Rich Gilbert shows tour operators what Maryland offers

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In addition to appointments with individual operators, Gilbert says the SYTA conference presents networking opportunities and roundtable sessions where he can sit down with groups of operators – along with Maryland travel partners, such as convention and visitor bureaus and attractions – and discuss how Maryland’s inventory of tourism products would satisfy their needs.

“Student and youth travel is one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry,” he says. “It could be educational trips, senior-class outings or performance-related trips – a band going to a competition, for instance.”

He points to SYTA reports that show Washington, D.C., as the number two destination for student and youth travel in 2008. New York was number one. The two destinations shared the top position in 2007, according to SYTA. Maryland was ranked at number 10 for both years.

The benefit of the high ranking for the nation’s capital, Gilbert says, is that in many instances, groups stay in Maryland or Virginia. And, he can approach the operators (who bring the groups) about adding Maryland destinations to their itineraries.

ABA conference at Gaylord
Gilbert meets with tour operators at a variety of venues. The American Bus Association (ABA)’s yearly Marketplace is another significant gathering. Maryland will host the upcoming ABA conference, Jan. 15-19 at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Prince George’s County. He is a member of the conference’s advisory committee. ABA’s membership includes approximately 1,000 motorcoach and tour companies in the U.S. and Canada.

Maryland on the Road is also a way for Gilbert to show tour operators what the state has to offer. He aligns a group of industry partners – DMOs (destination marketing organizations), attractions, lodging facilities and restaurants – and coordinates opportunities for them to join with the Tourism Office and make a unified pitch to operators at out-of-state locations.

A native and resident of Cecil County, Gilbert has been at the Tourism Office in Baltimore for 18 years. After working in temporary summer positions at the Chesapeake House and Maryland House during the late 1980s, he came to Baltimore to assist with the Welcome Center program. He also represented the Tourism Office at consumer travel shows and helped with group sales.

The Maryland Motorcoach Association saluted Gilbert this year for his contributions to the group’s 2009 conference. Last year, the Virginia Motorcoach Association named him the “2008 Associate of the Year.” And, in 2003, the Maryland Tourism Council saluted him as “Tourism Person of the Year.”