Greeting international conference attendees… keeping presentations on time… or crawling under a table to plug in a projector. From glamour to grit— meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of events to ensure a quality experience. These planners arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details. They often start by meeting with clients to define the purpose of the event, schedule, preferred location, and the number of expected attendees and budget. It’s their job to obtain bids at competitive prices, and, at the event, ensure details run smoothly. They may also organize speakers, entertainment, and related activities. These planners work for professional associations, convention centers and hotels, in government agencies and corporations, or may specialize in planning weddings or fundraising events for non-profits. Their fast-paced work environment requires keeping calm and making quick decisions. Resourcefulness and good communication are key. Most planners work full time, with many additional hours just before and during events to keep things running smoothly. Applicants usually need a bachelor's degree; a major in tourism management, hospitality, or meeting and event planning is a plus. Some work experience— at a hotel, convention center, or planning events— may be needed. Professional certifications may improve job prospects.
What they do:
Coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
On the job, you would:
Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
Review event bills for accuracy and approve payment.
Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing and event security.
Business
customer service
administrative services
Arts and Humanities
English language
Communications
multimedia
Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
reading work related information
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
changing what is done based on other people's actions
looking for ways to help people
Verbal
communicate by speaking
communicate by writing
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
use rules to solve problems
Attention
pay attention to something without being distracted
do two or more things at the same time
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
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