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Tourism News & Events
The Washington, DC Welcome Launch (Oct. 3, Washington, DC) Destination DC (DDC) is proud to introduce the official destination training course designed for the DC area hospitality community. The Washington, DC Welcome provides a 10-minute video that highlights the vital info you need to know about the city and offers suggestions to amplify the #Only1DC experience. You can check out the video and resources for you and your colleagues on the Washington, DC Welcome landing page. Virginia Welcome Center Takeover (Oct. 11, Ruther Glen, VA) Attendees: The Visitor Experience Team The team will connect directly with inbound travelers heading to DC at the Northern Virginia Gateway Welcome Center. The takeover with participating members will celebrate all things autumn in DC with music, games, giveaways and more. Atlanta Pride (Oct. 12-14, Atlanta, GA) Attendees: Theresa Belpulsi, Nick Price, Georgia Lucas, Erika Jones, Erica Riddle O’Neill, Halia Ellis To promote WorldPride 2025 in our nation’s capital, DDC, in partnership with Capital Pride Alliance, Events DC and Interpride, will participate in the Atlanta Pride Festival. CRUSA Visit USA Austria FAM (Oct. 17-19, Washington, DC) Attendees: Letizia Sirtori, Nicole Nussbaum, Erika Jones, Bianca Corallo In partnership with Capital Region USA and Visit USA Austria, the Global Tourism team will welcome three tour operators (FTI, DERTOUR, RUEFA) and six journalists (including Kronen Zeitung, Kurier and NÖ Nachrichten, travel trade media like TIP, etc.) to DC with sponsorship from Air Canada. Participants will familiarize themselves with the capital region to help increase bookings. Japan Mission (Oct. 14-24, Tokyo & Osaka, Japan) Attendees: Elliott Ferguson, Theresa Belpulsi, Robin McClain, Danielle Davis, Miriam Chovanec, Darren Gan DDC will conduct a comprehensive trade and media mission in Japan. This mission will highlight the National Cherry Blossom Festival and DC JazzFest and will include sales calls, a media event, a VIP reception and a consumer activation weekend at Sumida Park, along with participation in the IGLTA Convention and a VIP luncheon in Osaka. Brand USA Travel Week Europe (Oct. 21-24, London, UK) Attendees: Elliott Ferguson, Letizia Sirtori, Nicole Nussbaum DDC will attend the annual Brand USA Travel Week in London, to meet one-on-one with key trade and media players across Europe. Elliott Ferguson will attend the CEO Track. NAAR Tour Operator Travel Agents Event (Oct. 24, Naples, Italy) Attendees: Letizia Sirtori DDC will partner with NAAR and Brand USA Italy to host a themed evening around U.S. rail travel and Washington, DC. This event comes as part of a year-long campaign that DDC will run with the tour operator in Italian, French and German markets. The Federation of Gay Games Annual General Assembly (Oct. 24-28, Washington, DC) Attendees: Nick Price Team DC, the local organization for LGBTQIA+ sports in Washington, DC, will host the 2024 Federation of Gay Games Annual General Assembly. During the General Assembly, bid cities will present to committee officials for the opportunity to host the Gay Games XIII in 2030. September Visitor Experience Stats Publications distributed: 14,133 Online Requests: 17,171 Calls: 359 Top visitor questions last month: Can you take the Metro directly from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) into Washington, DC? Are there any major events scheduled for Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, DC? Where can I store my luggage or bags while touring DC? Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.
