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Event Planning Degrees; an Investment in Your Career and Yourself

November 9, 2012 By Comments

So you have your undergraduate degree and you still don’t know what you want to do. Your thoughts are turning to a career in the Hospitality and Event Management Industry.  This growing trend is being met head on by many colleges and universities around the world.  More and more colleges are offering post graduate degrees and diplomas in Hospitality Industry related fields.   From Hotel and/or F&B Management to travel and tourism to event and conference planning.  People with little or no industry experience but who have completed an undergraduate degree in another field are turning to these schools to gain the insight, and contacts that they need to launch their careers in the Hospitality Industry.

Event Planning Courses also Provide Many Future Contacts

The contacts that you make as you complete a post graduate program can be very valuable.  The hardest part of launching a new career is getting your foot in that door.  Many school, such as Toronto’s  Humber Institute of Advanced Learning & Technology provide their post graduate hospitality students with an internship.  The Humber School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism offers a one year, post graduate certificate in Hospitality & Tourism Management.   Humber’s Business School also had a post graduate program having recently created a one year, post graduate Event Management certificate program.  This allows those people who have a passion for the industry and an undergraduate degree in another field but no prior experience to gain that hard to get “first job” while connecting them with industry leaders and potential employers.  Once you get that first reference…doors may open a bit more quickly as your build your event management career.

Well-Known Institutions That Offer Postgraduate Programs in Event Planning

With event management becoming an attractive career option for more and more people we thought we’d give you a quick overview of some of the  more well know colleges and universities that offer post graduate programs in the field.

Even if your Bachelor’s degree was not directly focused on events management, you can pursue a relevant postgraduate diploma or a Master’s degree. The Fitzwilliam Institute offers postgraduate diplomas in conference planning, exhibition management, corporate event planning and festival event management. If you want to continue your education abroad, the Leeds Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom offers an MSc in Events Management.

Distance learning post graduate

Offers a Master in International Events Management

  • Institute of Integrated Markting, Communication & Management- India

So for any of you that are serious about continuing your education (and career) in event planning, take a look at what these schools are offering. In addition to the sample list above, contact your local colleges and universities to see if they too offer degrees and or certificates for event and conference planning.

 

 

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Interested in Obtaining Certification to Be a Certified Meeting Planner?

March 29, 2012 By Comments

photo by officearrow.com

Should you obtain certification to be a certified meeting planner? That’s a common question within the industry. While, at present, the meetings and events industry does not require a meeting planner to be certified, many are going down the certification path to further their career development. But it’s not cheap to become a certified meeting planner. And certification does take a considerable time commitment on your part as well. So for this post were going to look at the merits (benefits as it were) of a meeting planner certification.

Certified Meeting Planner-the Benefits of Certification

Whenever I am at a networking event often the conversation involves the benefits of certification. Let’s face it, on face value any certification shows that you have taken an interest in your profession and are continuing your development as well. I find that people new to the industry, while interested in becoming a certified meeting planner, often will learn the ropes and then determine whether or not the certification route is for them. And I encourage that. After all it does take a commitment of both time and money. The reason I encourage new meeting planners to get their feet wet first is so that they can determine whether or not they see themselves staying in the industry long term. If their aspirations involve another career then there’s nothing wrong with working in the industry without being certified.

Some of the Certification Benefits of Becoming a Certified Meeting Planner Are:

  • your potential clients will see this as a commitment to your profession and the industry
  • it demonstrates that you have the required knowledge to make informed decisions
  • it also shows that you have longevity. Something that is often quite important to potential clients
  • people within your organization will look up to you for both knowledge and direction for their own career choices

When clients are selecting a meeting planner, quite often what they are looking for is that person’s expertise and guidance to help implement and execute successful meetings or events. With certification, a certified meeting planner demonstrates that they have the required knowledge, and commitment, to provide their clients with the proper direction. Being a certified meeting planner is not a requirement for the industry. Don’t get me wrong, there are many good meeting planners out there that haven’t been certified. But, I do believe that certification brings professionalism and commitment to the meetings and events industry.

