WTC Records Folder 0124 Clippings label, Sept 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Washington, D.C., Plans to Reinvigorate Its Tourism - 22 Sep 03:00 Page 1 of 3

Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive

Washington, D.C., Plans to Reinvigorate Its Tourism By Donna De Marco, The Washington Times Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Sep. 22--The District will spend as much as $2 million to market the nation's capita because its economic viability has weakened after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

District officials have formed a task force that will gauge the economic impact of the attacks, lobby for the re-opening of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and develop a comprehensive marketing campaign.

"We've come together to send a very clear message to our country: We're proud of our city," said Mayor Anthony A. Williams at a press conference yesterday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel downtown. "It's going to take some time to build up to speed again, but Washington, D.C., is open for business."

Since Sept. 11, the hospitality industry has taken a big hit as occupancy rates have dropped by 50 percent, and meetings and events have been canceled or rescheduled.

"It's not enough to be open for business in the nation's capital, you have to be open for tourism," said D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton at the press conference. "The city is as open as it was before September the 11th, but the American people don't know that."

Mrs. Norton, a Democrat and the District's nonvoting congressional representative, plans to meet with White House officials sometime next week to discuss the difficulty the city and region is having.

In addition, Mr. Williams will ask President Bush for federal assistance to help

"This is a serious blow to our hotel industry, our restaurant industry and small businesses," Mr. Williams said.

The Washington, D.C. Convention and Tourism Corp. has committed $1 million to a new marketing effort designed to lure people back to the city.

The mayor is seeking $1 million in public funds to add to the recovery plan, which will include advertising, public relations and special events on a local and national

file://C:\Documents...\Washington D.C. Plans to Reinvigorate Its Tourism - 22 Sep 0300.htm 9/24/2001

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