Steering Committee

Posted on 06/11/202211/11/2023 by admin

Hon. Phildah Kereng
Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Botswana more…

Meet our Steering Committee Members

Gerald Lawless
WTTC Ambassador,
Former Chairman of WTTC, Former President & Group CEO of Jumeirah Group more…

Paul Hoskins
Managing Director
Fulcrum Travel Marketing+PR more…

Ibrahim Ayoub
ITIC Organiser &
CEO Daiichi Display more…

ITIC Speaker — Cuthbert Ncube
Executive Chairman
Africa Tourism Board
more…

and other selected leaders of the Travel and Tourism & Financial Services sectors to join the Steering Committee

ITIC Botswana Tourism Investment Summit 2023

Posted on 06/11/202219/08/2023 by admin

Connecting Botswana Travel & Tourism Sector with Investors and Global Tourism Leaders

It will be the B2B Tourism Investment summit and exhibition bringing together international leaders and project developers in the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors and connects them with investors. The Summit will provide a platform to drive international awareness and investment in the Republic of Botswana and act as a catalyst for growth. It will attract private equity firms, investment banks, institutional investors, fund managers and influencers, who have the power to channel capital and to raise funds to invest in sustainable tourism projects.

It will host approximately 300-400 tourism and financial services stakeholders from local and international: CEOs, the business elite in the tourism and financial services sectors with the capacity to invest in the development of sustainable tourism in Botswana.

Our mission is to provoke a new thinking and explore new opportunities and financial mechanisms for sustainable investments in travel and tourism to be held in Gaborone, Botswana on the 22 – 24 November 2023.

As the Summit will provide an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the whole Botswana tourism industry and its achievements during the last 56 years on an international scene.

Tshoganetso Carl-Ponoesele

Posted on 21/10/202221/10/2022 by admin

Tshoganetso Carl-Ponoesele is the Acting Chief Executive Officer – Botswana Tourism Organisation. Ms. Carl is currently leading the BTO team in resuscitating the Botswana’s tourism product’ source markets and penetrating the new markets; optimising the tourism value chain; as well as harnessing opportunities to accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector from the ramifications of COVID-19.

Meet our Speakers

Posted on 20/10/202224/11/2023 by admin

BTIS 2023 Speaker — H.E. Slumber Tsogwane
Vice-President Botswana more…

IBTIS 2023 Speaker — Cuthbert Ncube Executive Chairman Africa Tourism Board more…

Moshie Ratsebe Director, Investment Promotion Botswana Investment and Trade Centre more…

Programme

Posted on 20/10/202224/11/2023 by admin

Botswana Tourism Investment Summit 2023

Accelerating Investments towards Sustainable Product Diversification

Summit Day I
Thursday
23 November 2023
Summit Day II
Friday
24 November 2023

Summit Day I
Thursday
23 November 2023

Master of Ceremony: Jazzelle Kebakile

07:30 – 08:30 Arrival of delegates

Performance by Andante Chorus

08:30 – 08:50 All delegates to be seated.

08:55 – 09:00 Arrival of His Honour the Vice President

09:00 – 09:05 National Anthem led by Andante Chorus Ramotswa

09:05 – 09:10 Prayer Reverend Paddy Mapitse UCCSA Mochudi

09:10 – 09:15 Introduction of Guests by Gaborone District Commissioner

09:15 – 09:20 Entertainment – Opera

09:20 – 09:25 Welcome Remarks by Hon. Philda Kereng, Minister of Environment and Tourism

09:25 – 09:30 Mophato Dance Theatre

09:30 – 09:35 Taleb Rifai, Chairperson of ITIC Ltd and Invest Tourism Ltd

09:35 – 09:50 Keynote Address by His Honor Slumber Tsogwane

Official pictures with the Vice President outside the venue

09:50 – 09:55 Entertainment Mabutswapele Dance Group

10:00 – 10:15 Fireside chat with Batani Walter Matekane, Director Macroeconomic Policy, Ministry of Finance and Professor 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

10:15 – 10:20 Vote of Thanks: Paul Hoskins, Director ITIC Ltd and Invest Tourism Ltd

10:20 – 10:30 Tour of Exhibitions

10:30 – 10:55 GMT Business Networking Break & Refreshments

10:55 – 11:00 Speech by Claudia Conceicao, Regional Director, Southern Africa, International Finance Corporation

11:00 – 12:00 Ministerial Panel – Botswana leveraging on its strategic location to facilitate cooperation and investment in tourism in the region

Moderator: Carmen Roberts, Travel Writer & Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC

Panelists:

Hon. Philda Nani Kereng, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Botswana
H.E. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism Jamaica
Hon. Vera Kamtukule, Minister of Tourism of Malawi
H.E. Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Hon. Elena Kountoura, Member European Parliament
H.E. Elias M. Magosi, Executive Secretary Executive Secretary of SADC
Liang Wang, Resident Representative, World Bank
Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC and Invest Tourism Ltd

12:00 – 12:45 Air connectivity, the critical success factor to transform Botswana into a regional tourism and business hub

Air connectivity supports tourism flows and is a key success factor in the growth of Botswana’s travel and tourism sector. Botswana which has already implemented an open sky policy, could be positioned as a major regional logistics and distribution hub besides supporting international passenger traffic. Furthermore, is the development of a sizeable domestic aviation market a prerequisite or can bilateral and multilateral air agreements with other States accelerate air linkages and turn Botswana into an inescapable regional tourism and business hub.

