Dear Members,
During this season of gratitude, DC has much to be thankful for. Between a stunning fall and gearing up for the holidays, events in the city span all genres and all neighborhoods. The newly revitalized Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden is now open to the public, and happens to be one place among many to catch breathtaking fall foliage. From shows to museums to Thanksgiving itself, washington.org can help you harvest the city’s autumn abundance.
To give you a jump on holiday shopping, the DowntownDC Holiday Market returns with some of DC’s brightest annual traditions – this year running nearly six weeks, from Nov. 13 through Dec. 23, with over 120 vendors (90% representing BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and woman-owned small businesses), food and live entertainment. The Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards continue to bring the heat even as the weather cools. Audi Field hosts the National Women’s Soccer League Championship game Nov. 21, and the city is thrilled to see the Washington Spirit advance to the semifinals this weekend.
Whether visitors are traveling for arts and culture, green spaces or the Sports Capital, the District is ready to welcome everyone this season.
Celebrate the future of DC hospitality this holiday season. Your $14.09 ticket benefits NEXTDC, DDC’s affiliated nonprofit partner helping students in 14 programs across 9 District high schools. Light bites, seasonal drinks and student-led activations included.
Join DDC and Miles Partnership for a deep dive into how AI and GEO are changing travel discovery, marketing performance and brand visibility.
Invest in DC’s future workforce by hosting a Career Ready Intern next summer. Give a local high school senior six weeks of hands-on, paid work experience at no cost to your organization. Register by Dec. 13.
Support NEXTDC programs this school year through the Annual Holiday Raffle & Silent Auction. With more than $13k+ in prizes, generously donated by Destination DC members, there’s something for everyone.
Join Destination DC at our offices to meet the entire team. More info to come ... stay tuned!
An all-new holiday adventure, guests can enjoy favorites including the Ice Skating Trail, Snow Slide and more.
Hear Hans Zimmer's most iconic film scores performed live by candlelight, in stunning venues across DC. Limited seats this season.
Dream cars. Future tech. Hundreds of models to explore. The Washington, DC Auto Show returns Jan. 22-31, 2027. Make a weekend of it.
Marketing Highlight
- As part of DDC’s partnership with DC-based content creator Allie Marshall, @alliegoneaway posted this fantastic, joyful and widely varied guide to the holidays in DC. We are thrilled to see this go live on Instagram and TikTok as of Nov. 6, and even more so to welcome all those it will help bring to the city – with a reach of over 78,000 at time of writing, we’re thankful to Allie for sharing DC’s holiday magic with everyone.
Earned Media
- Domestic
- International
- Destination DC targets sports events to drive visitation – Travel Monitor (AU)
- Washington, D.C. opens new museums, expands its airport, and gains more Mexican travelers – Invertour (Mexico)
- Trade
Social Media
- Popular Leisure Content
- Top post: DC looks good in every shade of fall
- Followers loved learning about the Georgetown Flea Market
- Popular Industry Content
- Top post: Recapping Destination DC’s time at IMEX
- Destination DC celebrated President & CEO Elliott Ferguson’s induction to the Events Industry Council’s Hall of Leaders
In October, the team tracked over 48 presentations, client sales calls, industry events and in-person meetings.
Recent & upcoming activities:
- IMEX America – Oct. 13-15, Las Vegas, NV
- Professional Convention Management Association Exhale – Oct. 28-31, Tucson, AZ
- International Congress and Convention Association Board Meeting & Congress – Nov. 6-13, Panama City, Panama
- Professional Convention Management Association GMC Bowl Bash – Nov. 19, Chicago, IL
This month, DDC's tourism team continues to promote travel to DC. The team will:
- Host travel agents from Brazil, China and the UK to explore the city
- Travel to Canada and parts of the U.S. to conduct trade show appointments in the leisure group tour market
- Provide an informational member webinar into the city’s winter festivities
Top visitor questions:
- Is the National Mall and its museums wheelchair accessible?
- How much longer will the USAA National Monument be available to visit?
- Where do I get tickets for the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft?
Industry Social: @DestinationDC
Leisure Social: @visitwashingtondc
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