BALTIMORE—Visit Baltimore highlighted record tourism numbers, community achievements, and a new local pride campaign during its annual meeting, held Oct. 16 at R. House in the city’s Remington neighborhood.
More than 350 hospitality professionals, government officials, and community members attended the event, where Visit Baltimore interim president and CEO Kireem Swinton announced the city welcomed more than 28.5 million visitors in 2024, generating more than $4.3 billion for the local economy, according to data from Longwoods International.
“Everything we do at Visit Baltimore—every hotel stay, every dollar spent, every new traveler—is about improving the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, and experiences the city,” Swinton says. “The more than $4 billion spent by visitors supports job creation, a continuously thriving arts and culture scene, and future innovation in everything we offer here in Baltimore. It’s a reinvestment in our community, and the people who serve in hospitality make that happen. We know that ‘Charm City’ is a special place, rooted in authenticity and steeped in a welcoming spirit. At Visit Baltimore, we aim to share that story with the world.”
During the past year, Visit Baltimore booked more than 176,000 hotel room nights, launched its Smalltimore mobile visitor experience (which reached 45,000 people across the country), earned a Capital Emmy for a piece celebrating Civil Rights history in Baltimore, and secured the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments through 2029.
The event also featured video messages from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, city council president Zeke Cohen, councilwoman Odette Ramos, and Maryland Dept. of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker.
Visit Baltimore chief marketing officer Trish McClean also unveiled the organization’s new regional campaign, “The B-side,” designed to spotlight Baltimore residents and stories that showcase the city’s resilience and creativity. The initiative draws inspiration from flipping a record to hear lesser-known tracks and aims to counter negative perceptions of the city.
The campaign will feature collaborations with local artists and a 30-second commercial produced by Wide Angle Youth Media, a nonprofit organization teaching creative and media arts to youth across the city. Two students, Tahir Juba and Jeffrey Obike, joined Swinton on stage to discuss their experiences.
Visit Baltimore also presented its annual Tourism Awards. Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta Breaux received the Charm City Champion Award for leadership, which connects tourism and community. Paris Brown, publisher of The Baltimore Times, received the Bridge Award for advancing social inclusion in hospitality. Former Visit Baltimore president and CEO Al Hutchinson received the William Donald Schaefer Visionary Tourism Award for his contributions to positioning Baltimore as a premier destination.
