Fran Bolson, CDME, President of the Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau, has been nominated for the Board of Directors for the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). The organization is the world’s largest association of convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and was founded over 90 years ago. The association has over 1,500 members from 625 destination management organizations in more than 25 countries.
“I have always valued my membership with this organization and what the involvement brings back in terms of value to our bureau,” states Bolson. When I joined DMAI, I immediately became involved on their Education Committee which was one of the best things that I could have done.” She later became chair of their Education Committee, which plans several major events for DMO’s worldwide. She serves on several industry organizations such as the Illinois Council of Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, President of the Chicagoland Regional Tourism Development Office, and Treasurer of the Illinois Tourism Alliance. She was also one of the contributing authors of the “Fundamentals of Destination Management and Marketing” book published by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association for DMAI. She was a 2007 recipient of the Influential Women in Business Award, sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau is the first convention bureau in Illinois and one of an elite group of 39 destination marketing organizations worldwide to earn the prestigious Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) designation developed by Destination Marketing Association International.
About Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau
The Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau is comprised of ten communities in Chicago’s northwest region and is currently one of Midwest’s most dynamic destinations for group meetings and events. The area has unsurpassed choices for lodging, shopping and entertainment.