Headlines

Headlines

ACCESS  CEO Chris Lee on Destination Management

as heard on PlanIt Podcast.
listen now
read transcript

San Diego ACCESS Office once again Honored as “San Diego’s Best Place to Work”

February 29, 2008 - ACCESS Destination Services is proud to announce that the San Diego Office recently received the Small Business Category honors in the San Diego Business Journal’s “San Diego’s Best Places to Work” competition. This marks the second time in two years that ACCESS has received this award from among a wide field of nominees. Candidates were evaluated based on several categories including company values, training & education, diversity, testimonials from team members and employee benefits.

Carolyn Davis Nominated for HMA & HSMAI 2007 Allied Person of the Year

February 28, 2008 - Carolyn B. Davis, CMP, Senior Sales Manager at ACCESS Destination Services’ San Diego Office was nominated for the San Diego HMA (Hotel-Motel Association) and HSMAI (Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International) “Allied Person of the Year”, a category in the organizations’ 2007 Gold Key Awards program. She was nominated based upon her 16+ years of dedication to customer service at ACCESS Destination Services where she has contributed to hundreds of successful programs of events as well as her community service to the industry as a whole.

ACCESS  Earns Charter ADMC Accreditation

December 11, 2007 - ACCESS Destination Services is proud to announce its Charter status as an Accredited Destination Management Company (ADMC) as revealed by ADME (Association of Destination Management Executives.) As one of 24 destination management company recipients, 4 of which hail from Southern California, ACCESS demonstrated that it has met the ADMC Program standards and completed a successful review of their application by the ADMC commission. Program standards include requirements that measure the longevity and stability of the company, the company’s commitment to the DMC industry and its service levels to clients.

The program was developed to set standards and industry best practices for companies providing destination management services as well as to “enable clients to identify professional DMCs when they are searching for an industry partner,” states Ilene Reinhart, DMCP, CMP, ADME President and partner, ACCESS  Destination Services, Los Angeles. The designation assists the meeting planning community by identifying and qualifying standards and criteria that are indicative of the highest quality destination management service providers.

ACCESS  Recognized as One of the Top 25 DMCs for Fourth Year

December 1, 2007 - For the fourth consecutive year, ACCESS Destination Services was selected by Special Events Magazine for their list of the Top 25 Destination Management Companies worldwide.

ACCESS CEO Chris Lee: Update on the San Diego Fires

Please click HERE for an update on the San Diego Fires from ACCESS CEO Chris Lee

ACCESS  Delivers “Halloween” to Southern California Fire Victims

November 2, 2007 - The ACCESS Orange County team, concerned for the children evacuated due to the recent fires in Southern California, helped to save Halloween for many of these children. Team members pitched in and produced dozens of “Halloween Goodie Bags” for the fire victims. Complete with costume, make-up, candy, coloring book and toys, the bags were delivered by the ACCESS Destination Services team to several area Red Cross Shelters where they were enthusiastically received. In addition, donations made by ACCESS team members were matched by the company, resulting in a check for $500 being delivered to the Red Cross.

ACCESS Orange County Assists with Newport Beach C&VB’s Annual Dinner Event

October 2, 2007 - The Orange County team at ACCESS Destination Services assisted the Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, led by Gary Sherwin, President & CEO, in the execution of the Bureau’s annual dinner event held on September 20, 2007 at Newport Dunes, Newport Beach. Attended by all members, it was a night of good food, camaraderie, and a great report on the year’s activity.

ACCESS San Diego Team Receives Bank of America Award of Excellence

July 12, 2007 - Today, Bank of America presented ACCESS Destination Services, San Diego with their most prestigious recognition award, the “Award of Excellence”. This award is given annually by BofA to their top supplier partner worldwide. Historically reserved for a hotel partner, this is a first-ever distinction for a destination management company or “DMC” by BofA. read more

Carolyn Davis, CMP, Named Supplier of the Year For SDMPI

July, 2007 - Carolyn B. Davis, CMP, Sr. Sales Manager, was recognized as 2007 Supplier of the Year by the San Diego Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) at the Annual Awards & Installation Gala celebrating the award winning teamwork and outstanding accomplishments of individuals in SDMPI’s community of global leaders. Davis was selected from a field of 16 nominees for Supplier of the Year, recognizing a supplier who exemplifies the finest in the meeting and hospitality industry. Davis was also nominated for two other SDMPI awards and was named Star of the Month for May, 2007.

ACCESS Los Angeles nominated for MPISCC Chapter Supplier of the Year

July, 2007 - In MPI chapter news, ACCESS Destination Services, Los Angeles was nominated for the 2007 MPI Southern California Chapter (MPISCC) Supplier of the Year.

Robbie Glowczwski Awarded DMCP Certification

ACCESS  Destination Services is proud to announce that Robbie Glowczwski, Program Manager, ACCESS  – Orange County was awarded the DMCP designation. The Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) exam, developed by the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) was held in Palm Desert, California at the 2007 ADME Annual Conference. ACCESS  boasts the highest number of certified DMCPs in the state of California.

