The National Diploma in Tourism Conventions and Incentives (Level 5) with strands in Conference Organisation, Convention Bureaux, Incentives Planning, and Venue Sales and Operations [Ref: 0724] is for people working in, or training for, roles within the conventions and incentives industry. These include professional conference organisers, and people who work or intend to work in convention bureaux and destination sales and marketing, incentive travel management, venue sales, and venue operations.

It comprises Core Compulsory unit standards which recognise the knowledge and skills common to all sectors of the conventions and incentives industry with regard to a conventions and incentives industry project. People awarded this qualification are able to: select, engage, and work with suppliers; manage risk; develop, implement, and evaluate a sustainability strategy, and a communication plan; and debrief clients and evaluate data.

The strands recognise the skills and knowledge required to work in specific sectors of the conventions and incentives industry. Strands comprise compulsory and elective sections.

The standards in the Compulsory section of each strand ensure that the candidate develops and applies knowledge and skills relevant to their specific work role within their industry sector. Details of the skills and knowledge recognised by the Compulsory sections are given below.

The Elective section of each strand allows candidates to select standards that will add further skills that are relevant to their work role and/or specific workplace requirements, or to credit skills and knowledge that they may have already gained towards the requirements of this qualification. It also allows portability. If a candidate decides to make a career change and move from one conventions and incentives industry sector to another then this will enable them to move more easily between strands.

The Conference Organisation Compulsory recognises, for a conventions and incentives industry project, the skills and knowledge to: manage a business programme, financial arrangements, registrations, sponsorship, venue arrangements, and accommodation bookings; create and manage a special event; market; brief clients on legislation and taxation matters; investigate and brief clients on insurance requirements; and produce a budget and cash flow projection.

The Convention Bureaux Compulsory recognises, for a conventions and incentives industry project, the skills and knowledge to: create and manage a special event; market; manage and escort a familiarisation; source and qualify leads, and take follow-up action; and organise and coordinate participation in trade shows.

The Incentives Planning Compulsory recognises, for a conventions and incentives industry project, the skills and knowledge to: manage a business programme; create and manage a special event; manage financial arrangements; market; manage venue arrangements; manage accommodation bookings; and brief clients on legislation and taxation matters.

The Venue Sales and Operations Compulsory recognises the skills and knowledge to undertake and complete post-conventions and incentives industry project follow-up action and administration.

This qualification may stand alone, or build on the National Certificate in Tourism Conventions and Incentives (Level 4) [Ref: 1553].

Career progression beyond these specialist conventions and incentives roles is most likely to be in management, for which a range of management qualifications and/or training opportunities are available depending on the needs and aspirations of the individual.