WCBC

November 14th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Allegany County Tourism and Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority (CPPDA) were honored at Rocky Gap Casino Resort on November 8, 2019, during the 39^th Annual Maryland Travel and Tourism Summit, presented by the Maryland Tourism Coalition. The Office of Tourism and CPPDA won the ‘Best Cooperative Partnership’ Award for rebranding Maryland’s first heritage area to ‘Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area.’

The Cooperative Partnership Award is awarded to multiple destinations, businesses or organizations that come together to form a marketing alliance. The successful program can be an advertising program, a tour, a publication or any activity with pooled resources promoting a common product or experience.

The rebranding of the heritage area was a joint project between Allegany County Tourism and the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority. The rebranding was funded in part by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Marketing Grant, and the project was in cooperation with creative agency Chandlerthinks, LLC, from Franklin, TN. The new rebranding unveil took place in the summer of 2019, with additional grant funds allocated for strategic marketing initiatives and heritage tourism advertising.

Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area is a place to experience – to see, hear, and even taste – an authentic piece of Maryland’s cultural and historical story in ways that you cannot experience anywhere else. The designation provides targeted financial and technical assistance to individuals, businesses, governments, and nonprofits to form partnerships that work to preserve Maryland’s unique heritage sites, unspoiled natural landscapes, and enduring traditions.    

"We are honored to be recognized among our travel industry peers in a competitive setting that highlights some of the state's most compelling destination marketing initiatives," stated Ashli Workman, director of tourism for Allegany County. 

The Maryland Tourism Coalition annually awards projects, events, and people that make a difference in the Maryland tourism industry to showcase the creativity and ingenuity of the industry. The awards are announced at the Annual Maryland Travel and Tourism Summit.

For more information on the Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area, visit mdmountainside.com/heritage-area, or for more information on Allegany County Tourism, please visit www.mdmountainside.com.