Roles and Responsibilities of the AE and AP What's the difference between an Account Executive (AE) and an Account Planner (AP)? That's the question I asked when I joined Conferon and one that we sometimes struggle to explain to newer clients. Some compare it to a hotel sales and convention service manager relationship. While this is a short-cut definition, it does have some merit. The AE does work similar to a hotel sales person in that they are responsible for servicing the business and negotiating the hotel or facility contracts. The AP does similar work to a convention service manager by coordinating the logistics of the meeting. To better define these responsibilities and to clarify how they are not similar to hotel sales and convention services; we'll go beyond the quick definition. The AE works with the client on site selection. The AE is also responsible for selling and managing the variety of services a client may utilize of Conferon’s, including Meeting Planning, Registration and/or Housing services, Conferon Express, Tradeshow Sales and Management, and Marketing Resource Communications. This overall account management role keeps the AE in contact with the client throughout the year and in regards to all aspects of our relationship. The logistics that are planned by an AP include menu planning, off-site event coordination, negotiating and working with various suppliers such as DMCs, general service contractors, audio visual companies, photographers, florists, transportation, and security companies. Their key responsibility is the coordination of all meeting details and most often this is accomplished through the creation of the meeting agenda (resume). The AP also has the primary responsibility for completing the Post-Convention report and for final bill review, though if only one person goes on-site for a meeting, these two responsibilities shift more towards that on-site person. Where are the jobs of the AE and AP the same? Both AEs and APs work on-site during the actual convention. Sometimes only one person is required on-site or it could be either the AE or the AP. It is also important to note that the AP is often the “lead” person on-site since they are typically more heavily involved in the logistical planning activities. As a team, the AE and AP keep each other in the loop on overall issues throughout the planning process. By Karen Watson, CMP