Responsive image

Russia 2021

SanlamConnect International Convention | 7 - 11 August
Elite | 6 – 11 August

Welcome

Being the largest in the world, Russia is a country of contrast and diversity, alluring travellers with its unique national colouring and peculiar traditions. It's also very true that Russia comprises so many treasures and attractions that even a lifetime will not be enough to see and discover them all.

Moscow thrills visitors with its artistry, history and sheer grandeur. This Russian capital will move you by tantalising your senses, soothing your spirit and leave your mind boggled by its splendour. The ancient and modern are juxtaposed side by side in this city of over 10 million.

St. Petersburg has all the ingredients: high art, lavish architecture, wild nightlife, an extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions that have inspired and nurtured some of the modern world's greatest literature, music and visual art.

From historic cities and idyllic countrysides, to artistic riches, epic train rides and vodka-fuelled nightlife; Sanlam looks forward to exploring the beauty and wonder of Russia with you.

Uwin Iwin has been appointed by Sanlam to manage the travel arrangements on their behalf, and we are thrilled to be partnering with them to plan this wonderful trip for you.

Please take note of the information below which is vital as you plan for the convention:

  • Convention commencement date: If you are breaking away prior to the convention, please ensure that you arrive in Moscow on 6 August 2021 (Elite) and 7 August 2021 (Entities and Management) no later than 15:00. The departure city is Saint Petersburg, on 11 August 2021.
  • Check in: Please note that the hotel’s official check-in is at 15:00. No early check-in has been guaranteed. Should you wish to arrange for an early check-in, please contact Uwin Iwin. Guaranteed early check-in will be for your own account.
  • Muslim guests: Most restaurants and hotels in Russia cater for Halaal meals. If they do not, you will have an option of either vegetarian or seafood meals. We apologise for this inconvenience.
  • Persons under 18: Please be reminded that as per the convention rules, the prize is for you and your spouse/partner and no persons under the age of 18 are allowed.
  • Airport parking and transfers: Please note that you are responsible for making your own way to and from your departure airport in South Africa. Airport parking will be for your own account at your respective airport.
  • Tax liability:
    • Please note that Sanlam will pay the income tax on behalf of qualifiers subject to certain maximum rates as per current policy.
    • You are liable for the difference between the tax payable on the fringe benefit taxable amount and the portion that Sanlam is paying on your behalf. Depending on your personal effective tax rate, the difference can vary between R0 and R18 400. Please note this is only an example and the true difference will depend on your personal tax circumstances and the final value of the fringe benefit.
    • The taxable fringe benefit value and the portion of the tax that Sanlam is paying on your behalf, will be processed once the final reconciliation costing has been done.
  • Dress code:
    • Be sure to pack clothing that is breathable and comfortable for your summer trip to Russia. Lightweight slacks for men and summer dresses for women.
    • The best bet would also be to also pack layered clothing as the weather can be somewhat unpredictable nowadays. Make sure you have a few short and long-sleeved T-shirts, jumpers, shorts and a jacket for the cooler evenings, so you can put them together in different ways. This means you’ll get more outfits out of fewer items – saving valuable luggage space!
    • Comfortable shoes that are flat or low-heeled for group activities are recommended as a fair amount of walking is included in the itinerary.
    • In Russia jeans are worn by everyone – young and old alike – and unless you are visiting more upscale restaurants, they are perfectly acceptable to wear everywhere during the day.
    • Other summertime essentials include a small travel umbrella for sudden rain showers, a pair of sunglasses, and a lightweight bag.
    • When you're sightseeing in the summer, be sure to remember to wear sunblock (SPF30+). Getting sunburnt early in your trip will make the rest of your visit less pleasant. Don't forget to protect your ears, the back of your knees, face, and other areas of exposed skin with a good-quality sunscreen that will last throughout the day.
    • Smart-casual attire is however recommended for the evenings.
    • Gala dinner: Elegantly smart (please see below images for examples).
      • Gentlemen: Long trousers, short or long sleeved lounge shirts, with collar (no tie), and closed shoes. Jacket optional. No golf shirts.
      • Ladies: Cocktail dress or trouser suit.
      • No jeans, sneakers or flip flops.

Destination information

Because of its size, Russia presents a drastically different atmosphere depending on your location. Most of the country has a continental climate with distinct periods of warm and cold weather that increases as you travel east. July and August are considered the hottest months in both cities and falls within the Russian summer season. For August, temperatures in Moscow and St. Petersburg average around a high of 22°C and a low of 12°C.

