Partner Spotlight: Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County - 2026
Date postedMay 19, 2026
We are proud to feature Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County in this month's Partner Spotlight. The company has been a Platinum Partner of MHLA since 2025 and first joined the Association in 2017. Read below to learn more!
Organization Overview
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) is the region’s nonprofit, partnership‑driven destination marketing and management organization, dedicated to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and experience‑rich Chesapeake Bay destination. Through collaborative marketing, sales, and community engagement, VAAAC promotes Annapolis and Anne Arundel County on behalf of visitors, partners, and residents, highlighting the area’s historic capital city, maritime heritage, vibrant arts and culinary scenes, and miles of accessible shoreline. As a leading contributor to Maryland’s visitor economy, the region welcomed more than 7.2 million visitors in 2024 whose spending generated $4.3 billion in economic impact and sustained over 27,000 jobs. That daily infusion — an average of $11.9 million — strengthens small businesses, supports the hospitality workforce, and enhances quality of life across the county. Guided by values of inclusivity, stewardship, and audacity, VAAAC works to ensure the destination remains vibrant, visitor ready, and community centered.
How does your organization positively impact the lodging industry?
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County strengthens the lodging industry by driving year‑round demand, elevating regional visibility, and connecting visitors with the diverse experiences that define our destination. Through strategic marketing, sales outreach, and industry partnerships, we drive hotel demand, support revenue growth, and expand hotel market reach. By elevating the destination experience and attracting new visitors, we help build a stronger, more resilient lodging industry that benefits partners and the community.
How does your organization differentiate itself from others in your industry?
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County is uniquely positioned in Maryland’s capital, advocating for the tourism and hospitality industry. As the gateway to the Chesapeake Bay and America’s Sailing Capital, and home to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, we welcome visitors by land, air, and sea. Our statewide collaborative efforts, including the Maryland International Marketing Partnership and Meet in Maryland Partnership, expand Maryland’s reach in global and meetings markets and strengthen regional alignment across the state.
Awards
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County has advanced hotel accessibility through our partnership with Wheel the World, helping lodging partners assess their properties and improve the guest experience for travelers with disabilities. This work provides hotels with accessibility assessments, actionable guidance, and destination-wide support to strengthen inclusivity. By empowering hotels to better serve all visitors, we’re building a more welcoming, competitive, and future ready lodging industry across Anne Arundel County.
Contact Information
Shannon Harcum
Chief Operating Officer
Email – sharcum@visitannapolis.org
Phone - (410) 280-0445 ext. 300
Address - 26 West St., Annapolis, MD 21401
Company website
https://www.visitannapolis.org
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