Meeting & Event Planner
Covington Travel, a leading Travel Management Company, is seeking an Event Management Specialist for our Meetings & Events Division. This person must have at least 3 years’ experience in customer service, preferably in the travel industry. The job is predominantly in-office at headquarters in Glen Allen, Virginia. Limited hybrid possible after training period.
Job Summary:
- Meeting & Event Planning: sourcing venues, budgeting, negotiating contracts, managing the event, managing exhibitors and speakers, providing end-to-end client support, reporting, arranging payments
- Contracting: negotiating and reviewing contracts between hotels and clients for event space, sleeping rooms, food & beverage, audio-visual, exhibit space, speakers, entertainment, and destination management companies
- Hybrid and Virtual Events: administer event technology, manage virtual participants, and conduct virtual meetings
- Group Travel: work with other Covington departments to develop pricing and a proposal based on client request
- Cvent: build and maintain online registration websites
- Assist others in Covington Meetings & Events as needed
Desired Skills and Experience:
- Excellent communication: exhibits strong oral and written communication skills
- Outgoing: thrives in a collaborative environment, strong interpersonal skills
- Detail-oriented: pays acute attention to detail, well-organized
- Self-motivated: embraces online learning
- Multi-tasker: can manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Negotiator: ability to effectively represent the client to vendors for mutual compromise
- Flexible: willing to travel and/or work nights and weekends as needed
- Working knowledge of AI: ability to integrate searches and results into the workflow
- Creative: apply creativity to graphics development, event decor, and problem-solving
- Microsoft Suite: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams required
- Virtual event certifications desired
- Hubspot – working knowledge of CRM platform
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
