The NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and Destinations International (DI) announced a collaboration agreement at IMEX America 2023 in an effort to create more pathways into DMO careers.
“I think all of you can attest that workforce has been a real challenge in our global industry,” said Gretchen Hall, COO of DI, to a group of media at IMEX America 2023. “So, Destinations International remains committed to future-proofing our industry as we continue to navigate those challenges.”
Together, DI and NYU SPS plan to create course-specific curriculum, provide an opportunity to earn a DI Professional in Destination Management (PDM) certificate and give students a chance to participate in select DI events. DI’s PDM certificate provides those looking to deepen their understanding of destination marketing, management and sales fundamentals with cutting-edge tools and innovations to start or further their careers in travel and tourism. Students will be offered the opportunity to earn the PDM certification as part of the NYU SPS Tisch Center’s Placemaking and Destination Branding Course in the spring 2024 semester.
[Related: How CVBs Are Connecting the Next Generation to Jobs in Hospitality]
In addition, a select number of NYU SPS Tisch Center students will have the chance to be NYU SPS Student Ambassadors at DI events, gaining valuable tradeshow and networking experience.
“We look forward to working with Destinations International to help prepare our students to lead and innovate in the world of destination management, marketing and sales,” said Richie Karaburun, clinical associate professor and director of the HI Hub Incubator Program, in a release announcing the news. “With the help of leading industry organizations, like Destinations International, we continuously strive to be the go-to school to help individuals thrive in the travel and tourism industry.”
“Strategic collaborations are critical to our organization’s vision and mission,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “As our industry deals with recovery and workforce development, we are excited to tap into the global reach and academic excellence at NYU SPS to help with career paths into the travel and tourism industry for future generations.”
About NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and Its HI Hub
NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, founded in 1995 in response to the growing need for hospitality and tourism undergraduate and graduate education, has long been a leading educator in the hospitality field.
It offers an undergraduate degree in hotel and tourism management, graduate degrees in hospitality industry studies, tourism management and event management, many Professional Pathways continuing education programs and a world-renowned hospitality investment conference.
The Tisch Center recently launched the Hospitality Innovation Hub (HI Hub), which fosters entrepreneurship and creative solutions for the industries it services. The state-of-the-art facilities offer students, start-ups and established industry partners and opportunities to learn, discover, innovate and invest. For more information about the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, visit sps.nyu.edu/tisch.
[Related: DestinationNEXT Futures Study Reveals Critical 2023 Trends and Systematic Shifts for DMOs]
More Resources From DI
Also during IMEX America 2023, Hall recapped a number of resources and reports that the association has released or plans to release by early 2024. These include:
- DestinationNEXT Future Study, released in July, recaps 50 trends and major industry shifts affecting both leisure and business events.
- Tourism Lexicon, released last week, aims to analyze the common words and phrases used by local elected officials, when discussing public goods and shared values of their community, to better help DMOs advocate within their communities.
- Destination Promotion Project, scheduled for release in November, will be a comprehensive report focused on Canada and the U.S. that documents the potential and full impact of destination organization activities.
- Destination Organization Community Indicator, with a target release in December, will attempt to create a usable model that can be personalized to each community, answering three important questions for destination organizations: What is the target organization doing? How well has the target organization done? And are the community residents better off because of their efforts?
- National Resident Sentiment Studies, also to be released in December, is conducted in partnership with Longwoods International and reflects on a wide spectrum of opinions across demographics, regions and socio-economic backgrounds. Citing that public opinion increasingly shapes policy, DI hopes this report will offer a deeper understanding of the current sentiment of residents and equip DMO professions with actionable insights to inform decision-making.
- Destination Effect Campaign, scheduled for early 2024, will explore the power of destination promotion.
Stay up to date on all research and resources from DI at destinationsinternational.org.
