5 days ago
D.C. business leaders warn Trump's crackdown may hurt tourism
Restaurant and hospitality groups are pushing back on President Trump 's depiction of the District as a hotbed of "crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor," saying the city is safe — and open for business.
Why it matters: Several D.C. industry leaders say Trump's rhetoric could deter visitors and hurt a tourism economy already affected by the administration's policies and mass federal firings.
By the numbers: 48 groups have canceled or changed their D.C. plans since October due to political concerns, Destination D.C. tells Axios.
Their estimated economic loss for the city: more than $61 million, based on projected hotel room nights.
State of play: The tourism marketing organization is planning outreach to groups that have booked events or are considering them, according to the Washington Business Journal.
That includes sharing stats that show D.C. violent crime has hit a 30-year low.
The organization is also joining in on the viral " love letter" to D.C. trend, where locals share real-life portrayals of the city.
Reality check: Destination D.C. tells Axios that the estimated 2025 losses due to political reasons represent just 2% of the projected revenue generated for the city, "so there is still a lot of positive production happening for the city."
Meanwhile, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) has a message ahead of Summer Restaurant Week, which starts Monday: "D.C. is open for business."
"Next week is crucial for some to make it through Labor Day," RAMW CEO Shawn Townsend says of the weeklong event, which aims to draw diners to offset a typical August slowdown.
"Folks may be thinking, 'Why go Downtown when I can do Restaurant Week in Bethesda or Tysons?'"
Zoom in: RAMW is telling its members to promote positivity on social media and talk directly to diners if they cancel reservations: "It's like any major city — be careful — but D.C. is not a war zone."
It's not just fear of crime — the armed presence may hurt, too. "If I'm coming in from out of town, I wouldn't want to bring my family to a city that has National Guard on every corner," says Townsend.
