Event Planning Careers

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Fantastic Career Options In The Event Planning Industry

The event planning industry is making waves in the corporate world and is one of the best career options for the young and enthusiastic. It is for this reason that success in the event planning industry is not so easy to achieve. There is a fierce level of competition among fellow event planners and only the strong survive.

In more ways than one, event planning is similar to advertising and marketing. In both cases, a product is to be sold to a target audience. In case of event planning, the event planner sells his services to the public. Event planning is a people based profession and successful event planners are made through positive word of mouth recommendations.

If you are planning to build a career in the event planning industry, make sure that you have the right aptitude and inter-personal skills needed to leave a fine impression.

Careers in event planning could be highly rewarding. From incentive program trips that include working in exotic places to local corporate events, life is one big party for the event manager. However the party will only go on as long as the event planner works hard to get things right. Business and pleasure go very much hand in hand when it comes to a career in event planning.

Typically an event planner needs to supervise all the small and big activities related to an event. The event planner is the life and soul of the party, ensuring that the show is always on with never a dull moment for the guests.

There are many ways to kick-start a successful career in event management. If you come with some experience in organizing some kind of events, such as birthday parties or wedding receptions, it will be of enormous help in establishing your name in the market. Clients always look for experienced event planners to organize their important events. However if you have absolutely no experience, it will be worthwhile to join a program that offers a comprehensive course in event management.

Social Networking for Event and Meeting Planners

At the recent 2009 Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Southeast Educational Conference at the Edon Roc in Miami Beach Brad Nickel, VP of Marketing for Landry & Kling, gave a presentation called "Find Yourself Online" and agreed to let us publish that presentation here, for those event professionals who were unable to attend.

View the presentation at Find Yourself Online

Brad was also excited to tell a little about the upcoming launch of a new cruise meeting resource for meeting and incentive professionals: Seasite.com.

Seasite.com, a new Landry & Kling company, will be the industry's first online cruise marketplace for global meetings and events. Mr. Nickel, explained, "Seasite.com puts cruise sourcing on par with hotel site selection along with easy RFP generation for multiple brands and ships."

The site will be launching in late September but in the meantime they are running a contest to win an inaugural cruise aboard the new Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas, billed as the worlds largest and most innovative cruise ship. To enter simply go to their web site, Seasite.com, and sign up to recieve their newsletter and be notified of the official Seasite.com launch. The contest winner will be selected at random on Sept. 10, 2009.

2009 MPI Southeast Educational Conference was held at the Edon Roc Hotel, Miami Beach, August 13th-15th. For more information visit http://mpisec.org/

Our thanks again to Brad - and here's his bio:
Brad Nickel, Vice President, Marketing / Seasite, a Landry & Kling Company
Find Yourself Online
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Brad Nickel Bio
Find Yourself on Line- Social and Professional Networking for Dummies

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, MySpace, Plaxo, Classmates.com, Flickr, Meetup, Yelp, Buzznet. Xanga- these are but a small sample of the countless social networking sites available today. Deciphering what they all mean, who they are all for and which are the most necessary (and why) for today's busy professionals is another story. Wikipedia says A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Social networking has encouraged new ways to communicate and share information. Social networking websites are being used regularly by millions of people. This session will teach you how to decide which social networks make the most sense for you to join and why and will help you better understand, once you're signed on, what exactly is expected of you.

Event Planner Salaries

When preparing for a brand new career, one of the most weighty aspects you ought to consider is the salary. Meeting planner incomes vary broadly depending on the specialty and who you talk to, but there are a number of broad guidelines to check when deciding on a career.

National Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.Bls.Gov) reports that in May of 2006 a convention planner's median annual income were $42,180, with the bottom end of the pay scale at under $26,000 and the upper ten percent making more than $70,000. The agency further separated the specialties, stating business, professional, and political event planners made the highest amount, around $45,000, and the lowest wages were earned by individuals in the travel industry at $38,270. Salary.Com reports current salaries at $53,532, with variations allowed for location and category.

