Meeting Planner Careers

Most events planners might scoff at the idea of Disneyland Resorts as a meeting destination for hardcore business groups, but Paul Garcia would like event planners to think a bit more magically.

“What sets the Disneyland Resort apart as a meeting destination is that it’s an inspiring, iconic place. We want groups to be inspired,” says Garcia.

And inspiring it is. With roughly $1 billion worth of inspiration being poured into this concept, Disneyland resorts is determined to become a meeting and events destination.

One such feature is the Disney Institute, which is Disney’s professional development company. While this institute isn’t new, the program that is at the heart of it has been revamped with a new emphasis on innovation and learning. The institute gives attendees an insider view of how the Disneyland Resort works on a daily basis. In essence, they want people to see the “magic”.

Obviously, $1 billion is a lot of money to spend and not all of it is going toward the Disney Institute. In fact, much of the money is being spent on expansion of the resort, itself. The expansion will add 200 new rooms and 50 villas for vacationers at the Grand Californian Hotel.

Overall, the future looks more than bright for Disneyland resorts. In fact, it appears to be magical.

If you would enjoy a meeting planner career but are also good at getting people together for everyone’s benefit, you may be just the kind of person that could thrive in an economic downturn.  Everyone knows that Business-to-Business contacts are important, so why not focus on helping businesses get through the end of the recession intact? Consider a career helping business groups survive.

Let’s face it–a meeting planner has to be comfortable around people. She has to be ready to talk to a lot of strangers at any time, keep things running, and create maximum benefit for all. So if you are going to start your own event business, why not create a niche that will benefit you as well? Here are some ideas on creating a place for yourself in the business world.

B-2-B Contacts. Many business are wondering about new ways to build business in a bad economy–help them by designing their networking events.

Non-Profits. You could spend a lifetime specializing in events for nonprofits. Remember, “nonprofit” does not mean “no money.” Many of these organizations would benefit greatly from the services of an event planner.

Sales Rep. Yes, you could take your education in event planning and get a lucrative position as a sales rep. Companies that sell beverages, catering services, travel and accommodations, and other services love people who understand the industry–they already know what they’re doing!

As you can see, there are lots of opportunities for you to help businesses with the right education and personality traits.