Meeting News - September 8, 2008 - (Page 45)

Destination Insider: Washington, DC Edited by Rayna Katz rayna.katz@nielsen.com It’s a Three-For-All on Connecticut Ave. A trio of hotels and Destination DC roll out a program for midsize meetings In an effort to attract more midsize meetings business, Destination DC—the Washington, DC convention bureau—has partnered with the Hilton Washington, the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, and the Omni Shoreham Hotel to create an all-inclusive meeting package, called the Connecticut Avenue Collection, which combines the guest rooms, meeting facilities, and exhibit space of the three hotels. “The Connecticut Avenue Collection was created for planners who would like to meet in a hotel but need the space of a larger convention facility,” said Elliott Ferguson, senior vice president of sales and services at Destination DC. The 1,119-room Hilton Washington overlooks the Dupont Circle residential area, the 1,316-room Marriott Wardman Park is on 16 acres of lawns and gardens, and the venerable 834-room Omni Shoreham, near the National Zoo, has hosted inaugural balls since 1930. Together, the three properties have 3,269 guest rooms, over 200,000 sf of meeting space, 124 meeting rooms, 180,000 sf of exhibit space, and eight restaurants. “The Connecticut Avenue Collection program allows us to identify, pursue, and accommodate much larger conventions than any of the three properties could do on their own,” said Frank Passanante, area director of sales and marketing for Hilton Washington. “Some groups may not want to go to a convention center; they prefer the intimacy of a hotel environment. This program is appealing to those and other midsize groups.” The three hotels offer attendees walking access to dining, parks, special event venues, historic Venue All About the News Available for Group Events The 250,000-sf, seven-level Newseum, which recently opened in the National Mall, combines five centuries of journalism history with technology and hands-on exhibits. It features 14 main galleries, 15 theaters, and retail shops. For events, the Newseum’s conference center can host groups up to 350. A 1,080-sf private dining room with a 2,110-sf adjoining terrace can accommodate 70 guests for a seated dinner and 90 for a reception, and a 90-foot-high atrium area can handle up to 3,000 guests for a reception. Omni Shoreham has hosted gala affairs. homes, restaurants, embassies, and galleries. Bookings under the program feature one proposal for all three hotels and one point of contact. Included in the program is free shuttle bus service between the three hotels (if a minimum of 2,200 rooms are used within the hotels on peak night), complimentary meeting space and VIP welcome reception for up to 100 people, and welcome signs and buttons. A website, www.connecticutavecollection .com, features floor plans, room capacity information, photos, and other pertinent information. —Section written by Edward Schmidt Jr. MeetingNews Q&A: It’s Not All Politics in the District Most people think first of the government and the monuments when they mull the nation’s capital. But of course, Washington, DC, is a vibrant city and has much to offer meeting planners. MeetingNews spoke with Elliott Ferguson, senior vice president of sales and services at Destination DC, the city’s CVB, about meetings in the capital. straints, there are twilight tours available after daytime meetings. Q A Beyond its famous monuments and sights, what are Washington, DC’s strengths as a meetings destination ? We have exceptional museums, most of which offer free admission. In addition, with more than 400 embassies, we have a great variety of ethnically diverse neighborhoods with one-of-a-kind restaurants and festivals and events that support those communities throughout the year. QWhat A QHow A Q A Q A Describe the mix of hotel properties in the city. are some favorite off-site venues? The Washington, DC, area has high-end contemporary and historic luxury properties, as well as moderately priced chain hotels. Unique to our city are the numerous independent boutique hotels that are close to each other. What are your main challenges in today’s meetings climate? The museums, luxurious private residences, and embassies. Planners can use our Unique Spaces Guide at www.washington.org. do groups incorporate sightseeing? We advise extended stays of a day or two preor post-meeting. Or, for those with time con- Our biggest challenge is competing with the increasing inventory of hotels and convention centers around the country. We have to be more ambitious and creative today in how we attract customers. r September 8, 2008 MeetingNews 45 www.meetingnews.com http://www.connecticutavecollection.com http://www.connecticutavecollection.com http://www.washington.org http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - September 8, 2008

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