Derek Houston, Managing Director of Houston Travel Marketing Services and organiser of the highly regarded Spotlight Travel Expos, has confirmed record-breaking attendance at the recent Spotlight events in Arusha and Nairobi.
The Arusha Spotlight, hosted at the Gran Melia, 380 travel agents and DMCs representing 253 travel companies attended from across the region. In Nairobi, the two-day expo held at PrideInn Plaza Westlands attracted an impressive 398 trade professionals from 260 companies.
Both events featured a record 43 exhibitors each, reflecting the strong demand for participation. “We regrettably had to turn away a number of potential exhibitors due to venue space constraints,” noted Houston, highlighting the growing interest in Spotlight as a key platform for intra-African travel trade engagement.
Exhibitors expressed high satisfaction with the calibre and decision-making authority of buyers in attendance. Many reported immediate business opportunities, including on-the-spot requests for group and FIT bookings. One South African hotel exhibitor confirmed requests to quote on two separate group bookings of 50 passengers each for Cape Town — a strong indicator of serious buying intent.
The core objective of Spotlight Travel Expos remains the promotion of intra-African tourism by connecting African buyers with African suppliers in a focused, relationship-driven environment. This year’s exhibitor line-up showcased a diverse range of destinations and products, including South Africa, mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya’s coast, Uganda, Rwanda, international hotel groups, leading airlines, and national tourism boards.
Seychelles Tourism, a long-standing exhibitor at Spotlight Nairobi, reported being particularly encouraged by the significant number of new buyers attending this year, enabling them to introduce their island offerings to fresh outbound operators.
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, exhibiting in Arusha for the first time, remarked on the strong interest shown in South Africa, and specifically in KwaZulu-Natal. They were joined by inbound tour operators from the province, many of whom received multiple booking enquiries and promising leads.
With consistent growth in attendance, exhibitor demand, and measurable business outcomes, Spotlight Travel Expos continue to strengthen their reputation as one of Africa’s most effective trade platforms for driving regional tourism partnerships and unlocking new commercial opportunities across the continent.
The Spotlight Programme continues this year with Expos in Windhoek (28 March); Gaborone (18 & 19 June): Harare (09 July); Dar Es Salaam (31 July); Kampala 12 August and Nairobi (01-03 September).
For more Information visit https://www.houstonmarketing.co.za/programme/
