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PGC TOURISM NEWS & NOTES 
    NOVEMBER 2015
Prince George's County Tourism News & Notes is presented by the Prince George's County Conference & Visitors Bureau (CVB), the official Destination Marketing Organization of Prince George's County.
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IT'S BIG, IT'S BOLD, IT'S UNPREDICTABLE...THAT'S ARTOMATIC!
Now thru  December 12

A n explosion of color, sight, and sound at every turn. Artomatic is an amazing Art Festival that is "by artists, for everyone". Showcasing over 700 local and regional artists of every discipline, including many from Prince George's. What you'll see and experience is limitless - featuring all genres of visual, creative, and performing arts. 

It's all on display as Artomatic takes over the entire building (all floors) at 8100 Corporate Drive in Hyattsville, just a few minutes walk from the New Carrollton Metro.

Artomatic is presented in partnership with M-NCPPC (PGC Parks & Recreation). Admission is FREE. There's plenty of parking or take Metro. Join the Artomatic movement! 
MARINE CORPS MARATHON WEEKEND WILL HQ IN PRINCE GEORGE'S STARTING NEXT YEAR
Gaylord National and National Harbor selected as official host hotel and venue for MCM 2016...
No, the traditional Marine Corps Marathon course hasn't changed. But, everything that revolves around it has. Beginning 2016, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center will serve as the official headquarters hotel and host venue for the 41st Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) next October. 

Representatives for MCM made the announcement at the official press conference prior to the start of the 2015 event, at the National Press Club. 

MCM Weekend activities at GNat will include the popular two-day MCM Health & Fitness Expo, MCM Pep Rally, MCM Runners Conference, MCM Carbo Dining-In, and other activities. 

Over 30,000 runners and disabled-athletes (from all walks of life, representing every state and 50 different countries) participate in the MCM Marathon, MCM 10k, and MCM Kids Run.  And, all participants will pick up their race packets and instructions from MCM HQ (at GNat) prior to the big run. So, with runners, supporters, fans, family and friends, it will be quite a festive weekend on the National Harbor waterfront, October 28-30. 

The move to GNat and National Harbor is a monumental shift for MCM Weekend. For the last 10 years, MCM Weekend has alternated between the DC Convention Center and DC Armory. The 2015 HQ hotel was the Hyatt Regency. 
AT 2015 MTTS, CHERRY HILL PARK'S MIKE GUREVICH AND GAYLORD NATIONAL HONORED
Gurevich takes Hospitality Person of the Year, GNat is again awarded TripleA 4 Diamond...
At the recent 35th Annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit (held at Turf Valley in Ellicott City), two Prince George's County's "best in tourism" received well-deserved recognition. 

Michael Gurevich, operator of Cherry Hill Park was honored as the 2015 Audrey Davenport Hospitality Person of the Year. Known for its exemplary customer service and outstanding amenities, Cherry Hill Park, located in College Park, is Washington DC metro's only RV resort and campgrounds. Mike has been a driving force at making the park one of the best in the nation.  
And, in related MTTS award news, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center was honored with the 2016 AAA Four Diamond Lodging Award.

AAA Four Diamond establishments are upscale in all areas. Accommodations are progressively more refined and stylish. The physical attributes reflect an obvious enhanced level of quality throughout. The fundamental hallmarks at this level include an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail. 
PGCC PLANS TO IMPROVE THE RECIPE, WILL BUILD NEW CULINARY CENTER
Facility will provide consolidated "on campus" location and major enhancements to growing program...
Prince George's CC
With the help of Prince George's Community College, the next great chef or restaurateur may hail from Prince George's County. PGCC has plans to build a 22,305 square foot, state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Center on the Largo campus. The facility will be built on a 2.58 acre tract and construct could start early 2016. 

The new center will dramatically expand PGCC's culinary arts program which prepares students for a career as an executive chef, restaurateur, food and beverage manager, food writer, research chef, or a culinary educator. The program focuses on cooking related services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments.
LAUREL WEST PROP COMPLETES $5 MILL TRANSFORMATION TO BECOME COUNTY'S SECOND "DOUBLETREE"
DoubleTree by Hilton Laurel is now open with all the amenities we've come to expect from the brand...
On the hospitality front, the former Holiday Inn Laurel West (on Sweitzer Lane) is now the DoubleTree by Hilton Laurel. The prop re-opened as DT in late October after a $5 million transformation. Enhancements to the six-story, 208-room prop include a total redesign of the lobby, fully-updated guest rooms and meeting spaces, new furnishings throughout, and a completely renovated atrium entrance. 

As part of its renovation, the hotel debuts an updated restaurant, All American Steakhouse & Sports Grille, open for all-day dining with seasonal lunch and dinner menus featuring regionally-inspired fare with an eclectic twist. 

The prop also features nine event rooms totaling more than 13,000 square feet of flexible meeting space making it the ideal setting for gatherings and events of up to 300 people.
BOWIE BUSINESSMAN MAKES CASE TO BUILD DINING COMPLEX AT THE "CROSSROADS"
If approved and built, Bladensburg project could include two restaurants and a dinner theater...
Quick mention on an item that's been brewing for the past 12 months. A local businessman (and Bowie resident) would like to bring entertainment back to Bladensburg. 

