CPT #5 - Cape Town Civic Center, WESGRO, Artscape
A day of business networking sessions and cocktails, prepared for our Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town Business Tourism Plan Competition and in awe at "Selamat" theatre piece at Artscape.
The morning began with stepping foot into the Cape Town Civic Center for the opening ceremony of Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town.
To be greeted with a networking cocktail going on, it was a little awkward for us students to begin with because apparently we're here with not a major aim or purpose unlike the business delegates whom see the need in networking, possibly meeting new people to embark together on their common goals and objectives to make things happen. It was nice to share with some others at the networking cocktail about what we're here for also.
We were dressed in business formal wear as well, all ready for our competition which was later in the afternoon.
As we proceeded to be part of the opening ceremony.. The photo below, this room is actually where they hold United Nation meetings, that's the setting we're in throughout that hour!
We were then greeted with lunch in the banquet hall. Haven't really had the chance to be the guest sitting down to enjoy the service but instead like I previously did my internship in Singapore, it was me being the server! Now and then during the meal, we had representatives from Cape Town and Singapore to share a presentation for the business delegates. After the meal, what was scheduled is none other than the breakout sessions for the business delegates to meet potential partners in accordance to the sector they are in.
We were greeted with Salmon Tuna Salad and Lamb Shank!
Soon, before we could finish our main course, we had to rush over to WESGRO (EDB of Cape Town) for our competition presentation! In the midst of waiting for our turn - presentation for the Cape Town Business Tourism Plan competition.
The theme for the competition was Sustaining Tomorrow’s Future with Creative Business Today. The scenario: Most tourists visit Cape Town during the long summer from November to February. However many are unaware of the mild winter season that Cape Town enjoys, from June to August. This means that the hotels are usually empty during the winter period. Your challenge with your team of 2 - 4 fellow colleagues is to decide on a solution to help sustain the winter tourism business in Cape Town. You are to engage yourself in the discipline of your studies plus a little dosage of business acumen and creativity, to find solutions to the problem, in your proposal.
That's my group!
Here we have Temasek Polytechnic - Dip in Hospitality & Tourism Management Year 3/ Graduating batch!
The competition went well though it was a bit of a rush. All six groups did their best I believe! We then went back to the hotel, washed up a little and be prepared for the Gala Opening Ceremony!
Yet another networking cocktail before the performance began. We munched on some small bites while having the chance to talk to various business delegates and organisers who all seemed very anxious and concerned about the competition results which we had no clue about as well! Nice to know that they're concerned about our welfare throughout the programme too!
Watermelon & feta cheese
Cured meat and apricot
Fried Zucchini
Somewhat like our satay back in Asia, meat skewer!
While we were waiting to watch the performance "Selamat" - A new music theatre piece by Iskandar Ismail, based on poems of Professor Edwin Thumboo and directed by Jeremiah Choy. At the same time a collaboration between Singapore and African musicians to stage this wonderful performance that all Singaporeans were so proud of when we watched it live at Artscape.
I wish I could share with you this wonderful performance, really!
The Gala Opening Ceremony was also where I met my favourite blogger Storyofbing or her real name Karen! Before I left for Cape Town, I was reading her recent blog entries and that now she has moved to South Africa, I shared with her that I was excited about going to Cape Town the next day and what I'd be doing there. Surprisingly receiving a comment from her that she'd be there for the Gala Opening as well so when I saw a familiar face by the entrance of the theatre and yes she is Karen! She was nice enough to look for me again after the performance and we spoke quite a bit about my experience and her life in South Africa! And this is what I always forget: To take photos together! But I think I'd be able to find it somewhere a photo of me and her talking... somewhere somehow... It's been nice meeting you Karen! We were saying how weird of it to meet each other not in Singapore (as Singaporeans) but in South Africa!
The day ended with us wearing the business wear throughout! I had quite an eye opening experience because this time round, we're really part of the networking sessions and though we did not have much of a major aim or purpose in networking, it was nice sharing with all about what we do back in school and the adults offering us some advice. Guess we haven't really had the chance to be part of such networking sessions until we came here to be part of students under the learning component of Spotlight Singapore in Cape Town. This is why I love about everyday, you learn something everyday!