Salary by Type

The type of planning you aspire to do will determine a lot as regards your pay and benefits. Corporate Meeting planners could get around $45,000 as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, but there are various types of corporate event planners. For example, meeting and convention planners could make a better salary than those who organize department and team building meetings.

Outside the corporate world, employees of nonprofits often have a little lesser salaries than corporate planners, but freelancers experience a more challenging time -- they are self employed and some times labor additional hours as well. College and university event planner incomes may be more in the middle to low end of the event planner pay range.

Salary by Location

If you are interested in a particular location for your event planner career, you ought to analyze statistics by state and city. For example, if you presently reside in a tiny town in Iowa but would like to relocate to the East coast, do a study not only on average salaries, but also on cost of living, commute times, job availability, etc., before you reach your final decision. You may observe that a city that offers superior salaries also has a high cost of living and it would benefit you to look for a new place.

In any case how you make your career decisions, investigation and education are crucial.

Meeting and Convention Planner Careers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers much more information about Meeting and Convention Planner careers in the Occupational Outlook Handbook where you will the outlook for meeting planner jobs, educational requirements, salary expectations, and much more.

Event Planner Resources

Landry and Kling, Cruise Group Management and Ship Charter Experts
Experts in cruise ship charters, group event planning and destination management for meetings, incentives, conventions, tradeshows and other global events worldwide.
Seasite.com - Cruise Event Planning
Plan a cruise event at Seasite.com the only free online group cruise planning and sourcing portal.

Event Planner Careers - News and Resources

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Seasite Blog

New blog about meetings and events at sea.
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Cruise Meetings and Incentives

One meeting planner specialization

Some meeting planners specialize in cruise meetings and incentive travel. Cruise meetings are an extremely popular incentive travel deal, since they are all inclusive, allow attendees many types of meal choices rather than "banquet" style food, and go to many exotic destinations.

Consider cruise meetings when you start your meeting planner career. Your best resource for planning a cruise meeting is Seasite.com, for successful and easy planning of meeting-at-sea events.
A Closer Look at Carnival Freedom with Joe Farcus
by CarnivalFunShips | video info

83 ratings | 70,680 views
curated content from YouTube

Marketing Your Event Planning Business

Since different meeting planning market segment have different needs, your marketing strategy will need to vary depending on the market segment to which you want to cater.

When marketing to public or private organizations, your main selling proposition should be greater efficiency for the money and a professional meeting event. Groups, especially large ones or corporate groups, do not want to deal with problems that arise due to oversight on their part. If the guarantee of a worry-free, flawlessly executed meeting is available at a cost advantage to them, there is really no better choice.

The two most effective marketing techniques used by many meeting and event planners include:

Networking.
Meeting planning is a business where networking counts tremendously. Networking allows you to meet and get to know people who may refer business to you or use your service themselves. In addition, networking with vendors such as hotels, caterers and so on will give you a chance to meet some of the people whose services you may need as you plan events. Active participation in industry meetings, chamber of commerce activities, professional organizations, among others are especially important if you are focusing on the corporate market. Community and social gatherings can expose you to potential customers who may need assistance in the planning of parties, reunions or other social events. Unknown Object

Word-of-mouth.
This is a business where your reputation precedes everything else. Clients hire only those they think they can trust, and these are event planners with reputation for honesty and integrity.
Other marketing strategies you can use are:

Advertising.
Advertising for an event planning business may be a more effective branding strategy, than as a way to directly get customers. Ads in local papers, telephone directories, among others can help build name recognition. Direct mail can also be used to attract new clients, albeit less effective.

Web Site.
A web site can allow you to reach Internet savvy customers who may not be responsive to direct mail or any other type of marketing. A site can be an effective sales tool by serving as an online brochure where potential customers and clients can read more information about the services you offer, your background, professional affiliations, client's testimonials, and contact information.

Job Outlook for Meeting and Event Planners

What is the outlook for the next ten years?

