Why should I use a professional meeting or event planner?

You want to present the most positive, professional image to your attendees,. When brought in at the beginning of the process, the meeting professional plays a vital role, establishing goals and objectives, performance standards, direction and leadership. The professional will then follow up through to post-event evaluation.

My staff has planned my meetings in the past and they've been okay. How can a professional do better?

Without the professional in charge there is always an element of risk. As a manager, you use systems to strategically minimize or eliminate risk to your objectives. The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) knows there are 27 meeting planning functions that need to be considered for a successful meeting or event. Your staff person, whose primary function is not meeting management, is probably not experienced in these 27 areas. Additionally, a CMP has individual contacts which puts him/her in a better negotiating position.

The Certified Meeting Professional can make an
average meeting or event a spectacular success in a
cost effective manner while eliminating the risk factor.

When brought in at the beginning, the professional meeting/event manager can help you with your budget, suggest ways to fund the event and secure sponsors. Plan Ahead will also work on a consulting basis, laying out the plan for you to follow, fitting it within the tightest budget.