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Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners Occupation Detailed Description

Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners

The main tasks and work activities of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners are to correspond with customers to answer questions or resolve complaints, monitor organizational compliance with regulations, confer with personnel to coordinate business operations, authorize financial actions. In general, for the Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, speaking, active Listening, reading Comprehension, service Orientation and other 17 skills are required.
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related ExperienceA considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
ExampleMany of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners jobs. 7.85% of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 6.64% of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
7.85%
Post-Secondary Certificate
6.64%
Some College Courses
37.22%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
7.49%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
40.80%

Tasks and Work Activities of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners

  • Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
  • Monitor event activities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws, satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any problems that arise.
  • Confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details.
  • Review event bills for accuracy and approve payment.
  • Plan and develop programs, agendas, budgets, and services according to customer requirements.
  • Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing and event security.
  • Arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, transportation, displays, and other event needs.
  • Inspect event facilities to ensure that they conform to customer requirements.
  • Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details.
  • Conduct post-event evaluations to determine how future events could be improved.
  • Negotiate contracts with such service providers and suppliers as hotels, convention centers, and speakers.
  • Meet with sponsors and organizing committees to plan scope and format of events, to establish and monitor budgets, or to review administrative procedures and event progress.
  • Direct administrative details, such as financial operations, dissemination of promotional materials, and responses to inquiries.
  • Evaluate and select providers of services according to customer requirements.
  • Read trade publications, attend seminars, and consult with other meeting professionals to keep abreast of meeting management standards and trends.
  • Organize registration of event participants.
  • Design and implement efforts to publicize events and promote sponsorships.
  • Hire, train, and supervise volunteers and support staff required for events.
  • Obtain permits from fire and health departments to erect displays and exhibits and serve food at events.
  • Promote conference, convention and trades show services by performing tasks such as meeting with professional and trade associations, and producing brochures and other publications.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside OrganizationCommunicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Scheduling Work and ActivitiesScheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersHandling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or PeopleAssessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Correspond with customers to answer questions or resolve complaints.
  • Monitor organizational compliance with regulations.
  • Confer with personnel to coordinate business operations.
  • Authorize financial actions.
  • Verify accuracy of records.
  • Develop financial or business plans.
  • Organize special events.
  • Inspect facilities or equipment to ensure specifications are met.
  • Prepare financial documents.
  • Conduct surveys in organizations.
  • Negotiate contracts with clients or service providers.
  • Confer with others about financial matters.
  • Oversee business processes.
  • Conduct eligibility or selection interviews.
  • Update professional knowledge.
  • Market products, services, or events.
  • Create marketing materials.
  • Supervise employees.
  • Train personnel to enhance job skills.
  • Obtain documentation to authorize activities.

Skills and Abilities for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners

  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Management of Personnel ResourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
  • Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Management of Financial ResourcesDetermining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Time SharingThe ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Overhead projectorse.g. Overhead display projectors
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Public address systemse.g. Public address PA systems
  • Two way radiose.g. Two way radios
  • Multimedia projectorse.g. Video projectors
  • Videoconferencing systemse.g. Videoconferencing equipment
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Communications and MediaKnowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.