2018 - Destinations International · 2019-03-29 · advance partnerships. We also built a strong Global Leadership Committee comprised of industry leaders to assist us in identifying

2018ANNUALREPORT

1 Destinations International 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

INSIDEWelcome and Introduction .......................................................................... 3

Community .......................................................................................................... 9

Advocacy & Research .................................................................................... 17

Education ............................................................................................................. 21

Destination Tools .............................................................................................. 29

Leadership ........................................................................................................... 37

Destinations International Foundation .................................................. 43


MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIRS2018 proved to be a year filled with excitement, growth and vision for our Association.

We executed 11 discipline-focused summits and an Annual Convention with more than 1,620 attendees. Our CDME and PDM programs continued to grow, with participants eager to advance their careers and take new tools back to the office to enhance their destinations.

We continued to elevate and expand our products and launched Event Impact Calculator (EIC) partnerships with NASC, IAVM and ECM. We also expanded DestinationNEXT with our partnership with NEXTFactor. This new partnership will continue our global growth of this important tool for our destination members.

As we enhanced our member benefits, we were excited to welcome 39 new members to our organization, we also launched our Membership Webinar Series, enabling members to learn more about Destinations International’s tools and resources.

In 2018, we added diversity and inclusion to Destinations International’s strategic goals to lead and engage diversity initiatives and opportunities within the destination marketing and management industry. With this new strategic goal, we launched a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force with tourism leaders to help define the ways Destinations International can help lead diversity and inclusion efforts across the industry.

With the continued leadership of our Board of Directors and dedicated members and partners, we look forward to building on the progress we made in 2018 and in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Tammy Blount-Canavan, FCDME President & CEOMonterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Chair, 2017–2018

William Pate President & CEO Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Chair, 2018–2019


MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEOOn behalf of the entire team and Board of Directors, I am pleased to present the 2018 Annual Report.

Because of your unwavering support throughout 2018, our Association had a very productive year with enhanced programs and services.

In the past couple of years, we heard from you on the importance of research and advocacy; therefore, we doubled down on our investment in these important areas so our members can remain on the cutting edge.

We hosted our second annual Advocacy Summit in Philadelphia, PA, where we focused on a range of political issues faced by organizations. We launched our monthly Member Engagement Webinars so members could connect with the tools, resources and community that we provide to help make you successful.

We continued to establish the Event Impact Calculator (EIC) as the industry’s best standard for measuring the impact of events and expanded the product through partnerships with International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) and European Cities Marketing (ECM).

In 2018, we launched a very important initiative concerning diversity and inclusion. Thanks to the leadership of our Chief Operating Officer, Melissa Cherry, we identified key leaders in our membership to help lead our Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, which will help guide our Association in these efforts moving forward.

With the guidance of our Board of Directors and the commitment from our members and partners, we were able to resolve many of our financial challenges. We implemented a new membership model to right-size the organization and better reflect our enhanced member benefits.

In 2019, we will continue to evaluate new programs, services and products to meet the ongoing demands and obligations all of our members have in their destinations. We are continuously grateful for all of your support and we look forward to serving you in the years to come.

Best Regards,

Sincerely,

Don Welsh President & CEO Destinations International

7 Destinations International 2018 ANNUAL REPORT6 Destinations International 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

2018 STRATEGIC GOALSThe following strategic goals direct all Destinations International’s initiatives:

Industry Advocacy Leadership: Become the recognized advocate for the destination marketing and management industry.

International Impact: Expand the international footprint to grow membership, non-dues revenue and global impact.

Strategic Partnerships: Transform the partnership business model to create beneficial solutions for destination organizations and partners.

Next Generation Professional Development: Become the premier source for destination marketing and management education and professional development.

Diversity and Inclusion: Lead and engage diversity initiatives and opportunities within the destination marketing and management industry.

VISIONOur members are essential to

the success of destinations worldwide.

MISSIONWe empower our members so that their destinations excel.

VALUE PROPOSITIONWe inform, connect, inspire

and educate our members to drive destination economic

impact, job creation, community sustainability and quality of life through travel.

FOUR PILLARS

RESEARCHDestinations

International is obsessed with

what’s next for destination management

through forward-focused research and relevant data.

EDUCATIONDestinations

International is the definitive resource for professional development

and destination management.

ADVOCACYDestinations

International is the collective voice of destination organizations empowering

destinations on issues big and

small.

COMMUNITYDestinations

International is a hub connecting associations and

industries to create trusted partnerships

invaluable to our members.

ASSOCIATION REVENUE AND EXPENSESThroughout 2018, Destinations International has been vigilant about our financial challenges, and we have significantly reduced the amount of previous debt the Association incurred. Putting the financial challenges behind us, we were able to focus on our value proposition to our members and ensure that we are providing them with what they want, need and are willing to support.

TOTAL REVENUE*

$10,282,130TOTAL EXPENSES*

$9,767,636*These numbers are unaudited and

are subject to change.

COMMUNITY

10 Destinations International 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 11 Destinations International 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

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5,648+TOTAL DESTINATION PROFESSIONALS

563TOTAL MEMBER

ORGANIZATIONS

59BUSINESS MEMBERS

35PARTNERS

94TOTAL BUSINESS MEMBERS AND

PARTNERS

96%RETENTION

RATE

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIPMembership with Destinations International connects destinations around the world to the tools needed to make their destinations stronger. Through the launch of our Member Webinars, we focused on providing resources members need to fuel their destination and individual success. Through our Member Forum, we continue to improve the sense of community by connecting members to each other and the larger tourism community. The support of our members worldwide pushes us forward and elevates our industry.

239,738Visits

557,774 Page Views

TOP STATES California Virginia Florida Texas

TOP METRO AREAS Washington, D.C.

(DMV region) New York Los Angeles Chicago San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose region

WEBSITE

MEMBER FORUM

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES

379 Active Users

764 Total Users

7 New

Partnerships totaling $160K+

61% Member Forum engagement is up 61% over the launch period last year.

100% Renewal Rate

17,730 Page Views

$1.3MGenerated across Association and

Foundation

280Total Comments

$200K+in Kind Support


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DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS Destinations International’s 2018 partners are an elite group of business and industry organizations that make significant contributions to our Association and Foundation each year. We are truly grateful for their strong leadership and continued commitment.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

PINNACLE PARTNERS

PREMIER PARTNERSPMS 1 79 5 C

CORPORATE PARTNERS

SMALL DESTINATION TASKFORCE

• Chair: Melyssa Laughlin, Visit Vacaville

• Timothy Bush, CDME, Cajun Bayou Tourism

• Rob DeCleene, Visit South Bend Mishawaka

• John Groh, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Gregg Mervis, Akron Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Bonnie Quill, Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Minto Schneider, Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation

• Sara Toliver, Visit Ogden

• Mary Kay Vrba, Dutchess Tourism, Inc.

