Marci Ross, Assistant Director for Tourism Development, OTD and Anthony Cohen of the Maryland Tourism Development Board were in Cambridge to attend the Harriet Tubman Organization’s annual banquet. This year’s banquet honored political leaders who worked to create the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, including Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin and Representative Andy Harris. Representative Elijah Cummings was also on hand as the keynote speaker. The addition of the National Historical Park gives long overdue recognition to Tubman and all those who joined the struggle for freedom along the Underground Railroad while tying together important tourism assets across the Eastern Shore.

On March 12, Pamela Dunne, Program Director, Maryland State Arts Council joined Marina Dowdall, Executive Director, Caroline County Arts Council, Richard Hughes, Administrator, Maryland Heritage Area Authority, and others in touring the Denton Arts District and its proposed expansion. The district is currently about six acres in downtown Denton, but county officials are seeking to expand the district to nearly 90 acres that would include the Museum of Rural Life and the Chesapeake Culinary Center. “I’m literally blown away by what the town is doing with these older buildings, and keeping the cultural and heritage aspect of the buildings and town,” Dunne told Dustin Holt of My Eastern Shore MD. “I can see all of the reasons and indicators of why you would want to create this larger area and encourage artists to move in.”

Maryland’s bourgeoning distilling industry looks to be entering something of a renaissance, and the Maryland Distillers Guild has tapped Kevin Atticks as executive director. Atticks, who also helms the Maryland Wineries Association and the Brewers Association of Maryland, is excited about not only the growth of local distillers and the potential for synergy among Maryland alcohol manufacturers, but also the economic benefits to growing regions in the state. “We’ve got six licensed distilleries now and another 10 in the planning stage,” says Atticks. The guild hopes to work with legislators to make Maryland distilleries a more viable tourism asset by opening them to group tours and providing them with the ability to give samples and to retail their own products. “What’s exciting to me,” he continued, “the folks who are starting the new distilleries are interested in using old spaces in small towns that could really use interesting new tourism draws.”

This weekend will be a big one for film fans as Annapolis and Hagerstown both roll out the red carpets for their annual film festivals. The Annapolis Film Festival -- March 26-29 -- has quickly grown to be a real player in the film festival world. “It’s just our third year,” says festival director Patti White, “but you’d never know it. This thing came on big.” The festival drew 2,500 attendees in its first year, grew to more than 7,500 in its second, and this year White expects it to be even bigger. “We’ve got a top notch slate of films and amazing industry panels,” she adds. “Being in Annapolis, we’ve got such a great destination, we are very film-maker friendly.” For showtimes, tickets and more, visit annapolisfilmfestival.com.

On March 18, the MMA hosted its annual Marketplace at the Hunt Valley Inn-Wyndham Grand. The one-day event brought together 440 group leaders representing senior centers, social clubs, recreational associations and others with hotel and attraction representatives as well as motorcoach operators from across the region. This year’s event welcomed 120 companies, from Cape Cod to Virginia Beach, and attendees were treated to lunch and tours of local Maryland attractions. “Marketplace benefits both motorcoach operators and our vendors,” says Al Spence, President, A.S. Midway Trailways and MMA. “Our group leaders had a great time and enjoyed the local sights. We thank everyone for making this event happen.” The MMA also took the opportunity to present Rich Gilbert, Travel Trade Sales Manager, OTD, who was instrumental in the planning and coordination of the annual Marketplace, with their Volunteer of the Year award.

Findings from the latest Tourism Monitor show an increase of 7.5 percent in tourism sales tax revenues during the first seven months of the 2015 Fiscal Year, outperforming the growth in overall collections by two percentage points. OTD’s marketing, advertising and public relations efforts are also up significantly from Fiscal Year 2014: unique web visitors are up 95 percent; requests for travel kits grew 38 percent; communications activities have generated $7.3 million in advertising value, an increase of 52 percent. The lodging Industry also experienced growth in January 2015, and according to Smith Travel Research, Inc. room demand and room revenue increased by 3.5 and 4.4 percent respectively.

Office of Tourism Development (OTD) staffers have been taking to the airwaves promoting Maryland Tourism. OTD communications specialists Leslie Troy and Connie Yingling have become frequent guests of WBAL-TV in Baltimore. For the last few weekends, Troy or Yingling join the WBAL 11 news crew to highlight destinations and events across the state. Also, OTD writer and content developer Jim Meyer has taken over as the voice of Maryland Minute, a weekly roundup of events across the state featured on CBS Radio stations in Maryland and DC and WBAL radio in Baltimore. Through these media opportunities, OTD is able to deliver the Maryland tourism message to hundreds of thousands of viewers and listeners in the market area.

Leslie Troy, communications specialist, OTD, was instrumental in assisting Travel & Leisure writers in selecting Baltimore’s Owl Bar to their list of historic speakeasies. The selection makes for a powerful marketing tool as Travel & Leisure reaches 41 million monthly visitors.

Connie Yingling, communications specialist, OTD, worked closely with The Weather Channel who named the Delmarva Birding Festival one of the “Best Ways to Celebrate Spring.” The Weather Channel is considered America’s most trusted media outlet and receives 56 million unique visitors every month.

Ross Peddicord, executive director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board was a guest on Center Maryland. Also, check out this great Horse Industry Day YouTube video by OTD.

Each week, the Maryland Minute provides highlights and insights on this weekend’s events around the state. Maryland Minute is featured on CBS radio stations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and on Baltimore’s WBAL-AM 1090.