Destination DC Announces New Sustainability Role

Washington, DC – In a first for urban destinations, Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, today announced Shelby Luzzi has been promoted to Senior Manager, Sustainability. In her role, Luzzi will develop and implement DDC’s sustainability strategy to meet the growing need to focus on sustainable travel practices across meetings, conventions and leisure travel.  

“We need to take a proactive approach around environmental initiatives. In particular, the global community prioritizes sustainable business events and travel,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, Destination DC’s president and CEO. “By focusing on sustainability with Shelby’s expertise, Washington, DC will stand out from other U.S. destinations as we compete for business worldwide.” 

Along with representing our industry efforts, Luzzi will help educate colleagues and industry peers on the latest city initiatives and trends and motivate stakeholders to adopt more sustainable practices that will impact residents and visitors.  

DDC currently shares curated content with visitors and meeting professionals through a sustainability hub on washington.org. The information outlines how to experience DC through a sustainable lens and he has the city leadership’s efforts, like its commitment to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity by 2032. There are resources for meetings professionals to conduct sustainable events, reduce their carbon footprint and share common vision during their time in Washington, DC. 

Luzzi held the position of coordinator for DDC’s Convention Sales and Services department and has led DDC’s internal sustainability task force since March 2022. On the task force, she leads DDC’s annual Global Destination Sustainability (GDS*) Index application. DC was the only U.S. city to participate in 2021 and 2022. She has a Master in Tourism Administration with a concentration in Sustainable Destination Management from The George Washington University.  She serves on Destination International’s Sustainability Task Force and is a member of U.S. Travel Association’s Sustainable Travel Coalition and the Global Destination Sustainability-Index Technical Advisory Committee.   

“Destination DC strives to protect and improve environmental, social, and economic outcomes across our organization and our city,” said Claire Carlin, VP of Partnerships & Alliances. “Shelby will bring her passion and expertise to our members and clients. Her pragmatic approach coupled with her expertise and tenacity will assist hospitality businesses, local government and industry organizations. As a result, we’ll help our business community stay ahead of social and environmental sustainability trends and show them practical, common-sense ways to achieve real results.”   

“I am thrilled to step into a role that combines my personal and professional passions,” said Luzzi. “The sustainability of tourism, meetings and events is important for the economic livelihood of our city’s residents and the industry, which is why we must carry out activities responsibly. I hope that by engaging more closely with our destination’s businesses and community members we can ensure our industry has a more positive environmental, social and economic impact in the District. I can’t wait to help build on the city’s innovative approach to sustainability and help DDC’s members share their sustainability stories and successes.”   

About Destination DC: Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization 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. washington.org. 

* GDS-Index 

The GDS-Index is the leading sustainability benchmarking and improvement program for destinations around the world. It is used to assess current social, economic and environmental performances of a destination, and then to drive progress and change. The GDS-I has approximately 101 global destinations participating.