Education:
41%
Bachelor's Degree
37%
Some College Courses
Meeting, Convention, or Event Planner
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Job Outlook:
Faster than average
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Work From Home
Salary
High:
$92,880.00
Average:
$58,750.00
Hourly
Average:
$28.24
What they do:
Coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
On the job, you would:
- Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
- 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.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners exchange information with clients, suppliers, and event staff. They must have excellent written and oral communication skills to express the needs of their clients.
Interpersonal skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners must establish and maintain positive relationships with clients and suppliers.
Negotiation skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners must be able to secure quality products and services at reasonable prices for their clients.
Organizational skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners must multitask, pay attention to details, and meet tight deadlines.
Problem-solving skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners must be able to anticipate potential issues and prepare creative solutions that satisfy clients.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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98% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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97% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
|
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95% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
|
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93% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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93% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
|
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91% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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86% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
|
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84% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
|
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83% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
|
|
81% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
|
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80% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
|
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77% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
|
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75% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
|
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75% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
|
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75% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. | |
|
|
70% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
100% | Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law. | |
|
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67% | Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources. | |
|
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56% | Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
89% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
|
|
72% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
|
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67% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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67% | Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. | |
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64% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
75% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
|
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75% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |
|
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75% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
|
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75% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
|
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75% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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72% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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72% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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69% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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69% | Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). | |
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66% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
|
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66% | Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). | |
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66% | Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. | |
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63% | Information Ordering - The 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). | |
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53% | Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance. | |
|
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53% | Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. | |
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53% | Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
57% | Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. | |
|
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57% | Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. | |
|
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57% | Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. | |
|
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57% | Active Listening - Giving 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. | |
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55% | Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people. | |
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55% | Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. | |
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54% | Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others. | |
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54% | Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. | |
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54% | Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. | |
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52% | Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences. | |
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52% | Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Correspond with customers to answer questions or resolve complaints.
Monitor organizational compliance with regulations.
Confer with personnel to coordinate business operations.
Verify accuracy of records.
Authorize financial actions.
Develop financial or business plans.
Organize special events.
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.
Organize special events.
Oversee business processes.
Conduct eligibility or selection interviews.
Update professional knowledge.
Organize special events.
Create marketing materials.
Market products, services, or events.
Train personnel to enhance job skills.
Supervise employees.
Obtain documentation to authorize activities.
Create marketing materials.
Market products, services, or events.
Organize special events.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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99% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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98% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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98% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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97% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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95% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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93% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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93% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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91% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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89% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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88% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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88% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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85% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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83% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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76% | Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos? | |
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74% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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73% | Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers? | |
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73% | Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? | |
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72% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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69% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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67% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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65% | Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? | |
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63% | Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job? | |
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56% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? | |
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56% | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? | |
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53% | Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements? | |
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52% | Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing? | |
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63% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
91% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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89% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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88% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
|
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87% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating 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. | |
|
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86% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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84% | Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. | |
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84% | Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. | |
|
|
80% | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
|
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80% | Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. | |
|
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78% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
|
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78% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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77% | Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. | |
|
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76% | Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. | |
|
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76% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
|
|
75% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
|
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75% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
|
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73% | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. | |
|
|
72% | Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. | |
|
|
72% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
|
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71% | Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. | |
|
|
71% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
|
|
69% | Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. | |
|
|
68% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
|
|
65% | Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions. | |
|
|
65% | Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. | |
|
|
63% | Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. | |
|
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60% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
|
|
60% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
|
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59% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
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59% | Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. | |
|
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58% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
|
|
57% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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|
57% | Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. | |
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56% | Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. | |
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|
53% | Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
What Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners Do
Meeting, convention, and event planners meet with clients to understand the purpose of their meeting or event.
Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings. They arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details.
Duties
Meeting, convention, and event planners typically do the following:
- Meet with clients to understand the purpose of the event
- Plan the scope of the event, including its time, location, and cost
- Solicit bids from venues and service providers
- Inspect venues to ensure that they meet the client’s requirements
- Coordinate event services such as rooms, transportation, and food
- Monitor event activities to ensure that the client and the attendees are satisfied
- Review event bills and approve payments
Meeting, convention, and event planners organize a variety of social and professional events, including weddings, educational conferences, and business conventions. They coordinate every detail of these events, including finances. Before planning a meeting, for example, planners meet with clients to estimate attendance and determine the meeting’s purpose. During the event, they handle logistics, such as registering guests and organizing audiovisual equipment. After the meeting, they make sure that all vendors are paid, and they may survey attendees to obtain feedback on the event.
Meeting, convention, and event planners search for potential meeting sites, such as hotels and convention centers. They consider the lodging and services that the facility can provide, how easy it will be for people to get there, and the attractions that the surrounding area has to offer.
Once a location is selected, planners arrange the meeting space and support services, such as catering and interpreters. They negotiate contracts with suppliers and coordinate plans with the venue’s staff. They may also organize speakers, entertainment, and activities.
