Amy Young – Destination Consultants LLC

Amy Young, founder of Destination Consultants, didn’t know if her travel business would survive the pandemic. Faced with the possibility of losing everything, and concerned about the livelihoods of her staff, she did the only thing she could: get creative. And, it’s that tenacity, along with the ingenuity of her exceptional, nearly all-female team, that has kept her business alive—and helped many organizations continue to hold their events, whether virtually, in person, or hybrid. “I’m driven by passion for my industry,” Young says. “I started a hybrid office/work from home concept to provide women work and home life balance long before it was acceptable.”

Destination Consultants, event management experts, specialize in conventions, transportation, conferences, incentive trips, tours and team building, and more—in Grand Rapids and around the world. From site selection to onsite implementation, they handle it all.

“We are built on a foundation of differing strengths, with each team member carefully recruited to fulfill a different skill set, mindset, and facet of the company,” Young says. “Our work spans every type of industry, budget level, and client specification. We will leave a positive lasting impression on every client and guest we are so consciously responsible for.”

Destination Consultants’ promise to their clients starts with open communication. When coordinating any activity, they essentially take over the planner’s to-do list, establishing initial contact and understanding communication preferences, then following up weekly with updates, applicable reports, next steps, and any questions.

They also understand that change is inevitable. They stay nimble— and open, ready, and excited to make adjustments as planning progresses. The Destination Consultants team is also sensitive to budgets and goals, and submit change logs for approval if a major shift occurs. This approach further demonstrates their commitment to making communication a priority.

Amy Young and her staff are eager to become an extension of their client’s team, with the tools and ability to manage many different tasks, from vendor meetings to emails to phone calls. They make it their job to make things effortless. They also strive to make the entire experience fun, impressive, and comforting, offering peace of mind and assurance that their clients are in the best possible hands.

Respectful of their clients’ time and faithfully adherent to deadlines, Destination Consultants manage their clients’ projects with competence, and deliver on the expectations and key dates set from the get-go. “You can set a clock by us,” Young says.

If all of this sounds impressive, it’s because it is. In addition to running the extraordinary business she has built, Young makes sure to carve out time to give back to the communities that she serves. From mentoring young women to lifting up those who are disadvantaged, she is passionate about supporting her home town of Grand Rapids in ways that can truly make a difference. A Certified Tourism Ambassador, she’s also on the Board of Directors for Experience Grand Rapids, working to help the city provide memorable experiences to groups and convention guests. In her other role as Experience Grand Rapids’ Finance Director, she contributes the expertise and knowledge she’s gained from operating her own business’s financial affairs.

As a testament to Young’s determination—and the steadfast partners she and her team are to the businesses they serve—today, Destination Consultants is thriving. “We really mastered virtual conference planning and, today, we’re back to offering in person travel and events,” Young says. “I never lost faith in my industry during the pandemic; I kept my team together and I think we came out better on the other side.”