Up until the last few days, I was under the impression that Asia’s middle classes in general, and event professionals in particular, revelled in ongoing education; sacrificing free time for the virtue of courses ranging from MBAs to the less pricey “professional accreditations”. That also entailed joining associations that enhanced the standing of their chosen professions.
But my inbox has erupted of late with comments about an “industry hijacking”, and a few expletives too, centred on that very issue. People normally in the habit of wooing their clients, calling the shots at venues and maintaining charm and restraint at the most challenging of events seemed to have lost their cool with a new organisation called ICE – that is, the Incentive, Conference and Event Society Asia Pacific (or Icesap) – set up with the aim of representing buyer interests when it comes to business events and conferences in Asia.
What has stirred local members of the International Special Events Society is that moves have been made in a bid to get them co-opted into this new organisation. They surrender efforts to establish their own education programmes and accreditation, and their own awards, to be merged with a new “voice” for the industry.
We’re dealing with creative event professionals here, so any negativity will be short lived. But what sticks in their craw is what they see as an industry hijacking. There is also anger over a charter that puts the new outfit's policies at the centre of the business affairs of event agencies and DMCs with regulations that stipulate how client deposits are held.
Corporate buyers have also contacted MIX, puzzled as to why hotel executives should be cajoling them into signing up for the new body.
Industry representation is a laudable aim, but the prime cause of the anger is the threat posed by staking a claim to the functions – including accreditation and award recognition – to which existing organisations aspire.
Martin Donovan is the Editor of MIX
