Event and Conference Planning Organizations Key Terms

Learn terms used by event and conference planning organizations

Planning business events or conferences involve many different facets, such as finding the right venue, negotiating the contract, setting a budget, coordinating registrations, hiring speakers, and setting up audiovisual equipment needs. All of this involves special skills and resources. Event and conference planning organizations key terms involve special certifications and terms. Become familiar with the roles and responsibilities of those who plan events, as well as the organizations that certify them.

 

Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)

Certified Meeting Professional is a professional designation for an event planner who demonstrates knowledge (through a certification exam) and performance (through professional experience). This designation indicates that the person certified is working to meet industry standards.
Try: Convention Industry Council describes the CMP designation in more detail.

Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP)

Another professional designation for event planning professionals, the Certified Special Events Professional, is someone who is certified through a standardized exam and professional experience. This certification demonstrates that the event planner has made a commitment to the highest level of professionalism in the special events industry.
Try: For further information, see the International Special Events Society website.

Request for proposal (RFP)

A request for proposal is a formal request for service organizations to bid on a project. It involves detailed information about the requirements for your project. In event and conference planning organizations, you can send an RFP for their proposal for your event or you can hire an event organization to coordinate the RFP process for venues and other vendors needed for your event.
Try: Net Dynasty explains the RFP process in more detail.

International Event and Wedding Professional (IWEP)

The International Event and Wedding Professional certification is a distance education program that offers step-by-step training and mentorship in the field of event and wedding planning.
Try: The QC School of Event Planning offers this certification.

Certificate in Conference Management and Event Planning

The Certificate in Conference Management and Event Planning is an education program that results in a certificate. It can be taken online or in a classroom. It differs from the certification process in that it is a one-time achieved certificate that verifies that you have taken the course.
Try: The International School of Hospitality offers this certificate program.

Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE)

The Certified Professional Catering Executive certification is achieved by passing a national exam. It sets a national standard of competence for catering executives and special events planners. The core competencies for this exam are in accounting, beverage management, catering services, contracts and agreements, event management, food production and sales and marketing.
Try: The National Association of Catering Executives administers the CPCS exam and certifies the applicants.

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