BALTIMORE, MD – Visit Baltimore, the official destination sales and marketing organization for the city of Baltimore, is celebrating major achievements for tourism and hospitality following its annual meeting, held on Thursday, October 16, at R. House in Remington.
THE IMPACT OF TOURISM
More than 350 hospitality industry partners, elected officials, and local stakeholders convened for Visit Baltimore’s annual meeting, which highlighted the impact of Baltimore’s tourism industry and Visit Baltimore’s sales, operations, marketing, and communications efforts over the past fiscal year. During the meeting, Visit Baltimore Interim President and CEO Kireem Swinton reported according to Longwoods International, the city saw more than 28.5 million visitors in 2024, generating more than $4.3 billion for the economy.
“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 said. 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.”
Other significant accomplishments presented include booking more than 176,000 room nights; traveling the country with a first-of-its-kind mobile visitor experience called Smalltimore, which reached more than 45,000 people nationwide; receiving a Capital Emmy for a piece celebrating Civil Rights history in Baltimore; and securing the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Tournament through 2029.
Throughout the program, attendees heard from Visit Baltimore leadership and government representatives, including an introduction from Chuck Tildon, President of The T. Archer Group and Chairman of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board of Directors, and video messages from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen, Baltimore Councilwoman Odette Ramos, and Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker.
CLUB BALTO – BRINGING CHARM CITY CULTURE BACK HOME
Visit Baltimore’s annual meeting was hosted within its Club Balto concept, immersing attendees in the authentic creativity of Baltimore’s club music scene. Over the last year, Club Balto has traveled across the country, stopping in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Las Vegas, building excitement around the unique spirit ingrained in the city’s culture. This was achieved in collaboration with Baltimore-based partners, including producer and DJ Marquis Gasque (DJ Mighty Mark), choreographer Terry Weddington (TSU Terry), and creative and entrepreneur Larry Caudle (Larry Waddup), who brought their authentic connections to the culture to the activation.
“After sharing this experience with potential visitors and meeting planners, it was important that we bring it back to Baltimore and share it with those who love the city as much as we do,” Swinton said. “Working with local creatives was critical to making Club Balto authentic and engaging. The result made us the most sought-after destination on trade show floors, meaning more opportunities than any other location to keep Baltimore top of mind for forward-thinking travelers and decision-makers.”
NEW COMMUNITY PRIDE EFFORT SPOTLIGHTS LOCAL STORIES, SUPPORTS CITY YOUTH
During the annual meeting presentation, Visit Baltimore Chief Marketing Officer Trish McClean unveiled an upcoming regional pride campaign called the B-side. Inspired by the idea of flipping a record to tracks that are less often listened to, the initiative will engage residents to share personal stories that highlight Baltimore in a positive light and push back against negative perceptions of the city.
In addition to collaborations with local musicians, performers, and visual artists, the B-side will include a 30-second commercial produced by Wide Angle Youth Media, an organization that works with young people across the city to teach creative and media arts, providing education and resources to help students engage with the community through storytelling. Two of the program’s participants – Tahir Juba and Jeffrey Obike – took the stage for a fireside chat to discuss their experiences with Swinton.
HONORING INDUSTRY CHAMPIONS
This year’s Visit Baltimore Tourism Awards were presented by Greg Bader, Executive Vice President and General Manager of MASN, and a member of the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board of Directors. The Charm City Champion recognition – which honors a leader whose work touches both tourism and the community – was presented to Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta Breaux. The Bridge Award recognizes the contributions of those who help advance social inclusion within the city’s hospitality and tourism industry and was presented to Paris Brown, Publisher of _The Baltimore Times_. The William Donald Shaefer Visionary Tourism Award – reserved for leaders who solidify the community’s ability to promote the city as a premier destination – was presented to Al Hutchinson, former President and CEO of Visit Baltimore.
ABOUT VISIT BALTIMORE
Visit Baltimore is the official sales and marketing arm for the City of Baltimore. The 501(c)(6) non-profit organization generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group, and leisure visitors. In 2024, 28.5 million people visited Baltimore for overnight and day trips, generating a total of more than $4.3 billion for Baltimore’s economy. For more information, please visit Baltimore.org.
