Podcast appearances and mentions of elliott ferguson

Take a journey through some of the top moments of 2024 with insights from Geoff Freeman, Julie Coker, Elliott Ferguson, Cambria Jones, Nick Hentschel, Liz Bittner, David Gilbert, Katie Streater, Taylor Ruoff Snider, Mike Mangeot, Jeremy Jauncey, Sophie Morgan, Nick Hall, Seth Orozco, and Fred Dixon. This special year-end review offers a curated audio tour of the year's most intriguing conversations. Hear a highlight that catches your interest? Dive deeper by exploring the full episode in our podcast feed. Thank you for joining us this year—safe travels, and we'll see you in 2025!

In this Meetings Today podcast, senior contributor Jeff Heilman speaks with Destination DC President and CEO Elliott Ferguson at IMEX America 2024 in Las Vegas about the impact of Election 2024 on meetings and events, Destination DC's new Connected Campus program for planners, sustainability and more.

Keeping employees happy and motivated is complex. Elliott Ferguson and Cambria Jones chat with Mark about attracting and motivating talent, mentorship programs, and setting expectations for advancement. If you're considering looking for a new job, you'll also get advice for your next interview interaction. Elliott Ferguson is CEO of Destination DC. Cambria Jones is Vice President of Marketing at SearchWide Global (and we have breaking news about Cambria, too!)

As the leader of perhaps the most unique meetings and events draw in the U.S. if not the world, Destination DC President & CEO Elliott Ferguson oversees an operation that represents everything from world-class museums and global government event venues to iconic hotels and a cuisine scene that has taken a seat at the table of top dining destinations. Meetings Today caught up with Ferguson on the bustling floor of The District exhibitor area at PCMA Convening Leaders 2024 to discuss Destination DC's Only One D.C. marketing campaign, new hotels and meetings venues on the scene, its status as the first city in the world to achieve Platinum level LEED for Cities and Sustainability District, and his and the bureau's ongoing efforts leading DEI and supplier diversity initiatives.

In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata welcomes Will Kintish and Sobiya Jawaid to discuss the escalating conflict in the Middle East from the perspective of a British Jew and a British Muslim. Will Kintish practiced as a chartered accountant for 30+ years until the year 2000. For the last 23 years, Will has shown thousands in the business, professional, academic, and technical communities how to become more effective and confident networkers. He is the published author of the best-selling book “Business Networking: The Survival Guide”. Sobiya Jawaid is the first hijab-wearing British Muslim black belt kickboxer to have represented England at the European level, where she won a silver medal. She is a leadership coach; diversity, belonging, and inclusion consultant; international keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and panelist. Andy and his guests take on a challenging exploration of deeply emotional subject matter, sharing their unique perspectives with the aim of fostering understanding rather than perpetuating division. Andy emphasises the importance of meaningful discourse, resolution of conflicts, and challenging preconceived notions. He expresses concern about the lack of balanced perspectives on social media, noting that taking sides can hinder conflict resolution. Andy's guests, both deeply affected by the current events, aim to shed light on the human aspect of the conflict. Will shares his concern for innocent people, including his family members, while Sobiya discusses the emotional toll of witnessing the catastrophe from afar. Both Will and Sobiya agree that, despite severe conflicts, humanity shares more common interests. They highlight the potential for unity and stress the need for self-leadership. They promote cross-cultural conversations and bridging divisions, emphasising that more connects us than divides us. Sobiya emphasises the importance of comparing values, not personal labels, to foster connections in diverse friendships. These conversations encourage empathy and allow individuals to recognise the humanity beneath the politics. She urges leaders to acknowledge their team's pain and provide support. Will emphasises the need for leaders to engage in solution-oriented conversations with employees. Will and Sobiya agree that individuals should take responsibility for diversifying their social circles.  They should become knowledgeable and empathetic towards different cultures. This diversity leads to greater understanding and helps to foster stronger social dynamics. Andy suggests leaders use an open-door policy leading to crucial conversations about employees' experiences. Sobiya advises leaders to reflect on their personal values and consider the factors influencing their viewpoints and actions. She emphasises empathy in leadership and encourages leaders to practice it when discussing challenging issues with their team. This episode offers more insights into how conversations around challenging events such as socio-political unrest offer opportunities for bridging gaps, fostering understanding, and promoting empathy. Will Kintish and Sobiya Jawaid highlight the importance of values in the workplace and recommend professional guidance services for employees struggling with the current situation. Strong leadership plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy and effective team dynamics during unsettling times. Andy advises individuals to maintain dialogue within theirsocial circles to foster understanding and empathy. Listento our previous episodes Elliott Ferguson on leading conversations on race and Noa Baum on different perspectives of the Israeli/Palestine conflict to gain more perspective on the issue we are discussing today.  Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with Will Kintish LinkedIn Connect with Sobiya Jawaid Website  

