Empowering Destinations: Key Tools for Success in 2025 and Beyond!
Introduction
In the rapidly evolving travel landscape, destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) face numerous challenges, from shifting consumer preferences to intense competition. To thrive in this environment, these organizations must leverage innovative tools and resources. Destinations International offers a tailored suite of solutions designed to enhance decision-making, improve visitor engagement, and ultimately drive local economic growth.
Meeting Selection to Maximize Value
Prospecting for business events is a crucial role for destination organizations. However, many struggle with identifying suitable meetings and events due to a lack of comprehensive data. Destinations International’s Meetings Information Network (MINT+) addresses this issue by providing access to a robust database of historical and future booking data.
Gretchen Hall, chief operating officer at Destinations International, explains that MINT+ helps organizations strategically prospect and tailor their sales efforts. The database is already utilized by over 140 destinations, employing pattern matching to recommend personalized meetings that align with local needs.
For instance, Visit Pasadena uses MINT+ to target accounts that best suit their community’s requirements. Executive Director Kristin McGrath notes that this tool has significantly improved their business event strategy and operational efficiency. “Taking a strategic approach to prospecting has increased the effectiveness of our sales efforts. MINT+ is one of our best investments,” she states.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Data plays a crucial role in showcasing the value of destination organizations within their communities. The Event Impact Calculator (EIC) quantifies the economic benefits of events, allowing organizations to demonstrate their significance in terms of spending, jobs, and taxes.
Hall highlights that the EIC empowers destinations to advocate for the development of the events sector effectively. It has analyzed over 500,000 events, providing valuable insights that inform stakeholders and policymakers about the broader economic contributions of events.
Explore Edmonton uses the EIC to illustrate how events drive local business growth and tax revenue. By effectively communicating these impacts, they engage local stakeholders and secure support for future initiatives.
Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
Implementing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) practices is another significant challenge for destination organizations. Destinations International’s Social Impact Assessment Tool provides a framework for evaluating and enhancing EDI initiatives. Available to DI members, this tool offers comprehensive metrics and benchmarks for assessing current practices and identifying areas for improvement.
Michael Martin, CEO at Tempe Tourism, praises the tool for its effectiveness in guiding their EDI strategies. “It not only helps us monitor our progress but also identifies areas for proactive change, making it indispensable for advancing our commitment to social inclusion,” he states.
For sustainable development, DI’s DNEXT program supports destinations in creating long-term strategic plans that incorporate sustainability and resilience. Hall explains that it guides organizations through a systematic process to assess practices and set strategic goals for adaptability in changing conditions.
Additional Resources
Beyond these core tools, Destinations International collaborates with partners to provide additional resources. The Accessibility Playbook helps enhance destination accessibility, while the Longwoods International Partner Program offers tailored market insights. Symphony provides data-driven decision support, and Wayfinder enables organizations to measure and improve their destination stewardship.
These resources equip destination leaders with the strategies and insights needed to navigate the complexities of the global tourism landscape. By leveraging these tools and regularly assessing their performance against industry benchmarks, organizations can positively impact their communities and enhance visitor experiences.
Conclusion
As destination organizations prepare for 2025 and beyond, they must adapt to a rapidly changing environment filled with challenges and opportunities. By utilizing the suite of tools and resources offered by Destinations International, these organizations can improve their decision-making, attract visitors, and drive local economic growth. In an increasingly competitive landscape, leveraging data and innovative strategies will be key to ensuring long-term success and sustainability in the tourism industry.
Empowering Destinations: Key Tools for Success in 2025 and Beyond!
Empowering Destinations: Key Tools for Success in 2025 and Beyond!
Introduction
In the rapidly evolving travel landscape, destination organizations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) face numerous challenges, from shifting consumer preferences to intense competition. To thrive in this environment, these organizations must leverage innovative tools and resources. Destinations International offers a tailored suite of solutions designed to enhance decision-making, improve visitor engagement, and ultimately drive local economic growth.
Meeting Selection to Maximize Value
Prospecting for business events is a crucial role for destination organizations. However, many struggle with identifying suitable meetings and events due to a lack of comprehensive data. Destinations International’s Meetings Information Network (MINT+) addresses this issue by providing access to a robust database of historical and future booking data.
Gretchen Hall, chief operating officer at Destinations International, explains that MINT+ helps organizations strategically prospect and tailor their sales efforts. The database is already utilized by over 140 destinations, employing pattern matching to recommend personalized meetings that align with local needs.
For instance, Visit Pasadena uses MINT+ to target accounts that best suit their community’s requirements. Executive Director Kristin McGrath notes that this tool has significantly improved their business event strategy and operational efficiency. “Taking a strategic approach to prospecting has increased the effectiveness of our sales efforts. MINT+ is one of our best investments,” she states.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Data plays a crucial role in showcasing the value of destination organizations within their communities. The Event Impact Calculator (EIC) quantifies the economic benefits of events, allowing organizations to demonstrate their significance in terms of spending, jobs, and taxes.
Hall highlights that the EIC empowers destinations to advocate for the development of the events sector effectively. It has analyzed over 500,000 events, providing valuable insights that inform stakeholders and policymakers about the broader economic contributions of events.
Explore Edmonton uses the EIC to illustrate how events drive local business growth and tax revenue. By effectively communicating these impacts, they engage local stakeholders and secure support for future initiatives.
Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
Implementing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) practices is another significant challenge for destination organizations. Destinations International’s Social Impact Assessment Tool provides a framework for evaluating and enhancing EDI initiatives. Available to DI members, this tool offers comprehensive metrics and benchmarks for assessing current practices and identifying areas for improvement.
Michael Martin, CEO at Tempe Tourism, praises the tool for its effectiveness in guiding their EDI strategies. “It not only helps us monitor our progress but also identifies areas for proactive change, making it indispensable for advancing our commitment to social inclusion,” he states.
For sustainable development, DI’s DNEXT program supports destinations in creating long-term strategic plans that incorporate sustainability and resilience. Hall explains that it guides organizations through a systematic process to assess practices and set strategic goals for adaptability in changing conditions.
Additional Resources
Beyond these core tools, Destinations International collaborates with partners to provide additional resources. The Accessibility Playbook helps enhance destination accessibility, while the Longwoods International Partner Program offers tailored market insights. Symphony provides data-driven decision support, and Wayfinder enables organizations to measure and improve their destination stewardship.
These resources equip destination leaders with the strategies and insights needed to navigate the complexities of the global tourism landscape. By leveraging these tools and regularly assessing their performance against industry benchmarks, organizations can positively impact their communities and enhance visitor experiences.
Conclusion
As destination organizations prepare for 2025 and beyond, they must adapt to a rapidly changing environment filled with challenges and opportunities. By utilizing the suite of tools and resources offered by Destinations International, these organizations can improve their decision-making, attract visitors, and drive local economic growth. In an increasingly competitive landscape, leveraging data and innovative strategies will be key to ensuring long-term success and sustainability in the tourism industry.
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