SITE Global Conference attendees enjoyed a sneak preview of the new global Events Industry Council (EIC) “Futures Landscape Report,” formally launched today by the EIC and financially supported by a SITE Foundation industry grant.
EIC President & CEO Amy Calvert joined 2024 SITE Foundation President Stan Hershenow onstage in Tulum earlier in the week to discuss a few of the 12 key areas the new EIC report covers.
Starting with the topic of “talent,” Amy and Stan highlighted the friction and tensions the Futures Landscape survey uncovered, with new generations continuing to make their voices and impact heard in the events industry workforce.
The two lightly debated whether organizations can meet these new expectations, noting that the EIC study found that over 50 percent of respondents anticipate that their organization will support their upskilling and professional development.
We also need to consistently ask whether our industry is clear about the value we deliver, said Amy, and ensure messaging is compelling about why the meetings and events profession is a great field to be part of. We can do this by focusing especially on legacy impacts and pursing deeper connections to purpose when looking to attract new talent, she added.
Amy and Stan also spoke about some of the findings under the wellbeing portion of the EIC report. With all of us living in a world with such uncertainty and disruption, Amy said, leaders have an obligation to check in on different wellbeing factors and ensure they’re prioritizing team members’ own workplace wellbeing.
This industry can be a rough one, Amy and Stan agreed, with lots of travel and often rigorous schedules. Both Amy and Stan reaffirmed the importance of event organizers and the industry as a whole putting forward strong expectations to staying mindful of our own wellbeing, and ensuring attendees get the most from the events we organize by staying on top of what feeds hearts and minds.
With the Futures Landscape report now live on the EIC website, Amy is hopeful that industry professionals will review each of the dedicated sections and take away what’s most relevant and actionable in their own teams.
Each area in the report reflects current attitudes toward the topic, while also raising additional points to consider and how we can continue to address and create positive solutions or change in that area.
“Foresight is the way forward,” Amy said. “We know the value of our work, and this study can help us tell a better story and be prepared. We can’t stave off a future crisis, but we can be prepared for it.”
Download your copy of the 2025 EIC Futures Landscape Report from the EIC website, with the report supported by a 2024 SITE Foundation industry grant.