SMALL DESTINATION TASK FORCE The Small Destination Task Force, led by Melyssa Laughlin, President and CEO of Visit Vacaville, CA, was formed to provide guidance and input to Destinations International on best serving the needs of our member destinations with budgets of $2 million or less — a group that comprises more than one third of our member base.

The task force was instrumental in the development of a new webinar series designed specifically for small destination organizations. The webinars allowed for continued education without the time or expense of leaving the office.

225Small Destination

Webinar Registrantsin 2018

• Chair: Steven Paganelli, TripAdvisor

• Alexis Adelson, Brand USA• Richard Allchild, IMEX Group• Lynsie Bennett, STR• Angie Briggs, Miles

Partnership• Mark Churchill, Expedia

Group Media Solutions• Matt Clement, Arrivalist• Craig Compagnone, MMGY

Global• Mona Coton, PCMA• Leeta Cruise, HelmsBriscoe• Shalise Demott, Northstar

Meetings Group• Karl Ely, ASAE• Amir Eylon, Longwoods

International• Erin Francis-Cummings,

Destination Analysts

• Cara Frank, Simpleview• Mike Gamble, SearchWide

Global• Andria Godfrey, ADARA• Amrita Gurney, CrowdRiff• Jamie Hansen, MMGY Global• Julie Hart, CFO By Design• Alexander Heimann, Tempest• Wendy Olson Killion, Expedia

Group Media Solutions• Jayma Lackey, Expedia

Group Media Solutions• Mark Lynch, Tempest• Monya Mandich, Expedia

Group Media Solutions• David Morrow, ADARA• Randi Rogers, Miles

Partnership• Vail Ross, STR• Gregory Shapiro, Tempest• Marissa Telfer, Civitas

PARTNER ADVISORY COUNCILThe Partner Advisory Council is comprised of Destinations International’s leading partners who together collaborate and connect around key goals and objectives of our organization. This group meets four times annually at industry events, including IMEX America and our Annual Convention.

In 2018, Steven Paganelli of TripAdvisor assumed the role of Partner Advisory Council Chair, succeeding Karl Ely of ASAE, The Center for Association Leadership.

PARTNER ADVISORY COUNCIL


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GLOBAL LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

Throughout 2018, we continued to connect and engage with industry groups and key global organizations to drive engagement, grow revenue streams and advance partnerships. We also built a strong Global Leadership Committee comprised of industry leaders to assist us in identifying strategic efforts of growth globally.

PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL EVENTS

» FITUR » ECM’s Spring, Annual and

Summer School meetings » WTTC Global Summit » IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX

America » Australian Association

of Convention Bureaux (AACB) Annual Meeting

» 2nd Annual DMOs Day at IBTM Americas

» World Travel Market

DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED A

EURO-BASED EVENT IMPACT CALCULATORin partnership with Tourism

Economics and European Cities Marketing (ECM)

2018 HALL OF FAME Launched in 2014, the Hall of Fame Award was created to recognize individuals who have changed the future of destination marketing and management for the better, made significant contributions to the advancement of the industry and shaped travel marketing. It is the highest honor that Destinations International can bestow.

This prestigious award provides a historical narrative of the leaders who have helped grow and nurture the destination organization industry through the years.

2018 DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Anja LoetscherRetired; Former Director, Geneva

Tourism & Conventions Foundation

Marian Holt McLainRetired; Former

President & CEO, San Jose CVB

William (Bill) Peeper

Retired; Former President & CEO,

Orlando CVB

Deborah SextonFormer President &

CEO, PCMA

• Chair: Tammy Blount-Canavan, Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Jerad Bachar, VisitPittsburgh

• Johanne Belanger, Tourism Toronto

• Fran Belasco, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel - Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau

• Ray Bloom, IMEX Group

• Karen Bolinger, Melbourne CVB

• David Burgess, Miles Partnership

• Craig Compagnone, MMGY Global

• Richard (Rick) Cutting-Miller, Resonance Consultancy

• Brad Dean, Discover Puerto Rico

• Ignasi de Delas, Barcelona Tourism

• Shalise DeMott, Northstar

• David Dubois, IAEE

• Amir Eylon, Longwoods International

• Corrina Ferguson, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance

• Sarah Foster, Oneida County CVB

• Jason Fulvi, Visit KC

• Tiffany Gallagher, Civitas

• Dave Gazely, Tourism Vancouver

• Ryan George, Simpleview

• Laura Patricia Giraldo, Medellín Convention Bureau

• Andria Godfrey, Adara

• Michael Goldsmith, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

• Gretchen Hall, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Patrick Harrison, Visit Tampa Bay

• Victoria Isley, Bermuda Tourism Authority

• Rob Jackson, Houston First

• Kevin Kane, Memphis CVB

• Sherrif Karamat, PCMA

• Devin Lewis, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

• Lyn Lewis-Smith, Business Events Sydney

• Anja Loetscher, Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation

• Monya Mandich, Expedia Group Media Solutions,

• Ana Maria Moreno Gomez, Medellín Convention Bureau

• Michael Nagy, Rio Convention & Visitors Authority

• Paul Nursey, Tourism Victoria

• Paul Ouimet, NEXTFactor

• Janinne Pinedo, Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce

• Rich Reasons, Simpleview

• Vail Ross, STR

• Nitin Sachdeva, Venture Marketing

• Minto Schneider, Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corp.

• Mya Surrency, Digital Edge Marketing

• Darren Temple, MPI

• Christopher L. Thompson, Brand USA

• Paul Vallee, Gaining Edge

• Claudia Vecchio, Sonoma County Tourism

• Ana Maria Viscasillas, Business Tourism Services, Puerto Rico

• Julie Wagner, Beverly Hills CVB

section

ADVOCACY & RESEARCHDestinations International is the collective voice of destination

organizations empowering destinations on issues big and small.


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DESTINATION SHOWCASE In February 2018, we welcomed over 1,000 attendees and 140 destination organizations at our annual Destination Showcase in Washington, D.C. The one-day dynamic event offers destinations the opportunity to easily connect with meeting professionals so they can better understand how CVBs can drive more successful meetings. The event included a networking exchange luncheon, morning education session hosted by PCMA, interactive learning labs, hands-on demos and a closing reception.

Culinary innovator, international business visionary and owner of ThinkFoodGroup, José Andrés shared his passion for our industry, the importance travel plays in humanity and his commitment to serve during his keynote at the event.

84% of CVBs received leads directly from the event

Over

1,000attendees

#1 REASON MEETING PLANNERS ATTEND

DESTINATION SHOWCASE IS TO MEET CVBS

120 destinations exhibited in 2018

ADVOCACY & RESEARCH


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ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH In 2018 the Destinations International Advocacy and Research teams were busy bringing thought leadership and research to our members.

