How to hire a convention services manager

How to hire a convention services manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step convention services 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 services manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new convention services manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the convention services manager you need to hire. Certain convention services manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A convention services manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, convention services managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents convention services manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Convention Services Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Convention Services Manager	Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants and other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. They direct staff to ensure that customers are satisfied with their dining experience, and they manage the business to ensure that it is profitable.	$19-31
   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
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Convention Services
   • Audio Visual
   • Reservations
   • Meeting Rooms
   • Banquet Event Orders
   • Event Planning
   • Room Set-Up
   • Site Inspections
   • Function Space
   • Delphi
   • Meeting Space
   • Group Resumes
   • Contractual Agreements
   • Front Desk

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead vendor RFP's and consolidation of exhibit properties.
   • Create RFP's, managing the services of suppliers and vendors.
   • Negotiate food and beverage prices, function space, and hotel services within approve departmental booking guidelines.
   • Revise each BEO as required.
   • Create banquet/catering forecasts and booking pace reports.
   • Plan menus, wine lists, event calendars, rooming lists.

   More convention services manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the convention services manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A convention services manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a convention services manager in Oklahoma may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level convention services manager. Additionally, a convention services manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average convention services manager salary

   $51,222yearly

   $24.63 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level convention services manager salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average convention services manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$61,691	$30
   2	New Jersey	$60,411	$29
   3	Washington	$57,148	$27
   4	Utah	$56,401	$27
   5	Hawaii	$55,567	$27
   6	Massachusetts	$55,356	$27
   7	New York	$53,948	$26
   8	Nevada	$53,712	$26
   9	Indiana	$53,055	$26
   10	District of Columbia	$52,974	$25
   11	Virginia	$51,672	$25
   12	Illinois	$51,567	$25
   13	Pennsylvania	$51,492	$25
   14	North Carolina	$51,341	$25
   15	Louisiana	$49,633	$24
   16	Georgia	$49,017	$24
   17	Oregon	$48,313	$23
   18	Colorado	$47,033	$23
   19	Maryland	$46,623	$22
   20	Texas	$45,746	$22

   Average convention services manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Hyatt Hotels	$56,330	$27.08	15
   2	Radisson Hotels International Inc	$56,316	$27.07
   3	Wyndham Hotels & Resorts	$56,163	$27.00	13
   4	Benchmark Group	$55,864	$26.86
   5	Pyramid Hotel Group	$54,109	$26.01
   6	Crescent Hotels & Resorts	$54,085	$26.00
   7	Highgate Hotels	$53,705	$25.82	56
   8	Hotel Nikko San Francisco	$53,441	$25.69	2
   9	Hilton	$52,991	$25.48	213
   10	Aimbridge Hospitality	$52,223	$25.11
   11	MGM Resorts International	$51,389	$24.71	1
   12	Allied Universal	$49,588	$23.84
   13	Mohegan Sun	$49,453	$23.78	4
   14	Sonesta Hotels	$49,235	$23.67	29
   15	Columbia Sussex	$48,021	$23.09

4. Writing a convention services manager job description

   A job description for a convention services manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a convention services manager job description:

   Convention services manager job description example

   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
   
   1. Perform administrative duties relevant to account responsibilities in compliance with corporate guidelines. Document and organize detailed requirements of each function. Coordinate activities of various departments to service accounts, such as directing room service in the creation and delivery of VIP amenities.
   
   2. Interview, hire, train, recommend performance evaluations, resolve problems, provide open communication and recommend discipline and/or termination when appropriate.
   
   3. Communicate with sales, front office and reservations in order to coordinate and monitor guest room blocks and special reservation needs. Assign banquet/meeting rooms set up based on needs of clients, e.g., classroom, rounds. Review banquet associates' work to ensure accuracy. Monitor in house group activity providing assistance as needed such as organizing exhibit set up.
   
   4. Establish rapport with and entertain meeting planners while promoting hotel facilities and services. Conduct walking site inspections throughout property.
   
   5. Advise sales staff as to ability to accommodate client demands including phone requirements, fit of available space and materials such as booths. Assist sales staff in promoting hotel, developing leads and securing rebookings.
   
   6. Plan and conduct pre and post convention meetings with clients and respective departments.
   
   7. Document tracking of group activity. Access and input data into a computer system to generate account history reports.
   
   8. Communicate both verbally and in writing to provide clear direction to staff.
   
   9. Comply with attendance rules and be available to work on a regular basis.
   
   10. Perform any other job related duties as assigned.
   
   REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
   
   Must have the ability to communicate in English. Self-starting personality with an even disposition. Maintain a professional appearance and manner at all times. Can communicate well with guests. Must be willing to "pitch-in" and help co- workers with their job duties and be a team player. Knowledge of lighting and sound equipment and usage. Ability to utilize a moderately complex computer system. Ability to effectively deal with internal and external customers, some of whom will require high levels of patience, tact and diplomacy to defuse anger, collect accurate information and resolve conflicts. Able to lift, grasp, carry and/or push up to 50 pounds. Ability to work flexible schedule, as well as being able to work shift standing on feet and walking throughout hotel or sitting for long periods of time.
   
   PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
   
   Customer Satisfaction:
   
   Our customers are what we are about. One of the keys to a positive guest experience is positive interaction with Crescent staff. It is essential that you remain professional at all times, and that you treat all guests and associates with courtesy and respect, under all circumstances. Every Crescent associate is a guest relations ambassador, every working minute of every day.
   
   Work Habits:
   
   In order to maintain a positive guest and associate experience, your work habits should always meet and strive to exceed hotel standards for work procedures, dress, grooming, punctuality and attendance. You should be adaptable to change in your work area and in hotel procedures with a willingness to learn new skills and/or improve existing ones, have the ability to solve routine problems that occur on the job and ask for help whenever you are not sure how to do something.
   
   Safety & Security:
   
   The safety and security of our guests and associates is of utmost importance to Crescent. Every Crescent associate should adhere to the hotel security policies and procedures,
   
   particularly regarding key controls, lifting heavy objects, using chemicals, and effectively reporting safety hazards and safety concerns.
   
   NOTE:
   
   This description excludes non-essential and marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of the fundamental job duties. Furthermore, the specific examples in each section are not intended to be all-inclusive. Rather, they represent the typical elements and criteria considered necessary to perform the job successfully. Other job-related duties may be assigned by the associate's supervisor.
   
   Furthermore, this description is subject to change, in the sole discretion of the Company, and in no way creates an employment contract, implied or otherwise; each associate remains, at all times, an "at will" associate.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   **Experience**
   
   **Required**
   
   + 2 years: Previous experience in Conference/Convention Meeting Manager in similar hotel settings
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
   
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right convention services manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting convention services managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 services manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the convention services manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new convention services manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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.)

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