Valley Forge Earns Industry Accreditation

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. - Both the Valley Forge and Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureaus have been accredited by the Washington, D.C.-based Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP).

In earning the international accreditation, destination marketing organizations (DMOs) communicate to their communities, as well as to meeting planners, tour operators and visitors, that they've attained significant measures of excellence in selling their destinations professionally and ethically.

"We're extremely pleased and proud to have achieved accreditation and the recognition of our peers as being ‘among the best,'" Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau president Paul Decker said. "My staff works very hard to meet the international standards and benchmarks this accomplishment represents and our stakeholders and customers deserve nothing less," he added.

"The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau is very honored to have earned this ‘official seal of approval' from DMAI," said Tom Muldoon, president, PCVB. "This is one of the highest recognitions a CVB can receive and I am very proud of everyone at the PCVB who worked on the accreditation process. This shows our commitment to providing the best possible services."

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

"By applying for and achieving Destination Marketing Accreditation Program accreditation, Valley Forge and Philadelphia have demonstrated a commitment to quality programs and services, said Christine Shimasaki, DMAP Board Chair. "Their operations and business practices have conformed to 16 domains ranging from governance to sales to innovation. Their accreditation underscores their dedication to providing exceptional leadership and commitment to the professionalism of DMOs across the globe."

The Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ltd. is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that aggressively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 500-plus member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The Bureau's Web site, at www.valleyforge.org, serves visitors, meeting planners, tour operators and residents.

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The PCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has departments dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.

About DMAP
Based in Washington, D.C., DMAP is an independent international accreditation body and a leader in defining quality and performance issues in destination marketing. Currently 85 DMOs are accredited. For additional information on DMAP visit www.destinationmarketing.org. Destination Marketing Association International represents more than 625 destination marketing organizations in more than 25 countries. DMOs promote the long-term development and marketing of a destination, focusing on convention sales, tourism marketing and service.