Visit Anchorage Earns Added Designation for the First Time During Reaccreditation from DI

Visit Anchorage earned its reaccreditation for the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) from Destinations International, and the organization is one of just 10% of accredited organizations to earn the certification with distinction. 

DMAP accreditation recognizes Visit Anchorage’s commitment to industry excellence and meeting industry standards for performance and accountability of destination organizations around the world. Visit Anchorage first gained accreditation five years ago.

During recertification this year, it was awarded “Accreditation with Distinction,” the highest possible recognition for a destination organization. It indicates that the organization exceeded the minimum requirements for accreditation and that the independent DMAP Board found no opportunities for the organization to improve its responses to the required standards.

“It’s a thorough process, and in order to be certified, we have to show proof that we work at or above industry standards,” said Julie Saupe, Visit Anchorage President and CEO. “To be recognized ‘with distinction’ speaks to the high-level talent of our staff and their dedication to powering Anchorage through tourism. Anchorage has a great group of people working on its behalf.”

The accreditation program requires a destination organization to successfully comply with a set of rigorous mandatory and voluntary standards, covering nearly all aspects related to the management and marketing of destination organizations including governance, finance, human resources, sales, communications, destination development, and research. Visit Anchorage is among nearly 200 destination organizations that have obtained DMAP recognition, fewer than 10% of which earned “Accreditation with Distinction.”

“We are pleased to have Visit Anchorage in our distinguished group of accredited organizations,” said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Destinations International. “The industry distinction defines quality and performance standards for destination organizations, and they are a valued member of the DMAP community.”