Discover Albany awarded with Destination Marketing Accreditation renewal at Destinations International’s annual celebration
Discover Albany honored at Annual Convention for their performance and commitment to advancing Albany as a destination
ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 1, 2024) — Discover Albany, Albany County’s convention and visitors bureau, was awarded with the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) designation in recognition of the organization’s commitment to industry excellence and meeting the industry standard for performance and accountability of destination organizations around the world.
The recognition comes after satisfying a rigorous list of performance criteria. The accreditation program requires a destination organization to successfully comply with a multitude of mandatory and voluntary standards that span a variety of performance areas to gain this momentous achievement. The standards cover nearly all aspects related to the management and marketing of destination organizations including governance, finance, human resources, sales, communications, destination development and research.
“We are delighted to welcome Discover Albany to our esteemed DMAP community,” said Don Welsh, Destinations International President and CEO. “The relevance of destination organizations has never been more vital to the economic vitality of the places Destinations International members serve, and this industry accreditation is a benchmark for quality and performance. My gratitude extends to the DMAP Board of Directors for their dedication to our industry and their stewardship of this crucial program.”
“Discover Albany’s recertification of our Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) is a testament to the work that our staff does to position us as a valued and respected part of our community,” says Jill Delaney, Discover Albany President and CEO. “The DMAP accreditation is difficult, with only about 200 accredited organizations worldwide that have completed the more than 100 performance standards that must be met. That just goes to show how much pride and dedication we have in Discover Albany as an organization and in our community.”
“Accreditation through DMAP underscores the critical role that destination organizations play in their communities,” stated Tania Armenta, Visit Albuquerque President & CEO and chair of the DMAP Board of Directors. “As custodians of their destinations’ brands, participation in DMAP underscores a destination organization’s adherence to rigorous standards. This commitment is a clear signal to stakeholders that the organization managing the destination brand possesses the necessary infrastructure and expertise to beneficially influence the visitor economy for both tourists and local residents.”
For more information about Discover Albany, visit albany.org.
For more information about DMAP, visit destinationsinternational.org.
###
About Discover Albany: The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. was established in 1976 to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community through increased development of conventions and tourism. Today, the organization is known as Discover Albany. Discover Albany currently represents more than 300 member businesses and assists each year in hundreds of regional meetings. Discover Albany also operates the Discover Albany Visitors Center, Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany International Airport Information Center. The Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Foundation was established in 1993 to provide educational opportunities and work with other organizations to secure grants and funding to advance regional travel and tourism projects. For more information, call 518–434–1217 or 800–258–3582 or visit www.albany.org.
About Destinations International: Destinations International is the world’s largest and most reliable resource for destination organizations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. With more than 8,000 members and partners from over 750 destinations, the association represents a powerful forward-thinking and collaborative community around the world. For more information, visit www.destinationsinternational.org.
