DMO insights from Rebecca DeLuca, Vice President of Destination Sales, LVCVA.
Planners can use the services of a destination marketing organization (DMO) in various ways beyond just free marketing materials, says Rebecca DeLuca, Vice President of Destination Sales, LVCVA (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority). Speaking with Paul VanDeventer CEO, MPI (Meeting Professionals International) at the GMID (Global Mieetings Industry Day) livestream broadcast in April, DeLuca shared her love of Las Vegas and insights on how DMO’s can make planners’ lives easier. The following is an edited summary of their discussion.
VanDeventer: What made you fall in love with Vegas?
DeLuca: I was born and raised in Ohio, attended Ohio State University, and then found myself in Vegas early in my career. I fell in love with the city. It’s an inclusive environment. I find it easy to build community and connection here. The other part of living here is the beautiful weather year-round. We live two miles from Red Rock Canyon and we’re often out there hiking in those beautiful mountains.
VanDeventer: What does a DMO do?
DeLuca: DMO’s exist to make a planner’s life easier. Everything we do, because we’re funded by occupancy tax, is complimentary. We are typically pulled in to the planning process at the beginning or half-way through. There are so many different ways planners can work with us, because we’re the data connect to the full local community. We offer all the data and information that meeting professionals need to document meeting ROI (return on investment). Our services also include help with everything from airlift to finding local speakers to assisting with Las Vegas signature events.
VanDeventer: One of the challenges planners have now is the administration creating barriers to people coming to meetings. What is your advice?
DeLuca: This is a very real concern. Know the ROI of your meeting. Plan with purpose and intention. Stay true to the ROI and be able to communicate what you’re going to accomplish. Leverage the resources DMO’s have at our fingertips. Vegas has always welcomed everyone from everywhere and we always will.
Additionally, as Chair of the MPI Foundation, I’d like to note that we exist to directly give back back to MPI members via grants, scholarships and research. Over the past 40 years of the MPI Foundation’s existence, we’ve supported 25,000 members and given back $40 million.
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