The following are examples of types of meeting, convention, and event planners:
Meeting planners plan large meetings for organizations. Healthcare meeting planners specialize in organizing meetings and conferences for healthcare professionals. Corporate planners organize internal business meetings and meetings between businesses. These events may be in person or online and held either within corporate facilities or offsite to include more people.
Convention planners plan conventions and conferences for organizations. Association planners organize annual conferences and trade shows for professional associations. Convention service managers work for hotels and convention centers. They act as liaisons between the meeting facility and the planners who work for associations, businesses, and governments. They present food service options to outside planners, coordinate special requests, and suggest hotel services that work within a planner’s budget.
Event planners arrange the details of a variety of events. Wedding planners are the most well known, but event planners also coordinate celebrations such as anniversaries, reunions, and other large social events, as well as corporate events, including product launches, galas, and award ceremonies. Nonprofit event planners plan large events with the goal of raising donations for a charity or advocacy organization. Events may include banquets, charity races, and food drives.
Exhibition organizers are responsible for all aspects of planning, promoting, and producing a display. They are also called exhibit managers, show managers, or show organizer.
Work Environment
Meeting, convention, and event planners held about 132,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of meeting, convention, and event planners were as follows:
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 17% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 |
| Accommodation and food services | 12 |
| Administrative and support services | 9 |
| Self-employed workers | 4 |
Meeting, convention, and event planners spend time in their offices and at event locations, such as hotels and convention centers. They may travel regularly to attend the events they organize and to visit meeting sites.
The work of meeting, convention, and event planners can be fast paced and demanding. Planners oversee many aspects of an event at the same time and face numerous deadlines, and they may coordinate multiple meetings or events at the same time.
Work Schedules
Most meeting, convention, and event planners work full time, and many work more than 40 hours per week. They often work additional hours to finalize preparations as major events approach. During meetings or conventions, planners may work on weekends.
Getting Started
How to Become a Meeting, Convention, or Event Planner
Meeting, convention, and event planners typically need a bachelor's degree.
Meeting, convention, and event planners typically need a bachelor’s degree. Some experience related to event planning may be helpful.
Education
Meeting, convention, and event planners typically need a bachelor’s degree. Although some colleges offer programs in meeting and event management, other common fields of degree include business, communications, and social science.
Planners who have studied meeting and event management or hospitality management may start out with greater responsibilities than do those from other academic disciplines. Some colleges offer continuing education courses in meeting and event planning.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
A number of voluntary certifications are available for meeting and convention planners. Although not required, these certifications demonstrate specific knowledge or professional expertise.
The Events Industry Council offers the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential, which is widely recognized in the industry and may help in career advancement. To qualify for the CMP, candidates’ applications must include proof of experience and education. Those who qualify must then pass an exam that covers topics such as strategic planning, financial and risk management, facility operations and services, and logistics.
The Society of Government Meeting Professionals offers the Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) designation for meeting planners who work for, or contract with, federal, state, or local government. This certification is helpful for candidates who want to show that they know government purchasing policies and travel regulations. To qualify, candidates must have worked as a meeting planner for at least 1 year and have been a member of SGMP for 6 months. To become a certified planner, members must take a 3-day course and pass an exam.
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events offers the Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designation, which demonstrates meeting professional standards for exhibitions and events management. Candidates obtain this credential by completing nine courses.
Some organizations, including the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners, offer certifications in wedding planning that may be helpful for attracting clients.
Other Experience
Meeting, convention, and event planners may benefit from having some experience in meeting and event planning. Working in a variety of positions at hotels, convention centers, and convention bureaus provides knowledge of how the hospitality industry operates. Other beneficial work experiences include coordinating university or volunteer events and shadowing professionals.
Job Outlook
Employment of meeting, convention, and event planners is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 15,200 openings for meeting, convention, and event planners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Event planners' services are expected to be in demand by people who want help organizing personal events, such as weddings. In addition, demand for professionally planned meetings and events will stem from businesses and organizations that host events. However, virtual meeting technology may dampen employment growth as virtual meetings continue to replace some in-person events.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about professional planning for meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and events, including information about certification and industry trends, visit
International Association of Exhibitions and Events
Society of Government Meeting Professionals
For more information about wedding planners, including information about certification, visit
American Association of Certified Wedding Planners
Association of Bridal Consultants
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of meeting, convention, and event planners.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Administrative Services and Facilities Managers |
Administrative services and facilities managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities that help an organization run efficiently. |
Bachelor's degree | $101,870 |
|
Floral Designers |
Floral designers arrange live, dried, and silk flowers and greenery to make decorative displays. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $33,160 |
|
Food Service Managers |
Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $61,310 |
|
Fundraisers |
Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization. |
Bachelor's degree | $61,190 |
|
Lodging Managers |
Lodging managers ensure that guests have a pleasant experience at an accommodations facility. They also plan, direct, or coordinate activities to ensure that the facility is efficient and profitable. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $61,910 |
|
Travel Agents |
Travel agents sell transportation, lodging, and entertainment activities to individuals and groups planning trips. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $46,400 |