DRWashington: Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organisation for Washington DC, conducted a sales and media mission in India from April 1-5, 2019 to promote the new tourism offerings of the District in partnership with the Capital Region USA (CRUSA) and Washington Dulles International Airport. The delegation visited Mumbai, Ahmedabad and New Delhi, connecting with over 300 travel partners. “With a 32 percent increase in visitation, India has proven to be one of our most successful growth markets, ranking fourth globally. We see immense potential among Indian travellers. Through this roadshow, we aim to establish strong partnerships and continue to market not only the key attractions in the city, but also its dynamic neighborhoods that reflect the ‘DC Cool’ brand,” said Elliott L Ferguson II, President & CEO of Destination DC. “Our recently added dedicated representation led by Indiva Marketing reinforces our commitment to reach additional Indian travelers.”
The National Cherry Blossom Festival (held from March 20 – April 14) was the theme of the sales mission. More than 1.5 million visitors descend upon Washington DC every year to admire the 3000 cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Apart from iconic monuments and memorials embellishing the National Mall, Washington DC offers insight into the culture and history of the District through its neighborhoods. DC boasts one of the nation’s greatest collections of riverfront communities including Georgetown and the newly-developed Wharf in Southwest. DC’s new tourism campaign, ‘Discover the Real DC,’ showcases the authentic DC experiences that one can have in these areas and beyond.
New hotel inventory, attractions and renovations are a draw, with $11.2 billion in development underway. There are 18 hotels in the pipeline adding 3987 rooms to the city, including Conrad Washington DC and Hilton Washington DC National Mall. The International Spy Museum moves to L’Enfant Plaza on May 12 and the Washington Monument reopens this spring. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s ‘Fossil Hall’ reopens in June.
