Conference tourism is a booming industry in
Tanzania, with groups wanting to take advantage
of the full range of facilities on offer and to
tour the country’s spectacular sites once their
work is done. From safaris in the Serengeti to
days spent lounging on a tropical beach in
Zanzibar, conference incentives take on a whole
new meaning in Tanzania.
Luxury hotels in Dar es Salaam and Arusha offer
state-of-the-art facilities in central
locations. Conference facilities are available
at all of the major hotels, with special
bookings and tour packages available all year
round. NGO’s and special interest groups from
Tanzania, East Africa and around the world have
chosen to host conferences in Tanzania, both to
offer their conference-goers a special
experience in unique surroundings, and to take
advantage of the tour packages and safari
options the country has to offer. Annual
conferences for UN branches, pan-African
business organisations and special interest
groups attract a growing number of delegates
every year.
In Tanzania’s commercial centre of Dar es
Salaam, most hotels are located in the business
district of the city and on the waterfront
nearby. Palm trees and lush gardens are an
important part of their design and make the
general environment one of quiet peace and
tropical tranquillity. Conference equipment from
whiteboards to data projectors, plus reliable
computer and internet access, are widely
available. Most hotels will specially cater for
a conference group, and meals on the Indian
Ocean coast incorporate the freshest seafood
with crisp highland produce from the Usambara
Mountains. Snacks, tea breaks, and special
surprises are all worked into your
specially-planned schedule.
In northern Tanzania, the town of Arusha boasts
a number of high-quality hotels in the
commercial area, all shaded by stately trees and
with expansive views of nearby Mt Meru. On-site
conference facilities cater for large and small
groups. Conference coordinators, who work
on-site to make sure everything goes smoothly,
are becoming a popular option in the leading
hotels. For large functions, the Arusha
International Conference Centre (AICC) is
centrally located within the city. With
facilities for delegates numbering in the
thousands, the AICC has hosted the United
National Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and other
high-profile international conferences.
In any conference, breaks are an important part
of keeping people on track and Tanzania’s
conference facilities offer everything from
traditional entertainment to special
team-building adventures. Day excursions to
local markets and workshops offer shopping
opportunities for colleagues, family, and
friends back home. And if the delegates want a
change of scene, both Arusha and Dar es Salaam
have a wide range of local restaurants and
evening spots where they can sample the best in
international cuisine, dine on the waterfront,
or sample regional specialties while looking out
towards Kilimanjaro.
Of course, incentives are always part of a
conference package, and here Tanzania truly
outshines the rest. Conference coordinators
provide an option of incentive packages to suit
every itinerary, schedule and budget. Ngorongoro
Crater and the Serengeti are right on Arusha’s
doorstep, and short safari packages for small or
large groups are an essential part of conference
hosting in northern Tanzania. In Dar es Salaam,
day trips to the beaches and ruins of Bagamoyo,
short safaris to Mikumi National Park, and
longer trips to Zanzibar ensure delegates see
the very best the country has to offer.
