Events DC, the official convention authority for the District of Columbia, continues to have a record-setting year with 21 citywide meetings in DC throughout 2017.
Last year, Events DC hosted, produced, and supported more than 320 events, welcoming more than two million people to the nation’s capital. The events brought in an estimated $390 million in visitor spending, boosting the D.C. economy.
This year, citywide events include OTAKON, the Japanese and East Asian anime and culture convention, which will bring approximately 23,000 attendees to Washington, DC, and Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference, their annual conference, expecting more than 16,000 attendees from across the globe. Since venues are at the heart of Shaw and Mt. Vernon Square’s rapidly developing convention and entertainment district, visitors and residents alike have easy access to plenty of new experiences, including hotels, shops, restaurants, and attractions. This is especially true at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which has added six new stores and restuarants to the 2.3-million-square-foot street-facing retail space. Tenants include locally-owned businesses like Smoked & Stacked, a fast-casual sandwich shop; Union Kitchen Grocery, a corner market; and coming soon, Morris, a speakeasy craft cocktail bar; and Unconventional Diner, an upscale diner.
Events DC also continues to be committed to the newest technology and digital trends so it can create the best experiences for meeting and convention planners and visitors. The convention authority partnered with Smart City to roll out a free and upgraded Wi-Fi service at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. This addition now allows attendees to get online with ease when attending events, and it creates the opportunity for Events DC and its attendees to communicate and engage effortlessly with real-time information exchange inside any space across the bustling halls of the center.
In addition to upgraded Wi-Fi, the center has digital signage, interactive wayfinding kiosks, and digital transit displays. These technologies create a more enriching experience for meeting planners and their attendees when visiting.
Events DC is dedicated to the continued development of the hospitality and entertainment industry, fueling the city’s economic growth, and making D.C. a great place to visit, live, work and play. This makes meetings in DC a memorable experience for planners and their attendees.
For more information and to start planning your event, visit EventsDC.com/Plan.
