In a first for IT&CM Asia, the NextGen Leadership Exchange workshop last Wednesday brought hospitality and events students together with industry practitioners to discuss real issues impacting the industry and work together on the task of preparing for a simulated site inspection.
Student participants worked as a team to understand the bid document put up by the International Council for Traditional Music, which is planning for a 2025 world conference.
Each team was assigned different roles, such as the CVB, PCO, the local host committee/city government, and international host. With their assigned role in mind, the team had to develop ideas for a creative destination showcase and prepare a presentation to convince the association to meet in their city.
The event was led by ICCA, with four industry professionals stepping up as mentors for the case activity.
They were Eileen Quek, assistant director, sales (international), Singapore Expo; Kate Sarasin, MICE coach and adjunct lecturer at Kasetsart University; Patranuch Sudasna, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association committee member and director of CDM – Conference & Destination Management; and Supanich Thiansing, director of meetings and incentives department, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. The workshop was moderated by Waikin Wong, regional director Asia Pacific, ICCA.
Mentors shared real-life considerations when building a site inspection and shared past failures that provided valuable lessons.
