DMAI’s Destination Showcase Washington Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Destination Marketing Association International recently celebrated the 25^th anniversary of its Destinations Showcase Washington Feb. 24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, with more than 900 meeting professionals attending the annual event, including 34 out-of-town hosted buyers.

There also were 174 exhibiting destinations from North America and other countries, as well as eight associations.

“There was increased optimism at the event this year,” said Jim Duda, managing director of Destinations Showcase. “There appears to be more intent to buy from the planners and that resulted in more RFPs for destinations and strong energy on the trade showfloor.”

This year’s Washington event had several new features:

•The PMSI Promotional Products Fair offered a wide selection of board, speaker and membership gift ideas from 10 suppliers outside of the registration and breakout sessions area.

•A Social Media Help Desk, sponsored by TripBuilder, was added to the showfloor. Social media experts Jessica Levin and Midori Connolly, who presented an “Engaging Technology” breakout session earlier in the day, answered planners’ questions about using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media to network and market events.

•Immediately following the closing of the showfloor, Hospitality Industry Professionals (HIP) Network hosted an official Destinations Showcase after party.

Destinations Showcase Washington is joined by Destinations Chicago Showcase, which is on tap June 2 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

The two meetings are the industry’s only events to feature an exhibit hall comprised exclusively of destination marketing organizations and industry associations, according to DMAI officials.