• Chair: Annette Rummel, Great Lakes Bay Regional CVB

• Keith Backsen, Visit Omaha

• Speros Batistatos, South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority

• Mike Butts, Visit Charlotte

• Matt Clement, Arrivalist• Jayne DeLuce, Visit

Champaign County• Larisa Draves, Michigan

Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus

• David DuBois, IAEE• Jim Epperson, Clark-

Floyd Counties Convention & Tourism Bureau

• Erik Evjen, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Corrina Ferguson, Visit Elizabeth City

• Maura Gast, Irving Texas CVB

• Mary German, Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Shelly Green, Durham CVB

• Ashley Harris, Visit San Antonio

• Alex Heimann, Tempest• Rob Jackson, Houston

First• Kristen Jarnagin,

Discover Long Island• Julie Jensen, Visit

Rapid City• Tom Kemp, Northstar

Media• Carrie Lambert, Indiana

Tourism Association• JoLynn Lokey, Visit

Tampa Bay• David Looby,

Minneapolis Northwest Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Marcus Margerum, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Cassandra McAuley, Tourism Calgary

• Jim McCaul, Resonance Consultancy

• Deb Meihls, New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau

• Scott Miraldi, MediAssociates

• Paul Nursey, Tourism Victoria

• Amber O’Connell, VISIT FLORIDA

• Donna O’Daniels, Louisiana’s Northshore/St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission

• Katherine O’Donnell, Richmond Region Tourism

• Brett Oetting, Visit Topeka

• Jason Outman, Experience Columbia SC

• Julie Pingston, Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Doug Price, Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Ron Price, Arlington CVB

• Wes Rhea, Visit Stockton

• Ian Ross, Travel Spike• Andrew Said, Tourism

Toronto• Martha Sheridan,

Greater Boston CVB Inc.

• Rick Vaughn, Keyway, LLC

• Claudia Vecchio, Sonoma County Tourism

• Jack Wert, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Katy Willis, Visit Seattle

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

THREE POLICY BRIEFS IN 2018:

The New Tourism Lexicon

State of the State Addresses

The Shifting Conversationon Gun Control and How it

May Affect Destinations

6245Destination Organizations

Participated in the Compensation and

Benefits Study

Blog Posts Released

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL POLICY BRIEF, JULY 2018 1

POLICY BRIEF

Last year, Destinations International released a policy brief entitled, “Advocacy in the Face of Ideology,” which made the case that relying on ROI numbers to defend the value and relevancy of a destination organization was no longer a viable advocacy strategy. Instead, we argued, destination organizations need to support the message of ROI in terms of dollars and cents with an ideological and value-based appeal to convince political leaders that without a destination organization, these returns will inevitably vanish.

Our industry has unfortunately fallen for what George Lakoff, a professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley, dubs the “Enlightenment Fallacy.” According to this viewpoint, you simply need to tell people the facts in clear language and they’ll reason to the right, true conclusions. The problem, as Lakoff puts it is, “The cognitive and brain sciences have shown this is false… it’s false in every single detail.”

The reality is that people tend to frame political arguments, and the facts behind them, in terms of their own values. What this means, essentially, is that words matter in politics, and those words need to be chosen carefully.

Political FramingUsing language to frame a political conversation is nothing new. Frank Luntz is a pollster who has been at the forefront of Republican political messaging for 30 years. One of his greatest contributions to Republican messaging can be found in "The New American Lexicon," a playbook published annually by Luntz since the early 1990s. In a section titled "14 Words Never to Use," Luntz instructs to never say "government" when one could say "Washington" instead.

"Most Americans appreciate their local government that picks up their trash, cleans their streets, and provides police and transportation services," Luntz said.

"Washington is the problem. Remind voters again and again about Washington spending, Washington waste, Washington taxation, Washington bureaucracy, Washington rules and Washington regulations."

Luntz also suggested replacing "drilling for oil" with "exploring for energy," "undocumented workers" with "illegal aliens," and "estate tax" with "death tax." The substitutions often work — an Ipsos/NPR poll found that support for abolishing the estate tax jumps to 76% from 65% when you call it the death tax.

THE NEW TOURISM LEXICON:

REWRITING OUR INDUSTRY'S NARRATIVE

"It was completely revolutionary," according to Republican consultant Jim Dornan. "He detected phrases and single words that could change how people thought about the issues."

From "Gambling" to "Gaming"One of the best examples of the impact language can have on perception comes from the gaming industry. When Frank Fahrenkopf joined the American Gaming Association in the late 90s, he spearheaded a seemingly simplistic, yet revolutionary, re-branding strategy for the entire industry, to redefine “gambling” as “gaming.” With one single, powerful word, a new context was set for all

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES: TOURISM DIALOGUE ANALYSIS, APRIL 2018 1

POLICY BRIEF

Over the past three months, governors across the country have taken to the podium to highlight their state’s accomplishments and outline policy priorities as part of their 2018 State of the State Address. Starting with Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) on January 3rd and ending with Governor Mark Dayton (D-MN) on March 14th, we analyzed all 46 speeches delivered this year and identified who is talking about tourism and other policy topics. (Note that no addresses were scheduled for MT, NV, TX, NC)

Tourism DiscussionThirteen governors discussed tourism during their State of the State addresses, with several using the speech as an opportunity to tout the economic impact of tourism in

their states. Below is a synopsis of the tourism mentions from the thirteen governors.

ALASKA: Governor Bill Walker (I-AK) January 18, 2018On the economy: It is time we as Alaskans define our future rather than hope someone else defines it for us. We must have a thriving economy and education system that can support the types of jobs and investment needed to improve our quality of life, one that provides more opportunities for all Alaskans – today’s generation and tomorrow’s. Being such a majestic and resource-rich state, we have more options than most. We are welcoming a record-breaking number of tourists and our winter tourism continues to grow.

On the Asia market: Almost every time I visited the late Governor Wally Hickel’s office, he would show me on his globe how Asia, with its close proximity to Alaska, is where our unlimited opportunities lie. How right he was. We are assembling a multi-industry trade mission to Asia this year to advance other opportunities with our largest trade partners. We are also working to begin direct flights from Asia to Alaska. This will help us attract more of the 100 million-plus Asian vacationers each year to further enhance our extraordinary tourism industry. Alaska is open for business, and we want the world to know it.

COLORADO: Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO) January 11, 2018 We have one of the best economies in the country, but some rural communities struggle. That’s why we have invested significant resources and focused all cabinet agencies in an effort to fully realize the expansion of our economy across the entire state.

STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES: TOURISM DIALOGUE ANALYSIS

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL THREAT ANALYSIS, MARCH 2018 1

THREAT ANALYSIS

The February 14th mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida reignited a heated debate on gun control in the United States. It also demonstrated once again the need for destination organizations to have a crisis team and plan in place in order to respond swiftly and effectively when faced with such a situation. In this policy brief, we will examine the rapidly changing conversation in wake of the Florida shooting and how it affects our industry, and address what the growing trend in consumer boycotts means for destination organizations.

