FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2017
CONTACT: Susan O’Brien, 443-254-6000, susanobrienpr@verizon.net
MARYLAND TOURISM COALITION & CITY BREW TOURS BALTIMORE
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF MARYLAND BEER AT SENATE HEARING TODAY IN ANNAPOLIS
Craft Beverage Tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of Maryland Tourism
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Tourism Coalition Executive Director Winifred Roche will testify today in support of HB 1283 with amendments that allow the Maryland craft brew industry to continue its growth and contribution to Maryland’s economy and tourism. Joining her to testify will be Barry Hansen, chief operating officer for City Brew Tours. City Brew Tours, based in Boston, operates City Brew Tours Baltimore.
“Maryland’s breweries, as well as our wineries and distilleries, are one of the fastest growing segments of our state’s tourism industry. Their products’ exceptional quality and successful marketing campaigns are attracting thousands of visitors to Maryland,” said Ms. Roche. “Look no further than City Brew Tours, which opened its doors in Baltimore to accommodate the growing interest in craft beverage tourism. This company is just one of many companies that demonstrate the impact of tourism on Maryland’s economy. If this bill passes without amendments, it will set back years of growth by these small businesses, most of which are family owned and operated. To pass legislation that deliberately limits their ability to produce and sell their product is terrible for business and for tourism.”
Mr. Hansen added, “We hope to grow our small business in Baltimore in tandem with these breweries and we hope to expand in other areas of the state. Passing this bill without amendments would prevent our business from continuing to operate in Baltimore at all and would have far-reaching consequences preventing growth of small business. City Brew Tours selected Baltimore as its fifth operating city due to the growth in craft breweries and the amount of people looking to visit them. Further restrictions will unravel the industry, which has only just begun to blossom in Maryland. When we launched in Boston in 2012, Massachusetts has 49 breweries. Regulations that have been passed in recent years paved the way for brewery expansion. Last year, Massachusetts had 84 breweries contributing an economic impact of $282 per capita compared to Maryland’s 60 craft breweries with only $150 per capita economic impact.”
Maryland tourism is the state’s 10th largest private sector employer with more than 144,000 employees. Over 40 million visitors to Maryland spent roughly $17 billion in the state in 2015, according to a recent study.
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