 

 

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Meeting Planner Certification-2012 Update

January 26, 2012 By Comments

It’s hard to believe we’re almost in the second month of 2012. As the old saying goes – where is the time going… Many of you in the meeting planning industry have made 2012 the year for your continuing education and upgrading of your skills. This post will give you some updates regarding meeting planner certification, specifically the CMP program, and important dates to put on your schedules.

2012 Meeting Planner Certification Deadlines and Dates

TheCIC, Convention Industry Council, is an excellent resource for certification schedules, costs and dates. For those of you reading in Europe or South Africa there are some examination dates that are fast approaching. On January 28 there will be a CMP examination in Budapest, Hungary and on February 25 there will be an examination in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The good news is that beginning in the second quarter, the CIC has announced that it will be transitioning to computer-based testing. The CMP examination itself will be administered at more than 430 testing centers around the world. As their website says, stay tuned for more announcements on this new computer-based testing.

The CIC has also posted the schedule for the third and fourth quarters of 2012. For those of you considering the CMP examination you should be able to find dates here that work with your schedule.

It should be noted that meeting planner certification is an investment in yourself. There is a fee of US$225 to submit your application as well as a US$450 exam registration fee. But make sure you are serious as they also charge US$100 exam cancellation fee.

Meeting planner certification shows that you have taken the time to learn the many aspects of your job. As well it shows prospective clients that you take your industry seriously and have taken the necessary steps to keep on top of all the changes that have occurred in the meeting and events industry. The CIC, Convention Industry Council, is a great resource for information on becoming a certified meeting planner, CMP. If you’re in the business of hiring meeting planners it’s not a bad idea to look for the CMP designation beside a meeting planners name – it shows that you are in good hands.

 

 

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Interested in Becoming a Certified Meeting Planner?

January 10, 2012 By Comments

Becoming a certified meeting planner professional, CMP, is a designation that many meeting planners, that are serious about their industry, are obtaining. According to the CIC, Convention Industry Council, there are roughly 14,000 meeting planners in 36 countries that have earned the CMP designation since it began. If you’ve been in the meeting and event planning business and are now wondering whether or not to continue your career development it might be a good time to find out exactly what you could expect by taking the CMP program.

What Does the Certified Meeting Planner Program Do for Meeting Planners

First and foremost the CMP program establishes itself by setting the standards for which to operate in the industry. According to the CIC website the following are some highlights of what the CMP program is all about:

  • identifies that the individual has achieved a high level of knowledge about the industry
  • increases the skill sets which is beneficial for meeting planners employers
  • continues to increase industry standards and practices
  • explores the art and science of meeting management
  • maximizes the value received from products and services provided by certified meeting professionals

The CMP exam is offered two times a year, and the first and third quarters. For dates and locations click here for the Convention Industry Council’s examination information. To be considered a candidate for the CMP program candidates must be employed as a meeting or event planner with three or more years of active experience in order to write the examination.

How Do You Prepare for the Certified Meeting Planner (Professional) Examination

Studying for the CMP designation will require a commitment of both time and study on your part. However several of the industry’s top associations do provide information and study kits to help you. MPI, Meeting Professionals International, provides a CMP study kit to help you prepare. The convention industry Council also provides a manual to help with exam preparation. MPI has a great CMP page at its MPI store where you can review and order any materials that may assist you.

So if 2012 is the year for you to further your career development you may want to consider the CMP program to become a certified meeting planner. In addition to challenging you as well as providing you with the tools necessary to do your job it will also show potential clients that you take meeting planning seriously.

 

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Important Event Planning Certification Dates in 2012

December 13, 2011 By Comments

Right now it’s hard to believe that 2012 is three weeks away. With all that we have on the go in the month of December it always seems like January is, no pun intended, a year away. Well, believe it or not, we’re going to be toasting the new year in just a few weeks time. With that in mind many event planners are considering what they’re going to do in 2012 to further their careers.

