SYTA is seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized association meeting planner to join a small and engaged staff to coordinate and execute one annual conference (1100 attendees), Leadership Summit (150) Board meetings (2), Golf tournament tailored to the student and youth travel industry.  This is a remote position supporting an association based in Virginia.  The ideal candidate will have a strong background in meeting planning, vendor/supplier management, logistics, registration and sponsorships, ensuring the successful execution of events that engage and educate members. SYTA has a highly engaged membership and the ideal candidate must enjoy engaging with members and being part of a small but "hands on" team. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Plan, coordinate, and execute association conference, virtual and in-person meetings, appointment tradeshow, events and educational sessions. 

Manage event logistics, including venue selection, contract negotiation, accommodations, and transportation.

Develop and oversee event budgets, ensuring cost-effective planning and adherence to financial guidelines. 

Manage and fulfill sponsor and exhibitor needs and services 

Market conference and meetings including website, mobile app, printed and email solicitations and brochures

Manage registration and appointment system with outsourced vendor

Ensure compliance with industry regulations, safety guidelines, and association policies. 

Coordinate speaker engagements, session programming, and educational content for meetings.

Identify opportunities to enhance member experiences through innovative event planning strategies.

Stay up to date on industry trends and best practices in student and youth travel.

Utilize collaboration tools (Zoom, Slack, Basecamp, etc) to coordinate with team members, vendors, and stakeholders. 

Travel for site selection and on-site management as required.

Qualifications: 

Bachelor's degree in event management, hospitality, business administration or a related field.

5+ years of experience in meeting planning, conference management or event coordination

CMP or related certification is a plus

Strong project management skills and the ability to multi task in a fast-paced environment.

Excellent communication and negotiation skills

Proficiency in event management software and Microsoft Office Suite

Self motivated with the ability to manage projects independently in a remote environment. 

About Student and Youth Travel Association

The Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) is a trade association of businesses dedicated to providing life-enhancing group travel experiences to students and young people. Our members are educational travel companies and industry suppliers (hotels, destinations, attractions, restaurants, transportation, insurance and others) who connect togeher through SYTA conferences, meetings, volunteer experiences and industry events. Students do not attend SYTA events unless they are part of our Foundation. Our members customers are educators, schools, youth organizations, government and parents who rely on SYTA members to provide professional and safe travel experiences for their students and youth. We instill confidence in our travelers by establishing quality and safety standards for travel providers, and we empower our members through advocacy, education, training, and networking opportunities.

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