In the run-up to his keynote address at Event Service Professionals Association's 2023 annual conference, meetings industry leader and DEI champion Elliott L. Ferguson II, president and CEO of Destination DC, explains why DMOs and event service professionals are key partners in ensuring meetings and events are living up to their promises of delivering diversity, equity and inclusion at their events, in experiences but also in including minority vendors in the economic benefits. From offering offsite events and experiences that include local culture that may have been previously overlooked to tapping LGBTQ+ and BIPOC vendors to provide key event services, DMOs and event service professionals are the frontline resources that can ensure inclusion in a meaningful, and equitable, way.

Elliott Ferguson is President and CEO of Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. A 33-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, Ferguson leads DDC's efforts to generate economic opportunity for the District through meetings and tourism, overseeing the organization's convention and tourism sales, marketing, finance and business development operations. Ferguson celebrated his 20-year anniversary with DDC in December 2021. He began his tenure in December 2001 as the Vice President of Convention Sales, became Senior Vice President of Convention Sales and Services in 2005 and has served as President and CEO since 2009. Prior to DDC, he was Director of Sales and Vice President of Sales at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and Director of Sales at the Savannah CVB. In January 2021, he was named Board Chair of Tourism Diversity Matters, an organization focused on creating diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities at all levels of the workforce. He has been instrumental in advancing conversations about race and racism throughout the hospitality industry. Ferguson was National Chair of the board of directors for the U.S. Travel Association from February 2019 to February 2021 and is currently chair of the compensation committee. He serves on the board of Brand USA from December 2021-December 2024. As the tourism industry faces the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferguson is focused on strategic recovery with many organizations including DDC's Recovery Advisory Committee, Connected DMV, the Downtown Recovery Work Group. He is on the board or a member of: Advisory Board of the Smithsonian National Zoo; DC Jazz Festival; Ryan Kerrigan “Blitz for the Better” Foundation and the United Way of the National Capital Area. He represents DDC as part of the Hospitality Alliance of Washington, D.C. Ferguson received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Business Administration from Savannah State University. His many industry memberships include Professional Conference Management Association, International Association of Exhibition Executives, Destinations International, National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, Meeting Professionals International and American Society of Association Executives. Ferguson and his wife, Telesa Via, also a hospitality industry veteran, are longtime residents of Capitol Hill. He is active with Capital Partners for Education, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Delta Sigma Pi. Destination DC: the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. Bio comes from Destination DC. Music Intro: John Tyler produced: www.acutevisions.com www.nopixafterdark.com Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com United Way Central Maryland https://uwcm.org Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org Snug Books Baltimore https://www.snugbooks.com Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com Pandora Box Boutique https://pandorasboxboutique.com CarVer Communications Group https://www.therealcarver.com  

Elliott Ferguson is the President and Chief Executive of Destination DC and Chairman of Tourism Diversity Matters, looking at race and racism in the hospitality industry. Elliott joins Andy Lopata in a frank, open discussion of how as leaders we should lead conversations about race and how we can manage the feelings and emotions close to this topic. His own experiences as a black leader in the corporate world in the US, the rise of BLM, George Floyd and other significant events have made him very aware of the importance of connecting with your team and providing a safe place for discussion. One effect of the pandemic has been a change in culture and leaders need to lead by example, encouraging teams to focus on things that are important to them. Andy and Elliott also talk about unconscious bias and how to deal with it. Diversity is becoming a priority and the older generation has to change and accept the changes in society.

What makes the nation's capital so special? Plus, Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO of Destination DC, details the importance of teaching the next generation of talent about the many opportunities within the travel industry.

Meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions are essential components of the travel industry. Elliott is a true MICE veteran. He offers advice on getting started; plus, we talk about the current state of business travel and recovery.

Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO of Destination DC shares his unique insights into the state of tourism, mandates, omicron and the question of what's next from the Nation's capital, a premiere visitor destination filled with world class attractions. Elliott talks about the pivot for destination marketers from ‘heads in beds and butts in seats' into a new central role of chief communicator between venues and visitors, reflecting on the changing expectations and demands of travellers across attractions, events and hospitality.

Elliott Ferguson is the President & CEO of Destination DC   In this episode EventMB's editor-in-chief, Miguel Neves, and guest Elliot Ferguson discuss diversity in the event industry, among other things including:  The evolving role of Destination Marketing Organisations How planners are now assessing destinations in terms of sustainability as well as diversity and inclusion The state of DEI (Diversity Equity and Inlusion) in the event industry How we can help make the event industry more diverse and inclusive? What are the best ways to inspire young event professionals to be part of this industry?

Elliott Ferguson joins Stephen Ekstrom for this episode of The Tourism Academy's Business Class podcast. Together, they discuss business integrity, hard work, overcoming obstacles and creating a more diversity, equitable and inclusive industry.. Elliott talks about making Destination DC a successful organization, his own roots in economic development and how he defines leadership. Business Class is made possible by Group Travel Odyssey. Support the show (https://patreon.com/tourismbusinessclass)

Destination DC's Elliott Ferguson is Chair of the recently founded organization called Tourism Diversity Matters. On this episode of DMOU, he shares the vision for the organization, why (with everything else going on in DC the past year) he felt compelled to take on this role at this time and how DMOs can continue to up their game in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It is about the uncomfortable conversation...one that Elliott encourages us all to have more often.

