On Friday, 3 March, FEDHASA Western Cape is hosting an Energy Summit with key stakeholders from the public sector as well as energy experts and leaders in the hospitality industry to address the ongoing energy crisis and its impact on the hospitality industry. In back-to-back panel discussions they will unpack the current and future landscape of Cape Town and the Western Cape; consider sustainable, alternative energy resources and funding; as well as offer practical advice to navigate the energy crisis.
The Energy Summit will be held in the FNB Portside building with an opening address by Minister Mireille Wenger, the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities. Neil Hughes, Managing Director, Providence Hospitality & Quivertree Digital Hospitality Solutions and FEDHASA Cape Board member will host the first of the two sessions, Talking Energy: Shedding Light on Hospitality & the Public Sector. It will focus on the current state of affairs affecting the hospitality industry and invite robust discussion between members on both sides of the fence. Panellists include Alwie Lester, Special Advisor to the Western Cape Premier; Rashid Toefy, Deputy Director General Economic Operations, Western Cape Government; Glyn Taylor, joint CEO, Century City Conference Centre and Hotels and FEDHASA Cape Board Member; and Emile Langenhoven, General Manager, Lanzerac Hotel.
The second session, Switching on Alternative Energy Solutions, aims to provide insight into sustainability, alternative energy resources, and funding. Host Monwabisi Thethe, CEO, Brand Contact and FEDHASA Cape Board member will introduce the energy experts who are spearheading a Plan B for South Africa’s energy crisis and providing practical solutions for future-proofing businesses. Panellists leading this discussion are Helen Davies, Chief Director Green Economy, Western Cape Government; Kyle Durham, Head of Sustainable Finance and ESG Solutions at First National Bank; Khudusela Pitje, CEO at New GX Capital; Shane Prins, Manager for Generation Development, City of Cape Town; and Bernhard Meyer, Capital Investments, National Department of Tourism.
Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, City of Cape Town will speak at the end of the Summit with closing remarks by Lesego Majatladi, MD, Latitude Aparthotels and FEDHASA Cape Board Member.
“The Energy Summit is an opportunity to get key decision-makers, stakeholders and experts from the private and public sectors into a room to tackle the energy crisis which continues to have a devastating impact on the hospitality industry,” says Lee-Anne Singer, FEDHASA Cape Chairperson.
“We look forward to robust discussions, which not only unpack the current challenges, but explore practical, sustainable solutions and alternative energy sources which may help future-proof businesses and livelihoods,” Singer says.
For more information on the event, contact: rema@fedhasacape.co.za