Cruise Planners is the largest franchisor of home-based travel agencies across the country that independently book cruises, tour, and land vacations. Cruise Planners has achieved Top Producer status with virtually every cruise line, tour, and resort company. Cruise Planners has been named the No.1 Cruise Tour / Travel Agency by Entrepreneur Magazine for the past 10 years and recently featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top 30 franchise innovators in technology. Cruise Planners positions franchise owners for success by providing them with innovative marketing, booking and lead-generating tools as well as professional development and hands-on training with the industry’s top executives. Cruise Planners Home Office was won awards such as Coolest Offices and Top Places to Work in South Florida by Sun Sentinel and South Florida Business Journal.

Role Title: Lead Event Specialist 

Job Summary: The Lead Event Specialist will be responsible for assisting in the planning and execution of various events, ensuring they run smoothly and meet company objectives. The Lead Event Specialist will assist the Events Department and provide support by scheduling meetings and appointments, arranging travel, and providing clerical support as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and execution of event plans, including defining objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Coordinate logistical aspects of events, such as venue selection, transportation, accommodations, catering, and audio-visual requirements
• Collaborate with internal teams, including marketing, sales, and business development, to ensure seamless coordination and execution of events
• Provide on-site support during events, overseeing set-up, registration, and managing any issues or changes that arise
• Assist in monitoring event budgets, tracking expenses, and ensuring costs are kept within budgetary constraints as needed
• Maintain event timelines and schedules, ensuring all tasks are completed on time and deadlines are met
• Prepare event materials, including agendas, presentations, and promotional materials, as well as post-event reports and evaluations
• Identify potential issues or challenges and develop proactive solutions to mitigate risks and ensure the success of events
• Prioritizes and manage multiple projects and follow through in a timely manner
• Screens and coordinate communications, drafts correspondence and follow up as required
• Follows up with appropriate team to ensure requests, deliverables and correspondence are responded to on a timely basis
• Assists with event registrations and interact with the Cvent Software
• Manages travel requests and prepare itineraries for team members attending off-site events correspondence and follow up as required
• This position may require occasional travel and work outside regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, to support events

Competencies:

• Experience in Cvent preferred
• Excellent organization and follow-through skills, attention to detail and the ability to work within time constraints.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Ability to self-direct
• Strong interpersonal skills

Requirements:

• Travel required
• Ability to work outside of normal business hours and regular schedule as needed
• Must be able to lift 30 pounds, may include setting up/ break down during events
• Ability to be flexible and handle changing priorities

This is a hybrid role (Mondays and Fridays – remote and Tuesdays-Thursdays on-site)

Cruise Planners provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all team members and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Cruise Planners complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities or team members. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.