Expo & Content Sessions: 12 - 14 Nov 2024
VIP & Partner Events: 11-14 Nov 2024
Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town
The AI Summit Cape Town Breakfast Sponsor
Nova SBE WiTH Africa
Profile
WiTH Africa is an initiative aimed at advancing data-driven decision-making and fostering research at the intersection of AI, tourism, hospitality, and sustainability in Africa. Launched by Nova SBE (Nova School of Business and Economics, Lisbon, Portugal) under the Nova SBE Westmont Institute of Tourism and Hospitality and the Nova SBE Data Science Knowledge Center, the initiative was inspired by a challenge from Westmont Hospitality Group to explore how data and AI can catalyse the tourism and hospitality sectors in Africa. By conducting extensive market research and engaging with key stakeholders—such as government agencies, startups, and leading African universities—WiTH Africa developed its online platform, a one-stop-shop for African tourism data designed to address the tourism data gap observed across African countries. The platform consolidates previously decentralized data into actionable insights, leveraging on data partnerships with UNWTO – World Tourism Organizations and ForwardKeys, as well as on data made publicly available by international organizations and open-data portals. WiTH Africa promotes meaningful collaboration within Africa and with global partners, by facilitating access to a pool of talented master students ready to apply data science tools that have the potential to drive innovative solutions and actionable outputs for organizations, through Project-Based Learning. WiTH Afirca also offers customized data solutions that address challenges within the tourism industry (focusing on the organization's specific needs, objectives, and available data sources), and interdisciplinary training and educational opportunities provided by Nova SBE Faculty members. Through its comprehensive approach to data integration, collaboration, and educational initiatives, WiTH Africa contributes to the advancement of tourism management in Africa. Our efforts not only respond to the immediate needs of the industry but also pave the way for sustainable, long-term growth through scientific knowledge production.