DMC Network Alternatives for Multi-City Events

The short list

DMC Network alternatives fall into a few groups: a local planner in one US region, other networks of DMCs, DMC companies with their own US offices, and an association directory. Here are the eight 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. ADMEI, if you want to search accredited DMC members yourself.
4. Cohera, if you want a coast-to-coast DMC that grew through a merger of three companies.
5. Global DMC Partners, if you need a large global network with published contracting options.
6. Hello!, if you want a US DMC with its own offices in each of its regions.
7. Hosts Global, if you want a global collection of DMCs and an RFP-based start.
8. PRA, if you want a US event company with 32 U.S. offices.

Why teams look beyond DMC Network

Teams searching for DMC Network alternatives are usually deciding how to find local destination management companies (DMCs) in more than one place. The DMC Network describes itself as "the meeting industry's only fully member-owned community of destination management companies", "operating in over 100 destinations".

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.

Teams usually look at alternatives when they want to compare member-owned DMCs with a company that runs its own offices, when the program is mostly in the US, or when they want a single local planner for one city. 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 choosing a member DMC from a list, you share a brief and a planner who works in your region responds. 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

On its about page, Access says its national team works with local experts to provide "consistency, program knowledge and one contract". It also describes itself as "the only majority women-owned and led national DMC".

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. ADMEI: an association directory of DMC members

ADMEI, the Association of Destination Management Executives International, calls itself "the global association dedicated to advancing the Destination Management industry". It is an association, not a DMC, so it works as a way to find and contact DMCs yourself.

Its Find a DMC Member page lets you filter by member type, either Accredited DMC or DMC Company Member, and by location, either State/Province or Country.

Best for: teams that like to research and approach DMCs directly and want to filter by accreditation or location.

4. Cohera: a coast-to-coast DMC formed from three companies

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.

Cohera's menu lists services including Hospitality & Staffing, Tours & Activities and Transportation, and a Request a proposal button sits in its navigation. Its story page says its footprint "spans coast-to-coast".

Best for: teams that want a single DMC name across many US cities, including the Southeast and the West Coast.

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

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.

Its contracting page lists "Three Options Based On Your Needs": a Standardized DMC Contract, Master Services Agreements, and a contract-and-payment route through GEC Processing, a company it created for clients with intricate vendor onboarding and payment protocols.

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

6. 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".

Its destinations page lists 15 regions, including Arizona, Colorado, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York and Washington, D.C., with service locations such as Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, Denver and Vail.

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

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

Hosts Global says that since "inception as USA Hosts" in 1958 it has been in business for "more than 60 years", and that in 2011 it expanded its reach to 6 continents. Its home page cites "a deep local presence in over 450 destinations".

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.

8. PRA: a nationwide network of local event experts

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

To start, its Request a Proposal form asks about you and your event, and PRA says an expert reaches out afterward.

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.

Hello!, PRA and ADMEI are covered in the entries above. Ask each company to confirm its current destination coverage for your dates.

Which option fits which job

A scenario: a meeting planner running programs in three regions

Picture a meeting planner at an association who needs local support for a spring meeting in Austin, a summer event in Europe and a fall event in the Caribbean. She likes the idea of local owners in each place but wants to understand her options.

The DMC Network's North America page lists Austin, and its menu has Europe and Caribbean regions. Global DMC Partners and Hosts Global also list destinations in several regions. Cohera lists Austin among its 50 destinations. For the Austin event alone, Vantly could match her brief with a local planner. Comparing two or three proposals side by side usually settles it.

How to choose

Start with the number of regions. If your program spans several world regions, a network such as DMC Network, Global DMC Partners or Hosts Global can fit, and each describes how it connects you with a local DMC. If your events are mostly in the US, Access, Cohera, Hello! and PRA each describe offices or destinations across the country. ADMEI is a good place to check whether a DMC is an accredited member. 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

What is the DMC Network?

The DMC Network describes itself as "the meeting industry's only fully member-owned community of destination management companies". Its members are local DMCs, and the network says it offers a single access point to local expertise across over 100 destinations.

How are DMC Network destinations organized?

Its menu groups destinations into six regions: Asia Pacific, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, Middle East & Africa and North America. It also publishes an A-Z list of members, and its North America page lists US destinations.

Which DMC Network alternatives have a global footprint?

Global DMC Partners says it has "500+ Destinations, 100+ DMCs", and Hosts Global says it has a deep local presence in over 450 destinations. Both are networks or collections of DMCs, so ask how each one assigns your event to a local partner.

Which DMC Network alternatives are single companies with US offices?

Hello! describes "a national footprint of wholly-owned offices", and PRA says it has 32 U.S. offices and global partners. Cohera lists 50 destinations, and Access shows its locations on an interactive map.

How is Vantly different from the DMC Network?

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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