What is the Baltimore Sports Tourism Development Council ?
This past year , the Baltimore Sports Tourism Development Council ( BSTDC ) was formed exclusively to further and promote charitable and educational purposes . Funds from the BSTDC are used to pursue , initiate , host , sponsor , organize , promote , facilitate and support collegiate and other amateur sports and athletic tournaments and events to be held in and around the greater Baltimore metropolitan area . These events provide educational and other positive experiences for athletes , fans and visitors , and generate economic impact through tourism . The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association ( CIAA ) basketball tournament was the first event to be hosted under the BSTDC .
What is the Baltimore Tourism Improvement District ( BTID )?
Beginning in 2019 , Baltimore ’ s hotel community agreed to implement a financial assessment for the specific purpose of generating supplemental sales and marketing funds to drive incremental overnight hotel stays . The assessment is funded by hotel guests via a pass-through fee on their room folio . Visit Baltimore oversees administration of the BTID funds as directed by a District Management Committee ( DMC ) made up of local hoteliers . Annual proposed spending is subject to approval by the Board of Estimates and includes support for sales and marketing initiatives to bring government , health and sports meetings and events to Baltimore , along with expansion of our international outreach and DEI efforts .
The Baltimore Visitor Center Reopens Amid Summer Travel Surges
After closing for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic , the Baltimore Visitor Center reopened temporarily in February for the CIAA tournament , and then again permanently in March ahead of the spring and summer travel season . It is open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a . m . to 5 p . m . and is run by Director of Operations Jennifer Anderson .
Since reopening , the Visitor Center has partnered with several local attractions to promote their exhibits . For example , the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum displayed three of its figures at the Visitor Center through the summer , and the B & O Railroad Museum brought Sir Topham Hat to the center to advertise its Thomas the Tank Engine weekends . Travelers can also purchase merchandise including shirts , hats , umbrellas and local maker goods at the Visitor Center .
Partners interested in hosting pop-ups or displaying collateral at the Baltimore Visitor Center should contact Jennifer Anderson , janderson @ baltimore . org .
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