Event Planner Jobs Event Planner Jobs With Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) COPYRIGHT 2008 by Leader Lifestyle Media. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. All information contained on this website is protected by International Copyright Law. It is intended only for the PERSONAL use of individuals who are seeking to find event planner jobs. It is not to be used as a source of information for the creation of any derivitive work. By using this website you agree to abide by these terms and conditions of use. Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) are another major employment option for people seeking event planner jobs. Frequently referred to as CVBs, Convention and Visitors Bureaus hire their own event planners to offer assistance to other event planners for organizations from outside of the geographic region who are interested in holding their events in the local area. The role of the CVB event planner is a little different than the roles of event planners hired by other types of employers because you are not actually planning events hosted by your employer, nor are you acting as an event planner for a specific facility venue. Instead, you play more of the role of a facilitator for other event planners who are not located in the area, and you act as a liaison between those event planners and the local venues and vendors. Event Planners with Convention and Visitors Bureaus are frequently referred to by the more specialized job title of Convention Services Manager or CSMs. The job of this particular type of event planner is to help facilitate the event planning process for the event planner or organization who is planning their event from a distance. CSMs use their extensive knowledge of the city and the local event planner industry to make suitable recommendations to out of town event planners in order to assist with the selection process of local vendors, venues, and suppliers for the event. CSMs don't merely identify the vendors in the area to the out-of-town event planner, they point them towards the best suited vendors in the area for the specific type of event being planned. For example, if the event has a Hawaiian theme, the event planner (or CSM) from the Convention and Visitor's Bureau will be able to put the out-of-town event planner in contact with local caterers who specialize in Hawaiian food, a party supply company who has Hawaiian decorations or props, a eukali player, perhaps recommend a venue who's interior decor is most suitable for creating a Hawaiian atmosphere for the event, and so forth. The CSM (CVB event planner) should also be very knowledgeable about any laws, restrictions, or regulations in the area which may affect the events that out-of-town planners are considering hosting in the area. As a CSM (CVB event planner) you will need to be able to advise the event planners you are dealing with of any other events going on in the area around the same time, such as festivals, major sporting events, exhibits or expos, and you should also be well versed on the various attractions and sites which the area has to offer. A CVB event planner has an important role to play, as often it is he or she who is the main point of contact for the out-of-town event planner within the destination city. CVB planners are the "great enablers" for event planners who are planning an event from a distance. Working in Convention Services Management, you will essentially work as a team with the event planner for the organization which is planning it's event in your area. The organization's event planner will rely on you to help coordinate details at the hotel, resort, convention center or other facility where the event will take place. It will be your job to liaise between the organization's event planner and the facility, to ensure that both sides are happy with all of the arrangements. You may also at times be required to assist the event planner for the organization who is hosting the event with making accommodation arrangements for attendees. Best Ways to Find Event Planning Jobs With CVBs There are a variety of resources available to assist you in finding event planning jobs with CVBs. Most of these are the same resources used for finding event planner jobs with other types of employers, which we will be discussing a little further on. There is however another good approach which can be taken when you have specifically singled out the CVB as your ideal type of event planner job. Approach CVBs directly to find out about any potential event planner jobs they may have coming up. Study the listings of CVBs across the country which are available through the resources listed in the Resources section of this guide. Narrow down the list to particular CVBs that you would be interested in working for. Then make a phone call to the ones you have selected and ask for the contact name, email address, fax number, phone number and mailing address for the person responsible for hiring event planners. From there, you can take one of two possible approaches. You can submit your resume "cold", along with a cover letter in which you introduce yourself and explain that you hope they will keep your resume on file and consider you for any upcoming event planner jobs which you may be suitable for. Or a more powerful approach is to telephone the individual in charge of hiring event planners to introduce yourself and ask if you might have a few moments of their time to discuss any possible upcoming event planner jobs and opportunities for employment which the CVB may have available. Here's another hot insider's tip: if you're looking to get hired for an event planner job with a CVB, you need to get in contact with the person in charge of hiring event professionals at th CVB and request an "informational interview" so that you can learn more about the event planning opportunities available at the CVB. We'll talk more about informational interviews just a little later on. Best Ways to Land an Event Planner Job With a Convention & Visitors Bureau 1. You'll need a very good knowledge of the local area in order to be considered for an event planner job with a Convention and Visitors Bureau. In preparing to apply for the job as an event planner, spend some time researching the local vendors, venues, entertainers, speakers, and other services which are likely to be of interest to out-of-town event planners who are considering hosting / planning their events in the city. As an event planner for a CVB, you should be able to speak knowledgeably about the major players in your local event planning industry. 2. Get Experience or Training In Marketing. Event planning jobs with CVBs often involve helping to attract event planners from across the country to host their events in your city. Some event planner jobs with CVBs may explicitly state that marketing experience or training is required. But even when it is not officially stated as part of the event planners job requirement, having such a background will definitely help to give you the edge over your competition for the job. Consider obtaining a degree or diploma in marketing, or at least take some courses on the subject. If you've been out of school for a while and aren't enthusiastic about heading back to get a degree, look to the continuing education division of a local college for a short term certificate program in marketing or take some college night school classes. Join a local marketing association and you'll have the opportunity to attend marketing training workshops and seminars. Membership in this type of an association will also enhance your level of perceived level of credibility and seriousness as a professional event planner who is serious about their career. 3. Get Experience or Training In Tourism. The job you do as an event planner for a Convention and Visitor's Bureau is directly related to the tourism trade. Therefore, any training or experience you can put on your resume which relates to tourism is going to be a huge benefit for you. If you have no such experience, once again, you should look into any short-term certificate programs in tourism which may be offered at your local college, or, if you are very ambitious, go after a degree in tourism. Also look for volunteer opportunities which may provide tourism-related experience. 4. Have the Willingness to Relocate. If you have your heart set on a job as an event planner with a CVB, you may need to consider relocation. Obviously, the number of CVB event planner jobs available within any given region will be limited, as there is generally only one CVB per city or town. The larger the city, however, and the more of a hub it is for conventions and meetings, the larger the number of event planners jobs the CVB may need to fill. If an event planner job with the CVB in your area does not become available, it may be necessary to move to a city where you have located a job opening. If you happen to live in an area where there are a number of independent cities or towns clustered rather closely together, you may find that it is only necessary to make a short commute rather than a complete move to land the event planner job of your dreams.   Next: Event Planner Jobs With Event Management Companies    Event Planner Jobs | Corporate Event Planning Jobs | Event Planning Jobs With Venues | Event Planner Jobs With CVBs | Event Planner Jobs With Event Management Companies | Applying for Event Planner Jobs | Event Planner Job Tips | Insider's Secret to Getting a Great Event Planner Job | Event Planner Salary | How to Become an Event Planner © COPYRIGHT 2008 by Leader Lifestyle Media. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All information contained on this website is protected by International Copyright Law. It is intended only for the PERSONAL use of individuals who are seeking to find event planner jobs. It is not to be used as a source of information for the creation of any derivitive work. It is not to be republished, reproduced, or recomplied in any form or by any mean;. Any misuse of the information published on this website will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and the names of violators will be published. By using this website you acknowledge that you understand these Terms and Conditions and you agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions of Use. If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions, of if you do not understand what they mean, do not use this web site.