Introduction

We mapped multiple steps across the traveler’s journey. These multiple elements can be clustered into three stages.

Firstly, there is predestination. This entails inspiration, booking, visa, travel, port of entry, and customs.

Secondly, there is the stage at the destination. This stage involves welcome service, mobility, accommodation, activities, public spaces, attractions, cruises, food and beverage, shopping, health, and social media sharing. It will be the focus of the course.

Thirdly, there is a post-destination stage. This involves departure and a potential return. 11 steps occur at the destination and will be further explored in this course.

Destination management companies are directly involved in three steps at the destination,
namely welcome, service, mobility and activities. They are indirectly involved in three more areas. They have relationships with accommodation providers to facilitate better pricing, but do not necessarily own and operate this accommodation
Further, they are indirectly involved with attractions as they drive traffic towards those during the traveler state.
Lastly, they are indirectly involved in food and beverage, as their itinerary includes eating at partner restaurants with preferred pricing.

DMC Archetypes

There are various activities in which a DMC is involved, either directly or indirectly. These include:

As shown in the image above, we identified four DMC types based on these activities.

There is no market convention for what a destination management company is. Still, the level of integration and activities performed can derive four archetypes.

1. Full-service provision

This type of player is highly integrated, typically owning and operating all critical DMC activities and acting as an accommodation and air transportation facilitator and aggregator. They have strong B2C and B2B distribution capabilities. 

2. Experience in curation and distribution

It is mainly focused on product curation and distribution. These players outsource welcome services, accommodation, food and beverage, and air transportation, but they own and operate all other critical DMC activities.

3. Distribution and fulfillment

They have a condensed list of services but still own part of their distribution. 

4. Fulfillment

They are solely focused on operating tours and ensuring ground transportation with limited distribution capabilities, often acting as destination representatives of the distribution partner.