Read the latest updates from Destination DC's tourism team
Co-op Opportunity: Maryland Travel House Takeover
Destination DC’s (DDC’s) Visitor Experience team takes over the Maryland House Travel Center on I-95 in Aberdeen, MD on Friday, March 21. Visitors driving south to DC will encounter cherry blossom-themed giveaways, games and crafts. The team will also answer visitor questions and recommend our member organizations. Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to reach hundreds of inbound customers! Space is limited, register today!
Co-op Opportunity: DC Loves Buses Day 2025
DDC’s leisure group sales team will be out around the city April 23 as a part of our annual thank you to the motorcoach drivers who help DC become one of the top group tour destinations in the country. Register today to get one-on-one face time with motorcoach drivers and associations and to receive your branded favors in 250 gift bags.
DC in Bloom: National Cherry Blossom Festival Informational Webinar
Join DDC Visitor Experience Manager Georgia Lucas and National Cherry Blossom Festival Marketing Manager Kristin Baasansukh to highlight the signature festival events and ways to celebrate the 2025 blooms. Register now for this Thursday, March 6 webinar, perfect for frontline professionals.
The Washington, DC Welcome
DDC launched the official destination training course designed for the DC area hospitality community in October. The Washington, DC Welcome provides a 10-minute video highlighting the top information you need to know about the city and offering suggestions to amplify the #Only1DC experience. Congratulations to the staff at USA Guided Tours and Spectrum Printing & Graphics who completed the course in January. Check out the video and resources for you and your colleagues on the Washington, DC Welcome landing page.
ABA Marketplace (Feb. 1-4, Philadelphia, PA)
Attendees: Lindsay Hill, Georgia Lucas
DDC’s leisure group sales team traveled to the American Bus Association’s annual marketplace, the largest trade show for group tour operators. Lindsay and Georgia conducted 110 pre-set appointments and hosted a client dinner for 30 tour operators with 14 partners.
DC Business Community & World Pride 2025 (Feb. 4, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Nick Price, DDC Staff
Capital Pride engaged directly with DC's business community. This presented an opportunity to showcase WorldPride initiatives, such as Paint the World With Pride, and to address specific committee needs, particularly regarding arts & culture in public spaces.
Global Marketplace (Feb. 5, Washington, DC)
DDC’s global tourism team hosted our annual Global Marketplace event at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, bringing over 250 travel and tourism industry leaders together to discuss international travel trends, marketing strategies and key insights from DDC’s global offices.
Abreu & Copa Airlines Brazil FAM (Feb. 12-15, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Letizia Sirtori, Patricia Najar, Erika Jones
The tourism team will welcome Brazilian tour operator Abreu, bringing a group of six travel agents to the city. Hosted by YOTEL, the group will experience a vibrant sports and culinary scene with over ten members mentioned in their itinerary.
Member Volleyball Tournament (Feb. 14, Washington, DC)
An evening of friendly competition, food and fun at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (WEWCC), hosted on the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic courts. All proceeds benefit the American Experience Foundation to inspire and educate the next generation of hospitality professionals all year long.
19th Annual Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic (Feb. 15-17, Washington, DC)
Returning to the WEWCC for its 19th year, the Classic is the largest girls’ volleyball club tournament in the country on Presidents’ Day weekend and one of the largest single-weekend volleyball tournaments annually.
Domestic Women's Empowerment Tour Operator FAM (Feb. 24-26, Washington, DC)
Attendees: Lindsay Hill, Erika Jones, Georgia Lucas, Jennifer Porter
This FAM for top domestic tour operators will showcase DC as a premier destination for women traveling together in small group tours, while highlighting gender equality and empowerment in the nation’s capital.
China Sales and Media Mission (Feb. 24 – March 2, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, China)
Elliott, Theresa and Kyle will establish connections with leading media, travel agencies and tour operators in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing.
Visit the USA Australia/New Zealand Expos (Feb. 9-20, Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand/Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia)
Attendees: Bianca Corallo and Peri McCardle (Canuckiwi)
Bianca Corallo will attend the Visit the USA Expos Australia and New Zealand with DDC’s in-market representation office. At each of the five expos, the team will connect with 200-300 travel agents to educate them about Washington, DC, allowing them to better sell DC to their clients.
January Visitor Experience Stats
Publications distributed: 36,636
Online requests: 8,575
Calls: 396
Top visitor questions last month:
- How do I become a vendor of the National Cherry Blossom Festival?
- What are some unique dining experiences in DC?
- When should I book my trip to see the cherry blossoms?
Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.
