Destination DC DEI Business Fellowship

Destination DC launched the DEI Business Fellowship to support small, independently owned businesses in the local travel and tourism industry – specifically those owned by people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, persons with disabilities and their allies. 

This one-year program provides complimentary membership, with access to marketing, mentorship, education and networking opportunities designed to help grow and sustain your business through reaching both business and leisure travelers. 
 

Benefits

• Complimentary Destination DC membership for one calendar year (value: $1,050)
• Full suite of member benefits (excluding listings in print publications)
• Dedicated account manager
• Two complimentary tickets to the annual Marketing Outlook Meeting (value: $95/each)
• Content inclusion on washington.org and the DEI District, as appropriate
• Opportunities to engage with and receive training from each DDC department
• A comprehensive return-on-investment (ROI) report at the end of the cohort year

Eligibility

• Be a small, independently owned business in the travel and tourism industry
• Generate less than $6 million in annual revenue and/or have fewer than 10 full-time employees
• Be majority-owned by someone from an underrepresented group
• Businesses with robust DEI programs may also be considered
• Have been in operation for at least one (1) year
• Be registered to do business in DC, MD or VA
• Not have been a DDC member within the past three (3) years
• Excludes accommodations, airlines and cruise lines
• Must comply with DDC’s membership terms and conditions

Applications for the 2026 DEI Business Fellowship are closed.

Meet the 2026 DEI Business Fellows:

• Abigail de Casanova - Hair & Makeup

• AiE Artists

• Annie's Paramount Steakhouse

• Blooms Collective 

• Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center

• Dare Gift Boxes

• Dionne's Good Food

• District Heroines

• Hush Harbor

• Maltiox

• Maracas Ice Pops

• Merry Pin

• Mixxed

• Passionary

• The Phototique

• Rose Ave Bakery

• Sadiya Clinic

• Sandlot DC

• Shanklin Hall

• Sip & Paint DC

• The Spice Suite

• StitchesDC

• Stop, Pop & Smile Photobooth

• Talentology

• Tango Pastry

• Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar

• Untold DC Tours

• Yours Cafe

View all (past and present) DEI business fellows here.