| Meetings and conventions are used in order to | | | | Working conditions for these professionals will usually |
| communicate a message or purpose to a larger | | | | be sporadic and high stress, with events paying out |
| audience. Convention planners are responsible for | | | | well, although they may be infrequent. It is not |
| organizing these events, and they will choose | | | | uncommon for a meeting planner to work 18 hours a |
| speakers, content, and the various programs that will | | | | day during an event itself. |
| present the information of the organization that hired | | | | There are no educational requirements in order to |
| them. | | | | enter the profession, however, it is helpful to have a |
| Areas that an event organizer may specialize in can | | | | bachelor's degree or to have good word of mouth. |
| include lodging, telephone and internet, television | | | | Most meeting planning training is done under a more |
| devices, food, and entertainment. When planning a | | | | experienced planner, and good communication skills |
| meeting, a meeting planner will try to set up a | | | | are a must in order to successfully compete in the |
| beneficial arrangement with a hotel after analyzing a | | | | field. |
| clients needs. | | | | In 2006, convention planners have over 50,000 jobs |
| They may also be responsible for registering event | | | | in America, with about 3% employed by |
| attendees and making sure that all materials are at | | | | governments and over a quarter working for civic |
| the convention on time, and that there is adequate | | | | and professional organizations. The job outlook for |
| seating and sound equipment for the event itself. | | | | these workers is expected to be quite good as |
| Planners must also be adept at negotiating contracts | | | | openings arise from those employees who decide to |
| and analyzing budgets in order to keep pace with | | | | move on to greener pastures. |
| what an organization hopes the event will cost. While | | | | In 2006, the middle 50th percentile of meeting |
| small business meeting organizers may perform a | | | | planners had salaries between $32,840 and $55,000. |
| wide variety of tasks, larger events will require | | | | Those event planning workers in the field travel |
| convention planners to have specialties or to focus | | | | accommodations had the lowest rate of median pay |
| on a specific area, such as hotel reservations. | | | | at $38,250. |