Moderator: Professor 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

12:00 – 12:10 One-to-one interview with Ghait Al Ghait, CEO, flydubai (virtual)

12:10 – 12:45 Start of Panel discussion

Panelists:

Masego Magdeline Mookodi, Acting General Manager, Air Botswana
Christopher Rodrigues CBE, Ambassador World Travel & Tourism Council, former Chairman of VisitBritain (2007 – 2017), Chairman Port of London Authority and Chairman of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency
Eskedar Tamrat, Area Manager, Ethiopian Airlines

12:45 – 13:45 Networking Lunch

13:45 – 14:30 DEAL ROOM – Meeting between Tourism Project Developers and Investors in the Okavango room at the Grand Palm Hotel

14:30 – 15:15 Investing in Tourism

IFC has global experience investing in the tourism sector. What lessons have been learned and what contributes strongly to sector growth and development? The panel will discuss these topics augmented by the specific first-hand experience of tourism operators doing business in Botswana or regionally.

Moderator: Hans Shrader, IFC Country Advisory and Economics

Panelists:

Petra Pereyra, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana and SADC
Samuel Nganga, Manager MAS Upstream and Advisory, IFC
Hamza Farooqui, CEO Millat Investment (South Africa)
Kim Nixon, Chief Operating Officer, Chobe Holdings Limited

15:15 – 16:15 Discover Investment Opportunities in Botswana

This session to be hosted by Carmen Roberts, Travel Writer & Presenter and Broadcaster, BBC

Panel of Experts:

Gerald Lawless, WTTC Ambassador and Former Jumeirah Group President & CEO
Gobusamang Dempsey Keebine, CEO, Corporate Nexus
Kushata Chilisa – Head CEEP, Stanbic Bank Botswana
Moshie Ratsebe, Director, Investment Promotion, Botswana Investment & Trade Centre (BITC)

Tourism Project Presentations by:

First part: Ras Al Khaimah: From mountains and desert to a Tourism, MICE and Business flagship. Presentation by Mohamed Belkhodja, Director Investments and Special Projects, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKDA)

Second Part: BTO Investment Opportunities. Presentation by Keitumetse Setlang, Acting CEO Botswana Tourism Office

Third Part: Discover the Kgalagadi Smart and leisure City, Concept and investment opportunities.

Tshepho Mmokele, Projects Operations Manager, Botswana Tourism Organisation
Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO ITIC Ltd and Invest Tourism Ltd

Fourth Part – Presentations of Botswana Tourism Projects in quest of investment (session 1)
Presentation of La Vallee des Couleurs Mauritius and its plans for investment in Botswana by Ashfaaq Polin, Director, La Vallee des Couleurs, Mauritius

16:15 – 17:00 Empowering Women in the Tourism industry – Capital Raising for Women Entrepreneurs

Gender equality and the empowerment of women in the tourism industry are essential for the inclusive socio-economic development of a country. Botswana is creating the conducive environment to eliminate barriers to entry in the tourism labour market and to open opportunities for the career progression of women as employees but also as self-employed entrepreneurs in expanding their business. Moreover, the country is paving the way for a system of seed capital to support women entrepreneurs.

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

Panellists:

Lily Rakorong, Chief Executive Officer, HATAB
Nuzhat Anwar, IFC Resident Representative, Botswana
Katlego Mphahlele, Senior Dealmaker, Services SBU, IDC
Tumediso Anicia Mbanga, Founder of Comfort Palace (new Cultural Village project)
Marcela Lizarraga, Engagement & Projects Director, Membership & Commercial, WTTC (virtual)
Muna Haddad, Founding CEO, Baraka (virtual)

16:45 – 17:00 Networking & light snacks

17:00 – 18:00 DEAL ROOM – Meeting between Tourism Project Developers and Investors in the Okavango room at the Grand Palm Hotel

17:00 – 18:00 Networking Session

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

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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

Ken Osei

Posted on 29/03/202208/11/2022 by admin

Ken Osei is a Principal Investment Officer with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Private Sector arm of the World Bank Group (WBG), and a leading Development Finance Institution, operating across emerging markets globally.

