1. EVENT PLANNING RESEARCH By Rowland Ajaluwa

2. Event Planning is a process of planning a party, ceremony, convention, religious gathering or launching of a school gym or church organ fund. It takes various ways to plan an event of this nature.

3. What comes to mind in planning any event is money. To this end, budgeting is essential in planning an event. Besides budgeting, dates and alternate dates, site of the event, permits for alcohols, insurance licenses, parking and transportations are all required for an event to succeed.

4. Steps to Planning an Event: In planning an event, the event planner needs to get details about the event. If it is a wedding anniversary or a wedding ceremony, a launching or a re-launching event, a graduation or an inauguration ceremony. The planner plans the event, with known date and site; starts preparation with staff and volunteers, set entertainment, and maintains contacts with stakeholders.

5. Event Greening Event greening also known as sustainable event management, is a process used to produce an event with particular concern for the environment, economy and social issues. It incorporates social and environmental responsible decisions in the planning, organization and implementation of an event. It should involve all stakeholders

6. Duties of an Event Planner Event planners coordinate all aspects of professional meetings and events. They choose meeting locations, arrange transportation, and coordinate other details. Event planners spend most of their time in offices. During meetings and events, they work on-site at hotels or convention centers, and they often travel to attend events and visit meeting sites.

7. Job Outlook According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of event planners is expected to grow 44 percent from 2010 to 2020. As globalization increases and businesses continue to value professionally planned meetings, the need for meetings and events is expected to grow. This means good business for the event planner.

8. Pay 2010 Median Pay $45,260 per year $21.76 per hour Entry-Level Education Bachelor’s degree Work Experience in a Related Occupation Less than 1 year Number of Jobs, 2010 71,600 Job Outlook, 2010-20 44% (Much faster than average) Employment Change, 2010-20 31,300

9. Advancement The Bureau recomends that event planners should volunteer to take more responsibility and find better ways of doing their jobs because the most important factors in advancement are demonstrated skills, determination, and respect from peers. Formal education is also important, but those with limited experience may enhance their status by enrolling in event planning courses offered here in Takoda Higher Institute, universities, and other professional associations.

10. Certification The Convention Industry Council offers Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential, a voluntary certification for meeting and convention planners.Convention Industry Council The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) offers the Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) credential for meeting planners who work for, or contract with, federal, state, or local government.Society of Government Meeting Professionals

11. Conclusion Event planning is a rising profession and since Americans are getting more organized in what we do, we need event planners to help us get organized and coordinated in all occasions like weddings, meetings, conferences, spring and winter games, and all other professional and personal events.

12. Sources www.bls.gov www.conventionindustry.org,website for certificationwww.conventionindustry.org www.sgmp.org, website for certificationwww.sgmp.org Allen, Judy; 2009, Event Planning, The Ultimate Guide To Successful Meetings etc, 2nd ed