Maricar R. Donato brings a level of excellence and professionalism that is unequaled in the tourism and event management industry. Charismatic, passionate and with a gift for inspiring, she embodies a rich cultural perspective. With a grandfather from Spain, she was born, raised, and educated in the Philippines listening to Spanish at home, being educated in English at school, and speaking Tagalog. She’s lived and studied in both Paris, France and Washington, DC and now speaks six languages.
Ms. Donato is the founder of WashingTours & Events (WTE), a professional tour and event planning company with over 33 years of combined experience in tourism, training, and special event planning. Maricar organizes multilingual-guided tours and international event study tours, specializes in incentive tour programs, designs training for front line professionals in the United States, South East Asia, Europe, and South Africa; and implements on-site event planning for corporate meetings and hospitality programs.
She is a certified, accredited international trainer by The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) and is the only certified trainer of tourist guides in the United States. She developed The Professional Tour Guide Training Program to teach future tour leaders the skills, competence, and experience to become world-class tour guides and ambassadors for Washington, DC and supports them as they sit the Washington DC License Exam.
Ms. Donato also trains current and future event management professionals in South East Asia, South Africa and Europe through workshops and seminars emphasizing cultural perspectives. Her Global Perspectives in Event Management and Working Across Cultures workshops are highly sought after as they not only explore event management, but event management within a culturally rich and diverse context.
Ms. Donato holds a Bachelor’s degree from Assumption College in Manila, Philippines, a Master of Tourism Administration and Certificate in Event and Meeting Management from The George Washington University. She is an active member of the Guild of Professional Tourist Guides of Washington, D.C., the International Special Events Society, and Destination DC.
