DCVB Hires New Director of Sales

A familiar face has returned to the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau in a new role.

The Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) has announced the hiring of April Ellerbe as Director of Sales. Ellerbe will return to DCVB after two years of owning and operating her own event management company, New Century Planning.  Ellerbe previously served at the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2011-2013. Ellerbe has been serving as the Interim DOS since March, 2015.

DCVB used Searchwide, an executive recruitment firm specializing in travel, tourism, hotel and venue management, which launched a national search beginning in March.  Local, regional and national applicants were evaluated.  

"April has proven to be creative, diligent, customer-focused, and everything that we were looking for in a DOS," said President & CEO Shelly Green. "Although there were many strong candidates, April emerged as the clear choice."

There will be exciting new programs and promotions as Ellerbe settles into her new role. She plans to take DCVB into new markets and bring even more group business to Durham.  

To lean how to plan a group meeting in Durham, visit the Meetings & Events page online or email April directly at April@durham-cvb.com.

Durham CVB Now The Global Leader

Durham's destination marketing organization (DMO), the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB), has earned an exciting bit of recognition.

With 25 exemplary citations, DCVB is now the most lauded organization in the world for their work after undertaking an exhaustive review of best practices during the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) accreditation process.

In 2007, DCVB was one of the first 27 DMOs out of thousands across the globe to earn accreditation by the Destination Marketing Association, International (DMAI). In that bid, DCVB earned 11 exemplary citations for its best practices in destination marketing. An additional citation was earned during accreditation renewal in 2011. Today, DCVB is announcing it earned 13 more during its 2015 re-accreditation. 

The rigorous accreditation process destination marketing organizations must undergo with the Washington D.C. based Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) takes several months of preparation culminating in a thorough evaluation of almost a hundred aspects comparing a CVB to the highest standards and best practices of destination marketing.

Accreditation includes best practice evaluation in 54 mandatory and 33 voluntary standards including governance, finance, management, human resources, technology, visitor services, group services, sales, communications, brand management, destination development, research/market intelligence, innovation, and stakeholder relationships.

"We work very hard to be a cutting-edge and trend-setting organization in our field. To be recognized as a leader in best practices for destination marketing is tangible validation of that work," said Shelly Green, President & CEO of DCVB. 

“DMAP accreditation requires DMOs like DCVB to truly evaluate and define not only their policies and procedures, but also determine their guiding principles and solidify their importance to their communities in all they do,” said Jack Wert, DMAP Board Chair.

DCVB remains in the ranks of only about 200 DMOs worldwide that have obtained this recognition which is considered the highest achievement in destination marketing and management excellence.

DMAP is an independent, international accreditation body and a leader in defining quality performance issues in destination marketing. DCVB's accreditation credential is valid through 2019.