DMOs attain industry accreditation
Thirteen destination marketing organizations recently received accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program. Developed by Destination Marketing Association International and launched in 2007, the industry-wide accreditation program recognizes DMOs that meet or exceed industry standards. To become accredited, a DMO must provide evidence of compliance with 58 mandatory standards and 30 voluntary standards. The process is a comprehensive review of a DMO’s business procedures and accountability, explains Shelly Green, chair of DMAP and president and CEO of the Durham (N.C.) Convention and Visitors Bureau. “These DMOs have shown their dedication to continually providing customers with superior service in accordance with international standards and benchmarks. Their commitment to accreditation clearly demonstrates the type of leadership they possess in their community and for their stakeholders.”
DMOs that achieved DMAP accreditation status for 2012-2016 are:
- Alton Regional CVB (Alton, Ill.)
- Cobb Travel and Tourism (Atlanta)
- Dallas CVB
- Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism/Alabama Gulf Coast CVB
- Irving CVB (Irving, Texas)
- Jackson CVB (Jackson, Miss.)
- Jefferson CVB Inc. (Harahan, La.)
- Surf City USA-Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
- Tourism Langley Association (Langley, British Columbia, Canada)
- Tourism Vancouver (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
- Visit Cheyenne (Cheyenne, Wyo.)
- Visit Orlando
- VisitPittsburgh
Michael D. Gehrisch, president and CEO of DMAI, says there are currently 148 accredited DMOs, including the 13 listed above, in the United States as well as in Canada, Europe and Asia.
