Building the Future of Tourism
If you ’ ve traveled recently , you ’ ve likely witnessed a return of crowds to airports , train stations , concert venues , festivals and more . Though we ’ re not back to pre-pandemic visitation , we ’ re optimistic about the future of travel and the opportunity for Baltimore to emerge as an urban retreat with several new developments and reinvestments in places and spaces that will create excitement for visitors in the years ahead .
Within the pages of this Annual Report , you ’ ll find our reflections on the events of the past fiscal year and , in particular , around the important work we have done to keep diversity , equity and inclusion a priority in the tourism arena . We have also focused heavily on workforce development , sustainability and community engagement through creative advertising , meaningful partnerships , expert-led trainings and more . The reality is that we are still in a post-pandemic recovery phase and continue to face challenges such as social injustice , the war in Ukraine , a rise in gun violence , high gas prices , labor shortages and rising inflation . However , as we look towards building the future of tourism , our collective thinking , close collaboration and inclusive partnerships are more essential than ever to making a lasting impact on Baltimore for years to come .
Looking towards recovery , it is important to note that tourism is improving in Baltimore . In 2021 , domestic travel to Baltimore increased by 13.3 %, bringing in 24.3 million people for overnight and day trips and contributing a total of $ 2.7 billion to Baltimore ’ s economy . Events at the Baltimore Convention Center brought in an estimated total of $ 90 million in economic impact , showing a great rebound in our citywide meetings and convention business . As tourism recovery continues in Baltimore , we are focusing on addressing our industry ’ s workforce challenges , highlighting long-term career opportunities and building a sustainable pipeline for new talent .
Also this year , we were proud to secure a significant amount of positive national and international press around Baltimore ’ s authenticity , including a feature in SPIN magazine titled “ The Real Baltimore ,” which unravels the preconceived idea of Baltimore formed through shows like The Wire and We Own This City , to uncover “ the most compelling , and honest , city in America .”
As we continue to show the world what makes Baltimore special and tout the exciting developments on the horizon , we have been extremely proud of the work we have done in partnership with the Maryland Sports Commission to bring several world-class events to Charm City . This past February , we were honored to host the return of the in-person CIAA Men ’ s and Women ’ s Basketball Tournament . A celebration of basketball , HBCUs and Black excellence , the tournament generated a total economic impact of $ 19.6 million , which supported 1,159 part-time and full-time jobs and generated $ 1.9 million in state and local taxes . The CIAA College Presidents were so pleased with the results that they announced an official extension of Baltimore as the host city through February 2025 . We look forward to hosting other major sporting events that were secured during FY22 , including the Maryland Cycling Classic , the Army / Navy football game in 2025 , and the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 2028 and 2032 .
Thank you for your support of Visit Baltimore and for your commitment to helping us build the future of tourism . We look forward to collaborating further as we continue to enhance the narrative of our great city and encourage more and more visitors to see what they ’ ve been missing .
Al Hutchinson President & CEO
Charles G . “ Chuck ” Tildon , III Chairman , Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board of Directors
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