CONFERENCE bookings in Gauteng are expected to exceed R1billion ahead of the Soccer World Cup in June, the CEO of the AstroTech conference centre in Johannesburg said yesterday.

“The year has started off fast ... with a significant number of queries and bookings from foreign and South African companies,” said Liza van Wyk. “Many of the South African companies seem to be concerned about high travel prices during the Soccer World Cup and the fact that universities will close during that time, (and) so are moving bookings forward.” Bookings were “very high” for April. “Conference bookings in Gauteng alone are expected to exceed R1billion.”

Demand was fuelled by SA being named a top 10 destination for 2010 in a British travel trends report. — Sapa