Dear Members,

Summer in the city remains in full swing as we celebrate America’s 250th all year. Visitors (and locals) continue to explore DC250 hotel packages, curated itineraries and special deals from restaurants, attractions and other local businesses throughout 2026.

Upcoming events also get the full treatment on washington.org and on Destination DC’s (DDC) social channels, where we are busy promoting the Freedom 250 Grand Prix (Aug. 22-23). You may not have ever expected to see an IndyCar street race in the nation’s capital, but since DC is the Grand Prix of cities, after all, it just makes sense. Beyond that, of course, visitors for the race generate room nights for the city and rev up economic impact through spending while they’re here.

The National Book Festival arrives on Aug. 22, the always enticing Summer Restaurant Week comes next (Aug. 24-30) and DC JazzFest harmonizes across the city from Sept. 2-6. Labor Day brings an abundance of opportunities to enjoy DC and I’m looking ahead to fall as well, with an array of outdoor festivals and cultural activities on the way.

Register for Marketing Outlook Meeting, DDC’s largest annual member event, on Sept. 2 at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium. For over 20 years, Marketing Outlook has been the event to attend to gain insight into the travel industry, including forecasts and budget information for the year ahead. This year will be no different: you’ll get all the answers you’re looking for about travel to DC expected for 2027, the year the city will host the NFL Draft. Come be part of the huddle. Ticket proceeds benefit our affiliated nonprofit, NEXTDC – get yours before they’re sold out.

Join Josh Brown, marketing and communications consultant for DC Jazz Festival, and Georgia Lucas, visitor experience manager at DDC, as they discuss the annual music festival and other upcoming events in the District.

Join us in the huddle for the 2027 game plan as the city gears up to host the NFL Draft. Get an inside look at tourism touchdowns, opportunities and momentum shaping DC's story. Get access to data, hotel-market forecasts and play-by-plays from industry leaders. 

Want to rep DC? Purchase a premium ticket ($30 more) for an exclusive Washington, DC t-shirt! All proceeds benefit NEXTDC's work to cultivate the next generation of hospitality leaders in the District.

DDC's job board is a free resource for members to promote open positions. Whether part-time, early career, manager or even executive level, feel free to email open job listings to jobboard@washington.org. All listings must contain: company name, job title, description, link to job posting and pay range. 

Get ready to celebrate all things jazz at The Wharf. Enjoy incredible music, discover new artists, make friends and experience DC's bustling waterfront destination. Get your tickets before they sell out!

Knock your team's holiday party out of the park! Book by Aug. 31 and receive a free mascot appearance to make your celebration even more memorable. Don't wait – this festive special disappears soon.

In July, the team tracked over 92 presentations, client sales calls, industry events and in-person meetings.

Recent activities: 

This month, DDC's tourism team continues to promote travel to DC. The team will:

Be sure to engage with the tourism department through co-op opportunities and learn how to craft ways for your business to join year-long DC250 celebrations with this informational video.

Top visitor questions: 

Industry Social: @DestinationDC

Leisure Social: @visitwashingtondc