Meeting & Event Planners – The Right Professional for the Job
Finding the right professional for your meeting and event planning needs can make all the difference!
Would you ask a plumber to replace an electrical panel? Probably not. For any service, it’s important to engage a professional with the knowledge, skills and experience to perform the work successfully. And that philosophy certainly applies to hiring a meeting professional or a meeting and event management company.
Meeting and event management requires a range of skills –organization, planning, creativity, budgeting, negotiation, communication, project management and more. Meeting and event management professionals have experience in all of these areas, and guide clients in formalizing a strategy for planning and executing conferences and events. Finding the right one to help you refine your vision and make it a reality is important!
So, what should you look for when hiring a professional planner? Here are some suggestions:
Certifications & Affiliations
As with many industries, the meeting and event planning industry offers certifications that signify a higher level of knowledge, experience and expertise in core areas. The two main professional credentials in the industry are the Events Industry Council’s Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and Meeting Professionals International’s Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM).
The process to earn these credentials is rigorous, requiring formal study, real-world experience, testing and other milestones. These credentials are recognized globally as an indicator of knowledge, experience, and excellence in the events industry.
Meeting and event professionals also typically hold memberships in one or more professional associations, such as MPI (Meeting Professionals International), PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), ILEA (International Live Events Association) and others. Membership in these professional affiliations demonstrates a commitment to industry standards and staying on top current developments and trends.
Insurance
Professional service businesses should carry appropriate insurance in case of accident or other incident. Typically, meeting professionals will have both general liability insurance and professional liability (also known as errors and omissions or E&O) insurance. These types of business insurances provide a level of credibility, protection and peace of mind, knowing that the meeting professional you hire has protection to provide service continuity, even under difficult circumstances.
Recommendations & References
While there isn’t an Angie’s List for meeting professionals, it is always a smart business move to seek out recommendations and references for meeting professionals. In addition to checking for membership in MPI or PCMA, local convention bureaus, such as Discover Philadelphia, can also provide recommendations for professional planners within their membership. Also, check the planner’s website for client testimonials and event photos to get an understanding of the types of projects the planner handles. LinkedIn can be a great place to assess a potential vendor. Consider if they share useful content, have a professional presence and a business philosophy that complements yours.
Talk to a Few
Once you have some planner recommendations in hand and have reviewed their websites and references, select a few you’d like to meet with – either by phone, virtually or in-person. Be prepared to provide the planner with a rough outline of your project so that they can give a clear picture of services they can provide to bring your program to life. Pay particular attention to experience and knowledge in service areas that impact your project.
A Good Match
Great working relationships spark joy!
A planner is someone you will likely be working with for months at a time. Make sure you are comfortable with the planning company’s outlook, service philosophy and way of doing business. Having a partner who will put your goals at the forefront while being a pleasure to work with can make all of the difference in your experience.
At Lead Dog, our principals have earned CMMs and are members of MPI. As a company we are members of the PCVB and carry all of the above insurances. We’d love to chat with you to see if we might be a good fit for you and your organization. We value long-term relationships, providing superior, concierge-level service and creating innovative solutions.
Let’s explore how we might put our talents to work helping you to shine! Email CRCaporale@leaddogonline.com or pick a time at your convenience for us to get to know each other.