Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for official destination organisations and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), recently announced its new Destination Booking Agreement (DBA) at IMEX America.
The new toolkit is designed to establish terms to protect both the destination and the business events strategist. (Download the toolkit here.)
Destinations International’s Large Market Roundtable group has been leading the conversation for the need for CVBs and business events strategists to work together to have accountability for the booking of meetings and events, not least because destination organisations are responsible for being stewards of the product they represent and for maximising success for all stakeholders. Last minute cancellations for city-wide events create a hardship for destination organisations who must fill these voids.
“The need for CVBs and business events strategists to come together to create best practices for destination booking agreement guidelines has been an ongoing conversation for our industry,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “Destinations International’s Large Market Roundtable has done great work to take the lead on this thought leadership that will ultimately enhance our entire industry moving forward,” he added.
Now a there is a level of accountability for both parties involved, creating the foundation for a legitimised exchange of goods and services within business events when a destination is selected, said Melissa A. Riley, vice-president, convention sales and services, Destination DC and chair of the Destinations International Large Market Roundtable. “The new standards will help us all continue to strengthen the meetings and events industry as we focus on the positive economic and social impact they bring to our respective destinations.”
“DBAs allow destinations to clearly articulate and itemise dates, rates, space and any incentives or concessions offered to clients to secure their business,” said Junior Tauvaa, chief sales officer, Visit Anaheim. “Destination International has contributed to standardising these documents while allowing each destination organisation to localise it based on their respective destinations.”
“I am excited for this journey and look forward to our industry getting to a place where our contractual agreements are equitable for all – for both suppliers and event organisers,” said Dustin Arnheim, senior vice-president of sales and services at Choose Chicago. “It is imperative that our customers feel equally protected within our agreements – from securing dates to making concessions legally binding. I also see the DBA as an important communication tool. There continues to be significant turnover in our industry. Capturing the destination organisation’s commitments in the DBA prevents anything from being lost or misinterpreted when new staff come on board.”
More information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
