At the most basic level, DMCs can assist with incoming group travel within their destination. They can organise and operate hotel reservations, transfers, dinners, excursions, activities and guided tours for groups travelling to their destination. The services however that DMCs can offer do not end there.

Incentive Travel:

Companies offer holidays abroad – as a “bonus” – to high performing employees, or organise corporate incentive trips so that the whole company travel’s together. In either case, DMCs are experts in organising incentive travel within their destination. Apart from sourcing the most suitable hotel arrangements for large groups of travellers, DMCs can help design a unique itinerary based on the company’s requirements. From excursions off-the-beaten-path, to unique team-building activities, to memorable gala dinners and events, DMCs can help with everything from the arrival to departure of an incentive group.

Meetings & Conferences:

DMCs will be experts in finding and sourcing the best venues for international conferences in their destination, and the most suitable hotels to accommodate the conference delegates. They can arrange all AudioVisual requirements needed, plan large group meals and dinners for delegates and organise the complexity of multiple arrivals and departures transfers.

Event Management:

Organising an event in a foreign country can be a daunting task. The more complex the event the more local support is needed to complete it successfully. Local DMCs can help with all aspects of event management within their destination. From venue sourcing, to catering, to decor, entertainment and audiovisual support, DMCs can assist with all these areas and more, up to the last detail.

Special Interest Groups:

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are travel groups with a specific area of interest. The category is quite broad and may include, groups interested in the destination’s culture, history or archeology; or it may be a group interested specifically in the geology or flora and fauna of a destination. From automotive enthusiasts, archeologists, PhDs and professors, chefs, botanists, engineers, politicians and everything in between. Whatever the reason for travel, DMCs can help with the group’s specific needs and help design the best itinerary within the destination.

Cruises & Shore Excursions:

Being experts in logistics, DMCs can assist with organising Shore Excursions for cruise ships visiting their destination but also turnaround services, where accommodation and transfers are needed perhaps from ports to airports and vice versa, for hundreds of passengers.

Sport Travel & Sport Events:

DMCs will be experts at organising the travel arrangements for sports team and athletes. DMCs can host teams who are travelling to compete, such as, as part of the Champions League for soccer – or other sports and tournaments. Additionally, they can assist with organising training for sports teams and athletes from overseas. The type of sports that a destination can accommodate will depend on its infrastructure and of course its geography.

Corporate Travel:

This segment is covered by most DMCs as part of their services offered to their corporate and agency clients.

Luxury & Leisure Travel:

Many DMCs will not focus on leisure travel, as its relevant simplicity does not necessitate their services. Nevertheless, many DMCs who also cater to leisure will focus on the luxury segment; where more complex arrangements are needed. DMCs will usually operate this in a separate company department.

DMC Service

For every travel niche that a DMC can assist with, they will be able to:

1. Consult on the best choice of hotels, venues, program and itinerary.
2. Provide a unified and detailed costing and a presentation with the proposed itinerary.
3. Handle all bookings with suppliers as a one-stop-shop. (Hotels, transport suppliers, guides, restaurants, caterers, florists etc)
4. Be the financial intermediary for the payments to all suppliers and do the necessary quality control.
5. Organise on-site visits and inspections for their clients as necessary.
6. Have the staff onsite to operate large and small groups and events.
7. Dedicate in-house project managers, who will be responsible for a project from A to Z.