An Insider Perspective on China

Joey Pather is Senior Vice President of Galaxy Entertainment Group.Galaxy is the largest gaming company in the world – currently building a stand alone conference and expo venue (with a 700 key hotel and 16000 seat arena).

Joey was also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tanzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre (GICEC), located in the Pearl River Delta in Southern China. The organisation provides a platform for the MICE industry in this vibrant industrial and financial hub of China.

Appointed by the world-class Deutsche Messe (DMAG) in Germany, Joey opened this prestigious venue in September 2016, consisting of 50 000 m2 of purpose-built exhibition space as well as a 20 000 m2 convention centre. Joey is currently playing an instrumental role in the design and development of the centre’s 7.5 billion Yuan expansion involving an additional 50 000 m2 of exhibition space together with a 500 room hotel hotel complex and business hub. The venue will be completed and operational at the end of 2018.

Joey commenced his career in the MICE industry in May 1997 where he opened the Durban International Convention Centre Durban (ICCD) – the first purpose-built convention centre in South Africa. Hired as a Functions Manager, he was quickly promoted to Beverage Manager and then Operations Manager. Many industry standards that are practised today were developed and implemented by Joey during his tenure at ICCD.

In August 2003 he was offered a position at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) as General Manager of Catering and was later appointed as General Manager of Commercial and Business Development, overseeing Sales & Marketing, Public Relations, Business Intelligence and Events.

Joey was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) in January 2010 where he led the CTICC’s executive team comprising Operations, Catering, Finance, Human Resources and Commercial and Business Development. In this role he ensured seamless operational activities, financial success and an international and local profile of the CTICC.

In 2012 Joey was appointed as Managing Director of the Tsebo Outsourcing Group. The organization provides an outsourced solution to some 140 clients employing 3000 staff. With his prior experience in the business tourism and hospitality sector he successfully elevated Tsebo’s position in very competitive market enabling a year-on-year growth of 30%.

Joey is a visionary leader and inspires action through his commitment to empowering his staff. He has a unique ability to unite all stakeholders to strive towards a common goal. Through extensive international travel, Joey has developed a network of key industry role-players and has successfully positioned the organisations he has worked for as industry benchmarks.

He has served on several boards over the years and is currently a board member for the GICEC.

Joey holds an Executive MBA from the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business and a National Diploma in Hospitality Management from the Durban University of Technology.