How to check a DMC’s local expertise.
Concrete ways to test whether a DMC really knows the destination, suppliers and operating constraints behind your program.
By Jyper · 7 October 2026
Every DMC can say it knows the destination. Ask for the local decisions that will improve your specific program.
Look for decisions, not destination adjectives
SITE’s 2026 survey found local expertise and reputation leading the factors buyers value when choosing a DMC. That makes local knowledge important, but also easy to claim. Ask the DMC to show where its knowledge changes your itinerary.
For example: which transfer should happen before rush hour, which venue has the right loading access, which popular activity fails for your group size, and what would they book instead? A strong answer connects a local constraint to your guests and budget.
Find out who holds the relationships
Ask who negotiates with the proposed venues and operators, who confirms availability, and who will be present on the day. Some DMCs serve a destination through partner offices or subcontractors. That can work well. What matters is a clear line from your account lead to the local people who can fix a problem.
Ask for one example of a supplier change on a recent program. What happened, who made the call, how was the client informed and what did guests notice? This tests both relationships and response under pressure.
Use a site visit with a purpose
If the spend or complexity warrants a visit, agree what it must settle before traveling. Walk the guest route, check travel times and access, meet the operations lead and inspect the spaces as they will be used. Ask the DMC to show one fallback for each critical component. Record decisions and owners before leaving.
If a visit is impractical, do a live itinerary walk-through with maps, current venue details and the local operations lead. Either format is more useful than a generic destination presentation.
Verify with the right reference
Ask for a client whose program resembled yours in scale and service mix. On the call, ask what the DMC advised against, which supplier or timing issue arose, and whether the operations team matched the sales pitch. A glowing quote with no context is weaker evidence than an honest account of a problem solved.
Local expertise shows up in better choices, realistic timing and fast recovery. Make the DMC demonstrate those before you ask it to deliver them.
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