Many of these blog posts have been about the various meeting planner careers that are available to you. It doesn't matter whether you want to plan events for nonprofits, weddings and honeymoons, corporate meetings, or incentive travel for top employees--there is a career to match your creative streak.

However, do you know what the job prospects are for your chosen profession? The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook has many of the answers you're looking for. Even with the recession and government frown in the direction of meetings and planners, it says that this profession is expected to grow faster than average between 2006 and 2016.

It also says that some of this will be due to natural attrition--some people will retire, some will move on to other professions, and some may switch professions within the planning category. That said, the handbook also tells us, "Unlike workers in some occupations, meeting and convention planners often can change industries relatively easily, so they often are able to move to different industries in response to the growth or declines in particular sectors of the economy."

This is important to consider when choosing your specialty. Think about the days when you might want to switch, or pretend that you are only planning a five-year-long career. If you think about where you want to go, and it's within the meetings profession, you can start planning for it while you're working and training now.

Thinking ahead should be one of your strong points as a meeting planner--use it for yourself as well, and be on top of things when you need a change.

Reader Feedback

  • 97Percent Aug 30, 2011 @ 4:25 pm | delete
    Event planners and aspiring event planners can learn a lot from this lens. Thanks for making and maintaining it!
  • JoshSteinRealtor Aug 4, 2011 @ 11:54 am | delete
    nice post!
  • IanLauder Jun 16, 2011 @ 1:19 pm | delete
    Do you use detailed business proposals in your event planning business? This is a great resource lens. I just added a lens for business proposals for event planners you might want to consider.
  • RV Nov 18, 2010 @ 9:38 pm | delete
    interesting lens but seems to focus mainly on seasite.com - just looking for something my wife might use since she is an EP
  • mycomunity Nov 15, 2010 @ 6:48 am | delete
    Very nice and knowledge full lens.Now these days event planner is very emerging field for career.

Meeting Planner Careers

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Cruise Ship Weddings

Cruise ship weddings are swiftly growing in popularity and have become one of the most up-to-date, fastest growing trends in cruise ship travel. With projections of increases of up to 60 percent in cruise ship weddings over the last 10 years, as reported by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), it is no shock that a progressively developing number of cruise lines are furnishing wedding planning services and packages.

Caribbean cruise weddings are among the most popular itineraries for Cruise ship weddings, with couples of all ages appreciating the convenience of incorporating their marriage and honeymoon in one inexpensive, easy-to-plan package. There are three simple choices for cruise ship weddings from which to select, including planning weddings to take place in a port-of-call along the cruise itinerary, day-of-embarkation wedding cruises and weddings that take place onboard the cruise ship at some point in the cruise. Each one of these choices permits the couple to invite friends and family to join them as they celebrate their nuptials by cruising the Caribbean and offers sufficient onboard activities and entertainment choices to keep attendees entertained, allowing the couple to decide how much time to spend together with their guests and how much time to spend alone.

By opting for a Caribbean cruise for their wedding and honeymoon, couples will benefit from substantial cost savings, saving as much as 40 percent when compared to land-based weddings and separate honeymoon plans. Though most travel agents surveyed by the CLIA report primarily booking wedding parties of 10 or less, it is not uncommon to book wedding cruises with between 10 and 30 guests or more. With bigger wedding parties, group cruise discounts extend a money-saving alternative that makes wedding cruises accessible to a wider range of couples and their guests, regardless of their wedding or travel resources.

When deciding on an affordable Caribbean wedding cruise package, couples and wedding planners benefit from a easy planning process that is made even more convenient by the regularity with which cruise lines host onboard weddings. Instead of planning every factor individually, reserving a venue, renting linens and chairs, finding a caterer, ordering flowers, booking entertainment and planning a separate honeymoon as they would with a land-based wedding, those who choose a Caribbean cruise wedding are able to take advantage of one-stop wedding planning packages that include the ceremony venue, reception venue, flowers, d%uFFFDcor, menu, seating and equipment, entertainment and honeymoon. For folks who would be hosting or booking arrangements for out of town guests, there is the added convenience of built-in accommodations, entertainment and meals for guests.

