Conference centre manager

Conference centre managers ensure the smooth running, effective management, success and profit of a conference centre

As a conference centre manager, you'll be responsible for the management of all staff and services at the centre, including:

• accommodation
• catering
• finances
• marketing, advertising and PR
• reception/front of house
• sales.

It's your job to ensure that all services provided meet the clients' needs and that events are run efficiently. You must strike a balance between customer satisfaction and effective business management, which often means dealing with last-minute changes or solving problems as they arise.

You'll develop the business through effective planning, managing future sales or marketing campaigns, and budgeting efficiently to maximise income generation. When organising events, you'll often liaise with an event manager.

Job titles vary and may include conference manager, operations manager or general manager.

Some roles combine both conference and event management, or conference and banqueting management.

Responsibilities

Your work activities will vary depending on the size of the conference centre and the services provided. For example, in a large conference centre offering a range of services, you'll coordinate the operational management team, which includes catering and accommodation managers. In a smaller centre, however, you may subcontract services, such as catering and entertainment, out to external companies.

However, as a conference centre manager, you'll typically need to:

• communicate daily with the management team, planning work schedules and checking client requirements
• provide exceptional customer service to conference guests, ensuring that any enquiries and/or complaints are dealt with quickly and efficiently
• ensure all conferences and events run smoothly
• manage budgets, costs and financial plans
• recruit, train and develop your team to the highest standard
• supervise maintenance, supplies and equipment
• achieve and, where possible, exceed profit targets
• manage or oversee the sales and marketing of the conference centre, including pricing, image, brand, promotions and promotional materials
• lead by example in maintaining service standards and ensure staff provide the highest levels of operational and customer service
• apply current legal and in-house HR procedures to ensure the retention of good staff and the provision of high-quality services
• research markets to identify new business
• negotiate with external service providers and suppliers as required
• purchase equipment necessary for the conference centre to operate
• ensure compliance with health and safety, licensing laws and other legal regulations
• carry out day-to-day troubleshooting and address problems as they arise.

Salary

• Salaries for assistant conference managers can range from £20,000 to £30,000 depending on your experience.
• Conference centre managers typically earn between £25,000 and £45,000.
• Salaries for experienced conference managers and conference directors may rise to more than £60,000.

Salaries vary depending on your location, the size of the centre you manage, the services provided, and the sector. Other factors that may influence your salary include your experience and level of responsibility.

Additional benefits can include free meals on duty, discounted hotel room rates (if you're working for a hotel) and discounted leisure membership.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Conference centre managers regularly work unsocial hours. A shift system usually operates to ensure adequate management staffing, involving early morning starts, late night finishes and evening and weekend work.

You may have to work additional hours and be on call, in case of an emergency or urgent problem.

Part-time work is possible.

What to expect

• The job involves a mix of office-based administration and liaising with clients, internal and external service providers, and suppliers outside the office environment.
• Vacancies occur throughout the UK in major cities and towns.
• Conference centre managers are expected to deal with a range of on-the-spot problems and meet tight deadlines to the satisfaction of clients.
• Travel within a working day and absence from home overnight are occasional. Overseas work or travel is rare.

Qualifications

Although conference centre management is open to graduates with any degree subject, a degree or HND in the following subjects may increase your chances:

• business and management
• events management
• hospitality management
• international business
• marketing
• travel and tourism.

Some degrees in areas such as hospitality, tourism or events management are accredited by the Institute of Hospitality as meeting recognised levels of professional knowledge and skills relevant to the needs of the industry. Search the list of accredited programmes.

You'll need relevant experience to work as a conference centre manager, and managers often have a background in hospitality (in hotels or catering, for example), sales, marketing or events, or have developed the necessary experience and skills from other management roles.

Entry without a degree or HND is common as many people work their way up to management level through on-the-job training and qualifications.

It's also possible to do an apprenticeship in an area such as hospitality management or events and then move into conference centre management once you have enough experience. Apprenticeships combine paid work with part-time study for a qualification, meaning you can train on the job.

Although you don't need a postgraduate qualification, a relevant course may be useful if your first degree isn't connected to the hospitality industry. Before applying for a course, however, do your research to ensure it meets your career needs.

Search for postgraduate courses in events management and hospitality management.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with clients, conference attendees and suppliers
• strong customer service skills
• business and commercial awareness
• knowledge of sales and marketing
• excellent organisational and planning ability
• good judgement with the ability to think on your feet and make clear, confident decisions
• a proactive approach to problem solving
• budgeting experience and general financial awareness
• teamworking skills, including the ability to lead and motivate a team
• the ability to remain calm under pressure
• an efficient and organised approach with excellent timekeeping skills
• adaptability and flexibility
• influencing and negotiation skills
• attention to detail
• general IT and administrative skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office
• stamina to cope with long working hours
• an understanding of health and safety regulations within the industry.

Foreign language skills can also be useful if you have international conference delegates.

Work experience

Prior work experience is essential for a conference manager role. Many entrants have experience in the hospitality, hotel, catering or travel and tourism industries, but sales, marketing and customer service experience is also valued.

Look out for hospitality work placements or internships opportunities during your degree or consider taking a sandwich degree with a year out in industry. Relevant experience will help develop your practical skills and build a network of contacts for future job opportunities.

Student membership of the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) is also useful and provides the opportunity to network with ABPCO conference members.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

There are specialist conference centres throughout the UK, and you can find a list of conference venues, searchable by region or city, at Conferences-UK.

Increasingly, many large hotels offer conference facilities in addition to their traditional business. Some chains employ a specialist conference manager. Smaller budget hotels may provide rooms for meetings.

Conference centre managers can also be found in higher education, as many universities and colleges use their space during vacations to host events. Some universities operate purpose-built conference centres throughout the year to provide a dedicated facility for external organisations.

Many large sporting venues have also diversified and are now offering conference and corporate event space and accommodation.

Look for job vacancies at:

• ABPCO
• Caterer.com
• HJUK
• Jobs.ac.uk - for jobs in universities.

Jobs may also be advertised on the websites of major hotel groups and universities with conference facilities.

Specialist conference agencies may offer job opportunities.

Professional development

Most conference centre managers will already have relevant experience in the hotel, catering or travel industry and will have moved into this role from a more junior or related position.

Training is usually provided in-house and mostly involves learning on-the-job from experienced colleagues and managers. External courses are also offered by private training providers.

It's important to keep your skills and knowledge up to date by undertaking continuing professional development (CPD). The Institute of Hospitality (IoH), for example, offers its own programme of hospitality and tourism management qualifications, which provide continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities to all managers and aspiring managers in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries. They also provide webinars, online courses and a mentoring service for student and associate members.

Membership of a relevant professional body, such as the IoH or ABPCO, provides benefits such as access to networking opportunities, training, events and industry information.

If you have management experience, you may choose to undertake an MBA specialising in hospitality management.

Career prospects

Career progression can be limited as a conference centre manager tends to be the most senior role within a conference centre.

However, conference centres based within hotels will have a hotel general manager, who is normally more senior than a conference centre manager.

Larger organisations or 'groups' will employ an area manager or director. There are only a few of these roles available, so competition is likely to be fierce.

Self-employed consultancy work may be another option once you've gained experience.

There are also opportunities to develop your career by moving into related work, such as hotel management, or into other roles within the leisure and tourism sector. You could also move into public relations, sales, marketing, training or events management.