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Industry-Interest Events
Website Help Hours at SMCT
Thursdays in August, 8 AM - 5 PM,
St. Mary's Tourism Office, Leonardtown.
Walk-in website help offered to get your business up and running on our new website. Contact SMCT for more info: 301-475-4200 x1404 or visitus@stmarysmd.com
Ongoing Industry Meetings
St. Mary's Chamber of Commerce Tourism Advisory Council
Fourth Thursday of the Month,
8 AM, St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce Office, California.
Council members meet to discuss industry issues. Contact Chamber Office for more information: 301-737-3001.
Leonardtown Business Association Meeting
Second Friday of the Month, 8:30 AM, 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 Tuesday of the Month,
1:30 PM, 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. | |
 It's a . . . Website!
SMCT is pleased to announce the debut of the new travel and tourism website www.visitstmarysmd.com. The interactive site features an arra y of travel planning features while the innovative partners' section enables local tourism and hospitality businesses to create and manage their listings, deals and events. The site's photos, videos and rich details showcase the area's history and beauty. The site went live on June 1. By the end of the month, site visitation was 333% higher than June of last year. SMCT now moves into phase two of its e-marketing program with deployment of a comprehensive online marketing strategy. |
| Get Listed! SMCT Offers Drop-in Website Assistance in August
 Restaurateurs, retailers, charter captains--all who run a hospitality-related business in St. Mary's County--may drop by SMCT's offices in the Governmental Center in Leonardtown any Thursday in August between 8 AM and 5 PM, and we'll help you create your new website listing, plus add your logo, pics of your establishment, and promotional deals. It's easy, once you know how! Call Rebecca at 301-475-4200 x 1404 or contact visitus@stmarysmd.com for more info, or for phone assistance with your listing.
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Real People Videos
A marketing study conducted by Enten Marketing showed that  our visitors love meeting the passionate locals they encounter here in St. Mary's. See the first in our series of "Real People" video shorts produced by Enten Marketing and Phocus Video at www.visitstmarysmd.com. Meet ranger Christy Bright from Point Lookout State Park, skipjack captain Jack Russell (shown at right), Budds Creek Motocross operator Jonathan Beasley, Kevin's Corner Kafe owner Kevin Thompson, Historic St. Mary's City maritime curator, Will Gates, and Vintage Source owner, Michelle Combs Radez. |
SMCT Expands Social Media to Include Google+
According to prdaily.com, Google+ is adding 625,000 new users every day, and the Google +1 button is used more than five billion times per day. St. Mary's County has expanded its social media reach to include this growing internet community. Social Media users can now connect with St. Mary's County Tourism on Google+, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Blogger.
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US Colored Troops Memorial Monument Unveiled
The new USCT monument is one of a very few in the U.S. that commemorate the role of African-American soldiers during the Civil War. Over 700 USCT were from St. Mary's County, and two received the Medal of Honor for their bravery.  The monument, located at Lancaster Park in Lexington Park, was unveiled on June 16. U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer, Maryland Senator Roy Dyson, and other dignitaries participated in the unveiling, as did sculptor Gary Casteel, shown at right with re-enactors. The monument was a joint effort of St. Mary's County Government and the Unified Committee for Afro-American Contributions. Accompanying the monument is an interpretive panel funded by SMCT and a grant from the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium.Information about the monument and a slideshow of the ceremony may be found at http://www.africanamericancontributions.com/index.html |
Contract Awarded for Construction of the New Patuxent River Naval Air Museum
A $4.6 million building contract has been awarded to Broughton Construction of Washington, D.C., for the long-awaited new naval air museum. The current museum is among the county's top visitor draws. The museum tells the story of Patuxent River Naval Air Station's pioneering and continuing cutting-edge role in naval aircraft development and testing. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2014. |
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Archaeologists Uncover Foundation of Maryland's First State House
Archaeologists working at Historic St. Mary's City have uncovered the stone and brick foundation of the Calvert House. The structure was built soon after the settlement of Maryland as home for the founder and first Governor, Leonard Calvert. Visitors are encouraged to view the foundation and the cellars and watch as archaeologists uncover other features during normal museum hours. Work will continue until August 3, 2012. |
Governor Appoints Jim Grube to State's Tourism Development Board
Gov. Martin O'Malley has appointed Jim Grube of St. Mary's County to the Maryland Tourism Development Board. The board includes at-large members and members from the Maryland General Assembly. Mr. Grube is the proprietor of Woodlawn Farm Bed and Breakfast and Slack Winery. The Board has broad policy powers to guide the direction of all activities necessary to develop and market the State as a destination.
