Hotel bookings by the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association in 2008 have increased by over 70,000 room nights, exceeding the year?s goal of 400,000 room nights by 51,608, Mayor Sheila Dixon announced Friday.
Dixon announced a new board, theBaltimore Convention and Tourism Board, which will oversee both the Baltimore Convention Center and BACVA. While the organizations will remain separate, starting Aug. 1 they will both report to the Convention and Tourism Board.
“With this new board, we’re going to be able to market Baltimore and Baltimore?s amenities,” Dixon said.
The board, headed by Ed Hale, chairman and chief executive officer of Baltimore?s 1st Mariner Bank, includes representatives from Baltimore restaurants, museums and hotels as well as representatives from city offices.
Dixon said the convention and tourism trades provide $1 billion in federal and state taxes every year and create 80,000 jobs in Baltimore.
