Destination DC DEI Business Fellowship

DDC launched the DEI Business Fellowship to support small businesses in the local travel and tourism industry owned by people of color, LGBTQ+ persons, women, persons with disabilities and their allies.

This program offers complimentary marketing, mentorship, education and networking opportunities to help sustain and grow your businesses, specifically by reaching business and leisure travelers.

Benefits

• Complimentary membership for 1 calendar year (value: $1,050).
• Full suite of member benefits (except print publication listings).
• Dedicated account manager.
• Two tickets to the annual Marketing Outlook Meeting (value: $95 each).
• Content inclusion on washington.org and the DEI District as appropriate.
• Engagement and training with each of DDC’s departments.
• Annual return on investment report.

Eligibility

• Independently owned small businesses in the travel and tourism industry with annual revenue less than $6 million and/or fewer than 10 full-time employees
• Majority ownership should be a person from a minority group
• Other businesses that have significant DEI programs will be considered
• Excluded businesses are any type of accommodation, airline or cruise line
• Minimum of one (1) year in business
• Registered to conduct business in DC, MD or VA
• Former members in the last three (3) years are not eligible
• Small businesses must comply with DDC’s membership terms and conditions

Applications for 2025 are now closed.

The new business fellows will be announced soon.

Meet the 2024 DEI Business Fellows:

• 11:Eleven Gallery

• 2Fifty Texas BBQ

• AIR Consulting

• Anacostia Arts Center

• Anacostia BID

• Andrew Roby Events, INC

• As You Are

• Bailiwick Clothing Company

• Bo & Ivy Distillers

• Booked by Blaze DJs

• Cash Bash Cupcakes

• Casta's Rum Bar

• Creative Flavor Art & Entertainment LLC

• Damien Carter Photography

• DC Sweet Potato Cake

• District Sitter

• Doro Soul Food

• Elfegne Ethiopian Cuisine

• Fingers in Ink, LLC

• Flave App

• Glassey

• The Guest House

• Homemade in DC

• Innerloop Tranportation

• Ipade

• Jus Paul Music

• Kitchen Savages

• Lee's Flower Shop & Cards

• Mahogany Charters

• Mama's Kitchen

• Miss Toyas Creole House

• Morton Fine Art LLC

• Mozzeria

• Neighbors DC LLC

• Petworth Cigars

• PLANTA Queen

• SCOUT Bags

• Skin Beauty Bar

• Spicy Water African Grill

• Spirited Tours

• Sycamore & Oak

• Take Care

• TeRiBelBlue Catering

• The Ugly Cake Factory

• Wired Wellbeing

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