TFA NEWS IN BRIEF
  Governor Hogan Serves as Parade Marshall during the 49th Annual Autumn Glory Festival

Last Chance to Register for the 2016 Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit

Register Now for Tourism Marketing Partnerships Lunch & Learn Seminar

OTD Staff Meet with Japanese Tourism Delegation

2016 Annapolis Boat Shows Feature Unique Photo Booths

Shoot Your Own Commercial and Enter to Win Our “Maryland My Way” Contest

NOW is the Time to Complete Your DestinationNEXT Surveys

IN THE NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Governor Hogan Serves as Parade Marshall during the 49th Annual Autumn Glory Festival
 
Governor Larry Hogan joined crowds of revelers celebrating fall colors and Western Maryland traditions during the annual Autumn Glory Festival in McHenry. McHenry has been lauded as a prime fall foliage destination by Travel & Leisure magazine, The Travel Channel, and Trip Advisor. During the three-day trip, October 13-15, Governor Hogan also toured Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties, and held a regional cabinet meeting in Hagerstown.

The Governor’s visit was just part of a big month of tourism events. The inaugural Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show Baltimore brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to Martin State Airport in Baltimore County and to the Baltimore Harbor for demonstrations by the Blue Angels and other air teams, the commissioning of the USS Zumwalt, and to tour Navy gray hulls and other vessels. In Cecil County, the Fair Hill International brought three days of horse trials-- including dressage, cross-country jumping and stadium jumping-- to the countryside. The horses were also running at Laurel Park, which hosted the annual Jim McKay Maryland Million race.

 
 
St. Mary’s County hosted the 50th Annual U.S. Oyster Festival and will continue Maryland’s October roll with the Patuxent River Air Expo this weekend, which will bring historic aircraft and top demonstration teams including U.S. Navy F-18s and the U.S. Air Force’s vaunted F-22 Raptor. For more information on these and other amazing end-of-October events across the state, go to visitmaryland.org.
 
     
  TFA NEWS IN BRIEF
 
 
Last Chance to Register for the 2016 Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit
 
 
This three-day event runs November 2-4 at Baltimore’s Marriot Inner Harbor at Camden Yards. The event, which attracts 250-300 tourism and hospitality industry leaders from across Maryland, is a unique educational and networking opportunity highlighting the latest trends in marketing, sales, public relations, social media, and grassroots advocacy. This year’s event offers a respected list of industry speakers including Kevin Atticks, founder, Grow & Fortify; Bill Geist, president, DMOproz; Tom Geddes, chief executive officer, Plank Industries; Adam Sacks, founder and president, Tourism Economics; Anirban Basu, chief economist and chairman/CEO, Sage Policy Group; and Liz Fitzsimmons, managing director, Division of Tourism, Film & the Arts.

The Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit is the year’s best opportunity to meet and to share with industry peers during the general sessions, award luncheons, networking breaks, receptions, mobile workshops and MTC’s annual awards gala celebrating the achievements of our tourism professionals. The Summit also has raffle prize opportunities for participants to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences, VIP tickets, posh getaways, golf outings, and feasts for foodies. For more information and to register, visit mdtourism.org

 
 
 
Register Now for Tourism Marketing Partnerships Lunch & Learn Seminar
 
 
Join the staff of the Maryland Office of Tourism Development (OTD) to learn more about 2017 marketing partnership opportunities. This interactive workshop will feature an introductory presentation by OTD staff, lunch and roundtable discussions for each topic. This workshop is open to Maryland tourism stakeholders statewide and requires pre-registration through OTD. Maryland Travel & Tourism Summit (MTTS) registration is not required to attend. Pre-registration by October 28 is required (this registration is separate from the MTTS). A confirmation email will be sent immediately following your submission. Space is limited to the first 100 people. To change or cancel your registration, email sstilling@maryland.gov.
 
 
 
OTD Staff Meet with Japanese Tourism Delegation
 
 
   
Representatives of Japan’s newly formed Setouchi Tourism Authority (STA) met with OTD as a part of a pilot program designed to establish regional tourism ties in the U.S. and Europe. Maryland was selected along with Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, DC to take part in the initial phase of the venture. The STA chose Maryland because the state’s natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities are similar to those found in the STA region, and because of the consistent growth of tourism industry performance over the last several years. “The Maryland Office of Tourism is honored to have hosted the delegation,” said Marci Ross, assistant director for Tourism Development, OTD. “Tourism is a global force that will only get stronger when we share our expertise and experiences.”

