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The Pinnacle Q4 2019
Washington DC WEWCC Named Best North American Convention Center VENTS DC, the official convention thank our clients and EXHIBITOR’s and sports authority for the District readers for their confidence and trust,” of Columbia, announced that the Wal- said Gregory A. O’Dell, president and ter E. Washington Convention Center was chief executive officer of Events DC. named one of EXHIBITOR Magazine’s “We don’t want to rest on our laurels 2019 Centers of Excellence. These pre- and are ready to serve our current cusmiere venues were identified and rec- tomers in new, innovative ways as our ognized as the best convention centers industry continues to transform.” in North America for trade shows and events. “It is an honor for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to be recog“While individual exhibit managers nized as one of the best convention cenrarely have a say in where their trade ters in the country. This demonstrates shows are held, they are often the ones the dedication and tireless effort of our most impacted by that decision. This is staff and service partners in providing their opportunity to give credit where a premier hospitality venue for our clicredit is due and celebrate the exhib- ents and their attendees,” said Samuitor-friendly venues that do their part el Thomas, senior vice president and to make trade shows and events as general manager of Events DC’s Walter smooth, successful, and painless as E. Washington Convention Center. “We possible,” said Travis Stanton, editor have a world-class team and their comof EXHIBITOR magazine, noting that mitment helps support the fact that the everything from the number of nearby District of Columbia is truly the perfect hotel rooms to the cost and quality of destination for a meeting or convenWi-Fi access can have a significant im- tion.” pact on exhibiting companies’ experience at events. “Simply by virtue of be- The cornerstone of Washington, DC’s ing included in this list, these facilities downtown renaissance, the 2.3 milhave proven their ability to host trade lion square foot Walter E. Washington shows and events of all shapes and siz- Convention Center is as functional as es while providing world-class service it is artistically impressive. Equipped and state-of-the-art accommodations.” to handle events of all sizes, from small groups and break-out meetings “We appreciate the recognition and to events for 50 to 42,000 attend-
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Center Updates
ees. Hosting over 3,000 events since its 2003 opening and averaging over 1 million attendees each year, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center has generated over $6 billion of direct spending economic impact for the District of Columbia. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center also showcases the largest public collection of art in the District of Columbia outside of a museum, with more than 130 pieces by 93 different artists. The convention center boasts the largest digital signage displays located throughout the convention center, including a two-story curved video wall at the concourse rotunda, video walls above the exhibit halls and digital flags in front of the salons. The venue also partners with DC Central Kitchen and Capital Area Food Bank, recovering up to 35,000 pounds of food annually, and recycles an average of 50 pallets per month that are left over from trade show freight deliveries. Committed to leading in design, technology, break out space and neighborhood allure, the Walter E. Washington Convention center kicked off a series of renovations in fall 2019, including upgrade of the Grand Lobby featuring new dining concepts, retail, and kiosks, enhanced digital signage, and a streetscape plan that will transform the façade of the convention center. Improvements are expected to be completed by December, 2020.
