Greetings and happy Friday.

I hope you have all had a great week. We are eagerly awaiting the CEO Summit, which takes place next week in Bermuda. We look forward to welcoming more than 160 CEOs and industry leaders for the summit, which will have exciting speakers, timely and important discussions, and networking opportunities. Thank you to Kevin Dallas and Vic Isley with the Bermuda Tourism Authority for their support and commitment in helping make this event special for our attendees.

The application deadline for our 2018 30 Under 30 program is today at 6 p.m. EDT. We are looking for the industry’s brightest rising stars, groundbreaking innovators and leaders of tomorrow. You may click here to learn more and to apply.

We are excited and thrilled to announce that we have been recognized by ASAE with a 2018 Gold Circle Award for our rebranding to Destinations International! The rebrand was made possible through a collaboration with Miles Partnership, feedback gathered by stakeholder interviews, paired with an extensive analysis of key operational facets. Thank you to Jay Salyers, Senior Vice President of Miles Partnership, Randi Rogers, Account Director and the entire Miles Partnership team, who worked so hard with our Chief Marketing Officer, Melissa Cherry, to make the rebrand possible. We look forward to being recognized at ASAE’s 2018 Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference in May.

We are pleased to announce that nominations for the 2018 Hall of Fame and the 2018 Destination Organization Leadership Award opened today. Any member organization or partner is eligible to nominate and can submit for consideration.

The Hall of Fame, created in 2014 during Destinations International’s 100th Anniversary, was created to recognize individuals who have changed the future of destination marketing for the better, made significant contributions to the advancement of the industry and shaped travel marketing. It is the highest honor that Destinations International can bestow. Our goal is to shine a spotlight on these pioneers, champions and influencers, and allow our members around the globe an opportunity to get to know them and their work. Furthermore, the inductees as a group provide a historical narrative and represent the leaders who throughout the years have grown and nurtured the destination organization industry to present day. You may download the nomination form here.

The Destination Organization Leadership Award was created in 2017. This annual award is amongst the Association's most prestigious honors, recognizing those outstanding individuals who, through their exceptional work and achievements, have made a significant contribution to the destination marketing industry and a profound difference in the communities they serve. You may download the form here.

Nomination forms for both awards must be submitted by 5 p.m. EDT on Friday May 18, 2018 to Chelsea Welter at [email protected].

With ongoing educational opportunities offered throughout the year, Destinations International is committed to professional development and lifelong learning for its members. Whether you are new to the travel industry or a veteran with 30 years of experience, there is an opportunity tailored to your specific needs. Registration is open for our 2018 events and we encourage you to make plans to attend. Here are a few upcoming events that you and your team won’t want to miss:

• Our PDM: Destination Organization Operations: Technology & Human Resources online course will take place online April 30 - May 7, 2018. You may register here.
   
• The 2018 Annual Convention will take place July 10-13, 2018 in Anaheim, CA and is the premier event for destination marketing and management professionals. It provides you and your team with a unique opportunity to connect with and learn from peers and thought leaders from inside and outside the industry. You may learn more and register here.
   
• The C-Suite Session: CVBs Engaged! education program, co-presented with ASAE, will take place August 17-19, 2018 in Chicago, IL and will focus on board governance. You may learn more and register here.

I arrived back in the U.S. this morning from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I had the privilege of joining many industry leaders and some of our Board members at this prestigious annual gathering. The theme was “Our People, Our World, Our Future” and there was an action-packed agenda, inspired by thought-leadership and great data. Thank you to Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, for an inspiring event. You may learn more about the Global Summit and the topics discussed here. Chris Thompson, President and CEO of Brand USA, will be sharing some of the conference takeaways during his keynote at the CEO Summit. I am pleased to report that Helen Marano, External Affairs Director at WTTC, will also be joining us at the CEO Summit.

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable weekend. For those of you traveling to Bermuda, we wish you a safe journey!

Don Welsh
President & CEO
Destinations International