A message from the Interim President & CEO and Board Chair
This past year has been one of transition and transformation for Visit Baltimore. Our revered President & CEO, Al Hutchinson, announced that he would be departing to establish a consulting practice, sharing his leadership prowess with tourism organizations across the country. While this change brings a new chapter for Visit Baltimore, the culture we’ ve created and the passion we have for the city will ensure we remain united and steadfast in our efforts to position Baltimore as a bucket-list destination for all visitors.
Our team has been hard at work spreading that message to audiences across the country with our mobile visitor popup, Smalltimore, which engaged both leisure travelers at marquee events such as Orioles Opening Day and the 150th Preakness Stakes, as well as meeting planners at key industry gatherings including IMEX, PCMA and ASAE. Through Smalltimore, we unveiled Club Balto, a celebration of Baltimore’ s creative culture and a bold pledge to encourage planners to consider innovative, forward-thinking destinations like ours.
Throughout this period of change, one thing remains certain: the value of inclusion lives at the heart of Baltimore. We are proud to carry this forward through initiatives such as our Warm Welcome program, which was refreshed earlier this year to make participation easier and more engaging. Individuals who take the pledge now gain access to a new training module hosted on the platform Tourism Academy, which we launched this year with a free, online hospitality training course called Charm City Certified.
Our work has not gone unnoticed. Visit Baltimore was recognized on the national stage with four Adrian Awards from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, and we proudly took home our very first Emmy Award for a collaborative series with Evita Robinson of the Nomadness Travel Tribe spotlighting Baltimore’ s Civil Rights legacy. Closer to home, we were deeply honored to be named one of the Baltimore Sun’ s Top Workplaces in 2024— a distinction that speaks to the culture, innovation and care fostered within our organization.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to telling Baltimore’ s authentic story, welcoming all travelers with open arms and celebrating the people and spirit that make our city unforgettable.
Kireem Swinton Interim President & CEO
Charles G.“ Chuck” Tildon, III Chairman, Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board of Directors
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