EDITOR’S COMMENT

We are stronger, together

The time is now, to rebuild on what we have lost, for us, as the business events industry.

I sometimes feel like Covid-19 has been a time of mourning for our sector. People discuss the various stages of mourning and, from an industry perspective, I have come full circle and feel like I’m finally in the acceptance stage.

The biggest lesson I’ve learnt has been that at times I have no control of a situation and have to accept this. However, it doesn’t mean that I need to stop doing what I’m doing; it just means I need to find fresh solutions, to whatever may come my way.

Thankfully, I am a positive person and I look for positives in most situations.

The sector has had many losses over the past two years, one of the biggest losses has been the loss of skilled staff, also known as a skill- or brain-drain. Some have been lost to other industries, and some to other countries seeking skilled staff.

The fact that our people, our skilled workforce, are the heartbeat of the industry, means that we have a significant challenge. How do we overcome this problem?

The way forward would need to come from skills development. At the moment, service delivery has been negatively impacted by this loss. Having chatted to a few industry people, the consensus is that companies have to invest in their people and need to introduce much needed training for newcomers, such as graduates; and upskill their current staff.

The hotels that already have hotel schools linked to their operation, will reap the benefits. Those hotels, suppliers and organisers who don’t have any inhouse training should consider looking at this option, even if it is in the format of mentoring a newcomer to the industry.

The positive of the skill drain is that it opens doors to young professionals. It always offers growth within the company, for people within the company to be promoted, with the correct training.

This prospect of having new blood in our industry, trained by our own people, really motivates me. It is a solution where everyone benefits.

In my opinion, the number one requirement for being in this industry is a positive attitude. With the right attitude anything is possible. You also have to be a good communicator — a breakdown in communication may be disastrous.

So, how do we avoid any miscommunication? Remain transparent with your clients, admit your limitations and work with your client to find solutions. We are all in this together and your local trade associations are here to assist.

The trade associations are actively working to find solutions to overcome the challenges the industry is currently facing. The associations are vital in any thriving industry. Become part of the local trade associations and become involved, we all have a part to play in this industry.

We are stronger, together!

Irene

Email: gomesi@iafrica.com