Mr. Glenn Bowdin, International Events Professional and Author attended HTMi’s 13th International Hospitality & Tourism Research Conference Switzerland, which took place on Thursday, 13th to Friday, 14th November 2014.

Mr. Bowdin was one of the keynote speakers and gave an interesting address on the topic “Developing the Event Professional” to an audience of international research professionals and researchers, as well as the staff and students of HTMi.

The presentation content has been dedicated to the process of development of the Events professionals. Taking as an example the case of Great Britain Mr. Bowdin outlined the necessity of providing special education for those who would like to devote their professional life to the Meetings and Events organization.

In order to support and provide awareness of different events organization process to the companies and authorities the EMBOK tool has been created. EMBOK is Event Management Body of Knowledge (www.embok.org).

It was mentioned that the Meetings and Events education is not provided in a proper level and should be improved in the nearest future, due to the market requirements for the specialists, especially young, motivated and ambitious.

The presenter emphasised the following evidences, which are crucial for the future:

· Increasing recognition of the events professionals

· Launching the dialogue with Governmental Authorities in respect of initiating special courses for the future Events specialists

· Necessity of training for the future Events specialists

· Increasing the level of body of knowledge for the Events

· Provision of job opportunities and career pathways for the young specialists

Glenn Bowdin is Head of the UK Centre for Events Management and a member of the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality (ICRETH) at Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Metropolitan University), where responsibilities include managing the operation of the centre and leading the strategic direction. Glenn’s background in the events industry relates to corporate hospitality, particularly within sports events. Glenn regularly presents at national and international conferences, co-authored the best-selling textbook, Events Management (third edition published by Routledge in 2011) and is co-series editor of the Routledge Events Management book series.

Glenn is founding Chair of the Association for Events Management Education (AEME), an association which he helped establish in 2004 to support and enhance the development of events management education; is a Founding Director of the International Events Management Body of Knowledge (EMBOK) Executive, which has developed the EMBOK, and was involved in the development of the Event Management International Competency Standards (EMICS) and the International Event Qualifications Framework (IEQF) with the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC).

Glenn is a member of Meeting Professionals International, a member of the Institute of Hospitality (MIH), a Fellow of the HE Academy (FHEA) and is the university liaison with EVCOM and ABPCO. He serves on the Business Visits & Events Partnership committee on behalf of AEME, has produced research for People1st, MPI and other clients relating the nature, scope and skills development in the events industry, is on the Editorial Boards of Events Management, an international journal and the Journal of Convention & Event Tourism, and is convener of Event-Management, an international discussion list for research and education in events management.

Anthony Lack, Events & Training Manager, HTMi Centre for Events Management, December 2014