Billions of dollars are invested in building public assembly venues worldwide, relied upon by communities to spark pride and enjoyment, to expand development, attract tourists, residents, new businesses, and to energize local economies.
In this “experience economy,” knowledge, technology, and service are the key differentiating factors that create a competitive advantage and ultimately determine success. The potential return on the venue investment expands when led and operated by an educated, experienced, and capable workforce that can identify, prevent, and respond to problems, protect the millions in their care on a daily basis, and ensure financial viability and for the landmark assets in their communities.
The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Emerging markets, increasing energy costs, supply and demand fluctuations, squeezed public funding, intense competition, and shrinking margins; detached social structures; threats of terrorism, severe weather, pandemics, and the like—the changing world demands a public assembly venue workforce prepared and capable like never before.
The IAVM Foundation has more than a 30-year history of success in working with industry leaders to identify and fund the development of solutions, resources, and education in critical and emerging areas in public assembly. As the world and the industry becomes more complex, the need is greater than ever to ensure that each and every public assembly venue has a professional workforce, base of knowledge and adequate resources to ensure safety and enjoyment of the public, security of assets, and business results that contribute to economic development and quality of life.
