DESTINATION
Mid-Atlantic
Lincoln Memorial
Metropolitan, harbor and beach environments await meeting groups in this diverse region By George Seli
T
he nation’s capital may get the lion’s share of MidAtlantic meetings business, but it’s certainly not the only compelling option for planners considering the region. A diversity of settings beyond DC’s landmarks and cosmopolitan atmosphere can be found in the Mid-Atlantic, including Baltimore’s vibrant Inner Harbor and Virginia Beach’s scenic shores and beachside resorts. Following is an overview of some of the latest developments in the MidAtlantic meetings industry, beginning with a new initiative in DC that enables planners to take full advantage of the city’s trove of offsite venues.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Meetings are increasingly expanding their footprint beyond convention centers, taking advantage of nearby venues to give attendees a more varied and memorable impression of the host city. Destination DC, Washington’s official DMO, is facilitating that approach with the “Connected Campus” initiative, introduced at PCMA Convening Leaders in January. Seven participating venues surrounding the Walter E. Washington Convention Center are offering 20 bookable 44
function spaces. The current venue list includes Capital One Arena, Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, Long View Gallery, Touchstone Gallery, Association of American Medical Colleges, AJAX and Present Company Public House. “As we continue to focus on selling DC differently, the Connected Campus positioning allows meeting planners to understand how their meeting can better succeed in DC by looking at meetings beyond just four walls,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO, Destination DC. “We hope the initiative can help bring unique meeting and event visions to life as we continue to add more venues to the campus mix.” Melissa A. Riley, Vice President, Convention Sales and Services, added, “We are thrilled to display how versatile and flexible the convention center is and how authentic its surrounding spaces can be for planners looking to expand their reach beyond the ordinary.” Of course, the expansive Walter E. Washington Convention Center is more than ready to accommodate the entirety of an event if needed. The facility offers 703,000 total sq. ft. of exhibit space, including a 473,000-sq.-ft. exhibit hall that can FACILITIES & DESTINATIONS 2020 SPRING
