If your company is frequently planning business trips and is frequently short on people to plan them, it’s time to contact a DMC. Destination management companies can save as much time and money as they do other valuable resources through their experience and expertise about business travel.

DMCs Bring Connections to You

Busy companies that are short on resources will enjoy the efficiency DMCs offer. Handing over your business planning needs to a company who is familiar with your destination city makes for a hassle-free experience. DMC personnel don’t have to spend endless hours doing tedious vendor research because they have established relationships with all the necessary venues.

It’s these types of relationships that distinguish Accent DMC from other similar companies. Finding successful venues and working with one meeting planner that is able to make one-time deals with the necessary suppliers is priceless. Accent DMC also has access to other planning venues such as private clubs, mansions, golf resorts and even private homes. This type of access comes from having an established relationship with a multitude of clients Accent DMC has worked with for many years. Large vendors and private clubs are more apt to respond to a DMC they’ve worked with before rather than a one-shot contact they will not likely ever see again.

DMCs Make Transportation a Breeze

Hiring a DMC is also extremely beneficial when it comes to transportation in destination cities. A destination management company is aware of ongoing construction projects, for example, and have established relationships with local police and fire department agencies.

Know When a DMC is a Must-Hire

Of course it may not be financially feasible to call in a DMC for every business meeting. However, it is important to decide when calling a DMC is most appropriate. This can be determined by the company’s own knowledge of their business meeting needs with a combination of available time. If it’s something simple that a company can do themselves, then it is most likely not practical to hire a DMC, especially if the company is using repeat vendors with which they have established relationships.

It is often a completely different story however, when a company is attempting to put together an annual business meeting in another city for 100 or even 1,000+ people. This is where in-house business planning can become a strain on the company and, more times than not, hiring a DMC to save the day is the best choice.

There’s no doubt that New Orleans is exceptional when it comes to food, history, culture and spectacular architecture. The city is well known around the world for its culture, music, history and world class cuisine. If your business travel sees you in New Orleans, there are a few must-see places.

The French Quarter

The famous French Quarter is of course, one such must-see. Visiting New Orleans and not seeing the French Quarter is like going to Disneyland without getting a view of Mickey. If it’s your first time in New Orleans, a recommended hotel is the Place D’Arms. Located on Ann Street, this hotel offers an excellent location. It is close to restaurants and nighttime entertainment, as well as the St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. The hotel, which is surrounded by 18th and 19th century buildings, is adorned with beautiful courtyards, fountains, a pool, patio and lush gardens.

Classic New Orleans Cuisine

If you’re in search of classic New Orleans food, head to Magazine Street. There you will find Bon Ton Café, which is ideal for a quick lunchtime bite or a full-course family dinner. The restaurant specializes in traditional crawfish dishes that are certain to provide a real taste of Southern cuisine. For a drink head to Pirates Alley Café in the French Quarter. This quaint pub is a local favorite that offers friendly service and an authentic drink menu.

Mardi Gras & More

Being one of the most fascinating cities in the world comes with a refined reputation for entertainment, which of course, is what the city’s Mardi Gras celebration is about. Business travelers arriving to New Orleans during the month of February may just luck out on their festival timing. Other noteworthy spring events in the city include the annual Rock n’ Roll Marathon and the Jazz Fest in April and May.

Photo courtesy of Cajun Crawfish Pie

ACCENT on Arrangements, Inc.  received an Achievement Award from the Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) at its Annual Conference recently held in Memphis, Tennessee. ADMEI, represents 205 North American member Destination Management companies, and presented 10 achievement awards at the conference.

Jonni Adams, General Manager & Meghan Sens, Production Manager of ACCENT accept the ADMEI Award

Diane Lyons, President of ACCENT on Arrangements, Inc. said “I am extremely pleased to be recognized by our peers for unparalleled leadership in our industry coupled with exceptional creativity and overall event success. It was a great night for our DMC Network national partners who received six of the thirteen awards.”

ACCENT on Arrangements, was recognized for:
•    Best Creative Event – Best Teambuilding
•    Event Title: “Fun, Fashion and Philanthropy”

In choosing award recipients, ADMEI and other industry meeting planners considered leadership in the industry, creativity, and the overall success of the specific event. ACCENT is thrilled to be recognized for these attributes.

