Posts Tagged ‘dmc’

If your company is frequently planning business trips and is frequently short on people to plan them, it’s time to contact a DMC. Destination management companies can save as much time and money as they do other valuable resources through their experience and expertise about business travel.

DMCs Bring Connections to You

Busy companies that are short on resources will enjoy the efficiency DMCs offer. Handing over your business planning needs to a company who is familiar with your destination city makes for a hassle-free experience. DMC personnel don’t have to spend endless hours doing tedious vendor research because they have established relationships with all the necessary venues.

It’s these types of relationships that distinguish Accent DMC from other similar companies. Finding successful venues and working with one meeting planner that is able to make one-time deals with the necessary suppliers is priceless. Accent DMC also has access to other planning venues such as private clubs, mansions, golf resorts and even private homes. This type of access comes from having an established relationship with a multitude of clients Accent DMC has worked with for many years. Large vendors and private clubs are more apt to respond to a DMC they’ve worked with before rather than a one-shot contact they will not likely ever see again.

DMCs Make Transportation a Breeze

Hiring a DMC is also extremely beneficial when it comes to transportation in destination cities. A destination management company is aware of ongoing construction projects, for example, and have established relationships with local police and fire department agencies.

Know When a DMC is a Must-Hire

Of course it may not be financially feasible to call in a DMC for every business meeting. However, it is important to decide when calling a DMC is most appropriate. This can be determined by the company’s own knowledge of their business meeting needs with a combination of available time. If it’s something simple that a company can do themselves, then it is most likely not practical to hire a DMC, especially if the company is using repeat vendors with which they have established relationships.

It is often a completely different story however, when a company is attempting to put together an annual business meeting in another city for 100 or even 1,000+ people. This is where in-house business planning can become a strain on the company and, more times than not, hiring a DMC to save the day is the best choice.

Everywhere you turn, there’s a reminder that the economy is suffering. Job cuts and pay freezes have made the work world especially demanding, even though we can all agree that we’re forever grateful for keeping our jobs.

Planning: More Important Than Ever

If you’re one of the few people left in the planning department, you understand what the demands of this job entail. The meetings keep on coming – another conference has to be planned and it’s already the end of the day. Where you once would have had some helpers with these tasks, these jobs are now left to you. And it has never been more important to pull off successful meetings, conferences and trade shows that illustrate the potential of your company.

DMC to the Rescue

Fortunately, you’re not alone. A DMC or destination management company can help you plan successful meetings and business trips from start to finish. Even in an economy where businesses are looking to slash their expenses, DMCs are actually growing in popularity. It’s more cost-effective to partner with a DMC than to hire full-time employees to carry out the planning and organizing tasks. DMCs also have all the inside information regarding venues, activities and entertainment that can suit your business and your budget.

Budget Accordingly

That’s not to say that DMCs come cheap, as you certainly want to have a budget to be able to successfully work with a DMC. What you can look forward to is that you won’t be faced with the pressures and time crunches of planning business meetings and conferences for your company. Partnering with a DMC will allow you to have more time to focus on your business goals, while being confident that all planning arrangements are being handled in full.

A Knowledgeable Partner

Most importantly, your DMC will know the area that you’re traveling to, instead of you blindly navigating through hotels, restaurants and corporate activities. You can make the most out of these traveling experiences and allow your business to shine through, as they’ll have access to the best venues, plus have dependable transportation and lodging arrangements that will keep everyone happy and comfortable.

The economy hasn’t slowed the need for DMCs and has instead allowed the industry to thrive. With destination planners being overworked and overbooked, it helps to have someone knowledgeable to partner with, plan successful trips and get the job done right the first time around.

If you’re still unsure about what a DMC can do for your business, assign one to a small task such as arranging a team-building activity or transportation services. You’ll quickly see how necessary a DMC can be to the successful functioning of your business, especially in a down economy where everything counts.

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Now that you have decided which DMC to partner with, you can begin delegating your destination planning to your DMC. There has been much advancement made in this industry, as DMCs are gaining wider acceptance and credibility. Today’s meeting departments are more tapped out than ever, as they struggle to keep up with the demands of several jobs, while pulling off successful meetings, conventions and trade shows. Since we can’t create more hours in the day, DMCs are a necessity for the full functioning of many companies.

