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Career Details

13-1121.00 - Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners


Coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
100,000
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
109,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
+9,900
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+9.9%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • 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.
  • Hire, train, and supervise volunteers and support staff required for events.
Supplemental
  • Organize registration of event participants.
  • Design and implement efforts to publicize events and promote sponsorships.
  • 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.
  • Develop event topics and choose featured speakers.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 87%
    Knowledge 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 Language
  • 85%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Communications and Media
  • 74%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Clerical
  • 70%
    Knowledge 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 Management
  • 69%
    Knowledge 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 Electronics
  • 65%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 63%
    Knowledge 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.
 Law and Government
  • 60%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 58%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Transportation
  • 56%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Telecommunications
  • 56%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Psychology
  • 56%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Mathematics
  • 55%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 54%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Education and Training
  • 50%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Projectors and supplies
  • Overhead display projectors
  • Video projectors
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Business function specific software
  • Active Network EventRegister
  • Convention Industry Council CIC APEX Toolbox
  • Google DriveHOT
  • Marketo Marketing AutomationHOT
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
  • Planstone
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative CloudHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • FacebookHOT
  • Google DocsHOT
  • LinkedInHOT
  • Mentimeter
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • SmugMug FlickrHOT
  • Social media sitesHOT
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Trimble SketchUp ProHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
  • Certain
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Dean Evans & Associates EMS Professional
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Lenos
  • MemberClicks COMPLETE
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • NSF Hospitality Rendezvous Events
  • Oracle Eloqua
 Information exchange software
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
  • IBM Lotus Notes
  • LogMeIn GoToMeeting
  • LogMeIn GoToWebinar
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Development software
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
 Industry specific software
  • MeetingMatrix International
 Network applications software
  • ParentSquare
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Tidewater Community College