MATPRA Marketplace July 31 – August 2, 2023 Montgomery County, Maryland The MATPRA Media Marketplace is a great opportunity for both PR professionals and travel journalists to get together and discuss story ideas, arrange visits to our destinations and talk about what’s new in our backyards. Marketplace Resources: Visit the MATPRA Media Marketplace Hub at VisitMontgomery.com or read more about the annual event below. Getting to Montgomery County, MD & Around Marketplace Agenda Host Hotel FAM & Community Immersion Tours Media Registration (now closed) DMO Registration (now closed) About Montgomery County, MD Sponsorship Opportunities MATPRA Marketplace Schedule: Location: Canopy by Hilton at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, MD Find the up-to-date schedule below and at this link. Pike & Rose – North Bethesda, MD Monday, July 31, 2023: 10am – 1pm: DMO and Media Registration Opens in Canopy Lobby Don’t forget to pick up your exclusive 2023 MATPRA Media Marketplace tote bag, presented by Upper Bay Best Bets – Maryland’s Harford, Cecil and Kent Counties. Tote bag goodies include a special gift from Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau. 3:00 pm: DMO and Media Hotel Room Check-In Available at Canopy Canopy’s front desk and lobby are located on the second floor of the hotel. Elevators are easily accessible inside the front entrance. All Marketplace events, including the registration table, are also located on the second floor past the Hello Betty restaurant. Valet parking is available at the Canopy for $35 per night. Self-parking is available in three parking structures within a 5-minute walk of the hotel for $25 per night. Parking is provided for media. 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm: DMO Welcome Mix and Mingle (DMO Only) 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm: MATPRA Members Annual Meeting (DMO only) >> Check out a sneak peek video of the DMO Annual Meeting venue below: 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: MATPRA Professional Development (DMO only) We are planning a fun location for the DMO Mix & Mingle, Annual Meeting and professional development portion of the conference. It’s a surprise! 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm: Welcome Reception at Hello Betty Boat Bar at Canopy Enjoy a welcome cocktail around an authentic Chesapeake fishing boat converted into one of the most Instagrammed rooftop bars in Montgomery County. Hello Betty Boat Bar is located outside with shade covers and lounge chairs. >> Check out a sneak peek video of the Welcome Reception location below: 6:30 pm: Board Motorcoaches for Welcome Farm-to-Table Dinner 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Welcome Farm-to-Table Dinner in Montgomery County’s 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve Once you depart the Canopy, enjoy a leisurely ride along Maryland’s C&O Canal Scenic Byway to Montgomery County’s 93,000-Agricultural Reserve. Indulge in a true farm-to-table dining with classic Maryland flavors. 9:15 pm: Motorcoaches Depart for Canopy Tuesday, August 1, 2023: 6:00 am – 9:00 am: Marketplace Room Available for DMO Setup at Pinstripes 6:30 am – 7:30 am: Casual Walk or Run on Bethesda Trolley Trail (optional) Led by a destination partner, enjoy a casual walk or run along the Bethesda Trolley Trail. This former rail line is now a dynamic urban greenway that provides the most direct link between Bethesda and Rockville for bicyclists, runners and pedestrians. 7:30 am – 8:30 am: Continental Breakfast at Pinstripes Breakfast will be located across the street from the Canopy at Pinstripes. Enjoy breakfast with sweeping views of Pike & Rose on Pinstripes’ rooftop lounge. Sponsored by Pinstripes. 8:30 am – 11:30 am: MATPRA Media Marketplace at Pinstripes Meet with destination representatives from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware. Breakfast will remain open during Marketplace. Media check-in will be required before entering the Marketplace show floor. Sponsored by Pinstripes. 11:30 am – noon: DMO Marketplace Teardown and Media Prepare for FAMS While destination representatives tear down their Marketplace tables, media attendees have the opportunity to prepare for an afternoon of touring Montgomery County. Noon – 1:30 pm: Lunch in Canopy Ballroom Return to Canopy for an engaging lunch in the Canopy ballroom. A panel discussion about diversity and accessibility in travel will be held during lunch. Sponsored by Visit Howard County, MD. 2pm – 5 pm: Themed Familiarization (FAM) Tours Meet the motorcoach assigned to your FAM tour at the Canopy entrance. Information about your assigned tour and its theme will be provided in advance. You will enjoy a picnic lunch as part of your FAM tour itinerary. Read more about FAM Tour options here. 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Hotel Dine Around Montgomery County is a hospitality hub with Marriott International, Choice Hotels, PM Hotel Group and other hospitality companies headquartered in the county. Enjoy a unique spin on a traditional dine around by visiting one of Montgomery County’s premier hotels. You will receive a private tour of the property and dining in their on-site restaurant. Wednesday, August 2, 2023: 7:30 am – 8:30 am: Continental Breakfast Breakfast will be located in the Canopy restaurant. Each attendee will receive a voucher for their meal and can order from the menu. 9:00 am – 12:30 pm: Community Immersion FAMS Meet the motorcoach assigned to your Community Immersion tour at the Canopy entrance. Information about your assigned tour and its theme will be provided in advance. Featured communities will include Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg and Poolesville. Read more about FAM Tour options here. 