Destinations International Releases Bevy of Fall 2018 Educational Events
April 8, 2018
Destinations International Chair Tammy Blount, FCDME and president and CEO of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau and President and CEO Don Welsh recently announced the schedule for the organization’s fall educational summits.
“Destinations International is offering refreshed and new educational opportunities to provide critical learning, sharing of best practices, and network-building opportunities for every level of a destination organization,” Blount said.
He added, “From board governance to visitor services and everything in between, every member of a destination team will take away important skills and information from these events.”
Each summit concentrates on destination organization specific disciplines and is designed to provide the tools necessary for team members and the organization to achieve its goals and objectives.
In addition to the summits, Destinations International will offer additional educational opportunities such as Sales Academy, providing courses for new and advanced professionals and a C-Suite Session on Board Training and Governance that will be presented in partnership with ASAE.
“We continue to hear how important these peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities are to our members,” Welsh said.
He added, “They provide our members with a support network within their discipline, bring inspiration and provide education attendees can apply when returning to their destination organization.”
Most events are offered at member and non-member rates. For more information visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
Upcoming 2018 summits and educational events include:
PDM Online Course: Destination Organization Operations: Technology & Human Resources
April 30 - May 7, 2018, Online
The Professional in Destination Management (PDM) program provides destination management professionals with less than three years of experience, cutting-edge education and empowers entry to mid-level professionals with the skills and knowledge critical to successful destination management and marketing. This course will review the role of technology and how to incorporate it into the destination organization's strategic planning and quality control processes, as well as manage its continual process improvement.
July 10-13, 2018, Anaheim, CA
As the premier event for destination marketing and management professionals, Destinations International's 2018 Annual Convention provides a unique opportunity for professionals to connect with and learn from peers and thought leaders from inside and outside the industry.
Summer Learning Week
July 6 - 10, 2018, Anaheim, California
Taking place before the association’s Annual Convention, Learning Week will include CDME courses and the PDM: Fundamentals of Destination Marketing and Management course.
C-Suite Session: CVBs Engaged!
August 17-19, 2018, Chicago, IL
This is a board governance-focused series co-presented by Destinations International and ASAE. One day will focus exclusively on content for CVBs and training on how to work with boards, succession planning and governance challenges. The following day, CVBs are encouraged to invite board members for a fully engaged training session from ASAE that will focus on building effective board relations, making board meetings more strategic and practices to enhance board structure and process. All registrants are then invited to participate in the ASAE Annual Meeting Opening Celebration, Opening Keynote, and the Association Solutions Marketplace.
September 23-25, 2018, Monterey, CA
This summit is for professionals vested in the planning, development and management of visitor experiences within their destinations. Attendees will be able to engage and exchange ideas with peers, hear from forward-thinking leaders on emerging practices and case studies, and network and connect with visitor services professionals from other destination organizations.
October 21-24, 2018, Palm Springs, CA
This community of partners, inclusive of both membership and partnership roles, targets discussions about changing trends in the destination marketplace, redefining membership and partnership responsibilities to maximize impact and recalibrating the sponsorship value proposition. Attendees will leverage shared resources, exchange ideas and solutions and learn from experts.
Finance, Operations and Technology Summit
October 28-31, 2018, Cleveland, OH
This summit is both a disciplined-focused and cross-functional gathering of senior leadership in finance, administration, operations and technology. Attendees will learn new practices, opportunities and resources and network and connect with peers.
November 7-8, 2018, Philadelphia, PA
Learn from experts and insiders about the latest trends and threats to our industry, discover tools and research available to you and enhance your leadership skills with advocacy training. Whether fighting for your funding, defending your destination against the weaponization of travel, or lighting the way through dark matter politics, this event will help you become a more effective advocate for your destination organization.
Fall Learning Week
November 11-16, 2018, Seattle, WA
This educational week will include CDME courses, the PDM: Fundamentals of Sales course and Sales Academy.
19th Annual LGBTQ Tourism Forum
December 2-4, 2018, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Destinations International is partnering with Community Marketing and Insights (CMI) for their annual event that brings together leading industry professionals to share learnings about the LGBTQ market.
Convention Sales & Services Summit
December 11-12, 2018 – Save the Date
For more information on Destinations International and its events, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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