Event Planner (Old Town Alexandria)

Oct. 6, 2011

Washington DC, VA

Confidential

Incumbent is responsible for the planning, logistics, registration, coordination, and execution as it relates to all Vacation.com meetings and events. Additionally owns critical roles within the Vacation.com annual conference planning.

ALL EVENTS:

Manages 20+ moderately complex events per year ranging from 15-150 participants

POC for planning and execution of company events

Negotiates vendor, catering, AV contracts on behalf of the company

Oversees all event activities and may supervise on-site

Develops and promotes sponsorship opportunities

Works with Director of Accounts and team to ensure Preferred Supplier participation at all events and annual Conference is maximized

Manages registration and confirmation process for all event participants

Oversees effective and timely execution of event deliverables

Works with internal teams to effectively coordinate event marketing plans, websites, program books and printed materials

Works with in-house graphic artists, creative team and copywriter on the development of creative marketing materials and promotional pieces as it relates to all training events

Manages event material needs, including proofing, printing, and shipping of all materials

Manages event budget to include reconciling invoices for all event locations and vendors, as well as tracking sponsorship dollars

Reconciles with accounting all payments related aspects for these events

Assists with destination and site selection for meeting events

Responsible for the meeting software usage, data, and all enhancements as needed or requested

Responds to member, supplier, and internal inquiries about events

Manages multiple events simultaneously

Finds compromise within cross functional teams to ensure effective execution of events

CONFERENCE - multi-day, complex event with 1,300+ attendees:

Responsible for overseeing 150+ booth tradeshow and National Tourism Organization participation as part of the annual Conference

Manages all aspects of Conference registration and onsite management of registration desk staff

Interfaces with vendors and members on site

Responsible for Conference set-up and tear down

Oversees all conference materials, including but not limited to badges, printing of all materials, delivery and pick up of trade show and office materials

Works with onsite staff to address attendee concerns and issues

Is integral part of conference planning team, working in tandem with Director of Meeting and Events

Other duties as assigned

Education, Knowledge & Skills:

Bachelor's degree

Minimum of 5 years meeting planning experience

5+ years contract negotiation experience

Travel industry experience a plus

Team player who can balance competing interests and find solutions

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to manage multiple simultaneous responsibilities

Exercise discretion and independent judgment

Proven track record in successful planning and execution of all meetings and related events

Project management skills/experience

Must be extremely organized and detailed oriented

Ability to work independently with minimal supervision on several programs simultaneously

Strong problem solving skills

Proactively demonstrates ownership of all aspect of the events

Excellent proof reading skills

Demonstrated ability to effectively negotiate contracts with hotels and other meeting facilities and vendors

Working knowledge of conference and event management software program, perferably Cvent

Proficient in all Microsoft Office Suite programs

Ability to travel 20%

ABOUT TRAVEL LEADERS GROUP:

With over 1,200 travel agency locations in the United States and Canada, Travel Leaders Group's family of brands serves millions of individual corporate and leisure travelers.

Travel Leaders Group also manages numerous corporate, leisure and franchise travel operations throughout the United States under a variety of diversified brands, organized into five distinct divisions:

Travel Leaders Leisure Group, which includes All Aboard Travel, CruiseDeals.com, Cruise Holidays (franchised brand), Cruise Specialists, Luxury Travel Network, Partners In Travel, SinglesCruise.com and wholly-owned leisure travel locations of Travel Leaders;

Travel Leaders Franchise Group, comprised of Travel Leaders and Results!Travel{R}.

Travel Leaders Corporate, which includes all wholly-owned corporate travel locations and operations;

Tzell Travel Group, which offers customized quality traveler services with an expertise in cost containment, meeting services and comprehensive travel management programs; and

. Nexion, the travel industry's premier and most trusted host agency.

. Vacation.com, Vacation.com is the largest travel services marketing organization in North America, serving independent retail travel agencies across the U.S. and Canada. Vacation.com facilitates "The Power of the Partnership" between a network of quality Preferred Suppliers and member agencies that increase profits through disciplined marketing, comprehensive training and unique vacation products. Vacation.com is owned by Travel Leaders Group and maintains its headquarters in Alexandria, VA. For further information, visit www.joinvacation.com/ blocked::http://www.joinvacation.com/">www.JoinVacation.com.

Travel Leaders Group currently employs and partners with over 3,000 employees and independent contractors. In 2009, travel sales through its company-owned and franchised locations totaled more than $6 billion, placing the company among the top 10 of all U.S.-based travel agency companies, according to Travel Weekly. Travel Leaders Group has also been ranked #1 among all travel management companies by Business Travel News (June 2010) for the second year in a row. Travel sales within the various franchise groups exceeded $4.5 billion, helping it maintain its edge as the leading travel franchisor in North America.

Equal Opportunity Employer