City Destinations Alliance | CityDNA

Name

City Destinations Alliance | CityDNA

Legal name

City Destinations Alliance

Website

https://citydestinationsalliance.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) is a European non-profit membership alliance of 60+ city tourist boards, convention bureaux, and DMOs across 35+ countries, offering benchmarking data (TourMIS, City Travel Report covering 141 cities), expert Knowledge Groups, conferences, and strategic initiatives in sustainable destination management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing Association Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards (THAHAMAD)

Keywords

• Destination marketing organizations
• City tourism boards
• Convention bureau network
• Tourism benchmarking research
• DMO membership alliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Dijon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees are the primary revenue stream. Fees are tiered based on the total income of the member organisation (including national/local government grants, bed taxes, TIC income, commissions, sponsorship, advertising, membership fees and private sector donations). The system is tailor-made to each organisation's capacity.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from member and non-member registration fees for CityDNA events including conferences, expert meetings, Summer School, TourMIS workshops and CVB Cafés. Members receive discounted rates; non-member rates are higher.
3. Commercial Partner Relationships: Revenue is generated through commercial partner relationships with companies including Airbnb, GetYourGuide, HQ Magazine, IMEX, Miles Partnership, MMGY TCI Research, Rome2Rio, Simpleview, Sojern, Tiki, and Toposophy. Partners gain access to the CityDNA community, networking opportunities at events, and exclusive business development access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CityDNA is a non-profit membership alliance of European city destination marketing organizations, convention bureaux, and tourism boards that delivers benchmarking research, shared data systems (TourMIS), networking conferences, expert working groups, and training programs to help member destinations improve their marketing performance and visitor economy outcomes. The alliance also acts as a collective voice for city tourism interests in European policy discussions.

