Washington, DC Unites for a More Resilient Future at Second Annual Sustainability Summit

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Venues & Destinations
Washington, DC Unites for a More Resilient Future at Second Annual Sustainability Summit

3/26/2025
WASHINGTON, DC – Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, and the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) today host the second annual Sustainability Summit to advance a more sustainable future for the nation’s capital. The event, held at the Embassy of France, joins leaders from tourism, hospitality, government and the private sector to share best practices, spotlight local innovation and strengthen partnerships.

“The Summit brings together organizations that are leading by example,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of DDC. “When we collaborate with local partners to prioritize sustainability, we create a stronger city – one where residents, businesses and visitors all thrive.”

The Summit underscores the importance of local collaboration in addressing global challenges. By working with city agencies, businesses, nonprofits and academic institutions, Washington, DC is strengthening its position as one of the country’s most sustainable urban destinations.

"Sustainably managed tourism, meetings and events is everyone's responsibility. Having just had the honor of welcoming the Olympic Games in Paris, it is a pleasure to share France's story and experience with an American audience, and to gain insights from Washington, DC's approach to social, economic and environmental resiliency in turn," said keynote speaker, Frederic Mazenq, Director, Atout France.

The 2025 District Sustainability Awards, presented by DOEE, celebrate local businesses, organizations and individuals whose commitment to sustainability is helping to build a greener, healthier and more resilient city for residents, visitors and future generations.

District Sustainability Awards

Ama – A mission-driven restaurant dedicated to sustainability, nourishment and non-toxic dining. Ama prioritizes regenerative agriculture, operates a fully electric kitchen, and is committed to being free of single-use plastics and polycarbonate materials.
Electrify DC – A nonprofit organization promoting building electrification, renewable energy adoption and energy efficiency. Electrify DC leads professional and community education initiatives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions across DC and the region.
Leonina Arismendi – An environmental justice advocate working at the intersection of the Latin American and the LGBTQ+ communities. Leonina uses art, storytelling and policy engagement to support initiatives like Lead Free DC and environmental justice amendments. She led “Up in the Air,” a project empowering Ward 5 neighbors to advocate for clean air.
OurFarm DC – Focused on equitable, sustainable food systems, OurFarm DC partners with The Covenant House of Greater Washington to install a hydroponic farm and organic garden in Southeast DC. Through a partnership with Run Hope Work, they hired three previously incarcerated native Washingtonians to operate the farm.
Rodrick West – A RiverSmart Homes Ambassador serving Wards 7 and 8, Rodrick is also a UDC Master Gardener and active community volunteer. He supports the Anacostia Watershed Society, Mayor’s Office, ANC and local clean-up efforts. He also serves as a Block Captain with the nonprofit DC Natives.

Clean Energy DC Award

A-Peace LLC – A DC-based property management and development company that has transitioned 50% of its multifamily portfolio to all-electric systems and installed solar panels on 50% of its properties. The company’s Stu-Ward Program promotes green sector education while providing attainable housing in underserved neighborhoods.

“The Bowser Administration and DOEE are proud to acknowledge this year's recipients of the District Sustainability Awards,” said Richard Jackson, Director of DOEE. “These awards recognize leaders in our community who demonstrate best practices, identify real-life cost savings and champion businesses, individual efforts and nonprofit organizations that are giving back to the community.”

The event is designed to educate and empower industry professionals while reinforcing that sustainability is a shared responsibility and a collective opportunity. By aligning tourism with environmental progress, DC continues to pave the way as a forward-thinking, globally minded destination.

Today’s program includes:

Frederic Mazenq, Director, Atout France, keynote speaker
Industry panel moderated by Shelby Luzzi, Senior Manager of Sustainability, DDC
Ava Wells, Social Inclusion Manager, Destinations International
Sara Haywood, Interim VP of Meetings & Learning, American Geophysical Union
RaShauna Hamilton, VP of Fan Growth & Community, Washington Spirit
Richard Jackson, Director, DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)
Modernizing Metro by WMATA, presented by Rachel Healy, Director, Office of Energy & Environment at WMATA

“Sustainability is an ongoing effort in problem-solving, and this event helps us share progress, challenges and ideas,” said Shelby Luzzi, Senior Manager for Sustainability at DDC. “Leveraging this year’s theme of ‘ambassadors,’ the Summit makes a case for the diplomatic power of travel, creating a space for everyone – from global innovators to local changemakers – to advance the city’s goals for future prosperity.”

In addition to the Summit, DDC held a bonus workshop the day prior, focusing on sustainability certifications for its member businesses. Facilitated by Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) CEO, Randy Durband, the workshop provided local hospitality businesses the opportunity to learn about the value of the industry’s most frequently used certifications directly from the organization that accredits them. The partnership is a result of DDC’s membership of GSTC.   

DDC launched the Sustainability District initiative in 2023. The program is DC's gateway for working with businesses and destination suppliers throughout the hospitality industry committed to promoting a more sustainable place to live, visit and meet. Currently, there are 68 members.

The event also launched DDC's 2025 Global Destination Sustainability-Index performance efforts, aiming to surpass last year's achievements while retaining the top spot in the U.S.

The Summit takes place as DDC begins to develop its sustainability strategy for the destination. As an initial step, DDC has assembled an advisory committee of stakeholders representing the different hospitality businesses, city agencies and NGOs most affected by the presence of visitors. The group’s feedback helped shape the content for this year’s event, and a full strategy is expected in FY2026.

About Destination DC
Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization 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. www.washington.org

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