Attendance soars at ADMEI Conference

More than 200 destination management industry professionals from North America and Europe attended the Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) and came to Washington DC for the 19th annual conference.

Prior to the opening session, more than 50 DMC owners gathered for an open forum to discuss how ADMEI can continue to preserve the integrity of the DMC industry.

Jennifer Patino, DMCP, CEO of Hosts Global and current ADMEI president, said after the forum: “As an international not-for-profit trade association, ADMEI has a long history of defining, protecting, and promoting the destination management industry. In fulfilling its mission, ADMEI is committed to preserving the integrity of the destination management industry for both internal and external stakeholders.”

During the conference, DMC owners, sales and operations staff 15 concurrent sessions and three general sessions that covered the full range of destination management services provided by DMCs. True to the theme of “Igniting Innovation,” sponsors were able to make short presentations based on the Pecha Kucha concept. Outstanding sessions included Jack Dougherty, Dougherty Dialectic, LLC, who focused on Defining the DMC Value Proposition; panels on “Striking the Balance between Proprietary and Innovation, Best Practices in DMC Business and Continuing the Creative Process.” Featured speakers included James Feldman on Shift Happens and Karen Purves, Innovative Impact. The conference concluded with a Build a Wheelchair™ teambuilding session provided by Best Corporate Events.

ADMEI welcomed two scholarship winners of the Linda Thompson Memorial Scholarship (see photo). Chang Guan, Roosevelt University and Clare Lucsinskas, University of Massachusetts – Amherst, attended the conference and also received $1,000 towards their tuition. “Granting a scholarship to an international student underscores the expanded mission of ADME International and helps to ensure that the memory of Linda’s vitality will be known throughout the world,” noted Gordon Thompson.

Networking events included a fabulous evening at the National Air & Space Museum. The conference concluded with the ADMEI Achievement Awards Event, with 13 awards presented to outstanding programs and three DMC professionals recognized for their contributions to the destination management community.

The 2015 conference will be held at Fiesta American Grande in Los Cabos, Mexico, from February 12-14, 2015.

As an international not for profit trade association, ADMEI has a long history of defining, protecting and promoting the destination management industry. In fulfilling its mission, ADMEI is committed to preserving the integrity of the destination management industry to both internal and external stakeholders.