Destination management is not a buzzword that existed perhaps twenty years ago. Today, the corporate landscape is awash with destination management companies responding to the beck and call of clients that want remote company events organised by qualified professionals.
Very few large corporations still handle their own destination management duties; rather, they contract these out to specialist companies as the diversifying business world support the notion of specialisation and focused solutions. A new school of thought has endeavoured to expose multitasking for what it is: an unproductive drain on company resources by employees stretched to do what they do not like and what they are not good at. Therefore, very few large companies still do their own destination management.
Many destination management companies offer a full suite of services. They might offer preferential travel packages or loyalty programmes. A company can often save money by making use of one of these travel packages, as the travel and accommodation are usually cheaper this way, due to preferential rates obtained by the destination management company.
A comprehensive service will include the arrangement of all flights and accommodation, meals, transport once at the destination and all other logistical requirements. If the purpose of the excursion is a teambuilding event, the destination management company may arrange a bush setting on a game farm. They do not only cater for business clients, but for leisure clients too and sometimes they are seen to be a tour operator of sorts. However, they usually string services and service providers together that deal with their clients, instead of doing it all themselves.
Destination management companies must have a thorough knowledge of their destinations, including local legislation, bureaucracy, visa requirements and the like. The clients should be free to enjoy the experience without the need to worry about the details that makes the event possible.
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