Following a successful IPW travel trade event in New Orleans this week, next year’s host city Washington DC has announced details of special events to showcase the nation’s capital during IPW 2017.
Destination DC is collaborating with the National Park Service and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to host an unique indoor/outdoor opening ceremony.
The closing ceremony will have a sporting theme, which will be held at Nationals Park, DDC said.
"Through our DC Cool campaign, we bring the unexpected side of Washington, DC to life," said Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC.
"We are excited to give the delegation an unforgettable DC Cool experience both on and off the National Mall."
DDC is also working with local partners on a series of delegate tours within the Capital Region, Maryland and Virginia.
The agency is touting an expected boost in visitation as a direct result of hosting IPW 2017.
During the following three years, it expects to welcome an additional one million visitors, generating $1.7 billion in economic impact.
"In the year following the event, the impact is expected to be $12 million for DC. Overseas visitors are only 9% of our visitation but make up 27% of visitor spending. They tend to stay longer, therefore spending more, so the opportunity to engage this audience will benefit residents," Ferguson said.
"IPW is a huge opportunity for us to continue positioning Washington, DC globally. Tourism is one of our strongest sectors, yielding jobs for our residents and dollars for our local economy. We look forward to welcoming thousands of international visitors at IPW and in the years following the event," added DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