Transportation
According to SmartAsset and WalletHub, Washington, DC is the #1 city for public transport in 2018. It also happens to be a great place to host transport-related meetings and is home to the annual Washington Auto Show’s MobilityTalks International conference, which gathers government policy makers from around the world to exchange ideas on best practices related to the development and regulation of connected and autonomous vehicles. Learn why DC has become a top destination for transport. Connect with Destination DC staff, submit a meetings RFP or learn more about transportation-focused meetings and conventions in our transportation white paper. Accolades #1 city for public transport (SmartAsset, WalletHub, 2018) #8 city for cycling (The PeopleforBikes Advocacy Group’s Places for Bike City Ratings, 2018) 22 businesses and 2 universities in DC received awards for being bicycle friendly communities (The League of American Bicyclists, 2018) #8 best place to live in the U.S. (U.S. News and World Report, 2018) 2nd largest subway system by ridership in the U.S. (SmartAsset, 2018) #7 most walkable city in the U.S. (WalkScore, 2017) #4 in the AllTransit Performance Score, which accounts for connectivity, access to jobs and frequency of service (Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2016) Access Thirteen operating administrations under the Department of Transportation cover nine areas of focus across all modes of transport supporting infrastructure and enabling information such as Transport Statistics. Access to Federal agencies including National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) More than 30 national associations and nonprofit organizations related to transportation headquartered in the region Transportation is the sixth-highest ranked sector for lobbying; More than 150 lobbying firms and more than 1,500 lobbyists are based in the region. Four local universities have peer-leading programs in transportation and related areas of study such as urban planning. Global hub for international policy organizations including the World Bank and International Road Federation Local Support George Washington University’s research on walkability portrays DC as a model for other cities, with walkable urban places across all types of real estate development. Move DC is a 25-year strategic plan launched by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in 2014 that supports reliable, safe and multi-modal transportation to fuel economic growth and was followed in fall 2017 by a move to the multi-year District of Columbia Statewide Transport Improvement Program (DC-STIP). Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is committed to ensuring a reliable, safe and multi-modal transportation network between DC, Maryland and Virginia through its Momentum Plan. Ford Motor Company and the DC Infrastructure Academy formed a partnership in October 2018 to train DC residents for jobs and careers in the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry and prepare DC to test its self-driving vehicles. By spring 2019, DDOT will nearly double the number of street parking zones reserved for tour bus parking to create additional easy-to-use and safe places for large numbers of passengers visiting the District to get on and off motorcoaches. Innovation The Institute of Higher Business Studies (IESE) Business School at University of Navarra in Barcelona, Spain considers DC a smart city, holding a position of sustainable leadership in the future, according to its 2017 Cities in Motion Study. Home to a thriving transportation tech startup culture both in terms of firms based in the city and organizations choosing to pilot their products in DC, such as the new shared-ride mobility company Split. City of the Year in 2017 (SmartCitiesDive) Launched new transit methods to access the Southwest Waterfront Advance the Vision Zero initiative through data analytics Adopted five dockless bike-share pilot programs Developed new ride-share services, including Via and Maven Fourth City in the U.S. where Ford is testing self-driving vehicles First jurisdiction in North American to launch at bikeshare system, which now has more than 4,000 bikes and 500 stations National cultural institutions that showcase innovations in transportation include the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum and National Postal Museum Interested in learning more about Washington, DC as a leading destination for industry meetings? Connect with Destination DC staff or read our transportation white paper for more information.
Travel Status Update
Find the latest status of museums, attractions and events in and around Washington, DC. Washington, DC is open for business The nation's capital is ready to welcome you. Proof of vaccination and masks are generally not required in Washington, DC, but visitors are encouraged to check with individual establishments about COVID-19 protocols. Find the latest information from the DC government at coronavirus.dc.gov. Where you can get vaccinated: The DC Government has resources on where to get vaccinated, including pediatric vaccination pre-registration, lists of health centers offering the vaccine and transportation options. Add your zip code to the official vaccines.gov site to find a list of pharmacies, health clinics and hospitals offering vaccines near you. International Travel Starting Nov. 8, 2022, vaccinated international travelers were welcomed back to the U.S. Learn more about international travel guidance. China outbound travel starts Jan. 8, 2023, and China will cancel inbound quarantine for international arrivals. There will be no more quarantine measures for people infected with COVID. Beginning Jan. 5, the U.S. will require COVID testing for travelers from China. The requirement applies to travelers from China, regardless of nationality and vaccination status. How has the District of Columbia government taken steps to address coronavirus? Stay current on the latest updates from the DC government and Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor of the District of Columbia. DC Health and the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency are leading the pandemic response. If travelers exhibit symptoms and are concerned that they might have coronavirus while in Washington, DC, please call DC Health’s hotline at 202-576-1117 and find information about testing in DC. Learn more about how various city entities are implementing health and safety measures: Metro Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Walter E. Washington Convention Center: The convention center has been recognized for its detailed health and safety measures. It also published its Back to Business Guide, a 40-page document detailing new health and safety technologies and guidelines for meeting in person. Read more Events DC news updates.
