DOMESTIC CONVENTION SALES: Promotions, Sales Calls, Trade Shows and Events
The team’s proactive efforts resulted in 112 presentations, virtual client sales calls and in-person meetings throughout the month of January. Highlights include:
- Amazon Web Services
- AMC Institute
- American Association of Retired Persons
- American Psychological Association
- Fairfax Loudoun Event Executives
- HotelMap
- IMN Solutions
- International Association of Exhibits & Events
- MassMutual
- National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
- The Washington, DC Auto Show
- Transportation Research Board
Religious Conference Management Association (Jan. 6-8, Phoenix, AZ)
DDC Staff: Jared Kolleh
Emerge is the premier event for over 250 faith-based conference planners from across the U.S. to connect. The event featured an educational and expo-style format through the Emerge Exchange. Over the course of the three-day event, DDC had the privilege of showcasing Washington, DC and the DMV region as exceptional destinations for faith-based groups, engaging both new and returning planners with tailored offerings.
Northeast Convention Visitors Bureau (CVB) Representatives Client Retreat (Jan. 6-9, Río Grande, Puerto Rico)
DDC Staff: John Sklencar
This event was a hosted-buyer client retreat for participating NECVB Reps Members and clients. Each member brings one exclusive planner for the retreat that includes educational and networking activations. Total of 15 clients attended, including some high profile accounts.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery
- Capital One
- National Kidney Foundation
- Oliver Wyman
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Convening Leaders with BestCities Global Alliance Activation (Jan. 12-15, Houston, TX)
DDC Staff: Elliott Ferguson, Melissa Riley, Dianna Waldroup, Bill Adams, Shirley Del Carpio, Murray Ryan, Brandon Murray, Catherine Fehrens, Katherine Russo
The team participated in face-to-face meetings with both existing and potential clients. On Sunday, DDC attended various PCMA chapter receptions, including those for the Greater Midwest and Capital chapters. Additionally, the team attended several mainstage presentations featuring prominent thought leaders such as Scott Galloway, Brené Brown, Liz Cheney and Amal Clooney. Team members worked various shifts at the Best Cities Global Alliance Activation and attended the Meeting Professionals International evening reception. It was noted that Elliott Ferguson will be honored at the Visionary Awards in April with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American College of Chest Physicians
- American College of Sports Medicine
- American College of Surgeons
- American Thoracic Society
- Cardiovascular Research Foundation
- Infectious Diseases Society
- International Congress and Convention Association
- National Association of Realtors
Travel and Tourism Research Association Marketing Outlook Forum (Jan. 27-29, Fort Worth, TX)
DDC Staff: Quincy Li, Sandra Mosely
Marketers and researchers converged on common ground, and DDC staff exchanged knowledge and ideas with industry peers and experts. The conference covered topics from the latest travel and tourism trends and strategic marketing decisions to innovations in the travel industry which fuel immediate marketing success and long-term strategic vision.
Definite Site Visits
Access Intelligence (March 10-12)
- 2,084 peak room; 7,100 total room nights; 7,800 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Drug Information Association (June 15-18)
- 5,000 peak room; 23,550 total room nights; 8,500 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (Sept. 29 – Oct. 1)
- 3800 peak rooms; 13,490 total room nights; 11,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Tentative Site Visits
National Society of Professional Engineers (April 3-4, 2025)
- 30 peak rooms; 60 total room nights; 35 attendees
- Multiple venues
National Wildlife Federation (Aug. 6-7)
- 35 peak rooms; 70 total room nights; 35 attendees
- Multiple venues
Corporate Confidential Account (Aug. 26-29, 2026)
- 800 peak rooms, 3,867 total room nights; 5,500 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
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 January. Highlights included:
- eMental Health International Collaborative
- Education First
- Exis Global
- IEEE Communications Society
- Inter-American Committee for Integral Development
- International Association of Public Transport
- International News Media Association
- IFS.ai
- Kenes Group
- My Venue Assistant
- Nuba Mexico
- Oddity Events & Marketing
- Organization of American States
- Scrum Alliance
- Sherweb
- Union Internationale des Avocats
- World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation
BestCities Global Forum and International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Association Impact Masterclass (Jan. 22-29, Dublin, Ireland)
DDC Staff: Tara Miller
Two co-located programs targeting international associations offered exclusive access to the 13 destinations that comprise the BestCities Global Alliance. The Global Forum delivered enriching workshops and one-to-one business meetings, while the ICCA Association Impact Masterclass challenged association executives to prioritize impact planning and be intentional about event impact strategies.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- International Association of Public Transport
- International Gas Union
- International Pharmaceutical Federation
- International Trademark Association
- International Water Resources Association
- Rotary International
- World Council on Isotopes
- World Physiotherapy
Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) CEO Forum (Jan. 26-28, Montreal, QC Canada)
DDC Staff: Melissa Riley
This premier annual event is exclusively for senior executives from engineering and scientific societies. Held over three days, it features general sessions, breakout meetings and networking events designed to foster peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. Attendees, including executive directors and CEOs, engage in discussions on industry challenges and share best practices.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Geophysical Union
- American Industrial Hygiene Association
- American Public Works Association
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- American Society of Landscape Architects
- Association of Women in Science
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- The Endocrine Society
micebook EXPO (Jan. 27-28, London, United Kingdom)
DDC Staff: Heidi Williams, AbleMaxx Ltd. (UK in-market representation firm)
The expo attracted 450 UK event planners from various sectors. Over two days, planners engaged in content sessions, peer group discussions, a supplier EXPO and networking events. DDC sponsored a corporate panel with 20+ planners, presenting the “Top 5 Takeaways” for Washington, DC as an event destination. Additionally, 20 one-on-one DC-specific presentations took place.
DDC targeted the following customers
- Abstract Events
- Adwanted Events
- BI Worldwide
- CWT
- First Agency
- Goldman Sachs
- Image Events
- OrangeDoor
- PA Consulting
- PWC
- Sleek Events
- Strata Events
- The Hackett Group
Tentative Site Visits
International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (April 23-26, 2029)
- 850 peak rooms; 4,550 total room nights; 4,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Upcoming Activities:
Domestic Convention Sales
- Destination 360 New York Fashion Week Event (Feb. 7-9, New York City, NY)
- Association Management Companies Institute Annual Meeting (Feb. 19-21, Tampa, FL)
- Prestige Client Summit (Feb. 23-26, Arlington, TX)
- New York Society of Association Executives Meet NY (Feb. 27, New York City, NY)
International Convention Sales
- Global Marketplace Week (Feb. 3-7, Washington, DC)
- Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Global Conference (March 3-6, Tulum, Mexico)
- PCMA Convening LATAM (May 4-6, Bogotá, Colombia)
- IMEX Frankfurt (May 20-22, Frankfurt, Germany)
- City Nation Place Americas (May 21-22, Ottawa, Canada)
- Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) ACCESSE Leadership Conference (June 23-25, Philadelphia, PA)
- The Meeting Show (June 25-26, London, United Kingdom)
Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.
