Kathy Fort Carty

Founder and President

Kathy Fort Carty founded Destination Services Corporation (DSC) in 1985. She built the company from the ground up; beginning as one individual with a single-minded determination to open the Colorado experience to corporate visitors. She forged innovative partnerships with hotels, venues and the best local businesses throughout the state. Her energy and enthusiasm changed the landscape of group tourism forever.

Vail was young and unsophisticated when she started DSC. So was Kathy. She began with a phone, a desk and a $2,500 loan from her parents. She had no clients and no experience, but she found her own way, pioneering many firsts in group travel and the destination management industry. 

• She sold Colorado to groups.
  While others were waiting to sell business to clients coming to Colorado – Kathy was out selling the state. Seeing the competition between resorts, properties and activities within the state, she was concerned about how a potential client would understand ALL that Colorado has to offer. So she co-founded Destination Colorado – a membership organization of hotels, resorts, and suppliers who joined forces to market Colorado to groups.  Kathy traveled the state to spur the organization’s growth, later serving on the Board.
  
  She developed Colorado as a destination for groups.
  Doing business with corporate travelers meant establishing high standards for local vendors and venues. Kathy established a due diligence process, requiring preferred suppliers to formalize policies, training, insurance, uniforms and encouraging additional amenities. Developing relationships of mutual respect has served both DSC and the supplier network. Kathy is able to promise groups an experience that her suppliers can deliver. The suppliers share in the financial upside of large volume, repeat business through a single contact.
  
  
• She partnered with hotels.
  Since the 1990’s, Kathy has actively pursued contracts with hotel partners through which sales leads are shared and closed, and DSC serves as DMC for events in and out of the hotel, coordinating their efforts with hotel staff. Most notable amongst these partnerships, DSC has served as the exclusive DMC of The BRO^ADMOOR since 1999.
  
  
• A culture of success
  Amongst her proudest accomplishments, Kathy counts the development of a highly talented and motivated staff. She has consistently sought out young leaders and given them opportunities to grow, investing in their careers through leadership training and performance coaching.

Kathy has served on numerous Boards including Destination Colorado, the DMC Network, the Association of Destination Management Executives, the Vail Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Young Entrepreneurs Organization for Colorado.  She has loaned her event planning savvy and network of partners to create signature fundraisers for a number of local non-profits and charities, including  the Alpine Children’s Charity, St. Clare of Assisi School and Stone Creek Charter School.

Life outside the office is also high energy; her favorite pursuits include skiing, biking, hiking, and snowshoeing with her husband and two daughters.