World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED) launches a new training workshop for destination professionals

Training on the establishment, strengthening or restructuring of a Destination Management Organization (DMO)

Context The CED, through the implementation of the System of Measures of Excellence for Destinations (SMED) in various destinations around the world, accumulated expertise and specialist knowledge in various fields of tourism, among which the Destination Management Organizations (DMOs).

In the training activities, the CED has mandated the transfer of knowledge and the leveraging of this knowledge and expertise for the actors of tourist destinations that want to contribute to the advancement of destinations towards excellence.

Objective To demonstrate the importance of developing an organization capable of putting together the initiatives of stakeholders in the tourism sector of a destination to reach its full development potential. At the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the operating structure of a DMO;
• Introduce the perspective of sustainable development and safeguarding of cultural heritage in designing strategies and tourism development products;
• Realize the potential of a DMO to improve the positioning and competitiveness of the destination;
• Choose from different models of administrative structure of tourist destinations in the world which is most suitable for their destination;
• Appropriating elements of tourism planning necessary for the development of a destination;
• Appropriating elements of tourism planning (conceptualization and design) necessary for the development of tourism products; and
• Identify and involve the agents and organizations participating in tourism development.

What is in this training? The training consists of five modules:

• Module 1 Destination Management Organizations: definitions and concepts
• Module 2 DMO and sustainability of the destination
• Module 3 Operating structure of DMOs
• Module 4 Main functions of DMOs
• Module 5 Financing of DMOs

Who Should Attend? This training is designed for professionals of the public and private sector who work in tourism destinations such as managers responsible for destination development and suppliers of tourism products and services. Training approach and methodology Skills development in the tourism field should follow a multidisciplinary and inclusive approach that recognizes experience in the field. The training focuses on the dynamic and interactive approaches as well as the use of a variety of available tools. DMO training consists of presentations by CED experts followed by thematic workshops. Modes of teaching and training site Training can be provided individually or in groups of up to 10 participants: Option A: In Montréal at the CED offices Option B: In the workplace of the participants Trainers and duration The trainers are CED experts who participate in SMED evaluations worldwide. The training is spread over 5 days (35 hours). Training certificate At the end of the training, participants receive a certificate from the CED

International Symposium on Excellence in Destination Management

"Excellence in Tourism Destinations: Challenges and Solutions from a Global Perspective" - June 18 – 20, 2011, Shandong University, Jinan, China

In the context of intensified global tourism competition, destinations at the local and regional level play an increasingly significant role. Governments, businesses, the public and other entities of various tourist destinations have gradually recognized the importance of the pursuit of excellence to enhance their competitive positioning.

To strengthen international academic exchange between researchers and professionals in tourism management, hotel management, service management, and other related professions, and to examine the development of innovations and innovative management of destinations, the School of Management, Shandong University, and the International Centre for Education and Research in Tourism (CIFORT), School of Management, Université du Québec á Montréal (ESG UQAM), in partnership with the World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED), have organized an international scientific meeting on excellence in destination management on the topic of“Excellence in Tourism Destinations: Challenges and Solutions in a Global Perspective”. This meeting will be held from June 18 - 20, 2011 in Jinan, China.

On its 110th anniversary, and to strengthen cooperative relations and friendship between the provinces of Shandong (China) and Québec (Canada), Shandong University is pleased to invite scholars and professionals in the tourism and hospitality industries, in China and abroad, to submit articles and participate in large numbers at this scientific meeting. For more information, please visit the event’s website: www.cifort@uqam.ca/en/shandong.