City Council Hearing: FY2027 Visit Balt; May 29, 2026

This City Council hearing held by the CharmTV Citizens' Hub on May 29, 2026, focused on the FY2027 budget and strategic plans for Visit Baltimore, the city's tourism promotion agency. The Visit Baltimore leadership presented their achievements, including attracting 28.7 million visitors in 2025 and generating $4.3 billion in visitor spending, supporting over 123,000 jobs. They discussed the FY2027 city subsidy of $12.3 million, an increase of $3.3 million from the previous year, funded primarily through a portion of the hotel sales tax. The agency outlined their marketing strategies to attract conventions and leisure travelers, emphasizing hosting large multi-group conventions and creating curated visitor experiences across Baltimore neighborhoods. Council members raised questions about performance metrics beyond hotel occupancy and revenue, stressing the importance of aligning messaging among city agencies and enhancing the visitor center's utilization and cultural representation. The discussion highlighted the need for cohesive branding and broader measures of tourism impact to support Baltimore's economic and community development goals.