What Do Meeting, Convention and Event Planners Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Meeting, Convention and Event Planners coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions. They also consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, transportation, displays, and other event needs.
• Confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details.
• Inspect event facilities to ensure that they conform to customer requirements.
• Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details.

We asked Meeting, Convention and Event Planners how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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72% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 50% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

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, 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 payment.

We asked some Meeting, Convention and Event Planners a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	96% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	72% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	92% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	77% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	58% said yes

Other responsibilities

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

On a weekly to monthly basis, Meeting, 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 scope and format of events, to establish and monitor budgets, or to 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.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Meeting, Convention and Event Planner, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends 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.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm

http://www.conventionindustry.org/

http://www.mpiweb.org/

http://www.sgmp.org/