At Destination North Myrtle Beach, we believe that investing in professional development is one of the best ways to strengthen our organization and better serve our partners, visitors, and community. That's why we're proud to share that our Marketing Director, Erin Graham, recently traveled to Portland, Oregon, to participate in the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) program through Destinations International.
Recognized as the highest individual educational achievement in the destination marketing and management industry, the CDME program is designed for experienced destination organization professionals seeking to strengthen their leadership skills, strategic thinking, and organizational impact. Through an intensive curriculum, participants explore topics such as destination leadership, marketing and sales, strategic planning, research, advocacy, and destination management while collaborating with peers from across North America and beyond.
This year's summer CDME courses were held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland and brought together destination professionals committed to advancing the tourism industry through innovation, collaboration, and leadership. The program's interactive format encourages participants to exchange ideas, tackle real-world challenges, and return to their organizations with practical strategies that can immediately benefit their communities.
For Erin, attending CDME represents more than professional development, it is an investment in the future of Destination North Myrtle Beach. The knowledge, best practices, and relationships developed through the program will help strengthen our marketing initiatives, enhance our destination management efforts, and ensure we continue delivering value to our partners while promoting North Myrtle Beach as a premier place to visit, live, work, and invest.
"We're committed to continually learning and evolving as an organization," said Leslie Wallace, Advocacy & Business Development Director. "Professional development opportunities like CDME allow our team to bring fresh ideas and innovative solutions back to North Myrtle Beach, ultimately benefiting our partners, businesses, residents, and visitors."
Please join us in congratulating Erin on this exciting professional milestone. We look forward to seeing the knowledge and insights she brings back to Destination North Myrtle Beach as we continue working together to move our destination forward.
About the CDME Program
The Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) credential is administered by Destinations International, the world's largest and most respected association representing destination organizations. The program prepares experienced tourism professionals to lead in an ever-changing industry through advanced education focused on leadership, strategic planning, destination marketing, advocacy, and organizational excellence.