February 2026

The Tourism

Business Bulletin

A Note

from Jodi

The new year is underway, and our focus in 2026 is on driving even more visitors to our county through expanded advertising outside our county lines, innovative marketing campaigns, and continued support for our partners.

We’re excited for what’s ahead and look forward to continuing our work together to grow tourism in Harford County. Thank you for being part of our community.

See you soon!

Questions or comments or just say "hello"- send me an email.

jmarschhauser@harfordcountymd.gov

443.981.9304

Jodi Marschhauser

Tourism Grant FY27

Informational Sessions scheduled for February

Our next round of Tourism Grants is getting ready to launch. We will be offering informational sessions about eligibility and the application process on February 24 and February 26 including both in person and virtual options. We encourage prospective applicants to attend a session to support a strong and successful application. More information can be found on the Harford County Website and invitations to prior applicants have been sent.

Pro-tip of the Month

Welcoming Signs

Many of our weekend events and youth sports tournaments bring thousands of visitors from outside Harford County. Imagine the impact of a welcoming them by name—whether it’s a tournament team, festival crowd, or visiting organization. A simple “Welcome, [Event Name]” sign, social media post, or in-store special can go a long way in driving traffic, creating connections, and giving visitors a reason to remember your business long after they head home.

Our calendar of events highlights what’s happening across the county, and we also track youth sports tournament schedules. If you’re interested in marketing this way, we would be happy to help you get started.

Venue Spotlight

Chesapeake Welcome Center at Harford Community College

Now open at Harford Community College, the newly renovated and expanded Chesapeake Welcome Center serves as a friendly front door for students, families, and visitors beginning their Harford experience. Designed as a hub for connection and collaboration, the center features a modern conference and meeting facility that can accommodate 250+ attendees, along with an expanded, state-of-the-art theater seating 425+ guests, an art gallery, and other flexible event spaces. With its central location, convenient parking, and range of venue options, the Chesapeake Welcome Center is an exciting new resource for conferences, performances, and community events in Harford County. For more information, visit www.harfordevents.com/p/venues--spaces/conference-center

Does your business have an update to share for a future edition? Send us an email!

Collaboration Corner

Hotel Tours & Partner Connections

In January, we hosted two separate days of hotel tours, welcoming 18 tourism stakeholders each day for guided visits to a total of 11 hotels. These tours provided valuable face-to-face time with our hotel partners and allowed participants to experience firsthand the amenities, quality, and variety of accommodations available to visitors in Harford County.

The experience also fostered meaningful networking and collaboration, supporting future group bookings and shared business opportunities. Each participant also walked away better equipped to serve as an ambassador for Harford County’s lodging options when working with clients and visitors.

Based on the positive feedback, we look forward to offering more collaborative opportunities like this in the future.

Encourage Overnight Stays

Hello Harford provides attractions and event organizers with a direct link to our local hotels, making it easy to encourage visitors to turn their visit into an overnight stay. We invite partners to include this link on their event pages, attraction websites, and promotional materials:

www.helloharford.com/31/Stay-Over

Sponsorship Connections

Local businesses interested in sponsoring one of the county’s tourism events are encouraged to reach out. These events are successful because of strong community support, and we’re happy to help connect you with opportunities that align with your goals.

Reminder: Sign Up for Greater Exposure

Don’t let the wintry weather keep you home! Discover this month’s Calendar of Events, including our first-ever weeklong comedy festival, the annual Havre De Grace Ice Festival, America 250 events and more. As our hotel partners share the calendar with their guests, we encourage you to do the same. When travelers know what’s happening, they explore more, stay longer, spend more, and leave with memories that will bring them back again and again.

February Calendar of Events

Future-Focus

Let's Rallie Event App

Let’s Rallie is the event app we’ve been using over the past year to enhance the visitor experience at tourism-driven events. The app allows event organizers to share interactive maps, event schedules, and real-time updates, while increasing engagement through features like gamification and sponsor spotlights. Push notifications help keep visitors informed and connected throughout an event. Download the free Let’s Rallie app to see how it’s being used locally.

This app is focused on events that market beyond the county’s borders and a qualifying process applies. Contact us to learn how this free resource may benefit your next event.