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
Through Marketing Outlook Meeting messaging, dozens of separate interviews and pitching, DDC shaped coverage in August to share the facts, underscore the local impact of tourism, debut the new “We the People” campaign and reiterate DDC’s proactive approach with visitors and meeting planners. Coverage includes CNN, Fox News, The Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, Axios, WUSA 9, WTOP, NBC 4 and many others. Food & Wine names Eastern Market one of the country’s most historic, and Outdoors Magazine features locals and their favorite spots for outdoor adventures in DC.
International
Australia’s top trade publications highlight upcoming hotels, Moxy Hotel Southwest and The James, while Travel Weekly shares the success of DDC’s East Coast USA mission with Philadelphia and Boston. The UK and India name Washington, DC one of the top U.S. destinations for Independence Day celebrations. Mexico’s Inversion Turistica and Brazil’s Turis News cover DDC’s Marketing Outlook Meeting. Mexico’s Invertour focuses on the launch of the new Special Agent Academy platform and Jet News summarizes offerings for Summer Restaurant Week.
Trade
BizBash shines a light on 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 explores DC’s luxury hotel offerings in Capital Ways to Meet, while Convention South lists DC in its Southern Meeting Sites roundup. Sports Events includes a “Spotlight on Washington D.C.” showcasing Capital One Arena, Nationals Park, Audi Field, and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Marketing Highlights
This year, Destination DC’s biannual East Coast USA sales mission (together with Philadelphia and Boston) to Australia and New Zealand included a multifaceted, joint media buy which included:
Outdoor large format, transit, rail and airport advertising via JCDecaux in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia
Out of home advertising on wrapped rideshare vehicles in Sydney via Wrappr with digital retargeting ads via Lumos
Travel trade marketing with CEO interviews, sponsored editorial and sponsored social to push out the interview content via KarryOn and Travel Weekly
We’re thrilled to amplify our presence in-market in these vibrant, can’t-miss ways.
On the web side, check out washington.org’s abundant fall content. From events and festivals (including Theatre Week and Art All Night) to the city’s fine foliage to, of course, free fall fun, we’ve got you covered. If you’re already looking to Halloween, so are we, but September is chock full of events all the way through, with the much-loved Adams Morgan Day and H Street Festivals showing up the next two weekends, just to name a couple. Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) brings many opportunities to celebrate in the District, as well.
Social Highlights
Top Liked Post: A Love Letter to DC
Leisure:
- Seasonal Inspiration: We shared a love letter to DC, showcased the Washington Monument at blue hour and the monuments at night and captured the city’s magic from summer’s peak to the countdown to fall.
- Arts & Culture: Highlights included DC JazzFest, the National Book Festival and lauding DC as a city for book lovers.
- Food & Beverage: We rounded up the best oyster spots in DC and ways to celebrate tomato season. We also shared information about Summer Restaurant Week and its extension through the end of the month.
- Family & Community: From the Smithsonian National Zoo’s O-Line to DC’s number-one big city park system, we highlighted experiences for all ages and uncovered quirky gems like bathtubs in the Capitol’s basement.
Industry:
In August, we welcomed our community to the annual Destination DC Marketing Outlook Meeting. We observed National Celebrate Services Week and congratulated our Director of Global Sales, Tara Miller, on being named a 2025 Trend Setter by Meetings Today.
The team joined in on Summer Restaurant Week and recognized the accomplishments of the hospitality community at the RAMMYs.
We also continued Member Spotlights and strong citywide welcomes to the American Chemical Society and Otakon across the destination.
