- Tourism Office is the Sole Purveyor of Hotel Packages for Memorial Dedication -

(BLACK PR WIRE)--WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Destination DC, the official tourism and marketing office for the nation’s capital, announced that it has been awarded exclusive rights to offer combination hotel and ticket packages for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Dedication on August 28, 2011 in Washington, D.C. This arrangement is in partnership with the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. A limited number of hotel + dedication ticket packages are available and are on sale now at www.Washington.org/MLK and 1-877-2011MLK. 

Destination DC’s allocation of tickets are combined with two-night stays at one of 16 Washington, DC hotels. These exclusive bundles will be available until they are sold out. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. Additionally, groups of 10 or more may request Dedication tickets until July 22 by visiting www.Washington.org/MLK or calling 1-877-2011MLK.

“Thousands of people from across the country and around the world have been touched by the life and legacy of Dr. King. Destination DC is excited to present this unique opportunity to witness history,” said Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO of Destination DC. “To be able to offer Dedication Ceremony tickets paired with exceptional hotel rooms for the celebratory weekend creates a special visitor experience in the Nation’s Capital, a city with a unique and substantial connection to Dr. King.”

Located on the Tidal Basin, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is the first on the National Mall to honor a non-president, and will be dedicated on August, 28, 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s stirring “I Have a Dream” speech. The occasion will be accompanied by four days of special events, Thursday, August 25-Sunday, August 28 including a family-friendly expo, “Partners in the Dream” at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as well as inspirational concerts, a VIP gala and civil rights leaders luncheons. Complete details about Dedication Week events can be found at www.DedicateTheDream.org.

The hotels offering two-night stays plus guaranteed admission to the official dedication ceremony include:

Beacon Hotel and Corporate Quarters
Capital Hilton
Courtyard by Marriott Washington Capitol Hill Navy Yard
Crowne Plaza Hotel Washington National Airport
The Dupont Circle Hotel
Embassy Row Hotel
Four Points by Sheraton Washington D.C. Downtown
The St. Gregory Hotel and Suites
Hilton Washington
Hilton Garden Inn Washington, DC/US Capitol
The Normandy Hotel
The Phoenix Park Hotel DC Capitol Hill
Renaissance Dupont Circle Washington DC
The St. Regis Washington, D.C.
Washington Marriott
Washington Marriott Wardman Park

“The legacy of Dr. King’s message of nonviolent conflict resolution and equality is known the world over. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the city and to our website, Washington.org, as they plan future trips,” said Ferguson. “The Destination DC team is excited to assist visitors eager to share the significance of this historic new addition to our city on this extraordinary weekend, and surely for years and generations to come.”

Destination DC is also creating a special brochure for the occasion. The “Official Washington DC Travel Information Guide for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial” will highlight how to experience DC’s historic relationship with Dr. King and be distributed free to visitors for the rest of the year. The brochure includes information about famous DC landmarks associated with Dr. King. In addition, itineraries are included from Destination DC’s “Civil War to Civil Rights” marketing campaign, a four-year commemoration exploring DC’s powerful position in the Civil War and its unique role in the civil rights movement.

About Destination DC: Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 850 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. Destinationdc.com.