MHLA appoints Onahlea Shimunek to Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating Organization Task Force

SB 896 was passed by the Maryland General Assembly earlier this year and will establish the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating Organization Task Force.  Click here for the full bill text. 

The purpose of the task force is “to study and make recommendations concerning the membership, purpose, and function of an entity or strategy to govern the renovation, revitalization, financing, and ongoing maintenance and management of a certain Baltimore Convention site and certain surrounding areas; and generally relating to the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Redevelopment and Operating Authority Task Force."  Task Force recommendations are due to the Mayor, Governor and Maryland General Assembly on or before December 1, 2024.  

On May 21, 2024, the MHLA Board of Directors voted to approve the “Baltimore City Council of MHLA” recommendation to appoint Onahlea Shimunek to the Task Force.

Onahlea is currently General Manager of the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel.  She has over 20 years of hotel GM leadership experience in Baltimore City at three different convention hotels.  Her tenure has included past MHLA board service, Executive Committee involvement at Visit Baltimore and Downtown Partnership, co-leader of the Visit Baltimore Sales Committee and more.  As an adjunct professor in the Hospitality Department at Morgan State University, her commitment to hospitality’s future workforce is impressive and goes beyond her own hotel.

MHLA President & CEO Amy Rohrer stated, “We're confident that Onahlea has the historical knowledge, experience and passion to represent Baltimore City’s hotel industry exceedingly well on this important task force.  Our statewide hotel association looks forward to supporting the effort and we hope the full potential of the Baltimore Convention Center will benefit the City and the State in the near future.”