Martin AustermuhleVerified account

"For every dollar we spend on promoting D.C., there's a $3 return on our investment," says Ferguson, adding that additional marketing will have to be done to encourage people to visit D.C. again when travel picks up.

"We look to lose $500 billion this year," says Roger Dow from the U.S. Travel Association, about how COVID-19 is impacting tourism across the country.

To date, D.C. has lost $1.7 billion in travel spending, says Ferguson, a 70% decline. He says that the new marketing of D.C. as a destination will focus on the free things you can do: museums, monuments, etc. "We'll be promoting D.C. against a lot of amazing destinations."

Ferguson says the international market is critical — they stay longer, spend more money — but it will take longer to get it back. "As we look to the future, the international market is extremely important," he says.

Other economic impacts from the pandemic: 22 conventions and other big events cancelled, causing a loss of $163 million. "That does not even account for meetings taken place in individual hotels," says Ferguson.

But, Ferguson touts a huge booking for 2027: Lions Clubs International Convention. 25,000 attendees, 5,000 room nights at peak, over the July 4th week.

"We do not have a reopening date at this point," says Bowser, in response to a question about @GovernorVA's announcement this week that Virginia businesses could start reopening as soon as mid-May.

"D.C. residents... are under a stay-at-home order," says Bowser about D.C. residents traveling to Virginia to eat at restaurants if they reopen before D.C. "[Residents who travel] put D.C., their household, their neighbors at risk."