About ACCENT on Arrangements, Inc., a DMC Network Company

Founded in 1991 by Diane B. Lyons, ACCENT on Arrangements, Inc. is a privately held corporation with the primary interest of planning, managing and supervising group activities to include spouse/guest programs, team building activities, special events, entertainment and décor, transportation services, speaker programs, hospitality staff and VIP services as well as children’s programs and events. Headquartered in New Orleans, ACCENT has a management team with more than 90 years of combined destination management experience. It is a proud member of the DMC Network, an LLC of the top performing, wholly owned DMCs through North America.

About ADMEI

The Association of Destination Management Executives International is an organization of 205 member companies that seeks to increase the professionalism and effectiveness of destination management through member and industry education, establishment of standards ethical practices and strives to raise the level of awareness of the value of destination management to the respective association, corporate and general public.

About the DMC Network, LLC

Unique in the industry, the DMC Network is an LLC of the top-performing, independently owned DMCs throughout North America. Through our alliance with Ovation Global DMC, our reach extends across five continents. With an average of over 25 years in business and more than twice as many accredited DMCs as any other DMC consortium or company, each DMC Network partner delivers unsurpassed knowledge of their market and a confidence that they are a sound, professional organization that consistently exceeds clients’ expectations. With an insider’s knowledge, we make it effortless for our clients to produce meetings and events around the world. We are your knowledge network and are dedicated to doing business your way, in every way. As a network, we represent many destinations, but only one relationship — the one with you.

Planning: More Important Than Ever

If you’re one of the few people left in the planning department, you understand what the demands of this job entail. The meetings keep on coming – another conference has to be planned and it’s already the end of the day. Where you once would have had some helpers with these tasks, these jobs are now left to you. And it has never been more important to pull off successful meetings, conferences and trade shows that illustrate the potential of your company.

DMC to the Rescue

Fortunately, you’re not alone. A DMC or destination management company can help you plan successful meetings and business trips from start to finish. Even in an economy where businesses are looking to slash their expenses, DMCs are actually growing in popularity. It’s more cost-effective to partner with a DMC than to hire full-time employees to carry out the planning and organizing tasks. DMCs also have all the inside information regarding venues, activities and entertainment that can suit your business and your budget.

Budget Accordingly

That’s not to say that DMCs come cheap, as you certainly want to have a budget to be able to successfully work with a DMC. What you can look forward to is that you won’t be faced with the pressures and time crunches of planning business meetings and conferences for your company. Partnering with a DMC will allow you to have more time to focus on your business goals, while being confident that all planning arrangements are being handled in full.

A Knowledgeable Partner

Most importantly, your DMC will know the area that you’re traveling to, instead of you blindly navigating through hotels, restaurants and corporate activities. You can make the most out of these traveling experiences and allow your business to shine through, as they’ll have access to the best venues, plus have dependable transportation and lodging arrangements that will keep everyone happy and comfortable.

The economy hasn’t slowed the need for DMCs and has instead allowed the industry to thrive. With destination planners being overworked and overbooked, it helps to have someone knowledgeable to partner with, plan successful trips and get the job done right the first time around.

If you’re still unsure about what a DMC can do for your business, assign one to a small task such as arranging a team-building activity or transportation services. You’ll quickly see how necessary a DMC can be to the successful functioning of your business, especially in a down economy where everything counts.

Image Source: gaebler.com

The Undeniable Lure of Sports

For centuries sports enthusiasts have crowded coliseums, sports centers and even lined streets when it comes to getting a glimpse of their favorite sporting event. Major sporting events from professional hockey games to highly anticipated boxing matches have not only the potential to grab the attention of the public, they also have the potential to rake in substantial money for the host city.

It is for these reasons that numerous tourism associations and even destination management organizations have begun to realize this potential. Many corporations of all shapes and sizes get their foot in the door by sponsoring these large sporting events. Even smaller companies become involved by participating in round robin events as a way to get noticed and show community support.

Going it Alone is Tough

Businesses that organize their own community activities know how much work it takes to collectively coordinate everything from players to venues. This can prove not only humanly exhausting, but also time consuming. For busy companies, extending already time-starved employees to the additional task of organizing corporate functions can prove tiresome and often unsuccessful.

When organized with the proper care and attention that is required, corporate sporting events can be wildly successful and can even become annual events. This type of sports event management can easily be handled by a professional company who not only has the time and energy to put into coordinating your event, but they also have the expertise and established contacts to see all venues carried through successfully.

