ABSTRACT

Destination management organizations (DMOs) and convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs) were established to market cities to conventions, individual tourists, and businesses interested in relocating. DMOs and CVBs, whether funded by the government, taxes on tourists, or both, were created to market the city to meeting planners. Personal sales are still used when communicating the destination's benefits to individuals but it is critical when promoting to travel intermediaries and tour groups. The selling process that should be followed starts with prospecting and proceeds to closing and follows up after the sale. Trade shows are used to bring together organizations selling a product with other organizations needing to purchase. Destination marketers for smaller cities or towns should not try to do everything alone. Instead they should partner with nearby cities to share employees, develop joint promotional campaigns, and put on events, as doing so will stretch the budgets of both.