If you are organized and good at details and logistics, a career in meeting, convention and event planning may just be right for you. Planners are able to use their creativity and planning capabilities to theme and create a wide range of events, which will need to be memorable and sometimes quite unusual. Problem-solving abilities are also important because planners need to make a lot of last-minute decisions. You must like working with clients because you will need to plan an event that satisfies their wants and requirements.
Meeting, convention and event planners oversee all the details of a meeting or event and ensure that everything runs smoothly. Planners do a quite a variety of things in their job. They meet with clients to understand the purpose and requirements of the meeting, convention or event; they plan out all the details, including location, time and budget; they select and book vendors, which could include photographers, caterers and entertainment; they negotiate contracts to fit the client’s budget; they review bills and approve them for payment; and, they create a timeline and schedule so all details stay on track. In addition, planners may coordinate travel arrangements and accommodations, and they may imagine and implement decorations.
Planners may work in-house for a corporation or for an event-planning firm. While meeting, convention and event planners work in an office [or remotely, ?]the job also involves visits to the site location and venue in order to plan accordingly, which could involve travel if the convention, meeting or event is to be held in another city or even country.
A degree can help you stand out among other candidates to get a job as a meeting, convention or event planning. Many planners get a bachelor’s degree in communications, hospitality, public relations, marketing, tourism management or event management.
