ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Nov. 13) The St. Johns County (St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches) Visitors and Convention Bureau has been accredited by the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) – a Washington, D.C.-based association that sets international standards for the destination management industry.

“We are, of course, extremely pleased to know that our efforts to manage tourism for St. Johns County are in compliance with the highest standards set by DMAI,” said Glenn Hastings, executive director of the Visitors and Convention Bureau. “Accreditation confirms for our partners and the community at large that the level of service we provide is among the highest in the world.”

Hastings explained that achieving accreditation is not a simple process. It requires applicants to show they meet or exceed 54 mandatory and 33 voluntary standards set by DMAI. The standards encompass a wide variety of elements including organization, finance, management, human resources, technology, visitor services, group services, sales, communications, membership, brand management, destination development, research, innovation, and relationships with partners. Only eight Florida visitor and convention bureaus and less than 100 of the world’s more than 650 destination management organizations have received accreditation from DMAI.

Funded primarily by tourist development tax revenue, the St. Johns County Visitors and Convention Bureau is responsible for promoting vacation and business travel to the county. Its efforts are directed by the Tourist Development Council that serves to advise the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners on the best use of tourist development tax revenue generated by a three percent tax on overnight stays in the county.

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