FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2008

DC'S SUMMER CONVENTION CALENDAR SIZZLES WITH ANNIVERSARIES AND EVENTS

(Washington, DC)…DC’s summer meetings calendar is hopping with landmark gatherings, media meetings and corporate events, including major conventions that will take place during the Independence Day and Labor Day holidays.

“The summer months are often a slower period for meetings and conventions in DC, but this year we’ve helped to level out the calendar by securing some high-profile July and August gatherings,” said Bill Hanbury, president & CEO, Destination DC. “We’ve also been successful in attracting business over holidays, including a major gathering over the Fourth of July and another just after Labor Day.”

Over the Independence Day holiday, the DC-based National Education Association’s annual meeting will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, attracting 17,000 attendees, representing more than $20 million in delegate spending. The July 2-6 convention includes the gathering of NEA’s Representative Assembly, a 9,000-person legislative group, the largest deliberating body in the world. Delegates will also be treated to a sneak preview of Ford’s Theatre’s new Center for Education and Leadership, slated to open in 2010.

As election fever rises, both John McCain and Barack Obama will address delegates at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 79th Annual National Convention, taking place July 7-12 at the Hilton Washington. The convention tackles topics like immigration, fair housing, education, health and political influence, drawing 1,000 attendees, plus thousands more for its expo, career fair and youth programming. 

In one of the year’s biggest gatherings, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding at Howard University with its Centennial Boulé, July 11-18.  More than 20,000 members of the sorority will gather at the convention center for a celebration of sisterhood and service, including social gatherings and town hall forums on entrepreneurship, wealth building and home ownership, health issues, voter registration and other topics. During the centennial celebration, the sisters, or “sorors,” will join members of the nine predominantly African-American Greek fraternities and sororities to link arms and stage a 30,000-person march to the Capitol to advance their united agenda. Other highlights include a special presentation in which Mattel will unveil its new Alpha Kappa Alpha Barbie Doll dressed in a pink and green gown and a performance by Grammy Award-winner Patti LaBelle.

The summer also brings major scientific and corporate gatherings, including the American Association for Clinical Chemistry’s Annual Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo, July 27-31. More than 17,000 science professionals are expected to gather at the convention center for the event, which last took place in DC in 1991. From August 5-9, the American Association of Diabetes Educators welcomes more than 7,000 attendees for its 2008 Annual Meeting & Exhibition.  A major corporate gathering, the 2008 GE Healthcare Users Summit, will also take place at the convention center, generating 13,000 hotel room nights and $3.9 million in delegate spending August 17-21.

As the national political conventions grab the spotlight in late August, DC will play host to a significant media gathering, the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association’s Annual Convention. Taking place August 21-24 at the Hilton Washington, the convention will bring together nearly 650 journalists and communications professionals for training and professional development sessions, tackling topics like new media, promoting diversity, covering the election and coping with downsizing in the newsroom.

The line-up of significant gatherings continues into September, when DC-based AARP celebrates its 50th anniversary at the convention center with Life@50. The annual member event, taking place Sep. 4-6 at the convention center, will attract 25,000 attendees for stirring presentations by Gene Simmons, Cal Ripken, Magic Johnson, Judy Collins and other headliners, plus musical performances by Chaka Khan and Natalie Cole.

For more information on upcoming meetings and conventions in DC, log on to dcconvention.com.

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About Destination DC:  Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. Destinationdc.com.