DOMESTIC CONVENTION SALES: Promotions, Sales Calls, Trade Shows and Events
The team’s proactive efforts resulted in 44 presentations, virtual client sales calls and in-person meetings throughout the month of December. Highlights include:
- Bechtel
- Cervical Spine Research Society
- Global Business Alliance
- National Conference of State Legislatures
- National Credit Union Administration
- Transportation Research Board
- Washington National Cathedral
Connect Winter Marketplace (Dec. 1-3, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Derrick Collins
DDC’s strong presence at the Marketplace included productive one-on-one appointments with organizations interested in sourcing Washington, DC for future meetings. These groups represented a mix of corporate, association and SMERF segments. DDC also hosted a client lunch with planners based in the DMV.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- ConferenceDirect
- Family Research Council
- HelmsBriscoe
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Preferra RRG
- Volunteers of America
NECVBReps (Northeast CVBReps) Holiday Party (Dec. 2, Boston, MA)
DDC Staff: John Sklencar
DDC partnered with 20 other destination representatives handling the Northeast market to host a holiday reception for 52 clients at Woods Hill in Boston. We also attended a Professional Convention Management Association New England event in Boston.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Meteorological Society
- AthenaHealth
- ConferenceDirect
- HelmsBriscoe
- International OCD Foundation
- Liberty Mutual
- Markets Group
- TripZero
Association Forum Holiday Showcase (Dec. 3-5, Chicago, IL)
DDC Staff: Katherine Russo, Kate Anaya
This is the largest event for association professionals and industry partners in the Midwest. The DDC team exhibited during the show with two hotel co-ops, highlighting what’s new in DC as a meeting destination.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- Association of African American Financial Advisors (Quad-A)
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
- American Bankers Association
- American Bar Association
- American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- American College of Surgeons
- American Institute of Steel Construction
- American Medical Association
- American Nuclear Society
- American Planning Association
- American Society of Anesthesiologists
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Bostrom
- Defense Research Institute
- Emergency Nurses Association
- Esports Trade Association
- Food Industry Association
- Meetings A La Carte, Inc
- National Restaurant Association
- Society of Critical Care Medicine
- Water Quality Association
- Wespath Benefits and Investment
IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events) Southeast + PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) Southeast + MPI (Meeting Professionals International) Georgia Annual Holiday Luncheon (Dec. 4, Atlanta, GA)
DDC Staff: Brandon Murray
The most attended industry event of the season in the Southeast, the luncheon provided the opportunity to develop new relationships with potential clients and also deepen connections with existing clients.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American Academy of Religion
- Asian American Hotel Owners Association
- Society of Biblical Literature
Professional Convention Management Association Greater Philly Holiday Party (Dec. 4, Philadelphia, PA)
DDC Staff: John Sklencar
About 120 people attended, including about 50 planners. DDC also had a client lunch prior to the reception and a meeting with the local Northeast HelmsBriscoe team while they were in town for their annual meeting.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- American College of Physicians
- American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
- ASTM International
- BCD Meetings and Events
- HelmsBriscoe
- The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research
- Licensed Site Professionals Association
CVB Reps Annual Holiday Party–Season to Sparkle (Dec. 16, Washington, DC)
DDC Staff: Shirley Del Carpio, Derrick Collins
Season to Sparkle beautifully hosted over 400 attendees at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington DC. The Ritz-Carlton team delivered a seamless and welcoming experience for all guests. There was a strong association presence, along with select corporate and government representatives in attendance. Conversations focused on future sourcing opportunities and reinforcing Washington, DC’s visibility as a preferred destination for meetings and events. DDC is actively following up with clients on next steps and potential leads.
DDC targeted the following customers:
- AASHTO
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
- American Association for Justice
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine
- American College of Cardiology
- American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics
- American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
- American Physical Society
- Association of American Medical Colleges
- Association of American Universities
- ConferenceDirect
- Council for Advancement and Support of Education
- Council for Exceptional Children
- Expovision, Inc.
- Heart Rhythm Society
- HelmsBriscoe
- Hotel Lobbyists
- IMN Solutions
- INFORMS
- Mental Health America
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators
- National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
- National Education Association
- Optica
- Various third-party meeting planning agencies
Definite Site Visits
National Academy of Science on behalf of Transportation Research Board (Jan. 11-13, 2026)
- 5,763 peak rooms, 24,046 total rooms, 11,500 attendees
- Multiple venues
National Alliance for Care at Home (Oct. 28-29, 2026)
- 850 peak rooms, 2,635 total rooms, 3,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
American Academy of Neurology (May 1-4, 2027)
- 6,500 peak rooms, 33,735 total rooms, 12,000 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
Point S Tires (Feb. 24-26, 2028)
- 328 peak rooms, 1,197 total rooms, 500 attendees
- Multiple venues
Society for Neuro-Oncology (Nov. 15-18, 2028)
- 1,500 peak rooms, 6,227 total rooms, 2,600 attendees
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center and multiple venues
Tentative Site Visits
Icertis (May 18-20, 2026)
- 310 peak rooms, 970 total rooms, 400 attendees
- Multiple venues
Far East Broadcasting Company (Sept. 18-19, 2026)
- 35 peak rooms, 70 total rooms, 75 attendees
- Multiple venues
American Bar Association (Dec. 5-6, 2027)
- 111 peak rooms, 255 total rooms, 200 attendees
- Multiple venues
GLOBAL CONVENTION SALES: Sales Calls, Bid Development, Strategic Programming, Familiarization Tours, Site Visits and Tradeshows
With a continued focus on proactive client outreach, personalized touchpoints and international bid development, the team engaged prospective accounts and tentative leads throughout the month of December. Highlights included:
- 212F
- Abbey Conferences and Events
- ACS Global
- Alternative Investment Management Association
- Asembl Group
- BCD Meetings & Events
- Clarion Events
- DDMC Event Design
- Eventology
- Halldale Group
- HeadBox
- Hotel Management International HMI
- Informa Markets
- International Association for Hydrogen Energy
- International Association for the Study of Pain
- International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services
- International Council of Museums
- International Council on Systems Engineering
- International Gynecologic Cancer Society
- International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association
- International Organising Committee of the World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion
- International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- International Sociological Association
- International Wrought Copper Council
- Macquarie Capital
- Meeting Encore
- Nutanix
- World Association of Chefs' Societies
- World Potato Congress Inc.
- Zanna Events
Upcoming Activities:
Domestic Convention Sales
- Professional Convention Management Association Convening Leaders (Jan. 11-14, Philadelphia, PA)
- Corporate Event Marketing Association Regional Dinner (Jan. 12, Philadelphia, PA)
- Event Service Professionals Association Annual (Jan. 25-27, Arlington, TX)
- Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives CEO Meeting (Jan. 25-28, Baltimore, MD)
- AMCI Executive Team Dinner (Jan. 27, Washington, DC)
Global Convention Sales
- Global Marketplace (Jan. 29, Washington, DC)
- BestCities Global Forum (Feb. 5-8, Guadalajara, Mexico)
Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.
