Black Meetings and Tourism

March / April 2019

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B M & T ••• March/April 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 48 AREA GUIDES WA S H I N G T O N D . C . MEETING IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE BY CLETUS RAMSEY The contributions of African Ameri- cans to the landscape and culture of our nation's capital runs deep. From Benjamin Banneker, a free African- American scientist and surveyor who was part of the team that surveyed the original borders of the District of Columbia to President Barack Obama, this city is the embodiment of the African American experience. Whether you are bringing a board meeting of 20, a family reunion of 200, or a convention of 15,000, DC will meet and exceed your expectations. For larger events, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center is a 2.3 million-sq. ft. facility with 77 meeting rooms that is located between the historic Arts District/U Street/Shaw district and the revitalized Downtown/Penn Quarter/- Chinatown district. Nearby, the Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square combines simple elegance and modern amenities to create a versatile space perfect for small- er events. Located across the street from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, this historic landmark has awe- inspiring architecture, spacious rooms, and a 150-seat theater. The city features over 30,000 hotel rooms with several thousand more in the surrounding area easily accessible by public transportation. DC's largest prop- erty, the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC, features 1,175 sleeping rooms, 105,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and is connected to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center via underground con- course. Other meeting hotels include the Grand Hyatt Washington (44,000 sq. ft.), Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel (89,054 sq. ft.), and the Hyatt Place Washington DC/Georgetown/West End (2,200 sq. ft.). Perhaps no other city has more world- renowned monuments, museums and his- toric points of interest than the nation's capital. And fortunately, they are easily accessible on foot, including the latest two additions, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the National Museum of Afri- can American His- tory and Culture. Both of these attractions, and many more, can be found on National Mall. Situated on the banks of the Potomac River, the National Mall is a two-mile swath of land bound by the U.S Capitol to the east and the Washington Monument to the west. Visitors to "the Mall" will find a wide, pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined boulevard with moving monu- ments and memorials, world-famous museums and impressive federal build- ings along Constitution Avenue. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is administered by the National Park Service and sits at 1411 W. St, SE in the Anacostia neighborhood of DC. Douglass lived in the house he nick- named Cedar Hill for 22 years until his death. Many of DC's major attractions are free like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial to name a few and many are within walking distance of one another. Other free attractions include the National Museum of African Art, National World War II Memorial and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. DC is a top destination for green meetings. Hotels and venues continue to extend their sustainable initiatives with recycling programs, energy-conserving light systems and refillable water stations while catering services continue to sup- port local businesses and eco-friendly offerings for customers. It's easy to walk, bike or use public transportation. Discover out how easy it is to go green for your next event in Washington, DC. If you are contemplating bringing your meeting to Washington, Destination DC President/CEO Elliott Ferguson and his team are poised to assist you with all the support and services needed to ensure the suc- cess of your event. There are three major airports in the Washington, DC region: Ronald Reagan Washington National Aitport (air- port code: DCA), Washington Dulls International Airport (airport code: IAD) and Baltimore/-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (airport code: BWI). All three offer multiple U.S. and international flights daily. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown 807 Omni Shoreham Hotel 834 Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center 146 W Hotel Washington, DC 317 Grand Hyatt Washington 897 The Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC 300 Washington Hilton 1,070 Marriott Marquis Washington, DC 1,175 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Washington Convention Center Exhibit Space 703,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 77 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Destination DC – (202) 789-7000 washington.org African American Smithsonian Museum photo credit: Destination D.C

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