The official language is Russian and all signs are in the Cyrillic alphabet. English is not widespread but is spoken in many hotels, restaurants, tourist areas and in major urban areas, particularly by younger people. English is not often spoken by other local people, including taxi drivers.

Russia is 1 hour ahead of South Africa.

The electricity is 220 Volts, 50Hz and primary sockets generally require Continental or European plugs of the two round pin variety. You will be able to charge your mobile devices directly in the hotel rooms. It is advisable to buy an international adaptor, available from most luggage shops and airports, should you need to charge any other devices i.e. a laptop.

Currently, no vaccinations are required. Subject to Covid-19 regulation, additional health requirements or vaccinations may become mandatory. We will keep you updated if the health requirements should change. The tap water in Russia is not considered safe to drink so we recommend only drinking bottled mineral water, which is readily available in hotels, shops and restaurants.

1 Russian Rouble (RUB) = 100 cents. Latest Exchange Rate: RUB1 = ZAR0.198 (10 February 2021). Currency can be exchanged at the airport, bureaux de change, banks and hotels. Bureaux de change generally offer the best rates and service. EUR and USD are also widely accepted and is the easiest currency to exchange to Russian Roubles. Visa and MasterCard can generally be used, while American Express is less commonly accepted.

Petty crime, as in all large cities, can be a problem in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and tourists are often the target – therefore please stay vigilant. To avoid being a victim, do not carry more money than necessary on you and try not to display large sums in public places. It is advisable to keep your money in a money belt or sealable inner pocket, keep credit cards separately, and do not carry valuables in a backpack or easily opened bag.

Always show consideration for the norms and beliefs of the country or area you are visiting. Some customs to take note of, are:

  • Working churches are open to everyone but as a visitor you should take care not to disturb any devotions or offend sensibilities. When visiting churches, cathedrals and monasteries women need to cover their heads and bare shoulders with scarves often provided on entry. For men, shorts and hats are not appropriate attire for visiting churches.
  • Be very careful about photographing stations, official-looking buildings and any type of military-security structure – if in doubt, don’t snap!
  • Tipping is generally practised across the service industry in Russia and it's customary to leave a 10% tip when eating out. Taxi fares are metered so there's no need to leave a tip though the final amount is usually rounded up.
  • Russian superstitions run deep, and even a"Westernized" Russian teenager will probably cringe if you whistle indoors or greet someone across a threshold, both believed to bring bad tidings.

In Russia, summer officially begins on 1 June and ends on 31 August and is one of the best times to visit the country. Light, comfortable clothing during the day will be suitable; with warmer light clothing for early mornings and evenings. Casual wear is appropriate for daytime activities. Evening attire is smart casual and gentleman are requested to wear long trousers.

If you suffer from a specific medical condition be sure to bring an adequate stock of the appropriate medication along. It is recommended to get a doctors’ note for any prescribed medication that you take along with you.

Please remember to pack your passport in the travel wallet that you will be provided with in your final documentation.

Also take a good pair of comfortable walking shoes with you for exploring Russia. A light jacket is recommended for the airplane and in air-conditioned buildings.

Travel requirements

The information contained below is important and will assist you in effectively planning for your upcoming trip. Please read it carefully and contact Kele Mogotsi at Uwin Iwin on 083 571 7155 should you have any queries.

It would be much appreciated if, wherever possible, you could forward all of the required documentation and information well in advance of the specified cut-off dates.

This form (which can be found on the website under “Registration”) needs to be completed and submitted online to Uwin Iwin by no later than Wednesday, 31 March 2021. This will confirm acceptance of your attendance and provide us with the information required to ensure that all your individual special requests are processed timeously.

Please have your passport handy in order to complete the registration form.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your intended date of return to South Africa (i.e. valid until 12 February 2022). Your passport must also be in a good and presentable condition, as loose covers and pages may result in the passport being declared an invalid document by the Immigration Authorities. In addition, please ensure that your passport has enough space (at least 3 blank pages) for the relevant visa and passport control endorsements.

Please upload clear scanned copies of your passports during the online registration process. You will not be able to finalise the registration process unless passport copies have been uploaded.

Please also note that travel on temporary passports is NOT permitted.

Should you not be in possession of a valid passport, please appear in person at your local Department of Home Affairs office or your respective Bank to apply for the necessary documentation. Please note that you will need to apply as soon as possible to avoid delays.

