Six industry leaders will help Hostex celebrate 40 years of opening doors when the show returns to the Sandton Convention Centre from 8 to 10 March 2026.
Six industry leaders will help Hostex celebrate 40 years of opening doors when the show returns to the Sandton Convention Centre from 8 to 10 March 2026.
Announced during a lively webinar that explored how South Africa can showcase its hospitality and tourism strengths to the world during the upcoming G20 Summit, the ambassadors bring insight, energy, and first-hand experience from across the sectors that keep this industry moving – tourism, hospitality, culinary, beverage, retail, SME development, and local industry.
“We’re privileged to have ambassadors of this calibre – people who are shaping the industry and who are deeply invested in Hostex, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of the sectors it serves now and into the future,” says Lerato Nako, event manager of Hostex.
In the build-up to Hostex 2026, each ambassador will share thought-leadership articles through Hostex’s digital channels – offering insights, trends, and advice drawn from their fields. During the show, they’ll take to the stage in the Industry Hub seminar theatre and across feature areas, engaging directly with visitors and exhibitors to exchange ideas and spark collaboration.
Beyond the show, the ambassadors will continue to be part of the Hostex think tanks and strategy sessions, helping shape how the platform evolves to meet the needs of the next generation of hospitality, food, and beverage professionals.
Meet the Hostex 2026 ambassadors
Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo — tourism: Chief Operating Officer at City Lodge Hotels, Lindiwe is a widely respected leader with a career spanning both public and private sector tourism.
Trevor Boyd — culinary: A chef by training and now Operations General Manager: Food & Beverage at City Lodge Hotels, Trevor has built a distinguished career developing people, menus and hospitality standards that balance creativity and commercial success.
Omelele “Omi” Mmbo — retail & SME: As Head of Business Development – SME at FNB, Omi drives initiatives that help small businesses build resilience and access new markets.
Gustav Pieterse — hospitality: As FEDHASA Inland Chair, Gustav represents and advocates for the interests of hospitality professionals across South Africa.
Iain Evans — beverage: Publisher of The Coffee Magazine (True North Media), Iain has been a driving force in South Africa’s coffee and beverage industry for more than a decade.
Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi — local industry: Winner of the 2025 IMM Marketer of the Year Award, Happy is executive: marketing & communications at Proudly South African, where she has led the organisation’s Buy Local campaign since 2015.
