Find out where DC has been in the news this month and what's new with the marketing team.
Destination DC's (DDC) marketing and communications strategy supports economic development through tourism by reaching potential visitors and inspiring them to travel to the nation’s capital. The current cross-channel promotional efforts are focused on fall travel across editorial and content development.
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Media Coverage
Domestic
Following hosted trips, Condé Nast humanizes DC through its Lebanese restaurants and strong immigrant community, while Forbes profiles a prominent DC chef. Elliott talks to CNN about DDC’s message to visitors during the federal surge, The Washington Post takes an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities for DC tourism and the Associated Press highlights the “We the People" video series amidst an overall downturn of international visitors to the U.S. Afar shares the city’s waterfront offerings and the New York Amsterdam News applauds DC’s diverse arts and culture.
International
India celebrates DC JazzFest in JagranJosh and the UK outlines ease of internationally flying into the city in The Times. France’s Roadtrippin Magazine created a DC Homepage that outlines top attractions and Australia’s Traveller features Black Broadway Tours as a top cultural travel experience. Mexico’s Factor Meetings and Greentology praise DDC’s participation in IBTM Americas. The Brazil sales and media mission received coverage across several publications, including Correio Brasiliense, Veja Rio and Panrotas. Brazil’s Viagem News spotlights historic Georgetown.
Trade
BizBash spotlights new venues in Washington, DC for summer 2025, including the Willard, Hyatt Place Convention Center, Mint House and Canal House. Meetings Today recognizes DDC’s Tara Miller as one of its 2025 “Meetings Trendsetters.” Smart Meetings showcases DC’s luxury hotel offerings in Capital Ways to Meet. Convention South includes DC in its Southern Meeting Sites roundup. Sports Events included a “Spotlight on Washington, DC” showcasing Capital One Arena, Nationals Park, Audi Field, and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Marketing Highlights
Stay up-to-date with us through washington.org’s DC is Open page. Through this campaign, DDC ensures that all visitors understand the vast array of DC treasures and experiences that continue to be available to them regardless of a federal shutdown. A continuously updated list of what's open is also accessible.
DDC launched We The People on washington.org. This remarkable video series spotlights the voices of DC locals who reflect the city’s rich culture, creativity and community. Each episode features local stories that show why there’s truly #Only1DC. Immerse yourself in the first of these videos about mural artist Trap Bob, and check back in the coming weeks as new videos and corresponding itineraries drop.
DDC and Events DC were awarded the Event Marketing Campaign of the Year award from Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA). The award was presented during the Sports ETA Annual 4S Summit in Annapolis, MD on Sept. 25, in recognition of DDC's paid media efforts during WorldPride, which "delivered world-class results," according to John David, President and CEO of Sports ETA.
Social Highlights
Top Liked Post: A Love Letter to DC
Leisure:
- Seasonal Inspiration: We welcomed the transition from summer to fall with Labor Day weekend, first glimpses of fall foliage, a fall bucket list and events roundup, plus golden hour.
- Arts & Culture: Theatre Week, Hispanic Heritage Month and World Tourism Day took center stage, alongside itineraries through Hamilton-inspired DC and neighborhood highlights in Anacostia, The Wharf and beyond.
- Food & Beverage: From beer gardens and date-night ideas to wine gardens and coffee on National Coffee Day, DC’s food scene is festive.
- Family & Community: We paused to honor 9/11 and Constitution Day, invited audiences to share their favorite DC memories, and highlighted quirky local finds like photo booths and the Georgetown Flea Market.
Industry:
- We paused to reflect on 9/11 and celebrated our newest Employee of the Quarter, along with milestone staff anniversaries.
- DDC hosted a member event at Renwick Gallery and also earned recognition at ESTO while Washington, DC marked strong results in the 2025 GDS-Index, reaffirming DC’s leadership in sustainability within the country.
- We also continued Member Spotlights and welcomed major citywide events, including the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, across the destination.
