NORTHEAST
Founded in 1981, PRA celebrates its 40th anniversary at a time when the United States is beginning to come out from under the darkest days of the Covid-19 epidemic. Refusing to sit on its laurels, the company spent the past 18 months helping to develop
guidelines for holding safe and sanitary meetings as well as helping to coordinate health screenings to keep collaborative work efforts on track. Today, the company has operations in all 50 states and 19 dynamic global destinations, and its team of
experts continues to help clients plan meetings of every kind and for every purpose, in venues ranging from all-inclusive resorts and progressive business centers to outdoor retreats and edgy urban venues.
With offices in 11 Northeast states
and Washington, D.C., PRA draws on the rich resources of each location to give clients experiences that will long resonate. In New Jersey, for example, the DMC inspires groups with tours of the unique architecture of the Victorian-style homes in Cape
May and helps them unwind with a stroll down the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Clients can take a sunset cruise on the Staten Island Ferry from Newark and celebrate with a company dinner in the Meatpacking District of Hoboken.
A Darien, Conn.-based women-owned family business with a 35-year history in New England, Wings Unlimited is known for creating engaging environments and customizing experiences for leading brands in the Northeast. In 2020, the team transformed the entire
space in Boston’s Hynes Convention Center to create a general session in the guise of a pep rally, with the convention hall becoming a networking village that included demonstrations, artist spaces, a swag store, coffee shop and more. The Sheraton
Ballroom that had served as a hub for training meetings was turned into a Roaring ‘20s speakeasy for the final night gala. Attendees walked away with a newfound love for the brand, eye and passion for their profession. That’s what Wings does.
With Northeast regional offices in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C./Baltimore and Boston, CSI’s local teams drive successful event outcomes for clients of all stripes. In the wake of the pandemic, the company has trained its employees to be digital-event
specialists and Covid compliance officers; working collaboratively with vendors and clients, CSI was able to successfully transform 621 in-person events for 30-5,000 people into meaningful virtual engagements. The CSI team also supports the meetings
industry by involvement with associations such as MPI, SITE and ILEA, with employees serving on their boards and leadership engaged to share insights and best practices through speaking and panel discussions.
SOUTHEAST
Managing events of all kinds for all size groups, 360DG has offices across the United States and overseas. The team is able to work with clients in a variety of ways, from smaller social events for 200 (e.g., a corporate holiday party) to conferences
for thousands of attendees. The company’s seamless partnerships with hotels, sports groups, and myriad entertainment and activity entities help fuel memorable gatherings. In the Southeast, the company has five outlets in Florida, including the scenic
70-mile strip of coastline from Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach, where attendees can experience Venice-like waterways, a booming craft-beer scene, lush Mediterranean Revival architecture, trendy shopping and dining, and, of course, some of the world’s
best beaches.
In Miami, 360DG can arrange airboat excursions in the Everglades, fishing in Key Biscayne, culinary tours through South Beach or Little Havana party bikes and brewery tours through the Wynwood Art District and more. Over on
the Gulf side, in Naples, the DMC can arrange golf on any of 30 public courses peppered with challenging drives, natural beauty and diverse greens within 30 minutes of any hotel. Whether a team-building activity or an afternoon outing between events,
3609DG can make it happen.
When Covid-19 hit, the resourceful team at COTC (for Cream of the Crop) Events plunged into the digital arena with a focus on virtual entertainment and engagement. In September 2020 the DMC hosted its first on-line gathering, a summer camp-themed event
for staff, colleagues and vendor partners, where 100 people showed up to enjoy trivia games, scavenger hunts and compete to win hundreds of dollars in gift cards. Another in-house team developed new guidelines for meeting safely, and some members
studied to be certified as Covid Compliance Officers. Finally, in March 2021 the company began to resume planning and designing live events. This nimble way of getting through a difficult time is emblematic of COTC’s resourcefulness and enthusiasm
for the meetings industry.
A new destination and event-management brand, Ethos’ team members have been working together in the Southeast for nearly a decade. Led by industry veteran Joe Fijol, the company’s guiding purpose is to align the needs of planners with local destinations
to ensure meaningful and lasting results for both company and community long after an event has ended. They call this "Purposeful Planning,” and it starts with "why", examining meeting and event goals from all perspectives to generate unique creative
ideas that ensure the best possible attendee experience. Then the DMC’s teams leverage technology, research, measurement and destination expertise to create programs designed to spark engagement and generate ROI for the client and opportunity for
the destination.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2021, e2 is a woman-owned DMC that has produced everything from intimate VIP experiences to events for over 10,000 guests. In 2019, the company was awarded Hosts Global’s prestigious 2019 Client’s Choice for Best Overall
Hosts Program, based on a program for FedEx that included five offsite events, one being an exclusive buyout of Houston’s Kennedy Space Center, where guests had dinner under the Atlantis Space Shuttle. During the height of the pandemic, e2 produced
a virtual event for 500 guests to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The team also turned a hospital opening into a fun drive-through celebration that included décor, entertainment, food trucks and giveaways. As the pandemic slowly subsides,
the e2 team is ready to get back to their unique brand of live and lively in-person events.
