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| |  Executive
Director Dave
Ziedelis highlighted data underscoring Frederick County’s appeal as
a travel destination in the Capital Region. According to the latest Economic
Impact of Tourism in Maryland report, 1.9 million travelers explored Frederick
County in 2023, aligning with visitation numbers of 2022. This consistent
level of tourism reflects the highest visitor count since 2019, the last
pre-pandemic year.
Ziedelis further shared impressive figures from Frederick County’s thriving hotel sector, which hit a new hotel rental tax revenue record of over $61 million in 2023 - surpassing the previous all-time high set in 2022. This leap in revenues underscores the county’s growing significance in the tourism landscape, money that is reinvested into improving and marketing Frederick County’s tourism sector. Visit Frederick’s role in community engagement also took center stage. Ziedelis noted the organization’s impactful initiatives, including the TRIPP, Main Street, and Destination Development programs, all aimed at bolstering Frederick County’s tourism infrastructure. In FY24 alone, Visit Frederick contributed more than $960,000 to local nonprofits and government agencies for tourism-related projects, bringing its total community investment to $7.8 million since 2006. Assistant Director Becky Bickerton celebrated Visit Frederick’s marketing achievements, spotlighting successful ad placements, website enhancements, and a thriving membership that expanded to 400 in 2024. Operations Director Katie Reichard reported that the Frederick Visitor Center welcomed more than 20,000 visitors in FY24. As a go-to spot in Downtown Frederick, the Visitor Center is also home to the popular Downtown Frederick Gift Card program, which generated more than $350,000 in sales last year. In addition, the Visitor Center serves as a ticket hub for major county events like Beyond the Garden Gates Tour and the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation’s Barnstormers event. These reports, and more, can be found in Visit Frederick’s recently released FY24 Annual Report (PDF file). At the meeting, Visit Frederick honored key contributors to the county’s tourism success. Eric and Jeanne Rhodes were awarded Visit Frederick’s “Tourism Ambassador of the Year” for their work in elevating the National Clustered Spires High Wheel Bike Race - an event drawing high wheel cyclists from across the globe to Downtown Frederick for a singular race experience in the Western Hemisphere. Emporium Antiques was recognized with an award for its exceptional distribution of Frederick County visitor guides, helping to ensure locals and tourists alike experience the best Frederick County has to offer. With more than 130 attendees, this year’s meeting at New Spires Arts Stages celebrated Frederick County’s thriving tourism industry, offering a glimpse into the theater’s versatile black box space, home to performances from local and international talent alike. About Visit Frederick
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