A Shifting Conversation On Gun Control in AmericaIn the wake of the shooting, polling showed that public opinion in the U.S. on gun control was moving. According to a Quinnipiac University poll, American voters support stricter gun laws 66 - 31 percent, the highest level of support ever measured by the independent poll. “Support for stricter gun laws is up 19 points in little more than two years,” Tim Malloy, assistant director of Quinnipiac University poll, said in a statement.

We’ve seen public opinion shift following traumatic events in the past. What’s different about this incident is a shift in the conversation, from a general conversation on gun control to a very targeted conversation regarding the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), led in large part by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. An examination of Google searches in the United States in the days following the incident shows searches for “gun control” and “NRA” mirroring each other in the immediate aftermath. But as the searches for gun control begin to drop off, we saw a dramatic increase in searches for “NRA”.

Utilizing the Quorum platform to monitor political conversations, we see a similar pattern. We tracked political conversations around “gun control” and the “NRA” going back to 2017. The two topics of conversation seem to go hand in hand, with the trend lines again mirroring each other. That all changes in February of 2018. While we do see a spike in conversations around gun control, we see a much bigger increase in conversations around the NRA.

THREAT ANALYSIS: THE SHIFTING CONVERSATION

ON GUN CONTROL AND HOW IT MAY AFFECT DESTINATIONS

BECOME A DESTINATION ALLY Destinations International is an advocate for strong destinations and the travel they drive, and you can be too. That’s why we developed the Destination Ally program in 2018. Those interested in learning more about advocacy issues and helping advance the success of destinations worldwide can sign up at destinationsinternational.org/destination-ally.

Sign up at: destinationsinternational.org/destination-ally

Destinations International and the Destinations International Foundation are the collective voice of destination organizations, empowering communities on issues big and

small. We invite you to join us as a Destination Ally and be a part of this collective voice. Sign up today to receive timely updates on advocacy issues and help advance the

success of destinations worldwide.

BECOME ADESTINATION

ALLY!

@destintl #destintl

Join the conversation by connecting with us on social media!

CONNECTWITH US

Sign up at: destinationsinternational.org/destination-ally

Destinations International and the Destinations International Foundation are the collective voice of destination organizations, empowering communities on issues big and

small. We invite you to join us as a Destination Ally and be a part of this collective voice. Sign up today to receive timely updates

on advocacy issues and help advance the success of destinations worldwide.

BECOME ADESTINATION

ALLY!

@destintl #destintl

Join the conversation by connecting with us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US

• Chair: Kellie Henderson, SearchWide Global

• Chair: Al Hutchinson, Visit Baltimore

• Chair: John Percy, Destination Niagara USA

• Cleo Battle, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Tammy Blount-Canavan, FCDME, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Bennish Brown, Augusta CVB


• Amber Burns, Visit Philadelphia

• Donna Carpenter, Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Greg DeShields, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Jasmyn Goodwin, Visit Omaha

• Elliott Ferguson, Destination DC

• Leonard Hoops, Visit Indy

• Charles Jeffers, Visit Baltimore

• James Jessie, Travel Portland

• Dzidra Junior, MGM Resorts International

• Wendy Olson Killion, Expedia Group Media Solutions

• Dr. Nicole King-Smite, CGSP, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau

• Connie Kinnard, Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Devin Lewis, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

• Nan Marchand Beauvois, US Travel Association

• Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, Association Forum

• Angela Nelson, CTA, Experience Grand Rapids

• Vail Ross, STR

• Milton Segarra, Visit Gulf Coast Mississippi

• Jessica Strasser, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Mike Waterman, Houston First Corporation

• Najauna White, Durham Convention & Visitors Burea

• Dan Williams, Experience Columbus

• Renée Williams, Edmonton Tourism

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TASK FORCE

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TASK FORCE In 2018, Destinations International launched the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force to help lead and engage diversity initiatives and opportunities within the destination marketing and management industry on behalf of the Association.

This task force first met during the 2018 Annual Convention and has had several meetings to define the task force’s key initiatives:

• Research

• University Hospitality Program Partnerships

• Key Industry Association Partnerships

• CEO Commitment

• Workforce Development

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

• Chair: Beth Erickson, Visit Loudoun

• Berkeley Young, Young Strategies, Inc.

• Cheryl Kilday, North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Christina Robbio, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Corrina Ferguson, CDME, Visit Elizabeth City

• Deborah Meihls, CDME, New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau

• Gretchen Hall, CDME, CMP, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Joseph Ward, CDME, Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Karen Raymore, CDME, Hocking Hills Tourism Association

• Kelly Groff, CDME, Visit Montgomery

• Meg Winchester, Visit Spokane

• Michaelean Stewart, Visit Panama City Beach

• Tiffany Gallagher, Civitas

• Thomas Garzilli, Brand USA

EDUCATION Over the past year, the Educational Development and Meetings department continued elevating the credibility and effectiveness of destination organizations through unique organizational programs and professional development.

CERTIFIED DESTINATION MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE (CDME) PROGRAMDestination International’s Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) program is the industry’s highest individual educational achievement. The program focuses on vision, leadership, productivity and implementing business strategies. Each year, recent CDME graduates come together at Destinations International’s Annual Convention to celebrate their hard work in achieving their CDME.

CDME BOARD OF DIRECTORS• Chair: Maura

Gast, FCDME, Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Don Anderson, CDME, Destination Consultancy Group

• Deb Archer, CDME, Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Cody Chomiak, CDME, Tourism Winnipeg

• Craig Davis, CDME, VisitPittsburgh

• Kathleen Frankford, CDME, NEXTFactor Enterprises, Inc.

• Jennifer Johnson, CDME, Monterey County CVB

• Christopher Kipper, CDME, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Melyssa Laughlin, CDME, Visit Vacaville

• Kristin McGrath, CDME, Visit Albuquerque

• Steve Paganelli, CDME, TripAdvisor

• Gary Sherwin, CDME, Visit Newport Beach, Inc.

