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Industry-Interest Events
Maryland Travel and Tourism Summit
November 2-4
Marriott Inn & Conference Center
University of Maryland College Park
3501 University Boulevard East
Hyattsville, MD 20783
The Maryland Tourism Industry's annual conference. Click here to register on line. Click here for silent auction and sponsorship opportunities.
Ongoing Industry Meetings
St. Mary's Chamber of Commerce Tourism Advisory Council Second Tuesday of the month, 9 a.m. St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce Office, California Need not be a chamber member to attend. Tourism and hospitality stakeholders meet to discuss industry topics. Contact the Chamber Office for more information: 301-737-3001.
Leonardtown Business Association Meeting Second Friday of the month, 8:30 a.m. Various Leonardtown locations Businesses, organizations and other corporate entities located in Leonardtown meet to discuss ways to promote the Town. For membership and meeting information, contact admin@thelba.org.
St. Mary's County Hotels Meeting Third Thursday of the month, 1:30 p.m. Location varies St. Mary's County hotels meet with SMCT to discuss industry topics, programs and marketing initiatives. Contact SMCT for meeting info and location at 301-475-4200 ext. 1404.
Calendar of Special Events To view the calendar of special events in St. Mary's County visit www.visitstmarysmd.com.
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This is the official Industry Bulletin produced by St. Mary's County Tourism (SMCT), a division of the Department of Economic and Community Development. | |
News You Can Use
Register Now for the Industry Conference
The Maryland Travel and Tourism Summit is just around the corner (November 2-4), and this year, it's not too far away (Marriott Inn and Conference Center at University of Maryland College Park). If you haven't attended before, this is the year to go! Tourism colleagues from across the state will be there to share, to learn and to have fun. David Reel, CEO and President of the Maryland Tourism Council said, "This event is all about education, opportunity and resources that will help the collective tourism industry succeed... (at MTTS) tourism professionals and decision-makers from across Maryland come together to make a positive difference for their business, travelers, residents and the state's economy." You can register on line by clicking here (on line registration requires a one-time account activation). Please click here to download MTTS Sponsorship opportunities. Please click here to download MTTS Silent Auction opportunities.
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Tourism Website Almost Ready for YOUR Listings
Development of the St. Mary's County Tourism website is currently underway. By December, the website will be ready for partners to log-in and add their listings. Be on the lookout in December for information on how to create a user account and add your listing(s).
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Newtowne Neck State Park Gets Funds
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has received a $400,000 matching federal grant to develop outdoor recreation facilities at the new waterfront state park. The total funds of $800,000 will be used to construct hiking, biking and equestrian trails, tent and RV camping sites, mini-cabins, swimming, picnicking and shelter areas and motorboat access areas. Newtowne Neck State Park is a 776-acre peninsula surrounded by Breton Bay, St. Clement's Bay and the Potomac River. The county's fifth water-based state park is close to Leonardtown and presents new tourism opportunities to the area.
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New St. Mary's County Destination Guide Available
The new guide is here and is in the process of being distributed to all state and regional visitor centers, plus local sites and attractions and other distribution points. The guide is also distributed to target markets throughout the mid-Atlantic and mailed in response to information requests. The guide will also be available in digital format at www.visitstmarysmd.com. Call SMCT if you would like to receive copies of the new guide.
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Get Out the Vote for the 2012 Free State's Finest
It's time once again to cast your vote in Maryland Life Magazine's Free State's finest reader's poll. Fifteen local partners got bragging rights this year along with great promotional opportunities. Go to MarylandLife.com or click the logo to cast your ballot for St. Mary's County sites, restaurants and businesses!
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Sotterley Plantation Works to Overcome Hurricane's Blow
More than 100 mature trees toppled over during the September hurricane altering the landscape and damaging several of the historic site's structures. Amidst the destruction, Sotterley continues to serve the public: a week after the hurricane, Sotterley hosted a travel writers' conference lunch for 140 and three weeks later, it held its annual Riverside WineFest. Contributions are sorely needed to assist with ongoing clean-up and repairs. To view images of the damage and to donate, go to http://www.sotterley.org/irene.htm.
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Sotterley Plantation to be Part of Star-Spangled Banner Trail and Byway
The Star-Spangled Banner Trail and Star-Spangled Banner Scenic Byway build on the excitement of the War of 1812 bicentennial, but this combined federal and state initiative is also meant to provide a lasting legacy for Maryland and the nation. Sotterley Plantation's inclusion opens new areas of partnerships and funding opportunities for the historic site, which has a significant War of 1812 history. Sotterley has several War of 1812 programs in the works.
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War of 1812 SMCT Partner Exhibits
SMCT announces a partnership with the St. Mary's County Historical Society and the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum to produce War of 1812 exhibits that will serve as War of 1812 orientation points for visitors. The Historical Society exhibit at Tudor Hall in Leonardtown will include the story of Leonardtown's role in the war, while the exhibit at the Air Museum will tell the story of the Battle of Cedar Point which took place nearby. The project has received funding assistance from a Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium mini grant and builds upon the work of the St. Mary's County War of 1812 Committee. Exhibits are expected to be completed in early 2012.
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Civil War SMCT Partner Projects
SMCT will work with Point Lookout State Park and the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions to enhance and develop area Civil War offerings as we move into the war's sesquicentennial period. Efforts include enhancements to the park's Civil War Museum exhibits and a wayside interpretive marker for the U.S. Colored Troops Memorial to be installed in Lexington Park in the spring of 2012. The project has received funding assistance from a Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium mini grant. Projects are expected to be completed in early 2012.
