Collaborative Marketing in a Regional Destination: Evidence from Central Florida

Youcheng Wang, University of Central Florida
Joe Hutchinson, University of Central Florida
Fevzi Okumus, University of Central Florida
Sandra Naipaul

Abstract

This paper aims to explore a collaborative approach to regional destination marketing. Research questions were constructed for empirical data collection via documentary analysis and semistructured interviews with senior executives of destination marketing organizations (DMOs) in the Central Florida region. The research findings suggest that collaboration among DMOs is beneficial in terms of cost reduction and market penetration. Several issues emerge as inhibiting factors to their collaborative destination marketing efforts. Discussions and implications are provided both from a theoretical and practical perspective on the basis of the findings of the study.