Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Convenes in New Orleans July 20-22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jluy 21, 2011

Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Convenes in
New Orleans July 20-22
Annual conference for destination marketers showcases city as the leader in hospitality; New Orleans Tourism Chief Stephen Perry Leads Meeting as DMAI Chairman of the Board

WHAT: Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) 97^th Annual Convention

WHERE: Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal Street

WHEN: Wednesday, July 20-Friday, July 22, 2011

DETAILS:
New Orleans will be on display for more than 1,000 destination marketers from competitor cities this week as it hosts the annual meeting of the governing body of convention and visitor bureaus. Washington D.C.-based Destination Marketing Association International, the world’s largest association for destination marketing organizations (DMOs), representing 600 DMOs in 20 countries, selected New Orleans as host city for its annual education and networking event.

Coincidentally, the 2011 DMAI Annual Meeting is led by the 2010/2011 Chairman of the Board, who happens to be the President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, Stephen Perry. Mr. Perry’s volunteer leadership positions with DMAI, the U.S. Travel Association as well as the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, positions New Orleans at the forefront of national travel policy and hospitality industry best practices.

Just as the New Orleans CVB has done since its inception in 1960, destination marketing organizations promote the long-term development and marketing of a destination, focusing on convention sales, tourism marketing and service. The CVB generates $5 billion in new capital each year for New Orleans by attracting millions of visitors, special events and conventions. In December 2009, the New Orleans CVB became one of only 101 destination marketing organizations in the world to receive accreditation from DMAI’s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program for attaining excellence and meeting rigorous industry standards for brand management, governance, stakeholder relationships, innovation and more.

“Hosting a meeting of your peers who are in the business of hospitality is a huge honor for New Orleans,” says Stephen Perry. “We look forward to showing DMAI attendees our culture and why New Orleans is world-renowned for hospitality. We appreciate that many of our CVB peers will participate in voluntourism projects while attending this prestigious industry event. New Orleans’ voluntourism model can be used as the national standard for every destination, and we hope our colleagues will be inspired to begin voluntourism projects in their own cities.”

The convention kicks off with a session detailing the importance of community service in DMOs. Immediately following the session, participants will be transferred to work sites with the Saint Bernard Project.

WEBSITE: www.destinationmarketing.org
Twitter tag: #dmai11

EVENTS:

EXHIBIT HALL: Napoleon Ballroom at Sheraton New Orleans Hotel
HOURS: Thursday 12:45-3:00 p.m.; Friday 12:00-2:30 p.m.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
DMAI: Kristen Clemens, 202-425-7706, kclemens@destinationmarketing.org
New Orleans CVB: Tara Letort, 504-566-5019, tletort@neworleanscvb.com; Kelly Schulz, 504-421-0962, kschulz@neworleanscvb.com, Jennifer Day, 773-909-2514, jday@neworleanscvb.com

###