Abstract

Purpose – The study examines the career motivations, paths and challenges of convention and exhibition (C&E) industry professionals in Asia. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the key literature relating to life and work history research, career profiles and human capital, which is followed by a discussion of findings of an online survey of C&E industry professionals in Asia. Findings – Findings indicate that there is no specific career route/path into the industry, with experience being generated in a wide variety of sectors, and primarily gained in management, sales and marketing roles. Professionals show a high level of career commitment and face a variety of challenges relating to environmental, customer and job demands. Research limitations/implications – Data were collected from industry professionals from four South-East Asian destinations only, thus it is important not to generalize study findings to Asia. Practical implications are discussed in relation to career development and employee retention, specifically in view of the variety of entry points into the industry, potential for job mobility, and challenges to motivate and retain a committed workforce composed of different generations. Originality/value – Appropriately educated and trained labor is essential for the success of the rapidly growing C&E industry. Yet, despite the recognized value of superior staff and the wealth of employment opportunities, there is little understanding of careers in the C&E sector to date. The research addresses this gap in the research.