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Tuition: $2,250

Program Description

According to the Convention Industry Council, meetings and conventions account for $280 billion in direct spending, and support over 1.8 million jobs in the United States. In the decade spanning 2012-2022, the industry is expected to grow by 33 percent--much faster than average.* Meeting and convention management offers a range of career options for budding event planners and sales or venue managers, which require project management, creativity, detail orientation, and high-level communication skills.

If you are contemplating a career in this burgeoning and evolving industry, the Professional Diploma in Meeting and Convention Management will provide a solid foundation in the event-planning process, including venue selection, design and production, stakeholder management, budgeting, contracting, and risk management. In addition, students will learn about the economic value of meetings and events to achieve organizational goals, as well as the skills and foresight to analyze and to employ the trends that will shape the experience, delivery, and outcomes of meetings. Upon completion of the Professional Diploma in Meeting and Convention Management, students will have a solid understanding of the key buyers, supplies, and intermediaries in the industry as well as the technologies that influence it. The one-semester Diploma will be offered in a blended format.

*US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Work Product

The portfolio presentation will showcase the students' skills as a creative, detail-oriented, and business-savvy future event professional. As a student enrolled in this program, you will prepare an event design in response to a simulated industry standard RFP (Request for Proposal). This RFP will include the "client's" design for an entire event including venue, theme, relevant suppliers, and detailed competitive budget. Students will receive industry feedback as their strategically developed sales pitch is presented to and evaluated by professionals in this growing field.

Job Skills

• Effective project management

• Leadership competencies--research, budgeting, and planning

• Knowledge of business development and sales

• Scheduling and staff management

• Refined presentation, communication, and problem-solving skills

Job Titles

• Meeting Associate

• Venue/Banquet Coordinator

• Convention Center Executive

• Corporate Sales Associate

• Event Marketing Assistant