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Gallagher Convention Centre has successfully secured top honours and will play host to the 2009 Miss World Beauty Pageant on Saturday 12 December. Following an announcement made by the Management of Miss World Limited and based on the success of the 2008 event, this is the second successive year that the contest will be hosted in Johannesburg and will be a first for Gallagher.
Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC) chief executive Lindiwe Mahlangu: “We were delighted when the announcement was made last year that the pageant will again be hosted in Johannesburg, not only because of the prestige attached to the event, but also because of the financial injection that accompanies such a global extravaganza. The City of Johannesburg once again has the opportunity to demonstrate its status of excellence as a multi-cultural metropolitan excelling in the hosting of global events. We have become a showcase in every respect, from venue facilities and the quality of their offering to our city’s vast attractions for business and leisure tourism.”
The 2009 Miss World Pageant will see South Africa host 120 international contestants, with the final broadcast attracting more than two billion viewers world-wide. Says Mahlangu: “The 2008 event had a positive effect on the economies of both Johannesburg and the nation as a whole, and we expect 2009 to reinforce our standing as a premier destination on the global stage. Each Miss World contestant is followed closely by media representatives from her home country, showcasing Johannesburg and South Africa as a whole to an additional captive audience. The “Beauty with a Purpose” charitable foundation has raised almost R4 billion for children’s charities across the globe and we have seen local charities benefit significantly from the event’s highlighting the social development agendas of our city. In addition South African designers had the opportunity to showcase their creations to the world during the final broadcast of last year’s event. The Miss World event is much more than a beauty pageant. It contributes significantly to the economy of the host city and nation by furthering a wide range of business and social initiatives.”
Gallagher managing director Karen Slabbert concludes: “The hosting of this spectacular event clearly supports our international marketing plan to position Gallagher Convention Centre as the paradise of South African venues, offering flexibility, elegance and accessibility. Our venue offers a unique opportunity to highlight the beauty of our country in both indoor and outdoor settings. Our versatility offers the organisers the maximum in terms of creativity and comfort. We will make every effort to present the global Miss World audience with the performance of a lifetime.”
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