If you are travelling on a foreign passport please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that you carry the correct documentation to exit and re-enter South Africa. Should you be in any doubt as to what is required, please contact your local Department of Home Affairs office for assistance.

The telephone number for the Home Affairs hotline is 0800 601 190.

It is mandatory to have travel insurance when travelling abroad. Sanlam has purchased a leisure comprehensive insurance policy on your behalf.

As it is a Sanlam rule that you must be covered by TIC for the duration of your trip that Sanlam pays for, we will be taking out TIC insurance for you for 5 – 12 August 2021 (Elite) and 6 – 12 August 2021 (Entities and Management). These dates includes your departure and arrival day in South Africa.

Please note: Should you wish to extend your TIC travel insurance policy to cover you for dates outside of the convention, Uwin Iwin will arrange this for you at your own expense and you will be liable to pay in the difference. Sanlam will NOT reimburse you for your additional travel insurance. Alternatively, you can arrange your own travel insurance which can cover you for the rest of your trip.

You are allowed to have more than one travel insurance policy for the same trip. However, when you claim you cannot claim from both policies for the same claim, unless the one insurer does not cover the full claim in which case you can claim the balance of the amount from the second insurer. For example if you have a luggage claim of R30 000.00 and Bryte will only cover R20 000.00 you can claim the R10 000.00 balance from TIC but you cannot claim R30 000 from Bryte and R30 000 from TIC.

The TIC travel insurance is mainly for medical expenses, which may occur whilst abroad. There is no excess on hospitalisation, however an approximate USD50.00 outpatient excess for consultations will be for your own account.

Please note that should there be a claim after your return to South Africa, it has to be submitted within 60 days of your return. Please consult the TIC Policy document which will be e-mailed to you and also included in your travel wallet for full details of your cover.

The following free insurance cover is therefore automatically included:

  • Emergency medical and related expenses:
  • Personal liability insurance:
  • Accidental death:
  • Accidental total permanent disablement:
  • International journey cancellation:
  • Personal baggage (single item limit):
  • R100,000,000.00
  • R5,000,000.00
  • R250,000.00
  • R1,000,000.00
  • R30,000.00
  • R25,000.00 (R6,250.00)

Sanlam has made provision for all flights, luxury hotel accommodation, coach transportation, excursions as per the itinerary, all official meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), as well as local drinks when dining together as a group, or allowances to cover select meals at leisure.

Personal expenses for your own account include flight upgrades, early check-in, premium-branded drinks, any drinks consumed outside of group meals (drinks in bars, night clubs and mini-bar at the hotel), room service, laundry, phone calls, spa treatments, shopping and any additional activities or excursions booked by you.

You will be required to present your passport and your international air ticket, as well as a utility bill not older than 3 months, when purchasing your foreign exchange. Note that holiday and business allowances are now combined and the maximum allowance per adult for international travel is R1 million (subject to change) per annum.

South African passport holders do not require a visa to enter Russia.

Should you hold any passport other than a South African passport (i.e. Namibian), please contact Uwin Iwin in order for us to provide you with the necessary alternative requirements.

Itinerary

Whether you're a culture vulture in search of inspiration from great artists and writers or an adventure addict looking for new horizons to conquer, Russia amply delivers. If ancient walled fortresses, glittering palaces, and swirly-spired churches are what you’re after, focus on European Russia. Here Moscow and Saint Petersburg are the must-see destinations, twin repositories of eye-boggling national treasures, political energies and contemporary creativity.

Hang tight! The itinerary will be uploaded in due course.

Flights 

International flights:

Sanlam has provided you with the flexibility of booking your own flights based on the allowance provided. Should you wish to select the Carte Blanche flight option, you will be responsible for booking your own flights to/from Russia. The arrival city is Moscow by no later than 6 August at 15:00 (Elite) and no later than 7 August at 15:00 (Entities and Management), with the departure city being Saint Petersburg on 11 August .

In summary, you will have 2 options:

  1. Carte Blanche: Uwin Iwin will transfer funds to you via EFT to book flights on your own accord.
  2. Group flights: Uwin Iwin will book the flights on your behalf based on the group dates as part of a group booking for flight departure 5 August and return 11 August (Elite); and departure 6 August and return 11 August (Entities and Management).

Further information on recommended flight routing and Carte Blanche flight allowance will be communicated in due course.

Hosts & Executives:

Please note that the option of the Carte Blanche flight payout is only applicable to qualifiers. For hosts and executives flight arrangements, this can be facilitated by Uwin Iwin. You have the option of the standard group flights, or you can elect to make alternative flight arrangements. All business related expenses will be carried by the Convention expense budget (hosts) and respective cost centres (executives). Any other flight costs will be for you own account.

