WASHINGTON, DC – Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, has secured Washington, DC as the host city for the 2029 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition. The Center for Association Leadership made the announcement at its 2024 conference in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday, Aug. 11.
“We are thrilled and honored to be selected as one of the host cities,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC. “Hosting the ASAE Annual Meeting reaffirms our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences and highlights the collaborative spirit of our local officials and hospitality leaders. We look forward to welcoming the association community to explore and engage with all the nation’s capital has to offer.”
The ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition will bring approximately 5,500 attendees and positively impact DC’s economy. During the 2024 annual conference, 15,000 hotel room nights were generated with about $8.1 million in direct visitor spending. The average immediate economic impact of the ASAE Annual Meeting is between $15-18 million over four days. Furthermore, the Annual Meeting host cities can reliably expect 20% of ASAE decision-makers in attendance to book future business in the host city within five years.
Often dubbed the “Super Bowl of meetings,” ASAE requires heavy coordination with local vendors and leaders. During the competitive bidding and selection process, ASAE considers the city’s convention center facilities, hotel packages and venue options. Additionally, the city’s geographic location, its commitment to ASAE and the support of local officials and hospitality industry leaders is examined when choosing a location.
“Congratulations to Washington, DC – selected as the host city for ASAE’s Annual Meeting & Exposition in 2029,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “ASAE is headquartered in the nation’s capital, but it has been some time since we have held our flagship conference in our hometown. We are excited to partner with Washington, DC to deliver exceptional experiences for ASAE attendees and showcase the city’s unique brand of hospitality. The ASAE Annual Meeting serves as a cornerstone for the association community to connect, share insights and shape the future of the profession. Our Annual Meeting host cities are critical partners to our success.”
A vibrant hub of culture, history and innovation, Washington, DC is home to the LEED Gold-certified Walter E. Washington Convention Center, diverse hotel offerings across the city and unique venues for events including the renovated Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium and the Folger Shakespeare Library. New restaurants continue popping up around the city such as Kwame Onwauchi’s Dōgon in the updated Salamander Hotel, MITA, DC’s first plant-based Latin American restaurant in Shaw and the stylish River Club DC at the Washington Harbor in Georgetown. New and renovated hotels include the Arlo opening in the fall, the Grand Hyatt at CityCenter and the rebranded Le Meridien Madison, Washington, DC. ASAE guests will enjoy the new “People’s House: A White House Experience,” National Geographic’s new Base Camp (2026) and two young pandas who return to the Smithsonian National Zoo in December 2024. Exciting happenings will continue as 2029 approaches.
About Destination DC: Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities.
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August 20, 2024