TFA NEWS IN BRIEF
 

First Lady Yumi Hogan to host student art exhibition

Sideling Hill Welcome Center, Reopening for Business

Maryland’s Underground Railroad & African American Heritage Travel Guide Released

OTD, Partners, Attend MATPRA Media Marketplace in Erie, PA

Hollywood Comes to Maryland with Town of Bel Air and Utopia Film Festivals

TFA On the Road-Rich Gilbert Takes “Mini-Maryland Sales Blitz” to Virginia

Register Now for the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit

IN THE NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Maryland Department of Commerce logo
 
DBED is now the Maryland Department of Commerce
 
On October 1st, Governor Larry Hogan announced the formation of the Maryland Department of Commerce. Formerly known as the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), the new Department of Commerce will focus on attracting, retaining, and expanding businesses, creating jobs, and marketing Maryland's many assets. The Governor also named DBED Secretary Mike Gill the state's first Secretary of Commerce.

"The words aren't in our name any longer, but the new Department of Commerce is going to make sure 'economic development' is in Maryland's DNA," says Secretary Gill. "Governor Hogan has a pro-business and economic growth vision for Maryland, and it's our job at the Department of Commerce to make that vision a reality." The Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts will remain an integral part of this mission.

 
 
  TFA NEWS IN BRIEF
 
 
First Lady Yumi Hogan to host student art exhibition
 
  First Lady Yumi Hogan
   
Working in conjunction with the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), First Lady Yumi Hogan will be presenting a selection of artworks by Maryland students during the inaugural show in the new First Lady’s Art Gallery. The gallery, which was opened earlier this year, is located in the House of Delegates Office Building in Annapolis, and this fall’s show is the first of a continuing, bi-annual program with student shows held every Fall and Spring. An opening reception will be held October 23, and the exhibition will run through November 13.
 
 
 
Sideling Hill Welcome Center, Reopening for Business
 
  Sidling Hill Welcome Center
   
OTD and the State Highway Administration are reopening The Sideling Hill Welcome Center. The center, which is located on I-68 near Hancock in Washington County, was closed in 2009 as a cost cutting measure, stripped of furniture and equipment, and left untended for eight years. “We consider it great news,” says Hancock Mayor Dan Murphy, adding, “We appreciate Governor Hogan and his staff listening to us.”

The efforts to reopen the center were led by Jennifer Jones, Customer Contact Programs Manager, OTD, who earned a commendation from Mike Gill, secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce, for her work on the project. In under two months, Jones partnered with the State Highway Administration on major renovations to the center while simultaneously hiring and training a new staff. “Accomplishing what she did in just a few weeks, Jennifer really hit this one out of the park,” says Marci Ross, assistant director, OTD. “Jennifer took on a truly daunting challenge and created an opportunity to serve visitors, constituents and Commerce at the highest possible level.”

The Sideling Hill Welcome Center is well known throughout the region for its spectacular mountain views, the Memorial to Maryland Vietnam Veterans, and the unique window into the geology of the Appalachian Mountains provided by the massive road cut. “Re-opening the Sideling Hill Center does more than signify the return of the most popular rest stop in Western Maryland,” said Lt. Governor Rutherford.  “What we’re doing demonstrates the Hogan-Rutherford administration’s commitment to opening doors to business growth and development in Maryland.” The center will be officially reopened during a ceremony to be attended by Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford Friday, October 9 at 3 p.m.

 
 
 
Maryland’s Underground Railroad & African American Heritage Travel Guide Released
 
 
   
As Maryland readies for the planned 2017 opening of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park, OTD has released the redesigned Underground Railroad & African-American Heritage Travel Guide. This 40 page travel guide produced by the Office of Tourism is free to consumers and is available at welcome and visitors centers throughout the state. The guide makes exploring Maryland’s rich tapestry of African-American history and culture easy by compiling important sites from across the state.

Maryland’s Underground Railroad & African-American Heritage Travel Guide has been well received and helped earn OTD the National Park Service, Network to Freedom Program’s Robert G. Stanton Award for developing interpretation and enhancing visitor experience. The guide is available for download as a PDF and hard copies can be ordered through our website, visitmaryland.org.

 
 
 
OTD, Partners, Attend MATPRA Media Marketplace in Erie, PA
 
 
   
Leslie Troy and Connie Yingling, communications specialists, OTD, led the Maryland delegation to this year’s MATPRA Media Marketplace in Erie, PA. MATPRA is a professional organization made up of tourism focused public relations specialists representing Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and Virginia. “MATPRA was founded to thread ties between tourism organizations throughout the region,” says Troy, who is also MATPRA chair-elect and chair of MATPRA’s media committee. “Journalists don’t think about state borders, and MATPRA allows us to work together to bring media to our destinations.”

