DOMESTIC CONVENTION SALES: Promotions, Sales Calls, Trade Shows and Events
The team’s proactive efforts resulted in 56 presentations, virtual client sales calls and in-person meetings throughout the month of October. Highlights include:
- Air Traffic Control Association
- American Bar Association
- American College of Rheumatology
- American College of Surgeons
- American Council on Education
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
- Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
- Degnon Associates
- Global Business Alliance
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- National Academy of Sciences on Behalf of Transportation Research
- Risk Management Association
- TechExpo
- Yin Hospitality International
Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP) Annual Conference (Nov. 11-13, Denver, CO)
DDC Staff: Bill Adams, Jenna Wiese, John Sklencar
DDC staff connected with industry leaders to showcase the unique offerings of Washington, DC during this annual event. The team engaged with top professionals, sharing insights on the city's attractions, world-class venues and thriving hospitality scene. DC will host the 2025 FICP Annual Conference, providing an excellent opportunity for attendees to experience the vibrant culture, historical landmarks and cutting-edge meeting spaces the city has to offer.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Manulife
- Metlife
- New York Life Insurance
- PGIM
Sports Events and Tourism Association Summit (Nov. 12-14, Chattanooga, TN)
DDC Staff: Chris Li
This event focused on the "4S's" of sports events and tourism: strategies, services, sales and sponsorships. The Summit featured keynote presentations, breakout sessions, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities. Attendees gained valuable insights from industry experts on the latest trends and best practices in sports events and tourism from peers across the country.
Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Greater Midwest Chapter Bowl-A-Thon (Nov. 13, Chicago, IL)
DDC Staff: Kate Anaya, Murray Ryan, Catherine Fehrens
This fun and productive networking event hosted buyers bowling alongside their sponsors. With over 250 clients and sponsors in attendance, DDC staff connected with planners in a relaxed and engaging setting. The DDC team hosted six planners from various markets, including associations, corporate groups and third-party organizations.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society
- American Society of Neuroradiology
- CasePointe Global Events
- Really Great Meetings
- Smithbucklin
- The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
ConferenceDirect Forum (Nov. 13-15, Orlando, FL)
DDC Staff: Jenna Wiese
This premier event brings together ConferenceDirect associates and corporate customers. Among the corporate customers, the event represented a combined spend of over $140 million, showcasing their significant impact on the meetings and events industry. From the ConferenceDirect associates, the total value exceeded $250 million, reflecting the robust potential for partnership opportunities.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Ansys
- Leidos
- SAP Concur
- Siemens
National Coalition of Black Meetings Professionals (NCBMP) Annual Meeting (Nov. 13-15, Birmingham, AL)
DDC Staff: Elliott Ferguson, Bill Adams, Jared Kolleh
This is a hosted buyers/trade show conference that focuses on connecting Black professionals in the meetings and events industry. During this conference, attendees were encouraged to participate in educational sessions, network and connect one-on-one during the Business Exchange format. The DDC team enjoys a close relationship with NCBMP and sponsors the conference every year.
Turkish Cultural Night (Nov. 14, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Melissa A. Riley, Dianna Waldroup, Katherine Russo, Kaan Eren, Priscilla Alvarez
Co-op: Turkish Airlines, Yunus Emre Institute, Cambria Hotel Washington D.C. Navy Yard Riverfront, Melrose Georgetown Hotel, Ballstonian, Mezè
This client event provided a meaningful opportunity for networking and cultural exchange in Mezè Restaurant. Attendees experienced Turkish culture through authentic cuisine, interactive activities and live music and dancing. More than 35 clients joined us, contributing to a warm and engaging atmosphere. Events like Turkish Cultural Night play a key role in celebrating DC’s vibrant cultural diversity.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Bar Association
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- American Medical Women’s Association
- ASCENT Management LLC
- Association for Psychological Science
- ConferenceDirect
- Conference Planning International
- FASEB
- HelmsBriscoe
- National Education Association
- Travel Leaders Corporate
- United Porphyrias Association
Wicked Advance Screening (Nov. 20, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Melissa Riley, Dianna Waldroup, Bill Adams, Morgan Simonet and other DDC team members
The DDC team engaged with local clients, built new relationships and celebrated old all while enjoying the magic of an advance screening of Wicked. 30 customers attended and we entertained them with traditional big screen snacks. Everyone chose between Team Glinda or Elphaba by wearing pink or green.
Connect DC (Nov. 20-22, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Jared Kolleh
This hosted buyers event connected suppliers with meeting planners in different markets: corporate, association, specialty, expo, tour and sports. DDC had over 30 appointments, meeting with planners across these markets. Throughout the event, DDC staff hosted clients for dinner, happy hour and a Washington Wizards game. During these engagements, we followed up on tentative leads and discussed new opportunities.
Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Northeast Falliday Soiree (March 3-6, 2025, Tulum, Mexico)
DDC Staff: Bill Adams, Jenna Wiese
DDC is proud to sponsor the SITE Northeast Chapter and support their signature Falliday Soirée, the annual end-of-year auction event and fundraiser. This festive gathering celebrates the power of the incentive travel industry while raising funds for local charities. We are excited to connect with industry professionals and showcase why Washington, DC, continues to inspire unforgettable incentive programs.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Helmsbriscoe
- Liberty Mutual Group
- New York Life Insurance
Definite Site Visits
America's Credit Unions (March 2-4, 2025)
- 3,916 peak rooms; 17,253 total room nights; 5,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (April 30 - May 2, 2025)
- 842 peak rooms; 3,032 total room nights; 2,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
Nutanix (May 6-8, 2025)
- 2,241 peak rooms; 8,305 total room nights; 4,500 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
American College of Trial Lawyers (Oct. 9-11, 2025) 78718
- 475 peak rooms; 1,646 total room nights; 1,000 attendees
- Multiple venues
Tentative Site Visits
American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds (April 7-8, 2025) 92239
- 32 peak rooms; 69 total room nights; 50 attendees
- Multiple venues
Xylem Inc. (Sept. 15-16, 2025) 92351
- 156 peak rooms; 399 total room nights; 156 attendees
- Multiple venues
National Association for College Admission Counseling (Sept. 22-24, 2027) 92143
- 3,800 peak rooms; 14,288 total room nights; 8,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
GLOBAL CONVENTION SALES: Sales Calls, Bid Development, Strategic Programming, Familiarization Tours, Site Visits and Tradeshows
With a continued focus on proactive client outreach, personalized touchpoints and international bid development, the team engaged prospective accounts and tentative leads throughout the month of November. Highlights included:
- Alzheimer's Association
- Avenue Events
- Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
- FCM Meetings & Events (Mexico)
- FIRST Agency
- GIRO Inc.
- Goose Live Events Worldwide
- Informa Connect
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Oceans Engineering Society
- International Association for the Study of Pain
- International Association of Public Transport
- International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers
- Kenes Group
- Nuix
- OIC Group
- RoomRite
- Royal Aeronautical Society
- Strategic Site Selection
- Terrapinn
micebook Ventures (Nov. 4-6, Paris, France)
DDC Staff: Maxine MacPherson, AbleMaxx Ltd. (UK In-Market Representation Firm)
micebook Ventures is a two-day educational forum for professionals in the European Meetings, Incentives, Convention, Exhibition (MICE) industry. During the forum, DDC and Washington, DC were well represented in 20 one-on-one meetings with senior agency and corporate buyers from across Europe.
City Nation Place Global + Devil Wears Prada Client Event (Nov. 4-8, London, United Kingdom)
DDC Staff: Melissa Riley, Tara Miller
City Nation Place Global 2024 brought together over 200 delegates from all corners of the world to share ideas and best practices in place branding and marketing. Prior to the conference, DDC conducted sales calls and hosted an exclusive event for 13 clients, featuring dinner and a preview of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical at Dominion Theatre.
City Nation Place Global + Devil Wears Prada Client Event (Nov. 4-8, London, United Kingdom)
DDC Staff: Melissa Riley, Tara Miller
City Nation Place Global 2024 brought together over 200 delegates from all corners of the world to share ideas and best practices in place branding and marketing. Prior to the conference, DDC conducted sales calls and hosted an exclusive event for 13 clients, featuring dinner and a preview of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical at Dominion Theatre.
IBTM (Incentives, Business Travel & Meetings) World International Trade Show and Client Dinner (Nov. 18-22, Barcelona, Spain)
DDC Staff: Patricia Najar, Elizabeth Sheridan
IBTM World is one of the most important trade shows for meetings and events, uniting professionals, buyers and suppliers worldwide. During the tradeshow, our team engaged with over 80 clients through one-on-one meeting appointments and delivered daily standing-room only destination presentations. Additionally, the team actively participated in relevant industry forums, enhancing our presence and maximizing networking opportunities at the event.
Upcoming Activities:
Domestic Convention Sales
- 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)
- Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Chicago Holly Trolley Event and Sales Calls (Dec. 3-4, Chicago, IL)
- Association Forum Holiday Showcase and Professional Convention Management Association Greater Midwest Chapter Holiday Party (Dec. 4-5, Chicago, IL)
- Association Forum Holiday Showcase (Dec. 5, Chicago, IL)
- Moana 2 Movie Premier (Dec. 7, Washington, DC)
- CVBReps Holiday Party (Dec. 11, Washington, DC)
- Meeting Professionals International Georgia Chapter, Professional Convention Management Association Southeast, International Association of Exhibitions and Events Southeast Annual Holiday Luncheon (Dec. 12, Atlanta, GA)
- International Association of Exhibitions and Events Expo! Expo! (Dec. 17-19, Los Angeles, CA)
International Convention Sales
- BestCities Global Alliance Global Forum (Jan. 24-26, 2025, Dublin, Ireland)
- Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) CEO Meeting (Jan. 26-29, 2025, Montreal, Canada)
- micebook EXPO (Jan. 27-28, 2025, London, United Kingdom)
- Global Marketplace Week (Feb. 3-7, 2025, Washington, DC)
- Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Global Conference (Mar. 3-6, 2025, Tulum, Mexico)
Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.
