Award Nominations
Who will be the 2026 Tourism Person of the Year?
The Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit Awards Banquet will be held on Thursday, November 19th, 2026 with Cocktail Hour from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, sponsored by Baltimore Convention Center. Dinner and Awards will take place between 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, with the return of your favorite Emcees! Tickets for the dinner only are Coming Soon!
Following the Awards Banquet, please join us for drinks, dessert and dancing from 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm at the Royal Sonesta
Award Nominations
All nominators and award recipients must be members in good standing of the Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC) for the 2026 calendar year. Awards are open to all sectors of the tourism industry.
Winners will be announced and recognized during the Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit Awards Banquet on November 19, 2026, at the Baltimore Convention Center.
The nomination period runs from September 2025 through August 2026. Nominations for 2026 will be accepted until Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Awards will be judged solely on the information provided in the nomination—please assume the judges have limited prior knowledge of your project or destination. Background information should be complete yet concise.
This year we have added a new award, the MTC Group Impact Award. This award recognizes multi-property and ownership groups whose collective efforts strengthen the Maryland Tourism Coalition’s mission and enhance Maryland’s tourism industry. Nominees are evaluated on their active participation in MTC, leadership and volunteer involvement, membership engagement across their properties, and demonstrated commitment to advancing collaboration, advocacy, and professional development within the state’s tourism community. Eligible nominees must represent multi-location tourism organizations with all participating properties maintaining an active MTC membership in good standing.
You may include one (1) attachment to enhance your nomination. This may include photos, brochures, or digital materials. If you have multiple items, combine them into a single file. Due to new Google regulations, email your attachment to eteisch@baltimore.org.
The judges reserve the right to reassign entries to different categories if appropriate. Judges with a conflict of interest will recuse themselves from voting in the affected category.
MTC will cover the cost of up to three (3) award plaques per winning entry. Additional plaques are available for $100 each, at the winner’s expense.
All nominations must be submitted through the official online form by September 9, 2026. Please list the nominee’s name exactly as it should appear on the award.
For questions, contact Chris Zindash, Awards Co-Chair, at info@mdtourism.org.
MTTS Awards Banquet & After Party Sponsors
