Hello! DMC Alternatives for US Event Planning

The short list

Hello! DMC 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. Cohera, if you want a coast-to-coast DMC that grew through a merger of three companies.
4. DMC Network, if you want member-owned local DMCs in over 100 destinations.
5. Global DMC Partners, if you need a large global network with published contracting options.
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 Hello! DMC

Teams searching for Hello! DMC alternatives are usually comparing destination management companies (DMCs) in the US. This page covers Hello! Destination Management (hello-dmc.com). 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.

Teams usually look at alternatives when the event is outside its 15 listed regions, when they want to compare a company with its own offices against a network of independent DMCs, or when they want 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 a company that has offices in set regions, you start with a planner who works 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.

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".

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

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 manager planning a meeting outside a DMC's listed regions

Picture an events manager at a healthcare company who is planning a leadership meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. She started with Hello!, but its destinations page does not list that area, so she wants other ways to find local support.

The DMC Network's North America page lists Asheville among its US destinations. Hosts Global lists North Carolina among its US states, and Global DMC Partners and Cohera cover many US destinations. Vantly could match her brief with a local planner who works there. Comparing two or three proposals side by side usually settles it.

How to choose

Start with the location. If your event is in one of Hello!'s 15 regions, ask Hello! and compare it with Access, Cohera and PRA, which each describe US offices or locations. If it is somewhere else, check the member lists of DMC Network, Global DMC Partners and Hosts Global. If you want a single local planner, Vantly is built around that. Confirm current terms with each company before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hello! Destination Management?

Hello! (hello-dmc.com) is a destination management company. Its about page says it has "more than 30 years of experience" and a network of wholly-owned offices.

Where does Hello! operate?

Its destinations page lists 15 regions: Arizona, Northern California, Southern California, Colorado, Central Florida, South Florida, Tampa Bay Area, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York, Central Texas, North Texas and Washington, D.C.

What services does Hello! list?

Its home page groups services into Destination Logistics (dining, hospitality staff, tours and activities, transportation) and Destination Design (event design, entertainment production, story development, teambuilding).

Which Hello! alternatives cover more than the US?

Global DMC Partners lists "500+ Destinations, 100+ DMCs", Hosts Global cites over 450 destinations, and DMC Network operates in over 100 destinations across six regions. Cohera also lists The Bahamas and The Cayman Islands.

How is Vantly different from a DMC with its own offices?

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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