The Washington, D.C,. Convention Center Authority is holding a silent auction for a meeting package worth approximately $500,000, Reba Pittman Walker, chief executive officer and general manager at the WCCA, announced at the Professional Convention Management Association’s annual meeting in Toronto on January 8.

The auction, which is open for bids, will run through June 30, 2007. Bidding starts at $100,000 and increases in $5,000 increments. Proceeds will be donated to PCMA, which will invest it in education initiatives, stated Deborah Sexton, president and CEO of PCMA.

“This auction is an opportunity for a meetings professional to win a tremendous value on a package at a premier facility while at the same time benefiting PCMA - an outstanding organization,” said Pittman Walker.

The WCCA is donating the rental of the convention center for a meeting that uses at least 2,500 hotel rooms on peak night. The auction package also includes a discount on a reception for up to 500 people, a 50 percent discount on the buildingwide wireless network, and a 10 percent discount on all standard Internet/network products and services. The auction applies to meetings that will book between 2009 and 2012 and is subject to availability.

To sweeten the offer, the Washington, D.C., Convention and Tourism Corp. will produce and install welcome street banners around the convention center and post welcome signage at the three area airports and the train station. As an attendance-builder, the WCTC will create a welcome Web site linking to key events ongoing while the convention is in town. To help promote the convention further, the Washington Convention Center and WCTC will send representatives to the winning bidder’s convention the year before it comes to D.C.

Bids are accepted online only at www.auctiondcconvention.com. The auction is open to all meetings not already booked or tentative in Washington. The winning bidder may use as much space as needed for its meeting, based on historical use and needs.

For more information, contact Angie Myers at amyers@pcma.org .