Destination DC welcomed 13 top Indian travel trade partners for their first-ever Reverse India Sales Mission, held in Washington, DC from August 23 to August 28. Over six days, the Indian trade professionals engaged in programs that created opportunities for business development and cultural immersion. Seventeen local partners, including hotels, museums, restaurants, city tours and experiences, participated in one-on-one meetings and roundtable discussions with the trade. The agents also explored some of DC’s best offerings, including the tour of the iconic National Mall with Capitol Express Tours, Smithsonian museums, The People’s House: A White House Experience, and more. The group was in town just in time for the DC Jazz Festival and enjoyed a private jazz dinner with live music at the rooftop of the Kimpton Banneker Hotel.

The greatest highlight of this trip was the Destination DC’s Marketing Outlook Meeting held at Capital Turnaround—a unique meeting space inside Navy Yard’s historic streetcar barn. The DDC team announced the latest visitation data, industry updates and travel forecasts for 2026 in this annual meeting. The attendees enjoyed breakfast and networking with 500+ industry leaders and professionals, followed by a presentation by Destination DC’s President & CEO, Elliott L. Ferguson, II, Didio Pequeno, Director of Hospitality Market Analytics at CoStar Group; and Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics.

Reflecting on the success of the mission, Ferguson said, “It was a pleasure hosting the Indian travel trade in Washington, DC, where they were able to experience the District’s unique and diverse cultural and culinary offerings. The growth of visitation numbers from India has been exciting for us, and the market has been, and continues to be, a top focus globally.”