Join your Chamber at the November Business Before Hours scheduled for Tuesday, November 18, 2014 for our annual Tourism Update sponsored by Somerset Trust and United Way.
The Maryland visitor economy continued to expand in 2012 as tourism industry sales rose 4.4% and visitor volumes rose 2.5% reaching 35.8 million. Visitor spending has grown by more than 4% for three straight years – and expanded more than 17% since the recession. Visitors spent $14.9 billion in Maryland in 2012, up from 4.6% in 2011. This spending generated $25 billion in total business sales throughout all industries in Maryland in 2012. Tourism supported 206,500 jobs throughout the state and accounts for 2,390 jobs and has a wage impact of $70.9 million in Garrett County. Every 252 visits generates enough state and local tax revenue to fund a public school student for one year. Garrett County saw a 5.3% increase in tourism related sales tax revenues in FY2014 and a 1.4% increase in Accommodations sales over FY 2013. Heads on beds numbers for the county are up 7.6% for 2014 over 2013. We believe much of this growth can be attributed to our aggressive marketing strategies. For every dollar invested in Office of Tourism Advertising, Maryland realizes $160 in visitor spending, $22 in state and local taxes, and $5 in state sales tax revenue. The Comptroller's office confirmed more than $381 million in state sales tax revenue directly attributable to tourism in FY2013. To provide us with our annual tourism update, Margot Amelia, Executive Director of the Maryland Office of Tourism will be our featured speaker. Margot also works closely with the Destination Marketing Organizations in Maryland and will share the State’s strategies for promoting tourism in Maryland.
Date and Time
Tuesday Nov 18, 2014
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM EST
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
8:00 am Network, 8:15 Breakfast, 8:30 Program which concludes at 9:30 am
Location
Wisp Resort
296 Marsh Hill Road
McHenry, MD 21541
Fees/Admission
Members - $15 in advance or $20 at the door
Non-members - $30
Contact Information
Carol Hauser
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