Most planners know “Washington”, the capital of monuments and government buildings, but fewer know “DC,” the city of neighborhoods and local culture. In this video interview recorded at IMEX America 2026, Melissa Riley, senior vice president of convention sales and services at Destination DC, explains how the newly launched Meetings Capitalized program aims to help groups experience both.
The program draws on the city’s intellectual capital through ready-made experiences under three key themes: Leadership Experience, Power & Influence and Global Exchange. Riley shares examples from early test runs. These include a workforce development event at American University run by students, a CEO roundtable on advocacy with the American Society of Association Executives, and a talk by a National Geographic explorer. She explains how the aim is to make experiential design easy for planners who are short on time and budget.
Riley also covers what’s new in D.C., including the National Geographic Museum of Exploration, the Milken Center and planned upgrades at Dulles International Airport. She highlights the 175-plus embassies available for receptions and education sessions, plus the city’s celebrated Ethiopian cuisine.
Learn more by watching the full Convention Conversation above.
