Brookhaven, Georgia, (FEB. 19, 2024)–Explore Brookhaven, the organization dedicated to promoting Brookhaven, Georgia as a visitor destination, is proud to celebrate February 19, 2025, as Destination Professionals Day to honor the people and organizations that drive tourism, economic growth and community vitality worldwide.
The date holds special significance: On February 19, 1896, members of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce and the Detroit Manufacturers Club came together at the Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, Michigan, to form the world’s first destination organization, the Detroit Convention and Businessman’s League. With a mission of “hustling for conventions,” this group laid the foundation for an industry that has since grown into a global driver of economic and social progress.
Today, there are more than 10,000 destination organizations around the world representing a broad spectrum of entities, including destination marketing organizations (DMOs), convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), tourism boards, sports commissions and film offices. These organizations are a cornerstone of the travel and tourism industry, which employs almost 348 million people and was expected to contribute about 10% of global GDP – more than $11 trillion – to the global economy in 2024, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.
In Brookhaven, the impact of Explore Brookhaven includes the generation of over $34M in lodging revenue in 2024, along with the creation of signature events such as Sip Brookhaven at Oglethorpe and Taste Brookhaven. Sip Brookhaven at Oglethorpe highlights the strengthening partnerships between Oglethorpe University, Explore Brookhaven, and Brookhaven’s food and beverage industry. Taste Brookhaven not only showcases the talents of Brookhaven’s chefs but also generates funds for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation.
Why February 19 Matters
Recognizing February 19 as Destination Professionals Day aims to raise awareness by highlighting the vital contributions of destination professionals in enriching community life and driving economic development; celebrate the achievements and recognize the hard work and dedication of destination professionals across all roles and organizations; and inspire future destination leaders by showcasing the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available in the sector to attract the next generation of professionals.
The selection of February 19 as Destination Professionals Day pays homage to the founding of the first destination organization 129 years ago that sparked a global movement that continues to transform destinations like Brookhaven into ideal places to visit, live, work, play and invest.
Join Us in Celebrating the Inaugural Destination Professionals Day
Explore Brookhaven invites our partners and community stakeholders to join in recognizing Destination Professionals Day on February 19, 2025. Share your stories, celebrate your teams and help us shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done to make Brookhaven thrive.
“Explore Brookhaven is the driving force for all economic development in Brookhaven. It starts with a visit,” stated Renée Areng, President and CEO of Explore Brookhaven. “If you build a place people want to visit, then you build a place people want to live. If you build a place where people want to live, you build a place where people want to work. If you build a place where people want to work, then you build a place where people want to invest. And if you build a place you want to invest in, you build a place people want to visit. Destination Professionals build the places people want to visit, driving economic impact.”