Espresso Exchanges at Jerusalem 2023

A popular element of the IAPCO AM&GA programme is the Espresso Exchange, which continued in Jerusalem with an interesting range of meetings and events industry relevant topics - from the operational topic of organising a ‘Congress in an inflation world’ and ‘F&B: the big question’ to those requiring out-of-the-box thinking such as ‘Glamour vs $$$’ and ‘Sexy content and formats’.

The discussion was chaired by IAPCO members and partners some of whom have captured a short summary of it below:

Summary by Marta Calderai (AIM Group)

When it comes to F&B during events, there is not only one right or wrong way to manage this aspect.

Of course, there are many factors to take into consideration before deciding if and how to provide this service, like the kind of event, the program structure, the event venue and its surroundings, and others.

In any case, as PCOs, we must always focus on some important aspects with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint, reducing waste, and being green.

For example, it is important to select a venue considering its capacity of being green and collaborating with non-profit organisations against food waste.

In some cases, when it is not possible to stick with the abovementioned values, it could be a better option to avoid offering F&B and offer instead discount to participants for coffee and restaurants nearby.

Summary by Marie-Claire McGreevy (ICC Belfast)

• Across the board there was an acknowledgement that the industry is not the best paid, but the opportunity to travel and be part of the experiences we create, in destinations we wouldn’t necessarily otherwise visit, is a major perk. It is hard work but undeniably carries an element of glamour.

• A major struggle now is the salary expectations of those joining the industry. Even at junior levels, the expectation is for a senior salary and less of a willingness to work the anti-social hours that go with events (weekends, late nights and early mornings).

• We all agreed, what keeps us in the industry is knowing how collaborative it is and the opportunity it presents to build an international network, who are passionate about making a real difference.

• Potential solutions discussed were an accelerated skills programme to gain management experience across a range of business functions. Also, a shared talent pool that offers a 3-5 year contract whereby someone can work on exciting projects in different countries with different teams before deciding on a specialism.

• Suggestions for potential actions - A whitepaper covering talent attraction into the industry from the Council and Next Gen committee’s perspective and what the industry can offer that will inform a recruitment campaign.