It's our annual look at the big destination management companies—all told, they add up to a $1.3 billion business. Read what they've been up to over the past year. But stay tuned: Next week, we'll list the great big DMC networks—from Allied to USA Hosts. Don't miss it.
Access Destination Services
San Diego
TOP OFFICER Christopher H. Lee, DMCP
WEBSITE www.accessdmc.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 1,200 plus
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $15 million
CAPABILITIES Services range from event concept and design to program management and on-site coordination, entertainment services, transportation logistics, event production, recreational activities, CSR events, team-building, budgeting and consolidated billing.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Access Northern California wowed guests at a welcome reception that blocked off an entire street in the center of San Francisco's Chinatown; complex logistics, costumed performers, exotic food and the ambiance of the largest Chinatown in the U.S. made for a memorable experience. For a major pharmaceutical client, Access Orange County created an edgy "urban street fair" on one hotel's two separate rooftop decks, complete with break dancers, a graffiti wall and dueling DJs. Many decor components were specially "re-sized" to fit limited-capacity elevators.
MARKETING ALLIANCE The Contact DMC Group
Alan Waxler Group
Las Vegas
TOP OFFICER Alan Waxler
WEBSITE www.awaxgrp.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 400 plus
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $10 million plus
CAPABILITIES Capabilities include special events, staffing, meeting and convention services, team-building, incentives, dinearounds and golf tournaments.
MARKETING ALLIANCE DMC Network. World of DMCs
Baskow & Associates
Las Vegas
TOP OFFICER Jaki Baskow
WEBSITE www.baskow.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 700 plus
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $10 million
CAPABILITIES This veteran DMC is celebrating 35 years in Las Vegas, offering full destination services including transportation, tours, entertainment, celebrities, custom decor, themed events and site/venue selection. Also offers a full registration solution and a speakers bureau.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Baskow produced more than 700 events in 2010, including a Vegas Nights pool party for 4,000 guests that included a dance number with 60 Elvis impersonators, synchronized swimming routines, more than 40 "Marilyn Monroe" performers and more than 200 neon decor pieces illuminating the pool.
MARKETING ALLIANCE Global Events Partners
Bixel & Co.
Los Angeles
TOP OFFICER Dabney Bixel
WEBSITE www.bixelco.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 145 to 175
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $8.5 million to $9.5 million
CAPABILITIES This 22-year-old company offers event design and production, program management, all logistics, venue sourcing, tours and activities, charity events, golf outings, team-building, product launches, incentive programs, entertainment sourcing and negotiation, menu design, staffing, transportation and customized tours.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR A busy 2010 saw the company creating a Donna Summer "disco diva" concert for a big corporate client, events for one of L.A.'s most prestigious golf tourneys, 10 executive-level conferences for a big athletic merchandise company, the first-ever "mansion house party" at a pricey new mansion for an international jewelry company, and L.A. largest "food truck festival" for an international sporting goods company.
MARKETING ALLIANCE Global Events Partners
Briggs Inc.
New York
TOP OFFICER Anthony Napoli
WEBSITE www.briggsnyc.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 100 to 250
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $10 million to $15 million
CAPABILITIES Company management notes Briggs is the "preferred DMC for all of the major U.S. incentive companies." Provides meeting, product launch and event services for Fortune 500 clients.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Highlights of the past year have included the ConEdison Efficiency Summit for 3,000 guests along with projects for BCD Citgo and the International Association of Trial Lawyers.
MARKETING ALLIANCE DMC Network
Compass Tours Incoming/Top Tours Travel
Munich, Germany
TOP OFFICER Michael Kater
WEBSITE www.kater-dmc.de
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 300 to 400
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $9.8 million to $15.5 million
CAPABILITIES Operates six offices in Germany: Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Duesseldorf, Hamburg and Hanover. Service roster includes creative program design, site inspection, program logistics, supplier management, event production, transportation and CSR activities. Compass points with pride to its local knowledge and excellent connections to local suppliers.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR The company was proud to create the largest incentive ride-and drive ever in Germany with Porsche cars. Porsche drivers made their way through scenic routes around Berlin and tested unlimited high-speed driving on Germany's Autobahn.