• Monica Smith, CDME, Southeast Tourism Society

• Jack Wert, FCDME, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Barry White, CDME, Chattanooga Area CVB

92Attendees Participated in

PDM Courses in 2018Attendees Participated in

CDME Courses in 2018

292

• David Atkins, CDME • Yan Baczkowski,

CDME, Outdooractive• Jack Bonney, CDME,

Content Development Manager of Visit Anchorage

• David Buckenberger, CDME, Senior VP of Business Development of Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Corrina Ferguson, CDME, Visit Elizabeth City

• Jon Hixon, CDME, Vice President, Sales & Services of Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Lilly Kelly, CDME, Director of Marketing of Visit Anchorage

• Julie Kirkpatrick, CDME, Vice President Sales and Marketing of meetNKY

• Amanda Kliem, CDME Director of Sales of Visit Newport Beach Inc

• Brook Kreder (Kaufman), CDME, CEO of Visit Casper

• Tom Loftus, CDME, Chief Marketing Officer of VisitPittsburgh

• John Mills, CDME, Executive Vice President of Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Cliff Myers, CDME, Director of Administration of Virginia Beach CVB

• Katherine O’Donnell, CDME, Vice President of Community Relations of Richmond Region Tourism

• Brett Oetting, CDME, CEO of Visit Topeka

• Devon Perry, CDME Executive Director of Visit South Jersey

• Julie Pingston, CDME, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Michelle Stewart, Travel Marketing Professional, Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Adam Thomas, CDME, Tourism Director of Visit Pasco

2018 CDME GRADUATES


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2018 SUMMIT ATTENDANCE:

982018 CMO Summit

March 4–6Pittsburgh, PA

1702018 CEO Summit

April 23–26 Southampton, Bermuda

1092018 Visitor Services Summit

September 23–25 Monterey, CA

1422018 Membership Summit

October 22–25 Greater Palm Springs, CA

1062018 Finance Operations

& Technology SummitOctober 28–31 Cleveland, OH

1312018 Advocacy Summit

November 7–9 Philadelphia, PA

24 2018 CDME Summit

November 11–17 Seattle, WA

1082018 Convention Sales

& Services SummitDecember 8–10

New Orleans, LA

2018 SUMMITS Through highly focused and intensive learning objectives, all 2018 summits were designed to provide destination members the opportunity to learn more about specific trends and issues they face through peer-to-peer networking and learning.


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2018 ANNUAL CONVENTION More than 1,625 attendees from 16 countries engaged in general sessions and over 55 discipline-focused concurrent sessions and networking events at the 2018 Annual Convention in Anaheim, CA.

Throughout the program, leadership at the Association and the Destinations International Foundation recognized and celebrated those that have demonstrated commitment and promise towards the continued success of destination marketing and management worldwide. This year, 18 industry representatives received their CDME certification, 33 destination organizations were honored for their DMAP accreditation and reaccreditation, four industry leaders were inducted into the Hall of Fame, and the 2018 Class of 30 Under 30 was introduced.

90% of attendees indicated a positive experience

1,625 attendees

18 CDME

Graduates

33 DMAP

Designations

100+ speakers

55+ discipline-focused

concurrent sessions

16 countries

representedglobally

81 exhibitors

section

ADVOCACY & RESEARCHDestinations International is the collective voice of destination

organizations empowering destinations on issues big and small.DESTINATION TOOLS


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EVENT IMPACT CALCULATOR

EMPOWERMINT AND MINT+

40 New Subscribers

in 2018

246 Total

Subscribers534

Total Subscriptions

7Number of Countries

9 New Subscribers

in 2018

141Total Subscribers

187,704# of Account Views

21,071Number of Mint Queries

?MINT+ Histories Added

3,382

3,994Event Bookings Added

328,905Updates Made

• European Cities Marketing (ECM) • International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) • National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC)

3 NEW EIC PARTNERSHIPSESTABLISHED IN 2018

The Event Impact Calculator (EIC) measures the economic value of an event and calculates its return on investment to local taxes. Armed with this information, destination organizations are better prepared to make the case to policymakers for the ongoing development and growth of the events sector.

In 2018, the EIC had exciting growth in subscribers, partners, scope and borders.

The Overnight Room Demand Analyzer (ORDA) was added to the empowerMINT/MINT+ platform to allow subscribers to analyze the peak and total room demand of an event.

DMAP STANDARDSIn early 2018, the DMAP Board took a long and hard look at its current set of standards and determined that the standards and domains were due for a major overhaul.

The DMAP Board also streamlined the required annual progress reporting and launched a simplified pricing model.

DMAP BOARD

• Chair: David Holder, CDME, JLL Hotels and Hospitality

• Tania Armenta, Visit Albuquerque

• Cody Chomiak, CDME, Tourism Winnipeg

• Mark Crabb, FCDME, CMP, Greater Palm Springs CVB

• John Cychol, FCDME, CTA, Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Anne D. Druck, CDME, York County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Karen Fisher, CDME, VisitPittsburgh

• Maura Allen Gast, FCDME, Irving Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Virginia Haley, CDME, Visit Sarasota County

• Mary Hammond, Paducah CVB

• Misty Johantgen, Experience Kissimmee

• Dennis Johnston, CDME, Oklahoma City CVB

• Kristin Lamoureux, Ph.D., George Washington University

• Jose Sotolongo, Miami Sports

DMAP TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED

Started collection of sample documents and mentor availability

YEAR-ROUND APPLICATION REVIEWS

MOVED ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT ONLINE

APPROVED A SIMPLIFIED PRICING MODEL

DEVELOPED A STRATEGIC PLAN

PRESENTED BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION AT

INDUSTRY EVENTS

NEW ACCREDITATION LEVEL:ACCREDITATION WITH DISTINCTION

8817

First-time applications

4-year applications

8-year applications

33 Number of

Applications received


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2017 NEWLY ACCREDITED (Initial Application)

• Travel Lane County

• Visit Anchorage

2017 REACCREDITED (8-year Application)

• Cobb Travel and Tourism

• Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Discover the Palm Beaches

• Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce

• Lisle Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Park City Chamber of Commerce & CVB

• Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Visit Knoxville

• Visit Milwaukee

• Visit Spokane

• VisitPittsburgh

• Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• York County Convention & Visitors Bureau

2017 RENEWALS (4-year Application)

• Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Bryan College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Meet Minneapolis

2018 NEWLY ACCREDITED (Initial Application)

• Experience Olympia and Beyond

• St. Tammany Parish Tourist & Convention Commission

• Tourism Toronto

• Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Visit Panama City Beach

• Visit SLO CAL

2018 REACCREDITED (8-year Application)

• Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau

• LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau

2018 RENEWALS (4-year Application)

• Monterrey Mexico Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Springfield, Missouri Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Tourism Kelowna

• West Hollywood Marketing Corporation

33 DESTINATIONS RECEIVED DMAP DESIGNATION IN 2018 In 2018, 33 CVBs received a Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) seal in recognition of their commitment to industry excellence and meeting the industry standard for performance and accountability of destination marketing and management organizations around the world.

2018 DMAP TASK FORCE OVERVIEW The DMAP Task Force was proactively formed to provide past applicants a platform for sharing their experiences and championing the benefits of accreditation within the industry. The task force exemplifies the best of the peer-to-peer benefits of Destinations International membership. 2018 core projects included:

1. Providing context and examples of the DMAP value proposition through testimonials.

2. Providing an initial review of the newest standards developed as part of the new DMAP application.

3. Sharing opportunities to present DMAP at industry events and conferences.

DMAP TASK FORCE

• Co-Chair: Bill Malone, Park City Chamber/Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Co-Chair: Jack Wert, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Karron Alford, Visit Baton Rouge

• Jeff Conway, Visit Orlando

• Scott Dring, Dublin OH CVB

• Nannette Eiland, Visit Fort Worth

• Rocco Fazzolari, Tourism Toronto

• Deborah Meihls, New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau

• Dan Rowe, Visit Panama City Beach

• Andrew Said, Tourism Toronto CVB

• Trent Snyder, Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Brett Stawar, Alton Regional CVB

• Jennifer Vigil, Destination Panama City


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DESTINATIONNEXT

66 DNEXT

Workshops and Online

Assessments

61 Assessments Completed of Destinations

Across the U.S.

