What is a Destination Management Company (DMC)?

Destination Management Companies, or DMCs, are companies which specialise in providing hospitality, travel and ancillary services in a specific destination, country or region for incoming travel groups.

They have teams with expert local knowledge of their destination, and long standing relationships with hotels, venues, transport and other suppliers necessary to organise multifaceted travel arrangements and events.

What can a DMC assist with?

A DMC can assist with all types of incoming travel, including group travel, international conferences & meetings, incentive travel, special interest groups and much more. Have a look at our article: What are the main areas of expertise of DMCs?

Who usually works with DMCs?

Travel Agencies, Event Agencies, Conference Organisers and Incentive Planners are the usual clients of a DMC. More and more Corporate clients are contracting DMCs directly for meetings & incentive travel.

On the supplier side, DMCs work with hotels, venues, transport suppliers, event suppliers, AudioVisual companies, entertainers, restaurants, activities, and many other suppliers in a destination necessary to put together a program based on their clients requirements.

Why do I need a DMC?

Working across borders or across continents can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to managing multiple suppliers, for projects that run for many days, involve many guests and take months to organise. A DMC is a trusted partner that can be a one-stop shop for all your requirements in a destination. A professional DMC will have a dedicated Project Manager from their team to work with the client from A to Z.

Regarding hotels and accommodation, a DMC will know which of the hundreds of properties in their country is the most suitable for their group. Which ones have availability at certain times of the year and which ones match the client’s budget. The same applies to venues.

In regards to excursions, guides, activities, restaurants and other vendors, a DMC will know which of these suppliers will be suitable for each project and make an itinerary that is creative, engaging and logistically suitable. They may have one or more alternatives for each service.

In terms of buying power, DMCs can have better rates across the board which they can pass on to their clients. This is because DMCs work consistently with hotels and suppliers in their own country, which is not the case for foreign agencies. DMCs may not only have better rates but also better terms and conditions, due to their long standing relationships with suppliers.