ACCESS  Encourages Industry’s Next Generation!

Recently, ACCESS  President Candace Bisconte, DMCP, participated in a panel discussion, held in San Diego, on the subject of Ethics in the Industry, led by Bruce Harris, CMP, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Experient (formerly Conferon Global Services.) Presented through San Diego State’s Hospitality & Tourism Management Program for Students and Southern California Hospitality professionals, the panel debated issues facing hoteliers, clients, and DMCs in their daily business interactions. Other members of the panel included Lisa Hurst, CMP, Director, Travel Meeting & Event Management for PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. and local industry veteran and HSMAI Gold Key Award recipient, Rob Cameron. read more

ACCESS Scores a Home Run at ADME Annual Conference

February, 2007 – ACCESS  Destination Services exhibited a strong presence at the 2007 ADME (Association of Destination Management Executives) Annual Conference, held February 7-11, in Rancho Mirage California. ACCESS  CEO, Christopher Lee, DMCP, was honored as “Destination Management Professional of the Year”, the Association’s top recognition award while ACCESS  Partner, Ilene Reinhart, DMCP, CMP, officially took the reins as President of ADME. read more

ACCESS in Top 100

January, 2007 - ACCESS  Destination Services was recently recognized as among the Top 100 Woman Owned businesses in California, coming in at number 24, by DiversityBusiness.com, the nation’s leading multicultural business internet site. ACCESS  was also named to the annual listing of the Top 100 Small Businesses in California, at number 55. Nationally, ACCESS  ranked among the Top 500 in each category. The companies listed on the Top 100 list represent the state’s top Woman Owned businesses, based on annual revenues, and challenge the long-held notion that a Woman Owned business is small or insignificant. Top 100 members are sought after by major corporations wishing to increase diversity spending with Woman Owned Businesses. Affected by recent economic and demographic trends and changes, Fortune 1000 corporations throughout the country have recognized that buying products and services from diversity owned companies positively impacts their business. Small and Diversity Owned businesses contribute over $1.4 trillion in sales to the U.S. economy

Barb Smith Named to DMCP Board of ADME

January, 2007 - Congratulations to ACCESS  partner, Barb Smith, DMCP for her nomination acceptance by ADME (Association of Destination Management Executives) as a member of the Destination Management Certified Professional Board (DMCP Board) for the February 2007 through February 2009 term. ACCESS  is very involved with the ADME organization. ACCESS  CEO Chris Lee, DMCP is a past president and founding member of this organization and partner, Ilene Reinhart, DMCP, CMP is the incoming President of ADME.

ACCESS named as Finalist in two 2006 ADME Achievement Award Categories

ACCESS Destination Services has been named as a Finalist in two categories for the 2006 ADME (Association of Destination Management Executives) Achievement Awards. Chris Lee, DMCP, CEO of ACCESS  Destination Services, for the second consecutive year, is a finalist in the “Destination Management Professional of the Year” category. Nominations were received from destination management companies throughout North America for consideration in two individual recognition categories – “Rising Star” and “Destination Management Professional of the Year”. In addition, Barb Smith, DMCP, and the Palm Springs ACCESS  team received a finalist nod in the “Best Team-Building Activity” category for a custom Karting event designed and produced for a major insurance company client. More than 50 entries from companies throughout North America were submitted for consideration in 7 categories.

Members of the ADME Achievement Awards' judging teams will select award winners from among the Finalists and winners will be announced during a gala banquet in February, 2007 at the Westin Mission Hills Hotel in Rancho Mirage, CA. Destination management executives from around the world are expected to attend.

ACCESS Selected for Third Consecutive Year as One of the Top 25 DMCs

For the third consecutive year, ACCESS  Destination Services is honored to have been selected by Special Events Magazine as one of the Top 25 DMCs worldwide.

WBEC-West Nomination for ACCESS  Destination Services

ACCESS  Destination Services is proud to have received a nomination as Supplier of the Year – Class 3 from the Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West. Nominees were honored at the Fourth Annual Excellence Awards Gala held recently at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa in Anaheim, CA. Company President, Candace Bisconte states, “We are very proud of our association with WBEC-West, and with the national organization, WBENC, and it is an honor to be nominated for this award! Our continued success in growing our company is due in part to the relationship with have with this fine organization.”

ACCESS named to Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies

ACCESS  Destination Services was recently named to the 2006 Top 100 List of San Diego’s Fastest Growing privately held companies by the San Diego Business Journal. Ranked 27th, ACCESS  was selected from over one thousand survey respondents. Companies were evaluated based on growth factors indicated within completed questionnaires as well as financial documentation verified by outside CPAs. To be considered, companies must be privately owned, independent companies. A common denominator to all 100 companies is the entrepreneurial spirit and vision that compels each to succeed. Attention to industry changes, creativity, and willingness to be risk takers are other common threads among entrepreneurs behind the companies ranked on the list. ACCESS  Destination Services CEO, Chris Lee says, “ACCESS  is a company that is driven by sales, committed to service and guided by values. I am very proud of our team and it is an honor for ACCESS  to be counted among such high caliber companies in San Diego. “

Carolyn Davis nominated for local MPI Chapter Supplier of the Year

Carolyn Davis, CMP, was nominated for the San Diego Chapter of MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Supplier of the Year Award. Additionally, Davis was nominated for the Chapter’s Nancy Morrell Swanson Visionary Award. Carolyn’s continued SDMPI service, industry contributions, community service and ongoing professional advancement have earned her these much deserved nominations. Carolyn will serve the Chapter as this year’s chairperson for the Publicity Committee.

