About Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association

Mission Statement: The official sales and marketing organization for Baltimore that generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors.

The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA) is the official destination development and marketing organization for the Greater Baltimore region. Established in 1982, we are a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit corporation.

BACVA serves as the liaison between customers and stakeholders. Customers include meeting planners, tour operators, individual tourists and media. Stakeholders include government, citizens and member organizations. Member organizations represented include lodging, dining, arts, attractions, shopping, transportation, associations and government agencies.

BACVA helps generate economic benefits to the Greater Baltimore region through the power of collaboration and partnership.

BACVA inspires people to visit our great destination to experience the products and services offered by our stakeholders.

BACVA provides stakeholders with the necessary tools and information to make their products and services competitive in the marketplace.

Our vision is for all stakeholders and citizens of Greater Baltimore to support the local tourism industry because they understand how the economic benefits generated - jobs and taxes - improve their quality of life.

BACVA Executive Staff:

Tom Noonan
President & CEO

Sam Rogers
Executive Vice President & CMO

Ronnie Burt
Vice President of Convention Sales & Services

Nancy Hinds
Vice President of Public Affairs

Jeff Hungate
Chief Operating Officer

Directors of the 2008-2009 Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board:

Edwin F. Hale, Sr. Chairman
Chairman / CEO
1st Mariner Bank

Clarence Bishop
Deputy Secretary, Department of Business and Economic Development

Carolyn Blakeney
Assistant Deputy Mayor, Office of Mayor

Jim Britton
Owner, Class Act Catering

*Edie Brown
President, Edie Brown & Associates

Javier Bustamante
Board Member, Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

*Woody Collins
Executive Vice President, M&T Bank

*Mary Ann Cricchio
Owner, Da Mimmo's Italian Restaurant

*Eddie Dopkin
Vice President, The Classic Catering People

*LaRian Finney
CEO
Visionary Marketing Group (VMG)

Vanessa Finney
Executive Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Inc.

*Kirby Fowler
President, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

*Don Fry
President, Greater Baltimore Committee

Edward Gallagher
Finance Director, Office of Mayor

Bill Gilmore
Executive Director, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts

Paul Hartgen
President/CEO, Restaurant Association of Maryland

*Roxie Herbekian
Vice President, UNITE-HERE

Michael Haynie
Managing Director, Tremont Suites Hotels

*Peter Komar
General Manager, Holiday Inn Inner Harbor Hotel

Jon Koscher
General Manager, Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel

Daniel Nadeau
General Manager, Marriott Waterfront Hotel

*Carla Nelson
Director, Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development

Linda Norman
General Manager, Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel

David Pittenger
Executive Director, National Aquarium in Baltimore

Fred Puddester
Chairman, Maryland Stadium Authority

*Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
President, Baltimore City Council

Frances Reaves
Director of Business Development, Mintax, Inc./ADP Employer Services

Frank Remesch
General Manager
1st Mariner Arena

*Gail Smith-Howard
General Manager, Hyatt Regency Baltimore

Dennis Sullivan
Director of Sales, Freeman Decorating Company

David Taft Terry
Executive Director, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture

Chuck Tildon
Vice President of Marketing and Communications, United Way of Central Maryland

*Sergio Vitale
Owner, Aldo's Italian Restaurant

Mark Wasserman
Vice President of Development and Corporate/Public Sector Relations, University of Maryland Medical Systems

*William Donald Schaefer
Board Emeritus

*Currently serving on the BACVA Board

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Today's Events

Historic Homewood ArtWalk August 30, 2008 - November 1, 2008 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Free Heritage Walk and Mount Vernon Cultural Walk Guided Tours May 1, 2008 - November 2, 2008 | 10:00am - 11:30am
Date Night at the Studio June 6, 2008 - September 19, 2008 | 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Family Fishing Fun September 1, 2008 - September 30, 2008 | 6:00pm - 6:00pm
Tableau Vivant September 5, 2008 - October 18, 2008 | 11:00am - 7:00pm

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