Cohera Alternatives for US Event Programs

The short list

Cohera alternatives fall into a few groups: a local planner in one US region, other DMC companies with US offices, and networks of DMCs. Here are the seven options we would consider first, with the reason each might suit you. Vantly publishes this page and lists itself first; the other options follow in alphabetical order.

1. Vantly, if your event is in one US city or region and you want a local planner who works there.
2. Access, if you want a national DMC team that offers one contract across its US locations.
3. DMC Network, if you want member-owned local DMCs in over 100 destinations.
4. Global DMC Partners, if you need a large global network with published contracting options.
5. Hello!, if you want a US DMC with its own offices in each of its regions.
6. Hosts Global, if you want a global collection of DMCs and an RFP-based start.
7. PRA, if you want a US event company with 32 U.S. offices.

Why teams look beyond Cohera

Teams searching for Cohera alternatives are usually comparing destination management companies (DMCs) that cover many US cities. Cohera says it was "born from the merger of CSI DMC, 360DG and Destination South DMC" and that for "over 45 years" it has helped organizations bring their people together. Its site banner notes that Cohera, formerly 360DG and CSI DMC, acquired Destination South DMC to expand its footprint in the Southeast.

Its home page says: "With 50 destinations, we'll partner with you as your local experts with national reach". The list includes US cities such as Atlanta, Austin, Napa and Sonoma, and Savannah, plus The Bahamas and The Cayman Islands.

Teams usually look at alternatives when they want to compare company structures: a DMC with its own offices, a network of independent DMCs, or a single local planner. For background, see our guide to what a DMC is and our list of the best DMC networks in the US.

1. Vantly: a local planner for one US region

Vantly is a procurement partner that connects companies with local event planners across the US. Instead of starting with one DMC company, you start with a planner who works in the region where your event happens. Its network has more than 1,000 local planners, and you can read how it works with local partners on its DMC network page.

How it works

1. You share one brief with dates, headcount, region and needs.
2. Vantly matches that brief with a local planner, who produces a turnkey event proposal with prices. We send it within 48 hours, at no cost. Any price still waiting on a vendor's confirmation is marked as an estimate.
3. From there, your local planner handles the venues and vendors, and you deal only with Vantly instead of many small vendors, with clear, structured invoices that are easy to reconcile. You sign one contract with Vantly.

You can browse local planners by city in the Vantly planner directory.

Vantly publishes this page and lists itself as the #1 pick, so read this entry with that in mind.

Best for: teams planning an event in a specific US city or region who want a planner with local knowledge of its venues and suppliers.

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2. Access: a national DMC team with local experts

Access says that after "55 years of redefining what it means to be a Destination Management Company", it is now transforming and elevating events. Its about page calls its people "local experts with a national reach" and its locations page invites you to explore an interactive map of its locations across the country.

Its home page reports "85% repeat clients" and "95% satisfaction", and says it surveys every client after every event. These are Access's own figures, so ask for references when you shortlist.

Best for: teams that want one national DMC team to coordinate programs in several US locations under a single agreement.

3. DMC Network: a member-owned community of local DMCs

Its about page says the network offers "a single access point to unsurpassed local knowledge and expertise". Its destinations menu is organized into six regions: Asia Pacific, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, Middle East & Africa and North America, and it publishes an A-Z list of members.

Its North America page lists United States destinations such as Asheville, Atlantic City and Austin, so you can see which member DMC covers a city before you reach out.

Best for: teams that want to work with a member-owned local DMC in each destination and compare members by region.

4. Global DMC Partners: a large network of hand-picked DMCs

Global DMC Partners calls itself the "largest global network of hand-picked Destination Management Companies". Its home page shows "500+ Destinations, 100+ DMCs" and reports "12,000+ OPERATED PROGRAMS".

Its DMCs page says every partner undergoes "a rigorous vetting process". Selection criteria include being "Independently-owned and locally operated", and its ongoing quality review lists a "Minimum of $2,000,000 in liability insurance", with exceptions for specific country laws.

Best for: teams with multi-country programs or procurement rules who want a large network and published contracting options.

5. Hello! Destination Management: wholly-owned offices across the US

Hello! (hello-dmc.com) says it has "more than 30 years of experience" and a network of "wholly-owned offices". Its home page describes "a national footprint of wholly-owned offices with unsurpassed local expertise".

Hello! groups its work into Destination Logistics (dining, hospitality staff, tours and activities, transportation) and Destination Design (event design, entertainment production, story development, teambuilding). Its home page invites you to "just say Hello!".

Best for: teams planning US programs in one of its listed regions who want a DMC with its own local office.

6. Hosts Global: a global collection of DMCs with RFP intake

Its destinations page lists US states from Alaska and Arizona to Texas and Washington, plus Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Its about page says it guarantees "a 24-hour (or less) client response time" and a consistent site inspection policy, and a Submit RFP button sits in its navigation.

Best for: teams with a global or multi-region program who want to start with an RFP.

7. PRA: a nationwide network of local event experts

PRA says that "For 40+ years", leading brands have trusted it to design business events. Its about page adds that it now has "32 U.S. offices and global partners".

Its home page describes "a nationwide network of local experts" that leverages the power of place.

Best for: teams planning US events who want a company with its own offices in many states.

Comparison at a glance

This table puts six options side by side on the same questions. Figures are the companies' own statements.

Global DMC Partners and Hosts Global are covered in the entries above. Ask each company to confirm its current coverage for your dates.

Which option fits which job

A scenario: an events lead planning programs in the Southeast and the West

Picture an events lead at a software company who needs a sales kickoff in Atlanta and a customer event in Napa. She wants to know whether one DMC can cover both or whether she should hire locally in each place.

Cohera lists both Atlanta and Napa and Sonoma among its destinations. Hello! lists Arizona, Colorado and Chicago among its regions, and PRA says it has 32 U.S. offices. Vantly could match each event with a local planner in that city, so she can compare one multi-city company against two local proposals.

How to choose

Start with how many places you need. If you plan in many US cities and want one company name across them, Access, Hello! and PRA are the closest comparisons to Cohera, and each describes its offices or locations. If you want a network with local owners in each destination, look at DMC Network, Global DMC Partners and Hosts Global. If you have one event in one US region, Vantly is built around that. Confirm current terms with each company before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Cohera operate?

Cohera says it has "50 destinations", from Arizona and California to Georgia, Florida and Washington, D.C., plus The Bahamas and The Cayman Islands. Its story page says its footprint spans coast-to-coast.

Who is behind Cohera?

Cohera says it was "born from the merger of CSI DMC, 360DG and Destination South DMC". Its site also notes that Cohera acquired Destination South DMC to expand its footprint in the Southeast.

How do you request a proposal from Cohera and its alternatives?

Cohera has a Request a proposal button in its navigation, and PRA has a Request a Proposal form. Hello! invites you to Say Hello!, Hosts Global has a Submit RFP button, and Vantly asks for one brief with dates, headcount and region.

Which Cohera alternatives are networks of DMCs?

DMC Network calls itself "fully member-owned community of destination management companies", Global DMC Partners lists "500+ Destinations, 100+ DMCs", and Hosts Global describes a global collection of DMCs. ADMEI is an association with a member directory rather than a DMC.

How is Vantly different from a DMC company?

You share one brief with dates, headcount, region and needs. Vantly matches it with a local planner for your destination, and you sign one contract with Vantly. Vantly publishes this page, so compare it with the others using the tables above.

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