Stay at the forefront of the event planning industry by frequently exploiting online resources highlighting event planning conferences news and trends. By dedicating a few hours a week to researching event planning news and trend headlines online you will enhance your industry knowledge and remain informed.

To make the most of your research time, consider the following before digging for and acquiring event planning conferences news and trends information:

1. Utilize news and information reported on event planning blogs.

2. Routinely visit websites highlighting conference planning convention news and trends.

3. Register to receive RSS feeds pertaining to event planning events news and trends.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read blogs focusing on event planner conferences news and trends

Visiting and viewing informal media such as specialized blogs is a quick and effortless way to find conferences for event planners information. Such blogs are open to reader comment and discussion providing individuals with an interactive experience in most instances. News and headlines are always current as blogs are regularly updated and maintained by industry professionals.

I recommend: Take a look at an event planning blog provided by Bright Business Media. Check out event planning trends and updates at a blog called Successful Event Planning.

Visit informational news websites regarding conferences for event planners news and trends

Take the time to explore a conference planning convention website. Utilizing information, links and resources featured on industry websites allow users to acquire a wealth of knowledge and access a wide range of content that is not necessarily offered on blogs or in magazines. Periodic visits to such websites will provide you with enough information to theorize about event planning conferences news and trends.

I recommend: Spend some time at Alltop and access news articles, podcats and useful links. Take advantage of detailed articles provided by Exhibitor Online.

Subscribe to an RSS feed featuring event planner conferences news and trends content

Sign up to receive RSS (really simple syndication) feeds focusing on event planner conferences news and information. You will then appropriate frequently updated content such as news articles, podcasts and videos. Such information is desirable to many professionals since it can be accessed from any device with an Internet connection.

I recommend: Mighty Dog Media provides news and updates pertaining to meeting event conferences and planning. Or you can sign up to receive meeting and event planning news and trending information from MeetingsNet. Check your RSS feeds on the go by having them sent to your mobile device or laptop.

Successful event planners attend event planning conferences to establish another way to gain recognition in their field. Though experience, creative thinking and a plethora of contacts are key attributes of a skilled event planner, knowledge is essential to success. Whether a refresher on the “basics” or a window into the latest trends, you can learn from professionals and tap the wealth of knowledge at conferences for event planners.

Event planning conferences offer:

1. General information that is utilized day in, day out, to event plan for clients.

2. Specialty information via specialized workshops and seminars often segmented by type of event planning function. If you have a particular interest in corporate meetings, rather than weddings, you can become knowledgeable in a specific area at event planner conferences.

3. Opportunities to interact with and to learn from professionals in the business that could possibly serve as mentors, or future colleagues, on all types of event planning events.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contact an event planners association and other learning organizations

Find an event planning conference to help you work smarter.

I recommend: Reaching out to national or local associations will help you learn about an upcoming conference planning convention or meeting. The International Special Events Society is an association known as a leader with members across the globe. You can also visit organizations such as StudyEventPlanning.com and Fred Pryor Seminars that often list conferences for event planning.

Attend event planner conferences on a regular basis

Keep your knowledge current and stay in contact with peers as much as possible.

I recommend: A strong start is The Special Event, which is considered the world's largest event planner convention for professionals. You can also reach out to a leading professional event planning organization such as Meeting Professionals International (MPI) who annually holds The World Education Congress.

Make the most of the event planning conventions that you attend

Attending an educational conference, convention or trade show gives you the opportunity to learn as well as network with professionals in the business.

I recommend: Have business cards in hand at all times, and be sure to follow up with people you've spoken to, ideally within a week after the conference. Reference something that you spoke about and offer a tip or two on how you may be able to help them in the future. To learn more tips visit Biznik.com or Virgo Publishing, LLC.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When a phone number is offered as a method of contact for an event planning conference, use it. You may learn how to get the most out of your conference or trade show attendance, such as a workshop that shouldn't be missed or an opening night function that boasts high attendance. Also, if through the call you learn that this conference is not quite right for you, you may be able to find out about other conferences and workshops geared specifically to your industry or located more closely to where you work or do business.
• •  Listing recent conferences and seminars on your resume or bio tells clients that you are serious about learning as much as you can about the industry. The more you know, the more likely that you can better serve your existing clients as well as new ones.
• •  Events are important components of a company's marketing plan, vital to a nonprofit's fundraising and can memorialize some of the most important times of our lives, through weddings and birthdays. A successful events planner needs to know how to deliver exactly what the client envisions. Attending event planning conferences can help you do just that by offering opportunities to learn the latest information from the best in the business.

