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Destinations International 2024 Annual Convention Sets Attendance Record
Premier event for destination organizations held in Tampa, Florida
Washington, D.C., USA (July 25, 2024) – Destinations International (DI) announced today it had set an all-time attendance record at its 2024 Annual Convention. Nearly 2,000 participants including more than 750 international delegates from over 30 countries and territories gathered for the event in Tampa, Florida, from July 16-18, 2024.
"We had a record-breaking Annual Convention in Tampa this year and based on our guest feedback we couldn’t be more pleased by the results,” said Don Welsh, president & CEO of Destinations International. “We’re deeply grateful to Visit Tampa Bay president & CEO Santiago Corrada and his outstanding team for their warm hospitality, partnership and hard work to make this year’s convention an unforgettable experience."
At the opening session, participants were welcomed by Santiago Corrado and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, followed by a keynote from “happiness” expert Arthur C. Brooks. Participants then had the opportunity to attend more than three dozen breakout sessions on topics ranging from talent retention and succession planning to social inclusion, artificial intelligence, and the important impact destination organizations have on the local community.
DI and the Destinations International Foundation demonstrated the importance of local community engagement and impact through several concerted initiatives. These included a visit and volunteer activity at Feeding Tampa Bay, creation of a “Giving Circle” to support donations to three local non-profit organizations, and a focus on minority-owned and diverse vendors. A detailed case study is being prepared with details on these activities and an estimate of the convention’s economic impact on the local Tampa community.
During a recognition ceremony, awards were presented to members of the travel and hospitality industry who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and promise towards the continued success of destination marketing worldwide. Included were 68 industry leaders receiving CDME certification, the highest individual educational achievement in the industry; 39 destination organizations receiving DMAP accreditation and reaccreditation; nine college students receiving HBCU scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year; and a group of emerging young leaders selected for the 2024 30 Under 30 class. Other recipients recognized include:
DI Hall of Fame
- Ted Levine, Founder & Former Chairman, Development Counsellors International (DCI)
- Dale Lockett, Former President & CEO, Visit Bastrop and Visit Albuquerque
- Dan Lincoln, CTA, Former President & CEO, Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Karen Williams, Former President & CEO, Louisville Tourism
- William “Bill” Talbert, CDME, Former President & CEO, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
DI Foundation Spirit of Hospitality Award
- Adam Sacks, Founder & President, Tourism Economics
Destination Organization Leadership Award
- Mary Hammond, CDME, Former Executive Director, Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Wes Rhea, CDME, CEO, Visit Stockton
- Lisa Bethea, Director of Destination Services, Visit Frisco
- Leonard Hoops, President & CEO, Visit Indy
Destination Organization Award for Global Impact
- Business Events Sydney, Sydney Australia
Several launches were announced during the event, including:
- Destinations International and TraveAbility Launched the “Accessibility Playbook” to help destinations and travel businesses improve their accessibility and inclusion initiatives.
- Destinations International launched the Destination Effect Advocacy Awareness Campaign and Website to foster better understanding of the important role and impact of destination organizations in their communities.
- Miles Partnership and Destinations International launched the first industry-led, evidence-based framework for destination stewardship.
During the convention, DI and the Destinations International Foundation held elections and approved their incoming boards, trustees and officers for 2024-2025. Scott White, president & CEO of Visit Greater Palm Springs, will serve as Chair of Destinations International, and Amir Eylon, president & CEO of Longwoods International, will serve as Chair of the Destinations International Foundation.
Next year’s Annual Convention will take place in Chicago, Illinois, July 9-11, 2025.
The 2024 Annual Convention was presented by Destinations International with the support of its partners and the DI Foundation:
Pinnacle Partners
Brand USA | Miles Partnership | Simpleview | Tourism Economics
Event partners
ADARA | Air Canada | AJR Media Group | Arrivalist | Center for Association Leadership (ASAE) | ASM Global | Bandwango | Brand USA | CarVertise | CFO By Design | Civitas | Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) | CrowdRiff | Clarity of Place | Cvent | Datafy | Destination Think | DCI | Digital Edge | DMO proz | DTN | Epsilon | Eventsforce | Expedia Group | FiredUp Culture | Fuseideas | Groups360 | IGLTA | IMEX Group | International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) | InflightFlix | JLL | Longwoods | LS Direct | Madden | Miles Partnership | Martiz | Mint | MMGY Global | MPI | MMGY NextFactor | NFL | Northstar Meetings Group | Oak View Group | Paradise | PCMA | Relic | SearchWide Global | Simpleview | Sojern | Sparkloft | STR | SXM Media | Tempest | Tourism Economics | Tripadvisor | TrueOmni | U.S. Travel Association | Wander | Wheel the World | Visa Destination Insights | Zartico.
For more information about Destinations International visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
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About Destinations International
Destinations International is the world’s largest and most reliable resource for destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. With more than 8,000 members and partners from over 750 destinations, the association represents a powerful forward-thinking and collaborative community around the world. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
About the Author
Tim Smith has 20+ years of strategic communications experience spanning roles in government, industry, agency and association settings. Most recently, he led corporate communications for Delaware North, a global leader in travel, hospitality and entertainment. Previously, he was Managing Director – West Coast at APCO Worldwide and Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at Edelman, providing clients with senior communications and public affairs counsel. He has lived and worked outside the United States for more than a decade, including as a U.S. diplomat tasked with promoting trade and investment.
As Vice President of Communications, Tim is responsible for development and execution of strategic communications to support the association’s mission, enhance and elevate brand, and strengthen impact. He serves as primary contact for media and manages communication with global stakeholders, including association leaders, members, policymakers, media, academia, tourism industry and staff.
Tim is active in civic and professional organizations and has served on the boards of the Public Affairs Council, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and PRSA Puget Sound, among others. He has three grown children and currently resides with his wife outside of Buffalo, New York.