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Maryland Public Art Commission Visits Hagerstown Cultural Trail |
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On May 22, the Maryland Public Art Commission (MPAC) visited the new Hagerstown Cultural Trail. The trail is one of eight catalyst projects in the City Center Plan, a roadmap for downtown development. Public art is being incorporated along the trail route, with more than seven new artwork pieces dedicated in the last two years. MPAC Commissioners were photographed in front of a new mural 'Building Blocks' by artist HENSE, also locally dubbed ‘The Mural of Unusual Size.’
Pictured left to right: MPAC Commissioner Rodney Tissue, City of Hagerstown; Liesel Fenner, MSAC; MPAC Commissioners: Elaine Bachmann, Maryland State Archives; Leslie Kahn, Architect, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; Elizabeth Hughes, Maryland Historical Trust; Catherine Leggett, MPAC Chair; Kathy O’Dell Ph.D., UMBC; Molline Jackson, MNCPPC; Rand Griffin, Corporate Office Properties Trust (Ret.).
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Governor Hogan Designates Calvert Marine Museum as Maryland State Paleontology Center
On May 15, Governor Larry Hogan signed a bill designating the Calvert Marine Museum as the State Paleontological Collections and Research Center establishing the museum as the official repository of Maryland’s rich and diverse fossil finds and collections. Within the next five years, the museum plans to construct a new paleontology center. The new facility will include the paleo library, collections storage, office space, preparation areas, receiving areas for large fossils and conference space.
In addition to working within the professional paleontological community, the Calvert Marine Museum shares its resources with the public. “We are thrilled that our state legislature and our governor recognize that the Calvert Marine Museum is not just the jewel in Calvert County’s crown,” said Evan Slaughenhoupt, Board President, Calvert Marine Museum. “It truly is a distinguished flagship museum for the state and a renowned tourist destination.”
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Record Number of Marylanders Travel During Memorial Day Weekend
AAA Mid-Atlantic projected nearly 890,000 Marylanders got away over the Memorial Day holiday weekend from Thursday, May 24 through Monday, May 28. The total represents a 4.7 percent increase over last year, and a new record according to AAA, which has been tracking Memorial Day weekend travel since 2001. 2018 also marks the fourth consecutive year Maryland exceeded 800,000 travelers.
“Our forecast shows that more Marylanders than ever will be getting away for the holiday weekend and this year, they will be taking to the roads and the skies in record numbers to get to their destination,” said Ragina Cooper Averella, Manager of Public and Government Affairs, AAA Mid-Atlantic. “As with Americans across the country, Marylanders are being motivated to travel thanks to a stronger economy and growing consumer confidence.”
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House of Cards Wraps Final Season
Tears flowed on Friday, May 26, as House of Cards filmed its last scene of the series at its stage complex in Harford County. The critically acclaimed, ground-breaking series called Maryland home for more than six years. During its run, House of Cards was nominated for 53 Emmy Awards and 8 Golden Globe Awards. Although numbers are not yet available for the final season, over its first five seasons, the series has had an economic impact of nearly $600 million in Maryland, hired more than 2,000 Marylanders per season, and purchased or rented goods or services from more than 2,100 Maryland businesses.
Pictured: House of Cards crew members.
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Promote Your Event with "Maryland Mondays" Ticket Giveaway
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 newsletters, 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.
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Maryland Green Travel to Complete Final Transition to
Maryland Green Registry on June 30
If your tourism business would like to continue to be recognized as a green property on the Maryland Office of Tourism (OTD) website, please be sure to complete an application for the Maryland Green Registry before June 30. The application can be found here. All profiles remaining from the Maryland Green Travel (MGT) program will be removed after June 30. Visit the Maryland Green Registry website for more information or to join.
In January 2018 after eight years of managing MGT, OTD began merging the program into the Maryland Green Registry, the State’s standard for green recognition programs. Properties that join the Registry, or any other green recognition or certification program, can have their green profile linked to their listing on OTD's website. Simply provide OTD with the url. Please contact Kat Evans, Database Manager, OTD, to get your green profile linked on your business listin.
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The New Maryland Tourism Monitor Is Here
The latest Maryland Tourism Monitor shows strong, continued growth in several areas. Social media followers have climbed by 19 percent and Welcome Centers have seen a 13 percent rise in visitation through FY18 thus far. These numbers combine with a 119 percent increase in digital referrals by OTD assets to our partners year-over-year.
Revenues from tourism tax codes have also shown strong improvements with restaurants, lunchrooms and delicatessens showing an 8.6 percent rise; restaurants and night clubs a 5.3 percent rise; and general merchandise rising 14.7 percent year-over-year. To see the entire report, follow this link.
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Now Accepting Ad Reservations for Destination Maryland - Official 2019 Visitors Guide
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Maryland Minute
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.
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