Destination Augusta announced today that it has received reaccreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). DMAP is an international accreditation program developed by the Washington, DC based Destinations International (DI).  In earning the DMAP accreditation, destination marketing organizations (DMOs) communicate to their community, stakeholders, and potential visitors that their DMO has attained a significant measure of excellence.

Destination Augusta gained its original DMAP accreditation in 2007 as the first accredited DMO in the State of Georgia. “In our role to market Augusta as a destination and be a leader in developing our community for the benefit of residents and visitors, Destination Augusta is honored to receive the Destination Marketing Accreditation from Destinations International,” said Bennish Brown, President and CEO.  “We are very pleased to be recognized in the destination marketing community for providing outstanding services in accordance with international standards and benchmarks in this field.”

“By applying for and receiving DMAP accreditation, Destination Augusta has demonstrated a commitment to quality programs and services”, said Barry Biggar, CDME, DMAP Board Chair. “Earning DMAP accreditation tells the Augusta community and potential visitors that your DMO has attained a measure of excellence assuring that their trust is well placed and their business in good hands.”

Destination Augusta plays an essential role in maintaining Augusta’s authentic brand, as it also works strategically to attract groups and individuals to our destination. The economic impact from these efforts plays a critical role in sustaining the nearly 30,000 jobs that are part of the Leisure and Hospitality Industry, the fourth largest employment sector in the metro area.

DMAP accreditation standards cover a wide variety of topics including governance, finance, management, human resources, technology, visitor services, group services, sales, communications, membership, brand management, destination development, research/market intelligence, innovation and stakeholder relationships.