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Marketplace Conclusion and Lunch at Pinstripes We will return to Pinstripes for the conclusion lunch that will include a brief program, 2024 Marketplace location reveal and more. Be sure to attend the conclusion lunch to take part in the MoCo Makers Meet & Greet! Destination representatives and media will be given three tokens to “purchase” goods from local makers, in partnership with the MoCo Made program. MoCo Made Market Sponsor: Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) 3:30 pm: 2023 MATPRA Media Marketplace Concludes About Marketplace Destination: Montgomery County—Maryland’s Cultural Capital™ One of the Most Diverse Communities in the United States From the banks of the Potomac to the nation’s capital, through our thriving urban centers and into the rolling hills of our Agricultural Reserve, Montgomery County unites residents and visitors alike through a variety of experiences that foster connections and inspire creativity. Explore Montgomery County and step into a world where diversity and inclusion are woven into the fabric of its communities. A place where cultural heritage sites enchant lifelong learners through a rich connection to national and state history. Where a wide variety of local essence and globally inspired culinary options fit every taste and occasion. And where all visitors are welcomed with open arms to a safe, comfortable landing place. With such cultural delights, rich history, and international communities, it is truly Maryland’s Cultural Capital. In addition to the region’s distinctive residents and visitors, the variety of experiences that await you is impressive. Traverse national and state parks, cycle along safe and friendly roads, or revel in an agritourism brewery hop. Satisfy refined tastes at upscale boutiques and culinary venues with vibrant global zest. Broaden your horizons and find new perspectives via approachable urban events and elite experiences at one-of-a-kind cultural venues. Celebrate Montgomery County’s renowned hospitality and the entrepreneurial spirit that spans every acre. One of “America’s Best Places to Live” is also the region that embodies inclusion, where connected communities of blended cultures intertwine. Explore Montgomery County and encounter its warm embrace—with classic Maryland flavor. Learn more here. Sponsorships: The Visit Montgomery team is thrilled to welcome DMO and media partners to Montgomery County, Maryland. The following sponsorship opportunities provide a variety of ways to promote your destination at the 2023 MATPRA Media Marketplace. If you don’t see an opportunity that fits your destination’s budget, let Visit Montgomery know and they will customize a package to fit your needs. We hope that you will partner with Visit Montgomery by capitalizing on these packages and sharing your brand with the MATPRA audience. Sponsorship options are on a first come, first served basis. Contact Cory Van Horn at cvanhorn@visitmontgomery.com if you have any questions. Here are remaining sponsorship opportunities, as of June 26, 2023: https://visitmontgomery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-MATPRA-Media-Marketplace-Sponsorship-Opportunities.pdf DMO Registration Information: Registration for DMOs to attend the 2023 Marketplace is now closed. Host Hotel Information: Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Bethesda North at Pike & Rose 940 Rose Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852 Room rate: starts at $169; Overnight parking is $25 per night Sneak Peek at Host Hotel, the Canopy by Hilton at Pike & Rose: More info on Host Hotel here. Journalist Application Process for Marketplace: Journalists must apply to attend MATPRA Media Marketplace. A select number of journalists are invited to attend based on criteria established by a committee that reviews each journalist’s audience, scope and past coverage to ensure the best fit for the marketplace. Journalist applications are now closed for 2023 Marketplace registration! Questions about the application process? Download our handy FAQ sheet for more information. Questions about the Marketplace may be directed to midatlantictourism@gmail.com. DMO Attendees at MATPRA Marketplace 2022 in State College, PA Past MATPRA Media Marketplaces Check out what MATPRA discovered in 2022 in the Central Pennsylvania Region on Instagram! Central Pennsylvania Region – October 2022 Greater Richmond, Virginia Region- September 2019 Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania – September 2018 Winchester, Virginia – September 2017 Talbot County, Maryland – September 2016 Erie, Pennsylvania – September 2015 Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania – October 2014 Arlington, Virginia – August 2013 Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania – September 2012 Calvert County, Maryland – September 2011 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – September 2010 Rehoboth Beach, Delaware – May 2009 Annapolis, Maryland – August 2008 Hampton, Virginia – June 2007 Lancaster, Pennsylvania – September 2006 Richmond, Virginia – May 2005 Washington, D.C. – June 2004