Award-Winning Convention Center

The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment now and into the future. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Entertainment and Sports Arena and the DC Armory have earned their Well-Health Safety Rating, with the Convention Center being the first convention center in the world to receive the rating.

In August 2020, The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is the first convention center in the northeast corridor to achieve this accreditation for preeminent cleaning, disinfection and infection prevention strategies, and has been recertified for 2022. To earn this accreditation, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center successfully completed 20 program elements with specific performance and guidance criteria met. The GBAC STAR™ accreditation provides third-party validation that facilities are implementing thorough cleaning and disinfection programs.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center was awarded a Gold Stella Award from Northstar Meetings Group as the best convention center in the Northeast region. The Stella awards are the meeting industry’s highest honor, recognizing hotels, convention centers, conference centers, airlines, cruise lines, destination marketing organizations and convention and visitor bureaus that consistently deliver quality service and innovation to meeting and event professionals.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center was named one of EXHIBITOR Magazine’s 2022 Centers of Excellence. Since 2020, the Center has been recognized as one of the best convention centers in North America for trade shows and events as well as for its health and safety protocols for safe return to live events.