Destination DC
Over the course of the pandemic, Washington, D.C., lost $631 million in cancellations from 64 large-scale events. Destination DC, the city’s CVB, wants planners to know the nation’s capital is open again and is "Still Connected," via the campaign by that name that highlights three strengths of the destination.
Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DCConnected Capital, the first arm of the campaign, gives groups access to local experts from a host of industries, including technology, biotech/pharma, transportation, sustainability and advocacy. Connected Community helps events to be more eco-friendly by linking planners with sustainable hotels, venues, transportation, organizations and more. Connected Campus, encourages planners to use nontraditional spaces for events in D.C.’s convention center district, including art galleries, pubs and churches.
"[We're taking] a holistic approach tied to the fact that we reopened, and that there are a lot of different things happening in the city."
Elliott Ferguson
"It’s really a holistic approach tied to the fact that we reopened, and that there are a lot of different things that are happening in the city," says Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC.
The CVB is already seeing results: This fall, the capital will host the Association of the United States Army, the Association for Financial Professionals and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. And at press time, Destination DC is anticipating 20 citywide conventions for 2022.