Just announced! MATPRA Marketplace will return: July 31 – August 2, 2023 in 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. MATPRA Marketplace Schedule: Stay tuned for full schedule. Marketplace home base will be at Canopy by Hilton at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, MD. Pike & Rose – North Bethesda, MD About Marketplace Destinations: In Montgomery County, Maryland, you will find a broad scope of America’s favorite pastimes. Experience endless art, entertainment, attractions, and some of the country’s most beloved historical sites at your fingertips. Montgomery County is truly close to the action, but a world apart. Enjoy culinary crossroads, rich history, and outdoor adventures – with a classic Maryland flavor. Just a short metro ride or quick drive, Montgomery County is conveniently located next door to Washington, D.C., making it an ideal and convenient weekend getaway or road trip destination for visitors of all ages. The county consists of several popular locations including Bethesda, Rockville, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Germantown and Chevy Chase. Diversity and inclusiveness are woven into the fabric of Montgomery County’s communities and the million population that call the area home. According to WalletHub, Montgomery County is one of most diverse communities in the country with Germantown, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring and Rockville all ranking in that site’s “Top 10 Most Diverse Communities in the U.S.” Both Rockville and Gaithersburg have achieved perfect scores in Municipality Equality Index (MEI), according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). In 2022, Rockville was ranked 20th in Money Magazine’s “50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2022”, citing diversity as a key contributor to the ranking. Montgomery County ranks high where Black residents are prospering in the “Black Progress Index,” a study that examines the social factors that influence Black well-being by the Brookings Institution. The 2023 MATPRA Media Marketplace will take place at the Canopy by Hilton at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. FAMs will highlight the Music Center at Strathmore Music Center, Glenstone Museum, C&O Canal National Historical Park, our 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve, Topgolf, Brookside Gardens, The AFI Silver Theatre, The Fillmore Silver Spring and more! Sponsorships: Coming soon! 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! Stay tuned for information on 2023 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 Registration Information: Registration for DMOs to attend Marketplace is now CLOSED. Stay tuned for information on 2023 registration. 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