Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1543954
B M & T ••• March/April 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 45 WASHINGTON, DC AREA GUIDES WASHINGTON DC IS MORE THAN MONUMENTS BY SONYA STINSON Along with being a hub for national and international association headquar- ters, Washington, DC is home to some of the world's most famous historic land- marks, including a treasure trove of African American heritage sites. Those are just some of the attributes that make the nation's capital city a popular destination for Black meeting groups as well as leisure travelers. The 1,175-room Washington Marriott Marquis is the city's largest hotel, offering more than 105,000 square feet of meet- ing space with 54 breakout rooms and direct access to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center through an under- ground concourse. The 2.3-million-square-foot convention center, named for the District's first African American mayor, contains a 473,700- square-foot exhibit hall divisible into three rooms, plus 198,000 square feet of flexi- ble meeting space, a 52,000-square-foot ballroom and 77 breakout rooms. The facility also boasts a $6 million public art collection that is the largest in the city out- side a museum. As interest among meeting organiza- tions in sustainable practices continues to grow, it's notable that the Walter E. Washington Convention Center received LEED Platinum certification in 2024. Seven years earlier, Washington, DC became the world's first LEED Platinum city. Three major airports serve Washing- ton, DC, connecting it to virtually every major U.S. city. Rail service and easy acces- sibility to major highways and interstates make the city an especially convenient location for regional meetings. Once visi- tors arrive, they'll find it easy to get around via the Washington Metro rapid transit system. The Metro stops at many of the city's top tourist attractions, including the National Mall, where a walking tour might be capped off by visits to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture or the Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial. Beyond the National Mall are several other notable Black historical and cultural attractions. Washington's historic U Street neighborhood is the site of the African American Civil War Memorial Museum, which honors the more than 209,000 Black soldiers who fought for the Union. The area is also home to Ben's Chili Bowl, where a mural on the facade featuring portraits of more than a dozen local and national historical figures, politicians and entertainers—from Harriet Tubman to the Obamas to Prince—is almost as famous as the food. You'll find a diverse menu of dining and nighttime entertainment options in popular areas like Adams Morgan and Georgetown, home to Blues Alley, the world's longest-running jazz supper club. Cultural Tourism DC has developed a Georgetown African American Heritage Trail, identifying several sites related to the history of the Black people who have been part of that community since its founding in 1751. In the Anacostia neighborhood, visi- tors can take a guided tour of Cedar Hill, the last home of famed Black abo- litionist and statesman Frederick Douglass. Other places to explore in this riverside community in southeast Washington include the Anacostia Community Museum and the Anacostia Art Center. In the Shaw neighborhood of north- west DC,sits the historic Howard Theatre, where some of the greatest African American entertainment leg- ends have performed. Many of them are commemorated in the Howard Theatre Walk of Fame, a series of bronze medallions stretching from the 1900 block of 7th St. NW to the entrance of the the- ater on T Street. Inside the venue, there is event space to accommodate groups of 50 to 750. Destination DC President/CEO Elliott Ferguson and his team stand ready to help you make this your most successful event yet. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Marriott Marquis Washington 1,175 Washington Hilton 1,107 Grand Hyatt Washington 902 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Walter E. Washington Convention Center Total Meeting Space 703,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall 473.000 sq. ft. Largest Ballroom 52,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 77 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Destination DC — (202) 789-7000 https://washington.org/ DR. King Monument, Wash. DC photo credit: Walter E. Washington C.CC