Event Planning Certification Shows People That You Are Serious about Your Industry

I’ve been asked in the past whether or not I think certification is important for the event planning industry. Well, not that what I think really matters, I do happen to think that if you’re serious about your career then you should consider a certification program. Not only does it tell people that you have a vested interest in yourself it also provides you with important training for event planning.

As the Convention Industry Council, CIC, website states, one of the industry’s most important certification program is the CMP. CMP, or Certified Meeting Professional, recognizes industry leaders who have achieved the highest standards of professionalism. You may have noticed a lot of people will use the CMP designation after their name. And they do so for a reason. The CMP designation indicates that the individual has pursued a continuing education, have increased their industry involvement and thus have gained industry wide recognition.

The fees associated with the CMP certification program alone will tell you that people are serious about their continuing education. The application submission fee is $225 and the exam registration fee is another $450. Certainly anyone that doesn’t take their position seriously would not invest that much money to become certified.

So if you’ve decided that 2012 is the year that you’re going to invest in yourself and you already have been in the meetings and invents industry for some time now and you may want to consider the Certified Meeting Professional designation. You’ll be surrounded by like-minded industry colleagues with whom you can share your stories and experiences with as well as gain valuable insights from their experiences as well. The CIC website has a great page devoted to the CMP examination schedule for 2012. It’s certainly worth taking a look and if you do find that some of the dates will work within your schedule, you can register right there on the site as well.

 

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The Right Event Planning Certification For You

July 5, 2011 By Comments

Event Planning Certification

If you’ve been in the meeting and events industry for a while now then you’ve most likely seen the “CMM” or “CMP” designation beside a colleague’s name.  CMM or Certification in Meeting Management is a certification offered by Meeting Professionals International (“MPI”). The purpose of this certification is to provide continuing education to management level event professionals. CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) is a certification program by the Convention Industry Council. The CMP is considered the premier certificate in the industry and recognizes individuals who have achieved the highest standard of professionalism.

Do You Need an Event Planning Certification?

Basically anyone can start promoting themselves as a meeting planner. You do not need any certification to work in the industry. I know many industry colleagues, that are more than qualified, that do not have event planning certification. However, like most professions, the goal within the industry is to separate the serious players from the casual ones. Not always an easy task. Today, you can easily put a web site together and begin promoting your services. And to the outside world it could look like you’ve been doing event planning forever.  A decade ago, if someone asked me if they needed event planning certification, I would say no. Before the internet became the resource that it is today, you could easily tell whether someone knew their stuff or not. Today, that’s not so easy to determine. If someone has gone to the trouble of obtaining event planning certification, that tells me that person has taken a personal interest in their career development. Event planning certification also provides the much needed industry standards. That’s why I support event planning certification today.

Which Event Planning Certification is Right for You

There are many types of event planning certification programs available. Depending on your region, many colleges and local industry associations’ chapters offer event planning certification. For this article we’re exploring the differences between the CMM and CMP programs. The CMP certification is usually the first that you would seek.  The CMP distinguishes the person as someone that has demonstrated a high level of experience and knowledge.  The CMM certification requires a minimum of 10 years industry experience and targets management level meeting professionals. The length of time before you can obtain a CMM may alone help you decide which event planning certification is right for you. MPI has put together a great FAQ page on the certification programs and processes.

Whether you are new to the meeting and events industry or have been in the industry for some time now, event planning certification is definitely something you should consider. Especially if you’re serious about growing your company. While there is no guarantee that you will see an increase in business, potential customers know that they are in good hands and that you take pride in your profession. Talk to colleagues that already have designations to get their thoughts on which one is best for you. Then learn the steps necessary for you to advance. Investing in yourself is never a bad decision.

 

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