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ESTO - Eligibility Guidelines

ESTO is the annual learning exchange for tourism destination marketing professionals at the state/territory, region, and urban levels. It offers employees of state/territory tourism offices, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, and other state or regional tourism promotion entities a unique opportunity to learn, share information and network in a relaxed environment. 

Recognizing the important role that account representatives at contracted agencies play as "extensions of staff," the National Council of Destination Organizations (NCDO) and the National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) have instituted a policy to allow those individuals to attend ESTO as delegates to learn about critical issues and trends and engage in discussions that will help them better serve their client.

It is further recognized that most contracted agencies tend to be local or in-state firms with little or no interest in attending ESTO to solicit business.  Those firms that serve multiple states and/or DMO clients, and for whom ESTO would primarily be a sales opportunity, are encouraged to participate in the ESTO sponsorship program.

With the exception of a limited number of official ESTO sponsors, whose significant financial contributions support a number of ESTO activities, no other vendors may attend and no other "sales" opportunities are permitted.  ESTO is not open to the press.

ESTO ATTENDANCE POLICY – AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES
The designated account representative for contracted advertising, public relations, eMarketing, etc., agencies may attend ESTO as a delegate ONLY if invited and officially endorsed by their state/territory tourism office or DMO client under the following conditions:

1. The account representative clearly understands the attendance policy and agrees not to solicit business from other state/territory tourism offices or DMOs.
   
   
2. The account representative is invited in writing to attend ESTO by his/her state/territory tourism office or DMO client.  This communication must clearly outline the attendance policy and will serve as official endorsement by the state/territory or DMO for TIA. As such, a copy of the communication should be sent by the client to TIA, Attention: ESTO.
   
   
3. No more than two such attendees may be invited by any state/territory or DMO. The two attendees may be from the same firm or different firms at the discretion of the state/territory tourism office or DMO as long as they meet the above criteria.
   
   
4. All contracted account representatives will have name badges that include not only their company name but also the name of their state/territory or DMO client.
   
   
5. The state/territory tourism office or DMO is responsible for assuring that their account representative abides by this policy.
   
   
6. The account representative is not eligible to attend ESTO if no one from the client state/territory or DMO is attending.

Any exceptions to these rules will require the approval of the respective NCSTD and NCDO Executive Committees.