Tourism Leaders to Address Industry Challenges at 2025 Hospitality Think Tank

2 min read

Key tourism and hospitality industry leaders will gather at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton on 8 August for the annual Hospitality Industry Think Tank, a strategic platform aimed at fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth within South Africa’s tourism sector.

Initiated by Dream Hotels & Resorts in 2023, the event has quickly become a prominent gathering on the national hospitality calendar, attracting influential brands, industry associations, and thought leaders committed to elevating South Africa as a world-class tourism destination. This year’s Think Tank is presented in partnership with leading industry players, including Wyndham Hotels, Infrateq Africa, Profit Room, Assa Abloy, Sabre, Legacy Hotel Group, Beekman Group, Valor Africa, Sondela, Club Mykonos, Peermont, DGB, Painted Wolf Wines, and Sun International. Supporting associations include SATSA, TBCSA, FEDHASA, and VOASA.

With all event proceeds donated to Touching Dreams, a non-profit dedicated to uplifting local communities and preserving natural environments impacted by tourism, the event highlights the industry’s shared commitment to meaningful, sustainable development.

Chris Godenir, General Manager of the Peninsula All Suite Hotel and Touching Dreams ambassador, emphasises the significance of collaboration within the industry: “The annual Hospitality Industry Think Tank creates an opportunity to come together, solve challenges collectively, and ensure every stakeholder—from boutique businesses to large hotel groups—benefits from tourism growth.”

Natasha-Lee Shunmugam, fellow Touching Dreams ambassador, adds, “Tourism has the power to uplift and transform communities across South Africa, far beyond established attractions like Cape Town and Kruger National Park. The Think Tank is our opportunity to strategize together, ensuring that the industry’s growth is sustainable, inclusive, and beneficial to local ecosystems and communities.”

The 2025 agenda will cover vital industry topics, including:

Navigating risk and resilience in a changing political and environmental landscape.
Expanding South Africa’s tourism appeal beyond Cape Town and Kruger.
Funding models to unlock hotel development and tourism potential.
Leveraging technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence to enhance guest experiences and profitability.
Tourism’s critical role in job creation and sustainable economic development.

The event will conclude with the Dream the Impossible Dream Gala Dinner, raising funds for Reach for a Dream Foundation, Endangered Wildlife Trust, and Touching Dreams Think Big Academy. Renowned musician Jesse Clegg headlines, accompanied by performances from the Wits Performing Arts Department and Moving into Dance.

Reservations are now open for both the Hospitality Industry Think Tank and the Dream the Impossible Dream Gala Dinner.