AIPC
Hiring !
AIPC CEO SVEN BOSSU POINTS TO OPPORTUNITY
L et us start with the good news : organised events are picking up again in a rapidly growing part of the world . There is a real eagerness to meet again face-to-face , to do business and indeed to rediscover the beauty of serendipity . However , the lack of qualified staff is impacting the capacity of convention centres – and other stakeholders in the value chain - to deliver great experiences .
Organised events are taking place again in a rapidly growing number of countries and the diaries of convention centres are starting to fill up . However , the 18-month standstill is impacting the re-start in several ways .
Perhaps surprisingly , not using a facility proves more impacting than intensively using it . Automatic doors , escalators , lighting , etc . all require a thorough maintenance before they could be used again . The RAI in Amsterdam even had to replace its lifts .
However , the biggest impact was not on the ‘ hardware ’ of the convention centres but on their ‘ software ’: the staff . Many convention centres were forced to let staff go because of the pandemic and put in place a hiring freeze . In addition , some of the remaining staff members – confronted with the continued uncertainty about the future of the event industry – looked for and found other professional endeavours . As a result , many convention centres are starting to host events again with an understaffing of up to 30 %. Peter King , CEO of the MCEC ( Melbourne ), confirmed that this is a problem across the board , impacting not only the convention centres but the entire hospitality sector . In the specific case of Australia , they are also missing out on foreign students and backpackers , who used to be a key source for ambulant staff .
Filling those gaps will not be straightforward . The current labour market is indeed tight because of the economic recovery and the standstill also impacted the employerattractiveness of the event industry . In addition , convention centres also need new types of profiles and skills , such as software engineers managing the digital components of events , and they are also are in high demand in other industries .
That is why it is important to highlight the opportunities the event industry can offer in terms of career development and to support the industry where possible when it comes to attracting , growing , and retaining talent .
At AIPC , this is done via the new talent programme – Future Shapers . A select group of 14 ambitious individuals is currently going through
Above : Sven Bossu , CEO , AIPC
the first edition of an elevated 12-month management programme , which focuses on the hard power of soft skills . This is combined with team-assignments , which address key challenges faced by the industry , the outcome of which will be presented at the 2022 AIPC Annual Conference . In the process , all of them obtain access to a personal mentor – a CEO of a convention centre – to provide them with guidance during their journey . By providing such opportunities and visibility , it is hoped that many others will be inspired to join .
It is also important to create a pipeline of new talent . The work done by the Institute of Events Management in the UK on championing professional recognition , setting quality standards and supporting both ( potential ) employees and employers when it comes to the development of event industry skills is a great example of how this can be done .
And the conventions themselves , of course , have an active role to play . Maurits van der Sluis , COO of the RAI in Amsterdam is very positive : “ The 18-month pandemic made a lot of people realise the importance of the work we do at the RAI for the wider local community , not only from a strictly economic point of view but also when it comes to community engagement . Amsterdam loves us again . This results in a high number of applications for the open positions at the RAI .”
The event industry indeed is a great industry to work in , offering many exiting career opportunities for those who truly care about people and have the ambition to create wonderful , unique experiences . With the introduction of digital at warp speed during the last year , the career opportunities have even become more diverse . And the best thing is : you immediately see the result of your work – smiles on the faces of participants . No better place to be .
10 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 115