Comptroller Franchot; Ben Wu, Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce; Joseph Bartenfelder, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture; and industry partners gathered at Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore to introduce the Maryland Baseball & Brew Scorecard. Baseball & Brew is a partnership between the Brewers Association of Maryland; the Maryland Comptroller's Office; and OTD that encourages travel across Maryland to experience craft breweries and baseball-themed attractions. "Maryland has a proud and rich heritage in both baseball and the brewing industries," said Comptroller Peter Franchot. "This new Baseball & Brew Scorecard promotion encourages Marylanders and tourists alike to explore every region of our wonderful state and experience the sights and sounds of baseball and the taste of our award-winning craft beer."

Ben Wu, Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce said, "Breweries are economic engines for the communities in which they establish themselves." He noted that breweries help establish other small businesses such as food trucks, restaurants, boutique shops and artist studios that attract visitors and improve the quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods. Pick up your Maryland Baseball & Brew Scorecard at Maryland Welcome Centers and participating breweries, then "hit a home run" by having a drink at a Maryland craft brewery – 1st base; dine at a local restaurant – 2nd base; visit a Maryland baseball attraction – 3rd base; and stay overnight – home plate. Share your experiences on social media with the hashtag #brewsandbasesMD.

Pictured (left to right): Peter Franchot, Comptroller of Maryland; Joseph Bartenfelder, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture; Ben Wu, Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce; and Kevin Attics, Executive Director, Brewers Association of Maryland.

Marci Ross, Assistant Director for Tourism Development, OTD, co-presented a workshop at the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Conference, which was held in Maryland for the first time. Ross and Sara Capen, Executive Director, Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, discussed Underground Railroad heritage tourism in Maryland and New York. By holding the event in Cambridge, attendees were able to visit the new Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center — home of the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom program — and tour the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad byway through Maryland and Delaware.

The theme of this year’s conference was, “On the Edge of Freedom: Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad in the Borderlands,” and included a conversation with actor Aisha Hinds on her portrayal of Harriet Tubman on WGN’s Underground series; and a performance of “Harriet Tubman and the Songs of Freedom” by jazz musician Marcus Shelby and his quartet. To find out more about the byway and other Underground Railroad heritage tourism sites in Maryland, visit our website.

USA Cycling has announced that the 2018 and 2019 Amateur Road National Championships will be held in Hagerstown and Washington County. Scheduled for July 26-29, 2018, the National Championships are expected to bring more than 700 riders and thousands of spectators to Washington County for the multi-day event. “The cooperation of local cycling clubs, particularly the Antietam Velo Club, our city and county governments, and state agencies, was needed to develop a successful bid package,” said Dan Spedden, President, Hagerstown/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We will continue working to bring these kinds of high profile events to our area.”

USA Cycling’s decision to select Washington County was due, in part, to its central location in the mid-Atlantic and the close proximity to several of the largest markets in the U.S. Hagerstown is one-and-a-half hours from Washington D.C., three hours from Pittsburgh, and four hours from New York City, according to USA Cycling’s press release. Chuck Hodge, Vice President of Operations, USA Cycling, said, “This picturesque part of Maryland should present our athletes with challenging courses worthy of the National Championships.”

Maryland’s official Welcome Centers invited local businesses, attractions and community groups to join them during National Tourism Week for a travel information workshop, and dozens of partner organizations joined in for the event. “This was the best year we’ve had so far,” said Jennifer Jones, Customer Contact Programs Manager, OTD. “It was a diverse group of participants that included large hotel management companies and individual hotels, state and national parks, county tourism representatives, citizen boosters, and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.”

IPW, the largest generator of travel to the U.S., is coming to Washington, D.C. and bringing more than 7,000 attendees, including domestic and international travel buyers. This rare opportunity to have the tourism industry’s premier event in Maryland’s backyard doesn’t come often. So, register now, and benefit from one-on-one appointments with buyers and meet with travel supplier organizations from every region in the U.S. and representatives from more than 75 countries, generating more than $4.7 billion in future travel.

In addition to registering for IPW, you and your colleagues may also volunteer to work at special events throughout the duration of the convention. To become a volunteer, log on to washington.org\ipw2017 and click on the triple bar download icon in the page header. All volunteers will receive training, passes, shirts and the opportunity to participate in the country's most exciting international tourism event.

Marci Ross, Assistant Director for Tourism Development, OTD, and Anne Kyle, Product Development Manager, OTD, received Certificate of Appreciation Awards from the Maryland Park Service at the Spring Park Managers' Meeting on May 10 at North Point State Park in Dundalk. Ross and Kyle were recognized for their outstanding contributions and critical role in the establishment and promotion of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center.

Nita Settina, Superintendent, Maryland Park Service said, "On March 10, 2017, the highly anticipated dedication of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center unveiled the story of an American hero who was born into slavery on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Your extraordinary dedication to this endeavor over many years is a testament to your commitment to public service and Maryland's State Park system." 
Pictured (left to right): Angela Crenshaw, Assistant Park Manager; Anne Kyle; Nita Settina, Maryland Park Service Superintendent; Marci Ross; Dana Paterra, Park Manager

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.