Maryland Tourism Council Blog

Maryland Tourism Office Announces Award Winners

mdtourism — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:26:28 +0000

Each year at the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit, the Maryland Tourism Office honors groups for their achievements. This year’s event was held at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center at University of Maryland University College on November 2-4.

Recipients of the Maryland Tourism Office’s annual awards included:

Savage River Lodge, located in Savage River Forest, was named winner of the Green/Sustainable Tourism Award for its innovations in building construction, purchasing from local growers and promoting green practices among employees and guests.

The Tourism Council of Frederick County received the Visit Maryland Award for restoring a 110-year-old warehouse on the property of a former wheel-spoke factory into the new Frederick County Visitor Center. Visitation at the new center is 25 percent above the number of visitors who came to Frederick’s previous center location last year.

Caroline County Office of Tourism and Dorchester County Tourism each received a Cultural Heritage Tourism Award for their contributions to developing the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway and the proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park.

The Preservation Society – a group dedicated to the preservation of two waterfront Baltimore communities, Fell’s Point and Federal Hill – received the Economic Engine Award for generating $40 million in economic impact through visitor spending at the annual Fell’s Point Fun Festival.

For more details about the MTTS event, visit http://tinyurl.com/6ofrxbd

Maryland Tourism Council Gives Professional and Marketing Awards

mdtourism — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:08:02 +0000

The annual Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit was well attended at the at the Marriott Inn and Conference Center at University of Maryland University College on November 2-4, despite a down economy. Professionals from agencies all across the state gathered to network, attend educational seminars, and be recognized for their achievements.

This year’s honored recipients are as follows:

Professional Awards

Tourism Person of the Year: Liz Fitzsimmons, Maryland Office of Tourism

Audrey Davenport Hospitality Person of the Year, Melanie Pursel, Executive Director of the Greater Ocean City Maryland Chamber of Commerce

New Professional of the Year: Kathy Mackel, Director of the Caroline County Office of Tourism

Tourism Advocate of the Year: Rachelina Bonacci, Executive Director of Howard County Tourism and Promotion

Judges Award: Tourism Council of Frederick County for their new visitors center

Marketing Awards

Promotion Award (Continuing Campaign): Harbor Queen Cruises in Annapolis, a program of Cruises on the Bay by Watermark

Promotion Award (One-time Campaign): Conference and Visitors Bureau of Montgomery County for the “We’re Open!” campaign

Best New/Improved Product or Event Award: Talbot County Office of Tourism for Restaurant Week

Best Printed Promotional Material Award: Allegany County Department of Tourism for the National Road Discovery Program

Best Electronic Marketing Award: Prince George’s County Conference and Visitors Bureau for OneNews

Impact Award: Prince George’s County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, www.HistoricPrinceGeorges.com

Best Visitor’s Guide Award: The Tourism Council of Frederick County for Destination Frederick. The City. The County. The Region.

Maryland Tourism Education Foundation Educational Development Award: Heather Skipper, Director of Guide Operations for Watermark Journey

Best Shoestring Budget Award: Cecil County Tourism for the “Ask Me about Cecil” campaign

Industry Partnership Award: Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, Town of Ocean City, Worcester County Tourism and Ocean City for Harbor Day at the Docks – a Waterfront Heritage Festival

Impact Award: Calvert County, Charles County, St. Mary’s County

“These awards are a key component of our annual conference,” says MTC President and CEO David Reel. “They serve to honor exemplary work by select members as well as to inspire creativity and new initiatives among all who work in our industry. Congratulations to this year’s winners.”

2011 Tourism Partnership of the Year Awarded

mdtourism — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:17:13 +0000

The “2011 Tourism Partnership of the Year” was recently awarded to Maryland Life magazine. The award was given by the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (MDMO), at the annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit.

The event was held Nov. 2-4, at the Marriott Inn & Conference Center at UMUC in College Park, Maryland. Top tourism professionals in Maryland got together for educational opportunities and networking, along with vend0rs, suppliers, supporters, government professionals, and elected officials.

According to an article on Marylandlife.com, “Tourism is a significant industry in Maryland. More than 29 million visitors spent more than $13.6 billion last year, and the tourism industry employs 134,000 people throughout the state. The industry generated more than $1.6 billion in tax revenues for state and local governments.”

For more information about MDMO, visit www.tourismworksformaryland.com.

Good News for Maryland Tourism Industry

mdtourism — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:29:19 +0000

Maryland’s tourism industry is in growth mode, despite the poor economy. That’s according to an article in the online publication Maryland Community News on Gazette.net.

The 5.1% increase over 2010 means that for the first time, the state is eligible for $3.6 million in additional federals funds, since the minimum qualification is 3% growth.

“The industry is getting ready to rally and push for funding,” said Margot Amelia, executive director of the Maryland Office of Tourism.

Each of the state’s high-performing destination marketing organizations were honored with a governor’s citation at the Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit held in Aldephi on Nov. 4.

David Reel, president and CEO of the The Maryland Tourism Council said that the group is working on their strategic plan to increase diversity among its members, and to plan for future growth.

To read the full article, click here.

Tourism Creates JOBS

mdtourism — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:27:29 +0000

Greetings from the Maryland Tourism Council. We are the trade association that in conjunction with the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, sponsors the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit. This year the conference and trade show will be held at the state of the art, UMUC Conference Center in Hyattsville, MD. There are many reasons that you should attend this conference. We’ve sent a “save the date” via mail, numerous announcements via email, postings on web sites and in social media. But we all need to focus on the one thing that means more than all the rest. The one thing we should always be thankful for, but often overlook. The one thing we don’t talk about enough that businesses all over Maryland have in common, that taxpayers should care about and students should learn about.

Tourism creates jobs.
One more time.
Tourism creates jobs.

For every 233 visits to Maryland, a new job is created.
Tourism is responsible for one of every 14 jobs in Maryland.
Tourism is directly responsible for more than 134,000 jobs, and indirectly for another 36,000 more.

In a time of economic downturn all over the country, when turmoil is on the rise, the bright, guiding light of tourism remains steady, even growing. Won’t you please join us in sustaining the wonderful tourism workforce we have, and participate with us in ways to create more jobs for more Marylanders?

We’ll be happy to show you the ways.

November 2-4, 2011 at Marriott, UMUC