MARKETING ALLIANCE Euromic
Convention Planning Services
Orlando, Fla.
TOP OFFICER John Tate
WEBSITE www.cpsflorida.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 300 to 350
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $15 million to $17 million
CAPABILITIES CPS specializes in "creative, complex special event planning and transportation logistics and execution," management says.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR A showstopping event at famed Vizcaya Museum and Gardens included an "earth harp" strung from a floating stage to the top of the museum; guests dined beneath the strings. The dance party following dinner included a 10-piece band.
MARKETING ALLIANCE DMC Network
CSI Capitol Services Inc.
Falls Church, Va.
TOP OFFICER David Hainline
WEBSITE www.csi-dc.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 300
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $13 million
CAPABILITIES Covering Washington and Baltimore, CSI has consulted on high-profile jobs including presidential inaugurations, government meetings and international events. Capabilities include events, meeting management, transportation, tours, entertainment and other convention services needs.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Recent programs have served clients including Datatel, Chick-fil-A and BMC Software.
MARKETING ALLIANCE DMC Network
Dallas Fan Fares
Dallas
TOP OFFICER Kaye Burkhardt
WEBSITE www.fanfares.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 100 to 125
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $8 million to $10 million
CAPABILITIES Company provides DMC services in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, along with managing corporate hospitality at major sports events, ground transportation, team-building programs and theme parties.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Work this year has involved DMC services for Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, Big 12 championships and the Masters, along with corporate events.
Destination China
Beijing
TOP OFFICER Brian Yin Hong Bo
WEBSITE www.destinationchina.biz
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 90 to 110
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $10 million to $12 million
CAPABILITIES Company provides incentive programs, custom tours, creative events, team-building, and meeting and conference management and support.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Big events over the past year have included Catalana Occidente, which brought nearly 700 Spanish guests to Hong Kong, and Fuji Xerox, which took New Zealand visitors to legendary Chinese sites including a dinner on the Great Wall, a white party in Beijing and lunch in the village of Xian.
MARKETING ALLIANCE Euromic
Destination Concepts Inc.
San Diego
TOP OFFICER Brynne Frost
WEBSITE www.destinationconcepts.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 300 to 400
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $9 million to $11 million
CAPABILITIES DCi provides meeting and event "essentials" to corporate, incentive, association--"all meeting markets," management says. "We provide unparalleled service, creative innovation and logistical management to fit all budgets."
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR The company worked on unique branding options--including a custom banner that covered an entire building--for a huge event that brought 13,000 international guests to Los Angeles. Management notes with pride, "We also produced the largest event ever held on the USS Midway in San Diego, an exclusive concert featuring Joan Jett on an active military base, and closed down a waterfront venue for 3,000 guests that had only been closed to the public once before--by us!"
MARKETING ALLIANCE Global Events Partners
Destination San Antonio/The CE Group
San Antonio
TOP OFFICER Janet Holliday
WEBSITE www.destination-sanantonio.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 150 to 200
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $7 million
CAPABILITIES Capabilities include unique off-site theme dinners, specialty tours, innovative team-building activities and transportation services as well as event and production management, management says.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR The client roster for the past year has included Baptist Health Systems, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Medtronic, Wells Fargo and Royal Bank of Scotland. Events have included the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, Breast Cancer Symposium, NCAA Women’s Final Four Tours, Alcoholics Anonymous Convention and the San Antonio Martin Luther King Jr. Walk.
MARKETING ALLIANCE DMC Network
Eved Services
Skokie, Ill.
TOP OFFICER Talia Mashiach
WEBSITE www.evedservices.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 2,000
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $7.5 million
CAPABILITIES This "technology-enabled" DMC has partnered with more than 30 hotels in Chicago; the company's proprietary software "ensures quality and consistent service," management says. "Eved Services is a true extension of the planner, providing all services from a single centerpiece to a large ground transportation management program."