PRA is a market-leading DMC that delivers unique experiences that move hearts, minds and businesses forward. Whether it be in-person, digital or any combination in between, PRA guides organizations in bringing people together with strategic content, brand
engagement and authentic destination experiences. With a number of offices in the Southeast, PRA draws on the rich resources of each location to give clients experiences that will long resonate. In North Carolina, for example, the DMC can arrange
a tour of America’s First Museum in Charleston or a stroll down the Battery to admire the historic homes that line the promenade. Attendees can talk shop over a famous South Carolina barbecue or ferry out to Hilton Head Island and discuss next year’s
budget over 18 holes of golf. They also can stop in at the historic Beacon Drive-In for a Chili-Cheese A-Plenty in Spartanburg after a long day of meetings or peruse the curiosities of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Myrtle Beach. All in
a day’s work for PRA.
MIDWEST
Marking its 40th anniversary in 2021, PRA was one of the first DMCs to deliver digital experiences to help clients through a most trying period. The team also was quick to help develop guidelines for sanitary meetings practices, and worked with leading
entertainment companies to help coordinate health screenings to ensure film production could continue safely. In 2020 PRA also formed its own Equity, Diversity + Inclusion Council to look identify opportunities within the organization for education,
impact and change. Meanwhile, the company’s operations in 12 Midwest states continue to help clients plan meetings in every atmosphere, from all-inclusive resorts and progressive business centers to outdoor retreats and edgy urban venues.
The 360 Destination Group manages events of all kinds for all size groups, with offices across the United States and overseas. In the Midwest, the company has four outlets in Texas. In Houston, for example, the company produces corporate events and team-building
activities taking advantage of city’s many resources, including Silver Street Studios, a collective of 80-plus creative artists and entrepreneurs, where local shops and pop-up art shows share space with the Buffalo Brewing Co. Attendees can take in
a game of basketball played by the Houston Rockets, wander the Houston Museum District, embark on a tour of the entire city’s abundant store of history and art, and visit the Houston Space Center, one of the world’s top immersive learning experiences
With its Midwest regional headquarters in Chicago, the CSI DMC team prides itself on being an authentic, strategic partner and event-management resource. The CSI Texas team, for example, offers detailed local knowledge of the Dallas, Austin, San Antonio
and Houston areas, providing planners with on-the-ground support and the latest insights into the myriad offerings of the Lone Star State. During a time of unparalleled industry changes, the CSI team has further evolved its services to include helping
clients run virtual events and negotiate effective contracts.
SOUTHWEST
In 2021, just as the U.S. is beginning to come out from under the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic, PRA is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a leading destination management company. The team spent the past 18 months helping to develop guidelines
for holding safe and sanitary meetings as well as helping to coordinate health screenings to keep collaborative work efforts on track, and now is poised to resume helping clients plan meetings of every kind and for every purpose, in venues ranging
from all-inclusive resorts and progressive business centers to edgy urban venues and idyllic outdoor retreats.
With offices in a number of Southwest states, PRA draws on the rich resources of each location to give clients experiences that
will long resonate. In Arkansas, for example, PRA can arrange visits to the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville and the Murphy Arts District in El Dorado. Attendees also can experience
the amazing only-in-Arkansas culture., along with all of the outdoor activities and rugged beauty the Natural State is known for, encompassing mountains, caves, rivers and hot springs.
Locally based and seasoned with Southwest expertise, The Destination Manager unveils authentic Arizona experiences that delight the senses and invigorate the mind. This boutique DMC is female-owned and operated and has pushed the boundaries of traditional
DMC services. The company now employs interior designers and a graphic designer to support the sales and operations teams with detailed CAD diagrams, product sourcing and design conceptualization. Whereas many DMCs still outsource their creative services
to prop houses or event décor companies, TDM internalizes this process and approaches each event from a 100 percent organic, customizable perspective, translating into cost-savings. With a team of local tastemakers, TDM is perpetually devising new
experiences that capture the essence of the Southwest, in the process guiding clients through a new age in events, where safety is paramount + logistical strategy is essential.
With over 30 years of experience in planning and executing successful events, Southwest Conference Planners is Arizona’s homegrown DMC. With a team of 11 people strong, SCP survived 2020 and took time to revamp its proposals and offerings to ensure that
their staff of destination experts is providing the best experiences for attendees. They have used the last year to strengthen their relationship with local vendors, hotels and the community, thus capitalizing on local industry knowledge. The upshot:
SCP is ready to resume executing flawless and memorable events for all group sizes, safely and successfully.
