Destination DC Hosts Sales & Media Mission in China

(Washington, DC) -- Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, will host a sales and media mission in China from March 11-15, 2019 to promote DC’s new tourism offerings to its top overseas market. Traveling with key partners, the delegation will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to showcase a diverse U.S. capital city to top travel agents and consumer media.

China continues to be DC’s strongest market with 302,000 Chinese visitors in 2017 spending $655,728,533. With a 10 percent market share of China’s visitors to the U.S., one out of every 10 Chinese visitors to the U.S. visited Washington, DC.

DDC continues its efforts to market to Chinese tourists on WeChat with about 17,000 followers and its expanding City Experience Mini Program, as well as its Welcome China member certification program, now up to almost 75 certified members.

“We’ve been growing our efforts to attract more Chinese visitors for several years now by developing strong partnerships with Chinese tour operators, leading media, key corporate clients, MICE groups and other partners with significant results,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC. “We’re thrilled to see China remain our top overseas market and we continue to provide a welcoming message. While we have been represented in the China market for five years through our partnership with Capital Region USA, our recently added dedicated representation led by SinoMedia reinforces our commitment to reach additional leisure and business travelers.” 

Last year, DDC became the first destination marketing organization in the United States to officially partner with WeChat following the launch of the platform’s first City Experience Mini Program in the U.S. In July 2018, DDC became the first DMO in the world to expand the program with coupons – providing discounts for major attractions around the region. Currently featuring 11 members, pilot coupon members included Big Bus Tours, Bike and Roll DC, Entertainment Cruises, International Spy Museum and the Newseum.

Two years ago, DDC launched Welcome China, the organization’s multi-point certification program for its members including hotels, restaurants, attractions, transportation and retailers. By providing education on Chinese customs, DDC strives to make Chinese leisure and business visitors feel at home while in the city.

“Last year, we launched a stopover program for the UK market which included two nights in DC, a major value-added benefit for those travelers connecting through Washington Dulles International Airport. The pilot program was so successful that we’ve received additional funds from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to expand the program in the Netherlands, Switzerland and China,” said Theresa Belpulsi, vice president of tourism, sports and visitor services for Destination DC.

Additional airlift to Washington, DC plays an important role in increasing tourism. Air China and United Airlines have nonstop flights from Beijing, and last September, Cathay Pacific launched nonstop service from Hong Kong to Dulles International Airport. The new flight is anticipated to increase visitors from Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, including China and India.

New hotel inventory, attractions, renovations are a draw, with $11.2 billion in development underway in DC. There are 18 hotels in the pipeline adding 3,987 rooms to the city, including The Conrad Washington, DC and Hilton Washington DC National Mall, both anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2019.

DDC will continue working with Brand USA, Capital Region USA and other key shareholders to encourage more visitation from China to the capital of the United States to experience the city’s diverse culture and unique offerings.

About Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. washington.org

Media Contacts
Vanessa Casas, International Media Relations Manager
+ 1 202.789.7053; [email protected]

Evan Yang, China PR & Marketing Manager
+86 10 6589 6684; [email protected]

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