Development Counsellors International

DCI recently attended the United States Tour Operators Association Annual Conference on Marco Island. 🏝️     Joined by the Belize Tourism Board, Chile Travel, LAAX Meetings & Events and Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH, the annual conference was a fantastic way to close out a year of guiding our clients through the best partnerships, connections and meetings. The event perfectly reflected the passion and creativity in the travel trade industry and has us excited for what’s in store for 2025.   Here’s to new opportunities and continued growth ahead!

It’s always nice to be recognized for active engagement in an industry organization. We are very proud of our partnership with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO); participation advances DCI’s core mission to improve the lives of people living, working and traveling to the communities we serve in the Caribbean.     A special thank you to CTO for recognizing your members, and to DCI SVP Cathy A. Preece for accepting this award on behalf of our agency! 

Outstanding Agency Professional has a nice ring to it. 🔔 Join us in congratulating DCI Partner and President of Economic Development Julie Curtin on making the shortlist in PRWeek's U.S. Awards. https://lnkd.in/g9hUXnHz

Americans love to save up those PTO days, but let’s not let them go to waste. With National Plan for Vacation Day coming up on January 28, inspire travelers to book a trip to your destination to avoid losing their hard-earned vacation days. https://lnkd.in/eAdan-4s

A little something for everyone. 🗞️🎁 Talent Wars: https://lnkd.in/geF29eQC Next Generation of Travel Media: https://lnkd.in/dn8TBrpn Winning Strategies in Destination Marketing: https://lnkd.in/gGMeJAjc Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing: https://lnkd.in/eZRCbA_y The State of Site Selection Report: https://lnkd.in/d2m3HzVX Talent Wars: A Podcast by DCI: https://lnkd.in/gVfe9ZVp What Talent Wants: https://lnkd.in/eWpcC7-f

Get up to date on the best practices in crisis communications before the year comes to an end. ✔️ Join Tourism SVP Cathy A. Preece for a virtual discussion on how to prepare, respond and learn from unexpected events. Mark your calendars, because this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. https://lnkd.in/gnFjGGzW

Executive Vice President Dariel Curren joined the DCI team in 1989. ⭐️ What started as a freelance project to keep her busy as a new mother turned into a 35-year career marketing destinations around the world. As she closes this chapter of her life and steps into her next adventure (biking in the Swiss Alps?), we’re reflecting on the people, places and businesses that Dariel impacted during her time with DCI. Join us in celebrating Dariel’s last few days with the agency before we bid her farewell and wish her a happy retirement. 🎉 https://lnkd.in/gFqP-q3z

This holiday season, the Talent Wars Podcast brings you a special episode packed with wisdom straight from the frontlines of talent attraction, growth and retention. Recorded LIVE at the 2024 Young Smart & Local Conference — the ultimate gathering for talent pros — this episode is a must-listen. Host Patience Fairbrother dives into the big questions with seven leaders: 🎙️ Cecelia Thompson (Action Greensboro) 🎙️ Christopher Wink (Technical.ly) 🎙️ Max Davenport, Jr. (Onward New River Valley) 🎙️ Rue R. (Tulsa Regional Chamber) 🎙️ Spencer Lucker (Michigan Economic Development Corporation) 🎙️ Marcell Bruski (Big Sky Economic Development) 🎙️ Katie Shorey (Live and Work in Maine) Together, they unpack challenges, share steal-worthy strategies and deliver bold “talent takes” that will inspire your next move in 2024 and beyond. Tune in now to unwrap the gift of insight – and share your “talent take” in the comments. 👇 https://lnkd.in/gk_dj2wM

As the year comes to a close and we get swept up in the magic of the holiday season, we like to slow down and reflect on what inspired us throughout the year. Our core value, “Be a Knowledge Sponge,” continuously reminds us to seek out opportunities to learn and expand our own perspective as storytellers. One way we do that is through good books. 📚 In 2024, we read books that gave us hope, challenged us, offered a new way of thinking and allowed us to escape into a different world. We hope they do the same for you or someone on your holiday list this year. Enjoy! https://lnkd.in/gPmzS2zb

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. recently served as one of the main sponsors of the Black Travel Summit, and the DCI team had the privilege of attending. It was a weekend filled with inspiration, meaningful connections and an important celebration of culture and storytelling in the travel industry. One of the standout moments was the inaugural Black Film Festival, where stories of resilience, history and identity were brought to life. Events like this are a powerful reminder of how travel, culture and experience intersect, creating opportunities to share narratives that truly matter. Among the many standout creators, a few left an impact on the DCI team: 🔵 Erick Cedeño, a historian and explorer who retraces Black history across the U.S. by bike, blending adventure with cultural preservation. 🔵 Joe-Bridgers, Senior Editor at Nat Geo TV, who produced Clotilda, the moving story of the last American slave ship. 🔵 Eileen Ivette, an award-winning video producer and Afro-Latina historian, who shared her Colombian roots and passion for preserving heritage through storytelling. These conversations remind us of the importance of elevating diverse voices in tourism and celebrating storytelling that showcases perspectives outside of our own.