Destination DC DEI Business Fellowship

Destination DC launched the DEI Business Fellowship to support small, independently owned businesses in the local travel and tourism industry – specifically those owned by people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, persons with disabilities and their allies. 

This one-year program provides complimentary membership, with access to marketing, mentorship, education and networking opportunities designed to help grow and sustain your business through reaching both business and leisure travelers. 
 

Benefits

• Complimentary Destination DC membership for one calendar year (value: $1,050)
• Full suite of member benefits (excluding listings in print publications)
• Dedicated account manager
• Two complimentary tickets to the annual Marketing Outlook Meeting (value: $95/each)
• Content inclusion on washington.org and the DEI District, as appropriate
• Opportunities to engage with and receive training from each DDC department
• A comprehensive return-on-investment (ROI) report at the end of the cohort year

Eligibility

• Be a small, independently owned business in the travel and tourism industry
• Generate less that $6 million in annual revenue and/or have fewer than 10 full-time employees
• Be majority-owned by someone from an underrepresented group
• Businesses with robust DEI programs may also be considered
• Have been in operation for at least one (1) year
• Be registered to do business in DC, MD or VA
• Not have been a DDC member within the past three (3) years
• Excludes accommodations, airlines and cruise lines
• Must comply with DDC’s membership terms and conditions

Ready to grow your business? Applications for the 2026 DEI Business Fellowship will open August 25th. Please apply here.

Meet the 2025 DEI Business Fellows:

• Art With Tosca

• Aura Experiences

• Brandire

• Cafe Cino

• Capital Gift Baskets

• DC Cooking School

• Designs R Us

• Domestique Wine

• Eatopia Eatery

• Everyday Kitchen

• Fast Snail Creative Greetings & Design Business

• Fish The Potomac

• FOUR Pilates

• GoodSigns LLC

• Hedzole

• Help Unlimited Temps

• Jarabe Gourmet Pops

• Ko Japanese Dining

• Lattimore's Funnel Cakes

• Lattly

• Olive Gift Co.

• Peel Haus

• Skye Marinda Tarot

• Synergy & Serenity

• Taqueria Habanero

• The Go-Go Museum & Café

• Valor BrewPub

• Washington Improv Theater

• Wick & Paper LLC

View all (past and present) DEI business fellows here.