Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1498279
13 B M & T ••• May/June 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Travel Association's influential IPW travel trade show in 2017, geared towards international travel buyers. She's also supported many special events and new attrac- tions and landmarks in DC, including the World War II Memorial in 2004, opening of Nationals Park in 2008, the cen- tennial celebration of the gift of cherry trees from Tokyo to DC in 2012 with the National Cherry Blossom Festival and MLB All-Star Week in 2018. Most recently, her team hosted the Student Youth Travel Association's annual meeting in August 2022. "This promotion is reflective of my team making me a bet- ter leader, as they inspire me to be the best I can be," said Belpulsi. "Over the course of my career, I have been part of some incredibly special events in Washington, DC, and we have the privilege of traveling the globe and hosting the world in Washington, DC, sharing some of those experiences with potential visitors." Prior to DDC, Belpulsi worked for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau among other roles. She hails from Ohio and is a District resident. M E L I S S A A . R I L E Y , SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CONVENTION SALES AND SERVICES Riley's tenure at DDC spans over 20 years. She leads a team of 25 conven- tion sales and services profes- sionals, respon- sible for gener- ating positive e c o n o m i c impact for the District through room night gen- eration and visi- tor spending. A 25-year veteran of the industry, she became d e p a r t m e n t head in 2014 after several promotions taking her from national sales manager to senior national sales manager and director of convention sales in January 2003. Riley sparked DDC's Connected project. The strategic positioning aligns DDC with the city's priorities to drive meet- ings and events business within growth sectors. The overall positioning includes three pillars: Connected Capital, focused on DC's strong industries and assets that benefit customers; Connected Campus, focused on unique venues and event space to extend a meeting's footprint; and Connected Community, a platform for customers to leave a lasting positive impact on Washington, DC. She has fostered a strong relationship between DDC and the hotel community, as well Events DC, to yield the maximum number of events for the city. Additionally, she positions DDC as a leading industry voice in meetings-related initiatives around the world, serving as deputy chair- person for the International Congress and Convention Association North America Chapter and Destinations International's Chair of the Large Market Round Table. She is a resident of the District and was born and raised in Reston, VA. "As we grow as an organization, I'm excited for the opportunity and challenge of continuing to position Washington, DC differently," said Riley. "As a team, we'll collectively utilize the city's assets that set it apart to attract meetings and events of all sizes and set the city up for success in the short and long term," said Riley. R I C O A S H A B , CHIEF OF STAFF Rico Ashab has been appointed chief of staff to Ferguson. His tenure began in 2017 as part of a temporary staffing group with convention serv- ices, became the conven- tion services coordinator and has served as execu- tive assistant to the presi- dent and CEO since 2019. Through his role, he works closely with DDC's board of directors and city partners to advance the organization's mission. Born in Washington, DC and growing up in the region, Ashab has been in the travel and hospitality industry for six years and lives in Mount Rainier, MD. "I appreciate that I play a direct role in supporting Elliott's critical work for DDC, and also col- laborating with our board of directors, partners, members and internal staff," said Ashab. "Whether it's preparing Elliott for an important sales mission or interfacing with a new member business, I enjoy supporting so many aspects of DC's tourism and hospitality industry." 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. washington.org.