The Johannesburg Expo Centre has been recognised as Best Venue at the 2026 EXSA–llence Awards, a major achievement for one of South Africa’s largest exhibition venues.

The award highlights the centre’s role in hosting major events and recognises its reputation among contractors and industry partners.

According to the venue’s leadership, the successful hosting of the G20 Summit played an important role in strengthening the venue’s standing in the industry.

A journey into leadership

CEO Adele Hartdegen has led the venue since 2020. Her journey into the events industry began more than a decade ago with the global events group, GL Events.

“I started in the meetings, incentives, conferences and events industry about 13 years ago. I joined GL Events as Head of Business Development and Marketing,” Hartdegen said.

GL Events has operated in South Africa for more than 40 years and manages venues, infrastructure and exhibitions in over 20 countries worldwide.

Hartdegen later worked on the feasibility study for the group’s majority acquisition of the Johannesburg Expo Centre site at Nasrec. After the deal was completed, she was offered the CEO role.

“It was a steep learning curve, but also a very exciting opportunity.”

With a background in engineering and technology, Hartdegen said managing the complex infrastructure of a large venue suited her experience.

“A venue like this is very technical,” she explained. “You have to manage power systems, backup power, networks, air-conditioning and water systems. My engineering background helped with that side of the operation.” However, she shared that understanding the commercial side of the events industry took time.“The learning curve was understanding what event organisers need from a venue and where we sit compared to our competitors,” she said. “Six years in, it’s going well.”

Recognition from the industry

The EXSA-llence Awards are organised by the Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa, one of the country’s oldest industry associations. Hartdegen said the recognition is particularly meaningful because it comes from contractors who build exhibitions and event infrastructure.

“For us, it’s a big compliment from the contractor side. They are the people who work on the ground during events. When they say it’s the best venue to work at, it means a lot,” she added.

She explained that the Johannesburg Expo Centre has several design features that make event setup easier. Trucks can drive directly onto the exhibition hall floors, allowing equipment and stands to be unloaded quickly. Some halls also have multiple roller-shutter doors, allowing several contractors to work simultaneously.

“At other venues, you often have to queue for hours before you can unload. Here we can move contractors in and out much faster.”

Easy access for visitors also plays a role. The venue offers multiple entry gates and ample parking, reducing congestion during major events.

The impact of the G20 Summit

One of the centre’s biggest milestones came with hosting the 2025 G20 Heads of State Summit, following an earlier ministerial meeting.

Preparations for the event began months in advance and required extensive planning and infrastructure.

“We built the event for three months,” Hartdegen shared. “In total, we created more than 170 different spaces with furniture, décor, flooring and technical setups.” Despite the scale of the preparation, the summit itself lasted just two days.

“It’s surprising when you think about it, that all that work for a two-day event, but it was a very significant milestone. The summit was also historic because it marked the first time the global gathering was hosted on African soil.”

Hartdegen said the event showcased South Africa’s hospitality to world leaders and delegates.

The event also had economic benefits for the surrounding community. Numerous local contractors and small businesses were involved in upgrades and preparations at the venue.

“We focused strongly on local small and medium enterprises,” Hartdegen explained. “For example, during the refurbishment of our bathroom facilities alone, 67 different contractors were involved.”

Boosting Johannesburg’s global reputation

Hartdegen believes hosting the summit helped change international perceptions about the venue and the south of Johannesburg.

“G20 really helped us showcase what the venue and the area can offer. It puts us at a different level internationally.”

She added that the location near cultural and heritage sites such as the Apartheid Museum and the historic township of Soweto gives international visitors a deeper understanding of South Africa’s story.

A team effort

Hartdegen emphasised that the award belongs to the entire team and the venue’s long-standing partners.

Among them is catering partner Main Event Catering, which has worked with the venue for around two decades.

She also praised the venue’s smaller service providers, including Sound Headquarters, for their high-quality work.
“This industry is like raising a child – it takes a village. Our partners and suppliers play a big role in the success of the venue,” said Hartdegen.

She also highlighted the growth of staff members who have advanced from junior roles into leadership positions.
Following the award and the success of the G20 Summit, the Johannesburg Expo Centre is now focusing on attracting more international events.

“G20 has given us the proof that we can deliver events on that scale, now we want to use that as a springboard to bring more international events to Johannesburg.”

She believes the venue can help position the city as a premier destination for global gatherings.

“We want to showcase what the south of Johannesburg has to offer,” Hartdegen said. “It’s something we can only achieve together with the community and the industry.”