Sandton Central welcomes Joburg Tourism’s head-office

SANDTON, South Africa – Highlighting Sandton Central’s position as not only SA’s financial hub – but a major center for business tourism, leisure and conferencing, Joburg Tourism has moved its head office from Rosebank to the landmark Sandton Library on Nelson Mandela Square.

The move has been hailed by the Sandton Central Management District (SCMD). Elaine Jack, City Improvement District Manager of SCMD, believes it is a great decision, with Sandton Central being a key business tourism and events hub in SA and on the continent.

“Joburg Tourism no doubt recognised the value and advantages of relocating its head office to Sandton Central, a cosmopolitan business, leisure and entertainment hotspot. Its new head office in the Sandton Library building, overlooking the iconic Nelson Mandela statue on Nelson Mandela Square, is a prized location to be in, right in the heart of Sandton Central,” says Jack.

She adds: “As the financial center of Johannesburg, South Africa and the continent, Sandton Central is home to the JSE and most of SA’s major corporate head offices. Sandton City – linked directly to Nelson Mandela Square – is the busiest shopping centre in SA, while Sandton Convention Centre is one of the busiest conference facilities.

“Sandton Central is a world class business district that’s also home to several leading five-star hotels, top restaurants, entertainment facilities and the busy Sandton Gautrain Station, with its 15 minute direct link to OR Tambo International Airport. All this makes it a prime location for a head office, and we are happy to welcome Joburg Tourism’s HQ to Sandton.”

Joburg Tourism began operating out of its new headquarter in Sandton in December. Its offices on the 4th floor of the Sandton Library houses its entire executive team and support staff of 23 people. Joburg Tourism is also in the process of setting up a fully-fledged tourist information centre on the ground floor.

Laura Vercueil, spokesperson for Joburg Tourism, says the new head office in Sandton is a perfect fit.

“Although Joburg Tourism’s head office has been in Rosebank since the establishment of the unit, it was decided that when the lease came up for renewal again, that we should look at utilising a city-owned property in an appropriate area. We were fortunate that there was space for us in the beautiful and iconic Sandton Library building right on Nelson Mandela Square, which we all know is a tourist hotspot,” she explains.

Vercueil adds: “We are in the throes of designing a space for a Visitor Information Centre on the ground floor, which will be ideal for visitors and tourists seeking information. It is set to be complete in the next six months. Although our Visitor Information Centre is still under development on the ground floor of the Sandton Library, our new office does offer information, assistance and advice to the public.”

Joburg Tourism is a destination marketing organisation, dedicated to promoting tourism growth in the city. Its primary function is to promote Johannesburg as a business, lifestyle, sport and leisure destination, both locally and internationally. Its operations include running a Convention Bureau, a Visitor Services Bureau, as well as co-ordinating city-wide tourism marketing programmes, tourism information gathering and analysis.

In addition to its new head office in Sandton Central, Joburg Tourism has Visitor Information Centres at Park Station in the Johannesburg CBD; and, in Soweto at the Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown.

Jack comments: “Sandton Central is major contributor to the economy of Johannesburg, Gauteng and South Africa. On the tourism front, business or MICE (meetings, conferences and events) tourism is a key part of Sandton Central’s contribution to the broader tourism and hospitality sector in the city. With Joburg Tourism’s new home in Sandton, we are looking forward to taking tourism in the city to a new level.”