Crafting a Successful Sporting Event

A corporate sporting event is put together with great care and an enormous amount of planning. Attention to every detail must be met. The successful creation and development of the event depends highly on the organizing person’s ability to devise the proper concept by targeting the appropriate audience, planning the logistics and technical aspects, and then completely executing the modalities of the event.

A properly executed sporting event has the potential to draw enormous crowds, masses of public attention that can be categorized as a priceless form of advertising, and it can also be a great way to have fun and get noticed in the community. With so much company potential, it may be worth hiring a professional sporting event management team today!

Photo courtesy of Door2Tour

Pick and Choose Services

The good news is that DMC companies work on an a la carte structure, so you can choose a DMC to help you with certain meetings and destinations. You won’t need a DMC for everything, allowing you to pick and choose which meetings deserve the most time and where the bulk of your budget will be spent. Although the choice is yours, DMCs do prefer to plan the whole experience, as they know all the pointers and tips that will make your business trip successful from start to finish.

Communication is Key

Nevertheless, know that communication is key. Your DMC may have all the connections, but they won’t be able to fulfill your individual needs unless you’re specific about them. You don’t have to go into details, but just let your DMC know what you’re looking for, how many staff members will be traveling and other small details. Your DMC will instantly know which venues and activities will best serve your particular group.

This is why it’s essential to choose a DMC that has positive rapports with their suppliers, as this will give you the most options for your travel destinations. More exciting is that DMCs have relationships with venues that the general public would never know about. When you tell your DMC what you’re looking for, they’ll know just what to arrange for you to fulfill your business goals. From transportation to lodging to entertainment to dining, your group will have everything handled seamlessly from beginning to end.

The Domino Effect

You’ll find that when working with a DMC, the process is almost like a domino effect. One change here and there can affect the entire course of your travel – in a good way of course. Instead of scrambling and trying to make things follow a certain timeline with the limited tools you have, your DMC will take care of all this for you. And thanks to their flexible schedule and understanding nature, you can make the decision as to when to call on your new partner.

Image Source: epicatravel.com

Seek Referrals

For starters, ask around for referrals and recommendations. The local convention center and nearby hotels should have recommendations for you, and you can reach out to DMCs you worked with in the past. What you should find is two or three consistent DMC companies popping up, giving you the names you need to contact. You can also speak with other companies that have worked with the DMCs to see how their destination planning was handled.

Ask Questions

You should also take your search to the next level and speak with the referrals. Don’t just take the referrals for granted, but check them out yourself. For example, you can give the supplier a quick phone call and see if the DMC is organized, professional and easy to work with. DMCs should have positive relationships with outside suppliers in order to give you the best services possible.

Are They Associated?

Second, when you’ve narrowed down your search, check to see whether the DMCs are involved in an association marketplace. DMCs can live up to their expectations when they have a strong industry involvement and recognize what the current issues are. After all, the association market is far different from the corporate market, and it’s essential that DMCs understand the differences in these relationships.

In addition to checking with the DMCs industry involvement, you can also check for membership of a particular association. The DMC should at least be a member of the Association of Destination Marketing Executives (ADME), but there are other associations as well that the DMC may be members of. There is also a new designation and exam test that can be taken called the DMCP designation, which adds to the credibility of the DMC.

Check Insurance

Third, make sure that you request a certificate of insurance, as adequate insurance coverage is essential in today’s market. Also look for other factors of importance such as how long the DMC company has been in business, how many staff members are part of the company and what the cancellation policy is. You can also do a test run with the DMC by assigning them a small part of your destination planning. This will allow you to compare several different DMC companies and see their creative outlets, as well as their pricing structure.

Remember that most importantly, finding the right fit takes time and patience. Once you find the right DMC to partner with, you will have all the burdens of destination planning lifted from you, allowing you to focus on your core business values, while leaving the business trips to a successful DMC.

Image Source: globaltraveler.com

Over the years, New Orleans, Louisiana has earned a reputation as a party destination, thanks to its indulgent parades, its raucous nightlife, and its casinos. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing in the Big Easy for young visitors. Children and teens who accompany their parents to N’awlins can find lots of kid-friendly attractions to keep them happily occupied during their trip. Here’s a look at some of the activities and attractions for young visitors in New Orleans.

