San Diego takes Top Spot on List of Most Helpful DMO’s, Second for Best Convention City

When 187 meeting planners where recently asked, which North American destination management organization (DMO) is the most helpful, San Diego prevailed as their number one choice.  Runners up were Orlando, Chicago and Las Vegas in the number two, three and four spots respectively.  San Diego was also selected as North America’s second-favorite meeting spot.  Chicago was number one being chosen 20.8 percent of the time by the planners who responded, followed by San Diego, 18.5 percent, and then San Francisco, 18 percent.  Las Vegas and New York rounded out the top five cities.

The survey, conducted by Development Counsellors International (DCI), examined the perceptions of meeting planners with global meeting planning responsibilities.  The report was designed to understand what influences meeting planners when making decisions on where to hold conventions.

Competition among U.S. convention cities to attract business is fierce.  Karyl Leigh Barnes, senior vice president at DCI, was recently interviewed for a local article and put the results in perspective:  “Now every one of those destinations sitting below San Diego will focus on how they can make the best choices in marketing to educate and ultimately woo that meeting planner to choose their city for that meeting.  So no one on that list can rest on their laurels.”