Members of PCMA’s 20 in Their Twenties class of 2019 see a bright future for the business events industry, a future to which they plan to contribute. Raul Cavazos-Binder shares his impressions of and expectations for the industry.
What do you like most about your job?
There are so many things that I love about my job: getting to work with amazing destinations, making connections all over the world, and knowing that confirming programs to my clients’ destinations has a direct impact on local economies. It is all pretty rewarding.
Where would you like your career to go?
I love my job at Development Counsellors International, the leader in marketing places, and I hope to grow with the firm for years to come. I want to become an industry veteran with knowledge of both the convention and corporate/incentive sides of the industry.
What’s the best day you’ve had in the meetings industry so far?
I climbed Machu Picchu — and got paid to do so — is pretty amazing. It is one of the best days I’ve had not only at my job, but in my life!
What will be the biggest change in the industry over the next 20 years?
So many changes will happen in the industry in 20 years. Software automation will increase, making the sourcing process much more streamlined with the possibility of eliminating third-party negotiators. The rise of flexible/unconventional meeting space will demand change from the hotel and convention industry to accommodate a less corporate generation. The importance of sustainability in all aspects of the industry, especially in F&B, already is happening. And finally, a shift to Asia/Pacific as the main producer of business event programs both in terms of meetings per country and total number of participants.