Pick and Choose Services

The good news is that DMC companies work on an a la carte structure, so you can choose a DMC to help you with certain meetings and destinations. You won’t need a DMC for everything, allowing you to pick and choose which meetings deserve the most time and where the bulk of your budget will be spent. Although the choice is yours, DMCs do prefer to plan the whole experience, as they know all the pointers and tips that will make your business trip successful from start to finish.

Communication is Key

Nevertheless, know that communication is key. Your DMC may have all the connections, but they won’t be able to fulfill your individual needs unless you’re specific about them. You don’t have to go into details, but just let your DMC know what you’re looking for, how many staff members will be traveling and other small details. Your DMC will instantly know which venues and activities will best serve your particular group.

This is why it’s essential to choose a DMC that has positive rapports with their suppliers, as this will give you the most options for your travel destinations. More exciting is that DMCs have relationships with venues that the general public would never know about. When you tell your DMC what you’re looking for, they’ll know just what to arrange for you to fulfill your business goals. From transportation to lodging to entertainment to dining, your group will have everything handled seamlessly from beginning to end.

The Domino Effect

You’ll find that when working with a DMC, the process is almost like a domino effect. One change here and there can affect the entire course of your travel – in a good way of course. Instead of scrambling and trying to make things follow a certain timeline with the limited tools you have, your DMC will take care of all this for you. And thanks to their flexible schedule and understanding nature, you can make the decision as to when to call on your new partner.

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If you’re planning on working with a DMC for your next business destination, you’re making a smart choice that will save you time and effort, plus allow you take advantage of resources you didn’t know were available. What you need to know is that not all DMCs are created equal. This is one profession that you can’t just click on the first company that comes up in your online search. Fortunately, the experts have a few friendly tips for choosing a DMC that you know is worth partnering with.

Seek Referrals

For starters, ask around for referrals and recommendations. The local convention center and nearby hotels should have recommendations for you, and you can reach out to DMCs you worked with in the past. What you should find is two or three consistent DMC companies popping up, giving you the names you need to contact. You can also speak with other companies that have worked with the DMCs to see how their destination planning was handled.

Ask Questions

You should also take your search to the next level and speak with the referrals. Don’t just take the referrals for granted, but check them out yourself. For example, you can give the supplier a quick phone call and see if the DMC is organized, professional and easy to work with. DMCs should have positive relationships with outside suppliers in order to give you the best services possible.

Are They Associated?

Second, when you’ve narrowed down your search, check to see whether the DMCs are involved in an association marketplace. DMCs can live up to their expectations when they have a strong industry involvement and recognize what the current issues are. After all, the association market is far different from the corporate market, and it’s essential that DMCs understand the differences in these relationships.

In addition to checking with the DMCs industry involvement, you can also check for membership of a particular association. The DMC should at least be a member of the Association of Destination Marketing Executives (ADME), but there are other associations as well that the DMC may be members of. There is also a new designation and exam test that can be taken called the DMCP designation, which adds to the credibility of the DMC.

Check Insurance

Third, make sure that you request a certificate of insurance, as adequate insurance coverage is essential in today’s market. Also look for other factors of importance such as how long the DMC company has been in business, how many staff members are part of the company and what the cancellation policy is. You can also do a test run with the DMC by assigning them a small part of your destination planning. This will allow you to compare several different DMC companies and see their creative outlets, as well as their pricing structure.

Remember that most importantly, finding the right fit takes time and patience. Once you find the right DMC to partner with, you will have all the burdens of destination planning lifted from you, allowing you to focus on your core business values, while leaving the business trips to a successful DMC.

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If your company frequently has annual meetings or conferences in out-of-town locations, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the process of planning such a large gathering in a new place. Between searching for a suitable hotel, finding an appropriate meeting hall, researching the destination city, and arranging entertainment and food for thousands of employees, the task of planning your own annual conference can be daunting. This is particularly true for medium and large-sized corporations that may have thousands of employees. How can you get assistance to prepare for a successful conference?

The short answer is by using a DMC, a destination management company. DMCs are a relatively new industry, getting their start during the corporate growth periods of the 1970s and 1980s, but they have already cemented their place in the modern workplace environment. They do deep research about the destination city, help to arrange reservations for meeting space, work to arrange airfare for attendees, and can even provide childcare arrangements for business travelers who want to bring their families along. All of this assistance makes it possible for employers to focus on the central part of the trip – planning the actual meeting agenda.

While DMCs as a whole offer invaluable services, there are some that provide better quality work than others. It’s worth the time to do your homework before deciding whether to hire a DMC and selecting which agency you will hire to work with your company.