4 Statewide/Provincial

Initiatives in 2018 (Maine, Michigan, Northwest Florida

and Manitoba)

Detailed Assessments of

183 Destinations From

11 Countries Since 2015

NEW DNEXT PARTNERSHIP IN 2018In 2018, Destinations International announced a new partnership agreement with NEXTFactor Enterprises Inc. to manage and deliver Destinations International’s popular DestinationNEXT product. Exciting plans for the partnership include expanding DestinationNEXT to make it an even more effective program for all types of destinations around the world, from tier one global cities to small, rural communities. Work is underway to add a sustainability index, which will provide critical new insights into this growing topic.

CONVENTION SALES AND SERVICES COMMITTEE

• Chair: Melissa Riley, Destination DC

• Cleo Battle, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Daniel Beisel, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Rachel Benedick, Visit Denver

• Todd Bertka, Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

• John Bettag, Explore St. Louis

• Marco Bloemendaal, Visit Milwaukee

• David Buckenberger, Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Tracey Burkey, CDME, Visit Syracuse

• Thomas Cannon, Univ of Texas at San Antonio

• John Cychol, Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Katie Fencl, Catch Des Moines

• Sarah Foster, Oneida County Tourism

• A.J. Frels, Explore LaCrosse

• Steve Genovesi, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Melissa Gogel, Visit Phoenix

• Loren Gold, Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Wendy Haase, Destination Irvine

• Cathy Keller, Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Marci Krueger-Sidebottom, VisitLEX

• John Leinen, Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Dana Maugans, Springfield (MO) CVB

• Kristin McGrath, Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau Incorporated

• Bill McMillan, Visit Charlotte

• Mark McMinn, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Michelle Moore, Experience Kissimmee

• Kenley Moy, CMP, San Francisco Travel Association

• Tyler Orwig, San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Jason Outman, Experience Columbia SC

• Karl Pietrzak, VisitPittsburgh

• Amy Riley, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority

• Janis Ross, CMP, Travel Lane County

• Sarah Rowan, Visit Knoxville

• Dasha Runyan, Richmond Region Tourism

• Joyce Russell, Visit Indy• Suzanne Scully, CDME,

Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater

• Margie Sitton, San Diego Tourism Authority

• Susan Smith, Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau

• John Solis, Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Rick Staub, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Katie Stein, Catch Des Moines

• Junior Tauvaa, Visit Anaheim

• Joe Ward, Greater Saint Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Jonny Westom, Visit Dana Point

• Amy Zientek, Visit Lubbock, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

CONVENTION SALES AND SERVICES COMMITTEEThe Convention Sales and Services Committee is committed to supporting the Association in volunteer leadership focused on education, innovation and products. They are charged with the following: • Creating targeted levels of

educational opportunities to serve the destination organization sales and services committee.

• Continuing to elevate the CVB sales and services space by aligning with outside influencers and trends.

• Creating and maintaining a suite of tools and resources available to members to assist them in advancing their individual missions.

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL

LEADERSHIP


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IP BOARD OF DIRECTORSDestinations International is truly grateful for the strong leadership and continued commitment from our board members.

2017/2018 Destinations International Board of Directors• Chair: Tammy Blount-Canavan,

FCDME, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Bennish Brown, Travel Tacoma + Pierce County

• Ronnie Burt

• Julie Coker Graham, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau


• Ignasi de Delas, Turisme de Barcelona

• David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA, IAEE, International Association of Exhibitions & Events

• Karl Ely, CAE, ASAE, The Center for Association Leadership

• Cara Frank, Simpleview

• Jason Fulvi, CDME, Visit KC

• Maura Gast, FCDME, Irving Texas CVB


• Shelly Green, Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Bryan Grimaldi, NYC & Company

• Virginia J. Haley, CDME, Visit Sarasota County

• Robert Joseph, CDME, Visit Montrose

• Kevin Kane, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Thomas Kemp, Northstar Travel Group

• Monya Mandich, Expedia Group Media Solutions

• Casandra Matej, CDME, Visit San Antonio

• Tom Noonan, Visit Austin

• William Pate, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

• David Peacock, Regional Tourism Organization 4

• Ron Price, Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Marla Roe, CDME, Visit Frisco

• Milton Segarra, CDME, Visit Gulf Coast Mississippi

• Gary Sherwin, CDME, Visit Newport Beach, Inc.

• Butch Spyridon, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

• Christopher L. Thompson, CDME, Brand USA

• Barry White, CDME, Chattanooga Area CVB

• Karen Williams, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau

2018/2019 Destinations International Board of Directors

• Chair: William Pate, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Johanne Belanger, FCPA, FCA, Tourism Toronto

• Tammy Blount-Canavan, FCDME, Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Bennish Brown, Augusta CVB

• Leslie Bruce, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism Bureau


• Julie Coker Graham, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau


• Ignasi de Delas, Turisme de Barcelona

• David DuBois, CMP, CAE, FASAE, CTA, IAEE-International Association of Exhibitions & Events

• Karl Ely, CAE, ASAE-The Center for Association Leadership

• Cara Frank, Simpleview

• Maura Gast, FCDME, Irving Texas CVB


• Shelly Green, Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Bryan Grimaldi, NYC & Company

• John Groh, CDME, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Virginia J. Haley, CDME, Visit Sarasota County

• Gretchen Hall, CDME, CMP, Little Rock CVB

• Al Hutchinson, Visit Baltimore

• Thomas Kemp, Northstar Travel Group

• Melyssa Laughlin, CDME, Visit Vacaville

• Nan Marchand Beauvois, US Travel Association

• Steve Moore, Visit Phoenix

• Tom Noonan, Visit Austin

• David Peacock, Regional Tourism Organization 4

• Ron Price, Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Marla Roe, CDME, Visit Frisco

• Butch Spyridon, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

• Christopher L. Thompson, CDME, Brand USA

• Mike Waterman, Houston First Corporation (Visit Houston)

