Read the latest updates from Destination DC's tourism team
The Washington, DC Welcome and Special Agent Academy
The Washington, DC Welcome is a new hire training program that provides an introduction to DC as a tourist destination. You can incorporate the 10-minute Washington, DC Welcome visitor orientation video into new hire onboarding, and you can further your staff’s knowledge with the in-depth Special Agent Academy. Please make your HR managers aware of these free training resources.
Spotlight
Brazil Sales Mission (Sept. 15-18, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
Team leads: Elliott Ferguson, Letizia Sirtori, Patricia Najar, Kyle Deckelbaum
DDC will lead a sales mission in three key Brazilian cities, hosting four trade events for tour operators and travel agencies, one media event and 1:1 interviews. The program is designed to highlight Washington, DC’s cultural, lifestyle, family-friendly and luxury offerings while positioning the city as a top leisure destination. The team will interact with leading tour operators and key travel agencies in Brazil, building relationships and promoting DC through presentations, networking receptions and curated experiences.
Marriott Leisure Connection (Sept. 23-24, Washington, DC)
Team leads: Letizia Sirtori, Lindsay Hill, Patricia Najar, Erika Jones, Frances Golla
DDC will host top leisure travel partners through Marriott International’s Leisure Connection program, highlighting the city’s premier cultural, dining and hospitality experiences. Building on the legacy of Marriott Mission and Starwood Escape, the annual event connects key retail, wholesale and tour operator partners with Marriott’s world-class properties while showcasing DC as a leading leisure destination. The team will conduct appointments, four sightseeing tours and a destination information table.
Routes World 2025, Hong Kong Guangzhou Mission (Sept. 22-25, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, P.R. China)
Team leads: Elliott Ferguson, Theresa Belpulsi, Darren Gan
The DDC team, in partnership with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, will travel to Hong Kong and Guangzhou to participate in Routes World 2025 and a sales mission. During this visit, we will host events in both cities for leading travel trade partners and travel agents in mainland China and Hong Kong.
AAA/Welcome Center Trainings Outreach Blitz (Sept. 2025, VA and MD)
Team leads: Lindsay Hill, Georgia Lucas
The Visitor Experience team will visit AAA offices and welcome centers in the DMV to highlight our training resources, including the Washington, DC Welcome training program and specialized destination training for staff.
August Visitor Experience Stats
Publications distributed: 59,000
Online requests: 3,226
Calls: 211
Chatbot engagements: 1,112
What three major questions have visitors asked?
- What is the current state of Washington, DC?
- What businesses and attractions are open during these times?
- What events does my DC JazzFest ticket allow me to attend?
Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.
