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Meeting/event planner skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Jokima Hiller,
Duane Sunwold
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical meeting/event planner skills. We ranked the top skills for meeting/event planners based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 16.4% of meeting/event planner resumes contained event planning as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a meeting/event planner needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 meeting/event planner skills for your resume and career

1. Event Planning

Here's how meeting/event planners use event planning:
  • Coordinated and supervised large scale mass mailing invitation and confirmation process during event planning phase.
  • Managed life cycle event planning for sports and entertainment clients, fiscal management and hiring and training of event staff.

2. PowerPoint

Here's how meeting/event planners use powerpoint:
  • Designed highly confidential/attorney-client privileged documents and multimedia PowerPoint presentations.
  • Maintain an up to date department organizational chart and create PowerPoint presentations used for business development and company branding.

3. Event Management

Event management applies project management to the development and creation of corporate events such as conferences, festivals, ceremonies, concerts, or formal parties.

Here's how meeting/event planners use event management:
  • Provided face-to-face marketing event management & project management services to local businesses and non-profit organizations.
  • Negotiated contracts with outside vendors for corporate events to ensure successful event management on budget.

4. Beverage Selection

Here's how meeting/event planners use beverage selection:
  • Worked with internal and external Catering and Banquet facilities on food and beverage selections.
  • Arranged Food and Beverage Selections Prepared and monitored budgets; made financial recommendations.

5. Cost Savings

Here's how meeting/event planners use cost savings:
  • Enter and update meeting information in meeting management technology including cost savings, final attendee registration and budget reconciliation.
  • Developed and maintained professional internal and external relations to generate new business and increase cost savings.

6. Contract Negotiations

When a contract is negotiated, an agreement is reached on a series of legally binding terms before it is signed and made official. Two or more parties agree on the terms of their relationship. When negotiating a contract, the focus is usually on risk and return.

Here's how meeting/event planners use contract negotiations:
  • Arranged contract negotiations, travel, set up/ take down and staging of band including entourage of 25.
  • Developed and managed meeting RFP process, hotel and venue site selection, as well as contract negotiations.

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7. Site Selection

Here's how meeting/event planners use site selection:
  • Researched site selections, negotiated vendor contracts, budget management, hired and supervised independent contractors.
  • Key responsibilities included budgeting, site selection and facilities negotiation, registration, event promotion, and speaker selection.

8. Booking

Here's how meeting/event planners use booking:
  • Negotiated with National Association and Corporate Meeting Planners, booking meetings for 4 &5 star properties.
  • Coordinated travel arrangements, including booking airfare, hotel and transportation.

9. External Clients

External clients directly relate with a company or business, however only through the purchase of products and services.

Here's how meeting/event planners use external clients:
  • Coordinated and implemented logistical details for domestic and international meetings and events for internal and external clients.
  • Delivered thoughtful presentations of event recommendations which cater to the needs of internal and external clients.

10. Ground Transportation

Ground transportation is land transportation and not sea or air transportation. Ground transportation is associated with airports and passenger moving and describes the public and private movement of passengers and goods using ground vehicle.

Here's how meeting/event planners use ground transportation:
  • Coordinated ground transportation for seamless transfers to area hotels and collaborated with area hotels on catering and event activities.
  • Assisted internal meeting organizers with meeting design, food and beverage, audio visual, speaker management, ground transportation.

11. Trade Shows

Here's how meeting/event planners use trade shows:
  • Executed internal and external marketing communications plans for conferences and trade shows.
  • Arranged and conducted special events, site inspections, and off-site presentations for potential clients and attended trade shows and conventions.

12. Onsite Management

Here's how meeting/event planners use onsite management:
  • Provide onsite management event support.
  • Full onsite management of corporate meetings, seminars and events.

13. External Vendors

A vendor is a term used to describe any supplier of goods or services. Therefore, an external vendor would sell their products or services to an outside company or individual.

Here's how meeting/event planners use external vendors:
  • Manage working relationships with external vendors assisting in the administration of various events.
  • Coordinated communication of processes by acting as liaison between account executive, client, internal support departments and external vendors.

14. Travel Arrangements

Here's how meeting/event planners use travel arrangements:
  • Negotiated contracts and coordinated all travel arrangements including reservations and event space requirements.
  • Coordinate all accommodations and travel arrangements for domestic and international guests.

15. Guest Speakers

Here's how meeting/event planners use guest speakers:
  • Handled training sessions, panel discussions, guest speakers, extracurricular activities and obtaining approval for CE courses.
  • Planned menus, decorations, and audio/visual requirements; booked guest speakers and panels.
top-skills

What skills help Meeting/Event Planners find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on meeting/event planner resumes?

Dr. Jokima HillerDr. Jokima Hiller LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, Missouri State University

Employers are seeking candidates who are:
- Adaptable, Flexible
- Have transferable skills such as customer service, financial management, problem solving, critical thinking, etc.
- Self-starter

What meeting/event planner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Duane SunwoldDuane Sunwold LinkedIn profile

Instructor, Spokane Community College

Personal Communication Skills, Vocational Math, Food Science

What type of skills will young meeting/event planners need?

Barbara ConnellBarbara Connell LinkedIn profile

Chair of Events Industry Council’s CMP Governance Commission and CEO at the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Events Industry

Depending on the position that is available, various items draw attention. If a manager or junior role is being filled, an experience that shows continued alignment within a field or type of activity and learning within that field or activity is appealing. Dedication and consistency are always attractive. If a senior role is being filled, deep levels of varied responsibility and achievement are indicators that an individual is committed, focused, and likely to be a successful leader. Tenure is also attractive; staying in a position for 3-5 years or more is a positive trait and shows that the organization's investment will be protected.

What soft skills should all meeting/event planners possess?

Mark Zanter

Coordinator, Marshall University

All graduates should be able to write and express themselves clearly and communicate effectively in their discipline.

List of meeting/event planner skills to add to your resume

Meeting/event planner skills

The most important skills for a meeting/event planner resume and required skills for a meeting/event planner to have include:

  • Event Planning
  • PowerPoint
  • Event Management
  • Beverage Selection
  • Cost Savings
  • Contract Negotiations
  • Site Selection
  • Booking
  • External Clients
  • Ground Transportation
  • Trade Shows
  • Onsite Management
  • External Vendors
  • Travel Arrangements
  • Guest Speakers
  • Budget Management
  • RFP
  • Vendor Contracts
  • Event Logistics
  • Program Budget
  • Meeting Logistics
  • Site Inspections
  • Corporate Events
  • Event Budgets
  • Meeting Materials
  • Event Space
  • Onsite Support
  • Room Set-Up
  • Meeting Space
  • Vendor Selection
  • On-Site Management
  • Event Materials
  • Social Events
  • Internal Clients
  • Attendee Registration
  • BEO
  • Incentive Programs
  • Menu Selections
  • Room Blocks
  • Promotional Materials
  • Giveaways
  • Product Launches
  • VIP
  • Travel Logistics
  • Venue Selection
  • Upselling
  • Hotel Contracts

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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