The Destination & Travel Foundation announces it has exceeded its initial US $4m. campaign goal with a US$100,000 Signature Shareholder gift from the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB. The Destination Excellence: Investing in the Future of Destination Marketing campaign has seen significant success, raising US$4,080,000 to date in pledges from DMOs and industry partners.

"By supporting the Foundation in a significant way, we are also supporting the future of our industry, especially in these times," said Nicki Grossman, CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB. "Fort Lauderdale has long been supportive of DMAI and the Foundation; and all of us look forward to hosting DMAI next summer for its 96th Annual Convention."

"We are grateful to Fort Lauderdale for helping us over our initial target," said Steve Moore, CEO of the Greater Phoenix CVB and the Foundation Immediate Past Chair. "With three months remaining until Destination Excellence's official close during the Foundation Dinner, I am hopeful the industry will continue supporting this critical effort as there is more work to be done. There is still time to be a part of this innovative effort. We need every DMO and industry organization to consider their support and join us in providing solutions to today's obstacles."

The Destination Excellence campaign seeks to address the three most pressing issues facing member organizations as identified in the groundbreaking Futures Study, which are: Relevancy, Technology, and Social Responsibility.

The campaign is already delivering results. Under the campaign's Relevancy focus, the Foundation recently joined with U.S. Travel Association to underwrite the landmark Return on Investment of U.S. Business Travel study by Oxford Economics USA. Earlier this year, the Foundation supported National Tourism Week by promoting a grass-roots effort by DMOs to lead local rallies with stakeholders as part of the industry-wide initiative "Meetings Mean Business." A tax infrastructure study was also developed, revealing more than US$63 billion in public infrastructure projects developed, in part, through tourism revenues.

Other gifts announced this week include:  Helms Briscoe, Go Rockford, Columbus GA CVB, Elkhart CVB, San Diego CVB, Mickey Schaefer & Associates, MPI Foundation, Loudoun County, Omaha CVB and Saint Paul CVB.