A DMO (destination marketing organization) promotes a destination. A CVB (convention and visitors bureau) is a type of DMO, traditionally focused on conventions as well as leisure visitors. A DMC (destination management company) is a private business that delivers services in the destination, such as transport, tours and events, for a fee. Tourism boards are DMOs too, usually at state or national level.
Published 21 October 2026 · By Graham Beck, Co-founder & CEO, DropDesk (DestinationCommerce)
DMO vs DMC vs CVB vs tourism board at a glance
The main dividing line is promotion versus delivery. DMOs, CVBs and tourism boards promote a destination and are mostly publicly funded. DMCs deliver services in a destination and are paid by their clients.
| DMO | CVB | Tourism board | DMC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Destination marketing (or management) organization | Convention and visitors bureau | (no acronym) | Destination management company |
| Main job | Promote the destination and manage its visitor economy | Promote the destination to meeting planners and leisure visitors | Promote a state, region or country | Design and deliver local services and programs |
| Typical structure | Nonprofit, government agency or public-private partnership | Nonprofit or local government department | Usually a government agency | Private, for-profit company |
| Funded by | Mostly public sources: occupancy (bed) taxes, tourism assessments, grants | Same as a DMO, plus memberships in some areas | Government budgets | Client fees, program margins, supplier commissions |
| Cost to planners and visitors | Usually free | Usually free | Free | Paid service |
| Books and runs services? | Usually not | Usually not | No | Yes |
| Examples | Visit California, Choose Chicago | Greater Miami CVB, Philadelphia CVB | Hawai'i Tourism Authority, Singapore Tourism Board | Local DMCs listed by each CVB |
What is a DMO?
A DMO (destination marketing organization) is the organization responsible for promoting a city, region, state or country to visitors and growing its visitor economy. DMOs run marketing campaigns, support meeting and event sales, operate visitor centers and websites, and work with local businesses, government and media.
Most DMO funding is public. Destinations International, the trade association for destination organizations, found that roughly 92% of destination organization funding comes from the public sector, mainly occupancy taxes, public grants and sales tax allocations (Destinations International, 2022).
What does DMO mean in tourism: marketing or management?
DMO can stand for either destination marketing organization or destination management organization. The "management" version reflects a broader role: alongside promotion, the organization also works on visitor experience, community impact, sustainability and the local businesses that serve visitors.
The industry's own association reflects that shift. Destination Marketing Association International became Destinations International in 2017; its chair said the new name reflected "the new reality that we are so much more than just marketers of our destinations" (Destinations International, 2017). Today many organizations use "destination organization" as the umbrella term.
What is a CVB?
A CVB (convention and visitors bureau) is a destination marketing organization for a city or county, with a traditional focus on attracting conventions, meetings and events as well as leisure visitors. For practical purposes, a CVB is a DMO; the terms are often used interchangeably (Cvent).
Many CVBs have rebranded as "Visit [City]" or "[City] & Company" because not every destination has a convention center and "DMO" is more widely recognized internationally. For meeting planners, a CVB typically offers free help with venue sourcing, hotel room blocks, local supplier referrals and incentives.
What is a tourism board?
A tourism board is a destination marketing organization that usually operates at state, regional or national level, often as a government agency. Tourism boards run large-scale destination campaigns, international marketing and research, and support the local DMOs and CVBs within their area. Examples include the Hawai'i Tourism Authority and the Singapore Tourism Board.
What is a DMC?
A DMC (destination management company) is a locally based, for-profit company that designs and delivers services in its destination: transportation, tours and activities, events and program logistics. Meeting planners, travel advisors and tour operators hire DMCs to handle the on-the-ground work. Full explainer: What is a DMC in travel?
How do DMOs, CVBs and DMCs work together?
DMOs and CVBs attract visitors and events to a destination. DMCs help deliver those visits and events once they're booked. A typical sequence:
- A CVB wins a convention for the city and helps the planner with venues and hotels.
- The CVB refers the planner to local DMCs for transport, tours and events.
- A DMC designs and runs the program, booking local suppliers.
- Local businesses deliver the dining, activities and services, and the visitor economy benefits.
ADMEI, the DMC industry association, even requires member DMCs to belong to their local CVB/DMO, tourism office or chamber of commerce where one exists (ADMEI).
How are DMOs and CVBs funded, and how do DMCs make money?
DMOs and CVBs are funded mainly by public money tied to tourism. DMCs earn from the clients they serve.
- DMOs and CVBs: hotel occupancy (bed) taxes, tourism improvement district (TID) assessments, government grants, and sometimes membership dues and sponsorships. TIDs are growing: more than 210 in the U.S. raise over $540 million for tourism promotion (Choose Chicago, 2026).
- DMCs: management or service fees, margins on supplier rates included in program prices, and supplier commissions.
Are the lines between DMOs and DMCs blurring?
Somewhat. Some destination organizations now help visitors book local experiences directly, rather than only linking out. Some DMCs now sell to individual travelers and hotel guests year-round, not only to groups. Both trends point to the same thing: a bookable marketplace for the destination's local businesses.
DestinationCommerce, powered by DropDesk, supports both: a destination marketing platform for DMOs and CVBs and DMC software for running a destination marketplace.
Frequently asked questions
Is a CVB the same as a DMO?
Effectively, yes. A convention and visitors bureau (CVB) is a destination marketing organization (DMO) for a city or county, traditionally focused on conventions and meetings as well as leisure visitors. Many CVBs have rebranded as "Visit [City]" organizations, and the terms are often used interchangeably.
What is the main difference between a DMO and a DMC?
A DMO promotes a destination as a whole and is mostly publicly funded, so its help is usually free. A DMC is a private company that sells and delivers services in the destination, such as transport, tours and events, for a fee. DMOs often refer planners to local DMCs.
Is a tourism board a DMO?
Yes. A tourism board is a destination marketing organization, usually operating at state, regional or national level and often run as a government agency. It markets the wider destination and supports the city and county DMOs and CVBs within its area.
What does DMO stand for in tourism?
DMO stands for destination marketing organization or, increasingly, destination management organization. The "management" version reflects a broader role that includes visitor experience, community impact and sustainability, alongside promotion. Many organizations now use "destination organization" as the umbrella term.
Are DMOs nonprofit?
Many are. U.S. DMOs and CVBs are commonly nonprofit organizations, government departments or public-private partnerships. Most of their funding comes from public sources, especially hotel occupancy taxes. Destinations International found that about 92% of destination organization funding is public.
Do DMOs charge event planners?
Usually not. DMOs and CVBs typically offer free help to meeting and event planners, including venue and hotel sourcing, supplier referrals, and information on incentives. They are funded by public sources tied to tourism, so their goal is to bring visitors and events to the destination rather than to earn fees.
Related: What is a DMC in travel? · Destination marketing platform for DMOs and CVBs · DMC software · What is destination commerce?