December 11, 2025

Starting Location: The Inn at Leonardtown (41655 Park Avenue, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650) 

Get your fill of networking and holiday adventure at the December MTC Industry Meet Up! Start your evening with delicious hot chocolate and sweet treats before heading out for a holiday-themed scavenger hunt through charming downtown Leonardtown. The town will be beautifully decorated for the season, offering the perfect backdrop for festive fun. Participants can stroll the streets, take in the twinkling lights, explore the history of the town, and explore the local shops and eateries - all while competing for special prizes and making meaningful industry connections in a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere.

This event is FREE to attend and open to all tourism industry professionals, but registration is required as a courtesy to the venue. Attendees will be responsible for their own food & beverage unless otherwise noted! Registration is required! See who is registered as of 12.9.25 here.

Please register by Friday, December 12, 2025

More than 200 tourism and hospitality professionals from across Maryland convened at The Hotel in College Park from November 17–19, 2025, for the 44th Annual Maryland Travel & Tourism Summit (MTTS). Hosted by the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC), this signature gathering united hundreds of public and private sector leaders for three dynamic days of connection, education, and celebration. Attendees exchanged insights, deepened their industry knowledge through expert-led sessions, and built meaningful relationships during lively networking receptions—all in support of strengthening Maryland’s vibrant tourism landscape.

If you attended, we would like your feedback as we begin to plan our 2026 MTTS! We much appreciate it if you take the survey.

You can also fill out the survey online HERE.

Save the Date!

45th Annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit

Please welcome NEW to MTC

Please Welcome Back to MTC

Thank you for your membership!!!!

*This member offers a discount, coupon or special offer to fellow members of MTC. Want to offer your own discount or coupon? Contact Ruth to get set up or follow the instructions from the Personify.

Weekly List as of 10.30.25

AI Roundtable for Destinations

As AI continues to reshape the industry, understanding what’s changing and why has never been more important.

Join Miles Partnership for the first-ever AI Roundtable designed to help destinations and tourism professionals make sense of the questions, uncertainties and opportunities shaping AI as we head into 2026.

The conversation will explore how destinations are developing and implementing AI blueprints, how new search behaviors are influencing visitor discovery and the emerging trends leaders are watching as they plan for 2026.

This open session brings together destination leaders from the AI Opener for Destinations community for a candid discussion about how these shifts are influencing travel, marketing and organizational operations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from destination leaders about how they’re adapting to the AI era.

Sail250® Maryland and Airshow Baltimore is a global gathering of international tall ships, military ships, and aircraft celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States. Maryland and Baltimore are part of a five-city national event which also includes the ports of New Orleans, Norfolk, New York and Boston. The event offers ship crews, cadets and midshipmen, aviators and, of course, visitors from all over the world to join in an unforgettable experience and a world-class celebration of all things maritime and aviation in commemoration of our Nation's semiquincentennial.

The Maryland event will feature the return of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron and other aviation performers for an airshow over Baltimore Harbor, flyovers at Baltimore Inner Harbor, and the Open House at Martin State Airport.

Download the presentation to learn how to get involved or visit the website sail250md.org

Applications Now Open for the FY26 Museum Assistance Program Grants

The Maryland Historical Trust is now accepting applications for FY26 Museum Assistance Program grants. These grants will provide operational support to Maryland’s historical and cultural museums, helping them strengthen the day-to-day activities that keep museums stable, sustainable, and ready to serve their communities. 

Key Details 

• Application Deadline: December 31, 2025 
• Award Amounts: Up to $20,000 (most awards between $10,000–$15,000) 
• Match Requirement: None 
• Eligibility: Maryland nonprofits and local governments operating museums for at least three years 

Applicants are encouraged to review the program guidelines for complete eligibility requirements, application instructions, and scoring criteria. All of this and complete program details can be found on the program webpage. 

Maryland's Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grant Program provides financial assistance to individuals and corporations to establish a new winery or vineyard in the State or complete capital improvements at an existing winery or vineyard. Commerce will provide a grant to an individual or corporation for 25% of “qualified capital expenses” (as defined in Ch. 358 of 2022). 

This program provides financial assistance to individuals and corporations to establish a new winery or vineyard in the State or complete capital improvements at an existing winery or vineyard. Through the grant program, eligible applicants can receive reimbursement for up to 25% of Calendar Year 2025 qualified capital expenses.

The MTC Job Board is FREE for Members ONLY. You do need your Personify Login information in order to post and can find the access in your member profile or you can use this link. If you need assistance with your login info, please email Stuart Rice. We are sharing the Job Board on social media, newsletters and working on a live link on the website.

