File an Ethics Complaint

Filing a Complaint

Membership in ADMEI belongs to the DMC, not the individual. All members of ADMEI and Accredited Destination Management Companies (ADMCs) have agreed by virtue of their membership or accreditation to uphold ADMEI’s Code of Ethical Conduct ("the Code").

If you have a complaint against a member company of ADMEI for any business practice you believe is unethical and a possible violation of the Code, we recommend the following available options:

Contact the ADMEI member immediately and explain your concerns.
If the ADMEI member cannot or will not correct the issue to your satisfaction, call or write the company and explain the situation and outline the steps you would like taken.
If the company does not resolve the issue and is a member of ADMEI or an Accredited DMC ("ADMC") you may file a complaint with ADMEI’s Ethical Conduct Chair.

To file your complaint, complete the online Ethical Complaint Form by clicking the File Complaint button below. The form includes the following basic information:

The DMC and parties involved
Identification of item(s) in the Code that was violated
The date and details of the incident
Efforts made to resolve the matter
Responses from or actions taken by the other parties to resolve the matter
Information on the amount and cost of the product or service, if relevant (include invoices or other supporting documents)
How you would like to see the complaint resolved or remedied
File upload capability to provide supplemental documentation

Ethics complaints should be filed by the Company Owner or General Manager.

File Complaint

What to Expect After Filing a Complaint - The Process

ADMEI does its best to ensure that complaints are handled appropriately, expeditiously and confidentially.

Complaints are reviewed within 10 business days of receipt of completed form. The complainant will be notified immediately upon receipt via email. ADMEI’s Ethics Committee (“the Committee”) reviews and analyzes each complaint and determines whether a violation of the ADMEI Code of Ethical Conduct (“the Code”) has occurred.

If it is determined by the Committee that the Code violation allegation lacks merit, further investigation on the matter shall terminate and the complaining party shall be immediately notified in writing with an explanation/opinion as to why the allegation lacks merit.

If the Committee has reason to believe that an ADMEI member has violated the Code, the Committee will within 10 business days forward a copy of the complaint to the accused member together with a letter via email notifying the member that a preliminary investigation of a specified possible violation is being conducted and requesting the member’s cooperation in supplying necessary information, documentation, and explanatory comment. The ADMEI Member has 10 business days to respond to the complaint. See Refusal to Comply below.

The Committee will review the response given by the ADMEI member or ADMC within 15 business days of receipt. Then, the Committee will send all parties involved a letter via email within 10 business days after reviewing the complaints and responses outlining its assessment and suggested remedy.

If the ADMEI member wishes to resolve this matter as suggested, they will need to notify ADMEI within 10 business days. The letter should state the member or ADMC’s willingness to consent. This does not constitute an admission or belief the Code has been violated.

REFUSAL TO COMPLY

In the event a member refuses to cooperate with the Committee and refuses to supply necessary information, documentation and explanatory comment or objects to the suggested remedy within the given time frame, a final email will be sent to the member informing that failure to respond may result in favor of the complainant; i.e., presumption in favor of complainant. Member or ADMC will have five days to lodge a formal complaint to this decision in writing.

CONSEQUENCES

Remedies for violations can include written warning, probation, suspension or expulsion from ADMEI membership and/or revocation of ADMC accreditation.