How to hire a convention manager

How to hire a convention manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step convention manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a convention manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new convention manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a convention manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a convention manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a convention manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a convention manager that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of convention manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Convention Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Convention Manager	Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of events and professional meetings. They arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details.	$16-50
   Director Of Events	An event director or director of the event is responsible for organizing a successful execution of an event. This job is demanding and involves a varied range of tasks and obligations, from planning and overseeing the cast and crew recruited, supervise training for effective execution of the event... Show more	$18-53
   Planning Committee Member	The role of planning committee members is to assist with designing and implementing an educational activity. They need to ensure that the leadership gives the continuing education (CE) developer enough time to complete the CE process... Show more	$9-152

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Audio Visual
   • Reservations
   • BEO
   • Logistics
   • Planning Process
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Convention Services
   • Exhibit Space
   • Delphi
   • Trade Shows
   • Room Blocks
   • Cost Savings
   • Promotional Materials
   • Meeting Space

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work closely with the banquet department and culinary team to achieve outstanding food and beverage service.
   • Handle all aspects of convention planning including agenda, guest room reservations, outside activities, and grind transportation.
   • Coordinate staff and VIP travel and housing.
   • Develop a program for tracking individual and department revenue (prior to Delphi).
   • Oversee banquets stewarding task thru Delphi system forecasting and helping minimize breakage and inventories of supplies.
   • Direct logistics associate with sales meetings, including management of agenda, transportation, hotel, food/beverage and audio/visual production.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your convention manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A convention manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, convention managers' average salary in arkansas is 55% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level convention managers earn 68% less than senior-level convention managers.
   • Certifications. A convention manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a convention manager's salary.

   Average convention manager salary

   $60,169yearly

   $28.93 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level convention manager salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

4. Writing a convention manager job description

   A convention manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a convention manager job description:

   Convention manager job description example

   About us
   
   InterContinental Buckhead is one of Atlanta's established Mobil Four Star luxury properties located in the heart of the prestigious Buckhead neighborhood. InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta is a stately and sophisticated hotel that offers premier travel experience with 422 guest rooms, 31,000 square feet of flexible event space including our lavish ballrooms which can host up to 850 guests for a seated dinner and 1500 for a convention, conference or reception. Enjoy local Italian Steakhouse-inspired cuisine at the AMERICANO RESTAURANT & BAR, by Scott Conant - Celebrity Chef, serving lunch and dinner. Meet friends and colleagues at AMERICANO Bar and sip your way through our many handcrafted cocktails & craft bourbons. Or enjoy a workout in our fitness center or a swim in our outdoor saltwater pool. Pamper yourself in our newly-renovated InterContinental Spa at InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta where we combine our expertise in growing and crafting pure and effective skin care with holistic therapies from around the world.
   
   Disclaimer: Not Applicable for Colorado Applicants
   
   Day to day
   
   + Establish client base of individuals, organizations, associations, social, and/or corporate businesses through direct outside and inside selling to secure business for the hotel to ensure that room night sales and revenue goals are met or exceeded. Actively prospect and qualify new business.
   
   + Achieve personal and team goals as assigned.
   
   + Negotiate guest room rates, meeting room rental, function space, and/or hotel services within approved booking guidelines. Accurately produce and/or review all sales contracts, rate agreements, and/or banquet/catering event orders.
   
   + Monitor and handle inquiry calls and provide client proposals in accordance with established departmental policies and procedures
   
   + Work closely with other hotel departments to facilitate services agreed upon by the sales office and prospective clients. Disseminate sales-related information to other departments as appropriate.
   
   + Arrange and conduct special events, site inspections, and off-site presentations for potential clients. Entertain clients in accordance with established company and hotel policies and guidelines.
   
   + Maintain client files and update information daily in accordance with established departmental policies and procedures. Produce monthly sales-related reports and sales forecasts for assigned area of responsibility.
   
   + Attend and represent hotel at trade shows and conventions and/or participate in sales trips to key feeder markets.
   
   + Follow up with clients regularly during and after departure to ensure satisfaction and secure future bookings.
   
   + Promote teamwork and quality service through daily communication and coordination with other departments. Key departmental contacts include all hotel departments.
   
   + Interact with outside contacts:
   
   + Guests - to ensure their total satisfaction
   
   + Airlines, wholesalers, corporate accounts, travel agencies, ad agencies, etc. - to ensure repeat business, follow up on events, and generate new business
   
   + Other contacts as needed (Professional organizations, community groups)
   
   + May assist in developing and implementing sales plans. May also participate in the annual budgeting and planning process.
   
   + Perform other duties as assigned.
   
   + May serve as "manager on duty" as required.
   
   Requirements
   
   College Degree plus 5 years as a senior sales executive, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Related degree preferred. Prior hotel sales experience preferred. Must speak fluent English. Other languages preferred.
   
   This job requires ability to perform the following:
   
   + Frequently standing up or moving within and outside of the facility
   
   + Carrying or lifting items weighing up to 25 pounds
   
   + Handling objects
   
   Other:
   
   + Communication skills are utilized a significant amount of time when interacting with others; demonstrated ability to interact with guests, employees and third parties that reflects highly on the hotel, the brand and the Company.
   
   + Reading and writing abilities are utilized often when completing paperwork and management reports, interpreting results, giving and receiving instructions, and training
   
   + Mathematical skills, including basic math, budgeting, profit/loss concepts, percentages, and variances are utilized frequently.
   
   + High level of competency in using data management systems preferably with Delphi or similar sales database tool.
   
   + Problem solving, reasoning, motivating, organizational and training abilities are used often.
   
   + Ability to travel to attend workshops, tradeshows, conventions, etc.
   
   + May require a valid Driver's License.
   
   + May be required to work nights, weekends, and/or holidays.
   
   Benefits
   
   In return we will offer you a competitive benefits package which may include healthcare support, dental, vision, disability and life insurance support, and a matching 401k plan. Hotel discounts worldwide are available as well as access to a wide variety of discount programs and the chance to work with a great team of people. Most importantly, we'll give you the room to be yourself. So what's your passion? Please get in touch and tell us how you could bring your individual skills to IHG. IHG is an equal opportunity employer: Minorities / Females / Disabled / Veterans. IND

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find convention managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any convention managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level convention managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your convention manager job on Zippia to find and recruit convention manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with convention manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new convention manager

   Once you've found the convention manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new convention manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a convention manager?