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What is Meeting Specialist?

A meeting specialist is a professional who specializes in planning, coordinating, and executing meetings and events. Meeting specialists may work for a variety of organizations, including corporations, non-profits, associations, and government agencies.

The role of a meeting specialist may include the following tasks:

1. Identifying meeting objectives: The meeting specialist must understand the purpose of the meeting and the desired outcomes.
2. Venue selection: The specialist must select an appropriate venue that can accommodate the expected number of attendees and provide necessary resources, such as audio-visual equipment and catering.
3. Logistics management: The specialist must manage logistics such as transportation, accommodations, catering, and audio-visual equipment.
4. Agenda planning: The specialist must create an agenda that outlines the meeting's schedule and objectives.
5. Participant communication: The specialist must communicate with participants to provide necessary information about the meeting, including location, schedule, and agenda.
6. On-site management: The specialist must oversee all aspects of the meeting on-site, including registration, catering, audio-visual equipment, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.
7. Post-meeting evaluation: The specialist must evaluate the success of the meeting and identify areas for improvement in future meetings.

Meeting specialists must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously. They must be able to work well under pressure and adapt quickly to changing circumstances. Overall, meeting specialists play an important role in ensuring that meetings and events are successful and meet the needs of all stakeholders involved.

What are the duties of a meeting planner?

The duties of a meeting planner vary depending on the type of event or meeting they are responsible for. However, in general, meeting planners are responsible for the following tasks:

1. Understanding client needs: Meeting planners work with clients to understand their objectives, preferences, and requirements for the event.
2. Budget management: Meeting planners develop a budget for the event and manage expenses to ensure that the event stays within budget.
3. Venue selection and negotiation: Meeting planners research, evaluate, and select a venue for the event. They also negotiate contracts and prices with vendors and suppliers.
4. Logistics management: Meeting planners manage event logistics such as transportation, accommodations, catering, audio-visual equipment, and signage.
5. Program development: Meeting planners work with clients to develop the program for the event, including the agenda, speakers, and presentations.
6. Participant registration: Meeting planners create and manage the registration process for the event, including online registration systems and on-site registration.
7. On-site management: Meeting planners oversee all aspects of the event on-site, including registration, catering, audio-visual equipment, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.
8. Post-event evaluation: Meeting planners evaluate the success of the event and identify areas for improvement in future events.

Meeting planners must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously. They must be able to work well under pressure and adapt quickly to changing circumstances. Overall, meeting planners play a critical role in ensuring that events and meetings are successful and meet the needs of all stakeholders involved.

What are the three types of meeting planners?

There are three main types of meeting planners based on the type of event they plan:

1. Corporate Meeting Planners: These planners work for corporations and are responsible for organizing meetings, conferences, and other events for their company. Their focus is on planning internal meetings and events, including employee training sessions, product launches, and annual shareholder meetings.
2. Association Meeting Planners: These planners work for associations and are responsible for organizing conferences, trade shows, and other events for the association's members. Their focus is on planning external meetings and events, including annual conferences and seminars.
3. Independent Meeting Planners: These planners work for themselves or for a third-party event planning company and provide meeting planning services to a variety of clients. They may work on any type of event, including corporate meetings, association conferences, weddings, and social events.

Each type of meeting planner has unique responsibilities and requires different skills and expertise. However, all meeting planners must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and skilled at managing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously.