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Meetings manager vs events assistant

The differences between meetings managers and events assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a meetings manager and an events assistant. Additionally, a meetings manager has an average salary of $63,589, which is higher than the $28,633 average annual salary of an events assistant.

The top three skills for a meetings manager include client facing, cost savings and vendor contracts. The most important skills for an events assistant are customer service, event materials, and event planning.

Meetings manager vs events assistant overview

Meetings ManagerEvents Assistant
Yearly salary$63,589$28,633
Hourly rate$30.57$13.77
Growth rate18%18%
Number of jobs1,8215,728
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

What does a meetings manager do?

Meetings managers are professionals who organize the details that involve planning large and small events, including meetings. These managers are required to conduct site selections so that they can make recommendations to the committees involved while handling vendor negotiations and preparing proposals. They must manage responsibilities related to invitation and attendee management processes such as meeting registration, air travel, ground transportation, and accommodation. Meetings managers must also schedule for all managers to meet with audio-visual staff so that they can test run all their presentations.

What does an events assistant do?

An events assistant is responsible for coordinating an event based on a client's guidelines under the supervision of a head event planner. Events assistants manage event logistics, including negotiating with suppliers and third-party vendors and events place rental. They also ensure that the plans stay within the budget goals, minimizing costs but not compromising the quality of the materials. An events assistant usually updates the client on behalf of the event planner, especially on the updates and adjustments as needed. To be an events assistant requires excellent communication and organizational skills.

Meetings manager vs events assistant salary

Meetings managers and events assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Meetings ManagerEvents Assistant
Average salary$63,589$28,633
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $87,000Between $21,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City-Cambridge, MA
Highest paying state-Maine
Best paying company-Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Best paying industry-Non Profits

Differences between meetings manager and events assistant education

There are a few differences between a meetings manager and an events assistant in terms of educational background:

Meetings ManagerEvents Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University

Meetings manager vs events assistant demographics

Here are the differences between meetings managers' and events assistants' demographics:

Meetings ManagerEvents Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 18.9% Female, 81.1%Male, 31.2% Female, 68.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.9% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between meetings manager and events assistant duties and responsibilities

Meetings manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage of hotel master accounts and organize VIP services for client leadership and celebrity guests.
  • Manage relationships with vendors, hotel staff and DMC's to ensure delivery of services as defined by senior management.
  • Design metrics to analyze and improve return on investment (ROI).
  • Assist all clients with booking hotel guest rooms and offer discount when applicable.
  • Contract suppliers including hotels, DMC's, and exhibit companies, and maintain relationships.
  • Create, circulate and analyze feedback forms to summarize ROI and report results to stakeholders.
  • Show more

Events assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage a pop-up shop, recruiting volunteers via Facebook, training them, and creating a volunteer calendar to manage hours.
  • Lead and manage the Instagram and twitter social media sites, also host numerous interviews with stars and celebrities.
  • Promote conversation and interaction among SUU alumni on Facebook by consistently writing posts and generating update photos and content.
  • Design business cards, social tickets, delegate passes and certificates using Photoshop and InDesign.
  • Publish stories on the college's website and post snippets on the college's Facebook page.
  • Compile speaker content and create presentation slides through Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Show more

Meetings manager vs events assistant skills

Common meetings manager skills
  • Client Facing, 17%
  • Cost Savings, 12%
  • Vendor Contracts, 11%
  • Site Selection, 11%
  • Event Budgets, 9%
  • Ground Transportation, 6%
Common events assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Event Materials, 7%
  • Event Planning, 6%
  • Event Locations, 6%
  • Event Management, 4%
  • Event Support, 3%

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