Why the Nation's Capital for Your Next Meeting or Event?
Washington, D.C., is a city where economics, culture and academics converge. This unique blend creates a dynamic and innovative environment that is ideal for meetings and events. The U.S. capital also offers planners access to impactful speakers, leaders
and policymakers in key industries, including medical, biotech/pharma, technology, education, transportation and sustainability.
New & Coming Soon to the Area
The National Museum for Women in the Arts has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation. Photo Credit: washington.orgThe National Museum of Women in the Arts reopened in October 2023 after a two-year, $67.5 million renovation of its historic building. The project added nearly 2,500 square feet of gallery
space, the new Learning Commons and enhanced visitor accessibility. The Great Hall, Elisabeth A. Kasser Board Room and the Third Floor Gallery are among the event spaces available for groups.
The Capital Jewish Museum debuted in June 2023. The 32,000-square-foot, LEED silver-certified building features historical artifacts, family papers, archival documents and photographs that
trace Jewish life in the nation's capital region from the 1850s to the present day. A rotating collection of exhibits are available that explore Jewish history and the intersection between cultural identity and social activism.
The Folger Shakespeare Theater’s 1932 building has reopened after a major renovation that expanded its public space and improved accessibility. The project added a 12,000-square-foot public pavilion
under the Folger’s front lawn with two accessible entry plazas.
The People's House: A White House Experience opened in Sept. 2024, one block away from the White House. The 33,000-square-foot, three-floor venue features interactive exhibits and galleries
that tell the story of the White House, its inhabitants and the people that have dedicated their careers to its functions. Also onsite is a full-scale replica of the Oval Office and a large recreation of the Rose Garden.
Venue Additions & Renovations in D.C.
The 234-room Washington Marriott Capitol Hill opened its doors in January 2023. The new
Marriott property is part of the mixed-use project NoMa CNTR. The hotel, which is just steps from Union Station, offers 13,000 square feet of meeting space. It also features a glass-enclosed two-story lobby, a rooftop bar and fitness facilities.
The 274-room Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill debuted in fall 2023 with 11,000 square feet of event space. Photo Credit: washington.orgThe Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill debuted in September 2023.
It is the first new luxury hotel to open on Capitol Hill since 1984 and marks the second Royal Sonesta property in Washington, D.C. The 274-room hotel earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, in addition to WELL certification
from the International WELL Building Institute for its sustainable, wellness-forward design. The property features a 10-story atrium, a vegetated green roof, a state-of-the-art yoga studio and an all-day Parisian bistro. For planners, the hotel offers
11,000 square feet of flexible event space.
Coming in 2025 is the 445-room Arlo Hotel, which will incorporate a historic residential building from the 1880s into the property. Amenities will include a fitness center, a
signature restaurant and bar, a rooftop pool and lounge, and indoor/outdoor event space.
Among the city's newly renovated and rebranded properties is the Salamander Washington, D.C. The
373-room property, which formerly operated as a Mandarin Oriental, is now part of the Salamander Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Updated suites were unveiled in late 2023. The phased renovation also includes lobby and spa upgrades, along with a new signature
restaurant from acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi — all of which are scheduled to debut in 2024.
D.C. Meeting Hotels
Properties in the District include the 1,175-room Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C.;
1,152-room Washington Marriott Wardman Park; 1,070-room
Hilton Washington; 897-room Grand Hyatt Washington; 838-room Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill;
834-room Omni Shoreham Hotel; 807-room Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown Hotel; 772-room
JW Marriott Hotel Washington, D.C.; 581-room Mayflower Renaissance Washington, D.C.; and 317-room Hotel Washington.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group's new venue finder.
Other News
Travel Essentials
CONVENTION CENTER: The
Walter E. Washington Convention Center; meeting space, 198,000 square feet; exhibit space, 703,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 77.
TAXES: Room tax, 14.5%; sales tax, 5.75%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14.95%
CONTACT:
Destination DCThe Walter E. Washington Convention Center was certified
LEED Gold in September 2023. The convention center has also earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating and GBAC STAR accreditation.
Opened in November 2022, the new Metrorail Silver Line connects Washington Dulles International Airport to downtown DC.
Washington Dulles International Airport will add a LEED Silver-certified, $560 million concourse in 2026 that will service domestic and international flights. The new 14-gate concourse, dubbed Tier 2 Concourse East, will be approximately 440,000 square
feet — about four times the size of the concourse it's replacing.
In November 2023, the Michelin Guide awarded Washington, D.C., with two new stars for a total of 25 Michelin restaurants. The new one-star additions include Causa, a Peruvian fine dining restaurant
in Blagden Alley, and Rania, which serves high-concept Indian cuisine in the Penn Quarter. Meanwhile, 29 restaurants earned a spot on the Bib Gourmand list for great food and value (under $49
for three courses).
Transportation in & Around the District
Reagan National Airport, 20 minutes from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, about $25; by shuttle, $16
Dulles International Airport, approximately 45 minutes from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, about $75; by shuttle, $30
10 Best Places to Visit in & Around Washington, D.C.
A trip to D.C. is not complete without a visit to some of the top attractions our nation has to offer.
- National Air and Space Museum - Museum
- National Gallery of Art - Museum
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum- Museum
- Lincoln Memorial - Landmark
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Museum
- U.S. Capitol - Landmark
- National Mall - Landmark
- Library of Congress - Landmark
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Landmark
- Georgetown - Neighborhood
2023 Stella Award Winners
2022 Stella Award Winners
- Best Hotel/Resort, Northeast: Hamilton Hotel, Bronze winner
- Best Boutique Property, Northeast: The Jefferson, Washington, D.C., Gold winner
- Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Northeast: Hamilton Hotel, Bronze winner
- Best Food and Beverage, Northeast: Hamilton Hotel, Silver winner