Development Counsellors International

Americans love to save up those PTO days, but let’s not let them go to waste. With National Plan for Vacation Day coming up on January 28, inspire travelers to book a trip to your destination to avoid losing their hard-earned vacation days. https://lnkd.in/eAdan-4s

A little something for everyone. 🗞️🎁 Talent Wars: https://lnkd.in/geF29eQC Next Generation of Travel Media: https://lnkd.in/dn8TBrpn Winning Strategies in Destination Marketing: https://lnkd.in/gGMeJAjc Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing: https://lnkd.in/eZRCbA_y The State of Site Selection Report: https://lnkd.in/d2m3HzVX Talent Wars: A Podcast by DCI: https://lnkd.in/gVfe9ZVp What Talent Wants: https://lnkd.in/eWpcC7-f

Get up to date on the best practices in crisis communications before the year comes to an end. ✔️ Join Tourism SVP Cathy A. Preece for a virtual discussion on how to prepare, respond and learn from unexpected events. Mark your calendars, because this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. https://lnkd.in/gnFjGGzW

Executive Vice President Dariel Curren joined the DCI team in 1989. ⭐️ What started as a freelance project to keep her busy as a new mother turned into a 35-year career marketing destinations around the world. As she closes this chapter of her life and steps into her next adventure (biking in the Swiss Alps?), we’re reflecting on the people, places and businesses that Dariel impacted during her time with DCI. Join us in celebrating Dariel’s last few days with the agency before we bid her farewell and wish her a happy retirement. 🎉 https://lnkd.in/gFqP-q3z

This holiday season, the Talent Wars Podcast brings you a special episode packed with wisdom straight from the frontlines of talent attraction, growth and retention. Recorded LIVE at the 2024 Young Smart & Local Conference — the ultimate gathering for talent pros — this episode is a must-listen. Host Patience Fairbrother dives into the big questions with seven leaders: 🎙️ Cecelia Thompson (Action Greensboro) 🎙️ Christopher Wink (Technical.ly) 🎙️ Max Davenport, Jr. (Onward New River Valley) 🎙️ Rue R. (Tulsa Regional Chamber) 🎙️ Spencer Lucker (Michigan Economic Development Corporation) 🎙️ Marcell Bruski (Big Sky Economic Development) 🎙️ Katie Shorey (Live and Work in Maine) Together, they unpack challenges, share steal-worthy strategies and deliver bold “talent takes” that will inspire your next move in 2024 and beyond. Tune in now to unwrap the gift of insight – and share your “talent take” in the comments. 👇 https://lnkd.in/gk_dj2wM

As the year comes to a close and we get swept up in the magic of the holiday season, we like to slow down and reflect on what inspired us throughout the year. Our core value, “Be a Knowledge Sponge,” continuously reminds us to seek out opportunities to learn and expand our own perspective as storytellers. One way we do that is through good books. 📚 In 2024, we read books that gave us hope, challenged us, offered a new way of thinking and allowed us to escape into a different world. We hope they do the same for you or someone on your holiday list this year. Enjoy! https://lnkd.in/gPmzS2zb

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. recently served as one of the main sponsors of the Black Travel Summit, and the DCI team had the privilege of attending. It was a weekend filled with inspiration, meaningful connections and an important celebration of culture and storytelling in the travel industry. One of the standout moments was the inaugural Black Film Festival, where stories of resilience, history and identity were brought to life. Events like this are a powerful reminder of how travel, culture and experience intersect, creating opportunities to share narratives that truly matter. Among the many standout creators, a few left an impact on the DCI team: 🔵 Erick Cedeño, a historian and explorer who retraces Black history across the U.S. by bike, blending adventure with cultural preservation. 🔵 Joe-Bridgers, Senior Editor at Nat Geo TV, who produced Clotilda, the moving story of the last American slave ship. 🔵 Eileen Ivette, an award-winning video producer and Afro-Latina historian, who shared her Colombian roots and passion for preserving heritage through storytelling. These conversations remind us of the importance of elevating diverse voices in tourism and celebrating storytelling that showcases perspectives outside of our own.

Today is International Persons with Disabilities Day! Everyone deserves to experience the magic of exploring a new place, and these influencers are paving the way for inclusivity in the travel and tourism industry.     Follow along with their journey: https://lnkd.in/g4irRhhw

Destinations need to know that their agencies have their interests at heart—no matter who else they are representing. 📍 Every destination is unique 🔎 Journalists are *always* on the hunt for good ideas ✍️ Journalists write more than one story a year 💡 Good ideas aren’t locked in a tower 💥 Agencies are…busy DCI Tourism President Karyl Leigh Barnes dispels the notion that there is an inherent conflict of interest in destination marketing agencies. Intrigued? Read more: https://lnkd.in/gt7JbqnH

Happy Thanksgiving from DCI! 🧡 As our U.S. friends prepare to celebrate with loved ones, we wanted to take this opportunity to express gratitude for our clients and fellow place marketing peers. You inspire us every day and serve as a reminder that the work we do matters.