Luke Boyd is a final year BA (Hons) Events Management student. In November 2023, he attended the annual ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Congress in Bangkok. In this blog he talks through what the trip involved, what he learnt from the experience and his plans for the future. 

Tell us a bit about yourself, why you chose to study the course and what interests you the most about the subject area?

Hi, I’m Luke, originally from Nottingham. I’ve always had a massive passion for attending events, and always wanted to host my own. Once Covid hit, I moved down to Kent to work on my family farm and realised that I could create live events in the spaces we have. So, I decided to look for an events management course that gave a wide range of different modules targeting various sectors in the events industry. 

My main interest within the events industry is creating experiences that attendees will remember for a lifetime. This was reinforced when I moved to London on placement working for a corporate events company, focusing on events with a twist. This elevated my passion for events. 

How did your trip to the ICCA congress in Bangkok come about and what did the trip involve?

My trip to Bangkok came about in summer 2023 after receiving an email from our module leader mentioning that there was an opportunity to represent Leeds Beckett University in Bangkok for the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) conference. It has always been a dream for me to go to Thailand, so this opportunity was incredible. I then received more information about what ICCA do and found out the subject area for this conference was sustainability within events. I wrote an entry on why I was the best fit to attend the conference in Bangkok. 

The trip involved me working with ICCA on their conferences. I attended site visits and helped with setting up the events, which allowed me to join in the discussions and seminars to gain greater knowledge on key topics like sustainability, AI and inclusivity. This unique opportunity not only fulfilled a personal dream but also allowed me to actively contribute to and engage with the vibrant discussions in the world of events.

What did you enjoy most about the experience?

My favourite part of the ICCA conference was that it allowed me the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with industry professionals. Learning from their diverse experiences and stories greatly enriched my understanding of the events industry. Additionally, attending talks on critical topics like sustainability and creating an inclusive workplace was a highlight. These sessions not only expanded my knowledge but also highlighted the innovative strategies being discussed in our industry. 

The conference blended personal connections with intellectual stimulation, making it a truly enriching and memorable event. The UK & Ireland was also crowned the world champions in the 'IAmAmsterdam' night, which was a great event to be part of.

What are your plans after graduating?

After attending the conference in Bangkok, I have recently been asked to go to the UK & Ireland annual conference in Belfast. This has allowed me to grow my connections within the industry and hopefully this opportunity will open doors after graduating. However, in my placement year I worked for a corporate events company based in London which I loved, so this may be an option once I graduate.

What would you say to someone considering studying Events Management at Leeds Beckett?

Leeds Beckett University stands out as an excellent choice for studying Events Management. At the Bangkok conference, industry professionals from across the globe recognised Leeds Beckett as the leading university for events in the UK.

Leeds Beckett's Events Management course offers an exciting and enriching learning experience. You'll be part of a lively academic community that equips you with not only the knowledge but the practical skills to succeed in the field of event management. Throughout the year, you are introduced to leaders within their field of events, allowing volunteering opportunities to gain valuable experience and to fully understand different roles within events. This is completely unique to the Events Management course at Leeds Beckett.