Meeting, Convention and Event Planners
Additional Information
Duties
Meeting, conference, and event planners generally follow these steps:
- Determine the event's goal with customers.
- Plan the event's scope, scheduling, location, and cost in detail.
- Request bids from event venues and service providers.
- Inspect venues to ensure they meet the client's needs.
- Plan the event's accommodation, transportation, and catering.
- Make sure the customer and guests are delighted.
- Approve the payment of event-related invoices.
Weddings, educational conferences, and corporate conventions are all coordinated by meeting and convention planners. They handle the finances and all other aspects of the events. Planners meet with customers ahead of time to predict attendance and outline the event's goal. Event planners do everything from guest registration to audiovisual setup. Attendees may be polled after the event, and vendors may be rewarded.
Event and conference planners hunt for venues in hotels or convention halls. They consider the facility's lodging and amenities, as well as its accessibility and neighboring attractions.
After selecting a venue, planners handle conference logistics such as catering and interpretation. They negotiate contracts with vendors and coordinate with the venue's staff. These people can organize speakers, entertainment, and events.
Listed below are some meeting, convention, and event planners.
Large-scale events require meeting planners. Healthcare meeting planners are professionals at organizing healthcare events. Corporate meeting planners plan meetings within and between companies. These events can be held in person or online, at the company's offices or elsewhere.
Convention planners help organizations schedule meetings and events. Professional associations hire conference and trade show planners. Hotels and conference centers use them to provide convention services. They help clubs, corporations, and government agencies find meeting space. They help outside planners choose meals, make special requests, and recommend hotel services within their budget.
An event planner organizes a variety of events. Not as well-known as wedding planners, event planners generally handle significant social and corporate occasions, such as anniversaries, reunions, and galas. Nonprofit event planners organize large-scale fundraisers for charities and advocacy groups. Activities include dinners, charity runs, food drives, and other events.
The exhibition organizers must design, advertise, and produce the show. They are also known as display managers and show organizers.
Education
A bachelor's degree is often required for meetings, conventions, and event planners. In addition to meeting and event management degrees, other frequent topics of study include business, communications, and social science.
Professional meeting and event planners, as well as individuals with a background in hotel management, may begin their careers with more responsibility. Continuing education courses in meeting and event planning are available at several colleges.
Registration, Certification, and Licensing
Meeting and convention organizers can choose from a variety of optional certificates. These credentials, which aren't obligatory, serve to indicate a certain level of knowledge or ability.
Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification is offered by the Events Industry Council and is well-recognized in the industry. Candidates for the Certified Management Professional (CMP) must submit documentation of their education and work experience as part of their application. Participants must next pass a test covering strategic planning, financial risk management, facility operations and service delivery, as well as supply chain and logistical planning and management.
Meeting planners who work for or contract with the federal, state, or municipal government can earn the Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) title from the Society of Government Meeting Professionals. Candidates who wish to demonstrate their knowledge of government procurement procedures and travel regulations might benefit from this certification. Candidates must have worked as a meeting planner for a minimum of one year and be a member of SGMP for a minimum of six months in order to qualify. Members must complete a three-day course and an exam to become certified planners.
Certified Exhibition Management (CEM) is a certificate that establishes professional standards for exhibits and events management by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events. Candidates must complete nine courses to get this certificate.
In order to attract customers, wedding planning certificates are offered by a few organizations such as the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners and the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants.
Other People's Opinions
Event and meeting planners may benefit from some prior expertise in these fields. Working at hotels, conference centers, and convention bureaus in a variety of capacities gives insight into the workings of the hospitality sector. Coordination of university or volunteer activities and the shadowing of experts are other excellent job experiences.
Qualities that are critical to success
The ability to communicate effectively. Information is sent between meetings, convention and event planners as well as their clients, vendors, and event staff members. If they are to effectively communicate with their clients, they will need to be able to do it both orally and in writing.
Personality traits. Clients and vendors must be kept happy by meeting, convention, and event planners.
A good deal of negotiation ability. Event organizers need to be able to supply their customers with high-quality goods and services at competitive costs.
Possessing a sense of order. Meeting, conference, and event planners have to be able to multitask, pay attention to details, and meet tight deadlines.
Ability to work with issues. Event planners need to be able to anticipate possible problems and come up with innovative solutions that please their clients in order to be successful.
Pay
Meeting, convention, and event planners made an average yearly salary of $51,560 in May 2020. There are two extremes of earnings in each given occupation: those earning more than the median and those earning less. Less than $29,240 was earned by the bottom ten percent, while more than $88,360 was earned by the top ten percent.
Job Projections
Meeting, convention, and event planners' employment is expected to expand by 18 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is substantially faster than the average for all occupations.