by Conor Walsh & Jonathan Lechtman
The Sandton Convention Centre is South Africa’s premier event and conference venue. With over 22,000m² of flexible event space, advanced facilities, and a prime location, it’s the ideal place to host exhibitions, conferences, meetings, small get-togethers, global expos, and everything in between.
In this quick guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about hosting an event at Sandton Convention Centre. If you have any more questions, schedule a call. Our local team of Joburg events experts have years of experience organizing big and small events here and know every corner of the complex.
Versatile Events and Conference Spaces
The Sandton Convention Centre spans 12 stories with a combined floor space of 22,000 sqm and capacity for up to 10,000pax.
Venues inside the Sandton Convention Centre range from an intimate 10-seat function room to the Grand Pavilion, which effortlessly accommodates up to 4,500pax and can be used for theatre productions, concerts, and product launches. There are also five committee rooms and seven boardrooms catering for 10-200pax each. These are terrific for strategy sessions, breakaway rooms, and committee meetings.
The ballroom can accommodate 1,500pax, perfect for dinners, receptions, and special events. If you fancy a cocktail event, the Bill Gallagher room is perfect. It caters to 400pax. It’s also a good option for meetings and presentations.
Lastly, there are two exhibition halls optimized for hosting trade shows, expos, and other large convention-style events.
World-Class Facilities
Sandton Convention Centre boasts the latest event and conference technology, including audio-visual equipment, security, logistics, and cleaning.
Whether you’re hosting a team meeting with 10 people or an international expo with 10,000, you can avail of modern computer networking, web streaming, teleconferencing, and a huge team of dedicated, highly-trained event support staff.
The Convention Centre includes excellent on-site bars and restaurants throughout the complex that suit every taste. The dedicated catering facilities can serve up to 12,000 participants in under 12 minutes, with kosher, halal, and vegetarian options alongside extensive wine lists, buffets, and tea and coffee.
There’s 24-hour security located throughout the building, with more available if needed, and a central control room where experts monitor CCTV throughout in case of any incidents.
The Convention Centre has 11,000 safe parking bays next to the building for local attendees.
Award-Winning Design
Since opening in 2000, Sandton Convention Centre has won numerous awards for its design, architecture, and facilities. The venue’s first award was the coveted Fulton Award for architecture in the Design Aspects. Many more awards have followed since, for its management, technical performance, people excellence, and environmental efforts.
In 2015, it won an EXSA award for the best venue in South Africa, based on employee performance.
Sandton Convention Centre has also won international travel awards, including Best Venue in the Business Traveller Africa Awards (2013) and a Hall of Fame Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor (2019) in recognition of its consistently high ratings from tourists visiting South Africa.
5 Star Hotels and Accommodation
Sandton Convention Centre is surrounded by modern hotels catering to business and leisure travelers with every budget. Two of the best hotels in Sandton – The Sandton Sun and Towers and The Michelangelo – are located right next door and connected by a short tunnel.
Other excellent hotels near Sandton Convention Centre include:
- Holiday Inn Sandton
- Garden Court Sandton City
- Hotel Sky
- Da Vinci Hotel and Suites
- Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel
- Many more
Sandton Convention Centre is also walking distance to The Leonardo – a premier 5 Star hotel that’s also Africa’s tallest building.
Whatever your preferences and budget, the hotels around Sandton Convention Centre that can accommodate event participants from across the globe in comfort, convenience, and luxury.
Prime Location
Sandton Convention Centre is conveniently located in the heart of Johannesburg’s financial center, Sandton. Known as, amongst other nicknames, Africa’s Manhattan, Sandton is home to South Africa’s stock exchange, and many of the country’s most important corporate headquarters. It’s also the gateway to Africa for many international companies.
As such, the neighborhood surrounding Sandton Convention Centre is packed full of high end shopping, dining, bars, premium offices and coworking spaces, hotels, attractions, and facilities like gyms and healthcare.
It’s only 40 minutes’ drive from O.R. Tambo International Airport, and it has a Gautrain Station with a direct link to the airport. International event attendees can reach the convention center and nearby hotels effortlessly, skipping the traffic of downtown Johannesburg.
Attendees and delegates can also spend their leisure time at some superb nearby attractions:
1. Nelson Mandela Square
Nelson Mandela Square is Joburg’s top high end dining destination and a short walk from the Sandton Convention Centre. Built to resemble a traditional European town square, Nelson Mandela Square is home to plenty of fantastic bars, restaurants, boutique stores, and an office complex.
2. Sandton City Shopping Centre
Sandton City Shopping Centre is arguably Africa’s most iconic, premier shopping centre destination, often called “The Richest Square Mile in Africa.” The multi-storey shopping and lifestyle center stands tall over the Sandton city skyline and is home to around 300 stores, eateries, and art galleries – including many of the world’s most iconic retail brands.
3. Croc City Crocodile and Reptile Park
Africa is home to the world’s most incredible nature; therefore, it’s only natural for participants to want to experience some wildlife. The Croc City Crocodile and Reptile Park offer precisely that. The park has various expert guides to teach you about the local crocodiles and reptiles.
4. Montecasino
Montecasino is an award-winning entertainment complex 20 minutes’ drive from Sandton. The complex is home to world-class dining, family fun, an international theatre, world-class hotels, a terrific casino, expansive landscape gardens, and much more.
5. Montecasino Bird Gardens
For participants who love nature, Montecasino Bird Gardens are home to many indigenous South African mammals, reptiles, colorful birds, and other exotic animals to entertain kids and adults of all ages.
Ready To Host Your Event at Sandton Convention Centre?
The Sandton Convention Centre is the best event and conference space in South Africa. It offers an unrivaled combination of incredible location, world-class facilities, excellent security, luxury and budget accommodation, and a venue that always delivers.
If you’re planning an event in South Africa and thinking of hosting it at Sandton Convention Centre, get in touch. Our local team of experts can provide you with the latest unbiased and objective advice, including which space to host your event, the best hotels, and all the logistics involved.
