The Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) program prepares senior executives and experienced destination organization professionals to lead their communities and to thrive in a constantly changing environment. The CDME is a credential program designed by Destinations International.
An approved CDME Application is required prior to registering for courses. Please allow 10-14 business days for the application to be processed. For more information, visit the CDME website. Courses are only available to those accepted to and committed to completing the program.
Registration Deadline: Thursday January 29, 2026 OR until courses sell out. For 2026, we have limited enrollment to 40 participants per course.
Core Courses (2 days) - February 21-22, 2026 from 8:30AM-5PM ET
- Destination Leadership
- Destination Marketing and Sales
Elective Courses (1.5 days) - February 23-24, 2026 from 8:30AM-5PM ET and 8:30AM-12PM ET
- Destination Economic Development
- Destination Organzation Financial Management
Location: All CDME Winter 2026 courses will take place at the Huntington Convention of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio. Specific location details and pre-arrival information will be provided to registrants approximately one week before CDME courses begin.
Once CDME courses wrap up, join us for Destinations International Marketing & Communications Summit from February 24-26, 2026! Learn more and register for Marketing & Communications Summit 2026 here. Attendance Policy
To receive credit for a course toward your CDME you must be in attendance for 100% of the scheduled course time. Please ensure your travel arrangements are made to accommodate potential travel delays. Missing course time to make a flight is not permitted.If you cannot attend the course in its full entirety for any reason, you will need to reschedule and take the course at a future date. Please contact
cdme@destinationsinternational.org if any conflicts arise.
Pricing and Payment
Core Course:
Member $1895 USD
Non-Member $2695 USD
Elective Course:
Member $1295 USD
Non-Member $1695 USD
Payment Policy
Registration is only confirmed by payment in full. Online registration may be completed with a credit card.
For payment by check:
Send check for full payment to: Destinations International, P.O. Box 650217, Potomac Falls, VA 20165.
Include on check paperwork: name of person to be registered, CDME course name(s) and course dates. You can see your course pricing based on membership status by beginning the online registration process, once you see the course listing the price will be displayed.
Check payment must be received within 30 days of registration or by Thursday, January 29, 2026, whichever is earlier, or else registration will be canceled.
Please note: Your spot in a course is not confirmed until the payment is received and you have received a registration confirmation email. If you have not received a registration confirmation email one week prior to the registration deadline, please reach out to
cdme@destinationsinternational.org.
Registration Refund and Cancellation Policy
Refund Deadline: 5:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 29, 2026
All registration cancellation and refund requests must be submitted on or before Thursday, January 29, 2026. A full refund of the registration fee will be provided, less a US$150.00 administrative fee, for requests made on or before January 29, 2026. We regret that no refunds will be granted for requests received after Thursday, January 29, 2026, unless accompanied by valid proof of a medical or family emergency. Cancellations are not eligible for future event or course credit.
All cancellations must be in writing and emailed to cdme@destinationsinternational.org. Refunds will not be granted for on-site no-shows.
Please send all cancellation and refund requests or additional registration assistance inquiries via email to
cdme@destinationsinternational.org.
We strongly recommend that you register for the session and begin making travel arrangements as early as possible.
Hotel Information
Destinations International is pleased to offer a hotel block at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, which is connected to the Huntington Cleveland Convention Center. The rates start at $199/night plus applicable taxes and fees.
The hotel booking link will be provided in your registration confirmation email. Please register for the event prior to booking your room. The hotel cutoff date is Thursday, January 29th, 2026. Please note that these rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may sell out prior to the cutoff date.
If you have any questions or need additional accommodations, please contact events@destinationsinternational.org.
Meals
Breakfast and lunch will be provided on both days of the core courses (Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22). Breakfast and lunch will be provided on day one of the elective courses (Monday, February 23). Only breakfast will be provided on day two of the elective courses (Tuesday, February 24).
Light refreshments (coffee/tea in the morning, soft drinks in the afternoon) and snacks will be provided during breaks on all course dates.
Safety Information
Your safety is our top priority. We have developed the following guidelines and require that all attendees strictly adhere to all guidance in order to make the 2026 CDME courses a safe, secure, and enjoyable event for all. Read about the safety guidelines.
Questions