Development Counsellors International

Development Counsellors International, also known as DCI, is a place marketing firm based in New York City that specializes in economic development and travel marketing, and investment lead generation services. Founded in 1960 by Ted Levine, the company now employs more than 50 people and has regional offices in Denver, Toronto and Los Angeles.

As an organization that works directly with places around the world, DCI’s first marketing campaign was developed for the island of Puerto Rico surrounding its Operation Bootstrap program. Since then, DCI has worked with more than 450 places, including 50 cities,^[1] to promote their business and tourism attributes. The firm’s clients include large economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, and community and destination marketing organizations with a focus on economic development and tourism marketing.^[2]

According to O’Dwyers, in 2014, DCI ranked as America’s third largest tourism and economic development marketing firm based on net fees.^[3] In 2013 DCI ranked 39th in fees, up from 52nd in 2008 in fees of major independent public relations firms.^[4] The company has also won the PR News’ Community Relations award in 2006 for its efforts to help the Baton Rouge community recover from the effects of hurricane Katrina.

History

According to the company founder, DCI began with just one client and two employees. The company’s first office consisted of two small rooms in a medical supply warehouse on 14th Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan. As the U.S. director of public relations for Puerto Rico’s Operation Bootstrap program, Levine created a model economic development program for other countries wanting to boost tourism or encourage business development. Since then, DCI has worked with more than 300 cities, regions, states and countries, helping them attract both investors and visitors.

Andy Levine, son of Ted Levine, joined DCI in 1991 and has since taken over the day-to-day management responsibilities as the firm’s president.^[5]

The company’s use of an open-book management philosophy has led to unique monthly staff meetings, where employees, including administrative staffers, present the company’s financial report for the previous month.^[6] To give every employee a financial stake in the outcome, when a certain profit is accrued, a "win" is declared and 30 percent of the profit is distributed across the company, based upon a formula derived from each staff member's base salary during the "win" period.^[7] For those interested in working at the company, Andy Levine, the firm’s president, requires no less than 12 references from finalists.^[8]

DCI had moved its headquarters location eight times since 1960 and most recently relocated to Manhattan's Union Square neighborhood in 2007.

In July 2010, DCI acquired Mondotels, creating DCI’s meetings and incentive (MICE) division.^[9] Founded in 1982, Mondotels specialized in developing meeting and incentive business for destination marketing organizations and convention bureaus.

In October 2012, DCI released 40 Under 40, a competition to find the rising starts in the economic development industry. Winners who have achieved success before the age of 40 were selected by a committee of industry thought leaders with a broad range of expertise including a recruiter, site selectors and economic developers.^[10]

Outside Magazine choose DCI as a top place to work in 2014!^[11]

Reports

DCI often releases studies that provide insight into economic development and tourism marketing trends.

Every three years since 1996, the firm releases a Winning Strategies in Economic Development.^[12] The report includes the most effective marketing techniques in economic development and executive perceptions of the best business climates in the United States and the world.^[13]

In October 2012, DCI released Winning Strategies in Destination Marketing.^[14] The report analyzes what influences North American meeting planners and best practices for influencing their global site selection decisions.

In December 2013, DCI released A View from the Lower 48,^[15] a survey revealing perceptions of U.S. executives and site selectors of Canada’s business climate. The findings revealed that when compared to Canada, the United States is rated more favorably on numerous factors that are important to site location decisions.^[16]

In 2013, DCI and IACC’s Emerging Trends Committee conducted a survey exploring the generational preferences of meeting planners. The study revealed differences in the key criteria that each generation of meeting planner considers relevant when selecting a destination and conference facility.^[17]

In 2014, DCI and International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) unveiled the findings of a study of meeting planners living and working in Europe, entitled Exploring the Generational Preferences of European Meeting Planners.^[18] The study explored the varying preferences of different generations of meeting planners and how these preferences shape how meeting and conference space is selected.^[19]

Most recently, DCI released a study on the outlook of association meetings in the Middle East, the fastest growing international association market, with the number of meetings held in the region tripling in the last 10 years. Key findings of the study, entitled, "Will Demand Meet Supply? Inside the Business Events Dilemma in the Middle East,” show 70% of North American association executives would consider holding a meeting in the middle east.^[20]

External links

• DCI Website

References