WHICH EVENT PLANNING ASSOCIATION SHOULD YOU JOIN?


The meeting and event planning industry, like most industries, has no shortage of associations. But how do you know which event planning association is right for you? While there are great qualities and resources for most of our industry’s associations, which one to join really depends on what you’re current goals are. Are you looking for an event planning association to network and, perhaps, find your future clients? Or are you looking to further your career and therefore are interested in event planning certification?

The Right Event Planning Association for You Depends on Your Goals

For this post we’re going to take a look at four the top event planning associations. The four that we list here are; Meeting Professionals International (MPI)Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)International Special Events Society (ISES), and Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI). First off, all four of these associations are considered to be among the best in the industry. Some will focus on the meeting planner where others focus on the supplier side of the industry. And some both.

Event Planning Associations – the Breakdown

For each event planning association, in the chart below, we list; their mission statement, the types of industry members that they cater to, whether or not they promote and or arrange continuing education or certification and whether or not they have international chapters.

An event planning association can be a crucial component of an event planning career. For many professionals it’s a great way to network with like-minded people. In today’s changing world an association can also be an excellent gateway for meeting and event planning technology. Much of my own business’s success has been a result of my involvement in an event planning association.

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