Tourism News & Events

IPW 2024 (May 3-7, Los Angeles, CA)
Attendees: Theresa Belpulsi, Letizia Sirtori, Erica Riddle O’Neill, Darren Gan, Emily Bates & Halia Ellis
The tourism team met with more than 150 travel buyers from more than 70 countries to promote our destination and build relationships. The team hosted a client event in partnership with Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Palm Springs and West Hollywood to promote World Pride 2025 and support the IGLTA Foundation.

Passport DC Tabling (May 4, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Georgia Lucas & Lindsay Hill
The Visitor Experience team provided maps, guides and information to individuals attending the Around the World Embassy Tour as part of Passport DC. 

Global Sports Mentoring Program: Sport for Community (May 4-10, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Nick Price, Holly Rattanakone & Lindsay Hill
In 2016, the US Department of State and University of Tennessee’s Center for Sport, Peace and Society launched an immersive mentorship program called Sport for Community (S4C) to focus on empowering people with disabilities through community-based sports initiatives. Through S4C, US disability sport leaders and their organizations provide emerging leaders from around the world with the opportunity to cultivate sports management, marketing and business skills in a US sport-related environment.

George Mason University Destination Training (May 13, Washington, DC)
Attendee: Georgia Lucas
Georgia will work with the GMU Admissions Office to provide campus tour guides with training and resources to speak positively about DC and recommend DDC members.

CRUSA American Affair UK FAM (May 13-14, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Letizia Sirtori, Erika Jones & Bianca Corallo
In partnership with Capital Region USA, the tourism team will host six top agents from the UK -based travel agency American Affair.

DC Loves Buses Day (May 16, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Theresa Belpulsi, Lindsay Hill, Georgia Lucas, Darren Gan, Tadj Phillips & Jennifer Porter
This annual event shows appreciation for the bus and motorcoach drivers who bring group travelers to Washington, DC. Partners include the District Department of Transportation, National Park Service, National Mall and Memorial Parks, Union Station Parking Garage, American Bus Association, Student & Youth Travel Association, International Motorcoach Group and the United Motorcoach Association. Gift bags and 250 lunches provided by Carmine’s will be distributed and drivers following the city’s anti-idling laws will be entered into a prize drawing sponsored by DDOT.

2024 JumpStart® Pre-Event FAM (May 18-20, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Theresa Belpulsi, Letizia Sirtori, Erika Jones & Bianca Corallo
The tourism team partners with Washington Dulles International Airport to host a 2024 JumpStart® Pre-Weekend FAM prior to Airports Council International - North America, a premier three-day air service development conference.

The 14th China-US Tourism Leadership Summit  (May 21-24, Xi’an, Shanghai, Beijing)
Attendees: Elliott Ferguson & Theresa Belpulsi
While Elliott attends the 14th China-US Tourism Leadership Summit in Xi’an, Theresa will visit Shanghai and Beijing to meet top tour operators and travel agencies in China. Elliott and Theresa will also meet key media outlets for interviews in Beijing and Shanghai. The duo will host a VIP dinner for top travel trade and media in both cities.

Summer in DC Webinar (May 22, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Georgia Lucas, Lindsay Hill & Jennifer Porter
The Visitor Experience team presents a webinar for frontline professionals working in DC hospitality and tourism. The team will answer common visitor questions about key summer events like Capital Pride and Independence Day.

April Visitor Experience Stats
Publications distributed: 42,425
Online Requests: 227
Calls: 494
Chatbot engagements: 690 (10 live chats)

What three major questions have visitors asked

1. What hotels have the best view of the DC fireworks on Independence Day?
2. Why is it so difficult to get tickets to the Washington Monument?
3. Is June a good time to visit DC since schools will be out and students will not be on field trips?

Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.