FAR WEST
A leading creative-solutions agency for 23 years with corporate headquarters in San Diego, DCI employs the largest full-time team of destination experts — 40 professionals — in the Far West. Among a lost list of services offered by the company are the
production of virtual, hybrid and live meetings and events; a full roster of destination management services; event/design production, and logistics management. Over the past year, the company has largely supported clients in the virtual world while
paving the way back to in-person events.
As a 100 percent women-owned business, DCI has been honored by inclusion in the San Diego Business Journal’s Top Women-Owned and Top Minority-Owned Lists for multiple years. In addition, DCI has been
recognized with numerous awards and inclusion in “Best of” lists for its culture, creativity and financial stability, and 2021 marks the fourth consecutive year the company has won a Stella Award in the Best DMC category, Far West region.
With offices across the United States and overseas, the 360 Destination Group manages events of all kinds for all size groups. In the Far West, the company has nine outlets in California, two in Arizona and one Las Vegas. For a recent three-day company
meeting with 575 attendees held at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, for example, 360DG transformed one of the resort’s ballrooms into a private casino, complete with 22 gaming tables, where a different company executive was stationed at each
stable to help teach attendees how to play their favorite game. Décor included giant dice, and there were an expansive catering spread and a DJ spinning background tunes on the built-in stage.
Now celebrating its 40th anniversary with offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 23 global destination, PRA is a market-leading DMC that delivers unique experiences that move hearts, minds and businesses forward. Whether in person, digital
or any combination thereof, PRA guides organizations in bringing people together with strategic content, brand engagement and authentic destination experiences. At the start of the pandemic, PRA quickly pivoted to digital solutions and launched PRA
Digital, creating award-winning online events and interactions, as well as launching a dedicated health/safety team to develop guidelines re logistics, health screening and more.
The CSI DMC team prides itself on being an authentic, strategic partner and event-management resource for its clients in the Far West and across the United States. The company’s Far West regional offices are in Nevada and California, where its local teams
drive successful event outcomes for clients based locally as well as those bringing meetings to the region. During a time of unparalleled industry changes, the CSI team has further evolved its services to include helping clients save money while navigating
mutually effective contract negotiations, as well as in the realm of virtual events. Working collaboratively with vendors and clients, the company was able to successfully turn 621 events for 30 to 5,000 people into meaningful virtual engagements.
INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. TERRITORIES
The staff at Costa Rica DMC didn’t fritter away its time when this popular Central American destination was largely closed due to the pandemic. The company focused on improving its technology and trained its staff on new international sanitary standards.
Following a 14-month shutdown, the team has resumed business, with one recent program involving a group of 14 senior executives of an American company that included some of Costa Rica’s best-loved activities, such as sport fishing, catamarans at sunset
and jet-ski expeditions. Social gatherings included a welcome brunch with sumptuous tropical centerpieces and the music of Grammy Award-winning local group Editus, while the farewell dinner took place in an intimate outdoor setting with exquisite
centerpieces, a photo booth and live entertainment by a guitar and violin duet.
For another program, which took place in June 2021, CRDMC’s staff greeted participants at the airport, took the group hiking along the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano,
visited the Llanos de Cortés waterfall, enjoyed white-water rafting and a guided nature walk in the rain forest. Such experiences are emblematic of what Costs Rica DMC does every day, for a growing number of clients that are happily beginning to once
again enjoy the wider world.
With 280 passionate, highly trained industry consultants, the team members at Excel Travel Egypt knows their country in-depth and are able to design dream projects specifically suited for customers. Recent activities have included a gala dinner and live
classical music performance at the Pyramids of Giza; and an evening at the magnificent Habu Temple in Luxor, starting with a cocktail reception and followed by candle-lit dinner in the temple against a background of music from the opera Aida. Excel’s
clients have included Novartis, Microsoft, Pepsi and Barclays, all of whom have enjoyed an insider’s experience of an incredible ancient land.
Representing two of the most popular island getaways in the world for more than 30 years, the team at ECO responded to the onset of the pandemic by creating a series of digital events to keep its hotels, attractions and event infrastructure sharply delineated
for new and seasoned customers everywhere. They also gave back to their communities, hosting drive-by holiday festivals to benefit local animal shelters, the Red Cross, and services for children and the elderly. With the tide slowly returning to normal,
ECO is getting back to the business of orchestrating unmatched group programs on-site in the World Heritage Site of historical Willemstad and throughout Curaçao, as well as the sophisticated meeting facilities and unparalleled beaches of Aruba.