DOMESTIC CONVENTION SALES: Promotions, Sales Calls, Trade Shows and Events
The team’s proactive efforts resulted in 115 presentations, virtual client sales calls and in-person meetings throughout the month of September. Highlights include:
- Advanced Textiles Association
- African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- American College of Surgeons
- American Farm Bureau Insurance Services
- American Musicological Society
- American Political Science Association
- American Public Works Association
- American Society of Association Executives
- American Urological Association
- ConferenceDirect
- Council for Advancement and Support of Education
- Commercial Real Estate Women
- Defense TechConnect
- DowntownDC Business Improvement District
- FairServices
- First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, University of South Carolina
- Freeman
- International Association of Exhibitions and Events
- Legal Marketing Association
- National Education Association
- National Environmental Health Association
- National League for Nursing
- Regional Airline Association
- Stand Together Foundation
- The Collective
- World Bank
Afternoon Tea and Hillwood Mansion Tour (Sept. 29, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Melissa Riley, Morgan Simonet, Brandon Murray, Daniela Fazoli, Rachel Bomser
DDC enjoyed an exclusive experience at the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens with local customers. We savored an afternoon tea along with some networking, and we learned about the property’s different gardens and their year-round maintenance from the Director of Horticulture. We finished our experience with a guided tour through the mansion and a self-guided tour of the gardens.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Association for Justice
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
- American Sociological Association
- Supernus Pharmaceuticals
- TechnoServe
- National Association of Corporate Directors
- American British Global Meetings & Events
- Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington
- HelmsBriscoe
Conference Direct (CDX) 2026 (Sept. 1-4, Anaheim, CA)
DDC Staff: Kate Anaya
CDX 2026 was a highly interactive networking conference that provided several opportunities to connect with ConferenceDirect associates and targeted accounts. DDC participated in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments, small-group networking and educational sessions. The format allowed for valuable conversations with clients, building on existing relationships while also creating opportunities to connect with new and prospective accounts and discuss future business for Washington, DC.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network
- National Association for Gifted Children
- National Association of Counties
- California Association for Behavior Analysis
- National Art Education Association
- SkillsUSA
- Texas Brewers Association
- American Academy of Forensic Sciences
- The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
- National College Attainment Network
- Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
- National Association of Manufacturers
- American Occupational Therapy Association
Legal Marketing Association (LMA) Lunch and Learn: Mastering Hotel Contracts & Event Planning (Sept. 10, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Katherine Russo, Kate Anaya
DDC helped sponsor and moderate this lunch-and-learn, focusing on key factors of executing successful hotel contracts and event planning. Panelists included participants from association, hotel and law firms to provide several points of view and perspective when planning conferences and retreats in the legal market. This lunch-and-learn gave DDC exposure to the legal meeting market and allowed us to educate planners about the role a DMO plays and how we can be a resource for them.
DC United Suite (Sept. 12, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Chris Li, Kristen Kerr
DDC hosted a client engagement gathering at Audi Field Suite with clients and event planners to strengthen relationships and create meaningful face-to-face connections. The team engaged with key industry contacts, learned more about their upcoming event plans and needs and identified potential opportunities to bring future events to Washington, DC.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- EventsNoire
- Association of American Universities
- National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities
- TechnoServe
- Association for Psychological Science
- Meeting Planner
- National Industries for the Blind
- National Council for the Social Studies
- Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
Destination Celebration (Sept. 29, Kansas City, MO)
DDC Staff: Katherine Russo
DDC attended a networking reception with 50 meeting planners in the St. Louis area. It marked the first time DDC has attended this reception, allowing for quality conversations with planners about DC’s premier setting for meetings and conventions.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Soybean Association/Commodity Classic
- BCD Meetings and Events
- Maritz
- Inmex
- Helmsbriscoe
- Anheuser-Busch
- ConferenceDirect
- One10
- Nestle Purina
Freeman Golf Classic (Sept. 22, Dulles, VA)
DDC Staff: Emily Ogorzalek, Kristen Kerr
DDC was honored to sponsor the 16th Annual Freeman Golf Classic Tournament in support of the American Heart Association. The team welcomed players to one of the most popular stops on the course – the grill station – where they enjoyed a delicious lunch of burgers, hot dogs and snacks. As players stopped to refuel, DDC and Events DC connected with clients and Freeman team members, creating meaningful touchpoints while continuing to build and strengthen our partnerships.
Tentative Site Visits
Advanced Textiles Association (Feb. 23-27, 2027)
- 70 peak rooms; 115 total rooms; 100 attendees
Multiple hotels
American Farm Bureau Insurance Services (June 13-16, 2027)
- 65 peak rooms; 155 total rooms; 75 attendees
- Multiple hotels
International Franchise Association (Sept. 8-11, 2027)
- 130 peak rooms; 300 total rooms; 6,000 attendees
- Multiple hotels
Global Anti Scam Alliance (Oct. 4-6, 2027)
- 20 peak rooms; 60 total rooms; 750 attendees
Multiple hotels
National Environmental Health Association (July 14-20, 2028)
- 575 peak rooms; 2,195 total rooms; 750 attendees
- Multiple hotels
American Musicological Society (Nov. 8-9, 2029)
- 650 peak rooms; 2,400 total rooms; 1,000 attendees
Multiple hotels
HPN Global (Feb. 3-5, 2030)
- 950 peak rooms; 3,715 total rooms; 2,000 attendees
- Multiple hotels
Definite Site Visits
Alpha Kappa Alpha (March 25-27, 2027)
- 1,050 peak rooms; 3,269 total rooms; 7,000 attendees
- Multiple hotels
Lions International Convention (July 2-5, 2027)
- 5,000 peak rooms; 25,000 total rooms; 25,000 attendees
- Multiple venues
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (April 17-25, 2028)
- 2,150 peak rooms; 8,302 total rooms; 7,000 attendees
- Multiple venues
National Education Association (June 30 – July 4, 2028)
- 5,500 peak rooms; 37,465 total rooms; 6,500 attendees
- Multiple hotels
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
Domestic Convention Sales
- Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Rocky Mountain Golf Tournament (Oct. 5, Denver, CO)
- IMEX America (Oct. 13-15, Las Vegas, NV)
- Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Exhale (Oct. 28-31, Tucson, AZ)
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 September. Highlights included:
- Avalere Health
- Breakthrough T1D
- Business Show Media
- CAPA - Centre for Aviation
- Clarion Events
- EGR International
- Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
- FICO
- Five Guys Enterprises
- FROSCH LATAM
- Global Anti Scam Alliance
- Hanson Wade
- HelmsBriscoe
- International City/County Management Association
- International Council on Large Electric Systems
- International Franchise Association
- International Society of Hypertension
- Kao Corporation
- Kenes Group
- Kong, Inc.
- Law and Society Association
- Lamont Associates
- Lions International
- MD Venue Finding
- Reuters Events
- Sleek Events
- Strategic Site Selection
- World Energy Council
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
Global Convention Sales
- ICCA Congress (Nov. 8-11, Panama City, Panama)
- IBTM World (Nov. 17-19, Barcelona, Spain)
Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.
