Washington, DC Research Facts and Visitor Research
Destination DC (DDC) releases key tourism facts and figures annually. The following documents provide additional and historical information about the Washington, DC hospitality industry. Please note that our statistics are released annually.
To learn more about DDC research and reports, or to discuss what information may be relevant to your organization and its needs, please contact Torri Christian, Director of Marketing, at [email protected].
For additional statistics about DC, visit census.gov
Hotel Facts
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There are approximately 149 hotels with 33,639 hotel rooms located in Washington, DC. The Greater Washington Metropolitan Area is home to 772 hotels with 112,999 rooms (including those located within DC proper).
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There are 3,705 committable rooms within half a mile of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
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There are 18 properties with 3,292 rooms currently in the construction pipeline in Washington, DC that are expected to be delivered in 2023 and beyond, including two (2) that are currently under construction.
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In 2022, DC’s hotel occupancy reaches its peak in April through June and September through October. Average daily rates reach their highest levels during April through June and September through October.
Sources: CoStar, STR
Restaurant Facts
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There are 2,513 restaurants located in Washington, DC.
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23 restaurants in Washington, DC have earned Michelin stars.
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36 restaurants in the city have received the honor of the Bib Gourmand designation.
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DC’s culinary distinctions include James Beard award-winning chefs, AAA Five Diamond ratings, RAMMY Awards (honors handed out by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington for local dining excellence), restaurants included on Bon Appetit’s list of the “Best New Restaurants in America” and Bon Appetit's "Restaurant City of the Year" in 2016.
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More than 70 DC restaurants offer private dining space, including a dozen within a few blocks of the convention center.
Sources: Michelin Guide, National Restaurant Association
Visitor Statistics
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DC welcomed 21.9 million total visitors in 2022. 20.7 million of them were domestic visitors.
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Approximately 1.2 million international visitors traveled to DC in 2022. Top countries of origin include: United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, India, France, Brazil, Mexico, China, South Korea and Australia.
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In 2022, visitors spent $8.1 billion and supported a record 84, 111 jobs.
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Taxes generated by visitor spending were a record $1.6 billion in 2022.
Sources: MMGY Travel Intelligence, S&P Global Market Intelligence, Travel Market Insights, Inc.
For more visitor statistics, please visit our Visitor Research page.
Attractions
Top attractions include (with visitation numbers from 2022)
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FDR Memorial (3.3 million visitors)
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Korean War Veterans Memorial (4.0 million visitors)
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Lincoln Memorial (7.8 million visitors)
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (3.3 million visitors)
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National Air & Space Museum (0.5 million visitors)
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National Gallery of Art (3.3 million visitors)
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National Museum of African American History & Culture (11.2 million visitors)
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National Museum of American History (1.2 million visitors)
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National Museum of Natural History (3.9 million visitors)
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National Zoological Park (1.6 million visitors)
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Rock Creek Park (2.0 million visitors)
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Thomas Jefferson Memorial (3.0 million visitors)
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial (4.9 million visitors)
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World War II Memorial (4.8 million visitors)
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DC is also home to four major sporting event venues with 185,000 total seats and nine major professional teams including the Wizards, Mystics, Nationals, D.C. United, Capitals, Commanders, DC Defenders, Washington Spirit and DC Breeze.
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There are 52 performing arts/theatre venues with more than 27,000 total seats.
*Sources: National Park Service; Smithsonian Institution; Theatre Washington
Washington, DC Demographic Information
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Population: 671,803
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48% male and 52% female
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Greater Washington has one of the most highly educated workforces in the U.S. 61% of Washington, DC residents hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher (compared to 34% of U.S. population).
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DC’s population is 45% Black (compared to 14% of U.S. population) and 12% Hispanic/Latino (compared to 19% of U.S. population).
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19% of the Washington, DC population is under the age of 18.
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Median household income: $93,547
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2022
Major Meeting & Convention Facilities in Washington, DC
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
- 703,000 square feet of prime exhibit space (five exhibit halls on two levels)
- 198,000 square feet of meeting room space
- 77 meeting rooms
- 52,000 square foot ballroom
- 38,000 square feet of flexible registration space
DC Armory National Guard Building
- 70,000 square feet of exhibit space
- 10,000 seat capacity for sports and theater events
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
- 65,000 square feet of exhibit space
- 22 meeting rooms
- 1,070 guest rooms and 20 suites
- 116,000 square feet of event space
Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
- 1,126 guest rooms and 49 suites
- 105,000 square feet of event space
- 783 guest rooms and 51 suites
- 101,000 square feet of event space
Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel
- 807 guest rooms and 13 suites
- 66,000 square feet of event space
The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection
- 581 guest rooms and 69 suites
- 43,000 square feet of event space
- 871 guest rooms and 26 suites
- 42,000 square feet of event space
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
- 838 guest rooms and 31 suites
- 38,000 square feet of event space
- 263 guest rooms and 35 suites
- 38,000 square feet of event space
Transportation
Airport
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There are three DC-area airports - Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
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These airports serve 75 million passengers each year.
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Reagan National Airport offers over 400 daily departures to 106 domestic & international nonstop destinations.
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Dulles International Airport offers over 320 daily departures to 135 domestic & international nonstop destinations.
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BWI handles over 280 daily departures with nonstop flights to 85 domestic & international destinations.
Train
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Union Station in DC is home to Amtrak and multiple commuter rail services; 1.8 million Amtrak passengers traveled through DC in 2021.
Public Transportation
Metrorail & Metrobus
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The Metro system is the nation’s third-largest heavy rail system with 6 rail lines, 118 miles of track and 91 stations. In 2022, it provided 40.7 million trips.
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For hours, fares and station information, visit wmata.com.
DC Circulator
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6 bus routes service 5 million trips each year, connecting Union Station with Georgetown, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and Nationals Park, the Zoo with downtown, , and a seasonal loop around the National Mall, all for just $1.
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For hours, passes and route maps, visit dccirculator.com.
Taxis
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The DC taxi cab network operates on a meter system.
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Fares begin at $3.50, plus $2.16 per each additional mile. A 15-20% tip is customary.
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Uber and Lyft provide service throughout the metro DC area, and include options ranging from ride-shares to luxury SUVs. Shared ride rate is $1.20 per mile.
Green Initiatives
- The District is on track to reach net zero emissions by 2045 and will have reduced emissions by 60% in 2030 (compared to 2006).
- 90% of parkland in Washington, DC is controlled by the National Park Service. There are 250,000 acres of parkland in the Greater Washington Metropolitan area.
- In 2023, DC was named first in the country for ParkScore by the Trust for Public Land, which evaluates the size of park land, access and city investment.
- DC’s Walter E. Washington Convention Center is certified LEED Gold O+M (2023).
- For more information, click here to learn about the green experience in DC.
Sources: National Park Service, Trust for Public Land
International DC
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17% of DC residents speak a language other than English at home.
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14% of DC residents are foreign-born.
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Washington DC is home to more than 175 embassies and international cultural centers and hundreds of international organizations and association.
*US Census Bureau, 2022
Sales Tax
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DC sales tax: 6%
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DC hotel tax: 14.95 % (prior to April 1, 2023)
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For the period of time beginning on April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2027, hotel tax is increased from 14.95% to 15.95% to provide support for the recovery of tourism in the District.
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DC restaurant tax: 10%
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Maryland: Sales tax is 6%. Hotel tax varies by county with most counties averaging between 5% and 8%.
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Virginia: Sales tax is 5.3%. Hotel tax varies by county with most counties averaging between 9% and 11%.
Climate
DC has a generally temperate climate, with pleasant springs and autumns, and mild winters with approximately 14.3 inches of seasonal snowfall.
Month: Average Low (Fahrenheit) | Average High (Fahrenheit)
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January: 25 | 44
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February: 27 | 47
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March: 35 | 56
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April: 44 | 67
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May: 54 | 76
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June: 63 | 85
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uly: 68 | 89
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August: 66 | 87
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September: 59 | 81
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October: 46 | 69
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November: 37 | 59
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December: 30 | 48
Washington, DC College/Universities Information
- Marymount University
- Montgomery College
- Northern Virginia Community College
- Prince George’s Community College
- Strayer University
- The Catholic University of America
- The George Washington University
- Trinity Washington University
- University of Maryland, College Park
- University of Maryland, Global Campus
- University of Phoenix
- University of the District of Columbia
Largest Hospitals in Washington, DC
(with number of total beds)
- MedStar Washington Hospital Center (748)
- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (402)
- The George Washington University Hospital (375)
- Children’s National Medical Center (323)
- Saint Elizabeths Hospital (292)
- Sibley Memorial Hospital (251)
- Howard University Hospital (228)
- BridgePoint Hospital National Harbor (207)
Source: American Hospital Directory, 2023