Info-Authority: Meeting Services

Meeting services offer specialized skills in planning and organizing a large group meeting, assembly, seminar, or convention. Meeting and convention planners are largely responsible for coordinating details, such as booking speakers, finding locations, hiring staff, arranging for printed collateral, and providing appropriate audiovisual and computer equipment for an event.

Benefits of Meeting Services

These dedicated services allow clients to save time and frustration by outsourcing the management and logistical concerns of a meeting or convention to a more experienced team. For professional organizations or a political party holding an event, contracting a meeting planner prevents the need for hiring additional internal staff. Meeting services also let corporate clients focus on their normal course of business. Large conventions and trade shows may require up to five years of planning for the event. By hiring a meeting or convention planner, a company can focus on matters more important to its immediate financial solvency, and will be able to concentrate on the production of the content or products necessary to guarantee the success of the event.

The New Field of Meeting Services

This is a relatively new and growing occupation -- one in which a person or company acts as the intermediary for an event held by a client. When searching for meeting services to suit your needs, it is good to be aware that a variety of titles are used in the industry. “Event planners”, “meeting planners,” and “convention planners” all offer similar services; their various titles merely reflect previous experience or a personal preference.

Meeting Planners

Most meeting and convention planners are employed by hotels, or business, professional, and consulting organizations. Few planners are self-employed, and those that are generally service smaller events with 10 to 200 people in attendance. Planners with over three years of full-time employment can earn certification by attending an advanced training program of one week in duration. Certification is not required to work in the field, but can be an advantage in job competition.

Skills of Meeting Planners

Communication, time management, and organizational skills are important for those providing meeting services. Planners must be able to assess an organization's goals for a meeting or convention and obtain an accurate account on the estimated number of attendees. Event planners use this knowledge to decide the size of staff required for the event, the amount and type refreshments provided, coordinate a registration process, and arrange for entertainment and speakers. Meeting planners may also select the event site, as well as market, promote, and evaluate the success of the event.

By Doug Vanisky




	Meeting Services Meeting services offer specialized skills in planning and organizing a large group meeting, assembly, seminar, or convention. Meeting and convention planners are largely responsible for coordinating details, such as booking speakers, finding locations, hiring staff, arranging for printed collateral, and providing appropriate audiovisual and computer equipment for an event. Benefits of Meeting Services These dedicated services allow clients to save time and frustration by outsourcing the management and logistical concerns of a meeting or convention to a more experienced team. For professional organizations or a political party holding an event, contracting a meeting planner prevents the need for hiring additional internal staff. Meeting services also let corporate clients focus on their normal course of business. Large conventions and trade shows may require up to five years of planning for the event. By hiring a meeting or convention planner, a company can focus on matters more important to its immediate financial solvency, and will be able to concentrate on the production of the content or products necessary to guarantee the success of the event. The New Field of Meeting Services This is a relatively new and growing occupation -- one in which a person or company acts as the intermediary for an event held by a client. When searching for meeting services to suit your needs, it is good to be aware that a variety of titles are used in the industry. “Event planners”, “meeting planners,” and “convention planners” all offer similar services; their various titles merely reflect previous experience or a personal preference. Meeting Planners Most meeting and convention planners are employed by hotels, or business, professional, and consulting organizations. Few planners are self-employed, and those that are generally service smaller events with 10 to 200 people in attendance. Planners with over three years of full-time employment can earn certification by attending an advanced training program of one week in duration. Certification is not required to work in the field, but can be an advantage in job competition. Skills of Meeting Planners Communication, time management, and organizational skills are important for those providing meeting services. Planners must be able to assess an organization's goals for a meeting or convention and obtain an accurate account on the estimated number of attendees. Event planners use this knowledge to decide the size of staff required for the event, the amount and type refreshments provided, coordinate a registration process, and arrange for entertainment and speakers. Meeting planners may also select the event site, as well as market, promote, and evaluate the success of the event. By Doug Vanisky Related Links: Meeting and Convention Planners U.S. Department of Labor report on meeting and convention planners.