Civitas works with hundreds of business improvement districts of all shapes and sizes each year, helping them form, renew or modify. We recognize the immeasurable effort and time that goes into this process and as a team, we have deliberated to determine one district formation that stood out with Excellence in Collaboration, Excellence in Commitment, Excellence in Innovation, and Excellence in Leadership.
In 2017, Civitas joined forces with Visit Baltimore President and CEO, Al Hutchinson, and his team to blaze a trail for tourism in Maryland. This journey began with passing State Tourism Improvement District Legislation in 2018 to enable Baltimore to form the very first TID in Maryland!
In October of 2019, with an assessment rate of 2% of gross short-term room rental revenue, the Baltimore Tourism Improvement District was born. The funds generated by the TID will provide a huge boost in destination sales and marketing efforts and position Baltimore as a premier travel destination. They will also support activities to capture bookings in the meetings marketplace, secure new business opportunities, and ensure industry growth in the years ahead.
Al Hutchinson says, “This will be a game changer for the tourism and hospitality industry in Baltimore. We are thankful for the support of Mayor Young and the local hotel community. This process has been a prime example of the great things we can achieve as a community when we all band together.”
The Visit Baltimore team spearheaded the project, stayed the course through uncharted territory with commitment and conviction that truly inspired us. The future is bright in Baltimore!
