Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC,  announced key promotions at the executive level. Claire Carlin has been named senior vice president, partnerships & alliances and Tara Miller is director of global sales.

“I’m fortunate to lead a group of exceptional individuals who have navigated our organization through numerous challenges,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president & CEO, Destination DC. “With the infusion of additional funding for marketing and sales through the Tourism Recovery District legislation, Claire and Tara play a pivotal role in executing our strategy to expand and strengthen our membership, as well as draw global meetings to Washington, DC. I take pride in their dedication.”

The following is from a DDC release.

Claire Carlin – SVP, Partnerships & Alliances
Carlin, left in photo, is a proven leader focusing on the needs of DDC’s partners, members and the American Experience Foundation. She joined DDC in 2015 as VP, Partnerships & Alliances. She leads a strong team that manages nearly 1,000 members, plus 30 sponsors and strategic partners. In addition, a successful DEI Business Fellowship program was created under her leadership. The program offers free membership and technical training to businesses owned by historically underrepresented groups. In the first two years of the program, 50 businesses have participated.

Concurrently, she is the Executive Director of Destination DC’s affiliated charity, the American Experience Foundation (AEF). The foundation enriches the lives of students through inspirational travel experiences and educational opportunities to cultivate the next generation of hospitality industry professionals. AEF serves hundreds of students annually through field trips, internships, workforce development experiences and scholarships. Since 2015 under Claire’s leadership, AEF has:
•    Awarded more than $130,000 in scholarships
•    Engaged students with more than 3,500 work-based learning experiences
•    Hosted over 130 high school interns
•    Hired four AEF program participants as full-time staff at DDC
•    Enlisted local businesses to donate more than $700,000 in goods and services to students

Outside of DDC, Carlin is treasurer of the Rorschach Theatre Board of Directors, serves on the Theatre Washington Development Committee and was a founding board member of the Capital Fringe Festival. She was honored as a German Marshall Fund Marshall Memorial Fellow and named hospitality industry partner of the year by the DC Office of the State Superintendent for Education.

Tara Miller – Director of Global Sales
As a destination expert, Miller, right in photo, uses her vast experience in destination marketing to highlight what sets Washington, DC apart while promoting the city’s global access, intellectual capital and world-class amenities for business events in the city. Her work in “Connected Capital” has positioned DC on the global meetings stage for its network of federal policymakers, prospective industry sponsors and expert speakers. With “Connected Community,” Miller has aligned associations with legacy projects that connect and impact local communities.  She develops and executes the strategy to attract international meetings and global business events to Washington, DC. She rejoined DDC in 2017 as the senior manager of international sales, after originally helping to launch its international convention sales program in 2012. Miller now leads global event sales, marketing, business development and strategic programs, including Washington DC’s influential Ambassador Circle and International Business Events Council.