Maropeng bags Gauteng Lilizela conferencing award

Maropeng has been named the best four-star meetings, exhibitions and special events (MESE) venue in Gauteng at the provincial 2017 Lilizela Tourism Awards.

The official visitor centre to the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site was named a finalist in three categories at the awards last week. Both the Maropeng Visitor Centre and the visitor centre for the Sterkfontein Caves were finalists for the visitor experience award.

The annual Lilizela Tourism Awards initiative is organised and run by the Department of Tourism to recognise and reward tourism businesses that deliver world-class products and services, and help make South Africa a competitive global destination.

The conferencing award was for Maropeng’s impressive indoor conference facilities that can accommodate up to 500 people, and its outdoor amphitheatre that can take up to a whopping 6 000 delegates. Maropeng also has a stand-alone venue, Hominin House, which caters for interactive conferences and team-building events.

“Our picturesque surroundings, our close proximity to Johannesburg and Pretoria, and our ample space are all factors that make us a favourite, cost-effective venue for public and corporate events,” says Maropeng’s general manager of sales and marketing, Janine Muthusamy.

Muthusamy says the team is thrilled with the award.

“It’s an honour, and it motivates us to new heights. It also proves a return on our long-standing investment in local development and job creation. That’s very rewarding and something to be incredibly proud of.”