In The News
DESPITE A CHALLENGING CLIMATE IN THE DMC INDUSTRY, PRA DESTINATION MANAGEMENT, INC., CONTINUES TO THRIVE AND EXPANDS U.S. MARKET SHARE
BOSTON, June 19 - PRA Destination Management, Inc., a leader in destination management services and the only firm to offer franchise opportunities, formally announces the official opening of PRA New England, according to Madelyn Marusa, DMCP, CMP, vice president for PRA Destination Management, Inc.
Heading up the PRA New England team is President Dusty S. Rhodes, a well-known leader and pioneer in the event management industry, as well as the Director of Destination Management Services, Chris Meierhoefer. With this official opening of PRA New England, Allied International, parent company of PRA Destination Management, Inc., now provides destination management services on three continents and in eight countries from 29 destination management office locations worldwide.
"Dusty and her team bring a vast amount of industry knowledge and local expertise to the PRA franchise system," Marusa said. "We are so pleased to have her and the entire PRA New England team represent PRA Destination Management with the expansion into this new market and look forward to a very successful partnership."
Prior to signing with PRA Destination Management, Inc. Rhodes established one of New England's largest special events agencies focused on integrated event management, public relations and marketing. For moer than 30 years, her firm has been the driving force behind some of the area's most memorable and effective events and marketing campaigns for the corporate, association and incentive markets, producing numerous successful programs for clients worldwide.
Meierhoefer, having owned her own special events company for more than 15 years, offers a strong background in destination management services and sales. She joined with Rhodes in 2007, charged with expanding the destination management arm of the company and will serve as Director of Destination Management Services for PRA New England. Now, as part of the PRA Destination Management franchise system, PRA New England is part of a network of DMC professionals offering the utmost in destination management services. The PRA New England office is equipped with everything from networking capabilities to PRA proprietary software, allowing them to streamline pricing, proposal generation, internal and external communication and business maintenance functions. For clients, the franchise system allows groups, as they travel from destination to destination, to experience consistent quality and destination services ranging from dazzling special events to complex transportation systems, team building programs and sightseeing tours.
"With PRA Destination Management as part of the Allied International system, we have a unique opportunity to expand our services internationally, giving our company a competitive edge in our marketplace, as well as to better serve our clients in the scope of destinations and services," Rhodes said. "The systems and tools PRA provides its franchise owners are incredible and the support from all 20 PRA offices makes owning a PRA franchise the right choice. As owner and operator of PRA New England, I look forward to showcasing the full-service performance, local expertise and consistent delivery our clients in Boston have come to know and expect from our location, as well as the other cities serviced by the Allied International system."
Boston, a fascinating city full of history and culture, has emerged as one of the great meeting centers of the world, accommodating an extensive range of individual tastes and interests. As the New England region's economic and cultural hub, Boston is home to nearly 590,000 residents, many institutions of higher education, and numerous cultural and professional sports organizations. Millions of people visit Boston each year to take in its historic neighborhoods, attend cultural or sporting event, and conduct business. Boston's famous waterfront has adapted itself to a multitude of recreational and commercial uses, and the theater district is alive with a variety of entertainment offerings which reflect the diversity of this great American city. From an impressive concentration of upscale shopping, to the finest in dining experiences and rich historical sites Boston offers something for everyone.
For more information on the PRA New England portfolio of destination management services, please contact Chris Meierhoefer of PRA New England at 617.204.4290; email: cmeierhoefer@pra.com.
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