Domestic/Regional flights:

Domestic flights to Johannesburg have also been included in your incentive trip. Your Carte Blanche flight payout will include your domestic flight based on your region. Therefore, please indicate your nearest airport whilst completing the online registration form. If you have selected the Group flights, flights which best connect with the international flight departure and arrival times will be reserved on your behalf. Should the connecting times for the domestic flights be such that you will not be able to fly on the same day, accommodation will be reserved for you at City Lodge OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Results

DECEMBER 2020 RESULTS

SANLAMCONNECT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
1. Qualifiers for invitations to the SanlamConnect International Convention
1.1 BlueStar and MO Business League
BlueStar Category 1
No BlueStar Business Attending Principal Unit
1 FUTURE VISION BSB PARAGESH PILLAY PROFESSIONAL FIN SERVICES
2 FINSTOP BSB GYS ROSSOUW * GLOBAL BLUE STAR
3 FINPRUFE WEALTH BSB THEUNIS STEYN GLOBAL BLUE STAR
4 ELORUS BSB ALBERT PRETORIUS CONSTANTIAKLOOF FA
5 TRAPEZIUM BSB NEELS MYBURGH * SOUTH EAST GAUTENG
6 GOOD FORSURE BSB RAOUL VAN DER WALT E2 SOLUTIONS
7 DIMENSION BSB WERNER BESSINGER * E2 SOLUTIONS
8 IMPERIUM BSB ANTON KNOETZE SOUTH EASTERN CAPE
9 ORI-VAAL BSB GERT JACOBS NORTH WEST ADVISERS
10 RATHUSHA BSB ALEXANDER RAUTENBACH E2 SOLUTIONS
11 STATUS WEALTH BSB HENNIE JONKER SOUTH EAST GAUTENG
12 FLEXFIN BSB CHRIS GROENEWALD * WEALTH SOLUTIONS
13 AQUILA BSB LEON ABRAHAMS WEALTH SOLUTIONS
14 ESCARPIA BSB PETRUS OOSTHUIZEN MBOMBELA ADVISERS
BlueStar Category 2
No BlueStar Business Attending Principal Unit
1 PURSUE FINANCIAL BSB ANDRÉ ERLANK VEGA
2 JBM BSB KOOS MALAN E2 SOLUTIONS
3 MIDFOKUS BSB GERRIE DE LANGE HIGHVELD SFA
4 INFINEO BSB PIETER VERMEULEN * GLOBAL BLUE STAR
5 NEBULA FIN BSB BENNIE HAVENGA CONSTANTIAKLOOF FA
6 FININVEST BSB LOUIS FOUCHÉ SOUTH EAST GAUTENG
7 FACE TO FACE BSB PAUL LOUW E2 SOLUTIONS
8 DIAMOND BSB CAROL MC GILLAN PROFESSIONAL FIN SERVICES
Management Outsourced Category 1
No MO Business Attending Principal Unit
1 BLIGNAUT BSB ANDRÉ BLIGNAUT * ENTERPRISE GAUTENG NORTH
2 BERGHSHIRE WEALTH BSB WAYNE HUTCHINSON WESTERN CAPE ENTITY BLUESTAR
3 STRATA BSB KARL SMIT KZN ENTITY BLUESTAR
4 POINT BLUE BSB MONTI COETZER * ENTERPRISE GAUTENG NORTH
Management Outsourced Category 2
No MO Business Attending Principal Unit
1 LONFIN MO BSB LAVINE KOWLAS KZN ENTITY BLUESTAR
2 BULLION SCS MO BSB JAN MULLER KZN ENTITY BLUESTAR
Management Outsourced Category 3
No MO Business Attending Principal Unit
1 MILLIONSURE MO BSB EBEN SMIT WESTERN CAPE ENTITY

