Destination DC

901 7th Street NW 4th Floor 20001-3719

Why Choose Our Destination?

From historic museums, monuments and memorials to modern restaurants, galleries and attractions, the U.S. capital has it all – including some of the best meetings and convention space in the world. Come visit and see for yourself. A premier global events destination, Washington, DC welcomes upwards of 22 million people visitors each year. With a capacity of more than 30,000 hotel rooms and boasting over 2,000 restaurants, Washington, DC is an ideal spot for hosting events of historic proportions. Airports: There are 3 DC-area airports - Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) These airports service more than 70 million passengers each year, 35 million of which deplane in the DC area. DCA services 81 destinations with 371 daily departures. IAD services 73 domestic destinations with 236 daily departures and 49 international destinations with 410 weekly departures . BWI services 79 domestic destinations and 13 international destinations..

Awards

Venue Highlights

Cvent's 2023 Top Meeting Destinations

See Cvent's full list of 2023 Top Meeting Destinations.

Distance from airport

  • Dulles International Airport

    26 mi. from city center

  • Baltimore/Washington Intl Thurgood Marshall Airpt

    32 mi. from city center

  • Ronald Reagan National Airport

    5 mi. from city center


Local Attractions

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Historical landmark
The black granite walls of this moving V-shaped memorial are inscribed with the names of more than 58,209 Americans missing or killed in the Vietnam conflict. Frederick Hart's life-size bronze sculpture depicts three young servicemen. Open 24-hours; park ranger on site 8 am - midnight.
Constitution Ave. & Henry Bacon Dr. NW
Washington, DC 20001

Lincoln Memorial

Historical landmark
This grand monument overlooks the Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. Inside, the 19-foot marble statue of the 16th president is flanked by inscriptions of his Second Inaugural Address and the famous Gettysburg Address. Open daily except December 25. Free. Park Ranger in attendance 8 am - midnight.
Independence Ave. & 23rd St. NW
Washington, DC 20024

White House

Historical landmark
The home of every U.S. president except George Washington. Tours of the White House have been expanded to include parties of 10 or more people. Tour requests MUST be made through one's member of Congress and will be accepted up to 6 months in advance; tours are scheduled approximately one month before the requested date. Questions: (202) 456-7041.
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500

Arlington National Cemetery

Historical landmark
Arlington National Cemetery, our nation's most treasured burial ground, is home to more than 285,000 honored dead. Among the thousands of white headstones are the graves of President John F. Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, world champion boxer Joe Louis and the Tomb of the Unknowns. Open daily 8 am - 5 pm (to 7 pm Apr. - Sep.). Free admission.
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA 22211

Jefferson Memorial

Historical landmark
Beneath the marble rotunda, the 19-foot statue of the third U.S. president is surrounded by passages from the Declaration of Independence and other famous Jefferson writings. Open daily except Dec. 25. Free. Park ranger in attendance 8 am - midnight.
Tidal Basin South End
Washington, DC 20024

Washington Monument

Historical landmark
George Washington's military and political leadership were indispensable to the founding of the United States. As commander of the Continental Army, he rallied Americans from thirteen divergent states and outlasted Britain's superior military force. As the first president, Washington's superb leadership set the standard for each president that has succeeded him. The Washington Monument towers above the city that bears his name, serving as an awe-inspiring reminder of George Washington's greatness. The monument, like the man, stands in no one's shadow.
15th St. & Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Historical landmark
The new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial recognizes the history-making civil rights leader and serves as a lasting tribute to the freedom, opportunity and justice for which he stood. Adjacent to the FDR Memorial, the MLK Memorial stands between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Open daily except Dec. 25. Free.
1964 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20024

African American Civil War Memorial

Historical landmark
This memorial is a sculpture commemorating the more than 209,145 Soldiers who served in the United States Color Troupes during the Civil War. The memorial is appropriately placed in the Shaw section of the District. Shaw refers to Robert Gould Shaw, the white colonel of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment.
1925 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001

Convention Centers

  • Walter E. Washington Convention Center

    The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an extraordinary 2.3 million-square-foot conventions and meetings facility, is equipped to handle events of all sizes, from small groups and break-out meetings to events for 500 to 42,000 attendees.

    • Exhibit Space703,000 sq. ft.
      Total meeting space2,300,000 sq. ft.

More

Additional Information

For years, the nation’s capital has been a top choice for meeting planners, but the city has continued to evolve. Now, there are even more reasons to choose DC for your next meeting, convention or congress. Washington, DC is filled with new and exciting developments like The Wharf and CityCenterDC, a great public transit system and exciting neighborhoods brimming with restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Speaking of restaurants: DC was named “Restaurant City of the Year” by Bon Appétit in 2016 and has now received its second Michelin Guide, joining San Francisco, New York and Chicago as the only American cities with a current edition of this prestigious guide. DC features a robust roster of hotels, which will only expand with three new hotels at the aforementioned Wharf development in the Southwest Waterfront. The luxurious Trump International Hotel and the historic Watergate Hotel are also standouts. The Marriott Marquis Washington, DC is the largest hotel in the city, connecting directly to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center by an underground concourse. Additional hotels, such as the Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall, the Kimpton Glover Park Hotel and the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel, join a full suite of established meeting hubs gracing the nation’s capital. Whether your attendees are looking for an award-winning luxury property, business traveler-ready chains, chic boutique hotels or comfortable family-friendly inns and B&Bs, DC has something for everyone. There are truly enough venues to accommodate a meeting of any size, and enough unique spaces to have meeting-goers oohing and aahing long after the final session has ended. Among the gems: the Washington National Cathedral, with its stunning Nave, and Arena Stage, which features three world-class auditoriums. In addition to boasting unmatched meeting space, Washington, DC is a city that attendees will want to explore. Visitors can experience everything from more than a dozen free-to-enter Smithsonian museums to an exciting network of neighborhoods with trendy boutiques and hip bars and restaurants. The attractions do not stop there: DC also features a wealth of art galleries, historic homes and lush parks. And no trip to the District would be complete without admiring the awe-inspiring monuments and memorials on the National Mall. Give attendees the experience of a lifetime. Plan your next meeting in Washington, DC.