We have the great pleasure of speaking to yet another icon in our industry today, Elliott Ferguson. He is the President and CEO of Destination DC and the current national chair of the board of directors of the U.S. Travel Association. In this episode, we will be talking about three main topics. We will discuss how DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations) can help business owners navigate the current situation and what will come after the pandemic. We will also talk about diversity, equality, and inclusion and the leading role Elliott has taken in that area. Finally, we will look at Elliot's role as the chair of U.S. Travel and what will be coming next for our industry. We hope you will enjoy our fascinating conversation with Elliott as much as we did! Elliott Ferguson's bio  Elliott Ferguson serves as President and CEO of Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. A 30-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, Ferguson leads Destination DC's efforts to generate economic opportunity for the District through meetings and tourism, overseeing the organization's convention and tourism sales, marketing, finance, and business development operations. Ferguson began his tenure with Destination DC in December 2001 as the Vice President of Convention Sales, became Senior Vice President of Convention Sales and Services in 2005, and has served as President and CEO since 2009. Before working at Destination DC, he served as Director of Sales and Vice President of Sales at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has also served as Director of Sales at the Savannah CVB. Ferguson currently serves as National Chair of the board of directors for the U.S. Travel Association, where he guides the board and association's efforts to advance policies that facilitate more international and domestic travel. He also serves on the board of directors for the following organizations: Advisory Board of the Smithsonian National Zoo; DC Jazz Festival; Ryan Kerrigan “Blitz for the Better” Foundation and the United Way of the National Capital Area. He represents Destination DC as part of the Hospitality Alliance of Washington, D.C. Ferguson received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Business Administration from Savannah State University. His many industry memberships include Professional Conference Management Association, International Association of Exhibition Executives, Destinations International, National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, Meeting Professionals International, and American Society of Association Executives. Ferguson and his wife, Telesa Via, a hospitality industry veteran, are longtime residents of Capitol Hill. He is active with Capital Partners for Education, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Delta Sigma Pi. Joining the industry In the early 1990s, Elliott got an opportunity to work with the Savannah Economic Development Authority organization. The focus was on economic development and bringing business to Savannah and Georgia by way of industry relocating or expanding. The person running the Business Bureau was on the board of that organization, and he approached Elliott one day to offer him the opportunity to join the Business Bureau. Back then, there was not much diversity in the industry, and the board member of the Business Bureau liked what Elliott was doing and felt that he and Elliott would work well together. Being young and naïve at the time, Elliott avoided him for six months.  Joining the organization After spending six months thinking about it, doing some research, and learning about what the organization did, Elliott joined the organization. Now, more than thirty years later, he is still doing that. Moving to Washington DC Elliott moved to Washington DC in December of 2001, just after 9/11.  The last twelve months Having lived through 9/11, Elliott felt accustomed to things affecting business travel and tourism to Washington DC. Although the last twelve months have been the hardest to deal with, there is strength in numbers. After coming out of a state of denial and dealing with the shock of the reality of the situation, all Elliott's peers around the country started talking about recovery, being more proactive, and looking towards the future. What Americans need to work on As Americans, we need to work on our tendency to believe that some things that affect the global community will never happen to us here, in America.  The Da Vinci Code You can visit Washington DC, based on the book, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. There is a program that shows the different places from the book in Washington. There was also a tour that showed Washington through the eyes of those who followed the Dan Brown movies. Diversity, equality, and inclusion  Elliot feels that things are improving slightly in terms of diversity, equality, and inclusion because when he entered the industry in 1992, there was only one black male who was the CEO of a DMO.  The National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners  Elliott was actively involved in the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners. He realized that there were opportunities and diversity at the lower level of the pyramid in our industry, but as you got further up the pyramid, there were fewer and fewer opportunities. Diversity and inclusion within DMOs In 2021, America is a nation with 600-700 DMOs, and less than ten of them are run by people of color and females. There are still many opportunities and enough time to look at that and dissect it through a different lens. A wake-up call Last year was a wake-up call for Elliott. He realized that COVID could happen in America, and he needed to do a lot more in terms of diversity and inclusion within the industry.  Elliott Ferguson's idea of doing better Doing better for Elliott Ferguson is not only about white people recognizing and understanding the plight of the black community. It is about understanding that there is something wrong with being one of only two black people walking into a room filled with white people in 2021. Also, when representing an industry that he loves and not seeing the diversity, seeing the opportunities to have conversations about that. Discrimination Most discrimination comes from ignorance. Seeing diversity in the future Because of the things they have seen and experienced, kids entering the workforce in the next few years will expect to see some diversity in the companies for which they work. If not, they won't want to work for those companies. Those who want to believe that it is just a black problem, a Jewish problem, or a problem that does not affect them will be left behind. Diversity within companies Sometimes, people don't even realize that the things they are saying are racist. So, people need to challenge themselves to be more purposeful with the conversations they have within their companies. They need to understand that those diverse companies are the most profitable and they are usually the places where the most people want to work. Elliott's role is coming to an end In the next few weeks, Elliott's role as the chair of U.S. Travel will end. He spent two years in that role, and it was an interesting time for him. Dealing with a pandemic As we continue to focus on stressors like Black Lives Matter, the change of administration, and homeschooling, we realize that we are dealing with a pandemic, and people will be losing their lives. Elliott appreciates the direction the Biden administration is taking in terms of prioritizing the focus on the pandemic.  The focus of the U.S. Travel Association In the short-term, the U.S. Travel Association is focusing on domestic markets and on building relationships. Now, when there is no travel at all, people are paying attention to what is missing and how important the travel industry is. The new chair of the U.S. Travel Association  The new chair of the U.S. Travel Association will be focusing on ensuring that the U.S. Travel Association is dealing with the priorities tied to recovery and getting back on track so that people can start traveling again. Something to be proud of The U.S. Travel Association has done two webinars with NDEI, focused on diversity from the standpoint of being black in America. There were more than two thousand people on each Zoom.  Racism that Elliott Ferguson experienced at IMEX The U.S. Travel Association won two awards at IMEX. A few seconds after Elliott Ferguson got off the stage to accept the awards, someone came up to him and asked him to fill their glass of wine. Everyone was shocked! Although Elliott's first inclination was to reassure everyone and make them feel okay, he felt deflated. Creating awareness After that incident, he decided that he would no longer focus on making other people feel comfortable in those situations. Going forward, he would rather prioritize helping people understand what is being referred to, in terms of marginalizing people because of the color of their skin.  Leading the way Elliott feels that the hospitality industry should be leading the way in terms of understanding people's cultural differences. Connect with Eric On LinkedIn On Facebook On Instagram On Website Connect with Elliot On LinkedIn On Website

In this episode of our ongoing podcast series about geospatial careers and professional development, we talk with Mike Lane, Global Education Manager of Hexagon Geospatial Division and Elliott Ferguson, Vice President of Geospatial at Hexagon US Federal, about landing your first job in the geospatial industry.

