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. NGOs 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 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 center 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 to 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.