After acquiring the former Crossroads nightclub site (off the corner of Baltimore Ave. & Annapolis Rd.), he's proposing an upscale three-story 27,400 s.f. restaurant compound. With expansion and renno of the existing building, the proposed "BEYOND" complex would have a dining triple play - fine-dining, sports-themed dining, and dinner theater.

A revised proposal has been making the rounds of the PGC Planning Dept. and the Planning Board to obtain detailed site plan approval. More info if or when things progress. 
UPCOMING CP SPOT WILL BE SMOKIN' SOME OF THE BEST BBQ IN DC METRO
Fat Pete's Barbecue expects to be in play on Route 1 by early January 2016...
Filling the "Q" void in the College Park dine scene, Fat Pete's Barbecue will make its debut possibly within the next two months.

To be located at 7406 Baltimore Ave, Fat Pete's is the creation of restaurateur Jeff Holibaugh, co-owner of the Cleveland Park Bar & Grill in DC. Holibaugh is also a University of Maryland alum.

Fat Pete's will feature lunch and dinner service for sitdown (about 40), with emphasis on take-out and catering service. Expect a unique blending of Texas, North Carolina, Memphis and Atlanta flavors emanating from their over-sized high-tech smoker.  

This will be the second Fat Pete's location, with the original on Connecticut Ave. in DC's Cleveland Park. Fat Pete's was ranked one of DC's best by the Washington Post "Going Out Guide" - second only to the critically acclaimed DCity Smokehouse. 
SMC MAKES "CHOICE", SELECTS UPSCALE BIZ PROP AS THEIR SECOND CP HOTEL
County's first Cambria brand prop expected to arrive summer of 2017...
Southern Management Corporation (SMC) has signed an agreement with Choice Hotels International to develop a new Cambria Hotel & Suites in College Park. The 150-room prop will be located at 8321 Baltimore Avenue within short walking distance of the University of Maryland. 

The Cambria Hotel & Suites College Park will feature an upscale American bar and grill featuring steaks, seafood, salads and wood burning oven pizzas. Additional amenities include meeting space and a state-of-the-art fitness center. A CVS Pharmacy will also be located on the property.

Designed as a business travel and leisure brand, all Cambria hotels are new-construction and feature a larger lobby to give guests a warmer, engaging social atmosphere; oversized rooms that are larger than standard hotel rooms with flexible living and working spaces; and the latest technology that allows guests to stay connected while they travel.

SMC currently owns and operates The Hotel at Arundel Preserve in Hanover, MD and Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center in  Macungie , PA. SMC is currently constructing The Hotel at the University of Maryland , a 297-room hotel and conference center, which is scheduled to open in early 2017.
EXCITING EVENTS ON THE DECK THIS MONTH IN PRINCE GEORGE'S

Extraordinary things are happening every day in Prince George's. Here's a taste. Click each for details and visit us online (or on app) for more. 

November:

Now thru 29 20th Annual Needleart Exhibit - Montpelier Mansion

Now thru Dec 12 Artomatic 2015 - New Carrollton/Landover Metro Area

6 Sip, Snack & Shop Romano Vineyard & Winery

6-8 LV/DVG America National Dog Championship - Show Place Arena

7 Black Violin - The Publick Playhouse

8 Seasonal Selections: Thanksgiving Feast - Riversdale House Museum

13-15 Mid Atlantic Equitation Festival - Show Place Arena

14 Jean Carne in Concert - Harmony Hall Regional Center

14 Wildlife Holiday Bazaar - National Wildlife Visitor Center

15 NFL Football-Washington vs. New Orleans Saints - FedEx Field

16 Suricato - Columbian Jazz Quintet - Bowie Performing Arts Center

19-21 The Fourth of April: The Play - Bowie State University

21 thru Jan 3 Christmas on the Potomac/ICE! - Gaylord National

21 Lula Washington Dance Theatre - The Publick Playhouse

27 thru Jan 1 Winter Festival of Lights - Watkins Regional Park

29 NFL Football-Washington vs. New York Giants - FedEx Field

 

  There's more...find hundreds of events online>>>

BY THE NUMBERS: TOURISM'S IMPACT IN PGC
Prince George's County Tourism's impact - thru visitation and taxes generated - runs across every aspect of development including lodging, food & beverage, retail, recreation, major events, transportation, and transportation-related services.
  • Visitors - Over 6 Million
  • Total Tourism Employment - Over 31,000
  • Total Tourism Tax Receipts (combined Federal, State/Local, Hotel) - $565,700,000
  • Admission/Amusement Taxes Collected - $15,860,936
  • Room Taxes Collected - $20,573,759
  • Tourism Promotion Act State Sales Taxes - $52,408,296
  • Total Direct Consumer Tax Impact - $88,842,991

Source: Tourism Economics, December 2014
   
9200 Basil Court, Suite 101

Largo, MD 20774

301.925.8300 | [email protected]

 

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