Elliott Ferguson discusses the Capitol riot, inauguration and the future of event security. While meeting planners had high hopes that the new year would be one of recovery, 2021 got off to a rocky start in January. In addition to a slow vaccine rollout, the attack on the Capitol raised new fears about event safety. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Northstar Meetings Group Associate Editor Elise Schoening spoke with Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC and national chair of the U.S. Travel Association. Ferguson discussed what it was like to be in D.C. during the insurrection and shared what the CVB is doing to address planner concerns around civil unrest. He also discussed new hybrid and virtual event offerings available at the convention center and how the city is adapting to a changing meetings landscape. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington, D.C, is a very popular tourism destination but, like all destination around the world, COVID-19 has put a stranglehold on its tourism product. In addition to the pandemic the District of Columbia has also dealt with months of social unrest and a recent violent and unconscionable insurrection. With all of the challenges facing Washington and a forthcoming Presidential Inauguration to prepare for, we spoke to Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO of Destination DC, to talk about the status of tourism in the District. Destination DC is the official destination marketing organization for Washington, D.C. so we sought to learn what visitors to the District could expect this year. Elliott shared that there will be a number of exciting attractions that will open this year. He also discussed the treasure trove of culinary, cultural and historical experiences that D.C. offers. Elliott reminded us of the reasons why we love calling the DMV home. Unbeknownst to us we were talking about tourism in D.C. as the U.S. Capitol Building was under siege.

That's a wrap for Season 1! Thanks for joining us on Episode 27 as we discuss the biggest stories and trendlines in 2020, which include: Navigating the Global Pandemic, Pivot to Virtual, Government Inaction, DEI and The Future of Meetings and Events. The Traveling Podcast is hosted by industry veterans Dan Sherman and Ryan Barth, CMP. In addition, we'll look back on our first season and share insights our personal insights on each episode which featured: Tony Lorenz, Erik Moses, Tracy Judge, Brad Weaber, Joyce Leveston, Elliott Ferguson, Mike Dominquez, Jeff Borman, Bill Lynch, Brett Sullivan, Butch Spyridon, Kimberly Lewis, Tamara Kennedy-Hill, Liz King, John Toner, Derek Gaskins, Johnnie White, Allison Parc, Lisa Messina, David DuBois, Allison Kafalas and Dennis Edwards. The Traveling Podcast is presented by HIP Network, a B2B digital media company shaping the industry’s agenda with expertly curated content that fuels growth. To learn more visit www.HipNetwork.com and be sure to sign up for the Market in a Minute tri-weekly newsletter for a real-time roundup of the current state of the industry. Support the show (http://www.hipnetwork.com/traveling-podcast)

Thanks for joining us on Episode 23 as we discuss the top stories in group business travel, live events, hospitality and sports (subscribe to the Market in a Minute newsletter).In addition, we'll look back on our first season and reflect on the importance of mentorship with insights from Mike Dominguez, Elliott Ferguson, Allison Parc and Bill Lynch. The Traveling Podcast is hosted by industry veterans Dan Sherman and Ryan Barth, CMP.Support the show (http://www.hipnetwork.com/traveling-podcast)

The geospatial career field covers a broad spectrum of industries, job roles, and focus areas. And before you decide which direction you want to take your career, it always a good idea to have a clear picture of your options, and how to prepare and pursue what interests you most. In our ongoing podcast series about geospatial careers and professional development, we talk to Mike Lane, Global Education Manager of Hexagon’s Geospatial division, and Elliott Ferguson, Vice President of Geospatial at Hexagon US Federal, about the many possible career paths in the geospatial industry, including opportunities within the federal government, the intelligence community, and the private sector. Also discussed are the varying skill sets needed to succeed and how to identify the right fit for you.

Read the complete transcript on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. Elliott Ferguson is the President and CEO of Destination DC. ELLIOTT'S TIP TO EMERGING SALES LEADERS: "People can see when you're happy. I gave my entire team mirrors years ago and I said, "Every time you pick up the phone, I want you to look in the mirror and look at your facial expression. I want you to smile when you're talking to them and see whether or not they see a difference in how you're talking because that's how people perceive you, that's exactly what they hear and that's really important as we're looking at developing our brand - because each of us are a brand - as we're looking at moving forward and getting out of COVID."

