Interview
Washington DC: more than politics
IAIN STIRLING MEETS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DESTINATION DC, ELLIOTT FERGUSON, KEEN TO GET THE CAPITAL’ S CONFERENCING CALL ACROSS
I n an era where destination selection for business events requires careful consideration of political climate and practical infrastructure, Washington DC stands out as a city that offers far more than its federal identity suggests. We asked Elliott Ferguson, president & CEO of Destination DC, to share his insights on why the US capital remains a compelling choice for meeting planners worldwide.
Two cities in one For those hesitant about booking events in DC due to the current political environment, Ferguson emphasises an important distinction:“ There are really two cities. It’ s Washington DC, the city that I represent, the city that I promote. And then, of course, there’ s the federal experience, the 535 people sent to Washington that are elected officials that speak on behalf of the country.”
This separation between political Washington and the actual city experience is crucial to understanding DC’ s appeal.“ When you think about the neighbourhoods here, the history of this city, there is a perception that we ' re talking about politics all the time,” Ferguson notes.“ That could not be farther from the truth.”
Living just blocks from Capitol Hill, Ferguson describes a different reality:“ These are real people. We’ re walking our dogs, we ' re taking care of our neighbourhoods, and we’ re eating in cafes no matter what our politics are. And that may not resonate as much with the global community that ' s just watching the news.”
DC’ s competitive edge in the business events landscape begins with what Ferguson calls“ the low hanging fruit” of infrastructure.“ Our airports are
Above: Elliott Ferguson
“ We’ re leaning into key industry sectors where we already have a competitive advantage.”
Left: Washington still blooming for business positioned to host and welcome visitors from all over the world,” he explains, highlighting Dulles International Airport, Reagan National Airport( both served by the metro system), and nearby Baltimore / Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The city’ s metro system,“ one of the safest in the world,” connects these transportation hubs to a high-quality convention centre and a range of accommodations. Ferguson points to the pride taken in maintaining these facilities:“ There ' s always a sense of pride in regards to how well our hotels are kept up and the investment made by the ownership groups to make sure that we have a great product.”
Knowledge economy: The DC advantage Washington’ s dense concentration of academic institutions, think tanks, research organisations and NGOs creates an ecosystem well suited for knowledge-based events. With prestigious institutions like Georgetown University, George Washington University, and the Brookings Institution headquartered in the city, planners have access to exceptional intellectual resources.
“ We’ re leaning into key industry sectors where we already have a competitive advantage,” Ferguson says.“ That includes medical research, cybersecurity, climate science, and education. Events that align with these sectors are not just well-supported, they thrive here.”
Destination DC has developed a sector-specific approach to sales and marketing, aligning with the city’ s economic development strategy to attract events that complement local industries. This strategic alignment ensures that meetings generate meaningful outcomes for both attendees and the local economy.
This knowledge economy feeds directly into what Ferguson calls the‘ Connected Capital’ programme. With the nation ' s highest concentration of
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