Destination management company (DMCs) partnership, Global Events Partners (GEP), is closing seven company-owned DMCs offices: GEP Washington (pictured), GEP Philly, GEP Baltimore, GEP Bahamas, GEP South Florida, GEP Utah and GEP Atlanta with immediate effect.
The move, according to GEP Chairman and CEO Chris White, is to return to GEP’s original business model representing 58 independently-owned and operated partners.
Three GEP branded DMCs in Arizona, Spain, and Las Vegas are licensed companies not owned by GEP and remain in business, White said. GEP Orlando will return to its previous ownership as Florida Coast to Coast with the same team in place.
All business that was contracted with the affected DMCs is being transferred to another DMC in the interim, and clients have been contacted directly with further information, White reported.
“We felt it was in the best interest of the partnership,” White said. “To focus solely on our partners and return to our original business model that has been successful for almost 15 years now and made us an industry leader, along with our sister company Krisam Group.”
The Krisam and GEP professionals are authorised representatives for 250 member hotels and 58 DMCs covering 90 destinations worldwide.
CN heard many rumours of DMCs in trouble with their business model during the recent IMEX America trade show in Las Vegas and further sea changes in this side of the meetings market can be expected.
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