Revisiting DC: A Look at New Event Venues

Location, location, location. It's a mantra for real estate, but it also has a place in the event planning world. While people attend events for the content, the location also holds sway in decision-making process.

Sometimes it's a matter of commute/travel time to get to the location. Other times it's proximity to public transport or ease of parking. Maybe it's simply that a venue is new and people welcome any excuse to check it out.

For event planners, changing locations can provide a fresh perspective on the event content and how it runs. This is especially valuable for long-running events with a built-in audience. Holding the event in a different location forces organizers to rethink how breakouts are organized and what other activities could be woven into the traditional agenda.

We did some digging and found several venues in the DC region that are worth looking at for events in 2020.

• Hilton Washington DC National Mall - A new location for Hilton, this hotel opened in the spring just in time to host the cherry blossom crowds. Its central location in L'Enfant Plaza makes it an easy option for local attendees to get to and provides great access to downtown tourist destinations for out of town visitors. The hotel features two ballrooms as well as multiple small meeting spaces among its 23,000 square feet of event space.
• Conrad Washington, DC - Also a Hilton property, this upscale hotel opened in the spring and features 32,000 square feet of meeting space on the second and third floors. This allows for natural light to be a part of the event experience. The Conrad also has rooftop event space.
• Moxy Washington, DC Downtown - Keeping with the 'bringing the outdoors in' theme, the new Moxy hotel on K Street features garage-style doors that bring the outdoors into the lobby. Located in an updated historic building, the hotel provides private space for small (30 person) meetings as well as many semi-private gathering areas.
• The Atrium @ Bobby Van's Steakhouse - The well-known steakhouse recently undertook a renovation of the 12-story atrium area of their restaurant, creating space for private events (220 seated, 330 standing). The facility also renovated six boardrooms that accommodate from 24 to 65 guests each or hold as many as 150 guests when combined.
• Topgolf National Harbor - A different option among the facilities at National Harbor, Topgolf opened this summer. It features several private event space options that can be combined with golf and food packages to add recreation and fun to any event.

Let us know what new spaces you've checked out and where you're looking forward to going!