Pictured: Shin Isaka; Tomohiro Muraki and Richard Tobin, STA; Marci Ross, OTD; Kazuo Takahashi, Kindai University; Shinya Kitaoka, Hiroshima Prefecture; and Reiko Noguchi, Kansai International Tourism Organization

 
 
 
2016 Annapolis Boat Shows Feature Unique Photo Booths
 
 
 
 
For the 2016 Annapolis Boat Shows, the Maryland Office of Tourism partnered with the Marine Trades Association of Maryland to create an interactive experience promoting boating in Maryland. To draw interest and create the activation, an outdoor photo booth was set up. A backdrop with an iconic image of the Chesapeake Bay and Bay Bridge anchored the booth. For the sailboat show, a bright red corrugated plastic cutout of a sailboat was created for visitors to “stand” in, and a similarly styled powerboat was created for the powerboat show. Fun props included cut-outs of a ship’s wheel, rockfish, captain’s hat, life ring, and a bottle of champagne, and provided the inspiration for visitors to imagine themselves boating on Maryland’s waters. Visitors were then encouraged to share their #BoatMaryland photos through Facebook and Instagram.

Pictured: Annapolis Mayor Mike Pantelides taking the helm of the #BoatMaryland ship during the Annapolis Sailboat Show.

 
 
 
Shoot Your Own Commercial and Enter to Win Our “Maryland My Way” Contest
 
 
   
The Maryland Office of Tourism invites you to show us Maryland, your way! That’s why we created ‘Maryland My Way,’ a new contest where YOU shoot your own 30-second commercial showing off what makes Maryland special to you. We want you to show why Maryland is an exciting, must-see place with lots to see and do! Cast it, shoot it, script it, create it! Register here and send in your 30-second spot by November 17, and our panel of judges will select three winners for cash prizes—plus, your commercial will be broadcast on all of our social media channels, on our website, and maybe even in some of our broadcast TV spots! So get out there with your video camera and tell your story—show us ‘Maryland, Your Way!’ For contest rules, go to visitmaryland.org.
 
 
 
NOW is the Time to Complete Your DestinationNEXT Surveys
 
 
   
We are coming upon the end of the survey period for our statewide tourism assessment, but we still need your help! PLEASE continue to push the survey information out to your tourism partners so that we can get a fantastic number of responses to the survey. The more responses from your area, the more robust the reports will be for your region.

DestinationNext is a web-based diagnostic tool measuring 20 variables related to destination strength and community support and engagement. By objectively measuring these factors, DestinationNEXT enables OTD, DMOs and their industry partners to identify strengths, priorities, areas for potential improvement, and to develop strategies for future growth. To accurately and efficiently utilize this powerful tool, OTD needs your help. By completing your DestinationNEXT survey, you can better assess how you fit into the Maryland tourism scheme and OTD can better understand how best to help you reach the next level. To complete your survey, follow this link or, if you have further questions, please contact Heather Ersts, Outreach & Partnership Coordinator, OTD, at hersts@visitmaryland.org.

 
 
 
 
 
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  UPCOMING EVENTS
 
 
November
 
4
 
First Lady’s Student Art Exhibit Reception, Annapolis
The Maryland State Arts Council partners with First Lady Yumi Hogan and the Maryland State Department of Education to conduct the First Lady's Student Art Exhibit, which recognizes outstanding K-12 student work, and celebrates the arts in public education with an exhibit and reception in fall and spring. The MSAC selects the jury and manages the jury process. The 2016 Fall awards and reception are November 4, 2016 from 4-6 p.m. in the House of Delegates, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, Maryland. To obtain tickets, go to: http://mcblogs.montgomerycollege.edu/cac/maryland-traditions/
 
 
NOVEMBER
 
11
 
Maryland Traditions Heritage Awards, Silver Spring
The Folklife program of the Maryland State Arts Council will be hosting its Heritage Awards at Montgomery College’s Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring. This year’s honorees include Cambodian master traditional musician Chum Ngek of Montgomery County; Trimper’s Rides and Amusements of Worcester County; and the Steyer Brothers Farm in Garrett County and S&S Maple Camp in Allegany County. For more information and for tickets, visit MSAC.org.
 
 
 
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