According to a recent survey by Corporate Event magazine, average salaries for event professionals have increased slightly since the prior year 2008. The results reported were as follows:
The average base salary reported is $62,925, an annual increase of less than one percent.
source: ”The 2009 Salary Survey” - Corporate Event Magazine
Good meeting planners always have contingency plans for “worst case” scenarios. Planning for bad weather is one thing, but now one anticipated an economic crises. Here are some tips to help meeting planners weather the complicated situations that can arise:
Good meeting planners are well educated and prepared for all contingencies.
If you are anticipating a career in meeting and event planning, you need to start working on your resume. Here are some tips for writing a good resume of any type, including one for event or meeting planning careers:
One of the best things about the event planning industry is the fact that corporate groups seem to always want to meet face to face. Even in the age of electronic media, video conference calls and the like, meetings have the advantage of human interaction that will never feel outdated.
As members of a society, individuals feel the need to get together and discuss different issues- be it business, politics or entertainment. This implies that an event planner can be assured of a constant flow of work.
However although the culture of meetings will always stay, meeting planners need to spruce up their act and keep in touch with the latest developments in the meeting industry. Be it technological or soft skills, the event planning industry is surely growing fast, and event planners need to keep pace making sure that they pull off a good show. Read more…
Regardless of the career path you choose as a meeting planner, one thing is certain: the Internet can be your best friend when it comes to marketing. More specifically, social media can often be the tipping point from a publicized meeting to a well-publicized event. Here is how you can make social media work for you.
Using Your Own Page
If you do not have a professional social media page already, you need to create one–yesterday! Your friends lists will become your contact list for bulletins about upcoming events. Let’s say you are scheduling a convention for administrative professionals, and almost all your friends have such employees. Once you send out a bulletin about the event, you may get some signing up from your list. You will help boost your attendance from one or two notices sent globally–and all for free. Read more…
Meeting planners are facing an era of insecurity, it’s true. With companies making cutbacks that often include events, meetings, and incentive travel, the meeting planner has to think of new ways to increase business. This may mean increasing your client base. How do you do that? Read on for some ideas.
Volunteer
Advertising, handing out business cards, calling potential clients, meeting up with decision makers–all of this is the old way of increasing exposure. There is another way, and it is not all that new but it has become more critical lately–and the best thing is, it doesn’t have to cost much.
You can increase your visibility by service and volunteerism. Volunteering at the local Red Cross, for instance, will increase your visibility to anyone who works with them. There are also other community groups that are in constant need of volunteers. Whether you would rather be a volunteer firefighter or a driver for the physically challenged, there is a place for you. Read more…
Every event planner has a set of tools, and many are online these days. However, overlooking the human factor can be to your peril. Here are some other tools you would need as an international event planner–and they are human.
Calling on Conference Organizers
Other countries have meeting planners, too, and you should not hesitate to call on them to help. Why? Because they know the local area customs and cultural behavior of the region. They are also known in that culture and may be able to save you money. Conference planners in the destination country can give you insight into the people, culture, language, and help you with negotiations.
Freight Companies
Your client will likely need to ship items to the destination country. This can be a sticky wicket with customs. Hire a company that does freight forwarding, or seek the services of a customs broker. Get to know them early on, and form informal partnerships if you are serious about the international meeting business. Read more…
International events can be some of the most challenging and exciting events for the professional planner. However, there are some other tools you will need in order to make them runs smoothly. Here is a brief overview of things you will need to become and international event planner.
Education
First, you will need business courses that target international business. It will help you to know how other countries and cultures handle foreigners, deal with money, and use business etiquette.
Other Meeting Planners
If you need to plan an event on foreign soil, you should seek the assistance of a meeting planner in that country. Your new contact will have all the information necessary to plan a successful meeting–cultural issues, taxation, customs, shipping, law, and currency information. If other planners don’t have all the information you need, they will have contacts within their countries who can help you. Read more…
One of the first things that happened when the economy crashed and the government issued bailouts was that meetings and events were canceled. The companies on the public dollar are now worried about how they will be viewed if they hold events and meetings.
While this leaves the meeting planner with a vague near-term future, it can also mean opportunity for those willing to face the challenges. Here are some ways you can protect (and enhance) your meeting planner career regardless of the stage it’s in.
Learn to Restructure
This applies to your business as well as meetings. As far as you are concerned, learn to automate as much as possible so you can save time and money. There is no reason for you to be working the way meeting planners were working ten years ago. Automate and survive. Read more…
One thing that meeting planners must cope with is picky eaters. When you are planning an event for many people, you are bound to have several picky eaters in the group. Planning for meals is one of the many tasks meeting planners carry out.
Most people know vegetarians, and maybe even a vegan or two. If you have ever entertained for them, you can imagine how difficult it can be to choose edibles for meetings and events that include sensitive eaters. Understanding dietary differences will go a long way to help you. Read more…
