Summit Day II
Friday
24 November 2023

09:00 – 09:15 Reflections

• Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO, ITIC Ltd and Invest Tourism Ltd

09:15 – 10:00 Investment and financing Sustainable Tourism Projects Unlocking Innovative Business models in the tourism sector.
A case study of successful of investments in Botswana tourism

This session will not only showcase successful investments in the tourism industry of Botswana but also highlight the decisive role of banks and investors in turning into reality the dreams of several entrepreneurs and visionaries of this country.

Modertor: Carmen Roberts, Travel Writer & Presenter, BBC

Panellists:

• Cross Kgosidiile, Managing Director, Botswana Development Corporation
• Guido Giachetty, Executive Chairman, RDC
• Keletso Bogatsu, General Manager, The Grand Palm Hotel Casino and Convention Resort
• Onalenna Keseabetswe, Head, Investment Banking, Stanbic Bank Botswana

10:00 – 11:15 Discover Tourism Investment Opportunities in Botswana

This session to be hosted by Carmen Roberts, Travel Writer & Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC
Session 2 – Presentations of Botswana Tourism Projects in quest of investment

10:00 – 10:15 Presentation: Solutions for infrastructural development in Botswana. A presentation by Emmanuel K. Yuh, PE, Chief Executive Officer, KEY Engineering Group Inc. (USA)

10:15 – 11:15 Session 2 – Presentations of Botswana Tourism Projects in quest of investment

Panel of Experts:

• Ian Goldin, Oxford University Professor of Globalisation and Development and the founding Director of the Oxford Martin School and Former Vice-President of the World Bank
• Gerald Lawless, WTTC Ambassador and Former Jumeirah Group President & CEO
• Gobusamang Dempsey Keebine, CEO, Corporate Nexus

Tourism Project Presentations – Selected projects from the Private Sector (3 minutes presentation for each project)

• Hotel Facility by Butholezwe Mlilo, Group CFO, Chovest (Pty) Ltd
• Holiday resort in Selibe Phikwe by Thebe Sefako, Managing Director, Sfee Holdings (PTY) Ltd
• Luxury hotel on the banks of Gaborone Dam by Sylvester Kealeboga Tshomane, Founder and Director, Selemo Rustic Hotel (Pty) Ltd
• Hotel near airport area, Maun by Victor Kegone Sebina, Director/Founder, Hotel 4:30 Proprietary Limited
• Luxury self-catering chalets and spa by Sylvester Kealeboga Tshomane, Founder and Director, Ruendo
• Shalakwe Hills Inn B&B by Gloria Moseki & Gaabadzo Moseki , Director, Shalakwe Hills Inn Resort (Pty) Ltd
• Eco-friendly campsite at Moremi village by Sakhile Abaleng Hlophe, Managing Director, Msizi Bush Camp & Stables (Pty) Ltd
• Shaya-she eco luxury resort by Itumeleng Botlhoko, Shaya-She Empire (Pty) Ltd
• Culturally Inspired Heritage Lodge by Mabua Lesego Mabua, Director/Founder, Mabwise Consultancy

 

11:15 – 11:45   Networking Break

 

11:45 – 12:45 The Hotels of the Future

Hotels are increasingly guest-centric with dynamic, personalized and unique services as well as tailor-made solutions matching their specific needs. In addition to an eco-friendly and technological environment, the hotels of the future try to offer an authentic and memorable stay to travellers. These initiatives contribute to optimize the return on investment and accelerate the yield period. Botswana is the right destination for the hotels of the future due to its highly solid and resilient tourism industry.

 

Moderator: Gerald Lawless, WTTC Ambassador and Former Jumeirah Group President & CEO

 

Panellists:

• Lee-Ann Singer, Chairwoman FEDHASA
• Richard Collins, Area Vice President, Sub Saharan Africa, Marriott International
• Mokwena Morulane, Managing Director Cresta Marakanelo Ltd
• Mark Abraham, Founder & CEO, Shackle (Virtual)

 

12:45 – 13:45  Networking Lunch

 

13:00 – 14:00 DEAL ROOM – Meeting between Tourism Project Developers and Investors in the Okavango room at the Grand Palm Hotel

14:00 – 14:45 Investment in Technology and Digitalisation: The Metaverse, IOT, Artificial Intelligence trends in the tourism industry

Digitalization is revolutionizing the travel and tourism industry, redefining it by changing customers’ expectations and by giving small businesses access to the global market. However, there is the need to strike the right balance between technological advances and human interactions to make the stay of a traveller in a place meaningful. Furthermore, digital modes of payment are spreading their reach in the tourism industry, adding value to the interactions between customers and the different service providers.

 

Moderator: Jacinta Kiruthi, CEO, International Trade, Regional and Continental Integration, Implementation of the AfCFTA

 

Panellists:

• Neo Nwako, CEO, Abari Communications
• Prof Dimitrios Buhalis, Director of the eTourism Lab and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research, University of Bournemouth, UK (Virtual)
• Jonathan Puzon-Gomez, Director of Tourism, Malaga (Virtual)

 

14:45 – 15:45 Discover Investment Opportunities in Botswana

 

This session to be hosted by Carmen Roberts, Travel Writer & Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC
Session 3 – Presentations of Botswana Tourism Projects in quest of investment

 

Panel of Experts:

• Gerald Lawless, WTTC Ambassador and Former Jumeirah Group President & CEO
• Gobusamang Dempsey Keebine, CEO, Corporate Nexus
• Cuthbert Ncube, Executive Chairman, African Tourism Board
 

Tourism Project Presentations – Selected projects from the Private Sector (3 minutes presentation for each project)

• Expansion of Itse Mageba Tours by Tebogo Victor Kgaodi, Director, Itse Mageba Tours (IMT)
• Expansion of Yebo Travel & Tours, Boago Elsie Mosweu, Managing Director, Yebo Travel and Tours (Pty) Ltd
• Development of Horticulture farm, Hotel & Camping site by Andrew Burrel Monageng, CEO, Octagon Distributors
• State-of-the-art hospitality facility by Christine Mutabelezi, Managing Director, Iswiza Rest Camp (Pty) Ltd
• KoiSands Resort & Leisure Waterpark by Kabo C. Matlhabaphiri, Managing Director, KoiSands Resort & Leisure Waterpark (Pty) Ltd
• Space Solutions Luxury Camp with conference centre by Refilwe Precious Jeremiah, Managing Director, Space Solutions (Pty) Ltd
• Chape Agro-Tourism Project by Tumo M Mothudi, Managing Director, Chape Veggies
• Cultural village in Kazungula, by Tumediso Anicia Mbanga, Director/Founder, Bate investments t/a Comfort Palace Guesthouse
• Bright Allure Botanical Garden, Mompoloki Seloka, Creative Director, Bright Allure (Pty) Ltd

 

15:45 – 16:00  Networking Coffee Break

 

16:00 – 16:45 Enabling investments in Tourism SMEs in Botswana

Banks in Botswana have been very supportive of SMEs in the tourism industry even in the uncertain times of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the recovery of the industry, how could banks extend their support especially to new ventures and innovative initiatives? This session will also cover the issues pertaining to the gap to be bridged between SMEs in quest of finance and potential investors and how policies can help Botswana’s SMEs benefit from FDI?

 

Carmen Roberts, Travel Writer & Presenter, BBC

 

Panel of Experts:

• Kagiso Koyabe, Head Business Development Services, Business Botswana
• Michaela Powell-Rees, Managing Director, Rera Partner
• Cuthbert Ncube, Executive Chairman, African Tourism Board

 

16:45 – 17:00 Closing

 

19:00 – 22:00  Cultural Dinner