Treasures of the District
Oldowan stone chopper from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, First Floor The oldest human-made piece in the Smithsonian’s collections – likely making it the oldest discoverable artifact in the nation’s capital – can be found in the hallowed halls of the National Museum of Natural History. Roughly 1.8 million years old, the early Stone Age chopper was used as a tool to extract meat and bone marrow from large animals by early humans in East Africa. Choppers were formed by striking hammerstones against stone cores to produce sharp ends. Note that if you are looking for treasure a little more shiny, you can also see the Hope Diamond at the same museum. More information The First Teddy Bear Smithsonian National Museum of American History The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden exhibit, 3 Center Did you know that the inspiration for our cuddliest toy was the sympathy of one Theodore Roosevelt? In 1902, near the beginning of his first term as the 26th President of the United States, “Teddy” (as he was lovingly known by his supporters) refused to shoot and kill a 235-pound black bear who had been tied to a tree. Roosevelt’s affection for the “old, tired, worn-out bear” led to a political cartoon by the Washington Star’s Clifford Berryman, which in turn inspired Brooklyn candy store owners Rose and Morris Michtom to create the first stuffed bear toy (which also bore the President’s namesake). Before producing more bears, Morris received permission to make a small bear cub and deem it “Teddy’s Bear”; by 1908, Michtom’s invention had made him a millionaire. The original Teddy Bear is now on display at the National Museum of American History in its incredible exhibit on the presidency. More information The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom National Archives Upper Level No, there’s not actually a treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence, regardless of your desire to play Benjamin Franklin Gates from National Treasure. However, you can view our country’s founding document inside the National Archives’ famous rotunda, which also features the original U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The chance to view any one of the documents is wholly unique to DC; getting to see all three in one place is like finding a pot of gold. We should also make note of the fact that another treasured American document, the Emancipation Proclamation, is now also on permanent display in the Archives’ Rotunda. More information Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de’ Benci National Gallery of Art West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 6 If you want to view a painting by the great Leonardo da Vinci on American soil, the only place you can do so is inside DC’s National Gallery of Art. Ginevra de’ Benci, which is located in the Gallery’s West Building, finds the original Renaissance man experimenting with the new medium of oil painting – note how the surface of the painting shows wrinkles, a sign that da Vinci was still mastering the technique. The museum’s website provides additional insight into the painting’s creative significance: “…the careful observation of nature and subtle three–dimensionality of Ginevra's face point unmistakably to the new naturalism with which Leonardo would transform Renaissance painting.” More information Old Stone House 3051 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 DC’s oldest neighborhood, Georgetown, is home to both the historic and the haunted. Perhaps the best example of the former is the Old Stone House, known as the oldest structure on its original foundation in the nation’s capital. The story of the land goes all the way back to the creation of Georgetown itself in 1751, when it was marked as “Lot #3” on early maps. Construction on the house was completed in 1766 and since then, the remarkable building has passed through numerous owners, finally coming into the possession of the federal government in 1953. Today, the gorgeous exterior grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, while the front room of the house is a store and the kitchen serves as an exhibit space. More information Darth Vader ‘Gargoyle’ Washington National Cathedral Northwest Tower In one of the city’s wildest mashups, the Washington National Cathedral sports a Darth Vader ‘gargoyle’ on its northwest tower. The villainous creation is the result of a design-a-carving competition held by the Cathedral as it constructed its two west towers in the 1980s. Christopher Rader’s grotesque is a fascinating, can-you-spot-me that requires instructions to be found. More information The Bonsai that survived Hiroshima U.S. National Arboretum Japanese Pavilion While the former U.S. Capitol Columns are incredibly photogenic and historic, they’re far from being the only amazing artifacts at the U.S. National Arboretum in DC. A Japanese white pine bonsai tree that survived the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 resides in the Arboretum’s Japanese Pavilion, part of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. The white pine, donated by bonsai master Masaru Yamaki as part of a 53-piece gift to the U.S. for its bicentennial in 1976, sat in the Arboretum’s collection for 25 years before the master’s sons visited to check on their grandfather’s tree. According to The Washington Post, the duo informed Arboretum officials of the tree’s incredible survival skills. Sure enough, news footage taken at the Yamaki Nursery after the nuclear blast show the white pine unharmed. The artful tree still stands today, truly a modern treasure in its resiliency. More information Arboretum Plant Finder & Interactive Map
