Why You Need the International Conference Specialist Certification (CMP)
Why You Need the International Conference Specialist Certification (CMP)
Hello, this is Chris & Partners.😊 You've seen on the news world leaders or specialists in particular fields gathering for international conferences, right? Watching the perfectly arranged order of proceedings, the flow of movement, and the smooth, incident-free running, you can tell the international-conference specialist's role is considerable. Did you know there's a certification for the international-conference specialists who take responsibility for such international conferences and conferences from start to finish? Today we'll look into the role of the international-conference specialist and the certification.
What is an international-conference specialist?
An international-conference specialist (PCO: Professional Conference Organizer) coordinates and operates all the duties related to planning, attracting, preparing, and running international conferences, exhibitions, conventions, and the like; sets the event's goals; and handles tasks such as managing the budget tied to overall operation. To plan and host international conferences, exhibitions, and other events, they meet related vendors and sponsors to discuss the event's size, format, budget, and more. Beyond overall planning, they carry out preparations related to the international conference—participant registration, accommodation, administration, tourism, exhibitions, and so on. They also promote the event to be held at home and abroad, book interpreters and related workers for smooth proceedings, and recruit, hire, train, and then direct and supervise the helpers needed to run the event.
How should you prepare to become an international-conference specialist?
Korea's MICE (Meeting, Incentive Tour, Convention, Exhibition) industry has grown continuously, and as the perception spreads that it generates high added value—linked not only to exhibitions and events but to tourism and cultural industries— employment is projected to grow by an annual average of 1.7% over the next 10 years, and interest in the international-conference specialist is rising. Ways to prepare to become an international-conference specialist (CMP) can be broadly divided into three. 1. Formal education To become an international-conference specialist, it's advantageous to graduate from a university department related to economics, business administration, or tourism. At some universities, you can learn the relevant content through event departments or convention-industry departments. 2. Vocational training Recently, many places have opened majors related to international conferences—international graduate schools, tourism graduate schools, and the like—that cultivate international-conference specialists. As a professional practical-training institution, the International Conference Specialist Training Center offers a convention planner cultivation course, and convention-industry courses are also offered within universities. 3. Related certifications As a related national certification there is the Convention Planner (Levels 1 and 2), supervised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and administered by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea; as an international certification there is the CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) certification of the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association). Since the international-conference specialist is a profession with much communication with foreign organizations, basically having foreign-language ability is important, and also, since practical ability is important, an internship at a PCO (Professional Convention Organizers) firm or work experience in a company's international-event department can be advantageous when getting a job in the MICE industry.
An international-conference specialist certification? What exactly is the CMP?
What is the CMP? The CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) program began in 1985 to enhance meeting professionals' knowledge and performance, raise the standing and credibility of the meeting profession, and advance unified standards of practice. Today, the CMP certification is recognized worldwide as a symbol of excellence in the event industry. The conditions for completing the certification are based on professional experience, education, and a rigorous exam. Benefits of the CMP certification According to a survey by the PCMA, meeting planners holding the CMP earn (on average) more than 10,000 dollars more than planners without it. Because the CMP certification is a mark of excellence in comprehensive event management, the CMP certification opens better opportunities in holding international conferences.As the role of international conferences has grown, clients' expectations of the MICE industry are higher than ever, and recruiters and prospective employers recognize the CMP's effectiveness in a growing industry.
A professional PCO company holding the international-conference specialist certification
An outstanding event is an essential business tool, and trained expertise maximizes business value. The international-conference specialist certification (CMP) aims to enhance professionalism in the meeting industry. Chris & Partners' director Kim Song-yi holds over 15 years of experience in the MICE industry and the international-conference specialist certification (CMP), and the CMP is the world's only certification system recognized by international meeting-related associations; domestic PCO firms holding the CMP certification are not common. Chris & Partners, entrusted by event hosts with duties related to holding various international conferences, exhibitions, and the like, leads efficient and successful conference proceedings as a specialist international-conference service provider. Today we looked into the international-conference specialist certification (CMP). Did you know the CMP certification's role and effect are this big? Seeing the importance and ripple effect of international conferences, the outlook for the MICE industry seems set to grow brighter, and we can also look forward to the job creation that follows.
Are you planning a hybrid event? Chris & Partners—partner with us! As a proven PCO that responds flexibly and aptly to clients' needs, we provide tailored services to deliver the best results from the planning stage to the finish—program and content planning, consulting, speaker booking, follow-up, and more.