Destinations International’s 2019 Convention, By the Numbers
August 8, 2019
The 2019 annual convention for Destinations International, held July 23-25 at America’s Convention Center Complex in downtown St. Louis, was a success by all accounts. This year’s event featured several new elements, including The Exchange—a stage that featured a rotating schedule of 15-minute sessions covering topics such as tech and data, leadership and management, social media and more.
“Evolve and Elevate” was the theme of the conference, and throughout the program, leaders from DI as well as Destinations International Foundation celebrated those who have demonstrated their commitment toward destination marketing worldwide.
In addition to many insightful sessions, attendees had the opportunity to learn from speakers such as Brian Kelly, founder and CEO of The Points Guy; Sarah Robb O’Hagan, founder and CEO of Extreme Living; and Mark Ellwood, a contributing editor for Conde Nast Traveler, among others.
On Tuesday, some attendees took a swing for charity at a golf tournament at Gateway National supporting the Foundation. That evening, a lively welcome reception sponsored by Explore St. Louis was held at Ballpark Village. In addition to dinner and dessert, it included appearances from the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues mascots, an experience with the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame, a DJ and dancing.
DI partnered with Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis for a giveback opportunity on Wednesday, where attendees filled backpacks with school supplies for families with children in need.
Throughout the conference, a little friendly competition ensued with a step challenge: Participants used their personal FitBits, Apple watches or Garmins to track their steps for the chance to earn prizes like wireless headphones.
The event closed out with a bang at Anheuser-Busch Brewery, a St. Louis original.
Take a look at a recap of the conference, by the numbers:
1,525 Total attendees
13 countries in attendance
5 keynote sessions
4 mega sessions
50 concurrent sessions
6 hotels in the room block
31 industry representatives who received their CDME certification
48 destination organizations honored for DMAP accreditation, renewal and/or reaccreditation
1 DI Destination Organization Leadership Award recipient (Brad Dean!)
$91,000 raised at the annual silent auction
$98,000 overall funds raised throughout the convention including raffles and T-shirt sales
Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be.
Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024.
To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages.
Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions.
In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage.
Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.
Add new comment