• Scott White, Greater Palm Springs CVB

• Karen Williams, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau

LEADERSHIP COMMITTEES

Governance Committee

• Chair: Craig Davis

• Fran Belasco

• Shelly Green

• Brett Stawar

• Claudia Vecchio

Finance Committee

• Secretary/Treasurer: Butch Spyridon

• David Burgess

• Julie Coker Graham

• Craig Davis

• John Lambeth

• Brian Ross

Audit Committee

• Chair: Mike Mooney

• Becky Heath

• J ohn Kim

• John Lambeth

• Jim Meyer

• Braam du Plooy

• Andrew Said

• Craig D. Vay

Nominating Committee

• Chair: Tammy Blount-Canavan

• Craig Davis

• Karl Ely

• Gretchen Hall

• Al Hutchinson

• David Peacock

• Karen Williams

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL STAFF LIST

Don Welsh President & CEO

Melissa Cherry Chief Operating Officer

Jordon Chan Executive Assistant to the

President and CEO

Jack Johnson Chief Advocacy Officer &

Foundation Executive Director

EXECUTIVE OFFICE


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Caitlyn Blizzard Director of

Communications

David Breisch Director of Marketing

Technology

Pamela R. Hanner Richardson

Director of Information Technology

Talia Alexander Marketing Coordinator

Andreas Weissenborn Senior Director of Research and

Advocacy

Matt Ozuna Advocacy and Data

Manager

Brian London DMAP Program

Consultant

ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, GOVERNANCE & FOUNDATION

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Alison Best Executive Vice

President, Membership Engagement

Kate Skidmore Senior Director of

Membership

Quineesa Smith Membership

Engagement Account Manager

Terri L. Roberts Membership

Engagement and Training Manager

MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT

Barbra Gustis, M.Ed., CMP

EVP of Educational Development &

Meetings

Greg Morris, CMP Director of Meetings &

Education

Marissa C. Orr, CEM Associate Director of

Meetings

Tonia Williams Registrar and Program

Coordinator

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MEETINGS

Elaine Rosquist, CMP Senior Director,

Product Engagement

Alyssa Poulin Product Engagement

Manager

Nina Winston Executive Vice

President, Global Development and Strategic Alliances

Yvonne Pearson Manager of Strategic

Alliances

PRODUCT ENGAGEMENTSTRATEGIC ALLIANCES

AND GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

Chelsea Dunlop Welter

Senior Director of Operations

Becky Heath Director of Finance

Johnny White Accountant

OPERATIONS

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL

FOUNDATION

44 Destinations International Foundation 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 45 Destinations International Foundation 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

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MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDATION CHAIRS

In 2018, the Destinations International Foundation yielded a tremendous year in delivering thought leadership though our industry’s initiatives of research, education, advocacy and leadership development.

Some of the Foundation’s achievements resulted in an enhanced advocacy program that empowers our community to face both current and future threats. We are leading the fight against the Weaponization of Travel—an effort by others to hold our industry hostage using travel boycotts.

As we face the new political reality where political decisions are too often based on emotion—and not return on investment— we defined the new Tourism Lexicon aimed at shifting the way we describe ourselves and our efforts to an emotional

and values-based approach. We delivered key content for Destinations International’s Annual Convention and Summits. And we held a successful Advocacy Summit in Philadelphia, PA with record attendance and raving reviews.

To those who invested in the Foundation in 2018, we thank you. The Foundation is our think tank, our research and development arm, our leadership development vehicle, and it is our map to the future.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Pace Brown President & CEOExplore Asheville Board Chair, 2017–2018

Jason Fulvi President & CEOVisit KC Board Chair, 2018–2019

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Destinations International Foundation is about serving the community of destination organization professionals first and foremost.

The Foundation, formerly known as the Travel & Destination Foundation, originally served as a traditional grant making entity—much like a private

foundation would. Beginning in 2017 and continuing into 2018, the Foundation was refocused and renamed. We took this time to support the rebuilding of the Association, create better alignment between the two organizations and frankly, get our house in order.

We oversaw the migration to a new mission and a supportive organization structure. In addition to the new name, we created new governance principles, bylaws and policies. To carry out our mission, we hired research and advocacy staff. Looking to the future, we focused our energies on being the thought leader of our industry through research, advocacy, education programs and leadership development. And to support this work, we outlined a multi-sourced funding model.

As we enter 2019, we will fully embrace our mission of supporting the strategic goals of Destinations International. We will work on projects related to global development, diversity and inclusion, leadership development, industry research and advocacy.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Foundation. It ensures that the people working at destination organizations are supported with knowledge, programs and powerful tools, so that they can continue driving growth, creating jobs and building our destinations.

Sincerely,

Jack Johnson Executive Director Destinations International Foundation


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DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEESDestinations International is truly grateful for the strong leadership and continued commitment from our Foundation Board trustees.

2017/2018 Destinations International Foundation Board of Trustees• Chair: Stephanie Pace Brown,

Explore Asheville• Keith Backsen, CDME, Visit

Omaha• Scott Beck, Visit Salt Lake• Jay Burress, Visit Anaheim• Katie Callahan-Giobbi,

Association Forum• Donna Carpenter, Visit

Cabarrus• Kathleen Frankford, CDME,

Discover Lancaster• Jason Fulvi, CDME, Visit KC• Ryan George, Simpleview• John Groh, CDME, Rockford

Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Leonard Hoops, Visit Indy• Al Hutchinson, Visit Baltimore• Sherrif Karamat, CAE, PCMA• Cheryl Kilday, CDME, Visit

Spokane• John Lambeth, Civitas• Joseph Marinelli, Visit

Savannah• Travis Napper, CDME, Ruston

Lincoln Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau

• William Pate, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau

• John Percy, Destination Niagara USA

• Jorge Pesquera, CDME, Discover The Palm Beaches

• Vail Ross, STR• Annette Rummel, Ph.D., Great

Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Susie Santo, CDME, Visit Wichita

• Gregg Shapiro, Tempest• Martha Sheridan, Providence

Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

2018/2019 Destinations International Foundation Board of Trustees• Chair: Jason Fulvi, CDME, Visit

KC• Keith Backsen, CDME, Visit

Omaha• Scott Beck, Visit Salt Lake• Jay Burress, Visit Anaheim• Katie Callahan-Giobbi,

Association Forum• Donna Carpenter, CDME, Visit

Cabarrus• Craig Davis, CDME,

VisitPittsburgh• Kathleen Frankford, CDME,

NEXTFactor Enterprises, Inc.• Ryan George, Simpleview• John Groh, CDME, Rockford

Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Leonard Hoops, Visit Indy• Linda John, CDME, Visit Eau

Claire• Sherrif Karamat, CAE, PCMA• Cheryl Kilday, CDME, North

Myrtle Beach Chamber• John Lambeth, Civitas• Joseph Marinelli, Visit

Savannah• Stephanie Pace Brown, Explore

Asheville• John Percy, CDME, Destination

Niagara USA• Jorge Pesquera, CDME,

Discover The Palm Beaches• Vail Ross, STR• Annette Rummel, Ph.D., Great

Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Milton Segarra, CDME, Coastal Mississippi

• Gregg Shapiro, Tempest• Martha Sheridan, Greater

Boston CVB Inc.

