Visit Baltimore and Tourism Economics Announce Data Analytics Fellowship

(Baltimore, MD – July 7, 2021) – Visit Baltimore, the official destination sales and marketing organization for Baltimore, is pleased to announce a new Data Analytics Fellowship to offer emerging leaders from underrepresented communities and diverse ethnic backgrounds the opportunity to gain firsthand experience working in the destination marketing and travel economics industries. This program is generously underwritten by global travel data company Tourism Economics and will launch this fall.

“There are very few Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals working in the travel and  tourism leadership space, but more specifically in the data, technology and business intelligence sector with the destination marketing community,” said Al Hutchinson, President & CEO at Visit Baltimore. “We’re honored to partner with Tourism Economics to introduce this program and make real change in our industry.”

“This is the ultimate win-win opportunity. We see this as an investment into our community by fostering talent that will benefit our broader industry,” stated Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics. “We really are grateful to be able to partner with Visit Baltimore on this important initiative.”

The 600-hour paid internship will involve working with the operations departments at Visit Baltimore and Tourism Economics. The program will provide training and professional development opportunities through academic seminars, in-depth research and analysis and a broad range of skill development. Applicants must be 18 or older and a resident of Baltimore City or the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The online application portal will open later this summer.

The Data Analytics Fellowship is the organization’s latest initiative meant to expand career pathways in tourism to more diverse candidates. Thanks to a new sponsorship from Guinness Open Gate Brewery, Visit Baltimore was able to reinvigorate its Diversity Apprenticeship Program and recently selected Tymarra Sherrill and Anthony Richmond to serve as the newest apprentices.

Tymarra Sherrill is a Baltimore native with strong local ties and an appreciation for her hometown. She began her career in hospitality at a Baltimore-based luxury hotel. In 2019, Sherrill graduated from the University of Baltimore with a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. Through the Diversity Apprenticeship Program, Sherrill looks forward to bridging the gap between her studies and love for the hospitality and tourism industry.

Anthony Richmond graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with his Bachelor of Science in Applied Engineering Technology in 2016. Richmond returned to his hometown of Baltimore following graduation and has spent the past several years working in the local hospitality community with beloved Charm City businesses. Through the Diversity Apprenticeship Program, Richmond especially looks forward to learning the operational side of Guinness’ experimental brewing process.

With these programs and many others, Visit Baltimore continues to demonstrate a commitment to broadening diversity in the tourism industry. In 2020, the organization offered Diversity, Equity and Inclusion trainings for Baltimore tourism and hospitality leaders and its staff. Visit Baltimore also offers a special BoP pass, which unlocks exclusive deals and discounts to museums and attractions that celebrate Baltimore’s deep African American history and heritage. Additionally, the organization’s Diversity & Inclusion subcommittee, which was created to represent Baltimore’s richly diverse neighborhoods and communities, was elevated to a board committee in Fall 2019. To learn more about how Visit Baltimore celebrates diversity, please visit baltimore.org/meetings/celebrating-diversity/.

About Visit Baltimore 

Visit Baltimore is the official sales and marketing arm for the City of Baltimore. The 501(c)(6) organization generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors. In 2019, spending by travelers totaled $6 billion in direct spending throughout the city, supporting 86,827 total jobs and generating $750 million in state and city tax revenues. For more information, please visit Baltimore.org.  

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