A Destination Management Company (DMC) is a term for a professional services company possessing extensive local knowledge, expertise and resources, specializing in the design and implementation of events, activities, tours, transportation and program logistics.
A DMC provides a ground service based on local knowledge of their given destinations. These services can be transportation, hotel accommodation, restaurants, activities, excursions, conference venues, themed events, gala dinners and logistics, meetings, incentive schemes as well as helping with overcoming language barriers. By acting as purchasing consortia, DMCs can provide preferential rates based on the buying power they have with their preferred suppliers.
While the term DMC is being widely used to identify a travel trade professional service, the service being offered is essentially the use of those ingredients, services and products already available at a particular destination and to which the user has provided no contribution other than use. These functions are performed by Travel Agents and Tour operators.
DMCs can therefore be contrasted with other organisations:
- Travel Agent: A company offering travel products such as air tickets, hotel bookings, cruises, and tours offered by tour operators.
- Tour Operator: A company that amalgamates travel products into tour itineraries.
- Conference Bureau: An agency that handles conferences and conventions.
DMCs may operate in one or more locations. While some DMCs will focus only on a single city, state or country, others cover a wide range of geographical locations.
The tourism potential of Singapore is the result of destination management. Another example of this approach is Manx National Heritage. However Destination Management need not be at a national level like Singapore, but could be at a district or zonal level. An example of destination management at a local level is the destination of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments in Madhya Pradesh.
Famous quotes containing the words destination, management and/or company:
“A man’s destination is not his destiny,
Every country is home to one man
And exile to another. Where a man dies bravely
At one with his destiny, that soil is his.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
“This we take it is the grand characteristic of our age. By our skill in Mechanism, it has come to pass, that in the management of external things we excel all other ages; while in whatever respects the pure moral nature, in true dignity of soul and character, we are perhaps inferior to most civilised ages.”
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)
“These studies which stimulate the young, divert the old, are an ornament in prosperity and a refuge and comfort in adversity; they delight us at home, are no impediment in public life, keep us company at night, in our travels, and whenever we retire to the country.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)