Celebrating One Year of Indaba Events!
Gratitude – the word that comes to mind as we reflect on this past year.
As Indaba Events celebrates its one-year anniversary, I want to take a moment to say thank you. This past year has been built on something far more meaningful than business; it’s been built on relationships. The trust, referrals, and support from colleagues, clients, and friends across the industry have allowed Indaba Events to grow organically and intentionally. And while Indaba Events is celebrating its first year, it is built on more than two decades of experience in the global hospitality and meetings industry, bringing a depth of knowledge, unique perspective, and strategic insight to every client engagement. In just one year in business, Indaba Events has reached some exciting milestones:
- 7 active clients (with services ranging from venue sourcing to lead meeting planner)
- 10 confirmed projects for 2026 (and we are not even halfway through the year!)
- 3 repeat clients already on the books for 2027
Diverse Clients. Dynamic Work.
This year has also been defined by the diversity of industries and programs we have had the opportunity to support, from associations and pharmaceutical sales meetings to citywide conventions and corporate kickoff events. Across these engagements, we’ve partnered with clients to provide sourcing of venues, housing management, food & beverage planning, special events and full-cycle meeting planning, delivering operational precision, strategic insight, thought leadership and an elevated attendee experience. That work has taken us to destinations including Tucson, Fort Lauderdale, San Jose, and Las Vegas, allowing us to reconnect with the creativity that comes from designing truly meaningful and inspiring events.
Delivering Strategic Value
One of the many core services Indaba Events provides is sourcing and contracting. This year, Indaba Events successfully sourced and contracted a hotel contract for a client, negotiating concessions valued at over $200,000 into their agreement. Hotel contracts are complex and often contain significant opportunities for savings and added value. Indaba Events understands how to negotiate strategically, leveraging their industry relationships to secure terms that enhance the organization’s bottom line.
Full-Cycle Meeting Planning (and everything in between)
For one recent citywide program, we partnered with a client from the earliest planning stage through on-site execution, managing their overall program design, third party vendors, food and beverage and housing. We were able to streamline decision-making, anticipate challenges before they arose, and ensure a seamless on-site experience. Most importantly, the client was able to step out of the day-to-day logistics and fully engage with their attendees, confident that every detail was being handled. This is where Indaba Events delivers the most value: serving as a true partner, not just executing tasks, owning the process from start to finish.
We’re CERTIFIED and recognized!
We received our IATA Certification, earned our Healthcare Medical Compliance Certificate through MPI and became a Certified Faith Meeting Planner through RCMA. I was honored to receive the Presidents Award from MPI Tennessee Chapter, and now serve on their Board of Directors.
Beyond the Business!
This year has also included meaningful personal milestones that continue to shape how I show up professionally. I completed the Nashville Half Marathon, visited Napa Valley, Big Sur, family in Spain and London, and spent time at our “home away from home” in the South of France. And, living in Music City, we were lucky to experience Cold Play, Hans Zimmer, Billy Strings and Rufus du Sol!
To everyone who has been part of this journey: thank you for your support, your trust, and your referrals. I’m incredibly grateful and excited for what’s ahead! If you have an upcoming program, need support on sourcing and contracting, or simply want to reconnect, I would love to hear from you!
Fiona Nieman CMP, Founder | www.indabaevents.com