ACCESS Los Angeles team members honored by MPISCC

Steve McCleave, DMCP, Senior Sales Manager for ACCESS  Destination Services in Los Angeles, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) for the 2006-2007 term. The Chapter also selected Keri Shaffer, Sales Manager for ACCESS  Los Angeles as the recipient of the Rising Star Award for June, 2006. This award recognizes new members of MPISCC who have made significant contributions to the chapter and show promise as future leaders.

New Address for San Diego ACCESS Office

ACCESS  is growing! Effective May 1, 2006, the San Diego offices of ACCESS  Destination Services will be located at 3515 Hancock Street, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92110. Phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

Jennifer Miller and Steve McCleave Awarded DMCP Certification

ACCESS  Destination Services is proud to announce that Jennifer Miller, General Manager, ACCESS - San Diego and Steve McCleave, Senior Sales Manager, ACCESS - Los Angeles, were awarded the DMCP designation. The Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) exam, developed by the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) was recently held in Colorado Springs. ACCESS  boasts the highest number of certified DMCPs in the state of California.

San Diego ACCESS Office honored as “San Diego's Best Place to Work”

ACCESS  Destination Services is proud to announce that the San Diego Office recently received the Small Business Category honors in the San Diego Business Journal's, “ San Diego 's Best Places to Work” competition. Over 180 local companies initially submitted nominations from which 100 companies were selected for the finals. The team was honored at an Awards Dinner at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, where Jennifer Miller, General Manager, proudly accepted the award for ACCESS. Also in attendance were ACCESS  team members Sean Kirkland, Staci Kvasnik, Maira Moss, Melissa Rodriguez, Jamie Weiss, and Carolyn Davis, CMP.

Chris Lee nominated for ADME Achievement Award

Christopher H. Lee, DMCP, CEO of ACCESS  Destination Services, was nominated for the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) “Destination Management Professional of the Year” Achievement Award, recognizing an individual who has given his/her time, dedication, leadership, and knowledge towards the advancement of the destination management industry. Chris is a founding member and Past President of ADME, a contributing author to The Guide to Successful Destination Management, and was recently a featured speaker at the 2006 ADME Annual Conference held at the Broadmoor, in Colorado Springs attended also by ACCESS  team members Steve McCleave, Sr. Sales Manager-Los Angeles, Jennifer Miller, General Manager-San Diego, Partners Barbara Smith, DMCP, Chris Lee, DMCP, Ilene Reinhart, DMCP, CMP, and Mark Fiorentino, General Manager-Orange County.

Ilene Reinhart is 2006 President-Elect to ADME

ACCESS   Destination Services is proud to announce that ACCESS  Partner, Ilene B. Reinhart, DMCP, CMP, was elected President-Elect to the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME). She will serve in this position until she assumes the role of President in 2007. In addition, Partner Barb Smith, DMCP, was recently named Co-Chair of the ADME conference committee for the 2007 Annual Conference to be held at the Westin Mission Hills in Palm Springs.

Women Owned Business

ACCESS  Destination Services is proud to announce the receipt of Certification by the Women's Business Enterprise Council, a designation that is important to many of our corporate clients who track this for their  internal diversity programs.

Ilene Reinhart Has Been Appointed to the CMP Board

ACCESS  Destination Services is proud to announce that Ilene Reinhart, DMCP, CMP has been appointed to the CMP Board as the representative for the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME).  “It is an honor to be asked to represent ADME for this prestigious position,” states Reinhart.  Ilene received her original CMP designation in 1991 and achieved her DMCP designation in 2001.  She also currently serves as ADME’s Vice President of Administration on their Executive Board.

New DMCP Professionals at ACCESS  Destination Services

ACCESS  Destination Services is pleased to announce that Candi Bisconte, DMCP, Partner, Barb Smith, DMCP, Partner and Teri Harbour O’Keefe, Director of Operations recently joined the growing number of DMCP professionals at ACCESS  Destination Services. The Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) exam, developed by the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME), was recently held in San Diego. 

Christopher Lee on Destinations and Planning

Hear Chris Lee, CEO of ACCESS  Destination Services, give his insights on Destinations and Planning. As heard on Northwest Airlines and Sky Radio on American Airlines.
Listen Now

Partnering with DMCs

Partnering with DMCs (From the Meeting Professional, April '05 issue) - How a hotel can partner with a DMC to benefit the client.
Read more

Contact us for more information!