Ken is responsible for originating, structuring, closing and managing portfolio investments in IFC’s Manufacturing, Consumer Services and Agribusiness sectors. Ken has been involved in IFC equity, debt, and quasi-equity investments in East, West and Southern Africa in sectors such as Retail, Commercial Property, Education, Healthcare, Housing, Hotels, Cement Manufacturing, Automotive Components, Food & Beverage & Fast-Moving Consumer Goods. He is based in IFC’s Johannesburg office.

Hon. Philda Nani Kereng

Posted on 30/10/202130/10/2021 by admin

Hon. Philda Nani Kereng, is the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation & Tourism of Botswana. She has brought a new impetus to the tourism industry of her country by revising the tourism policy so as to enhance the participation of the country’s citizens in the tourism industry and to diversify the tourism products across the country.

She has devised strategies to accelerate the recovery of Botswana tourism industry through the networking of its different partners so as to achieve synergy while improving sustainable conservation practices and positioning her country as a tourism and investment regional hub.

Hon. Philda Nani Kereng efforts earned due recognition as she was recently acknowledged as one of Africa’s Tourism Board Key Leaders in Africa.

She has also been active on the social front since 1995. She held until 2001 the post of Chief of Surveys and Follow ups of the Rural Industries Innovation Center, planning and managing nation-wide sociological research projects to improve industrial and farming activities.

Furthermore, she has also been a Project Officer for Community Development of the Action for Economic Empowerment Trust, a local partner of the US African Development Foundation (ADF), working closely with rural communities to identify, plan and manage community ecotourism projects.

Her grassroots knowledge of the Botswana’s society led the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to appoint her as Child Protection Officer to drive the national programme on orphan care and child services in collaboration with NGOs and CBOs. She was also instrumental in the development of the Children’s Act of 2009.

Hon. Philda Nani Kereng received an award for being one of Africa’s Tourism Board (ATB)’s Key Leader in Africa at the first East African Regional Tourism Expo on the 9 October 2021. The award recognizes her excellence in driving development of sound tourism recovery strategies. Such strategies include the review of tourism regulations, the Tourism Policy, development of climate change and response and integrated waste management Policy amongst the few.

Hon. Philda Nani Kereng holds a B.A. in Public Administration and Sociology as well as a Masters in Sociology of Development (UK).

In parallel to her State responsibilities, she is an associate pastor in a local church and often acts as counselor and life coach for families, women and young people.

Call for Projects

Posted on 05/10/202109/11/2021 by admin

As at June 2019, ITIC has received proposals for live and bankable tourism projects worth of USD 3 billion.

Tourism project promoters are invited to send their Expression of Interest for those projects that are in need of investment.

Contact Details
Ibrahim Ayoub
Group CEO
ITIC Ltd
a: 118 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5EAA
t: +44 74 64 03 47 61 / +44 79 74 18 75 71
e: [email protected]

Tourism Investment Projects

Interested in submitting an investment project?

Paul Hoskins

Posted on 08/11/202022/12/2022 by admin

Paul Hoskins is a director of London based companies ITIC Ltd – International Tourism Investment Conferences, Invest Tourism Ltd and founder director of the FULCRUM Travel Marketing+PR consultancy.

Following graduation in travel management and business studies from the City of London College, Paul has worked for more than thirty five years as a business travel, tourism and hospitality marketing consultant, travel agent and tour operator. With extensive experience in corporate and interim management, destination promotion, communications, conference moderating, media relations, broadcasting, health-care and property management.

Paul is a member of the Institute of Directors, the Reform Club, President of Skal International London UK, immediate past President of Skal International United Kingdom and executive committee member and former Chairman of PATA – the Pacific Asia Travel Association – UK & Ireland Chapter.

For further information

Cuthbert Ncube

Posted on 31/10/202004/11/2020 by admin

Cuthbert is a seasoned Tourism Executive and has held leadership position within International and Regional Organization. His mandate at the Africa Tourism Board is to leverage strategic relationships in the industry and beyond to unify Africa’s efforts in positioning herself as a Tourism destination powerhouse.

Cuthbert has had the honor to share his knowledge in the tourism industry as a Guest Speaker at various Local, Regional & International Conferences.

A passionate capacity and enjoy music and a spot of gardening during his free time. Position held to date:

Executive Chairman – African Tourism Board
CEO- Kwela Fleet Management, South Africa
Owner & Managing Director – Golden Feathers Hotel, Cape Town
Former Regional Vice President & Board Member of UNWTO
Non-Executive Director – African Tourism Partners
Non-Executive Director – Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme

Connecting Botswana Travel & Tourism Sector with Investors and Global Tourism Leaders

Botswana Tourism Investment Summit 2023

Accelerating Investments towards Sustainable Product Diversification

Summit Day IThursday23 November 2023

Summit Day II Friday24 November 2023

Tourism Investment Projects

Summit Day I
Thursday
23 November 2023

Summit Day II
Friday
24 November 2023