From a first SITE Experience to Young Leader, by Rai-Ann Leung
My journey with the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) began during my university studies, where I first heard about the organization through a professor and had the privilege of volunteering as a session host. This initial experience lit a spark into the incentive travel industry, eventually leading me to Rare Indigo. Having worked in the destination management industry for a year, that academic introduction has come full circle. Driven by these foundational experiences and a strong desire to be part of the social network, I am joining the SITE Canada Young Leaders Committee to help drive engagement within the Vancouver and British Columbia chapters.
Rare Indigo is a small family-owned boutique DMC and the company has limited resources, and professional development budgets are carefully managed and planned well in advance. While my team is incredibly supportive of my growth and building foundation and my role on the SITE Canada Young Leaders Committee, funding the travel, accommodation and registration costs is out of reach for both the company and me this year. By attending, I can return with knowledge that directly enhances my professional capabilities and our creative execution. Providing this “proof of concept” will demonstrate the clear business value of SITE, paving the way for Rare Indigo to confidently fund my attendance in the coming years and fostering a long-term partnership with the community.
As an early-career professional, I am committed to establishing a long-term, impactful trajectory within the incentive travel and destination management sectors. I strive to bring innovation, creativity and a collaborative mindset to every proposal I work on. I view this scholarship as a stepping stone that will accelerate my professional development, refine my strategic capabilities and enhance my future contributions to the industry.
I am in a unique position that allows me to influence Rare Indigo’s program design from the ground up. I work with local suppliers from the proposal stage, building experiences that will leave a lasting impression on Western Canada. By sharing learnings from the conference with our partners, I can help elevate and align our diverse supplier network across Western Canada, ultimately raising the standard of delivery for our regional incentive tourism sector.
Attending the SITE Young Leaders Conference will offer invaluable connections with emerging professionals who share the same passion. By participating, I look forward to learning directly from established industry icons and mentors who have successfully navigated economic shifts and changing corporate dynamics. The event’s workshops and discussions hope to give me insights into emerging global trends and technological innovations. This immersive environment will allow me to build a cross-border professional network, drawing inspiration from diverse cultural perspectives, unique destinations and creative operational approaches.
Attending the conference will allow me to bring fresh, international concepts back to Rare Indigo, directly strengthening our bespoke incentive programs. I am particularly eager to analyze how destination management companies around the world are responding to evolving client expectations, including the rising demand for experiential sustainability and deep cultural immersion. My goal is to translate these global best practices into our specific operations across Western Canada.
The conference serves as a strategic platform to expand Rare Indigo’s corporate network within the global incentive travel community, building bridges with international planners and suppliers. Exposure to global case studies will undoubtedly inspire new program concepts that align seamlessly with Rare Indigo’s core commitment to “Designing the Remarkable.” As an emerging professional, I want to continuously evolve into a heavyweight contributor who can confidently support highly competitive proposals, design complex client solutions and ensure flawless on-site program execution.
The practical skills gained through this program will directly strengthen my day-to-day sales pipeline and event planning abilities, while creating greater confidence in my voice as a young leader. In a rapidly evolving marketplace, understanding global best practices is essential to elevating client satisfaction. The program offers an entry point to structured mentorship that can help guide my career path, while allowing me to cultivate peer relationships that foster future collaboration. Furthermore, this experience will inspire me to become a more visible, energetic advocate within the SITE Canada community, with the ultimate long-term goal of paying it forward and mentoring the next generation of young professionals.
The long-term impact of this scholarship will extend beyond my individual growth. I fully intend to host a structured knowledge-sharing session with my colleagues upon my return, sharing key takeaways and global trend reports to help my team remain competitive. The strategic insights, refined skills and international connections gained through this opportunity will allow me to contribute more dynamically to business development, creative program design and elevated client services at Rare Indigo, supporting the transformative power of incentive travel for years to come.
-Rai-Ann Leung
