South Africa has been shortlisted as one of the four countries to host the WACS 2016 Congress between 4 and 10 March 2016. South Africa will be competing against Greece, Hungary and Australia when a delegation representing the South African Chefs Association, Johannesburg Tourism Company, Sandton Convention Centre and SA Tourism leave to make the bid in Korea in May this year. The bid will include proposing Johannesburg, as South Africa’s city of choice.

WACS, the World Association of Chefs’ Societies, represents a global network of chefs associations first founded in October 1928 at the Sorbonne in Paris. Today, this global body has 87 official chefs associations and its biannual congress is a hallmark tradition of WACS. It has been organised in over 22 cities across the world throughout its 80-year history.

The congress in 2016 will attract almost 500 global delegates. WACS 2016 will focus on the greater issues challenging the culinary industry including discussing ways of empowering and supporting the young chefs who will form the future of the industry. It will also address other important issues such as ways to extend the network of chefs and draw in new members.

The Sandton Convention Centre will host the congress and breakaway sessions. Matifadza Nyazema, Executive Director of the Centre, said: “Our highly trained and experienced management team and staff are geared-up to host a successful world convention of this stature and magnitude. We believe the congress provides the City of Johannesburg with a prime opportunity to showcase the diversity of the destination and the country’s commitment towards the Chefs Association.”

Photo: Sandton Convention Centre