Do you have a can’t-miss marketing platform to increase overnight stays in Maryland? Submit now and see if you’ve got what it takes to win over the judges at the Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit’s (MTTS) first-ever “Crab Tank on the Choptank” pitch competition. Make your submissions now, and, if selected, you will make your pitch live at MTTS on November 16 and our judges, the “Big Crabs,” will pick the pitch with the claws to get it done. Winning submissions will go beyond traditional travel “silos” and combine Maryland’s winning travel possibilities including group travel, multicultural/diversity travel, human-powered recreation, and family fun. The winning pitch will receive $50,000 in marketing support provided by OTD, including a full-page ad in Destination Maryland, web banner ads, coverage on VisitMaryland.org and in OTD’s newsletters, and more. All submissions must be received by October 15. Click here for more information about how to submit your pitch.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore and the Maryland State Arts Council will join to host the public art dedication of “Stochastic Interactions” by Eric Peltzer on October 16 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Health Sciences Research Facility III Plaza at 670 W. Baltimore Street. The sculpture is part of the Maryland Public Art Initiative that integrates public art in state capital construction projects. The public is invited, and is asked to R.S.V.P. to events@umaryland.edu.

The Maryland Environmental Trust in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development presents five "Keep Maryland Beautiful" grants. Grants through the "Keep Maryland Beautiful" program help volunteer-based, nonprofit groups, communities and land trusts in Maryland to support environmental education projects, litter removal, citizen stewardship and to protect natural resources in urban and rural areas. Applications for the 2018 fall grant cycle will be accepted online through November 15. More than $200,000 will be awarded through the program in the spring of 2019. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and contingent upon receipt of state funds.

Environmental Education, Community Initiatives and Cleanup Grants are available to nonprofits, schools and municipalities.

Land Trust Capacity, Excellence and Stewardship Grants are available to Maryland local land trusts.

For a brief summary of all five "Keep Maryland Beautiful" grants available, click here.

OTD is seeking nominations for the 2018 Destination Maryland Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding work of the tourism industry in its quest to increase revenue from visitor spending while providing unforgettable customer experiences for our visitors. Individuals, businesses, organizations, and governmental agencies that have significantly and positively impacted the local, regional, or statewide economy are eligible for nominations. This year’s categories include the Maximizing Opportunities Award, the Market Expansion Award, the Leveraging Partnerships Award, and the Transactionable Opportunities Award. The awards will be presented during the Maryland Travel & Tourism Summit, November 14-16, in Cambridge. For more information including eligibility guidelines, and to make a nomination, follow this link to the OTD industry website.

The Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA) annual convention is a place where artists, arts professionals, advocates and more, come together to discuss current issues and concerns facing the arts sector. This year’s topic is Unheard Voices, examined through the lens of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) initiatives. It will feature presentations by, and conversations with artists, programs and organizations doing the intentional work that moves beyond conversation, turning IDEAs into action. Attendees will come away with resources to take back to their organizations, to initiate or continue their own IDEA work. ArtsLAB will be held November 18, for more information and to register follow this link to the MCA website.

OTD and its industry partners attended the
Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) annual Media Marketplace in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. DMOs from around the region met with more than 50 journalists representing publications including Forbes Travel, The Boston Globe, and Fodor’s. The marketplace offers a unique opportunity to promote regional themes as well as individual destinations, and helps DMOs form relationships with press from around the country.

Nominations are now open for one small town to win a $500,000 revitalization grant and be featured on season four of the TV series "Small Business Revolution - Main Street," starring Ty Pennington. The winning town and its small businesses will receive one-on-one guidance from marketing expert Amanda Brinkman; business services from Deluxe Corp.; upgrades to the town's public spaces; and a starring role in the reality series. In addition to the $500,000 transformation and video series, the winning town will receive major publicity, with prior winners covered by The Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur magazine. Nominations are open through October 26; once finalists are announced, the American public will vote to determine the final winner. Eligible towns must have fewer than 50,000 residents, and anyone can nominate a town, whether they live there or not. For more details, go to SmallBusinessRevolution.org.

The 2018 Maryland Travel & Tourism Summit (MTTS) will be held November 14-16 at the Chesapeake Bay Hyatt Regency Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge. MTTS is Maryland’s annual tourism industry conference, which brings together all sectors of the hospitality industry. MTTS offers one-of-a-kind networking and is the ideal opportunity to learn and develop new strategies to advance your business and Maryland Tourism as a whole.

The summit attracts more than 250 attendees, acclaimed speakers presenting on industry trends, and interactive learning sessions including an off-site learning lab. For more information and to register, follow this link.

How can OTD help spread the word about your attraction or event? "Maryland Mondays" is the perfect way to help us help you. Each Monday, OTD launches a new “Maryland Mondays” ticket giveaway program across all of our social media channels, consumer newsletter, and weekly “Maryland Minute” radio spots. Combined, these channels reach thousands of potential customers each week. To find out how to get involved by providing tickets to your attraction for an upcoming "Maryland Mondays," email OTD’s Leslie Troy.

For the latest on events and everything going all around Maryland, view the latest edition of Visit Maryland Now! here.

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