GEP Atlanta
Atlanta
TOP OFFICER Kaye Mulkeen
WEBSITE www.gepatlanta.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 250 to 300
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $5.5 million to $6 million
CAPABILITIES Part of the Atlanta scene for 42 years, this veteran DMC offers services including special events, tours, activities and team-building, airport transfers and transportation.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR An event highlight of the past year was the launch of a major vehicle manufacturer’s 2011 model at the Georgia International Convention Center for 1,200 guests. Utilizing more than 42,000 square feet of pre-function space for the launch party, the event team transformed the space into three Atlanta neighborhoods: The Buckhead area of the party featured a country club/residential feel, and guests were pampered with a variety of spa therapists and shoe shine stations. The midtown area featured a 30-foot bar and hip lounge seating with entertainment. The downtown area was transformed with a sports-bar feel and included a variety of games, Wii stations, a DJ and authentic cigar rollers. The team was also busy with more than 60 group dinearounds for two big groups over five nights.
MARKETING ALLIANCE Global Events Partners
GEP Washington
Washington
TOP OFFICER Marty MacKay
WEBSITE www.gepwashington.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 150 to 200
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $7 million to $7.5 million
CAPABILITIES Operating in Washington, northern Virginia, Baltimore and Annapolis, Md., providing airport meet-and-greet services, shuttle systems, group tours, spouse programs, entertainment, off-site dinners, in-hotel themed dinners, team-building programs and complete VIP services.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Busy over the past "fantastic" year with programs for clients including Toyota, Modern Woodmen, Merrill Lynch and Microsoft. “Our talented team provided exceptional service while producing memorable and innovative events,” management says.
MARKETING ALLIANCE Global Events Partners
Hello USA!
Orlando, Fla.
TOP OFFICER Paul Mears III
WEBSITE www.hello-usa.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 5,000 to 7,000
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $45 million to $50 million
CAPABILITIES Hello USA! has dedicated 10 full-time staff to focus solely on creating, sourcing and producing theme events, management says; "This resource in each of our destinations has enabled us to produce an immense photographic and video library of event options specific to each area. Our clients are able to select theme elements with a high degree of confidence."
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Hello Florida just won its second Special Events Gala Award for Best Decor. "The event was a decades party in which we themed the venue and used over 100 entertainers--including four bands with choreographed dancers--to achieve the client’s objectives," management says. "In an amazing year for events for our company, this was one of the most spectacular."
IVI Destination Management
Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
TOP OFFICER Jose-Manuel Garcia
WEBSITE www.ividmc.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 200 plus
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $7 million plus
CAPABILITIES In business since 1986, the company offers full destination services for MICE businesses including incentive travel, corporate events and meetings, and family groups. IVI points with pride to its ISO 9001:2008 quality certification, in-house security team, and founding of Friends of the Maya Foundation.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR IVI has put the spotlight on adding a corporate social responsibility element to its events.
MARKETING ALLIANCE Allied International
JTB Global Marketing and Travel
Tokyo
TOP OFFICER Saburo Fukagawa
WEBSITE www.jtbgmt.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 7,000
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $6.5 million
CAPABILITIES Services include logsitical coordination, transfers and special tours.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Marquee projects have included the G8 Summit, Winter Olympics in Nagano, FIFA World Cup Championship and Tokyo Marathon.
MARKETING ALLIANCE World Marketing Group
Kuoni Destination Management
Zurich, Switzerland
TOP OFFICER Rolf Schafroth
WEBSITE www.kuoni-dmc.com; www.kuoni-dmusa.com
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $1,102 million (2010 figure)
CAPABILITIES Kuoni Destination Management comprises 74 DMCs: 24 in Europe, 14 in Asia, 12 in North America, five in Africa, 13 in India and six in the Middle East. It is part of tourism giant Kuoni, which was founded in 1906.
