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Escapes Contest Winners
Dover, Delaware residents Karen and Richard Lyle celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary with a four-hour Chesapeake Bay sailing charter compliments of South River Boat Rentals after winning the CVB’s June 9-July 9 Spring Escapes contest. Chosen from among more than 700 entries, the couple redeemed their Annapolis Adventure prize during an August 25-27 visit. In addition to the cruise, the gift included a two nights’ stay and breakfast buffet at the Sheraton Annapolis and a crab feast at Cantler’s Riverside Inn.

Left to right: Captain John Wickens, CVB Board Member and South River Boat Rentals Owner Griff Bell, Richard Lyle, and Karen Lyle

Come Sail Away Beverage Competition
There are now officially nine more ways to Come Sail Away in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. That’s because nine member restaurants and attractions have created their own unique, alcoholic and non-alcoholic Come Sail Away beverages.

After an evening of taste testing in July, a panel of judges picked three winners: Metropolitan Restaurant, Kyma, and the John Barry Restaurant and Bar at the O’Callaghan Hotel Annapolis.

CVB Volunteer Information Specialists are promoting the beverages by wearing Come Sail Away buttons and by handing out a list of all participants including: Rams Head, Sean Donlon’s, Middleton’s, the Weather Rail at the Loews Annapolis Hotel, Watermark’s Harbor Queen and Boatyard Bar and Grill.

Metropolitan bartender John Miller		Left to right: Come Sail Away beverage judges: CVB Board Member Rick Franke, City of Annapolis’ Ruby Singleton-Blakeney, and Bones Denvir

Maryland’s Tax Free Holidays
Severna Park resident Donna Lizewski was rewarded in more ways than one when she shopped in Annapolis during Maryland’s August 23-27 Tax Free Holidays promotion. Like thousands of other smart consumers, Donna took advantage of the event that exempted shoppers from paying Maryland’s five-percent sales tax on qualifying clothing and footwear priced at $100 or less. Not only did Donna save money, she won the CVB’s Tax Free Holiday Escape contest that entitles her to a complimentary night’s stay for two at the Annapolitan Bed and Breakfast during the winter holidays.

To help CVB member retailers reap the fullest benefits of Maryland’s Tax Free Holidays promotion, the CVB developed a sweepstakes entry drawing that shoppers could sign up for at participating stores. Donna submitted her winning entry at a la mode lingerie. Her name was drawn during the September Marketing Meeting.

Going Green
CVB members know a little bit more about how to position their properties and attractions as green meeting sites thanks to a presentation by Visit Pittsburgh’s Executive Director of Convention Sales Craig Davis at the September 12 Marketing Meeting at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Attendees shared the word about environmental efforts underway at their businesses and explored the possibilities of adding others after hearing about the world's largest green building, Pittsburgh's David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The program coordinated by Nautical Destinations' Lynne Forsman wrapped up with a Marketing Partners Hour compliments of Rams Head Tavern and Fordham Brewing Company, Linganore Wineries, and Tapenade Catering.

The next Marketing Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, at the Country Inn and Suites in Annapolis. We hope to see you there.

Visit Pittsburgh’s Craig Davis and CVB President and CEO Connie Del Signore		Left to right: Herrington Harbour Marina Resort General Manager Ann Mulder and Annapolis Day Spa's Linda Worcester at CVB Marketing Partners Hour.

Getting To The Boat Shows
Boat Show organizers, the CVB, and the City of Annapolis are teaming up to help ensure that parking and transportation for this year’s Boat Shows will be smooth sailing once again.

Boating enthusiasts attending the October 5-9 U.S. Sailboat and October 12-15 U.S. Power Boat Shows should find ample and easy parking, thanks to frequently running shuttle buses and an abundance of public and private lots for Boat Show parking.

Every day but Saturday, October 14, Boat Show attendees may park their cars at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium on Rowe Boulevard (Route 50, exit 24) for a flat $10 fee and take a free round-trip shuttle to the Boat Show at City Dock. The shuttles will run regularly to Church Circle and City Dock from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., with the last shuttle departing from Church Circle at 8:45 p.m.

On Saturday, October 14, Boat Show attendees may take Route 50 to exit 22 (Aris T. Allen Boulevard) and follow signs for Boat Show parking along Riva Road. Motorists may park their cars for a flat $10 fee and hop aboard a free Boat Show shuttle bus that will run from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Advance Boat Show tickets are available online at www.usboat.com.

U.S. Sailboat Show

Expansion News
The CVB’s Volunteer Information Specialists will be greeting and assisting travelers from a new location beginning January 3. While our eight-to-twelve-month expansion project is underway, the CVB Visitors Center will operate from the lobby of the Arundel Center at 44 Calvert Street. The nearby location will enable visitors to continue using Gott’s Court garage. New directional signs will be posted in the garage and on the grounds to direct tourists to the temporary Visitors Center.

The CVB staff won’t be moving far away either. Between Christmas and New Year’s, we will be setting up shop in offices above Cook’s Revenge at 197 Main Street. Until the 26 West Street building reopens in late 2007, phones will be answered and mail will be sent from the Main Street office location.