Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, conducted a sales and media mission in India from April 1-5, 2019 to promote the new tourism developments and unique 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 and 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 3,000 cherry blossom trees in full bloom. The festival celebrates 107 years of enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.
Apart from iconic monuments and memorials embellishing the National Mall, Washington, DC offers insight to 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,” (view campaign video) is born from the organization’s desire to convey the authentic DC experiences that you can have in these areas and beyond.
New hotel inventory, attractions, renovations are a draw, with $11.2 billion in development underway. There are 18 hotels in the pipeline adding 3,987 rooms to the city, including recently opened Conrad Washington, DC and Hilton Washington DC National Mall, anticipated to open in April 2019. 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.
CRUSA is the official regional destination marketing organization promoting Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland internationally. In partnership with DDC, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, CRUSA promotes extended stays in the region by offering travellers an array of attractions and excursions to explore. DDC also works closely with Brand USA and other key shareholders to encourage more visitations from India to the capital of the United States.
