On Thursday, December 6, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC) hosted the 7th annual embassy showcase, Winternational. Presented by World Trade Center Washington, DC (WTCDC) 51 embassies and over 4,000 visitors took part in the lively midday celebration of international culture, travel, and tourism. Secretary of the District of Columbia, Lauren Vaughan delivered Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proclamation declaring December 6, 2018 as “Winternational Day” and highlighted how this occasion fosters relationships between the diplomatic community and the residents of DC, elevating this city as a global destination. The Chief of Protocol for the U.S. State Department, Ambassador Sean Lawler, offered welcome remarks expressing his support for this initiative as a way for building bridges of understanding where attendees are able to share their cultural heritage with one another – learn from one another and to celebrate with one another.
“Winternational offers a dynamic and meaningful experience for our guests. In just a few hours, they can explore different cultures and traditions through crafts, food, arts and even mingle with Ambassadors and diplomats from around the world. The RRB/ITC is the World Trade Center, Washington DC so we created this type of programming here as part of our mission to promote international trade and culture and bring together the international and DC community,” said John P. Drew, President and CEO of TCMA (A Drew Company), the group that manages the RRB/ITC.
The participating embassies included Afghanistan, African Union Mission, Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, European Union Delegation, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Each embassy promoted their country through vibrant displays of cultural significance, including art, handmade crafts, travel and tourism information, food, teas and coffees. Items were available for purchase and attendees were treated to global hits by DJ Leo Paraskevas from Discotheque Internationale. Event sponsors included TCMA (A Drew Company), Carmel Charitable Endowment, LLC, 80M Signs, A10 Associates, WebPort Global, The Washington Diplomat, Washington Life Magazine, Just Smile, Edie Fraser and Annie Totah.
This year, the event expanded into two event spaces, the Atrium and Atrium Hall, to accommodate the increase in participating embassies. Ambassadors, strategic partners, key clients and other diplomats were invited to an intimate reception during the first hour of the event. As Winternational continues to grow, TCMA looks forward adding more embassies and programming to provide an enhanced event experience for all guests and participants.
More information about the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center can be found here.
About Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC)
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center is a dynamic hub for government, business, culture and community, in the heart of the nation’s capital. As the first and only federal building dedicated to both public and private use, the Reagan Building is the official World Trade Center Washington, DC (WTCDC), and a premier conference and event venue with executive office space, attractions, dining, retail, parking, and community activities.
Through the World Trade Centers Association, WTCDC utilizes a global network of 750,000 affiliated business from 300 trade centers in over 100 countries to maximize its connections and capabilities. With this extended network, WTCDC works diligently to ensure the RRB/ITC offers a rich mix of signature events such as high profile economic summits, conferences and cultural programs. These initiatives foster international dialogue, enhance diplomacy, and generate business opportunities. Visit www.itcdc.com or follow us @ReaganITCDC.
TCMA (A Drew Company)
Trade Center Management Associates (TCMA) is the exclusive manager of Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC). TCMA’s team specializes in International Trade Services, Real-Estate Management and Hospitality. For more information, visit www.drewcompany.com.
SOURCE Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
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