Destinations International Announces Opening of 2018 Annual Convention Registration and New Offerings

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Caitlyn Blizzard
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Destinations International Announces Opening of 2018 Annual Convention Registration and New Offerings

New this year: Topic-themed education tracks, the World Café education lounge and family activities

Washington, D.C. (March 2, 2018) – Destinations International Chair Tammy Blount, FCDME and President and CEO of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau and President and CEO Don Welsh today announced that registration is open for the 2018 Annual Convention. The event will take place July 10-13 in Anaheim, California.

As the premier event for destination marketing and management professionals, Destinations International’s 2018 Annual Convention promises to educate and inspire while providing the unique opportunity to connect with and learn from peers and thought leaders from across the industry. Registration and more information can be found here.

The multi‐day event will bring together over 1,500 travel and tourism leaders from around the globe to learn from over 50 inspiring sessions – including disciplined-focused tracks for all budget sizes – led by the best minds in the industry.

“We are excited to welcome the world’s greatest influencers of tourism, travel and community development to Anaheim for our 2018 Annual Convention,” said Blount. “The topics, speakers and opportunities to connect with experts and peers will be unprecedented – this is a must-attend event for our industry.”

New for 2018:

  • Brand USA educational track offering insights into how to brand U.S. destinations to the international market.
  • LGBTQ tourism marketing and best practices sessions in conjunction with Community Marketing & Insights (CMI).
     
  • The World Café – A dedicated education lounge for deep-dive discussions and repeat presentations. In partnership with TripAdvisor, this lounge is an opportunity to learn from industry leaders in an intimate setting.
     
  • Attendees are invited to bring their entire family to this year’s Annual Convention. There will be opportunities for family members to learn more about the destination marketing and management industry as well as participate in family-focused activities. Pre-conference activities will include an introductory session on the industry, community service opportunities with local charities, special family-centric evening celebration, and discounts to a variety of Anaheim’s attractions.

“We are thrilled to host Destinations International’s 2018 Annual Convention in Anaheim and showcase our inspirational destination to our valued colleagues, and of course, your families too,” said Jay Burress, CTA, President and CEO of Visit Anaheim. “Destinations International’s Annual Convention is guaranteed to inspire big thinking, unexpected connections, delight imaginations and create lifelong memories for you and your family.”  

"As with all of our Annual Conventions, we strive to provide our members with insightful and inspiring speakers, the latest trends and research and the opportunity for valuable peer-to-peer networking," said Welsh. "We are especially excited about this year's program taking place in Anaheim and look forward to showcasing the creative and memorable destination to industry leaders from around the globe."

Early Bird Registration Rates apply through March 30. Registration and more information may be found at www.destinationsinternational.org.

The 2018 Annual Convention is presented by Destinations International with the support of the Destinations International Foundation. Destinations International is grateful for the support of our Pinnacle Partners: Brand USA and Simpleview; and our Annual Convention 2018 sponsors to date: Arrivalist, ASAE, CFO By Design, Crowdriff, Expedia Media Solutions, IMEX Group, Miles Partnership, MMGY Global, PCMA, STR, Tempest, TripAdvisor and Visit Anaheim.

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About Destinations International:
Destinations International (formerly Destination Marketing Association International) is the world’s largest resource for official destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. Destinations International is about serving destination marketing professionals first and foremost. Together with more than 4,700 members and partners from nearly 600 destinations in approximately 15 countries, Destinations International represents a powerful forward-thinking, collaborative association; exchanging bold ideas, connecting innovative people and elevating tourism to its highest potential. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.