Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organisation for Washington, DC, conducted a three-city trade, sales and media mission in India from Jan. 20-25 to promote the city’s new tourist attractions as well as the latest visitation numbers, in partnership with Capital Region USA (CRUSA). The delegation visited Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai, reaching out to over 300 travel partners and meeting with more than 20 publications.
“India is Washington, DC’s third overseas market and visitation to DC has more than doubled in the last five years with 117,00 visitors in 2018,” said Mr. Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO of DDC. “There is still tremendous growth opportunity and we have observed immense potential from key metro cities as well as tier two cities, thanks to terrific air connectivity direct from New Delhi into Dulles International Airport.”
With $13.9 billion in development underway, new hotel inventory and attractions are a major draw for visitors in the coming year. There are 15 new hotels with more than 3,147 rooms in the pipeline to the city, including new brands like the Thompson Washington, DC which opened earlier this month in Capitol Riverfront, the Riggs Washington DC opening in February 2020 and France’s MOB Hotel opening in DC’s NoMa neighborhood later this year. New museums include the National Children’s Museum opening in downtown DC later this month and Planet Word Museum opening May 31, 2020. The National Native American Veterans Memorial at the National Museum of American Indian is expected to be completed in November 2020.
In the year ahead, DDC will launch several promotions partnering with leading tour operators as well as travel and lifestyle publications. Through digital and social media, mobile, print and radio marketing, DDC will continue to promote travel to Washington, DC.
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 travelers a variety of attractions and excursions to explore. DDC also works closely with Brand USA and other key stakeholders to encourage more visitation from India to the capital of the United States.