USA – Washington DC is experiencing an upturn in its international and domestic conventions business as a result of the popularity of its first family.
The so-called ‘Obama effect’ has helped to win two new events for the city; the Biotechnology Industry Organisation’s Annual Convention and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology’s Annual Meeting, both taking place at the Walter E Washington Convention Centre in April 2011.
Combined, the events are anticipated to bring around US$45m in convention-related business to Washington, and initial estimates put overseas participation across both events at 55 per cent.
President and CEO of Destination DC, Elliott Ferguson, says both the city’s international and domestic appeal has been boosted by the presence of Obama and the first family.
“He has done a really good job in changing the perception of the US. Now when I travel, there’s more interest in Washington with the Obama administration,” says Ferguson. “Just through his family’s background he represents an international community, and he gets around Washington a lot more than the other first family did. That’s a lot of positive exposure for us.”
Washington DC is poised to break ground this summer on a new 1165 room hotel adjoined to the convention centre, offering a new grand ballroom, and breakout space. “The new development will increase our rooms inventory significantly, and allow us to do more business with our convention centre,” says Ferguson.