MATPRA has set the goal of expanding the region’s traditional media reach, and this year, of the nearly 40 journalists in attendance, half were attending for the first time. The marketplace also saw an influx of journalists from Canada, an important, emerging market for the region. “We’ve put together a lot of high profile travel stories in important outlets through the MATPRA marketplace,” says Yingling, a founding member and former chairperson of the organization. “It is a great tool for maximizing and amplifying our PR resources.”

2016 promises to be an even bigger year for Maryland in MATPRA as Troy assumes the chairperson position and the marketplace will return to Maryland. "I am thrilled to have the 2016 MATPRA Media Marketplace in Talbot County," says Troy. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase the Eastern Shore, and we will also be working to set up FAM trips throughout the state before and after the event.”

 
 
 
Hollywood Comes to Maryland with Town of Bel Air and Utopia Film Festivals
 
  Maryland Film Office Logo
   
Two Maryland film festivals will be lighting up the silver screen this month as the Town of Bel Air Film Festival hits the Bel Air Reckord Armory, October 15-17, and Greenbelt hosts the Utopia Film Festival, October 23-25. Now in its ninth year, the Bel Air festival brings high-caliber films that might otherwise bypass the region to Bel Air, while the 11-year-old Utopia festival focuses on films which explore utopian visions. Both festivals are produced in part through grants and assistance from the Maryland Film Office. For information, show times and tickets, visit townofbelairfilmfestival.com and utopiafilfestival.org.
 
 
 
TFA On the Road-Rich Gilbert Takes “Mini-Maryland Sales Blitz” to Virginia
 
 
   
Rich Gilbert, travel trade sales manager, OTD, led 17 Maryland partners on the Mini-Maryland on the Road Enterprise (Mini-MORE) Sales Blitz. The sales blitz through Virginia included individual sales appointments with 33 representatives and 12 tour operations, including two large producers of room nights in Maryland – Mid Atlantic Receptive Services and WorldStrides.

Maryland on the Road Enterprise (MORE) is a cooperative marketing partnership for Maryland’s tour and travel suppliers. Tour operator clients and their staff were invited aboard to discuss their operations, marketing approaches, trends, and planning needs to pair them with the best Maryland tourism products for their business. OTD’s partners on the Blitz included representatives from public and private attractions, Maryland cruise and tour operators, restaurateurs, and county DMOs.

 
 
 
Register Now for the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit
 
  Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit Logo
   
This three-day event runs October 28-30 and attracts 250-300 tourism and hospitality industry leaders from throughout the State of Maryland. Learn the latest techniques in marketing, sales, public relations, social media, grassroots advocacy, and to hear about the economic outlook for the industry. The Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit is the year’s best opportunity to meet and to share with industry peers during the general sessions, award luncheons, networking breaks, receptions, mobile workshops and MTC’s annual awards gala celebrating the achievements of our tourism professionals.

Guests of the Summit have the opportunity to be recognized in front of their peers and win professional and marketing awards for their organizations’ successes or their personal achievements.The Summit also has wonderful raffle prize opportunities for Summit participants to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences, VIP tickets, posh getaways, great golf outings, and feasts for foodies. For more information and to register, visit mdtourism.org.

 
 
 
 
 
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  UPCOMING EVENTS
 
 
OCT
 
Thru-31
 
Haunted Attractions and Fall Festivals, Thru Halloween
Maryland plays host to haunted houses, ghost tours, corn mazes, pumpkin pickin’ and more. For listings, go to visitmaryland.org and check out our Fall Fun and Haunted Attractions pages.
 
OCT
 
7-11
 
48th Annual Autumn Glory Festival, McHenry
A five day celebration of fall colors with concerts, parades, a classic car show, and the Maryland State Banjo, Fiddle & Mandolin Championships http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/pages/48thAnnualAutumnGloryFestival
 
 
OCT
 
8-12
 
United States Sailboat Show
The oldest and largest in-water sailboat show in the world hits the Annapolis City Dock. http://www.annapolisboatshows.com/united-states-sailboat-show/
 
 
OCT
 
9-18
 
Baltimore Beer Week
Raise a glass as Charm City celebrates the best beers from across the state during this weeklong sudsy celebration. http://www.visitmaryland.org/event/baltimore-beer-week
 
 
 
 
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