An OTD/Miles Media film crew lead by Catherine Batavick, Communications Projects Manager, OTD, wrapped filming on their final byway video of the year in October. The video shoot was for the Lower Susquehanna River Byway, and was the sixth shot over the last year. The videos, which trace Maryland’s scenic byways and feature engaging destinations along the way, highlight the beauty and warmth of Maryland and its people. OTD would like to thank the National Park Service, Maryland State Parks, all the DMOs who assisted with their time and resources, as well as many other partners both public and private who have helped make this project a reality. (For a complete list of all participating partners, click here.) Look for more byway videos in 2019.

Pictured: Miles Media videographer Arnaud Muller filming at the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House.

The Maryland Office of Tourism has been working to increase awareness of Maryland as a travel destination to the Korean market. Capital Region USA research shows that Korean visitors to the Capital Region was ranked 4th in 2017.

Commerce worked with Visit Loudon (VA) to put together operators to showcase the area’s commitment to growing inbound customers from Korea. The group visited the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Dempsey’s at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, enjoyed a crab feast at Kent Narrows, cruised on an Annapolis harbor tour, saw the U.S. Naval Academy, and dined at Carroll’s Creek Restaurant and had breakfast with the First Lady. They also toured locations in Virginia.

United Airlines was a sponsor for the tour, which included representatives from major tour operators in Korea, and Maryland is working with them to build tour packages.

Pictured: First Lady Yumi Hogan (center), Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Ben Wu (far left), and Managing Director for Tourism, Film & the Arts, Liz Fitzsimmons (second from left), with tour participants.

The National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program celebrated its 20th Anniversary on October 16 in Boston on Beacon Hill at the African Meeting House. Anne Kyle, Product Development Manager, OTD, attended the event. The event included a film premiere of Fighting for Freedom: Lewis Hayden and the Underground Railroad, an awards ceremony and a keynote address by David Blight, Director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition at Yale University. Dr. Blight recently released his book Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. OTD has been working closely with the National Park Service program since its inception, and Maryland now has more than 80 recognized Underground Railroad historical sites and continues to seek new destinations to tell this important story.

OTD welcomed its newest team member, Public Relations Specialist Matthew Scales, earlier this month. Scales is a native Marylander, graduate of Towson University, and previously worked closely with OTD in his role with Star Spangled 200 as a communications associate. Scales spent five years working for the Port of Baltimore, first as a Public Affairs Specialist, and then as Marketing and Sales Representative. In his new role, Scales will be working on PR strategies and outreach, assisting with social media, and working closely with the OTD team to promote Maryland’s abundant tourism assets. “As someone who fell in love with the tourism industry,” says Scales, “I am excited to be part of the Maryland Office of Tourism.”

The Maryland Environmental Trust in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation and the 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.

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.

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.