Deadline to Apply: December 16, 2026
RFP Type: Request for Proposals: Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) Expansion Assessment
Opportunity: RFP: 2027 DMAP GLOBAL EXPANSION RESEARCH AND MARKET ASSESSMENT
Request for Proposals: Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) Expansion Assessment
With the support of the Destinations International Foundation, Destinations International (DI) is seeking proposals from qualified research and consulting firms to conduct an independent assessment of opportunities to expand the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP).
DMAP is Destinations International’s premier organizational accreditation program, with an established presence across the United States and Canada. However, participation remains limited in international markets, with varying levels of adoption among destination organizations of different sizes, budgets, and market characteristics, including within North America.
This presents an opportunity to examine how DI can further strengthen awareness and recognition of DMAP, expand understanding of its value, and identify ways destination organizations across all markets can more effectively leverage the accreditation program.
Before committing resources to expansion, DI requires a rigorous, data-backed and evidence-based understanding of the opportunity. The selected firm will assess DMAP’s current position and brand recognition, participation patterns across organization and market sizes, priority international markets, the standards equivalencies needed in different markets, how DMAP compares with accreditation programs offered by trade associations in other industries, and the adaptations needed for DMAP to remain relevant and credible worldwide.
The findings will guide DI’s decisions on future investment, program design, and market expansion. The research should not presuppose a specific expansion model. Its purpose is to identify where opportunities exist, what barriers must be addressed, and how DMAP can scale responsibly while protecting the rigor and integrity of the accreditation.
RFP Schedule
- RFP Issued: November 13, 2026
- Deadline for Questions: November 20, 2026
- Responses to Questions Distributed: November 24, 2026
- Proposal Submission Deadline: December 16, 2026
- Proposal Evaluation and Finalist Interviews: January 11–13, 2027
- Vendor Selection and Contract Execution: January 2027
- Project Kickoff: Late January to early February 2027
- Monthly Check-ins and Interim Updates: February–June 2027
- Final Research Report Due to DI: July 5, 2027
DI reserves the right to adjust this schedule as needed.
Questions Regarding the RFP
Questions must be submitted in writing by November 20, 2026, to:
Emily Scheiderer
Vice President of Professional Development
Destinations International
es*********@***********************al.org