ME Productions
Miami
TOP OFFICERS Hal Etkin, CEO; Jim Etkin, president
WEBSITE www.meproductions.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 420
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $10.3 million
CAPABILITIES A full-service DMC, family-owned and -operated for 33 years. ME works out of a 35,000-square-foot facility that provides in-house graphics, award-winning floral, entertainment, theme decor and stage sets. Specialties include conference design, team-building programs and theme parties, serving both local and international clientele.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR This year’s roster has included DMC services for marquee clients including Johnson & Johnson, Frito-Lay, NFL Players Association, International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores and Sears Holding Management Co.
MetroConnections
Minneapolis
TOP OFFICERS Sam Thompson, CEO; David Graves, president
WEBSITE www.metroconnections.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 1,400
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $12 million
CAPABILITIES Four service centers--conference services, event services, production services and transportation services--are combined in one, strategic group. The company owns a 35,000-square-foot facility including a prop and set warehouse. Capabilities include event and meeting management, theme events and decor, team-building, corporate branding experiences, production and entertainment management, video production and editing, the Attend-eSource web-based online registration/attendee management system, transportation/shuttle logistics, and award-winning tours for attendees and companions.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Big events over the past year have included transportation for ESPN's “Homecoming with Rick Reilly” program, which featured Minnesota Twins’ hometown hero Joe Mauer; the team shuttled 2,000 guests in busses efficiently and quickly in below-zero weather. Metro also handled full DMC services for a national sales meeting in Minneapolis; event highlights included the planning and execution of four simultaneous evening events and a plaza event and concert at Target Field.
Pacific World Singapore
Singapore
TOP OFFICERS Manuel Ferrer, Stephanie Ong, Jane Loh
WEBSITE www.pacificworld.com/singapore
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 120
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $27 million to $30 million
CAPABILITIES Company points with pride to its "originality and creativity in proposals." In-house design capabilities include both 2D and 3D.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Highlights of the past year have included the ITB Asia opening , events for Oriflame and APEC Singapore event series.
MARKETING ALLIANCE Global Events Partners
SPECTRA
London
TOP OFFICERS Wendy Moffat, chairman; Paul Miller, managing director
WEBSITE www.spectra-dmc.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 200 plus
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $10 million to $12 million
CAPABILITIES Operating in the U.K., Scotland and Wales, offering a "creative, flexible, strong team" that is "operationally focused," management says.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Busy over the past year with "events of every type and size at both new and established venues," the company says; one project involved logistics for the NFL American football game in London.
MARKETING ALLIANCE World Marketing Group
TMM (The Meeting Manager)
San Diego
TOP OFFICER Terry Hanks
WEBSITE www.tmmdmc.com
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 300 to 350
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $11 million to $13 million
CAPABILITIES Family-owned and operated for 33 years "while remaining an industry leader and innovator in driving the capabilities of what a DMC can do," management says.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR TMM's event roster over the year shows a rebound in corporate events and included several big-name entertainment events. Large, outdoor events at beaches and parks that transformed space into an oasis on the Pacific Ocean were "huge hits," management says, along with programs that "encompassed methodically plotted-out themes throughout three- and four-day programs to maximize budgets, branding and memorable impact for customers and employees."
MARKETING ALLIANCE DMC Network
Top Congress
Barcelona, Spain
TOP OFFICER Ana Lopez
WEBSITE www.topcongress.es
AVERAGE NUMBER OF EVENT PROGRAMS ANNUALLY 80 to 110
ANNUAL REVENUE FROM DMC SERVICES $7 million
CAPABILITIES Top specializes in events "tailormade" for its clients, management says.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS FROM PAST YEAR Busy this year with SEQC Congress, Corporate Eco Forum annual meeting, European Glaucoma Congress, European Commission meetings and Becton Dickinson Laboratories seminars.
Notes: All data supplied by the companies listed unless otherwise noted. Data was supplied before the March 11 disasters in Japan. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors and omissions sometimes occur. You are welcome to send suggestions to [email protected].
ALSO SEE: See our list of the big DMC networks—USA Hosts, Allied, Global Events Partners, Ovation and more.
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