MPI Foundation

Meeting Professionals International Foundation (MPIF) has partnered with Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) on a research initiative that will explore the relationship between destination marketing organizations (DMO)/convention and visitors bureaus (CVB) and corporate meeting professionals.

“The partnership between a planner and a DMO is vital to creating memorable and rewarding experiences,” said Margaret Moynihan, CMP, MPIF immediate past chairwoman and director for Deloitte & Touche. “I am extremely passionate about this project and I hope organizations see this as an opportunity to conduct business more strategically.”

MPIF has secured funding from multiple sources, including:

  • Fort Worth CVB
  • NY & Company
  • Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority
  • Seattle CVB
  • Visit Orlando
  • Visit Phoenix

The contributions, which total $110,000 USD, will help implement a day of co-creation sessions where professionals across the United States will discuss topics necessary to standardize the DMO experience for planners at every level. Core deliverables from the project will include co-creation sessions, an educational session during WEC 2011 detailing the findings, a whitepaper outlining the results, a PowerPoint presentation and supporting information kit.

“This project will help to raise the viability and credibility of the tremendous value that the DMO/CVB provide to the meeting planning community,” said David DuBois, CMP, CAE, chief executive officer and president of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. “That is why the Fort Worth CVB is significantly helping to finance this important project.”

Once the co-creation sessions are completed, MPI and DMAI will collaborate to develop programs and best practices for DMOs and CVBs to meet the growing needs of corporate meeting professionals.

Organizations interested in funding the DMO campaign should contact Tony Fundaro ([email protected]) for more information.

About MPI Foundation: MPI Foundation is passionately committed to bringing vision and prosperity to the meetings and events community worldwide by investing in results-oriented initiatives that shape the future and bring success to the meetings and events community. MPI is the meetings and events industry’s largest and most vibrant global community comprised of more than 23,000 members representing 84 countries worldwide. For more information, visit .

About DMAI: As the world’s largest and most reliable resource for official destination marketing organizations (DMOs), Destination Marketing Association International is dedicated to improving the effectiveness of over 2,800 professionals from nearly 650 destination marketing organizations in over 30 countries.

About DMOs: Destination marketing organizations, often called convention and visitor bureaus, are not-for-profit organizations charge with representing a specific destination and helping the long-term development of communities through a travel and tourism strategy. DMOs are usually membership organizations bringing together business that rely on tourism and meetings for revenue.

Theresa Davis
Director of Strategic Communications
+1.972.702.3044
MPI