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culinary scenes, as well as Business Improvement Districts representing different parts of the city. |
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experts across numerous fields, the city offers meeting planners access to local thought leaders who can enhance event programmes.
“ If there ' s an AI convention looking at North America, we ' ll have an expert on AI meet with that meeting planner,” Ferguson explains.“ The benefit for the planner and for the association or group is that you don ' t have to fly speakers in because you have a huge pool of talent here in our own backyard.”
This approach extends beyond technology to engineering, medical, and various other sectors, allowing Destination DC to customise support based on evolving industry trends.
Sustainability focus As global awareness of environmental concerns continues to grow, Washington DC is working to meet rising expectations.“ Not having a sustainability plan is probably a good way of not booking business.
“ We are catching up to the rest of the world,” Ferguson admits, but emphasises the city ' s commitment to meeting planner expectations in this crucial area.
Diverse event portfolio While DC has traditionally been known for hosting large association meetings,
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Ferguson emphasises their work to diversify the events portfolio.“ We host different types of events all the time,” he notes, pointing to sports-related conventions and upcoming major sporting events.
The city is particularly focused on the corporate market, including pharmaceutical and technology sectors. Ferguson identifies their“ sweet spot” as groups requiring about 2,500 rooms on peak or approximately 4,000 attendees, though they welcome larger congresses as well.
DC is preparing to host two major international events: World Pride and FIFA ' s Club Cup, which Ferguson sees as opportunities to showcase the city“ through a different lens” to global visitors.
For meeting planners seeking to connect attendees with authentic local culture, Destination DC leverages its network of over 1,050 member organisations to create meaningful experiences beyond the traditional“ monuments, memorials, and museums.”
Ferguson says there are plenty of hidden gems in the city that visitors can take advantage of, referring to Washington ' s history dating back to is foundation in 1790. The organisation also works closely with local music and
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“ Washington DC offers far more than what appears on the evening news.”
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Value proposition Ferguson highlights an oftenoverlooked aspect of planning events in DC: value.“ There’ s something to be said about a city that has 17 free Smithsonian museums,” he points out. Apart from the Smithsonian institutions, there is also the likes of the National Gallery of Art, the Holocaust Museum, the monuments and memorials – all of which offer cost-free experiences for attendees.
“ The value of coming to a city like Washington and bringing your family, your dollar goes a lot further, your currency goes a lot further in a city like Washington than it would in other cities,” Ferguson notes.
This value extends beyond the city limits to nearby attractions like Virginia ' s wine country, just an hour away, offering“ multiple layers of fun” for visitors.
For meeting planners seeking a destination with robust infrastructure, intellectual capital, diverse experiences, and surprising value, Ferguson ' s message is clear: Washington DC offers far more than what appears on the evening news. n
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