Experts are calling on industry bodies to introduce benchmarks to the meetings and events industry to clear the “muddy waters” which currently dominate the industry.
With no benchmarks currently in place for salary, productivity or even job titles, there are inherent difficulties in comparing business practices across the meetings and events industry.
While the issue is nothing new, Fourth Wall Events director Jeremy Garling said the “ever increasing” disparity is muddying the waters and creating false expectations within the industry.
“All the time we are seeing job titles used interchangeably with great variability between roles, responsibilities and salaries,” he told The Nibbler. Event producer, director or manager doesn’t really hold as much weight because different companies are using the titles to reflect different roles.”
As a result, Garling said staff had skewed expectations of job titles and salaries, and employers had no idea what to expect when recruiting staff. Training and career progression also suffered, with employees unable to quantify what experience is necessary to step into a new role.
Echoing Garling’s concerns, MCI Australia managing director Ray Shaw said introducing benchmarks would allow the industry to step up the ranks.
“It’s all about becoming a profession instead of a cottage industry. We need benchmarks for productivity, for salary, defined learning and much more,” he said.
Garling said that industry bodies such as Business Events Australia and Meetings and Events Australia were best placed to lead the change, but both were yet to take action.
“We need to take this step so professionals can focus on their job and move up levels with tangible results in mind,” he said. “We know what has to happen, but it’s a question of who starts it.”
MEA chief executive Linda Gaunt acknowledged the need to introduce industry standards, and noted that a benchmarking research project is currently underway in South Australia. BEA did not comment on the matter.
