Capital Region USA (CRUSA) held its annual international marketing summit, CRUSA Goes Global, at Washington, D.C.’s Newseum on July 21, and Liz Fitzsimmons, managing director, Tourism, Film and the Arts, was on hand to give the welcoming remarks. The event brought together DMOs and tourism marketing partners from Maryland and around the region to discuss the latest techniques and strategies in international marketing, as well as industry trends.

International marketing efforts are an essential part of Maryland’s tourism landscape with international visitation from the key markets of China, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Brazil projected to rise 3 percent to nearly 2.5 million visitors for FY2015. Not only is the international market growing, but this prized market stays longer and spends more.

On July 21, Jack Gerbes, director, Maryland Film Office and Catherine Batavick, deputy director, welcomed a delegation of documentary filmmakers from Qatar. Gerbes and Batavick shared strategies for promoting and developing regional film, and introduced the delegation to Maryland-based documentarians. The event was organized in conjunction with the U.S. State Department which chose the Maryland Film Office for its leadership in the field.

Pictured: Jack Gerbes, third from left; and Catherine Batavick, fourth from left; with filmmakers from Qatar.

The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) has awarded a $50,000 grant to update and reprint the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Map and Guide. The updates are being made to prepare for the opening of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and National Historical Park in March of 2017, and the anticipated increase in visitation to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.

The byway is a 125-mile driving tour of Tubman and Underground Railroad sites on Maryland’s Eastern Shore through Dorchester and Caroline counties. The route continues into Delaware to follow the approximate course of Tubman’s journey northward to Philadelphia. The grant will cover research, images, design and printing for the map and guide. It will also cover updates to the accompanying byway audio tour to integrate with the guide.

The all-new official Destination Maryland guide presents our tourism partners with a unique, powerful platform. There is no comparable opportunity available that is 100 percent focused on visitation to Maryland—and there is no better time to speak to its large audience than when they are actively planning their visit to the state. Destination Maryland is sent by request to highly qualified travelers who are actively planning a Maryland vacation—most often a long one. In addition to 250,000 printed copies distributed, the Visitors Guide will also be available as an interactive E-book with click-through to advertiser landing pages.

Contact Carly Stedman for rates and details: carly.stedman@milespartnership.com / 202-681-8169.

Nominations for the 2016 Maryland Tourism Awards — as selected by the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the Maryland Tourism Development Board (MTDB) — will be accepted until 5 p.m. on September 2. Award categories are: Economic Engine; Tourism Partnership; Cultural Heritage, Sports & Culinary Tourism; and Visit Maryland. A program overview and a nomination form are available online.

The awards pay tribute to individuals, organizations, businesses or governmental agencies that have significantly contributed to the efforts of the tourism office and board to boost jobs and economic impact in Maryland's tourism industry, and enhance the state's image to travelers. Winners will be announced at the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit. For more information, call or e-mail Jennifer Jones, 410-767-6296.

Home to more national and state parks than any other spot in Maryland, Washington County is the perfect place to make your home base to experience a wide array of public parks, ride the river, explore underground caverns and take in a good old-fashioned baseball game. The winner will enjoy a two-night stay at the award-winning Jacob Rohrbach Inn in historic Sharpsburg, gift certificates for dining at the Old South Mountain Inn and Dan's Restaurant & Tap House, both in Boonsboro, autographed copies of author Nora Roberts' The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy, a tubing adventure on the Potomac from River & Trail Outfitters, admission to Crystal Grottoes Caverns, and tickets to watch the Hagerstown Suns at venerable Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown. All in all, it's a $670 value. Enter to win -- and find your park!

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.

It’s that magical time of year again, when Maryland’s counties roll out the rollercoasters, gussy up their prize pigs, and search for exciting new foods to fry on a stick. Check out our county fairs page at visitmaryland.org.

Baltimore City, Howard County and Baltimore County are all serving up fantastic summer restaurant weeks this month. Visit our website for restaurant weeks and food festivals coming up through the end of Summer.