Find out where DC has been in the news this month and what's new with the marketing team.
Destination DC's (DDC) marketing and communications strategy supports economic development through tourism by reaching potential visitors and inspiring them to travel to the nation’s capital. The current cross-channel promotional efforts are focused on fall travel across editorial and content development.
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Media Coverage
Domestic
Elliott is quoted in more than 300 publications nationwide about the giant pandas’ return to the National Zoo, including the Washington Post and PBS News Hour. He’s also quoted by Fox News about visitation during inauguration. Good Housekeeping names DC one of the 24 best places to visit in December and Forbes declares DC one of the six best cities for European style holiday markets. Southern Living spotlights the best of charming Georgetown and AFAR features all that’s new this fall. Pride Journeys focuses on new hotels and WANF reports from the WorldPride activation in Atlanta.
International
The UK covers presidential hotspots ahead of the November election in Travel Weekly, while Travelmole features top set-jetting locations in DC. The Australia market outlines what to do beyond the monuments in Traveller and the India market highlights the opening of The People’s House in Outlook Traveller. Canada’s Porter Airlines’ in-flight magazine, RE: Porter, features Ben’s Chili Bowl and DC-based artist Aniekan Udofia in an interview. Mexico’s Escandala and Brazil’s Rapnaura highlights Shakira as the headliner for the WorldPride 2025 opening concert.
Trade
In October, trade coverage supports DDC's presence at IMEX America. Elliott gives interviews for Meetings Today and Northstar. DDC's special agent academy is highlighted in Travel Trends Today, Travel & Tour World and USAE. MLB announces eight ballparks that make great event venues, including Nationals Park. The venue is featured in Skift Meetings.
Marketing Highlights
Awards season for DDC's advertising
DDC's advertising team recently won a gold Travel Weekly Magellan Award for a collaboration with AFAR's Sofar Sounds in the spring of 2024. The initiative included concerts in New York City and Miami and a content hub on AFAR's website. The Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts also recognized DDC's There's Only One DC commercials with two awards for travel and tourism video series: a gold Davey (which go exclusively to small production teams) and a silver w3 (these honor excellence in digital content; other winners include Paramount, ESPN Films and Walt Disney Studios).
Inauguration content on washington.org
With the U.S. Presidential Inauguration quickly approaching, DDC's web team has updated its dedicated landing page with a bevy of content to promote the event in person for the first time in 8 years. Readers can discover presidential experiences at attractions and restaurants and learn about what to expect on Inauguration Day.
Social Highlights
Leisure Social
In October, we partnered with Emma McMorran and Talia Cadet for Theatre Week, and Anela Malik highlighted a solo staycation in Adams Morgan. We shared a Love Is Blind-inspired video which became our highest performing Instagram reel in the past six months. The pandas touched down in the District, creating a buzz on TikTok and Instagram. We celebrated 50 years of the Hirshhorn Museum and the Washington Capitals, and we highlighted Halloween and Día de los Muertos with an event roundup, DC-inspired costume ideas and witch hats on Capitol Hill. Popular posts included fall stoops, the Washington Monument at sunrise and the supermoon over the Lincoln Memorial.
Industry Social
Industry channels celebrated our Northstar Meetings Stella Award and Meetings Today Best Of Award, as well as our President and CEO’s WBJ Power 100 honor. Plus, we shared our exciting GDSI results. Staff highlights included DDC’s Book Club meet-up, an October milestone anniversary and recaps of IMEX, DC Central Kitchen volunteering and Breast Cancer Awareness Month team efforts.
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