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Beginning
In 1960, in response to meetings and convention planners, a new business was born referred to as ground operators, These local companies
offered basic services, including airport meet and greet, transportation, tours, and recreation (mainly golf) for groups. -
DMC was coined in the USA
Destination management was coined in 1972
by Phil Lee, founder of California Leisure Consultants -
coming of age
As a 1991 Successful Meetings magazine cover story proclaimed, “A Cottage Industry Comes of Age!” -
recession
s. Organizations were forced to cut their meeting
(recreation) budgets. Other suppliers like hotels, decorators, and
transportation companies began offering similar services -
Consolidation
During the 1990s, we observed a forceful increase in the reach of nations and the transformation of the destination management industry into a more corporate entity, driven by investments from institutions and venture capitalists. -
Globalization of the rise
At the same time, clients have said they prefer to work with locally owned and operated DMCs. -
Finalcial crisis
The "AIG effect" left companies hesitant to travel across the country for meetings for fear of ridicule in the press. Many DMCs and event planning companies struggled to stay afloat, and some were forced to permanently close their doors.