Destination DC staff has been hard at work bringing top business to DC for 2009 and beyond. Read on for industry updates, special offers, recent DC media coverage and more.

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April Monthly Forum
Registration for the April 28 Monthly Forum at the Dumbarton House is closed due to capacity restrictions. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Richards at 202-789-7009.

May Monthly Forum
The next Monthly Forum will be at The Dupont Hotel on Thursday, May 28 from 9-11am. Be on the lookout for an invite at the beginning of May.

Interested in hosting a Business Exchange?
Please contact Ashley Richards at 202-789-7009 for more information.

Save the Date: 2009 Marketing Outlook Meeting
Destination DC's 2009 Marketing Outlook Meeting is scheduled for July 23 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Stay tuned for more details.

When is the next Destination DC Member Event?
View our Member Events Calendar. It lists all upcoming events and has a direct link to the invite.

Update Official Visitors Guide listing by April 24
Don’t forget to update your listing for the Official Visitors Guide on the Membership Extranet. The deadline is Friday, April 24. For questions regarding this publication, please contact Bela Saini and 202-789-7088. If you need your username and password, please contact Alison Rittenberg at 202-789-7034.

Advertise in Official Washington, DC Publications
To purchase advertising space in either the Unique Spaces Guide or upcoming Official Visitors Guide, please contact Troy Barton at Essential Media Partners.  The closing deadline for Unique Spaces Guide is coming up, so be sure to reserve your space soon.

Advertise in the Newly Expanded DC Circulator Bus
The DC Circulator has built a loyal following for its service along the K Street corridor from Union Station to Georgetown, the Convention Center to SW Waterfront, and the National Mall. With new routes, the Circulator now reaches Woodley Park, Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights and the U Street Corridor.  In addition, the bus serves the Capitol Hill, Barracks Row and Capitol Riverfront areas.  The bus has carried over 8 million passengers since its inception in 2005.  For interior bus advertising, please contact Bela Saini at 202-789-7088.

The Global and Mail (Canada): Where Heads of State Lay Their Heads
March 25, 2009

CNN: Obama Family Good for D.C. Tourism
April 10, 2009

SmarterTravel.com: Washington, D.C., Tours for the Whole Family
April 16, 2009

Washington Post: Washington Hotels Hold Their Own as Industry Lags
April 22, 2009

Springtime
Destination DC and its partners brought the National Mall inside to the annual Springtime trade show on April 16 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  Customers could sit on a bench with Abe Lincoln, courtesy of Madame Tussauds Washington DC, snack on a cherry blossom cookie or throw a penny into the miniature Reflecting Pool all while learning about what’s new in DC and what’s coming soon.   
Partners: Centerplate/NBSE, Madame Tussauds Washington DC, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Washington, DC Convention & Meetings Advisory Board
The advisory board finished its two-day spring meeting today. The group met to help Destination DC and the WEWCC further develop a customer-focused environment.  Planners got a chance to give feedback on topics  such as doing business in tough times and how the economy is impacting their meetings.
Partners: Busboys & Poets, Donovan House - a Thompson Hotel, Elite Occasions, International Limousine Services Inc., Main Event Caters, Mie N Yu, Palette at The Madison -  A Loews Hotel, Windows Catering Company

Swiss FAM Trip
In partnership with United Airlines, which recently launched the new non-stop service from Dulles International Airport to Geneva, Destination DC will host a familiarization trip for corporate travel managers from Geneva, Switzerland from April 24-26. The tour will help educate attendees about the diverse opportunities DC offers for travel groups.
Partners: The Madison - A Loews Hotel, Mie N Yu Restaurant, OpenTop Sightseeing, Restaurant Marvin

Power List

• Founding Farmers has been officially certified as the first LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) restaurant in the District of Columbia, and the first full-service, upscale-casual restaurant in the entire United States to achieve LEED® Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

• Congratulations to Studio Theatre, Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and Shakespeare Theatre Company who are recipients of 2009 Helen Hayes Awards.  The entire list of Destination DC members who received this prestigious award can be found here.

• Courtyard by Marriott – U.S. Capitol has recently opened its doors as the first Hispanic majority-owned Marriott hotel in the District.

• On April 16 the Walter E. Washington Convention Center accepted their place in the Guinness Book of World Records for hosting the largest sit-down dinner in history, which was part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Centennial Boule 2008. Representatives from the convention center, the DC government, Centerplate and AKA gathered last week for the acceptance ceremony.

U.S. Travel Association Extends Deadline for “Faces of Travel” Campaign
The deadline for the “Faces of Travel” contest has been extended until May 1 at noon EDT. The U.S. Travel Association recently launched the new viral initiative, “Faces of Travel,” to search for industry employees who best represent the vitality and importance of travel in America. USTA is inviting employees to submit 45-60 second videos detailing why travel is vital to them, their company and their community and how they help to build a stronger American economy.  The winner (or winners) will be a spokesperson for the campaign, and interact with the media, policymakers and other stakeholders. Submitted videos will be screened and then made public on a live YouTube channel.  A winner or winners will then be selected as the “face of travel.”  For more information visit the campaign website.