This week, the annual Tourism Marketing and Development Plan was released jointly by the Maryland Tourism Development Board and the Office of Tourism Development. The report identifies and tracks statistics such as visitor demographics, day trips vs. overnight stays, leisure activities, and DMA regions of origin. This year’s report saw increases in visitation from targeted Pennsylvania feeder markets, and highlighted Maryland’s percentage change in visitor volume, which outpaced the national average in four out of five categories of spending.

“This year, we chose to identify and develop all of our key strategies to help achieve each of our overarching goals: Market Expansion, Transactionable Programs, Maximizing Opportunities and Leveraging Partnerships,” said Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, TFA. “I am proud of this Board’s continuing work with the Office of Tourism. The objectives and strategies in this plan are designed to enhance tourism’s positive economic impact in Maryland,” said Rick Howarth, Chair of the Board and Park President at Six Flags America. The report is available on the OTD Industry site here, or in printed form.

Fair Hill International (FHI) it has been recommended by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to host the second CCI4* (4*) in the United States. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) for a final decision in the fall. The 4* is the pinnacle of the sport of eventing, also known as the equestrian triathlon. There are currently only six events of this level in the world.

“We are thrilled with the USEF’s announcement,” said Trish Gilbert, Co-President, Fair Hill International. “Our team has worked really hard to bring the 4* to Fair Hill. It is an honor to be selected to put on an event of this caliber – to showcase Maryland and the beautiful Fair Hill terrain on a world stage.” Carla Geiersbach, Executive Director, FHI, agreed, “The teamwork that has made this selection possible is extraordinary. Our partners include multiple equestrian disciplines and also span the public and private sectors.” Said Sandy Turner, Tourism Coordinator for Cecil County, "I'm so impressed with the 4* committee members, and private and public partners who came together for a common goal.  It's amazing how much passionate commitment and enthusiasm have gone into this effort. Cecil County Tourism is truly excited about the news from USEF , and we look forward to welcoming visitors from around the globe in 2019 and beyond."

Nicole Christian, President & CEO, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, has been named the 2016 Chamber Executive of the Year by the Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (MACCE). "Nicole was selected as MACCE’s 2016 Chamber Executive of the Year because of her many notable accomplishments on behalf of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce,” said Paul Frey, MACCE president. “Nicole’s nomination submission emphasized her dedication to the advancement of business opportunities to the more than 600 members as well as Garrett County businesses.”

Some of Christian’s stand-out accomplishments include the creation of the HR Roundtable; the launch of Deep Creek Experience, a county-wide, visitor-focused program; and the creation of a business and industry appreciation program. Christian was also instrumental in securing nearly $1 million in state and federal grants for heritage area projects, and her time with the Chamber of Commerce has coincided with a nearly 20 percent growth in Garrett County tourism over the last five years.

Pictured: (Left to Right) Shane Grady, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce (GCCC); Nicole Christian, Executive Director, GCCC; and Paul Frey, President, Maryland Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills played host to the prestigious Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. The event put the course — and Maryland — in the national spotlight, as thousands of spectators and golf legends such as Fred Funk, Tom Lehman, Vijay Singh, and John Daly descended on the course. The event marked the first time a PGA Major has come to Caves Valley since 2002, and the greens looked fantastic on the Golf Channel’s live, international coverage.

The play on the links was top-notch as well, with a three-time defending champion atop the leaderboard at the end of Saturday’s play, things looked set for a fourth consecutive win, but a stellar six-under 66 Sunday round brought Scott McCarron storming back from a six-shot deficit all the way to the top of the leaderboard. The win marked the 51-year-old Californian’s first major victory in PGA TOUR Champions.

Maryland’s film industry continues to pull in critical praise with local productions garnering seven 2017 Emmy nominations. The Netflix original series “House of Cards” led the way, pulling in five nominations including Best Drama Series, while HBO and Oprah Winfrey’s docudrama “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” was nominated for Best Television Movie. “House of Cards” production is based in Maryland, while HBO’s project spent four days shooting in Maryland. Film and television continue to be drivers for Maryland’s economy, with “House of Cards” generating an average of $112 million in economic impact, utilizing 2,300 Maryland businesses, and hiring 1,980 Marylanders in each of its first three seasons filming in Maryland.

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.