* Invited as Elite qualifiers

1.2 Elite Qualifiers
No Adviser Unit Individual / Business
1 ANDRÉ BLIGNAUT ENTERPRISE GAUTENG NORTH BLIGNAUT BSB
2 MONTI COETZER ENTERPRISE GAUTENG NORTH POINT BLUE BSB
3 MARTIN HERBST E2 SOLUTIONS HERBST BSB
4 NEELS MYBURGH SOUTH EAST GAUTENG TRAPEZIUM BSB
5 CHRIS GROENEWALD WEALTH SOLUTIONS FLEXFIN BSB
6 JITEN SINGH PROFESSIONAL FIN SERVICES FUTURE VISION BSB
7 DANIEL RAUTENBACH E2 SOLUTIONS RATHUSHA BSB
8 WERNER BESSINGER E2 SOLUTIONS DIMENSION BSB
9 GYS ROSSOUW GLOBAL BLUE STAR FINSTOP BSB
10 STEF HENNING E2 SOLUTIONS IMMO VERO BSB
11 PIETER VERMEULEN GLOBAL FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS INFINEO BSB
12 JANNIE DAVEL SANLAM INDEPENDENT CORP INDIVIDUAL
13 SELMIE HARRIS ENTERPRISE GAUTENG NORTH ABACON BSB
14 RICHARD HENRY KZN ENTITY BLUESTAR STRATA FIN SOLUTIONS BSB
1.3 Sales Consultants
Qualifiers on Target %
Group Sales Consultants Unit
1 VANDHANA PILLAY PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES
2 SANTIE JANSEN VAN VUREN VEGA
Qualifiers on Volume
Group Sales Consultants Unit
1 ELNA COETZER E2 SOLUTIONS
2 LYNETTE ERASMUS FREE STATE
1.4 Broker Consultants
Qualifiers on Target %
Group Broker Consultants Unit
1 BERNADETTE ONTONG BD:EXCELSIOR PRETORIA
1 FRANCOIS BOONZAIER BD:CAPESTORM
1 JOHN TALJAARD BD:MAVERICKS
1 INDIRA GOVENDER BD:PHOENIX
2 LOUISE NELL BD:TYGERBERG
2 SIMONE SWANEPOEL BD:EXCELSIOR PRETORIA
3 GERT ENGELBRECHT BD:INVICTUS JOHANNESBURG
Qualifiers on Volume
Group Broker Consultants Unit
1 PIETER MANS BD:PHOENIX
1 CARIN JACOBSOHN BD:JACARANDA
1 ZAKHIA KHAN BD:COASTAL SYNERGY
1 ZELDA MARITZ BD: EAST VAAL
2 MZI GIYOSE BD: EAST LONDON BROKERS
2 ERNA VENTER BD:SOUTHERN CAPE BROKERS
2 HELENA BELLING BD: EAST VAAL
3 TREVOR ASHLEY-COOPER BD:PORT ELIZABETH
1.5 EBMs / MEPs
Group Manager Region
1 MANNIE KAMBOURAKIS (EBM) EAST COAST
1.6 Sales Managers
Group Manager Unit
1 DARREN MOODLEY (SM) HIGHVELD SFA
1.7 Business, Regional Development and SKS Branch Managers
Qualifiers on Target %
Group Manager Unit
2 MARTIN SPREETH (BM) BD:PORT ELIZABETH
Qualifiers on Volume
Group Manager Unit
1 TERESA DE QUINTAL (BM) PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES
2 PIETER LOOTS (BM) BD:CAPESTORM
1.8 Special Invites
Invitees Unit/Region
KARL PARKS (RE) EAST COAST
NAVIN SINGH (RGM) EAST COAST
JACQUES STRYDOM (BSB AP) SOUTHERN CAPE ADVISERS
HAZEL PRETORIUS (BSB AP) VEGA
JOHN PERRY (BSB AP) SOUTH EAST GAUTENG
HENNIE VENTER (MO AP) ENTERPRISE GAUTENG NORTH
AMANDA DU PLESSIS (BC) BD:PMB BROKERS
HANLIE DU PREEZ (SC) VEGA
JANINE SESANE (DM) RDM GAUTENG SOUTH
2. General information

2.1 Qualifiers need to be in Sanlam’s service at the time the convention takes place.

2.2 Please see detailed rules and results for more information.

Contact us ...

Sonja van der Vyver

Admin related queries


sonja.vandervyver@sanlam.co.za
Tel | 021 947 5777
Cell | 072 822 0995

Gadija Carolus

Results related queries


Gadija.Tambay@sanlam.co.za
Tel | 021 947 5836


Leslee Beck

Uwin Iwin: Senior Account Manager


leslee@uwiniwin.co.za
Cell | 083 975 3759


Kele Mogotsi

Uwin Iwin: Director - Incentive Travel


kele@uwiniwin.co.za
Cell | 083 571 7155


© 2021 Sanlam. All Rights Reserved.
Sanlam Life Insurance Limited is a Licensed Financial Services Provider and a registered credit provider.