(AGI) - Cape Town, 25 nov. - South Africa will host EuropeanCities Marketing's (ECM) first education conference forprofessionals in the meetings industry outside Europe, theMinister of Tourism Derek Hanekom said in Barcelona where he ispromoting South Africa as a business events destination. ECM, a non-profit organisation which provides a platformfor convention, leisure and city marketing professionals toexchange knowledge, network and build new business, will runthe ECM Academy in Johannesburg from 19-23 February 2016. The ECM Academy, like its sister the ECM Summer School inEurope, aims to upskill South African and African professionalsin the convention bureaux, airline, conference venue, congressand convention centre meetings industries. "We are excited thatthe ECM Academy programme is coming to South Africa. We want toimprove our service delivery and create jobs through the ECMAcademy programme, and we hope that the rest of the (African)continent will also grow as a result of this event'" saidHanekom. ECM President Ignasi de Dela's said: "We are reallythrilled to have our first ECM academy organised in SouthAfrica. It is a new landmark in ECM development to host thisversion (in South Africa) of our successful ECM Summer School".He said the ECM academy programme is a tailor-made course forpartner organisations outside Europe. "We will do our best toguarantee the success of the ECM Academy in Johannesburg bymaintaining the highest standards of course content, recruitingthe best speakers and showcasing the most up-to-date trends inthe meetings industry," de Dela's said. The ECM's faculty team,made up of senior professionals with recognised positionswithin the meetings industry, will provide participants withthe skills to recruit new colleagues and future leaders, tonetwork, to acquire new clients and to gain credits to become acertified meeting professional. An anticipated 40 to 50participants will attend the academy programme in Johannesburg."I am really looking forward to exchange with participants andinteract with them to enhance the quality of the meetingsindustry in Africa," said Pier Paolo Mariotti, course leaderfor the ECM Academy and the ECM Summer School. (AGI).