Event planner conferences cover both macro and micro subjects in terms of event planning. Locations, accommodations, entertainment and educational events are all things that are covered. How to plan logistical things like travel, security, first aid solutions and more are all part of planning these large events.

But if the thought of how much information there is to learn at a conference planning convention is too much, don't worry. Attending just a few conventions and reaching out to conference planning companies will have you comfortable with the size and scope of these events in no time. Think of your tutorial as event planning conferences for beginners.

1. Locate associations which hold conferences for event planners and attend their events.

2. Consult with event planning companies that conduct event planning conferences and get an insight into their tricks of the trade.

3. Find forums which specialize in event planning conferences to answer specific questions you might have about conference event planning.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate groups which conduct event planner conferences

When you're trying to plan an event on a large scale for one or many corporations to attend, it's best to learn from the professionals. Seeking out associations whose members are event and meeting planners is a great place to start. They often have conferences full of educational seminars which you can learn from. You'll also have a chance to meet a myriad of vendors.

I recommend: Check out the website for the National Planning Conference which is held each year by American Planning Association. The event is full of seminars and classes that will familiarize you with the basics of planning. Another quality resource with similar information is the Event Planners Association.

Consult with companies which perform event planning events

Whether they merely attend conferences for event planning or they actually plan the event planning trade show, sitting down with a company that specializes in putting together large scale events will be very beneficial. Having already attended a conference you will now see the flip side of the operation in regard to how much planning goes into these large scale events

I recommend: Consult with a company like Meeting Expectations. They can plan any large scale event from soup to nuts. Having a consultation with their staff will prove to be very informative. Event Planning Solutions LLC is another quality company offering similar resources.

Find forums which cover subjects like conferences for event planners

Locating forums which talk about things like an event planning tradeshow or the logistics that go into such an event is a great resource as you try and get a base knowledge of the topic. Some of these forums will require that you register for the website and fill out some basic information. However, when you're in a pinch and need an answer on a conference event planning 'how-to,' this will be your quickest resource.

I recommend: Visit the Event Planning Forum which is hosted by the company Event Education. This is a website for conference planners by conference planners. EventBrite is another quality resource for basic information on conference event planning.

There are numerous resources that are available to those in the event planning business. It's important, however, to be sure you are attending the right events for your niche. Some event planning conferences, such as Eventology, focus on wedding professionals, while others, such as the Catersource event, target those in the catering industry. Knowing what each of these events, and their sponsors, have to offer can assure you get the most out of networking events. Joining event planning professional organizations that hosts conferences, such as The International Special Events Society, can also open up many new doors to you in your industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

International Special Events Society

International Special Events Society (ISES) is an international networking membership society that can connect you with others in the event planning business. ISES offers a wide array of benefits to its members including special events, conferences and other resources.

I recommend: International Special Events Society explains what the benefits of joining its society.

The Special Event

The Special Event is a premier planning event. There are opportunities for attendees to gain education about the latest developments in the event planning industry. The event offers educational sessions, an exposition floor and networking opportunities.

I recommend: The Special Event details why this event is essential to all event planners.

American Planning Association (APA)

The American Planning Association (APA) is a non-profit organization that gives city planners a community to learn from and network with. The APA annually presents the National Planning Conference, which combines various event planning aspects and explores new efforts to grow and develop communities across the United States.

I recommend: The American Planning Association outlines the National Planning Conference and the benefits it can offer to its members.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI)

Meeting Professionals International has more then 24,000 members who are event and meeting planners. Through this professional community, event planners get exclusive attendance to event planning conferences and meetings in order to grow their business. MPI also offers numerous opportunities, such as online learning, to its members.

I recommend: Meeting Professionals International describes some of the most prominent event planning conferences.

Eventology

Eventology targets wedding planning professionals. The conference focuses not just on the logistical part of planning weddings, but it details how to improve your relationships with clients and other professionals in the industry.

I recommend: Eventology explains why this event planning conference is important to professionals in the wedding planning business.

Catersource Conference & Tradeshow

The Catersource Conference & Tradeshow is an event geared toward caterers and event planners to improve the way they do business and to maximize their exposure to clients. The event promotes networking with other industry professionals, as well as learning what is new in the industry through a tradeshow floor.

I recommend: Catersource describes what you will get out of attending the event.