Rockville, Md.—The heart of Maryland is coming together to showcase their areas as premier groups and meetings destinations. The new initiative, Meet in Maryland, is a collaborative approach to initiate interest in Maryland as a meetings destination. Meet in Maryland encompasses venues in Baltimore, Bethesda, BWI Airport, College Park, Columbia, Gaithersburg, National Harbor, Rockville, Silver Spring, and beyond to promote meetings and events in the greater capital region.
Representatives from several Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), including Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Visit Baltimore, Visit Howard County, Visit Montgomery, and Experience Prince George, announced the Meet in Maryland partnership at the recent Connect Winter Marketplace, held in Washington D.C.
“This initiative brings together a dynamic alliance of Maryland DMOs aimed at promoting Maryland as a leading destination for meetings, corporate and government events,” said Liz Fitzsimmons, director of Maryland Office of Tourism. “By collaborating, we leverage our unique strengths and resources, enhancing our marketing efforts to elevate the local economy within the meetings market segment.”
According to data from the Maryland comptroller, in 2023, these counties collectively generated 46 percent of the state’s total in adjusted tourism sales and use taxes.
Merriweather Post Pavilion in Howard County was ranked fourth out of the “Top 10 Amphitheaters in America” by Rolling Stone Magazine. Baltimore has more than 8,000 downtown hotel rooms, with 2,300 situated within one block of Baltimore Convention Center. One of Prince George’s County’s hottest attractions, National Harbor, was voted one of the top 50 U.S. destinations for meetings with surrounding waterfront, meeting spaces, and world-class entertainment.
The DMO cluster is centrally located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is considered an attractive location for small to mid-sized meetings, with proximity to Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Ronald Regan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
“Maryland stands out not only for its premier meeting sites but also for its rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality. It addresses the diverse needs of meeting planners and organizations, offering an array of settings that cater to any event style,” said Kelly Groff, president & CEO of Visit Montgomery.
The Meet in Maryland initiative was made possible through an Economic Development Administration Grant (EDA).
