Mike McAllen and Jon Trask discuss what makes an event planner or meeting planner? What does a CMP designation get you? What makes a hosted buyer? What is a meeting planner? Is it just who rents the most hotel rooms make you a planner? CIC Convention Industry Council website: How many associations? 32?. An industry expert told Jon recently: “Most of the planners I know don’t know anything about Event Design. They just know logistics. Makes it really difficult to have engaging meetings.”
Mike passed a sign at Bizbash which said:
“Planners are defined as independent, corporate planners, or association/organization planners (full-time or part-time). This does not include suppliers or vendors that are also events planners. BizBash reserves the right to determine if an attendee falls into the category or planner or non-exhibiting supplier. #bizbash.”
Jon read a blog post at eventagist.com called
Who is the real buyer who deserves to be a hosted buyer? by Stefania Conti-Vecchi
A comment by Joan Eisenstodt on eventagist.com
Jon – Glad you responded and that Elizabeth Glau posted the link elsewhere.
Stefania – Thank you for writing this.
I think our entire industry needs a re-do! The buyer/seller piece is muddied and has been for years. What we call each other matters and yet defines us to the point of ignorance. An(other) example are the educators – full time and part time – who often may have a hand in ‘buying’ but not as directly. Should they not be hosted to learn what’s new in the industry to pass along to the next gen of those who are now working and will continue to work in our industry?
And for hosted buyer events (I’m on record in opposition to them for numerous reasons), too many people qualify who are questionable. I can’t imagine that the qualification is really that rigorous. I won’t name names publicly; simply, I know there are people who take advantage of the ability to attend “for free” under this system.)
Is there a conversation at the upper levels of the industry to change all of this?
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