• Audubon Zoo – Zoos are great places for kids and the Audubon Zoo is no exception. Home to hundreds of animals from multiple species, this 58-acre wildlife preserve features white tigers, monkeys, sea lions, white alligators, and elephants – plenty to keep the little ones entertained!
• Audubon Aquarium – Over 15,000 undersea specimens are on display at this aquarium located on the Mississippi River. Children will love the shark pool, where they can touch baby sharks, and the Amazon Rainforest exhibit, with its live anacondas and exotic birds.
• Louisiana Children’s Museum – Need to burn off some childhood energy? Take the little ones to this multi-story interactive museum with exhibits for kids of all ages. Some of the permanent exhibits include “Bubbles”, which allows children to stand inside of large bubbles, “Art Trek”, which gives them a chance to create their own artistic masterpieces, and “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood”, a life-sized version of the classic PBS show set.
• The French Quarter – Think the French Quarter is only for those over 21? Think again! This lively downtown district has lots of excitement for children. Book a horse and carriage tour through the streets of the city or walk down Royal Street and let the kids enjoy performances by clowns and street musicians.
• City Park – New Orleans’ version of Central Park, City Park is home to several attractions, including the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Sculpture Gardens, Storyland, the Botanical Gardens, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.
• Mardi Gras World – Kids can get Mardi Gras fever by visiting this facility, the biggest parade float manufacturer in the world. Inside, children can dress up in traditional Mardi Gras costumes, enjoy king cake, learn about the festival’s history, and watch a video presentation about New Orleans’ biggest party.

Image c/o: Linda Duchaine

The short answer is by using a DMC, a destination management company. DMCs are a relatively new industry, getting their start during the corporate growth periods of the 1970s and 1980s, but they have already cemented their place in the modern workplace environment. They do deep research about the destination city, help to arrange reservations for meeting space, work to arrange airfare for attendees, and can even provide childcare arrangements for business travelers who want to bring their families along. All of this assistance makes it possible for employers to focus on the central part of the trip – planning the actual meeting agenda.

While DMCs as a whole offer invaluable services, there are some that provide better quality work than others. It’s worth the time to do your homework before deciding whether to hire a DMC and selecting which agency you will hire to work with your company.

• Analyze your company’s budget. If you’re operating on a tight financial rein for your conference, decide if you have the room in your budget to hire a DMC. If so, take the time to compare prices and services.
• Consider the destination city. If your meeting is being held a short distance away from your company headquarters, you may not need the services of a DMC to research the area. But, if you’re going out of the state or to a completely new city, a DMC may well be worth the money.
• Look at the size of your planned conference. A small meeting of less than 50 may not need the same level of service that a large conference of 1,000 may require.
• Check the DMC’s reputation. Ask about other companies the DMC has worked with and look for recommendations from other corporate employers. Find out if the DMC has corporate insurance to cover any potential issues.
• Try out the services. Hire several DMCs when you get ready to take a trip to the convention city. Have one work on finding a meeting place, another work on the airfare arrangements, and then another to plan for local entertainment. Make your final decision based on the results.

Image c/o: boellstiftung

One of the biggest aspects of Mardi Gras is the multiple parades that run through New Orleans on Fat Tuesday. Parades generally feature live music, automobiles, and, of course, giant parade floats. A growing trend among New Orleans companies is the idea of organizing their own Mardi Gras parade for their business. Since there is no “right” way to have a Mardi Gras parade, business owners can incorporate the suggestions of their employees when deciding how to plan their celebration.

Since many parades include marching bands, employers can contact local high school band directors to inquire about having a band lead the parade in their full uniforms. While many of the show-stopping floats in New Orleans are made by local manufacturer, Kern Studios, corporations that want to plan their own company Mardi Gras parade can commission a professional float designer to produce a traditional float. Often, classic Mardi Gras floats feature the colors purple, green, and gold, accompanied by jester faces, beads, and a brightly painted scene on the sides.

It’s also a great idea to decide who from the company will ride on the float. Small businesses may be able to include everyone in the festivities, while larger companies might need to draw names to select participants. Since nearly 60 “krewes” or parade groups participate in Mardi Gras each year, you might want to select a day during the festival that doesn’t have a lot of planned parades. Ask the police department for an official escort and for a map of the city so that you can plan your parade route. Do this as far in advance as possible to avoid missing an available spot in the schedule.

With a little ingenuity and planning, you and your employees can have a classic Mardi Gras parade that will advertise your business to the city and improve company morale.

Image c/o: Chasqui (Luis Tamayo)