Maryland Horse Industry Board Director Ross Peddicord Elected Chair of Tourism Group

MHIB Executive Director Ross Peddicord with MHIB Marketing Committee Member Jane Thery.

BALTIMORE, MD – Ross Peddicord, executive director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, a program in the Maryland Department of Agriculture, has been elected Chair of the Maryland Tourism Council (MTC). He assumed leadership of the group at the organization’s annual meeting in Hanover earlier this month.

“This is an opportunity to work closely with the top tourism professionals in the state, especially as we explore ways in the equine and agritourism sectors to expand our visitor experiences,” Peddicord said. “Tourism already plays a major role with equine events like the Preakness, Fair Hill International, Governor’s Cup steeplechase series and entertainment attractions like Medieval Times and the wild ponies at Assateague. We have an important role to play in the state’s overall tourism industry, which is one of the strongest segments of Maryland’s economy.”

MTC has been the leading advocacy organization for Maryland’s tourism industry for more than 50 years with members spanning the hotel, restaurant and attractions industries. It works closely with a number of industry partners such as the Maryland Office of Tourism, the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, the Maryland Tourism Education Foundation, the Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association and the Maryland Restaurant Association.

Joining Peddicord on the MTC team are: Kevin Atticks, 1st Vice Chair, Executive Director, Maryland Wineries Association; Wini Roche, 2nd Vice Chair, Tourism and Marketing Manager, Harford County Tourism; Deb Carter, Secretary, President, Maryland Campgrounds Association; Marian Hrab, treasurer, Sales and Marketing Director, The Hotel at Arundel Preserve; and Sandy Turner, Immediate Past Chair, Coordinator, Cecil County Tourism.

In addition, the MTC board of directors includes a cross section of 20 of the leading tourism professionals in the state.

At the recent Maryland Travel & Tourism Summit, Margot Amelia, Executive Director of the Maryland Office of Tourism, reported an overall increase of 39 percent in visitors to the state in the last five years. Tourism contributes more than $2 billion in annual tax revenue to the state and provides more than 135,000 jobs.

“The future has never looked brighter for Maryland tourism,” Peddicord said. “We are streamlining our organization, building strong alliances with industry partners and empowering our members.”

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About the Maryland Tourism Council: For over 50 years, the Maryland Tourism Council (MTC) has represented and united various segments of tour and travel, bringing together the entire industry to enhance business growth and to promote the development of Maryland tourism. The Maryland Tourism Council (MTC) is the only statewide membership association representing all segments of the hospitality and tourism industry, emphasizing government affairs, business growth, professional development, and alliances with other tourism organizations, the business community, and state and local governments. The mission of MTC is to Connect, Educate, and Represent Maryland’s tourism industry. For more information, please visit MDTourism.org.