Professional in Destination Management Certificate Program

The Professional in Destination Management (PDM) certificate program provides those new to the destination organization side of the industry (less than one year of experience) with cutting-edge education, offering entry level personnel the critical skills and knowledge necessary to start their careers in the travel and tourism industry. Through this program, participants will learn: how destination organizations and the various departments within an organization function; the role of a destination organization within a community; how destination organizations enhance and benefit their communities; and how to sell your destination to business and leisure travelers.  Upon successful completion of the Professional in Destination Management coursework and the post-course assessments, students will receive a certificate of completion from Destinations International.

The two required courses for the Professional in Destination Management (PDM) certificate program include:

  • Fundamentals of Destination Management and Marketing
  • Fundamentals of Sales 
  • Contains 39 Component(s)

    The Fundamentals of Destination Management and Marketing course focuses on evolving trends in the travel and tourism industry and how destination organizations successfully align with these changes. Key to this success are the operations of the destination organization and its place within the travel and tourism industry. This course requires about 6 hours of seat time, which includes watching module videos, completing knowledge check quizzes, and passing the final course assessment. You may start and stop each course to complete at your own pace.

    The Fundamentals of Destination Management and Marketing course focuses on evolving trends in the travel and tourism industry and how destination organizations successfully align with these changes. Key to this success are the operations of the destination organization and its place within the travel and tourism industry. 

    This course requires about 6 hours of seat time, which includes watching module videos, completing knowledge check quizzes, and passing the final course assessment. You may start and stop each course to complete at your own pace.

    Upon successful completion of this course, attendees will:

    • Understand the evolving role of the destination organization and its value to the destination
    • Understand the destination organization’s operating environment and structure
    • Understand the difference between destination marketing and destination management
    • Understand the need for strategic planning and research/data analysis
    • Understand who the tourism stakeholders are and how to engage them in destination place-making

    The Fundamentals of Destination Management and Marketing course consists of:

    • 13 modules
      • Each module contains a PDF of the slide deck, which you can download and print.
      • Each module contains a video.  Click the play arrow to watch the full video.  At the conclusion of the video, click the "x" in the upper right-hand corner to close the video.
      • Each module contains a quiz.  Once you close the video, you will be able to access the quiz.  You will have unlimited attempts to pass the quiz, but you must successfully pass the quiz before you can move on to the next module.
      • Once you have completed all modules, you will then be able to access the final exam.          
    • Knowledge checks
    • Additional readings and resources
    • Final exam
      • You will have three attempts to pass the final exam. If you have not passed after three attempts, please contact education@destinationsinternational.org   

    Please note:  The PDM courses are not eligible for CDME continuing education credits.

  • Contains 30 Component(s)

    No sales, no business. It's the most fundamental fact of commerce. However, sales is often one of the most misunderstood and mismanaged aspects of business, despite its obvious and enormous importance. This course will take a deep dive into the sales function and why it’s essential to a destination organization. This course requires about 6 hours of seat time, which includes watching module videos, completing knowledge check quizzes, and passing the final course assessment. You may start and stop each course to complete at your own pace.

    No sales, no business. It's the most fundamental fact of commerce. However, sales is often one of the most misunderstood and mismanaged aspects of business, despite its obvious and enormous importance. This course will take a deep dive into the sales function and why it’s essential to a destination organization.

    This course requires about 6 hours of seat time, which includes watching module videos, completing knowledge check quizzes, and passing the final course assessment. You may start and stop each course to complete at your own pace.

    Upon successful completion of this course, attendees will:

    • Learn basic sales strategies and tactics
    • Understand the language of sales
    • Prepare for a sales opportunity
    • Begin the discussion on the right foot
    • Make an effective pitch
    • Handle objections
    • Seal the deal
    • Follow up on sales
    • Set sales goals
    • Manage sales data
    • Use a prospect board

    The Fundamentals of Sales course consists of:

    • 10 modules
      • Each module contains a PDF of the slide deck, which you can download and print.
      • Each module contains a video.  Click the play arrow to watch the full video.  At the conclusion of the video, click the "x" in the upper right-hand corner to close the video.
      • Each module contains a quiz.  Once you close the video, you will be able to access the quiz.  You will have unlimited attempts to pass the quiz, but you must successfully pass the quiz before you can move on to the next module.
      • Once you have completed all modules, you will then be able to access the final exam.      
    • Knowledge checks
    • Additional readings and resources
    • Final exam
      • You will have three attempts to pass the final exam. If you have not passed after three attempts, please contact education@destinationsinternational.org.  

    Please note:  The PDM courses are not eligible for CDME continuing education credits.