Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, TFA, Lucy Chittenden, Assistant Director for Interactive Services, OTD, Marci Ross, Assistant Director for Tourism Development, OTD, and Brian Lawrence, Assistant Director for Communications and Marketing, OTD lead a delegation to the U.S. Travel Association’s annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO). ESTO is the premier annual learning and knowledge-sharing forum for destination marketing professionals and was established to help destination professionals develop new tools and techniques, and debate pressing issues affecting destinations. This year’s event was held in Minneapolis, MN, and drew more than 800 leaders in the travel and tourism industry from across the nation.

Pictured: (Left to right) Lucy Chittenden, Assistant Director Interactive Services, OTD; Matthew Neitzey, Executive Director, Prince George’s County CVB; Amanda Hof, Director of Tourism Development, Visit Howard County; Melissa Joseph Muntz, Marketing & Communications Manager, Visit Frederick; Maria Lane, Sales & Marketing Coordinator, Visit Frederick; and Marci Ross, Assistant Director Tourism Development, OTD.

This year, the Maryland State Arts Council and the Maryland Traditions program are undertaking a study on the feasibility of a Maryland Folklife Center. The Goucher College-led team of consultants are currently gathering ideas and opinions from potential stakeholders across the state with more events to come. Follow this link and make your voice heard by taking the survey.

Pictured: (Left to right) Goucher College consultants Shannon Smith, Barry Dornfeld, Rob Forloney, and Amy Skillman.

Casey Keyfauver, formerly Supervisor, Mason Dixon Welcome Center and OTD fulfilment operations, is taking over as OTD’s new Customer Contact Programs Manager. Keyfauver has a B.S. in Business Communications from Frostburg State University and prior experience in the U.S. Department of Commerce. In her three successful years with OTD, Keyfauver has assumed leadership roles and taken on special assignments including the inaugural Maryland Fleet Week & Air Show Baltimore, the opening of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, and she has represented OTD at the South Eastern Travel Alliance Conference. Keyfauver has been active with Mason Dixon’s Welcome Center Volunteer Program, which has grown to be an essential part of the center’s operations.

Brandon Chan, formerly a Travel Counselor at the Mason Dixon Welcome Center, will be stepping into Keyfauver’s former position as Supervisor at the Center and fulfilment operation. Chan came to OTD three years ago after a career in the U.S. Navy. During that time, Chan has distinguished himself with his commitment to customer service and his work developing a unique partnership of state agencies through Maryland Department of Health’s Potomac Center, a facility that integrates people with intellectual disabilities into community settings.

The Maryland Office of Tourism Development (OTD) and the Maryland Tourism Development Board (MTDB) are calling for nominations for the 2017 Maryland Tourism Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding work of the tourism industry. Individuals, businesses, organizations and governmental agencies that significantly and positively impact the local, regional or statewide economy are eligible to submit a nomination. The awards will be presented during the 2017 Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit.

This year’s categories include the More Tourism Jobs for Marylanders Award and the Partnership Projects Award. A program overview and a nomination form are available online. Also, register now for the summit, held this year from Nov. 8-10 in College Park at The Hotel at UMD. Go to mdtourism.org to register, make hotel reservations and more.

The all-new official Destination Maryland guide presents our tourism partners with a unique, powerful platform. There is no comparable opportunity available that is 100 percent focused on visitation to Maryland—and there is no better time to speak to its large audience than when they are actively planning their visit to the state. Destination Maryland is sent by request to highly qualified travelers who are actively planning a Maryland vacation—most often a long one. In addition to 250,000 printed copies distributed, the guide will also be available as an interactive E-book with click-through to advertiser landing pages.

Contact Carly Stedman for rates and details: carly.stedman@milespartnership.com / 202-681-8169.

Through June of FY2017, Maryland showed marked improvement across a range of metrics. Broadcast leads and print advertising requests grew nearly 22 percent against print and broadcast advertising budgets that grew only eight and four percent, respectively. Unique traffic to OTD websites increased nearly 41 percent while social media channels continued to grow with TravelMD showing 24 percent growth on Facebook; 13 percent increase in followers on Twitter; and a 59 percent increase in Instagram followers.

Leisure and Hospitality Employment grew by 1.8 percent and now represents 10.6 percent of Maryland’s total non-farm employment. Gaming revenue grew 24 percent to $1.5 billion. And Tourism Tax categories grew 3.7 percent while the amount deemed attributable to Tourism Tax Codes rose to 4.1 percent. These numbers compare favorably to the two percent increase in tax revenues from all categories. To read the full monitor, follow this link to our industry website.

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