DOMESTIC CONVENTION SALES: Promotions, Sales Calls, Trade Shows and Events
The team’s proactive efforts resulted in 120 presentations, virtual client sales calls and in-person meetings throughout the month of December. Highlights include:
- American Association of Airport Executives
- American Geophysical Union
- Association for Consumer Research
- Degnon Associates
- Kellen Company
- National Academy of Sciences on behalf of Transportation Research Board
- National Black MBA Association
- National Council for the Social Studies
- Prestige
- Washington National Cathedral
thINc Pharma and Life Sciences Pharmaceutical and Medical Meeting Planners Summit (Dec. 2-3, Boston, MA)
DDC Staff: Megan Fariel, John Sklencar
Co-Op: Hotel at University of Maryland
This intimate gathering allowed the team to engage with meeting planners in the pharmaceutical life sciences industry. Destination DC (DDC) exhibited, participated in sessions and entertained clients at a dinner. The sessions focused on preparing for changes in the industry due to a new presidential administration, as well as effective messaging. DDC and the Hotel at University of Maryland highlighted their proximity to the FDA, NIH, lawmakers and top-tier universities, highlighting the reasons that There’s Only One DC.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- 3M Health Care
- Abiomed of J&J MedTech
- Bishop McCann
- DBS
- MGME
- Prestige Global Meeting Source
- Syneos Health
Northeast Convention Visitors Bureau Representatives (NECVB Reps) Holiday Event (Dec. 3, Brooklyn, NY)
DDC Staff: John Sklencar
DDC partnered with 20 other CVB destinations as part of the NECVB Reps group to host 50 clients for a light reception at the Moxy Williamsburg, followed by a trolley tour of the holiday lights in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Arch Insurance Group Inc.
- Capital One
- MJH Lifesciences
- New York Life Insurance
- Opera America
Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Chicago Holly Trolley Event and Sales Calls (Dec. 3-4, Chicago, IL)
DDC Staff: Jenna Wiese, Kate Anaya
DDC proudly sponsored this jolly event which brought together over 100 Chicago-based hospitality professionals for an evening exploring three unique venues across the city. This engagement highlighted Washington, DC’s appeal as a premier destination for meetings and events. Additionally, DDC conducted sales calls in the Chicago area to connect with potential clients.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Emerald Expositions
- NHS Global Events
- Prudential Insurance
Association Forum Holiday Showcase and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Greater Midwest Chapter Holiday Party (Dec. 4-5, Chicago, IL)
DDC Staff: Katherine Russo, Catherine Fehrens, Kate Anaya
Staff attended the 36th Association Forum Holiday Showcase which brings together Chicago area associations. The team was able to exhibit and meet with current and potential customers to discuss what’s new in DC and to showcase DC as a future destination for their meetings.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Academy of Periodontology Foundation
- American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
- American Association of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Bar Association
- American College of Surgeons
- American Med Spa Association
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
- American Physician Institute
- American Society of Nutrition and Dietetics
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- CORFAC International
- Helmsbriscoe
- Joint Council of Librarians of Color
- Society of Actuaries
- Society of Critical Care Medicine
- Society of Economic Geologists
Holiday Luncheon (Dec. 5, Chicago, IL)
DDC Staff: Murray Ryan
DDC hosted the 18th annual Holiday Lunch with sponsorships from four other Midwest industry colleagues. We hosted current and potential top clients from the Association of Chicagoland to celebrate the year and create opportunities for future meetings.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
- American Academy of Dermatology
- American Academy of Physician Assistants
- American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons
- American Bar Association
- American Dental Association
- American Hospital Association
- American Osteopathic Association
- American Psychological Association
- American Society Foot & Ankle Surgeons
- Arthroscopy Association of North America
- Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists
- Chicago Dental Society
- Lions Club International
- Mead & Co
- National Retail Federation
- Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
- Realtors
- SmithBucklin
- Society of Actuaries
- Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Moana 2 Movie PremierE (Dec. 7, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Melissa Riley, Dianna Waldroup, Bill Adams, Katherine Russo, Brandon Murray, Megan Fariel
DDC hosted a special private screening of Moana 2, offering a casual, fun-filled experience for clients and their children. The event featured singalongs, mascots and giveaways. It was highly attended and greatly appreciated by clients.
