As South Africa celebrates Youth Month, SAACI is proud to highlight the emerging voices shaping the future of the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry. In this in-depth Q&A, we speak with Luciano Hendricks, a member of SAACI’s Youth Council, about his journey into the events sector, the challenges he’s navigating as a young professional, and the transformative trends he sees on the horizon.
1. What initially sparked your interest in the MICE and events industry, and what keeps you engaged today?
It all started at the age of 15, when I had to plan a breakfast for a group of 10 people for a school project. I remember this day as a stressful yet exciting moment – I couldn’t stop talking about the experience and how much I loved putting everything together.
After this successful day, my grandmother and I went to a coffee shop, called Grace Cafè, where the owner overheard our conversation and offered me an opportunity to do their year-end function (a Christmas Lunch).
The year-end function was a success too, and the birth of my passion for planning and executing events. It was what led me to work for a wedding company as a waiter, and I worked my way up to décor assistant, then assistant wedding planner after five years.
During this time, I applied to study Marketing, as I was told there were no programmes focused on event management yet. However, after more research, I saw that Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) offered an ND: Event Management Programme, and I applied.
This was where I met amazing industry leaders who have supported and steered me into the right career path and connected me with industry associations, like SAACI.
“Now part of the association’s Youth Council, I hope to help another young professional to also build a successful career in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) and tourism Industries.”
2. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced or foresee facing as a young professional in this industry, and how are you navigating them?
The biggest challenges I faced was the lack of information regarding the events industry and its associations. I recently had a discussion with a tourism educator and asked her about industry-related information, and she highlighted that there is still a gap between the industry and pupils – especially in Grades 10-12.
“I believe we can mitigate this lack of information by hosting more high school road shows, in partnerships with governmental support and the local tourism hubs.”
3. How do you see the MICE and events industry evolving in the next 5-10 years, particularly concerning sustainability and inclusivity?
I believe that with our industry being ever-changing, it creates continuous growth, networking and knowledge exchange opportunities. Moreover, it will lead to improved inclusivity and diversity, incorporating cultural influences and social trends that inform richer conversations and broader insights – and, in turn, creating more memorable and meaningful events.
“Industry associations can capitalise on the opportunity to host more successful events by incorporating a sustainability bill/act. This will allow us to drive greener initiatives, increase collaboration, and create job opportunities.”
4. What skills or areas of expertise do you believe are most crucial for young professionals to develop to thrive in the current and future MICE and events landscape?
The most important skills would be:
- Time management;
- Project planning;
- Adaptability;
- Creativity;
- Innovation; and
- Being able to diversify within different areas of specialisation within the sector.
5. Can you share an example of an innovative or impactful event you’ve been involved in or witnessed that inspired you, and what made it stand out?
An innovate and impactful event I had the opportunity to be part of was the Youth Expo, during my tenure at a previous company. The event was organised by young professionals for Youth Day, opening the endless opportunities of employment, knowledge sharing, educational and bursary opportunities under one roof.
“This allowed us as young professionals to give back to the community and start building our own legacy – leaving truly lasting impressions.”
6. How important do you think networking and mentorship are for career growth in this industry, and what strategies do you use to build your professional network?
At the Fedhasa Cape Young Professionals event in June, it was highlight that networking is about quality over quantity. It’s better to walk away with two connections that build lasting relationships that both can benefit from, instead of many meaningless ones.
I would recommend mentorship programmes to any aspiring young professional within the MICE and tourism industries, as it has endless opportunities for continuous improvement, support and growth.
“Mentorship and networking play a fundamental role in shaping the future of a young professional. It didn’t only help me build my professional reputation, but it made me who I am today.”
7. In what ways do you believe technology can be further leveraged to enhance the attendee experience and streamline event operations?
As a conference organiser, I believe that using technology allowed us to save the MICE industry during trying times (such as the COVID-19 pandemic). It enabled us to connect with delegates locally and internationally and enhanced the delegate experience – from registering for an event to checking in at the registration and allowing delegates to receive constant event updates at the touch of their fingertips.
SAACI’s Youth Community on Glue Up, for example, is connecting the youth with opportunities directly in the MICE industry.
“Today, technology is helping us close the skills gap that still exists in the market, and it’s connecting young professionals with opportunities they didn’t know existed.”
8. What advice would you give to other young people considering a career in the MICE and events industry?
As a young professional that is still learning and growing within the industry, it is safe to say; do not expect everything on a silver platter. Go out and work towards what you want.
Find your passion and love your work, as this will allow you to truly enjoy what you are doing. I find myself favoured, because even when thing gets tough, my passion and love for eventing keeps me going.
“Our industry needs boundary breakers and go-getters, someone with tenacity and who is open to continuous learning, as this is a fast-paced industry.”