Have you got 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.

OTD’s UK-focused promotions efforts are paying dividends as the British Daily Express featured two of Maryland’s official driving tours in its list of 10 Best USA Road Trips. Maryland’s Frederick Douglass Driving Tour and the Historic National Road Scenic Byway both made the Top 10 list, and the Northern Atlantic Coast Drive, which features Ocean City, was also included. OTD works with Capital Region USA (CRUSA) to promote Maryland travel to an international market, with the UK being a prime target market. To read the full Daily Express list, follow this link, and go to Visitmaryland.org to learn more about great Maryland driving tours.

Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show Baltimore runs October 3-9, and the Living Classrooms Foundation is looking for volunteers to assist with parking, information booths, set up, clean up, and more. If you would like to register, please fill out our Fleet Week Volunteer Form or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Erin Myers, at emyers@livingclassrooms.org or 410-685-0295 ext. 291. Also, as part of efforts to promote this high-flying festival, volunteers are needed to appear on WJZ Channel 13’s “Manic Monday” with Ron Matz. The Fleet Week segment will air live, Monday, October 1, with volunteers needed at the Fells Point Square at 5:45 AM. For complete information on Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show Baltimore, featuring performances by the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds, go to our website for all of the details.

MSAC will be hosting three “WE ARE LISTENING” sessions on Tuesdays in October to get feedback on several of its programs. Participants may attend in person at the MSAC offices in Baltimore, or remotely through WebEx. To register for the October 2 session, “Public Art,” click here; for the October 9 session, “Maryland Traditions,” follow this link; and for the October 16 session, “Presenting and Touring,” click here.

As part of OTD’s efforts to expand and upgrade the award-winning VisitMaryland.org web site, we are constantly creating new content. Recent updates include pages featuring Waterman’s Heritage Tours and Air & Space attractions. The Air and Space page capitalizes on the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's popularity by introducing Maryland's aviation and space attractions such as the Goddard Space Flight Center, Patuxent River Naval Air Station Museum, and live rocket launch viewing from Assateague Island and the Eastern Shore. The page launched just in time for Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show Baltimore. Follow this link to see the page. The Waterman’s Heritage page includes links to working Maryland watermen who also provide tours and experiential learning opportunities. To get a glimpse of these Chesapeake traditions getaways, follow this link to Visitmaryland.org.

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 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 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.

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.