Independent from the ease, convenience and cost savings that are offered by Caribbean cruise weddings, newlyweds and their guests will also take part in all that the Caribbean and its many, diverse ports extend, including sun-soaked beaches, weather that is beautiful and warm throughout the year, local cuisine and culture, distinctive music, water sports, land-based excursions and tours, shopping and a variety of unparalleled attractions. When on the ship, they can take part in luxury spa treatments, dine on exceptional cuisine, choose from an array of entertainment alternatives, lie around by the pool, join in fun organized activities, shop or merely take pleasure in a romantic evening under the stars.

With the lavish advantages, effortlessness of planning and affordable options provided by a Caribbean cruise wedding, it is no surprise that most couples planning a cruise ship wedding choose the Caribbean as their destination of choice.

Landry & Kling Announces Seasite.com Online Community Powered by i-Meet

Social Media Strategy Launches for Planners and Suppliers; Technology Partnership Connects Customers, Embraces Open Communication

May 05, 2010 07:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time

MIAMI--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Cruise event specialists Landry & Kling Inc. have announced a strategic partnership between their company Seasite.com, the first cruise portal for meetings and events, and i-Meet.com, the professional and social network for meeting and event planners and suppliers.

"It's really a very natural progression to introduce social networking to cruise meetings customers"

The partnership introduces a unique, online community on i-Meet.com for Seasite.com users and prospects worldwide. Leveraging i-Meet's fast-growing network and social media platform, Seasite's online community will feature industry leading technology, group special interest "hot spots", and provide a way for people to connect and interact with over 20,000 industry professionals around the world.

"Our customers have expressed an interest in a community-based social platform to complement Seasite's cruise sourcing and planning tools," said Jo Kling, CEO of Seasite.com. "We are excited to be partnering with i-Meet and its meetings industry-specific social network approach; we can now deliver a unique experience to our customers that's in line with the way people do business today."

"It's really a very natural progression to introduce social networking to cruise meetings customers," said John Pino, i-Meet's Founder and CEO, "and marrying Seasite's cruise sourcing technology with an online communications and collaboration channel enabled through i-Meet's global community of planners, buyers and suppliers will create advantages for everyone."

"Facebook and Twitter are important to our overall social media strategy, but with our new Seasite online community, we're giving our customers and users an expanded experience in i-Meet's global community," said Jo Kling "This is an industry first that will allow our users to network with other professionals and communicate what's on their minds."

The partnership will allow the growth of active mini-communities for i-Meet and Seasite.com members based on their areas of interest. The groups will be hosted and administered by Seasite's expert cruise industry professionals. "Friend-ing" others, "following" suppliers, and subscribing to and publishing blogs will round out the experience.

About Landry & Kling and Seasite.com

Landry & Kling Inc., cruise event specialists since 1982, recently introduced Seasite.com, the first online cruise platform for meeting professionals. Seasite is an industry sourcing tool to search, select and plan group cruises, with access to 35 cruise lines in one site, meeting-friendly search criteria, e-RFP's, meeting/function room capacities, dining details and other unique tools available nowhere else. Visit www.seasite.com or www.landrykling.com.

About i-Meet

Created by the Founder of StarCite, www.i-Meet.com is focused on building the industry's most relevant worldwide online community for the meeting and event industry. With 20,000 members from 130 countries around the world to date, i-Meet brings social networking, web 2.0 tools, work flow and relationship opportunities, and industry intelligence to its members and suppliers. Visit i-meet.com.
Contacts

i-Meet.com
Chip Stockman, 610-999-2186
cstockman@i-meet.com
or
Seasite.com
Maureen McKeon, 305-661-1880
mmckeon@seasite.com

by

meetings411

Meeting and event planner specializing in cruise meetings.

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