Meeting Planner Careers

If you are outsourcing your group cruise planning, you will almost certainly be assigned a liaison that will handle your needs. This person is part coordinator, part salesperson, but all human being. That list bit is important, because it means that they can be influenced if you are interested. Influencing a group cruise planner could result in getting discounts, insider information, or exclusive access to areas that are difficult to secure without advanced notice.

How do you become friends with a group cruise planner? Well, the answer depends greatly on the situation, but anyone that handles group planning or manages the outsourcing should already have some decent ideas on how to build rapport with their contact. For those that are coming up a little short, here are some ideas:

Corporate gifts – If the corporation has a ton of spare coffee mugs or T-shirts, bring a few along on the first visit and insist that the person show up to one of your functions. Be willing to give them credit for all their help, and they will be certain to go the extra mile.

Give them a reputation – Sometimes giving people a reputation before building a working relationship is a great idea. For example, tell them that you are aware of the reputation their company has for making arrangements that are above and beyond the call of duty.

Talk to their manager – Take a few minutes to call back and talk to a supervisor, even if the initial conversation did not go as well as planned. Sometimes a reminder that job satisfaction is at stake creates a better environment in which rapport can be built.

The job of a meeting planner is to determine a meeting venue that will provide the most motivation for employees to be top-performers and provide the organization with the best value for their money. In times past, this has been a difficult feat for meeting planners. With the advent and popularity of meetings at sea, successful meeting planning has become a bit easier. Not only are cruise events ideal ways to motivate employees, but they can save organizations up to 40 percent of the cost of a land venue such as a hotel or resort.

A ship charter, as opposed to a land venue, can save a company quite a bit of money as mentioned previously. There are other ways in which cruise events can be financially beneficial. Because the cost of lodging, meals, entertainment, and recreational activities can be included in the price, there are no additional expenses that will be incurred. There are many dining experiences from which employees may choose, and the entertainment options are numerous. Since a cruise is a self-contained environment, employees will be more readily available for group events and employees will have a better opportunity for relationship building and networking occasions.