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A destination services firm should not just give you their recommendation and then leave. They need to give you the option to help you execute the plan they’re presenting.
Our approach is to custom tailor each research study to the specific needs of the client. The final report will be an easy to read document that presents visitor profile and economic impact data with recommendations for action. Destination Services is a small boutique firm that develops a close bond with our clients who are devoted to our process that delivers clear actionable strategies for our clients.
Destination Services is not just a research firm. We partner with clients as an extension of their professional staffs and immerse ourselves into the destination’s cultural and political fabric. We have managed DMO’s, lodging properties and attractions. We understand the needs and pressures. We have directed facility development projects and secured public/private funding for those projects. We understand what it takes to turn a dream….a concept….into reality. Destination Services is not your usual consulting firm because we have been in your shoes and do not just preach tourism, but live, breathe and practice tourism. Our ultimate goal is to save you time, money and deliver the best possible product that will give you a road map for success.
Here are some of our past clients:
City of Moberly, Missouri
Moberly Chamber of Commerce
Mississippi State Legislature
Jackson, Mississippi CVB
St. Charles Convention and Sports Authority
Broken Arrow CVB
Lubbock Texas CVB
City of Mount Airy
State Theatre of Virginia Barter Theatre
Oxford Mississippi CVB
Tulsa, OK CVB
IllinoiSouth CVB
St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau
Birthplace of Country Music Museum Bristol, TN
Hinton West Virginia
Stoney Creek Properties
Santa Clara CVB
Aberdeen CVB
Bardstown Bourbon Company
City of Bardstown KY CVB
Loudon County
Finger Lakes CVB
Constellation Brands
Inn on the Lake, Canandaigua, NY
Ogdensburg, NY
Star Valley Resort, Star Valley Wyoming
Topeka CVB
Omaha CVB
Devil’s Lake CVB
Shreveport CVB
Nacogdoches CVB
Sioux Falls CVB
City of Abingdon, Virginia Economic Development Authority
Town of Bath, NY
30 years of experience in marketing, tourism product development, destination branding and management, budgeting and research. With experience at the local, state and federal levels of government, Powell brings a wealth of political experience and techniques for public support and political advocacy to the projects. As the former Director of the St. Charles Missouri Convention and Visitor Bureau, his efforts moved the destination from a day trip market to a full-service year-round destination, which involved the development of seventeen attractions including a 152,000 square feet convention center and a casino.
During his tenure as the CEO for the Peoria, Illinois Convention and Visitor Bureau, Powell reorganized the Bureau into a more focused regional sales organization and as a result, increased booked business by 40%. Currently, Powell works with both public and private entities to develop destinations and solve complex issues related to the overall management of the destination. His specialty is marketing, strategic planning, product and attraction development, destination branding, sales, research and political strategy. Powell has been a long-term member of both the Destinations International Association and the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA).
Dawn has over 20 years experience in advertising, marketing, tourism product development and management. As former director of Visit Bardstown, her efforts led to the doubling of economic impact, as well as elevating the role and productivity of the commission in general and the professionalism and expertise of the executive director’s position in particular. Experience at the DMO and attraction level planning, budgeting and negotiating media buys, developing and implementing of group sales program that increased revenue by thirty percent, and increasing earned media four-fold through a strategic communications plan.
Currently Dawn works with Commissions to ensure best practices, helps destinations develop and implement research-based plans. Her specialty is marketing, destination evaluation, development and branding.
Katie has developed the ability to drive long-term, sustainable sales growth and strategic sales initiatives throughout her eleven years of meeting, event and convention sales. As the Director of Sales of the Saint Charles Convention Center, she administered a $6.8 million-dollar revenue budget. Katie generated room night bookings across the city with partner lodging facilities, set forecasts and weekly pace reports, supervise marketing (website, ads, marketing plans), and collaborated with lodging partners to design integrated marketing/sales strategies.
The results speak to her sales abilities and creative strategic applications:
Katie brings a top sales executive perspective to the Destination Services Team.
With 23 years of experience, Mark has had the pleasure of managing some of the finest designers, web and app developers in the mid-west. Mark has led teams on projects ranging in size and complexity with such companies as Levi’s, Adidas, AT&T, McDonald’s, Audi, Energizer, Monsanto, Anheuser-Busch, Panasonic, & Microsoft. Since 1997 he has been a hands-on manager/developer continually striving to teach others about the emerging technologies that are driving the digital domain on a global scale.
Mark has a wealth of experience in the field of travel and tourism. Mark helped lead the rebranding of VisitMO.com. Missouri’s tourism website. The rebrand took their phonebook style text listing-based website and transformed it into a full visually driven experiential immersion into the State of Missouri. Through usability studies, backed by best practices, great project management and partnerships in key areas, Mark’s team of professionals not only rebuilt the website, but drove statewide measured growth in small towns across Missouri.
Mark was also part of the leadership team that rebranded GoTahoeNorth.com another large-scale high dollar rebranding. Complete with listings & events managed by each of the small businesses in the region. Mark’s other past experiences with Explore St. Louis, small tourism businesses and B&B clients drives his passion to work in the tourism space.