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AREA GUIDES WA S H I N G T O N , D C DESTINATION DC HAS IT ALL, JUST TAKE A LOOK AND SEE! BY DARYL JOHNSON DC is open for meetings and events at full capacity and is a top destination for green meetings specifically. Hotels and venues continue to extend their sustain- able initiatives with recycling programs, energy-conserving light systems and refill- able water stations while catering services continue to support local businesses and eco-friendly offerings for customers. It's easy to walk, bike or use public trans- portation. With a prime location in the heart of downtown, the world-class Walter E. Washington Convention Center is as func- tional as it is artistically impressive. The 2.3- million-square-foot space hosts meetings, conventions and events of every kind, from medical industry annual meetings to comic book-inspired expos and board retreats. You can mold all 703,000 square feet of exhibition space inside the convention center into whatever shape you need. Within its two levels and five exhibit halls is a 473,000-square-foot exhibit hall that can be subdivided into three rooms, 198,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, a 52,000-square-foot ballroom and 77 breakout rooms. The space is ver- satile enough to accommodate events of all sizes. The Connected Campus initiative shows planners how to use non-tradition- al spaces to expand the footprint of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and create a diversified meeting layout showcasing the authentic DC. Six distinct venues offer 19 bookable meeting and event spaces that can accommodate groups of all sizes in the heart of Washington, DC. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is one of the top meetings venues in the nation's capital. Fortunately for con- ventioneers, it also happens to be sur- rounded by one of the city's fastest grow- ing restaurant scenes. Eateries like RASA Mount Vernon, All Purpose Pizzeria, Unconventional Diner and The Dabney are possibilities clients can choose from, all within a short distance from the conven- tion center. Anyone in DC can tap into the city's creative heartbeat, you just need to know where to look. Whether you become inspired by free museums or culturally diverse neighborhoods with bustling shops and cafes, this city has it all. Catch a musical before it hits Broadway. Go where DC creators hatch their best ideas. Subscribe to a podcast that's recorded live from your shotel. The District oozes with local flavor and one-of-a-kind experiences. Bottle it up on your trip when you tour col- orful street murals, chat with artists at Eastern Market or accept a standing invite to the Meridian Hill drum circle. The connection between African Americans and DC has always existed – from Benjamin Banneker, the son of a freed enslaved man, placing the District's boundary stones to the "Godfather of Go- Go" Chuck Brown inventing a new form of funk music. Recount the days of "Black Broadway" on a U Street walking tour, pay homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by visiting his memorial and attending the March on Washington's 60th edition, reflect on the challenges and triumphs of African Americans at the National Mall's newest Smithsonian museum and experi- ence the city's cultural diversity no matter where you are. Destination DC President/CEO Elliott Ferguson and his team stand ready to help you make this your most suc- cessful event yet There are three major airports in the Washington, DC region: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (airport code: DCA), Washington Dulles Inter-national Airport (airport code: IAD) and Balti-more/- Washington International Thur-good Marshall Airport (airport code: BWI). • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Marriott Marquis Washington D.C 1,175 Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center 245 Capitol Hill Hotel 153 Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill 836 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Walter E. Washington Convention Center Total Space 703,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 473,000 sq. ft. Largest Balloom 52,000 sq. ft Meeting Rooms 77 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Washington DC – (202) 789-7000 www.washington.org/meetings Martin Luther King Monument photo credit: PoPMedia Group B M & T ••• March/April 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 55