Strengthening DMO Partnerships & Destination Branding

DMO Partnerships and Team Building Synergy

The synergistic relationship between a DMO and other organizations, whether within or outside a destination, is defined as partnership. To form such partnerships, team building is essential. As a result of leadership and coordination roles in destination management, effective team building actions can lead to strong partnerships with DMOs within a destination. This also unifies the actions and efforts of the team, which is crucial for implementing specific strategies. The inherent synergy between partnership and team building often makes it difficult to delineate the barrier between these two concepts.

Eight Essential "I" Ingredients for Strong Partnerships

• Individual Excellence: All partners possess a strong structure and contribute ideas to the collaboration with consistent standards.
• Importance: All partners must work individually to achieve their objectives while also creating a unified strategy with other partners.
• Interdependence: Collaboration between partners is necessary, but each entity maintains its own sources, internal objectives, and experiences.
• Investment: All partners invest in others to foster mutual growth and achieve a higher level of collective investment.
• Information: There must be a continuous exchange of information and open communication between partners.
• Integration: It is essential that partners create strong links and a cohesive team structure.
• Institutionalization: Partners must operate legally and adhere to established guidelines and frameworks.
• Integrity: All members must participate in the creation of decisions and follow a unified approach and work rate.

The Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau is a sales and marketing organization whose sole focus is on the strategic marketing of customized "wow" experiences for the meetings and convention industry. Established in 1945 to promote the Greater Cincinnati area as a convention and leisure destination, The Cincinnati USA CVB is made up of four primary departments: Sales, Marketing, Services, and Membership.

The Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau is supported by nearly 500 businesses who invest in the efforts of the Bureau. These businesses help make Cincinnati USA an appealing destination by offering their services, attractions, and facilities to visitors, meeting planners, and convention delegates.

Eight Complexities of Tourism Destination Branding

• An amalgam of products and services under different ownerships.
• Companies and organizations are responsible for “delivering” the destination brand.
• The team should include tourism sector stakeholders and other community members who can make useful contributions.
• It requires a long-term commitment, and tourism offers a unique experience.
• The quality of destinations cannot truly be observed and assessed in advance.
• DMOs around the world often cannot afford extensive destination branding due to insufficient marketing budgets.
• Political influences can significantly impact branding efforts.
• Everybody perceives themselves as a tourism expert.