Washington, D.C. Is Trying to Sell Meeting Planners on Inclusiveness

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is the driving force behind the city's new "Inclusive Innovation" marketing and economic development strategy, which positions the racial and gender diversity in the region's tech sector as a competitive advantage to attract outside tech companies and talent to the city. The strategy is integrated with the mandates for Destination DC and Events DC — the two organizations responsible for growing meetings and conventions in the District. Since late last year, they have been repositioning the city as a mature technology capital to target meeting planners working in tech-related industries ranging from advanced manufacturing to aerospace. The global, semi-official launch of the Inclusive Innovation campaign took place at last week's South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, where the Washington, D.C. delegation was headquartered inside the pop-up WeDC House located across from the Austin Convention Center. The venue provided a high-profil