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Group Hugs: Promoting St. Mary's to Groups
SMCT's Rebecca Deprey attended Mini Maryland on the Road
(Mini-MORE) September 26-28, to promote St. Mary's County to tour operators in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region. Mini-MORE is a group tour sales blitz that is oganized each year by the Maryland Office of Tourism, taking approximately 20 representatives from Maryland CVBs, attractions, restaurants, and hotels to a selected region to meet with tour operators. This year's sales blitz included a total of 12 tour operators.
On November 22, Beverly Brown of Cherry Cove Hospitality will be attending the Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association Marketplace as part of the St. Mary's County Hotel Group co-op program. She will be promoting St. Mary's County to the 600 group leaders that are expected to attend the marketplace.
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Partnership Actively Promotes the Magnificent Seventh
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Photo by SMC Museum Division |
Tourism-related businesses in the county's historic Seventh District are working to build the area into a distinctive visitor destination. The group promoted their businesses to attendees of the Seventh District's signature event, The Blessing of the Fleet, with new promotional materials highlighting all there is to see and do in this historic section of St. Mary's County. The group is also developing its own website.
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Religious Freedom Byway Map and Guide Published
Running though St. Mary's and Charles Counties, the byway tells the story of religious toleration in early Maryland through historic sites and early churches. The new guide, produced by the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium and byway manger Jennifer Pitts, is available at state and regional information centers and historic sites.
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MATPRA Travel Writer Conference: Multiple Events in St. Mary's
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Photo by SMC Museum Division |
Sixty-five travel writers joined members of the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance at the regional September conference headquartered at the Holiday Inn Solomons. Over fifty SMCT partners joined together to provide two days of afternoon tours and events in St. Mary's which featured the county's rich heritage, recreational opportunities, and our local foods and wines. Tour stops and presenters included Summerseat Farm, Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, the Chesapeake Bay Field Lab, Sotterley Plantation, Greenwell State Park, the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, Allen's Homestead, Port of Leonardtown Winery, Patuxent Adventure Center (Breton Bay kayaking), Lenny's Restaurant, the Island Bar and Crab House, Caf� des Artistes, Kevin's Corner Kafe, Quality Street Kitchen, Bruster's Ice Cream, Kona Ice, Circle C Oyster Ranch, Farmer's Daughter Cupcakes, Southern Maryland Trails and SMC Agriculture Division. Sotterley Plantation and Historic St. Mary's City hosted dining events.
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Pre-Conference Writers' Tour of St. Mary's and Charles Counties
SMCT joined with Charles County Tourism to host a tour of the new Religious Freedom Scenic Byway prior to the start of the MATPRA conference. Byways manager Jennifer Pitts and local guide Pete Himmelheber joined the five touring writers. SMC sites visited included Historic St. Mary's City, St. Clement's Island and Christ Church in Chaptico with an overnight and reception hosted by the Town of Leonardtown.
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St. Mary's Wineries Garner Governor's Cup Awards
Port of Leonardtown Winery and Slack Winery garnered a total of fifteen medals between them at the recent 2011 Maryland Governor's Cup competition to include two Best in Class medals and four golds. Both wineries have been open just over one year and are already achieving high marks. Check out all their distinctive offerings. http://portofleonardtownwinery.com/ and http://www.slackwine.com/.
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Air Expo Numbers Soar
The 2011 Pax River Air Expo, which took place over the Memorial Day weekend, saw a 35% increase in attendance over 2010 numbers boasting 134,000 attendees over two days. The show comes to Patuxent River Naval Air Station every other year and features the Blue Angels.
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Ghost Hunters at Summerseat Episode Premiered
Summerseat has been the site of three paranormal investigations over the last several years including work by the investigators of the Ghost Hunters TV series. The Summerseat episode debuted on the program on September 14. Summerseat's premiere party included a tour of the 333 year old property ---and its graveyard.
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Where the Art Is: Leonardtown!
Fuzzy Farmer's Market has a new location in the square in Leonardtown at 22696 Washington Street. The store features items derived from local sheep, goat, alpaca, and rabbit farmers including fiber art, jewelry, shawls, bags, baskets, snow-dyed silk scarves, rag rugs, blankets, and handspun yarn and fiber. Also now open on the square is Montparnasse Gallery and Gifts. The gallery showcases contemporary works of art by regional, national, and international artists.
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Candy Cummings Shows at American Visionary Art Museum
St. Mary's County artist Candy Cummings' work is featured in the recently opened "all Things round" exhibit at Baltimore's popular American Visionary Art Museum. Candy's work is available locally including at Montparnasse Gallery. View her work at www.candycummings.com.
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State Tourism Enhanced E-Calendar for Events
The Maryland Office of Tourism recently launched an enhanced electronic calendar of events on the state's official tourism Web site, VisitMaryland.org. The calendar now accepts event postings directly from venues, event organizers and destinations through an on-line entry system at www.calendar.visitmaryland.org. Event representatives can also purchase ads on the site as well as enhance their calendar listings with upgrades, such as images and preferred placement. In addition, the online calendar has the capability to search popular event web sites for additional content.
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How to submit items
Provide us with news to share with industry partners in the SMCT Quarterly Industry Bulletin. SMCT also accepts items for its monthly Tourism e-Newsletter distributed to the general visitor. Submissions should be no more than 50 words and should contain a point of contact for more info. Submit to Rebecca.Deprey@stmarysmd.com.
Contact SMCT Staff
Carolyn Laray, Tourism Manager
Carolyn.Laray@stmarysmd.com, 301-475-4200 ext. 1403
Rebecca Deprey, Tourism Coordinator
Rebecca.Deprey@stmarysmd.com, 301-475-4200 ext. 1404
This bulletin is produced by St. Mary's County Tourism, a Division of the Department of Economic and Community Development. For more information about St Mary's County Government, log on to www.stmarysmd.com. | |
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