The DMC Network (www.dmcnetwork.com), an Orlando-based consortium of
destination management companies serving more than 50 North
American destinations, has formed an alliance with Ovation Global
DMC (www.ovation.ie), a Dublin-based consortium serving 12
European and Middle Eastern DMCs.
According to Padraic Gilligan,
Ovation’s partner and managing director, planners now can reach all
DMCs in the alliance through their existing relationships (e.g.,
customers of Briggs New York can generate a request for proposal
for Ovation Barcelona via their contact at Briggs). Alternatively,
customers can work with a single contact in the United States or
Europe.
This move echoes the trend of
U.S.-based DMCs aligning, merging or being acquired by counterparts
with networks in Europe. In December 2007, for example, Carlsbad,
Calif.-based DMC firm PRA Destination Management was acquired by
Allied Europe.
Gilligan added that Ovation, itself the
result of a merger between the Ovation Group and Geneva-based MCI
Group, is now offering U.S.-based planners pricing guaranteed in
U.S. dollars.