 |
|||
| |||
|
An Eastern Shore alliance of businesses, Main Street groups, arts organizations, and tourism and economic development officials – known collectively as Tourism, Arts and Downtown Development (TADD) – is promoting nine communities in the region as arts destinations by encouraging visitors to Eat, Drink, and Buy Art on the Eastern Shore. TADD has produced a 16-page brochure that highlights the unique aspects of each of the nine towns and includes eateries and arts resources. A complementary web site – EatDrinkBuyArt.com – provides a searchable database of artists, restaurants, galleries, shops and events. The Eat, Drink, and Buy Art campaign, which runs through the December holiday season, also includes a “passport contest” that encourages visitors to come to the nine towns: Berlin, Cambridge, Chestertown, Easton, Elkton, Denton, Princess Anne, Salisbury and Snow Hill. The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the Maryland State Arts Council and Maryland Life magazine are supporters of the program.
“This year’s films will make people laugh, cry and embrace the power of courage and dignity,” said Debbi Dodson, director of the Talbot County Office of Tourism. The films depict locations in Afghanistan, North Korea, South America, Africa and New York City, she added. Opening-night events include a party at the historic Tidewater Inn, the screening of That Evening Sun (starring Hal Holbrook) and then an open forum with three filmmakers. The closing-night feature is After the Thin Man, a 1936 film starring William Powell, Myrna Loy and James Stewart. “We are proud to be associated with the festival again
this year,” said Jack Gerbes, director of the Maryland
Film Office, “and look forward to its continued growth.” Submit your nominations for the 2009 Maryland Tourism Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals, organizations and businesses that help to develop and promote tourism within the state. Gov. Martin O’Malley is scheduled to present the awards on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the 2009 Maryland Tourism Summit in Ocean City. Categories include: green/sustainable tourism; economic impact; cultural heritage tourism; promotion of the state as a travel destination; and volunteer efforts. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Thursday, Oct. 1
at 5 p.m. Individuals, private businesses, government organizations
and nonprofit groups are eligible to receive awards. Check
online for more information and a nomination form. Tourism tax codes outperform overall collections The latest issue of the Maryland Tourism Monitor – the Tourism Office's monthly report that measures visitor activity, advertising response and trends in state travel – is now available online. The Monitor details sales and use-tax revenue for the fiscal year, as reported by the Maryland Comptroller's Office. Tourism-related codes outperformed overall sales-tax collections, increasing by 8 percent over last year's figures – more than double the 3 percent gain for all sales-tax categories. Also, traffic to the Maryland tourism web site – visitmaryland.org – continues to climb. More than 249,000 unique visitors interacted with the site in June 2009 – an increase of 122 percent from June 2008. Visitmaryland.org attracted nearly 1.5 million unique visitors during the fiscal year that ended in June, an increase of 26 percent from the previous fiscal year. Pennsylvania cable show visits Rock Hall The producers of Out in the Open, a Pennsylvania-based cable TV program, filmed segments for their show in Rock Hall, Aug. 23-25. They participated in a FAM tour hosted by the Maryland Tourism Office, the Kent County Office of Tourism and a variety of industry partners. Producers Alex and JoAnne Zidock, along with their cameraman, went fishing in the Chesapeake Bay with Fish Fear Us Charters and cruised the Chester River with Blue Crab Chesapeake Charters. They also toured the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, filmed an interview at the Rock Hall Museum, visited the Waterman’s Museum, and dined at Waterman’s Crab House, Harbor Shack and Java Rock. The Inn at Huntingfield Creek provided accommodations. On their way back to Pennsylvania, the Zidocks stopped in Chestertown where they visited the Geddes Piper House and then ate lunch at the Kitty Knight House in Georgetown. “We can’t wait to get back to Maryland and the Chesapeake,” Alex Zidock said. Rich Gilbert shows tour operators what Maryland has to offer “Essentially, I’m a matchmaker,” says Rich Gilbert, senior manager for sales and marketing at the Maryland Tourism Office. He explains that it’s his role to suggest what attractions and lodging a tour operator might include in a Maryland itinerary. “It’s a matter of presenting options to the operators and offering value.” This past weekend, Gilbert was in Norfolk, Va., to meet with 22 operators in pre-scheduled appointments at the annual conference for the Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA). Read More... Help bring the World Cup to Maryland The
U.S. bid committee will narrow its field of potential host
cities
to those that demonstrate local interest. Maryland has
two entries – M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and FedEx
Field in Landover – among the list of 27 locations that
have passed a third stage of review. The World Cup’s governing
body will determine in Dec. 2010 where the 2018 and 2022 contests
will be played.
Watch
troops repel British invasion at Defenders Day event Free launch party for Eat,
Drink and Buy Art in Cambridge Tour
the ‘Heart
of the Chesapeake’ Baltimore heritage tourism grants available Stimulus funds provide job-retention grants
Win
a $50 AMEX card Win a $100 VISA gift card
|
