ESPA’s New Training Supports Changing Industry

Foundational Event Services Course Offers CE Credits for New, Returning Professionals

The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) announced today that it has launched a ground-breaking training program for the event services field.

The curriculum provides foundational training for individuals new to event/convention services—and experienced professionals at convention centers, hotels and CVBs looking to broaden their understanding of event service across segments.

Videos are available on-demand, enabling event service professionals to go through the training on their own schedule. A certificate of completion and CMP continuing education credits can be earned by demonstrating participation through a post-training evaluation.

“This new training comes at the right time in our industry when change is the only constant,” said ESPA President Paola Bowman, who is director of Client Services & Events at the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau in Arlington, Texas. “As event service professionals, we are accustomed to being part of the solution, which is why our association decided to invest in the profession when it needs us most. Our new comprehensive foundational training program helps prepare new individuals to the profession, as well as experienced event service professionals as they return to work.”

Nearly four million hospitality jobs were lost during the pandemic in 2020, according to a report from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The industry is not expected to regain pre-pandemic job levels until 2023.

To create the training material, ESPA leveraged the deep expertise of three event service professionals to serve as instructors for the 13-lesson program.

• Amy Cabe worked for more than 20 years at Visit Spokane, most recently as director of Destination Services.
• Lindsay Clapp has served in management roles in event servicing and audio-visual services, including as event manager at the Raleigh Convention Center.
• Denise Reid is event planning manager at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter and has more than 20 years of hotel event services experience.

The lessons, which take about three hours to review, include:

Lesson 1: Welcome & Introduction to Event Services
Lesson 2: The Roles We Play
Lesson 3: Ready to Launch – Getting Started with Clients
Lesson 4: Collaboration
Lesson 5: Services: The Spice of Life!
Lesson 6: Common Job Functions
Lesson 7: Emerging Trends
Lesson 8: Staying on Track
Lesson 9: Serving Unique Markets
Lesson 10: ESP Conduct – Tips & Guidance from the Pros
Lesson 11: Performance Measures for ESPs
Lesson 12: Wrapping It Up
Lesson 13: Growth, Training & Resources

The introductory rate to access the training is $229 for ESPA members and $329 for non-members. To learn more and register, visit the ESPA Training portal.

ESPA’s mission is to prepare event and convention services professionals for pivotal roles in innovative and successful event execution. As a forum for CSMs and an educational and networking resource, ESPA advocates for the role and impact that event service professionals have on the success of events and destinations, hotels and convention centers.

For more information on ESPA, visit www.espaonline.org.