A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR AND PRESIDENT & CEO
A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR AND PRESIDENT & CEO
Fiscal year 2026( FY26) was full of transition and transformation. We celebrated new leadership at Visit Baltimore, Baltimore Development Corporation and other key organizations throughout the city, providing an opportunity for unprecedented alignment and impact across tourism and economic development. Together, we are more focused than ever on our mission, ready to build on the 28.7 million visitors and $ 4.3 billion in spending we realized in 2025.
Baltimore tourism remains a critical piece of shaping and conveying the city’ s renaissance. In FY26, Visit Baltimore exceeded sales and service goals, booking 36 citywide events and more than 200,000 hotel room nights. We aired commercials in national primetime, covered entire trains in Baltimore branding and garnered more than 300 million impressions across marketing efforts. Hundreds have now participated in our Charm City Certified and Warm Welcome programs, which continue to strengthen industry knowledge and our universal commitment to inclusion. Our efforts are driven by data that helps us understand our audiences, identify opportunities and measure the impact of our investments.
Our work is – once again – being recognized across the industry and by the community we serve. Visit Baltimore took home five 2025 Adrian Awards from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. National publications touted Charm City as a top destination for sports, arts, culture and culinary, including Essence stating,“ Baltimore is not just to be visited. It’ s to be experienced.” And we were once again named one of The Baltimore Sun’ s Top Workplaces of 2025, speaking to the collaborative culture our team lives out every day.
Unique this past year, we launched a local pride campaign designed by and for our Baltimore community. Thanks to American Rescue Plan Act( ARPA) funding granted by Mayor Scott’ s administration and inspired by Baltimore’ s musical roots, the B-Side of Baltimore invites everyone to“ flip the record” on the misperceptions playing on repeat and instead, explore the deeper, richer stories of the city. The B-Side became the basis for an original song featuring seven Baltimore artists and a commercial produced by Wide Angle Youth Media and narrated by Carmelo Anthony. It’ s been woven into a mobile pop-up experience that traveled the northeast through the summer, showcased in client sales missions and featured across a Stoop Storytelling event, a community block party, neighborhood mural and much more, all amplifying the Baltimore we know and love.
Many thanks to our board, staff, partners and the entire Baltimore community for their support of our mission. We also appreciate Mayor Scott and his team for recognizing the critical role tourism plays in driving economic impact through visitor spending. We are pleased with last year’ s collective success and excited about the rare moment of alignment, momentum and opportunity ahead of us.
Otis Rolley Chairman, Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board of Directors
Kireem Swinton President & CEO