• Ellie Westman Chin, CDME, Visit Franklin, TN

Jack JohnsonExecutive Director

Andreas Weissenborn Senior Director of Research

& Advocacy

Matthew Ozuna Advocacy and Data

Manager

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION STAFF The Destinations International Foundation staff is dedicated to empowering destination organizations globally by providing education, research, advocacy and leadership development.

DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION 2018 STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES With every dollar raised, the Foundation tackles the issues we all face daily and helps ensure the continued growth of destinations worldwide. Investment in the Foundation directly supports unique and specific strategic initiatives. These initiatives support and further the Association’s goals and often provide the research and intellectual capital for product creation, program support and unique education opportunities. The Foundation also supports the development of human capital through scholarships and targeted learning programs.

RESEARCH Together we will create new knowledge. The Foundation is one of the largest funders of research to develop a better understanding of our industry and the environment we operate in. We set industry standards through the Compensation and Benefits Study, identify trends and opportunities through our Standard Performance Reporting and DestinationNEXT Futures studies, and track current threats through reports like our Weaponization of Travel Study.

EDUCATION Together we will foster a passion for learning. The Foundation invests in building industry knowledge by funding educational programming for destination professionals throughout the year. We bring innovative speakers and luminaries to Destinations International’s Annual Convention and discipline-based Summits. We fund the development of new CDME, FCDME and PDM curricula, and provide scholarship opportunities for professionals to participate in industry conferences and certification programs. We created governance training programs for destination organizations and their board of directors, and we created an Advocacy Summit to help industry professionals become more effective advocates for their destination organizations.

ADVOCACY Together we will raise the voice of the industry. The Foundation works diligently to help destination organizations better advocate for the outcome of their efforts. We monitor political conversations and track legislation that impacts our industry, utilizing the world’s most comprehensive database of legislative information. We develop policy briefs and threat analysis reports to help destination organizations mitigate current threats and get ahead of future issues on the horizon. We assembled a team of industry leaders and crisis management experts to help destination organizations assess crisis situations and set them on the path to creating an effective response strategy.

LEADERSHIP Together we will develop the leaders of tomorrow. The Foundation invests in preparing the leaders of tomorrow through professional development and mentorship opportunities. Through programs like 30 Under 30 and the Apprenticeship Program, we are developing future industry leaders that represent a diverse set of backgrounds and perspectives.The Destinations International Foundation is classified as a charitable organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, and all donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.


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FOUNDATION REVENUE AND EXPENSESIn 2018, the Destinations International Foundation finished the three-year effort to rebuild the corporate structure of the Foundation and pivot to being a fully supportive Foundation to the Association. In this role, we have moved to providing greater programmatic support in the areas of research, advocacy, education and leadership development. 2018 was the last year in which the Foundation operated a low-key approach to fundraising in order to allow the Association to address its long-standing financial issues. Despite that, the Foundation continued to improve its operating performance from the low point in 2016 by cutting the annual deficit in half by 2018. As part of the 2019 Business Plan, the Foundation will develop a Three-Year Strategic Plan including a new multi-year Fundraising Strategy. Through this, we will meet the continuing needs of destination organizations worldwide and fulfill the expectations of our Foundation donors.

$400K

$200K

$0

($200K)

($400k)

($600K)

($800K)

($1M)

FOUNDATION OPERATING PERFORMANCE 2010-2018

2010 2012 2014 20162011 2013 2015 2017 2018

ADVOCACY SUMMITThe 2nd Annual Advocacy Summit was held in Philadelphia, PA on November 7–9, 2018 with an increase in attendance of over 200 percent from the year prior. The two-day event focused on a range of political issues faced by destination organizations, before turning the focus to tactics that destination professionals can incorporate in their own efforts.

TOTAL REVENUE*

$1,103,026TOTAL EXPENSES*

$1,617,676*These numbers are unaudited and

are subject to change.


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SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY More than 400 industry professionals joined us in Washington, D.C. for the 2018 Spirit of Hospitality Celebration. Bringing together tourism industry leaders, the Spirit of Hospitality is a celebration of excellence and raises funds for the Destinations International Foundation to support research, education, advocacy and leadership development initiatives to empower destinations and the global travel industry. This year’s event was held at the National Geographic Headquarters as the Spirit of Hospitality Award was presented to National Geographic Traveler magazine. More than $100,000 was raised to support the work of the Foundation! Thanks to all of those who were able to join us for this fantastic event and to everyone whose generous contributions made it all possible.

30 UNDER 30 PROGRAMThe Destinations International Foundation is proud to invest in the future generation of destination leaders. Every year, 30 rising stars under the age of 30 are selected to receive valuable industry networking opportunities and increased thought leadership. Selected applicants receive complimentary registration for Annual Convention, registration for the first course in the PDM certification program, and receive access to exclusive educational content throughout the year.

With almost 100 applications in 2018, the class met for the first time in Anaheim, CA at the 2018 Annual Convention. The participants spent three days networking with industry leaders, generating new ideas and meeting peers from around the world.

The network of 30 Under 30 participants and alumni is one of the most dynamic groups of young professionals in the industry. It is supported by founding program partner SearchWide Global and sponsored by IMEX Group, MMGY Global, and Northstar Meetings Group.

• Liana Acevedo, Richmond Region Tourism

• Sarah Alexander, Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau

• George Bansah, Brand USA

• Amber Burns, Visit Philadelphia

• Jeremiah Cook, Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Colleen Costello, Newport Beach & Company

• Nick Cusick, Visit Saint Paul

• Barry Draper, DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Carleigh Dworetzky, Destination DC

• Jonathan Eckelberg, Travel Wisconsin

• Alexa Gallagher, Choose Chicago

• Nancy Gordy, Edmonton Tourism

• Calista Klein, Travel Tacoma + Pierce County

• Ali Lechlitner, Visit South Bend Mishawaka

• Sarah Justine Leduc-Villeneuve, Tourisme Montréal

• Ruida Lu, Tourism Toronto

• Fidel Mitchell, CMP, Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Randi Morritt, Visit Aurora

• Ashley Patton, Visit KC

• Kristen Pepper, Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Brianna Prasloski, Tourism Vancouver

• Brendan Pringle, Visit SLO CAL

• Alex Redlin, Visit Fort Worth

• Elizabeth Robinson, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Chris Robinson, Visit Salt Lake

• Robert Row, Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Michaelean Stewart, Visit Panama City Beach

• Cameron Teske, Greater Green Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Tamara Thorhallsson, Visit Seattle

• Christine Zetzl, Visit Indy

2018 CLASS OF 30 UNDER 30

2025 M Street, NW Suite 500Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 20036

Documents

2018 - Destinations International · 2019-03-29 · advance partnerships. We also built a strong Global Leadership Committee comprised of industry leaders to assist us in identifying