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Dear Members, 

We are grateful for you and look forward to welcoming you to our annual Member Open House on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 2-5 p.m. at our offices. You can learn all about the ways that “DDC Thrives in 2025." We can’t wait to see you there.

It's not only DDC that will be thriving this year: the city bustles with high-profile events across 2025. The first in-person inauguration since 2017 brings an influx of visitors. The Smithsonian National Zoo’s new giant pandas, Qing Bao and Bao Li, make their public debut on Jan. 24, with Winter Restaurant Week slated for Jan. 27 – Feb. 2 and the Washington DC Auto Show in town from Jan. 31 – Feb. 9.

You can also find February’s most enticing events on washington.org, along with ways to honor the Lunar New Year, Black History Month and Presidents Day, as well as date ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Please be sure to view our Annual Sales & Marketing Plan on the Member Extranet.

Happy new year!

Elliott L. Ferguson, II
President & CEO
Destination DC
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DDC Member Open House | Jan. 23, 2-5 p.m.

Stop by DDC's downtown offices to meet the team, play games and win prizes – all while learning about our sales and marketing efforts to promote Washington, DC in 2025.

Join us to:
  • Learn about WorldPride 2025, the Washington Nationals' 20th anniversary, DC’s celebration of America 250 (in 2026) and other major events
  • Discover the ways partnership can benefit your business 
  • Meet American Experience Foundation (AEF) interns
Join Us
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District Sustainability Awards | Applications Due Jan. 24

Applications are open. The District Sustainability Awards recognize businesses, individuals and organizations that support the Mayor's Sustainable DC Plan, which aims to make DC the nation's greenest, healthiest, most sustainable city. Winners will be recognized on stage at DDC's annual Sustainability Summit in March.
Apply
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Global Marketplace | Feb. 5, 8-10 a.m.

Join DDC for the annual gathering focused on international destination marketing and travel data. 

Attendees will:
  • Learn about the state of international travel and DDC's international marketing strategies
  • Gain insights from industry partners including Brand USA and the U.S. Travel Association
  • Hear directly from our global offices about current trends and opportunities
Register
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Member Volleyball Tournament | Feb. 14

Join us for an evening of volleyball, food and fun at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic courts. All proceeds benefit AEF. 

Register as a team or as an individual player. Tournament winners will receive bragging rights and exciting prizes. 
Game On!
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A convention center full of cars and attendees at the Washington, D.C. Auto Show.

Discover What Drives You at the DC Auto Show

The Washington, DC Auto Show will feature hundreds of new vehicles from the world’s leading manufacturers and offer an exciting glimpse into the future of transportation, complete with thrilling outdoor test drives.
Purchase Tickets
A pair of legs stands on an interactive art installation at ARTECHOUSE in Washington, DC, with vibrant neon patterns and colors projected onto the floor.

'TWILIGHT ZONE: Hidden Wonders of the Ocean'

ARTECHOUSE has explored our brains and gone to the edges of our universe. Now, we venture into the mysterious bioluminescent realm of the ocean twilight zone. Use code AEF10 for 10% off tickets.
Visit Now
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  • Earned media: Condé Nast lists DC as one of the top 10 best cities to visit in the U.S. in 2025 and among the top 10 dining destinations worldwide. Internationally, the German and UK markets highlight the best rooftop views and spots to see autumn foliage and Canada’s MyVanCity celebrates the return of the giant pandas to DC. DDC executive and senior staff promotions and Elliott's Brand USA chair appointment gained recognition in over 10 publications, while the DDC DEI Business Fellowship white paper was published in the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies.
  • Inauguration content and messaging: Our teams are keeping potential visitors informed of what to expect during their visit. The communications team continues to inform media and stakeholders that DC’s leadership and partners are coordinated at all levels to ensure visitors from all backgrounds feel welcome in the city during the inauguration.
  • Leisure-facing content update: As 2025 kicks off, washington.org showcases upcoming events and seasonal activities to entice visitation to the nation's capital. Potential visitors can read about the Washington Auto Show, Winter Restaurant Week, date ideas, ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year, DC's Black history and culture, and can't-miss events for the upcoming National Cherry Blossom Festival.
  • Leisure social channels: Hotel holiday decor, trees at the Canadian Embassy and the U.S. Capitol, and the National Mistletoe stole the show in December. We spotlighted #Only1DC winter activities like ice skating at The Wharf or the National Building Museum, attending ‘The Nutcracker’ and exploring dazzling holiday lights. Our influencer partner @cass_andthecity shared her DC holiday bucket list and we bid farewell to the year with our 10 most-loved DC moments of 2024 on Instagram and a special TikTok send-off.
  • Industry social channels: DDC welcomed the American Geophysical Union and celebrated our Employee of the Quarter and staff promotions. The team also hosted a Chinese delegation, promoted our 2025 Event Planning Guide and saw Elliott appointed as the 2025 board chair for Brand USA.
Read More
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In December, the team tracked over 120 presentations, virtual client sales calls and in-person meetings.

Recent activities: 

  • thINc Pharma and Life Sciences Pharmaceutical and Medical Meeting Planners Summit (Dec. 2-3, Boston, MA)
  • Northeast Convention Visitors Bureau Representatives Holiday Event (Dec. 3, Brooklyn, NY)
  • Association Forum Holiday Showcase and Professional Convention Management Association Greater Midwest Chapter Holiday Party (Dec. 4-5, Chicago, IL)
  • Moana 2 Movie Premiere (Dec. 7, Washington, DC)
  • Southeast Regional PCMA 2024 Annual Holiday Luncheon (Dec. 12, Atlanta, GA)
Read More
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The sports team will promote WorldPride 2025 in Las Vegas this month at the largest annual LGBTQ+ sporting event in the world. The Visitor Experience team continues to provide city information through an Inauguration Visitor Information Webinar and The Washington, DC Welcome program.

Top visitor questions last month:
  • Will the museums on the National Mall be open during the inauguration?
  • What is the best way to get to and around the National Mall?
Read More

Make sure to use #Only1DC
Industry Social Channels: @DestinationDC
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Leisure Social Channels: @visitwashingtondc

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