Current Postings:

• City of Havre de Grace - Chief of Main Street and Brand Marketing
• City of Havre de Grace - Main Street & Tourism Coordinator
• NEW DoubleTree Annapolis - Experienced Sales Coordinator
• Smashing Grapes Columbia - Server
• St. Mary's County Museums - Boat Captain
• Titan Hospitality Group - Event Sales & Operations Assistant

Is your business offering an internship or apprenticeship? As we are working with different hospitality programs, we have direct access to many students who are looking for these opportunities. If you have a position, please email Ruth Toomey at ruth@mdtourism.org .

Find a Full Listing of Member Events on the MTC Event Calendar. Want to add your event, you can easily add your event through your Personify Portal. Instructions can be found HERE. You will need your login information to access. If you do not know your info, please email Stuart Rice to get your login information.

This is a MEMBERS ONLY benefit.

The Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Heritage Passport Program is here! Collect stamps as you explore Southern Maryland's historic sites, starting with the Surratt House Museum. Pick up your free passport and begin your journey through the region's Revolutionary sites, Civil War landmarks, and cultural treasures.

Explore the region's gems: https://destinationsouthernmaryland.com/map/

Pathfinder Wins at National Competition

The Heartland Whiskey Competition, sanctioned by the American Craft Spirits Association, celebrates the important relationship between corn and craft whiskey production across America’s heartland states and beyond. This competition specifically honors the role corn plays in the craft spirits industry, with participating corn growers from 21 states celebrating this essential crop’s contribution to fine whiskey production. No other spirits competition provides the unique opportunity to compete for “best of state” honors or shines such a spotlight on the farmer-distiller segment of the industry.

Pathfinder’s Bloody Butcher Bourbon was selected by the 2025 competition’s distinguished panel of industry professionals who awarded medals based on a blind tasting across nine whiskey categories and multiple age ranges.

In addition, Pathfinder’s Bloody Butcher Bourbon took home a Gold Medal, our Red Corn Moonshine took home a Silver Medal and our Orange Cranberry Moonshine earned a Bronze Medal.

“Since we began growing our heritage Bloody Butcher corn, mashing with Appalachian Mountain spring water, and bottling our family’s favorite recipes, people have been telling us that it’s really good stuff," said owner Nate Kraft. “Earning Best Farmer Distiller Bourbon and additional honors from the American Craft Spirits Association’s Heartland Whiskey Competition affirms what our fans have been saying all along — that we’re capturing true terroir and handcrafting the finest spirits from seed to glass.”

Taste our award-winning products for yourself in person at the Pathfinder Farm Tasting Room, or buy online and have it shipped directly to you (in 45 states).

Domestic and International Updates

• Op-Ed: How to Welcome the World’s Travelers When America Feels Challenged
• Travelers Demand Faster Airport Security
• U.S. Will Give Visa Appointment Priority to World Cup Ticket Holders
• $40, $100, $250: U.S. Fees Are Adding Up for Travelers

U.S. Travel in the News

• Geoff Freeman: “We Are Going the Wrong Way”
• Letters: Choose Chicago has been Thoughtful and Strategic in its Promotion of Neighborhoods
• Brand USA Funding Would Be Restored After 80% Cut Under New Bipartisan Bill

D3 Takes Home Top Honors at Maryland’s Premier Tourism Summit, SBY Business Journal, December 4, 2025

Talbot’s Cassandra Vanhooser Named Maryland Tourism Person of the Year, ConduitStreet, December 4, 2025

Allegany County Tourism Wins Big at Maryland Travel Summit with Two Marketing Awards, Tour & Travel Word, November 26, 2025

Garrett County Chamber wins Best Promotional Material Award Garrett County Republican - WVNews, November 21, 2025

Credit Card Processing Fees

While this is not something MTC wants to do, but as a non-profit it is something we need do. On May 1, 2024 MTC activated a 3% operations fee to all credit cards that are processed. This is truly a cost of business fee and not a way for us to make money. Maryland Tourism Coalition accepts the following credit cards: American Express, Visa, Discover, and MasterCards.

​Any credit card payments made will incur a 3% surcharge. To avoid this surcharge, you can choose to make your payments via:

ACH: Contact Stuart Rice for info

Check: Payable To: Maryland Tourism Coalition Address: 626 C Admiral Drive #311, Annapolis, MD 21401

We deeply apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Want your logo here?? Contact MTC Executive Director, Ruth Toomey, for more information to maximize your brand!

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