The Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Bay is a great choice as a coastal MICE destination, with Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) offering delegates a combination of good business infrastructure and beachfront leisure.

Business travellers to Gqeberha are spoilt for choice with City Lodge Hotels’ five properties and 623 rooms across the city, says Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism. Four are in Summerstrand, opposite the popular Humewood Beach – the luxurious Courtyard Hotel, the classic City Lodge Hotel, the modern Town Lodge and budget-friendly Road Lodge. There is a second Road Lodge just 150m from Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, perfect for shorter stopovers.

All five properties offer essentials for business travellers, including free high- speed WiFi, secure parking, on-site restaurants (breakfast, lunch and dinner), 24-hour reception, en-suite bathrooms, in-room tea and coffee stations, complimentary bathroom amenities and free magnesium- enriched filtered water.

The Courtyard Hotel Gqeberha is currently undergoing a refurbishment, with brand-new guest rooms and public spaces to be unveiled soon. In the interim, its studio, one- and two- bedroom units remain a strong option for extended stays, offering added comfort through private entrances, kitchenettes and in-room appliances.

For events and conferencing, Town Lodge Gqeberha’s Six Pillars Conference Centre offers sea views and accommodates up to 110 delegates – an ideal venue for meetings, product launches and special occasions. City Lodge Hotel Gqeberha adds a newly refreshed 12-seater boardroom for smaller, focused sessions to the mix.

Read the full article in the Southern & East African Tourism Update MICE supplement here.