Media Contact:
Gretchen Hall
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1.202.835.4211
Destinations International Celebrates a Landmark Year with the Release of 2023 Annual Report
Washington, D.C., USA (April 29, 2024) – Destinations International (DI), the world's leading resource for destination organizations, proudly announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report. The report highlights a year of remarkable growth and strategic achievements, reinforcing DI's role in enhancing the effectiveness and impact of destination organizations worldwide.
Key highlights from the 2023 Annual Report include:
- A record-breaking year with 107 new destination organization members, expanding DI's reach across 30 countries and territories.
- Enhanced utilization of the Event Impact Calculator (EIC), particularly among small destination organizations and in sports tourism.
- The introduction of the Community Vitality Wheel, a new tool to illustrate the essential role of destination organizations in community vitality.
- The launch of the 2023 DestinationNext Futures Study, the largest and most extensive survey of destination organizations around the world. Over 800 destination leaders from 62 countries responded to the survey of key tourism trends and strategies.
- Continued advancement in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, including the launch of the first EDI Summit and the new Social Impact Assessment Tool, now aiding more than 200 destination members.
- The Destinations International Foundation raised over $1.2 million USD in 2023. These funds support projects like incubating new tools and resources and our 30 Under 30 Emerging Leaders Program, as well as new programs such as our HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) scholarship program.
"2023 was a transformative year for Destinations International, driven by unprecedented membership growth and the successful launch of innovative tools and resources that support our global community," said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International. "As we release this annual report, we are inspired by the achievements of our members and the resilience of the travel and tourism sector."
For further details on DI’s accomplishments and to view the full 2023 Annual Report, please click here.
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About Destinations International:
Destinations International is the world’s largest and most reliable resource for destination organizations. In short - DI educates, equips, and empowers our members to grow the success of their destinations and to excel professionally. Membership grants access to a wealth of important industry resources, educational opportunities, and exclusive benefits. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
About The Author
With over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, Gretchen has a proven track record of strong leadership, sustainable growth, innovative strategy and delivering results. She is a respected leader holding positions on various travel industry association boards and committees. Prior to joining Destinations International, Gretchen worked at the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) and in the sports industry; developing and managing youth basketball tournaments across the US.
During her tenure at LRCVB, Gretchen provided leadership with several signature developments including the Grand Opening of the Clinton Presidential Center, the 50th Anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School which including the opening of a new National Parks museum and managing the $70 million renovation and expansion of Robinson Performance Hall and Conference Center. As Chief Operating Officer, Gretchen is responsible for the strategic development, implementation, communication and retention of global membership and partner initiatives for Destinations International.