Event manager to destination manager
An event manager already meets 18% of what the destination manager role asks for. The move turns on 31 required skills not yet in the profile.
85.8/ 100
1 How much of what a destination manager is expected to do is already part of an event manager’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the destination manager role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A destination manager role treats 6 of its required skills as things an event manager already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- educate on sustainable tourism
- engage local communities in the management of natural protected areas
- manage budgets
- manage conservation of natural and cultural heritage
- support community-based tourism
- support local tourism
What stands in the way is 31 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 12 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A destination manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an event manager background worth leading with.
- already held support community-based tourism communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held improve customer traveling experiences with augmented reality working with computers
- already held educate on sustainable tourism communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held ecotourism natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held promote virtual reality travelling experiences working with computers
- already held engage local communities in the management of natural protected areas communication, collaboration and creativity
All 12 carried skills, including the 6 the destination manager role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 45 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn build a strategic marketing plan for destination management required
- still to learn oversee the printing of touristic publications required
- still to learn plan measures to safeguard cultural heritage required
- still to learn apply strategic thinking required
- still to learn lead the brand strategic planning process required
- still to learn manage staff required
- still to learn oversee the design of touristic publications required
- still to learn plan digital marketing required
- still to learn recruit employees required
- still to learn select optimal distribution channel required
- still to learn supervise crew required
- optional, not held coordinate operational activities optional
- optional, not held create annual marketing budget optional
- optional, not held develop strategies for accessibility optional
- optional, not held develop working procedures optional
- optional, not held manage yield optional
- still to learn build a network of suppliers in tourism required
- still to learn coordinate efforts of stakeholders for destination promotion required
- still to learn manage distribution of destination promotional materials required
- still to learn manage production of destination promotional materials required
- still to learn build business relationships required
- still to learn coordinate public-private partnerships in tourism required
- still to learn develop inclusive communication material required
- still to learn execute marketing plan required
- optional, not held deliver presentations on tourism optional
- optional, not held develop tourist information materials optional
- optional, not held maintain relationship with suppliers optional
- optional, not held design press kit for media optional
- optional, not held manage contracts optional
- optional, not held train employees optional
- still to learn assess an area as a tourism destination required
- still to learn manage visitor flows in natural protected areas required
- still to learn measure sustainability of tourism activities required
- still to learn set up pricing strategies required
- still to learn perform market research required
- optional, not held report touristic facts optional
- optional, not held measure customer feedback optional
- still to learn geographical areas relevant to tourism required
- still to learn local area tourism industry required
- still to learn tourist resources of a destination for further development required
- still to learn plan measures to safeguard natural protected areas required
- still to learn comply with food safety and hygiene required
- still to learn sales strategies required
- still to learn market analysis required
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a destination manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 assess an area as a tourism destination practise this
- 02 build a network of suppliers in tourism practise this
- 03 build a strategic marketing plan for destination management practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 12 skills that carry over
- already held educate on sustainable tourism skill
- already held engage local communities in the management of natural protected areas skill
- already held manage budgets skill
- already held manage conservation of natural and cultural heritage skill
- already held support community-based tourism skill
- already held support local tourism skill
- already held augmented reality knowledge
- already held ecotourism knowledge
- already held improve customer traveling experiences with augmented reality skill
- already held promote virtual reality travelling experiences skill
- already held use e-tourism platforms skill
- already held virtual reality knowledge
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held self-service technologies in tourism optional
14 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held report touristic facts optional
- optional, not held deliver presentations on tourism optional
- optional, not held develop tourist information materials optional
- optional, not held maintain relationship with suppliers optional
- optional, not held self-service technologies in tourism optional
- optional, not held coordinate operational activities optional
- optional, not held create annual marketing budget optional
- optional, not held design press kit for media optional
- optional, not held develop strategies for accessibility optional
- optional, not held develop working procedures optional
- optional, not held manage contracts optional
- optional, not held manage yield optional
- optional, not held measure customer feedback optional
- optional, not held train employees optional
28 held skills the destination manager role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role arrange event needs skill
- not needed by the target role confer with event staff skill
- not needed by the target role consult exhibition organisers skill
- not needed by the target role contribute to the programmer's reflection process skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate events skill
- not needed by the target role determine event objectives skill
- not needed by the target role develop event topics skill
- not needed by the target role direct event administrative details skill
- not needed by the target role document safety actions skill
- not needed by the target role evaluate events skill
- not needed by the target role food waste monitoring systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role inspect event facilities skill
- not needed by the target role liaise with event sponsors skill
- not needed by the target role maintain event records skill
- not needed by the target role monitor event activities skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate contracts with event providers skill
- not needed by the target role obtain event permits skill
- not needed by the target role organise event participants' registration skill
- not needed by the target role plan events skill
- not needed by the target role plan presence at professional events skill
- not needed by the target role plan schedule skill
- not needed by the target role review event bills skill
- not needed by the target role select event providers skill
- not needed by the target role solicit event publicity skill
- not needed by the target role supervise event staff skill
- not needed by the target role use resource-efficient technologies in hospitality skill
- not needed by the target role work with respect for own safety skill
- not needed by the target role write risk assessment on performing arts production skill
6 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn geographical areas relevant to tourism required
- still to learn local area tourism industry required
- still to learn sales strategies required
- still to learn tourist resources of a destination for further development required
- still to learn market analysis required
- optional, not held self-service technologies in tourism optional
Other moves recorded from event manager
- event assistant 44% covered · substantial
- promoter 39% covered · substantial
- tourist animator 30% covered · substantial
- wedding planner 25% covered · substantial
- specialised outdoor animator 24% covered · substantial
- tour operator representative 23% covered · career change
- hospitality entertainment manager 23% covered · career change
- outdoor animator 23% covered · career change
Common questions about this move
Can an event manager become a destination manager?
Yes, and it is a career change move. An event manager already covers 18% of what a destination manager is expected to do: 12 skills carry over, 6 of which the destination manager role treats as required.
What skills does an event manager need to become a destination manager?
31 required skills are missing, plus 14 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by management skills. The single most important is assess an area as a tourism destination.
How hard is the move from event manager to destination manager?
Its learning distance is 85.8 out of 100, which is the career change band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.