Thanks for joining us on Episode 7 with our guest Elliott Ferguson, President & CEO at Destination DC. The Traveling Podcast is hosted by Dan Sherman and Ryan Barth, CMP.In this episode we'll touch on the top stories in group business travel, live events and sports. In addition, Elliott will share how he got started in the destination marketing and tourism industry, his leadership approach at Destination DC and his vision for improving race, diversity and equality as american culture shifts beneath us. Elliott FergusonPresident & CEODestination DCLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliott-ferguson-44ba97/ Bio: A 30-year veteran of the travel and hospitality industry, Elliott Ferguson serves as President and CEO of Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC in addition to National Chair for US Travel Association Board of Directors. Ferguson leads Destination DC’s efforts to generate economic opportunity for the District through meetings and tourism, overseeing the organization’s convention and tourism sales, marketing, finance and business development operations.The Traveling Podcast is Presented by: HIP NetworkHIP Network is a B2B digital media company shaping the hospitality industry’s agenda with expertly curated content that fuels growth. To learn more, please visit www.HipNetwork.comSupport the show (http://www.hipnetwork.com/traveling-podcast)

In this episode, we talk to Mike Lane, Global Education Manager of Hexagon’s Geospatial division, and Elliott Ferguson, Vice President of Geospatial at Hexagon US Federal, about how they got their start in the geospatial industry and their perspective on Hexagon’s role in the geospatial professional community and its relationship with academic programs.

The first of a two-part series: A tough, honest and powerful discussion with two recent Travel Weekly contributors about their personal experiences in the travel industry and the need for more Black representation in travel. In this episode, Margie Jordan, a travel agency owner and the vice president of the TRUE Global Network with CCRA, who recently wrote an essay on traveling while Black, and Kier Matthews, a sales director at Classic Vacations, who contributed his insights to a column, “Black traveler, Black travel professional,” talk about several aspects of being a Black executive in the travel industry, covering topics including hiring and retaining Black talent, filling pay gaps, and why it’s uncomfortable, but important, for Black travel professionals to speak out about their experiences. FURTHER READING Traveling while Black comes with a different set of rules: https://www.travelweekly.com/Articles/Traveling-while-black-comes-with-a-different-set-of-rules Black traveler, Black travel professional: https://www.travelweekly.com/Arnie-Weissmann/Black-traveler-black-travel-professional Destination DC’s Elliott Ferguson on Black Lives Matter and tough conversations: https://www.travelweekly.com/On-The-Record/Elliott-Ferguson-Destination-DC Black travel leaders call for more than just words of support: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Black-travel-leaders-call-for-more-than-just-words-support TRAVEL WEEKLY RESOURCES Podcasts: TravelWeekly.com/Podcasts eNewsletters: TravelWeekly.com/Newsletters Twitter Chats: TravelWeekly.com/Twitter Instagram: @twtravelnews Twitter: @twtravelnews Facebook: TravelWeekly.com/FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black meeting professionals share their thoughts on the Black Lives Matter protests and how the industry should respond. The past two weeks have seen large-scale demonstrations in almost every major U.S. city and across the world as hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest the killing of George Floyd, and the need for widespread police reform. The events have not only renewed demands for major changes, but have put the spotlight on the country’s ongoing discrimination against people of color, and black people in particular.   On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we hear from industry insiders on the protests, their own experiences, and the need for greater diversity in the meetings industry. Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC and national chair for the U.S. Travel Association (left), and Jason Dunn, group vice president of diversity sales and inclusion for the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau and chair of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (right), are among those who share their thoughts.

Destination DC President and CEO Elliott Ferguson talks with Jeff Heilman about the sector-driven Connected Capital strategy for meetings, the real D.C. for visitors and groups, and his new role as national chair of the U.S. Travel Association. Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson talks with Destination DC chief Elliott Ferguson about the federal government shutdown and how Washington, D.C., is navigating it. They also discuss hot spots for planners and attendees to visit while in D.C. Read more insights from Ferguson and others regarding the shutdown here. Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

DC is Cool. Over 22 million people visited here last year. Hear about the Destination DC role as a convention & visitor organization and the positive impact of tourism on local economic development from their CEO Elliott Ferguson.

Elliott Ferguson’s quick take on the best in technology, innovation, and business strategy, including: Using Oculus VR to tour a city Travelling Abe Lincoln Building relationships at tradeshows Listen to Elliott’s full-length interview with Rebecca HERE CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE < Back to Podcast Homepage Elliott Ferguson serves as President and CEO of Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. […]

In this episode, Rebecca Linder speaks with Elliott Ferguson, President & CEO of Destination DC. Elliott reveals what it takes to make your city attractive to potential visitors (and to “compete” with other U.S. cities), how Washington, D.C. will be affected by IPW, and the hard work it takes to connect planners of big events and conventions to local hotels […]