Occupation · SOC 13-1121
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
Coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
33 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationCritical ThinkingCoordinationTime ManagementJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingWritingPersuasionMonitoringNegotiationActive LearningSystems AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems EvaluationManagement of Financial ResourcesInstructingManagement of Material ResourcesOperations AnalysisMathematicsLearning StrategiesQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlTroubleshootingTechnology DesignRepairingEquipment SelectionEquipment MaintenanceProgrammingScienceInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageCommunications and MediaAdministrativeAdministration and ManagementComputers and ElectronicsPublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentSales and MarketingTransportationTelecommunicationsPsychologyMathematicsEconomics and AccountingEducation and TrainingPhilosophy and TheologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesDesignFine ArtsSociology and AnthropologyFood ProductionGeographyEngineering and TechnologyForeign LanguageHistory and ArcheologyMedicine and DentistryBuilding and ConstructionChemistryPhysicsMechanicalProduction and ProcessingTherapy and CounselingBiology
Technology & tools
Active Network EventRegisterAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopBlackbaud The Raiser's EdgeConvention Industry Council CIC APEX ToolboxDean Evans & Associates EMS ProfessionalDelphi DiscoveryDelphi TechnologyESRI ArcGIS softwareEvent Management SoftwareEvents Operations SoftwareFacebookFileMaker ProGeographic information system GIS softwareGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGruupMeetHypertext markup language HTMLIBM Lotus NotesLenos marketing automation softwareLinkedInLogMeIn GoToMeetingLogMeIn GoToWebinarMarketo Marketing AutomationMeetingMatrix InternationalMemberClicks COMPLETEMentimeterMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft PublisherMicrosoft WordNSF Hospitality Rendezvous EventsOracle EloquaOracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Representative tasks
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationWorking with ComputersScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsGetting InformationDeveloping and Building TeamsPerforming Administrative ActivitiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsProcessing InformationThinking CreativelyCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCoaching and Developing OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesDocumenting/Recording InformationSelling or Influencing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsAnalyzing Data or InformationTraining and Teaching OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationHandling and Moving ObjectsAssisting and Caring for OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Client objectives and event requirements — gather and document through structured intake consultations under supervisor guidance at a professional event planning firm.Event facility checklists — apply to inspect venues and confirm basic compliance with customer specifications under direct oversight.Audio-visual equipment and transportation needs — identify and coordinate availability using standardized request forms for small-scale meetings.Vendor and site staff communications — support and relay coordination details under the direction of a senior planner for assigned events.Event financial records — maintain and organize invoices, receipts, and budget tracking spreadsheets using provided templates.Event bills and payment documentation — review line items for basic accuracy and flag discrepancies to a supervising planner for approval.Catering, signage, and accommodation logistics — assist in arranging standard services by following established planning protocols.Project management software and CRM platforms — enter and update event data under supervision to support team-wide coordination workflows.On-site event activities — monitor attendee flow and escalate compliance concerns or participant issues to the lead planner promptly.Word processing and desktop publishing tools — draft event programs, signage copy, and participant communications from approved templates.
developing
Client consultation meetings — conduct independently to determine event objectives, scope, and technical requirements for mid-size conferences and conventions.Event site inspections — perform and evaluate against detailed customer requirement checklists, documenting findings and recommending corrective actions.Vendor contracts for catering, transportation, and accommodation — negotiate standard terms and coordinate service delivery across multiple suppliers for routine events.Audio-visual, display, and special needs requirements — arrange and confirm availability by coordinating directly with suppliers and site technical staff.Event billing packages — review for accuracy, reconcile against contracted services, and approve routine payments within delegated authority.Financial records for event aspects — maintain comprehensively using financial analysis software, producing post-event cost summaries for client review.Event activity compliance — monitor against applicable health, safety, and licensing regulations throughout event execution, resolving common problems as they arise.CRM and database systems — use to manage client histories, vendor contacts, and event specifications across a recurring portfolio of accounts.On-site staff and service providers — confer with and direct in real time to ensure all logistical details align with the approved event plan.Event communications materials — write and produce using desktop publishing software, adapting tone and format to diverse professional audiences.
proficient
Complex multi-day conventions and large-scale corporate events — plan and execute autonomously from initial client consultation through post-event financial reconciliation.Non-routine participant needs, last-minute vendor failures, and regulatory conflicts — diagnose and resolve independently using critical thinking and established industry networks.Full event service ecosystems — coordinate across accommodation, catering, transportation, security, signage, and A/V simultaneously to deliver seamless attendee experiences.Event facility suitability — assess against nuanced and evolving client requirements, negotiating facility modifications and contractual remedies where non-conformance is identified.Comprehensive event budgets — develop, manage, and reconcile using financial analysis software, ensuring accuracy across all billing cycles and delivering cost outcomes within client parameters.Regulatory, safety, and public security compliance frameworks — apply across varied event environments, proactively briefing clients and site staff on obligations and risk mitigation measures.Stakeholder persuasion and negotiation — lead across competing vendor, client, and venue interests to secure favorable terms and creative event solutions for complex accounts.Geographic and logistical systems — analyze using GIS and project management tools to optimize multi-venue event layouts, attendee routing, and transportation plans.Event data and performance metrics — monitor and interpret in real time, making judgment-driven decisions to adjust operations and maximize participant satisfaction.Cloud-based collaboration and web platforms — leverage to coordinate geographically distributed planning teams and deliver real-time event information to clients and attendees.
advanced
Organizational event planning strategy — define and champion at the enterprise level, aligning event programs with institutional goals and long-range client relationship development.Industry-wide best practices and emerging methodologies — evaluate and integrate into firm-wide frameworks, setting standards for quality, compliance, and innovation across all event types.Junior and mid-level planners — mentor and develop through structured coaching, performance feedback, and delegated project responsibility within a professional planning organization.High-stakes client relationships and enterprise accounts — cultivate and steward by applying advanced social perceptiveness and executive-level consultative skills to anticipate evolving needs.Complex multi-stakeholder negotiations — lead at the organizational scale, securing strategic venue partnerships, preferred vendor agreements, and sponsorship arrangements that enhance competitive positioning.Event planning department operations — design and oversee, establishing workflow systems, technology infrastructure, and resource allocation models that maximize team capacity and output quality.Risk, crisis, and contingency planning frameworks — architect for large-scale public and corporate events, ensuring organizational resilience and regulatory adherence under high-pressure conditions.Cross-functional collaboration with marketing, finance, and operations leadership — direct to align event programs with brand, budget, and audience engagement objectives across the enterprise.Thought leadership and professional representation — provide by contributing to industry forums, publishing insights, and advising on policy and standards affecting the meetings and events sector.Performance measurement systems for event portfolios — build and institutionalize, using systems analysis and data-driven evaluation to drive continuous improvement across the full planning lifecycle.
Also known as
45 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Catering and Convention Services ManagerCatering CoordinatorCatering DirectorCertified Meeting ProfessionalConference ManagerConference OrganizerConference PlannerConference Planning ManagerConference ProducerConference ReservationistConference Service CoordinatorConference Services DirectorConference Services ManagerConvention ManagerConvention PlannerConvention Services DirectorConvention Services Manager (CSM)Convention WorkerConventions ReservationistCorporate Event PlannerCorporate Meeting PlannerEvent CoordinatorEvent ManagerEvent OrganizerEvent PlannerEvent SpecialistEvent StaffEvents CoordinatorEvents DirectorEvents ManagerEvents PlannerEvents SpecialistExecutive Meeting ManagerMeeting ManagerMeeting PlannerParty PlannerPlannerScheduling CoordinatorSpecial Events CoordinatorSpecial Events Director