DMCs & PCOs

Former tourism boss launches Manx DMC
08/03/2006
Former Isle of Man department of tourism CEO Terry Toohey has formed the island’s first independent DMC.
Destination Isle of Man will be a one-stop shop for conference and event organisers.
The venture will capitalise on growing interest in recent developments such as the refurbished Villa Marina and the National Sports Centre. A new four-star hotel and leisure development has also recently been approved for the former Douglas bus station site.
“The island is a financial centre and that brings a lot of conference and meetings business, but we want to try and get more into the incentive travel market,” he said. “We are ideally suited for a conference of around 400-500.”
Destination Isle of Man’s services include venue selection, online registration, speaker and financial management, travel arrangements and ground handling. It has also teamed up with local tour operator Travel Services to offer travel logistics to and from the island.
Toohey said he would be working closely with the island’s Tourism Ministry to market the new service. A marketing campaign and fam trips are being organised for the next few months.