CVBReps Holiday Party (Dec. 11, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Bill Adams, Shirley Del Carpio
DDC was thrilled to join the annual CVBReps festivities, held at the JW Marriott Washington DC, where the Winter Solstice theme set a magical tone for the evening. The event offered a unique blend of networking, reflection on a successful year and a heartfelt toast to the enduring strength of partnerships. With nearly 300 local clients in attendance, the celebration brought people together in a spirit of collaboration, warmth and unity.
Joint Industry Association Southeast Annual Holiday Luncheon (Dec. 12, Atlanta, GA)
DDC Staff: Catherine Fehrens, Ashley Gloster
DDC attended the Annual Holiday Luncheon held at the Georgia Aquarium, co-hosted by MPI GA Chapter, PCMA SE and IAEE SE. This is the premier networking event for over 300 industry professionals in the Southeast U.S.
International Association of Exhibitions and Events Expo! Expo! (Dec. 17-19, Los Angeles, CA)
DDC Staff: Bill Adams, Jenna Wiese
Co-Op: Events DC
This tradeshow format connected professionals from the exhibitions and events industry to network and learn the latest innovations with 86 associations in attendance. DDC exhibited a booth to educate potential clients about everything new in the nation’s capital and to encourage meetings in the city.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
Definite Site Visits
American Bankers Association (April 7-8, 2025)
- 600 peak rooms; 1,885 total room nights; 1,000 attendees
- Multiple venues
American Dental Association (Oct. 22-25, 2025)
- 4,000 peak rooms; 19,040 total room nights; 5,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (Nov. 7-10, 2025) 4225
- 5,400 peak rooms; 24,385 total room nights; 6,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
American College of Surgeons (Sept. 26-28, 2026) 3491
- 5,500 peak rooms; 22,055 total room nights; 15,000 attendees
- Multiple venues
Tentative Site Visits
National Society of Professional Engineers (April 3-4, 2025)
- 30 peak rooms; 60 total room nights; 35 attendees
- Multiple venues
Purdue University (Feb. 2-3, 2026)
- 255 peak rooms; 510 total room nights; 650 attendees
- Multiple venues
Independent Community Bankers of America (March 30 – April 3, 2030)
- 1,400 peak rooms; 6,640 total room nights; 1,800 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
GLOBAL CONVENTION SALES: Sales Calls, Bid Development, Strategic Programming, Familiarization Tours, Site Visits and Tradeshows
With a continued focus on proactive client outreach, personalized touchpoints and international bid development, the team engaged prospective accounts and tentative leads throughout the month of December. Highlights included:
- Aspire Zone
- Avenue Events
- BDI Events
- BI Worldwide
- eMental Health International Collaborative
- FCM Meetings & Events
- Federal Aviation Administration
- George Washington University
- HotelMap
- LILT
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- International News Media Association
- International Nineteenth-Century Studies Association
- International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers
- Kenes Group
- Kinaxis
- Nuba Group
- NUIX
- Procesa Incentive
- Søster Agency
- Terrapinn Inc
- The Appointment Group (TAG)
- Total Management Group (TMG)
Upcoming Activities:
Domestic Convention Sales
- Religious Conference Management Association (Jan. 6-8, Phoenix, AZ)
- Northeast Convention Visitors Bureau Representatives Fall Retreat (Jan. 6-9, Río Grande, Puerto Rico)
- Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Convening Leaders with BestCities Global Alliance Activation (Jan. 12-15, Houston, TX)
- Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) CEO Meeting (Jan. 26-29, Montréal, Canada)
- International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) Midwest Annual Kickball Tournament (Jan. 30, Chicago, IL)
- Event Services Professionals Association (ESPA) (Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, Louisville, KY)
International Convention Sales
- BestCities Global Alliance Global Forum (Jan. 24-26, 2025, Dublin, Ireland)
- Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) CEO Meeting (Jan. 26-29, 2025, Montreal, Canada)
- micebook EXPO (Jan. 27-28, 2025, London, United Kingdom)
- Global Marketplace Week (Feb. 3-7, 2025, Washington, DC)
- Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Global Conference (March 3-6, 2025, Tulum, Mexico)
Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.
