Africa Travel Week
Meet Helen Van Tonder, as Hosted Buyer Executive & Database Team Leader, she recruits and maintains relationships with our hosted buyers for both WTM Africa and ILTM Africa as well as building databases and co-ordinating our association partners.
What do you love most about Africa?
The smell of the African land after rain, the wildlife, the beaches, watermelon at Christmas time. I have also had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people from the whole continent through our the Hosted Buyer Programme.
Where are you heading in 2021? What adventures await you?
No real plans yet, but I am certainly enjoying ‘armchair travel’ during the changing lockdown levels. If I had my wish I would go to New Zealand! As the saying goes, ‘if you dream it you can do it’, so I’ll also be bold and say Antarctica.
What are you looking forward to the most regarding WTM Africa Virtual from 7-9 April?
Id definitely say our hosted buyers who I am also looking forward to seeing later on in the year for Connect in the City: Live, in September. I am also excited about networking with travel associates in the industry once again!
On the subject of Connect in the City scheduled from 1-3 September in Cape Town, what are your top tips for those attending?
Make as many new contacts as possible, attend the relevant speaker presentations, the ever-popular speed networking session and definitely check out www.atwconnect.com to see how our team will be keeping the industry connected throughout the year.
Based on your 5 senses what are you looking forward to the most during Connect in the City
- I’m looking forward to seeing: The beautiful City of Cape Town
- I’m looking forward to tasting: Cape Malay Bobotie
- I’m looking forward to feeling: Connected to the buyers
- I’m looking to hearing: The buzz of the show floor
- I’m looking forward to smelling: Crisp, freshly-printed travel brochures
For more information on WTM Africa, visit: www.wtm.com/africa
