Dear Members,
DC has had a lot to celebrate recently, including Alex Ovechkin surpassing Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time goal leader, plus peak bloom and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This Saturday marks the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® presented by Events DC and the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival.
At the Embassy of France on March 26, Destination DC (DDC) hosted our second annual Sustainability Summit in partnership with DC’s Department of Energy and Environment. The event highlighted the city’s and DDC’s continued commitment to maintaining the District’s standing as one of the most sustainable cities in the U.S.
On April 23, DDC celebrates DC Loves Buses Day to appreciate and thank the motorcoach drivers who bring visitors to the nation’s capital. Of course, we’re also excitedly promoting visitation to WorldPride DC from May 17 – June 8.
Kindly,
Elliott L. Ferguson, II
President & CEO
Destination DC
Get your elevator pitch ready and join DDC for this fast-paced industry event, where members can get to know fellow tourism and hospitality professionals – with only two minutes to network with each.
Celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week and join DDC, Mayor Bowser, the U.S. Travel Association, Brand USA and other partners at an exciting rally and press conference at Nationals Park.
Join DDC for an evening of Pride, connection and community as we kick off WorldPride 2025 and celebrate the diversity that makes our city shine. Enjoy two complimentary drinks, courtesy of DDC.
Nothing beats Independence Day in the nation's capital. Celebrate the Fourth with DDC.
Place a free order for your establishment in the Member Extranet and email your account manager if you need access.
Experience epic concerts, thrilling festivals, and live entertainment at Nationals Park. Get your tickets today.
In this Woolly Mammoth production, filmmaker Akira Kurosawa visits from the afterlife for a lecture: a look into his iconic filmography, brilliant mind, the thrilling world of movies and “culture.” But … why can’t he stop talking about yogurt?
From Sunday, April 20 through Monday, April 28, dive into fun, interactive canna-themed events and deals on munchies around the region leading up to NCF.
- Earned media: Travel + Leisure and AFAR describe how to plan a visit to the DC cherry blossoms, while The Points Guy and Forbes (and Forbes again) list seasonal hotel packages. Internationally, the New Zealand Herald ranks the best things to see and do in DC. China’s Voyage highlights DDC’s roadshow to China, and India’s The Luxury Collection lists luxury experiences in the city. In Trade news, Convention South features the value of working with DDC and our members. Exhibitor and Travel and Tour World cover DDC’s Second Annual Sustainability Summit. Meetings Today highlights WorldPride and quotes Elliott on DC’s diverse history.
- Travel Rally: From 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on May 6, 2025, DDC will host its annual Travel Rally at Nationals Park. The annual press conference and rally will highlight the latest visitation numbers and will go into detail on the economic impact and jobs supported by travel to DC. The event will take place during National Travel & Tourism Week and will include remarks from Mayor Bowser, Elliott Ferguson and other industry leaders.
- Summer Deals & Events Reminder: Summer and exciting events like Passport DC, WorldPride 2025, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival are all quickly approaching. Make sure to get in front of visitors by uploading your offers, deals and events to the Member Extranet. Deals and events are prominently featured on seasonal landing pages, which are always among the top-performing content on washington.org. Make sure to include blackout dates and other essential information.
- Social media: For Women’s History Month, leisure channels spotlighted Frida Kahlo’s only work on view in DC, showcased a special NGA tour with Art with Tosca and promoted women-owned businesses. We also celebrated 20 years of Nationals baseball, cheered on the DC Defenders and looked ahead to WorldPride with an LGBTQ+ Dupont Circle food tour. Last but not least, we covered cherry blossom fever, from the National Cherry Blossom Festival and peak bloom photo spots to the arrival of the cherry blossom-wrapped Metro car. Industry channels highlighted our second annual Sustainability Summit and built excitement for America’s 250th birthday in DC.
In March, the team tracked over 157 presentations, virtual client sales calls and in-person meetings.
Recent activities:
- Society for Incentive Travel Excellence Global Conference (March 3-6, Tulum, Mexico)
- Meeting Professionals International Northern California Chapter ACE (March 3-7, Monterey & San Francisco, CA)
- Craft Bar/Café Client Event (March 12, Washington, DC)
- ConferenceDirect APM 2025 (March 16-20, Philadelphia, PA)
- Maritz Office Presentation and Sales Call/Prestige Event (March 25-27, St. Louis, MO)
This month, the tourism, sports & visitor experience team has been busy with WorldPride trainings, a visit from the Guangzhou Tourism Bureau Delegation and preparations for DC Loves Buses Day.
Top visitor questions last month:
- Where can I park near the Tidal Basin?
- Will the blossoms still be blooming in April?
- Where can we see cherry blossom trees without crowds?
Make sure to use #Only1DC
Industry Social Channels: @DestinationDC
Leisure Social Channels: @visitwashingtondc
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