Product overview

City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA) operates as a knowledge-sharing alliance for European cities and urban regions, offering a portfolio of research publications, educational programs, expert meetings, and collaborative initiatives. The core offerings include the City Travel Report (annual benchmarking report covering 141 cities), the TourMIS tourism data platform for analysis and benchmarking, CityDNA Summer School (professional education), bi-annual Conferences (Autumn and International), Expert Meetings (City Cards, CVB, Visitor Experience), seven Knowledge Groups, and research surveys including the European City Tourism Monitor and Meetings Industry Future Trends Survey. The alliance also runs strategic initiatives including the VivaCITY coaching program, DEPLOYTOUR (EU Tourism Data Space project), Glasgow Declaration (climate action), Trend Talks, SHOP shoulder-season event, and GDS-Academy. A members-only Travelsat Dashboard provides analytics on e-reputation and sentiment. These offerings work together to provide European DMOs with data insights, networking, education, and collaborative action for destination management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CityDNA Membership Annual membership programme for European city destination marketing organizations, convention and visitors bureaus, and city tourism boards; provides access to benchmarking data, working groups, conferences, and the member network.
• City Travel Report Annual benchmarking research publication that provides comparable tourism performance metrics across member European cities, used by member DMOs to track trends and benchmark against peers.
• TourMIS (Tourism Management Information System) Shared tourism statistics and intelligence system used by member DMOs to access comparable destination data and contribute their own statistics for benchmarking.
• CityDNA Conferences (Autumn & International) Annual networking and knowledge-exchange conferences (Autumn Conference and International Conference) bringing together member DMOs, CVBs, and industry partners.
• CityDNA Expert Meetings Themed working-group meetings for member professionals on focused topics such as CVB operations, City Cards programmes, and visitor experience.
• CityDNA Summer School Multi-day training programme for member destination marketing professionals, focused on practical skills and applied destination marketing.
• European City Tourism Monitor (research project) Collaborative research project examining trends and performance indicators in European city tourism for member DMOs.
• Meetings Industry Future Trends Survey Industry research survey on future trends in the meetings and conventions industry, supporting member CVBs' strategic planning.
• DMO Funding Survey Survey benchmarking how European city DMOs are funded, including budgetary structures and funding sources, supporting advocacy and member comparison.
• Travelsat Dashboard Visitor satisfaction analytics dashboard providing destination-level benchmarking data to member DMOs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 141 European cities benchmarked in the 2025-2026 City Travel Report
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SimpleviewcoreTechnology or IntegrationSimpleview is a commercial partner providing technology and data solutions to CityDNA. They co-developed the VivaCITY Project with CityDNA and Simpleview, coaching DMOs in futureproof strategies. Simpleview also provides the MMGY TCI Research Travelsat Dashboard accessible to members through the intranet.
• MMGY TCI ResearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationMMGY TCI Research provides CityDNA member cities with an exclusive Travelsat Dashboard offering insights on cities' e-reputation, visitor sentiment, and residents' sentiment. The partnership also produced the Snapshot: Resident Satisfaction with Tourism report and supports the recovery monitoring of European city tourism.
• Modul University ViennacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModul University Vienna co-developed the TourMIS (Tourism Management Information System) with CityDNA and the European Travel Commission. They co-organise the annual TourMIS Users' Workshop & International Seminar, hosting the event on-site at their campus in Vienna.
• European Travel Commission (ETC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Travel Commission co-developed TourMIS with CityDNA and Modul University Vienna. ETC also partnered with CityDNA and NECSTouR on the Snapshot: Resident Satisfaction with Tourism report (based on 30,000 interviews from the MMGY Resident Sentiment Index), and co-organised the TourMIS Users' Workshop.
• NECSTouR (Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNECSTouR partnered with CityDNA and ETC to produce the Snapshot: Resident Satisfaction with Tourism report. They are also a co-organiser of the TourMIS Users' Workshop & International Seminar alongside CityDNA, ETC and Modul University Vienna.
• ETFI (European Tourism Futures Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerETFI, represented by Carolin Giarra and Dr Stefan Hartman, collaborated with the CityDNA Trend Room Knowledge Group to produce the Trend Room Whitepaper on Climate Change and the Future of Tourism (October 2025), exploring long-term climate impacts on urban tourism destinations.
• IMEXcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIMEX is a commercial partner providing exclusive networking and business development opportunities for CityDNA members at IMEX Frankfurt and other trade shows. CityDNA organises CVB Cafés prior to IMEX and IBTM trade shows, facilitating professional connections between CVB members and the broader business events industry.
• ToposophymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerToposophy partnered with CityDNA on multiple research publications including 'Redefining Success: How DMOs can Drive Social & Community Well-Being', 'Exploring the Emerging Role of the Place Making and Marketing Organisation', and 'The DMMO Covid-19 Continuity Checklist'. They bring destination development expertise to CityDNA's research output.
• EU Digital Europe Programme (DG GROW & DG CONNECT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCityDNA is a partner in DEPLOYTOUR, a project co-funded under the EU Digital Europe Programme, supported by DG GROW and DG CONNECT. The initiative aims to boost competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of tourism by deploying a Common European Tourism Data Space (ETDS).
• AirbnbminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAirbnb is listed as a commercial partner of CityDNA, participating in networking opportunities at events and providing exclusive business opportunities for members. Their partnership is primarily at the event and visibility level.
• GetYourGuideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGetYourGuide is a commercial partner of CityDNA, engaging with the alliance at events and providing members with exclusive business development and partnership opportunities in the activities and experiences segment.
• Rome2RiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerRome2Rio is a commercial partner of CityDNA, offering members insights and partnership opportunities in transport and multi-modal travel planning, complementing the visitor journey focus of CityDNA's member destinations.
• SojernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSojern is a commercial partner providing digital marketing and traveller targeting solutions that complement CityDNA's marketing and analytics capabilities for member destinations.
• Miles PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMiles Partnership is a commercial partner of CityDNA, offering destination marketing expertise and services that align with CityDNA's focus on city marketing and visitor economy development.
• HQ MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHQ Magazine is a commercial partner providing media visibility and publication opportunities for CityDNA and its member destinations in the meetings and business events industry.
• TikiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTiki is listed as a commercial partner of CityDNA, providing members with exclusive business and partnership opportunities within the CityDNA community.
• CMW (Conference and Meeting World)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCMW (Conference and Meeting World) is a commercial partner of CityDNA, engaging with member destinations in the meetings industry segment and providing media and promotional support.
• Destinations InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDestinations International collaborated with CityDNA to produce the Global Accessibility Report (October 2024), which analyses accessibility initiatives across 92 destinations worldwide. The report is a comprehensive resource for DMOs and CVBs aiming to create more inclusive travel experiences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association): Global association for the business events industry, serving meeting planners, suppliers, and CVBs. Directly comparable to CityDNA's meetings-industry membership programming and Summer School educational offering.
• ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association): Global association for the international meetings industry, focused on association meetings and congresses. Overlaps directly with CityDNA's Meetings Industry forum and CVB members, and competes for the same DMO/CVB audience.
• European Travel Commission (ETC): A Brussels-based non-profit representing 33 European national tourist offices. Co-developed TourMIS with CityDNA and Modul University Vienna, making it a direct peer in pan-European tourism data infrastructure and policy advocacy.
• Destinations International: The leading global association for destination management organizations, headquartered in the US. Directly comparable to CityDNA in mission (serving DMOs/CVBs), but operates globally rather than Europe-only. Already collaborates with CityDNA on the Global Accessibility Report.
• SITE (Society of Incentive & Travel Executives): Global non-profit association serving the incentive travel industry. Comparable to CityDNA's meetings-industry programming and shares the same DMO/CVB membership constituency for incentive travel business development.
• NECSTouR: The Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism. A peer membership network serving regional (rather than city) tourism bodies in Europe; co-produces research with CityDNA including the Resident Satisfaction Snapshot.
• ETOA (European Tourism Association): London-based trade association for European tourism suppliers, tour operators, and destinations. Co-organises the SHOP (Shoulder & Off-Peak) event with CityDNA, indicating directly comparable destination-side membership focus.

Broad incumbents

• World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): London-based global industry council representing the broader Travel & Tourism private sector. Operates at a higher industry-wide level than CityDNA but competes for influence over the European tourism policy and data agenda.
• UN Tourism (UNWTO): United Nations World Tourism Organization, the global intergovernmental tourism body. Comparable as the apex tourism-knowledge and statistics publisher, but operates at intergovernmental scale versus CityDNA's city-level membership.

Emerging players

• Simpleview: A US-headquartered CRM, website, and digital marketing platform purpose-built for DMOs. A CityDNA commercial partner and co-developer of VivaCITY; overlaps with CityDNA's data/analytics value proposition for member DMOs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/citydna_eu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CityDestinationsAlliance
• Facebookfacebook.com/citydestinationsalliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citydestinationsalliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/citydestinationsalliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City Destinations Alliance | CityDNA