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New Research on African-Americans During the War of 1812 Inspires "The Choice"
Over forty slaves at Sotterley Plantation escaped with the British during the War of 1812. The Choice, a dramatization commissioned by Sotterley, will continue engagements during the 2012-2015 summer seasons. It is based on actual persons and incidents that took place at Sotterley. During the dramatization, visitors move about the plantation with the actors as they decide to flee or stay. http://sotterley.org/ |
Point Lookout Civil War Museum Enhanced for the Sesquicentennial
New panels enhance the story and update the look of the Civil War Museum at Point Lookout State Park. A hand-built model of Hammond Hospital will soon be added. Prior to becoming a prison camp, the Point's hospital was a state-of-the-art military facility. The enhancements were made possible by SMCT and a grant from the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium. At right, exhibit designer Dennis Kund installs a panel. |
St. Mary's County Welcome Center Increa ses Hours with Start of Summer Season
SMCT and the St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce continue their long tourism partnership with an increase in welcome center hours of operation. Travel counselors are now manning the center Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM - 5 PM. The center is kicking off the new hours with a "warm welcome" -- Amish baked goods from the near-by market for Saturday visitors. |
Star-Spangled Banner Kiosk and New War of 1812 Exhibit Open 
Visitors to the St. Mary's County Welcome Center in Charlotte Hall are now greeted with a new National Park Service Star-Spangled Banner Trail kiosk--one of many to be installed throughout Southern Maryland to help guide visitors.For an in-depth look at the War of 1812 in St. Mary's County, Tudor Hall in Leonardtown, offers Raiders and Invaders: The War of 1812 in St. Mary's. The exhibit was made possible by SMCT and a grant from the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium. http://www.nps.gov/stsp/index.htm |
College Class Creates War of 1812 Pages for Destination Southern Maryland Website 
St. Mary's College of Maryland Professor Kenneth Cohen's spring semester American history class focused on the War of 1812. As a project, the class (shown at right) researched and developed web content now viewable at www.destinationsouthernmaryland.com. The new pages provide insight into this significant period in Southern Maryland. |
August Vacation for Vets Rally Joins Leonardtown Events Line-up
A new event will appear in Leonardtown's already rich su mmertime line-up. A modified poker rally to benefit the Vacation for Vets program is set for August 17 with rain date of August 24. St. Mary's County Commissioner Dan Morris is spearheading the effort. Call the town offices at 301-475-9791 for rally details. For info on the Vacation for Vets program visit http://www.vacationsforveterans.org/ |
Home2 Suites Lexington Park Hosts First Regional Wounded Warriors Meeting
Home2 Suites by Hilton Lexington Park an d its parent company, Cherry Cove Hospitality, LLC, have partnered with the new local Patuxent River Veterans support group, Wounded Warriors Program, to lodge Veterans at their Southern Maryland hotels when they visit the Naval Air Station for follow-on careers. Home2 Suites will be hosting the Wounded Warriors monthly organizational meetings. Home2 kicked off the first meeting with a "Barbeque Social" on June 28th. |
SMCT is Seeking Input on Military Discounts
If your site, attraction or business offers a military discount on a general basis, please let us know. Also, let us know if SMCT were to promote military discounts if your business would consider offering them. Please send a quick email to visitus@stmarysmd.com and share your thoughts. |
Comfort Inn and Suites Joins the St. Ma ry's County Hotel Team
The new Comfort Inn located across from the Patuxent River Naval Air Station gets high fives--five stories that is--a first for the county. The hotel features a full array of amenities for the business traveler. Welcom General Manager Sharon McLeod-Hare and the Comfort Inn team! |
Hampton Inn hosts Maryland Hotel and Lodging Association Regional Meeting 
MHLA president David Reel and organization representatives were in St. Mary's County on June 28 to discuss industry issues, including proposed federal changes to the per diem government rates that affect would affect the hotel industry. Hoteliers from throughout the region attended. Shown at right are David Reel and Gwenn Ackerman of MHLA with Beverly Brown of Cherry Cove Hospitality. |
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NAS Pax River's Morale Welfare and Recreation Office has new County Visitor Display
Hello Neighbor! MWR is where members of our local military go for vacation info. A new partnership with the MWR Office ensures those who stop in know they don't have to go too far afield to find plenty of fun things to do. It's all right here in their backyard. |
New MD Green Travel Application, New SMC Partners 
The NEW Maryland Green Travel (MGT) application is LIVE! The application has been completely redesigned to be EASY-TO-USE, comprehensive and all-inclusive -- providing ONE application for all three tourism sectors: Accommodations, Attractions and Restaurants. Properties: visit the Maryland Green Travel web site www.VisitMaryland.org/green and click "Certify Your Business." Congratulations to Home2 Suites by Hilton Lexington Park, Blue Wind Gourmet, Colton's Point Marina, Buzz's Marina and Point Lookout Marina, SMC's first MGT partners. |
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State Tourism Offers Event Producers E-Calendar Opportunities
The Maryland Office of Tourism Web site, VisitMaryland.org 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.
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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.Lira@stmarysmd.com.
Contact SMCT Staff
Carolyn Laray, Tourism Manager
Carolyn.Laray@stmarysmd.com, 301-475-4200 ext. 1403
Rebecca Lira, Tourism Coordinator
Rebecca.Lira@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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