The B and E Conference Centre is co-owned by Melissa Leigh Palmer, who serves as the Founder and Director, and Natasha Carmody, who is also a Director. Melissa has a strong passion for organizing social experiences and events for friends, family, and peers, and enjoys sharing these experiences with her two young children. Natasha loves being creative and trying new experiences, she is part of a wine club, a book club and has created a craft club. She loves spending time with her family and friends and being surrounded by nature and animals.
The B and E Conference Centre primarily serves the Skills Development Industry, offering services such as venue hire, conference packages, equipment rental, and catering. Our main branch, located on Kempston Road in Gqeberha, is highly accessible, being situated on the main bus and taxi routes, and is a popular choice for training companies, learnerships, and corporate training events that cater to delegates who rely heavily on public transportation. The venue also features secure off-street parking manned by 24-hour security services and is equipped with inverters to offer lighting and plug point access during load-shedding.
"Our second branch, located in Newton Park, is known as B and E Premium, offering similar services as our main branch, but also features a functions venue that caters to corporate events, private celebrations, product launches, and more. This branch is situated near one of the main shopping centres and has a generator to provide power during load-shedding, along with ample secure parking within the complex. Our third branch is in East London and caters to a similar market as the main branch, featuring a generator for backup power during outages and offering high accessibility".
"We offer a range of conference packages that can be tailored to suit our clients' budgets and needs. Our catering requirements are met through partnerships with key stakeholders in both cities, providing our clients with the best service and most delicious food. We also have preferred providers for AV & sound requirements and décor setups for any function".
Melissa's professional career commenced in 2007 when she started working at the Home & Décor Expo Centre. However, in 2010, the landlords of the building initiated renovation plans and converted several exhibition spaces into boardrooms and training venues. At that time, Melissa was serving as the functions supervisor and was subsequently promoted to Business Manager following the building's revamp. During her tenure, Melissa established the fundamental structure of the conference centre and instituted standard operating procedures and policies. While the centre already had a few training companies as clients, Melissa's professionalism led to an increase in the number of clients.
Nevertheless, the business's income was not consistent due to the seasonal nature of conferencing and events, which prompted the landlords to trade the conference and catering division of the business for a more predictable monthly rental income. Melissa was thrilled to take on this section of the business and thus established B and E Conference Centre (Pty) Ltd, which she became the sole director of in March 2014.
Over time, the business grew to a point where Melissa could not manage everything herself, necessitating a strategic partnership with a like-minded individual. In July 2017, Natasha joined Melissa as a partner and Director of B and E Conference Centre, and together they worked to advance and expand the business.
Over the years, our business has encountered various challenges, including the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic. The mandatory enforcement of Lockdown level 5 had a significant impact on our operations, which required us to make difficult decisions to navigate through the situation.
"Our location in Gqeberha, particularly our main branch situated in Kempston Road, has presented its own set of challenges. Despite being in close proximity to Greenacres and Newton Park, the perception of Kempston Road or Korsten as an unsafe area has been a persistent hurdle. Although our experience working in this suburb for over a decade has been largely positive, some networks refuse to travel to this area due to its negative perception. To overcome this challenge, we opened our Premium venue in Newton Park, catering to a new market and offering a second venue in a perceived safer area".
The Covid-19 pandemic was an extremely challenging period for our business, and we had to make significant adjustments to survive. While we are still in the process of recovery, welcoming back our clients to our business and introducing them to our new Premium Venue has been a great pleasure. The pandemic has taught us valuable lessons, including the need to operate a lean business and to collaborate with industry stakeholders who specialize in areas that we do not. We have formed partnerships with professional caterers, allowing us to reduce our staff complement while still providing exceptional services to our clients. Collaboration and transparency have been key factors in our successful navigation through the pandemic and our ongoing recovery efforts.
"Our business has accomplished various notable achievements over the years, with particular emphasis on managing large-scale projects for our clients. These projects involved identifying suitable venues for training purposes and accommodating a large number of delegates within a short time frame. As project managers, we were responsible for overseeing all aspects of the project, including venue management, accommodation arrangements, and catering services. Our operations expanded into several cities, including Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Adelaide, Bedford, Mthatha, and East London. One of our projects even provided an opportunity to establish a permanent branch in East London, which has since experienced substantial growth. Another milestone was our relocation to a larger venue in East London and the opening of our second branch in Gqeberha".
"Our team, comprising Natasha and Melissa, are deeply committed to promoting the business events industry in Gqeberha and attracting innovative and exciting events to the city". Melissa, the co-founder of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Events Industry, and Natasha, a committee member, are part of NMB Conferences, a group of industry professionals dedicated to securing and supporting conference bids and introducing clients to exceptional suppliers within the city. Melissa currently serves as the EC Chair for SAACI (Southern African Association for the Conferencing Industry), while Natasha has recently taken on the role of Event Organizer for Skål International.
"We believe that collaboration is a critical success factor in business. By partnering and working with other industry professionals, we can benefit from their expertise and focus on our core business of venue hire and training room occupancy. This allows us to offer a more comprehensive and valuable service to our clients".
"Rather than viewing our competitors as threats, we see them as partners in the market, with whom we can collaborate on overflow bookings, larger projects, and maintain friendly relationships. Working with other industry players creates opportunities that would not be possible otherwise, further enhancing our ability to deliver top-notch services to our clients.
We firmly believe that Nelson Mandela Bay, or Gqeberha, is an undiscovered gem that remains largely unappreciated. Our city is renowned for its friendly, warm-hearted people who embody the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. Through our mutual support and partnership, we are confident that our city's economy can experience significant growth. Our city is home to numerous small, yet exceptional venues that deliver outstanding services. What sets our city apart is its proximity to a wealth of attractions, including game reserves, oceans, and karoo citrus farms, all within a 10-40 minute drive. Moreover, all areas of our city are easily accessible within a maximum of 20 minutes drive, with stunning beachfront views in abundance. Our deep appreciation for Gqeberha inspires us to pursue its continued growth and success".