Conference and Event Planner
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Conference and event planners plan, organize and co-ordinate conferences, conventions, meetings, seminars, exhibitions, trade shows, festivals and other events. They are employed by tourism associations, trade and professional associations, convention and conference centres, governments and by conference and event planning companies, or they may be self-employed. (National Occupational Classification)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, incl. typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- Career Explorer by Sokanu - Occupational profiles:
- Event Coordinator Video - from Discover Tourism (Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council)
- A Day in the Life of a Wedding Consultant - The Princeton Review (U.S.)
- Wedding Consultant & Dress Designer in Calgary - Interview from StudyinCanada.com
- Wedding Planner in Toronto - Interview from StudyinCanada.com
Education
Conference and Event Planners come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds. A university degree or college diploma in business, tourism or hospitality administration is usually required. Several years of experience in hospitality or tourism administration or in public relations are usually required and may substitute for formal education requirements. Certification relating to special events, meetings or conference management may be required. (National Occupational Classification).
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit U of M's faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
- Asper School of Business
- Recreation & Community Development - Faculty of Kin. & Rec. Management
Exploring Other Education Options
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Government of Canada Job Bank: Trend Analysis - Job Market Report
Occupational Outlook Handbook - Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners job outlook (U.S.) - Salary Survey (2016) - from Meetings & Conventions magazine (U.S.)
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Event Professionals of Manitoba
- Meeting Professionals International
- Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners (CanSPEP) - independent event planners
- International Live Events Association
- Financial & Insurance Conference Planners
- The Professional Convention Management Association
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- Manitoba Tourism Education Council
- International Festivals and Events Association
- Planner Directory - from CanSPEP
- Event Professionals of Manitoba - Members list
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience: