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By Tara Miller, Senior Manager of International Sales, Destination DC
Did you know, that…?
+ Washington, DC offers a value-added approach for meetings and conventions, especially for organizations within the technology, biotech/pharmaceutical, education and medical spaces.
+ DC is a leader in technology, social entrepreneurship and innovation, ranking highest in the U.S. for high-tech employment (Bureau of Labor Statistics) as well as the most educated city in the U.S. (U.S. Census). Meeting planners can also support their delegate base and grow their sponsorship dollars and exhibitor footprint with access to DC’s robust assets.
+ DC provides unmatched access to U.S. government and policy leaders and more than 180 embassies.
Where to meet?
+ The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is a 2.3 million square-foot state-of-the-art facility with 150 HDTVs available for digital signage and free Wi-Fi throughout making it the perfect area to host a high-impact, cutting-edge meeting in the heart of downtown DC.
+ Many hotels include meeting spaces and a great option right outside of downtown is the Connecticut Avenue Collection comprised of Washington Hilton, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel and the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The convention hotel trio offers a spacious, scenic and elegant alternative to the nearby hustle and bustle of downtown DC.
+ The Wharf opened on 12 October, transforming the Southwest Waterfront. Three new hotels add 690 rooms to the city’s inventory and multiple new waterfront meeting spaces and off-site venues.
Where to stay?
There are approximately 132 hotels with 31,673 hotel rooms located in Washington, DC.
+ The 1,175-room Marriott Marquis is located adjacent to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Convention attendees can access a pedestrian concourse, which allows guests to walk directly to the convention center.
+ The LINE opened on 1 January in Adams Morgan. The 220-room, art-filled hotel was converted from a 110-year-old neoclassical church. Numerous acclaimed in-house dining options are available.
+ Kimpton Hotels carries a line of boutique hotels all within a close distance to DC’s top attractions. The centrally located hotels around Capitol Hill, Downtown, Dupont Circle and Glover Park are perfectly located for a visit to the White House or a visit to the Smithsonian.
How to get there?
There are three local airports - Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). These airports service 69 million passengers each year and offer more than 1,000 daily international and domestic inbound flights. Once you’ve arrived in Washington, DC, the Metro system is available for easy commuting throughout the city with six rail lines, 117 miles of track and 91 stations, servicing 204 million trips each year. The Metro connects directly to DCA and there are plans underway to connect to IAD.
Do you offer any special services/assistance for associations?
Destination DC’s convention sales and services team provides customized assistance for meetings of all sizes to ensure a successful event. Services include:
+ Bid book preparation, templates and presentation resources
+ Hotel, venue and service provider RFP distribution and sourcing
+ Site inspection coordination
+ Promotional materials, images and videos for delegate marketing
+ Access to the Show Your Badge delegate discount program
+ Travel discounts through airline, train and public transportation partners
+ Visitors guides and maps for conference delegates
+ Competitively priced registration staffing and housing services
+ Customized citywide concession packages for conferences that qualify by meeting specific booking parameters in need periods
Additionally, as a member of the Global Association Hubs Partnership (GAHP), Destination DC provides support to associations that are interested in setting up a headquarters or regional office in Washington, DC.
Whom to contact?
Tara Miller
Senior Manager of International Sales
Destination DC
tara.miller@destinationdc.com
www.washington.org