(LĐXH) - By bringing international conferences and exhibitions to life, the events industry has opened the door to meaningful careers for professionals in the MICE field.
MICE is an industry that combines tourism and events, including activities such as meetings, incentive travel, conferences and exhibitions.
For Joshua Lek, account manager at global events company BCD Meetings & Events, no two workdays are the same. One morning, he might be working behind the scenes at a product launch in Tuas, transforming an industrial space into an engaging brand experience for pharmaceutical clients.
The next afternoon, he again coordinated a business networking party at the Orchard Road center.
Despite the busy nature of his work, Lek cannot imagine working in any other industry. His decade-long career in Singapore’s MICE industry has taken him from cruise ships to international conferences.
“Even though I have been in the industry for 10 years, I still have a lot to learn. People stay in the MICE industry because it is constantly changing and evolving. That is what makes the job interesting, there is always something new to explore and experiment with,” he shared.
As Singapore cements its position as a leading MICE destination in the Asia- Pacific region, experts like Lek are at the forefront of an industry that is experiencing unprecedented growth. In the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Global City Rankings 2023, Singapore ranked second, up 10 places from 2022.
Joshua Lek’s career illustrates the diverse paths and opportunities that people can pursue in the MICE industry. The project-based nature of MICE work means that operations change at every stage of the event, from planning to execution. This flexibility allows employees to find roles that fit their changing life circumstances.
As an account manager for pharmaceutical events, Lek finds many opportunities to explore new ways to organize innovative conferences and exhibitions for the industry. Each new project brings new challenges to learn and develop professionally.
As more and more pharmaceutical companies set up regional headquarters here, Lek coordinates events that connect healthcare professionals and industry leaders from around the world. The global exposure is one of the reasons why the MICE industry is attractive to both veterans and newcomers.
“There is always something new coming up in Singapore. So it is always a challenge to adapt and get used to new activities, new technology,” he said.
While Lek has 10 years of experience in the MICE industry, Eu Yan Jun has only been working at Clarion Events for 2 years. Jun organizes events for the healthcare and insurance industry, coordinating healthcare and insurance conferences and exhibitions that attract healthcare professionals, technology innovators and industry leaders from all over.
With a degree in communications, she had many career paths but chose the MICE industry because she could directly observe how audiences interact with the content, short videos and images she produced.
“You get to see real conversions when people attend the event, which you don’t often see in other marketing jobs,” Eu shares.
Instead of creating content for websites and social media, she now designs event materials and presentations that attendees can interact with directly at conferences and exhibitions. Like Lek, Eu’s work also allows her to connect with professionals from many different industries and walks of life.
Since starting out, she has gained valuable experience managing healthcare and insurance events, equipping herself with skills that can be applied to organising conferences across a range of industries. “It’s been a great position and there’s still so much to learn,” she says.
The ever-evolving nature of the industry promotes both professional and personal growth. “It’s a job that develops your soft skills,” says Isabel Shankar, senior project coordinator at Koelnmesse Ptd Ltd.
Her company has organized some of the region's largest dental and orthodontic trade shows and conferences, attracting over 500 exhibitors and 9,000 attendees.
“Organizing events and interacting directly with people from all walks of life has helped me come out of my shell and gain confidence,” Shankar said. “As long as you are willing to learn, there will always be opportunities for you.”
Bao Cham (according to CNA)
Labor and Social Affairs Newspaper No. 2
Source: https://dansinh.dantri.com.vn/nhan-luc/singapore-nhan-luc-nganh-mice-co-nhieu-co-hoi-phat-trien-20250103111957575.htm
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