Elliott Ferguson is President and CEO of Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. With more than 35 years in the travel and hospitality industry, Ferguson leads DDC’s efforts to generate economic development opportunity for the District through meetings and tourism, overseeing the organization’s convention and tourism sales, marketing, finance and business development operations.

Ferguson celebrates 25 years with DDC in December 2026. He began his tenure in December 2001 as the Vice President of Convention Sales, became Senior Vice President of Convention Sales and Services in 2005 and has served as President and CEO since 2009. Prior to DDC, he was Director of Sales and Vice President of Sales at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and Director of Sales at the Savannah CVB.

Advancing the tourism and hospitality industry is a priority for Ferguson. His work spans diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), advancing conversations about racism and expanding opportunities for people of color at every level of the industry. He previously served as board chair of Tourism Diversity Matters, an organization dedicated to strengthening the hospitality workforce through a DEI lens.

Ferguson regularly earns local and national recognition for his leadership, including being named the 2025 Tourism Champion by the Washington Business Journal. In November 2023, he was inducted into the U.S. Travel Association’s Hall of Leaders. He earned a lifetime honor from PCMA during the organization’s 2025 Visionary Awards. In 2021, he was recognized by Destinations International with a Destination Organization Leadership Award. In 2018, Delta Sigma Pi honored him with a Career Achievement Award.

His leadership extends across the travel industry’s national organizations. Ferguson served as national chair of the U.S. Travel Association’s board of directors from February 2019 to February 2021 and continues to serve on the board. He also served as chair of the board of Brand USA, the official destination marketing organization for the United States, from December 2024 through April 2025, after previously serving as treasurer from December 2021 to December 2024. He is also a past chair of Event Leaders 100.

Ferguson serves as executive in residence of the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at the Howard University School of Business. He is on the board or a member of: NEXTDC, Advisory Board of the Smithsonian National Zoo, DC Jazz Festival, the Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter and United Way of the National Capital Area. He represents DDC as part of the Hospitality Alliance of Washington, D.C.

Ferguson received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Business Administration from Savannah State University. He served in the Air Force National Guard from 1985-1992. His many industry memberships include Professional Conference Management Association, International Association of Exhibition Executives, Destinations International, National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, Meeting Professionals International and American Society of Association Executives.

Ferguson and his wife, Telesa Via, also a hospitality industry veteran, are longtime residents of Capitol Hill. He is active with Capital Partners for Education, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Delta Sigma Pi.