What Does A Meeting, Convention and Event Planner Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Meeting, Convention and Event Planners

Meeting, Convention and Event Planners coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.

Salary
$55890
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Meeting, Convention and Event Planners coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.

  • Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
  • Review event bills for accuracy and approve the payment.
  • 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.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Meeting, Convention and Event Planners confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details. They monitor event activities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws, the satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any problems that arise.

A typical day for a Meeting, Convention and Event Planner will also include:

  • Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing and event security.
  • Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details.
  • Direct administrative details, such as financial operations, dissemination of promotional materials, and responses to inquiries.
  • Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
  • Review event bills for accuracy and approve the payment.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Meetings, conventions, and Event Planners also organize the registration of event participants. They may also inspect event facilities to ensure that they conform to customer requirements.

On a weekly to monthly basis, meetings, Convention and Event Planners arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, transportation, displays, and other event needs. They might also negotiate contracts with such service providers and suppliers as hotels, convention centers, and speakers.

In addition, they meet with sponsors and organizing committees to plan the scope and format of events, establish and monitor budgets, or review administrative procedures and event progress.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them conduct post-event evaluations to determine how future events could be improved.

To some Meeting, Convention and Event Planners, it is also their responsibility to design and implement efforts to publicize events and promote sponsorships.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

High

Is this job meaningful

Average

72% said they were satisfied with their job and 50% said they found their job meaningful.


YourEventMarketPlace, a virtual event management website

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Event Specialists, one of Canada’s pre-eminent event production and management firms

Mahoganey is an event expert. She founded and runs Event Specialists, one of Canada’s pre-eminent event production and management firms. She has won numerous awards for her contributions to the events world, including the 2021 “Event Professional of the Year” & “Top 100 Most Influential People in the Events Industry.” She is CMP-licensed (Certified Meetings … Read More


Business Events Perth

As an Event Planner, my daily roles entailed brainstorming, planning, and executing events like weddings, naming ceremonies, birthdays, conferences, among others. I prepared event budget proposals, as well as invoices processing. I assisted our clients to identify event requirements and ensure their expectations are met. I made researches on available venues suitable for the occasion … Read More


Trafo Baden

I’m the Convention & Events Team Leader at the Trafo Baden in Baden, Switzerland. My job includes everything from the first point of contact with a client coming via an inquiry for availability for an event, up until check of the final bill after the event. A typical day My day normally starts around 7:30 … Read More


BEAT esports

I am the co-founder of BEAT esports which provides esports tournaments. What does your typical day at work look like? Tournament days vary if I’m planning for a tournament or actively in a tournament. As an organizer with a small team, I’m generally on the lookout and prospecting clients so I need to put my … Read More


AblazePR

On a typical day, we work with clients to create great experiences whether they are in person or virtual events. Every day is going to be different. As an event planner, we scout for locations and venues, solicit bids from vendors, managing vendor relationships and client communications, creating and negotiating contracts, and managing budgets. We … Read More


Bravo Productions

I am an event planner with more than 30-years of professional experience. In the events industry, there is no typical day. Everyday is likely to be different because of the nature of each project, campaign, scale, and scope of the event — and the challenges and risks that will need to be addressed. A day … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

One of the fastest-growing careers.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.

Salary is below average.

It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$55890 per year

Average hourly wage

$27 per hour

Entry-level Meeting, Convention and Event Planners with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $29,240 to $38,460 per year or $14 to $18 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $88,360 $42
Senior (Top 25%) $67,250 $32
Median $51,560 $25
Junior (Bottom 25%) $38,460 $18
No experience (Bottom 10%) $29,240 $14

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Meeting, Convention and Event Planners based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Software Publishers $87800 $42.21
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $84950 $40.84
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities $76400 $36.73
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing $73150 $35.17
Other Information Services $72680 $34.94
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods $72590 $34.90
Nondepository Credit Intermediation $70140 $33.72
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing $69900 $33.61
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services $69890 $33.60
Cable and Other Subscription Programming $69260 $33.30

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Meeting, Convention and Event Planners work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Meeting, Convention and Event Planners including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations 9140 $60620 $29.15
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 8200 $54280 $26.09
Other Support Services 7680 $60970 $29.31
Traveler Accommodation 6320 $51890 $24.95
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 5300 $63200 $30.38
Other Personal Services 4160 $58870 $28.30
Local Government 4040 $51180 $24.61
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 3800 $51170 $24.60
Special Food Services 3140 $46300 $22.26
Management of Companies and Enterprises 3140 $65720 $31.60

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
34%

40 hours
7%

More than 40 hours
59%

Working schedule

56%

44%

1%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
12%

Every day
88%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
6%

Every day
94%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
9%

Every day
91%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
46%

Once a year
28%

Once a month
25%

Once a week
1%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
4%

Slightly competitive
10%

Moderately competitive
22%

Highly competitive
20%

Extremely competitive
45%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
15%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
1%

Every day
84%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
84%

Once a year or more
7%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
7%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
14%

Once a year or more
54%

Once a month or more
19%

Once a week or more
13%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
26%

Once a year or more
59%

Once a month or more
10%

Once a week or more
5%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Hard
You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require a Bachelor’s degree and several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. Similar careers include Database Administrators, Chemists, Art Directors, and Accountants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
8%

Post-Secondary Certificate
7%

Some College Courses
37%

Associate’s Degree or similar
7%

Bachelor’s Degree
41%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
1%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
5%

1 to 2 years
52%

2 to 4 years
14%

4 to 6 years
16%

6 to 8 years
5%

8 to 10 years
5%

Over 10 years
2%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
4%

1 to 3 months
17%

3 to 6 months
9%

6 months to 1 year
21%

1 to 2 years
37%

2 to 4 years
11%

4 to 10 years
1%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Leader

People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.

The Builder
24%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
19%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
33%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
62%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
100%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
71%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
71%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
69%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
71%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
90%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
48%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
76%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


Don’t know which career to pursue?

Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.

Take The Career Quiz

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