AIPC
Competing in today’s ‘war for talent’
ALOYSIUS ARLANDO, PRESIDENT OF AIPC, WRESTLES WITH
A DECADES-OLD PROBLEM – HUMAN RESOURCE
ow did we find ourselves
here? And what do we do
about it?
I am referring to one of the
biggest challenges to hit our industry in
the last 10 years – one that is also being
felt by many other sectors at the same
time, which makes things even worse.
And that, of course, is the shrinking
availability of the kind of skilled human
resources we need to deliver on the
increasing expectations being placed on
today’s industry.
Recent surveys show this is now a top
concern among our AIPC members in
almost every part of the world. We’re not
alone in this – and demographics can
explain a lot of it. But, as an industry, we
do have some very unique problems that
will have to be solved if we are to remain
competitive in the labour market, and
identifying what these are is a good first
step toward finding solutions.
First, in a world where everyone is
competing for the best and the brightest,
we remain almost invisible in terms of
representing an attractive career path.
Everyone knows what a doctor, dentist,
engineer or accountant does, but how
many have a clue about what happens in
the meetings industry and the supply
systems that support it? This is the
product of a bigger, long-term ‘image’
issue that has challenged the industry for
a long time. However, that neglect is now
expressing itself in a new way.
It gets worse. To the extent that we
have any image at all it is likely most
associated with ‘tourism’, which itself is an
issue, as it has become largely
synonymous with low-paid, repetitive
work, rather than anything that is likely
to appeal to an ambitious graduate.
Third, we are still short on credentials
and training that is recognised anywhere
outside our own industry, which is by
definition where much of our new
workforce must come from. Again, most
college-level programmes that touch on
our needs are embedded in either tourism
or facility management, neither of which
are necessarily inspiring for those looking
at a more rewarding career path.
Many of the skills we need in this
industry are scattered across many
disciplines rather than having an
identifiable focus that could capture the
attention of those whose attention we
most want to attract.
What to do? There’s no easy fix, but
without a concerted effort the problem
will continue and in fact worsen in many
areas. However, there are some clear
opportunities:
The first relates to enhancing our
overall profile in our respective
communities. Centres, in particular,
represent a high-profile presence
wherever they are located, and putting
more effort into using them to educate the
local community about how dynamic and
exciting this industry really is – what goes
on in these facilities – would pay a variety
of immediate returns, including the
attraction of potential employees.
Secondly, we need to craft a more
distinctive picture of what a career path in
this sector can mean and why that is
attractive to individuals with lots of other
choices for employment. Having done this,
we need to promote that where it matters:
in job fairs, online and anywhere else that
those looking at career options are likely
to be looking.
Finally, we need to re-consider what it
takes to retain those we do attract.
Incentives, training, certifications and
other kinds of rewards all need to be on
the table and heavily invested in.
We offer some of the most exciting and
diverse career opportunities around – a
window into many different professions,
disciplines and interactions and a focus for
some of the most important issues and
developments in the world today. The fact
that this remains largely unknown outside
of our own ranks is a huge obstacle to
attracting and
retaining the very
best – but one we can,
and need to, act on
immediately to secure
the future of our
industry.
The
industry offers
some of the
most diverse
career
opportunities
around - but
that remains
largely
unknown.
The International
Association of
Convention Centres
(AIPC) represents a
global network of 190 leading centres in 64
countries with the active involvement of 1,000
management level professionals worldwide.
ISSUE 104
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CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD
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63