CJ

OVERVIEW
This is one of the fastest expanding areas of the Tourism Industry. Conferences can range from in-house company meetings, to international events for thousands of delegates requiring years of planning. Sales and Marketing personnel are needed to encourage delegates to attend a conference.

WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR?

Good communication skills
Stamina and a 'can do' attitude
IT/DTP skills
Ability to work as part of a team and think on your feet
Languages may be useful

TYPES OF JOBS
Full time staff include Organisation and Administration office staff, PR and Publicity co-ordinators, Event co-ordinators, Producers, Marketing and Sales personnel working behind the scenes during the planning stages and Administration staff during the event.

Audio-visual companies support conference organisers by producing stage settings, videos, etc, and need sound technicians, electricians, IT experts, etc. There is also work for graphic designers and artists designing promotional literature, stage settings, programmes, etc. These jobs can be freelance or full-time.

Part-time staff during a conference can include steward/esses; registration staff especially language speakers; receptionists; simultaneous interpreters.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Conference work is mostly indoors. The venues may be air-conditioned, but you can feel cut off from fresh air and dry conditions can produce headaches, etc. During a conference you will be on your feet from 0700 or earlier until after the last delegate leaves. Marketing staff may work indoors, but have to be prepared to travel to exhibitions, put up their stand, spend all day on their feet promoting their venue, then pack and up and drive home after the exhibition closes.

Corporate hospitality and incentive conference events may take place outdoors, from dog sledding in the Alps to rock-climbing in the Lakes.