Awards Rina van Staden, the Director of World MICE Awards, said: “Our winners are finding innovative ways to overcome the challenges our industry has been facing, driven by guests seeking in-person experiences. [The] winners represent the brands finding exciting ways of doing things better”. The conference centre’s innovation includes the promotion of a hybrid model of conferences that allowed some attendees to connect to conferences virtually, the much needed refurbishment of old infrastructure and the training of staff members to ensure they are able to keep up with the new normal.

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The reopening of the convention centre is highly beneficial for the Rivertown Precinct in which it is located. The precinct boasts numerous office, retail and light-industrial spaces on the doorstep of the ICC and within a short walk to the iconic Golden Mile Beachfront Promenade. Businesses seeking to take advantage of the activity generated by the events economy and high exposure to local and international audiences, would benefit from considering a base within the precinct.

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The area is well served with a diversity of accommodation options for different price ranges and tastes: ranging from the Halo Hybrid Hotel to the 5 star Hilton to The Benjamin Hotel - on Durban’s bustling Florida Road. The convention centre is also in close proximity to the beachfront which can be reached by a short 15 minute walk. Other complimentary venues nearby include the Point Waterfront, Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket stadium and the Moses Mabhida Stadium as well as a number of museums and other urban attractions - which places the Rivertown Precinct within the heart of the city.

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With ongoing investment in the public realm planned by the eThekwini Municipality in and around the Rivertown Precinct - strong potential exists for the area to become a safe, walkable and vibrant convention district. Durban can learn from cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Miami who have successfully created vibrant convention districts that blend shopping, cultural, and retail opportunities. Well designed convention districts are valuable as they increase attendee turnout, improve their experience and boost wider economic growth as more people are drawn to the area. It would therefore be beneficial for Durban’s ICC for the surrounding area to be developed in a way that promotes walkability as well as creates a memorable experience where residents and visitors can enjoy a cultural and social hub that is beautiful, functional and efficient.