Visit Frederick staff emphasized the tourism successes seen in 2021-22
FREDERICK, Md., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- During its annual meeting held at the new Cannon's event venue in historic Brunswick on October 19, Visit Frederick staff emphasized the tourism successes seen in 2021-22. With a decrease in pandemic-related restrictions on travelers, Frederick County saw a return of visitors from across the country and around the world.
Executive Director Dave Ziedelis pointed to strong numbers from Frederick County hotels as a sign of the region's strength as a visitor destination in the wake of the pandemic. Hotel revenues in Frederick County surged to all-time highs in 2022, to more than $56 million. That number outpaced the previous all-time high recorded in 2019 by more than 5 percent.
The hotel revenue supported a sizable 21% increase in revenue for Visit Frederick, to more than $3.2 million in 2022. Those funds go directly to supporting tourism and tourism-related businesses and nonprofits in Frederick County. Ziedelis noted that tourism-related tax revenue reported by the State of Maryland also showed major growth - a 33% increase over the last pre-pandemic year in 2019.
All told, Ziedelis concluded, available data shows Frederick County's tourism sector has largely recovered lows experienced during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
Assistant Director Becky Bickerton shared the organization's marketing efforts in 2022, including the exciting initial steps to create a new orientation film and website for Visit Frederick slated for debuts in early 2023.
As part of the annual meeting, Visit Frederick also acknowledged the work of those in Frederick County who provide invaluable assistance in promoting the region as a destination. Peter Kremers received Visit Frederick's "Tourism Ambassador of the Year" award for his tireless efforts to bring colorful plant life and brightly-lit sailboats to Carroll Creek. "Sailing Through The Winter Solstice," the months-long event on Carroll Creek has become one of the top visitor attractions to Frederick County in the winter.
Phil Bowers, co-owner of Fountain Rock Management and board president for Visit Frederick, was awarded a citation for distributing the most visitor guides in the county at Brewer's Alley restaurant in Downtown Frederick.
More than 90 people attended the annual meeting at Cannon's, which recently reopened as an event venue in downtown Brunswick. The space, located above the historic fire station that is now home to Smoketown Brewing Station, once played host to music icons like Patsy Cline, Duke Ellington, and Bob Seger.
Visit Frederick is the recognized Destination Marketing Organization for Frederick City and Frederick County, Maryland. It operates the Frederick Visitor Center and related Visit Frederick programs that include Destination Marketing and Group Tour Marketing. For more information about Visit Frederick, visit http://www.visitfrederick.org or call 301-600-4047.
Media Contact
Jake Wynn, Marketing and Communications Manager, Visit Frederick, 301-600-4023, [email protected]
SOURCE Visit Frederick
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