• Analyze your company’s budget. If you’re operating on a tight financial rein for your conference, decide if you have the room in your budget to hire a DMC. If so, take the time to compare prices and services.
• Consider the destination city. If your meeting is being held a short distance away from your company headquarters, you may not need the services of a DMC to research the area. But, if you’re going out of the state or to a completely new city, a DMC may well be worth the money.
• Look at the size of your planned conference. A small meeting of less than 50 may not need the same level of service that a large conference of 1,000 may require.
• Check the DMC’s reputation. Ask about other companies the DMC has worked with and look for recommendations from other corporate employers. Find out if the DMC has corporate insurance to cover any potential issues.
• Try out the services. Hire several DMCs when you get ready to take a trip to the convention city. Have one work on finding a meeting place, another work on the airfare arrangements, and then another to plan for local entertainment. Make your final decision based on the results.

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If you have a business meeting scheduled, but find yourself in a pinch, don’t stress! A DMC is the person to call who will help get your business plans back on track!

What Can I Expect from a DMC?

DMCs are Destination Management Companies that are experts in destination knowledge. When you arrange a business trip, a DMC can handle the airport meet-and-greet, transportation, tours, team-building activities and more. DMCs can also recommend lodging and entertainment; basically everything you need to know to get through a successful business endeavor.

How Do I Choose a DMC?

The most important aspect is that you choose a DMC that has local knowledge and experience in the area. Many DMCs will advertise in their local area, so you may have to choose a DMC that is within these premises. However, some larger companies have a national or international client list. In this case, you can choose one DMC for all your business traveling needs.

You’ll also want to consider the range of services they offer, as well as their cost. DMCs are known for being creative, and with this insightful approach, they should be able to plan a day’s events for you to enjoy.

How Do I Work With a DMC?

Keep in mind that you and a DMC are partners. Information sharing is critical, so be sure to share up as much info as possible in terms of what you expect, your budget, etc. Your DMC will have great contacts, which means you’ll be able to get the best deals on things, as well as tickets to events and recommendations for guest speakers and restaurants.

Most importantly, know that DMCs have formed successful relationships with their contacts, so you can expect to get the very best service from them.

Can a DMC Help in a Time Crunch?

Yes. Actually, this is what DMCs do best. While it’s always ideal to have a few days of notice, DMCs have the necessary resources to get your business trip off without a hitch, even at the last minute. And this is where the relationships that the DMCs have formed with their contacts come in handy. Local businesses are able to work up quick deals and get you the services you need to have a successful business trip. If you continue to go through the same DMC, they will learn your unique set of needs when your team comes into town, which will help in times of short notice.

It’s time to program that cell phone with a DMC you can call any time of day!

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According to the New Orleans City Business, “Destination Management firms have had to adjust to new clients.” Apparently, “fewer corporate conventions in New Orleans are changing their staffing, productivity, and public relations for the destination management companies.” This needs to be done because the decline of clients took place post-Katrina.

Before talking any further about DMC clients, what exactly is DMC?  DMC stands for “Destination Managment Companies.” According to Thomas Leggett of the New Orleans City Business, “they help groups and convention planners with lodging, transportation, entertainment, staffing, and other planning needs.”

National conventions are the lifeblood of DMC business. When organizers of a national convention look to booking amenities, lodging and other concerns for their event, they may not be familiar with the area or have the network, contacts and resources necessary to get the best rates. They may also not be aware of the reputation of companies in a city that is foreign to them, so they can’t be sure they’re choosing the right providers for their needs. A local DMC has extensive contacts, knows the best deals and is familiar with local providers. DMCs are contracted by national convention planners to make local arrangements that would be difficult or risky for someone outside of the area to attempt.

In New Orleans, a lot of people stopped using DMC companies shortly after the devastation of Katrina. Because of Katrina, a lot of staff was lost and many people had to relocate, thus cutting down on clients. Now that DMC has finally bounced back with new staff and resources, new clients are starting to jump on board and take advantage of DMC’s services. Prior to this change, other clients were forced to “relocate to other cities” in order for businesses to continue.

Musicians who also provided entertainment through DMC could no longer entertain regular clients because they had to move away because of the economy and ongoing “labor problems.” Unfortunately, many people still living outside of New Orleans think that DMC is not standing firm so there have been no sign-ups. DMC is hoping to bring back as many clients as possible to build back up its reputation.

Source: New Orleans City Business

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